Konnie Bryant has become a mortgage loan officer at Columbia Bank's Auburn Way North branch, the bank recently announced.

Bryant (pictured) will be actively strengthening client relationships and assisting the mortgage needs of those in the Metro East region.

"Konnie Bryant has a great deal of expertise in the home loan industry, to which she applies her acute attention to detail coupled with a high level of communication," said Barb Kaye, senior vice president and regional retail manager for Columbia Bank. "We are fortunate to welcome her to the team and feel confident that she will become a critical resource for clients and team members alike."

Prior to her new position at Columbia Bank, Bryant worked as a residential lending officer for Harborstone Credit Union. Bryant has a thorough understanding of the industry from all angles, with more than 11 years experience in conventional, VA, FHA, USDA and manufactured home loans. She was able to further her industry expertise through past affiliations with the Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders Association and the Master Builders Association of Tacoma and Pierce County.

Bryant enjoys being involved in the community and has volunteered with the Puyallup Food Bank, March of Dimes, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. A mother of five, Bryant enjoys camping, fishing, traveling and spending time with her husband, Tom.

Elsewhere

Auburn is one of 40 cities in the state that will receive a share of $50 million in federal safety funds to construct 75 street improvement projects. These projects will reduce intersection-related collisions on city streets and on state highways that serve as city arterials. As part of the state's strategic highway safety plan, the Washington State Department of Transportation invited cities with high rates of single-intersection-related crashes to apply for federal safety grants. ...

The Puget Sound Business Journal recently ranked Auburn-based business Parametrix, Inc. as one of the top 5 engineering firms in the region by revenue. Parametrix, a multidisciplinary professional consulting firm, had revenues of $47.5 million and employed 311 people in 2011.

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