[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 894-895]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING MELANIE DRESSEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 2, 2012

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Melanie 
Dressel, President and C.E.O. of the Tacoma, Washington-based Columbia 
Bank, for being named a Community Banker of the Year by American Banker 
magazine.
  Melanie joined Columbia Bank in 1993 and ten years later was named 
its Chief Executive Officer. Under Melanie's leadership, Columbia Bank 
acquired five other banks, increasing the bank's assets by fifty 
percent. These actions have helped Dressel transform Columbia Bank into 
a regional power.
  Despite the bank's growth, Melanie has remained close to traditional 
community banking practices. Columbia Bank is committed to giving 
individuals and businesses in the Pacific Northwest a safe, secure, and 
customer-focused banking option.
  Throughout her tenure, Columbia Bank has consistently been honored as 
one of the region's best places to work. The bank is regularly featured 
on the Puget Sound Business Journal's ``Washington's Best Workplaces'' 
list and listed as ``One of Washington's 100 Best Companies to Work 
For'' by Seattle Magazine. Even during challenging economic times, it 
is encouraging to see Columbia Bank going the extra mile to ensure 
employee satisfaction.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I ask my colleagues to 
join me in honoring Melanie Dressel. Her dedication to community 
banking has helped grow Columbia Bank to provide exemplary service its 
customers, employees, and our community.

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