By LEAH WEATHERSBY

Michele Della Pella misses Greenwood.

In October, Della Pella left her job as branch manager at the Greenwood Bank of America, which she had held for over three years, to become the branch manager of the Ballard branch - Bank of America's second largest office in Seattle.

Despite her promotion, Della Pella proves you can take the girl out of Greenwood, but you can't take Greenwood out of the girl.

"I'm having lunch at the Pig 'N Whistle (restaurant in Greenwood) tomorrow," said Della Pella, as she reeled off with a laundry list of other Greenwood shops and eateries she has just had to visit during her first week as a Ballard banker, which began Oct. 9.

Not only is the Greenwood neighborhood losing a member of its business community, they are losing the the president of Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce. Della Pella, who has served in the volunteer post the past two years, will step down at the end of this year. She will be replaced by current Chamber Vice President Jeanne Barwick, owner of Mae's Phinney Ridge Cafe.

Della Pella said in recent years the chamber has proven its strength by keeping major productions like the Greenwood Classic Car Show and the Greenwood Seafair Parade going even though it lost key organizers.

"I really feel like we (the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber) have a good blend of old and new (supporters)," Della Pella said. "Our big challenge (now) is really to move into the 21st century in terms of the Web site," she added, explaining that the chamber will be looking at ways to promote the Phinney Ridge and Greenwood neighborhoods.

Greenwood has not seen the last of Della Pella, however. She plans stay on with the chamber as a past-president and to help organize next year's car show. That kind of attachment to the neighborhood isn't so surprising when you realize that Della Pella, 33, was raised in Broadview (the neighborhood just north of Greenwood). She currently lives on the northern tip of Fremont, just south of Phinney Ridge.

Della Pella said in her new position as manager of Bank of America's Ballard branch, she plans to get involved in the Ballard community. "I'll be as active as they want me to be," she said. It's likely that Ballard will want Della Pella involved - if only for the chuckles. There aren't many bankers who can have you doubled over with laughter during an interview.

"This is my job, but I like to make it fun," said Della Pella. "I'm here to totally shatter that myth of the banker with the navy blue suit."

Kate Wahlquist will replace Michele Della Pella as the manager of the Greenwood Bank of America. Previously, Wahlquist was a personal banker at the branch. (