Business Beat

New faces:

John Huff has joined LeMaster & Daniels as a computer technician in the Management Consulting Services Department. Huff received an associate degree in electronic engineering technology from ITT Technical Institute and previously worked as service manager for the MOR Co.

Char Gittings, a certified insurance counselor, has joined the staff of HarrisDean Insurance in Coeur d’Alene and will specialize in commercial lines. Gittings has 16 years of experience in the insurance business and previously was a commercial lines manager in a branch of a large insurance agency in Seattle.

Connie Tompkins has joined Travel Management Inc. in Coeur d’Alene as corporate travel coordinator. A 15-year veteran of the travel industry, Tompkins previously was branch manager for a Coeur d’Alene agency.

Washington Transit Advertising has hired Lisa Poole as Eastern Washington regional manager. She is responsible for sales, community and system relations in Spokane, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Yakima. A University of Montana graduate, Poole has held account executive positions at KXLY-TV, KHQ-TV and KKPL-FM radion.

Zak Designs has added the following people to its staff:

Gene Sabins is the new logistics manager with responsibility for overseeing the operations of production, warehouse, shipping, quality assurance, material control and equipment and facilities maintenance. Sabins served 24 years in the Air Force, most recently as senior enlisted advisor for the 92nd Bomb Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Bob Alexander joins the company as safety/security/facility coordinator. He is responsible for formulating general safety policies and procedures, overseeing administration of the workers compensation program and directing installation of security systems.

Gail Combs is the new accounts payable coordinator. Her duties include processing invoices and vendor payments. She previously worked for the city of Airway Heights for 11 years as clerk-treasurer.

Central Pre-Mix Concrete Co. has hired Jim Stewart as its North Side ready-mix sales representative. Stewart has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry and has served on the board of directors of the Spokane Homebuilders Association and the Associated Builders and Contractors.

Erin Clason has been named wellness coordinator for QualMed Health Plan. She previously was an adjunct professor in sociology at the University of California at Santa Barbara and an adjunct professor in health science at Cal State Northridge. She also worked as an ambulatory care specialist at the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Santa Barbara.

David P. Daul has been named director of respiratory extended care at Holy Family Hospital where he will manage licensed respiratory therapists. A Minnesota native, he previously worked at San Bernadino Community Hospital in California.

Moving up:

JoAnn Mack, a 28-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, has been named manager of GTE Telephone Operations in Moscow, Pullman and surrounding areas. Mack joined GTE in 1966 as an operator in Moscow. She has held various technical and managerial positions with the company in Moscow, Pullman and Coeur d’Alene. Most recently, she was based in Coeur d’Alene as supervisor of six switching offices.

Starting up:

Re/Max has opened an office in Post Falls to serve Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and surrounding areas. Mike Bale, a five-year real estate veteran, has been named to manage the office. Bale, who received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University, is an associate broker in Washington and a licensed associate in Idaho.

Elected:

Agricultural and Commercial Exchanges has elected its 1995 officers: Oscar Santschi, James S. Black, president; Amelia Alf, Coldwell Banker Corrado, president-elect; Greg Van Houten, Van Houten & Associates, secretary-treasurer.

Rick Weisman, finance manager of Spokane, Portland and Boise branches of Graybar Electric, has been elected chairman of the board of the National Association of Credit Management Inland Northwest. Other officers include: Dianne Linquist, 1st vice chairman; Sarah Hoyt, second vice chairman; and Valorie Marschall, immediate past chairman and councilor.

The Spokane Area Economic Development Council’s 1995 officers include: Jack Heuston, Tidyman’s Inc., board of trustees chair; Sharon Matthews, US West Communications, vice chair; Roger Crum, city manager, secretary-treasurer. Newly elected trustees are: Dr. Marshall Drummond, Julie Prafke, Richard Rollnick, Gary Schroeder, Mike Taylor, Frank Tombari, and Gregg Weed. Trustees renominated to the board were: F.J. Dullanty, Jack Heuston, Don Ott, Tom Quigley, and John Wagner.

Events:

Tuesday ISO 9000 how to select the registrar and pass the audit will be presented by the Community Colleges of Spokane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $250; call 533-4705 for more information or to register.

Tuesday The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/operators at: TRIDEC SBDC, 901 N. Colorado, 9-noon, call 735-1000; Lewis-Clark State College, SBDC at L-CSC, Lewiston, 9-noon, call 208-799-2465.

Tuesday Getting the most from your mortgage investment: A free public education seminar from 7-10 p.m. at the Red Lion Motor Inn, sponsored by Plese Realty, A&B Mortgage Co., Chemical Financial Services Corp., the Bob Bublitz Agency and T.R.A. Construction.

Tuesday and Thursday Understanding and using financials to manage your business: Offered by the community colleges’ Small Business Development Center from 6-9 p.m. at Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI), 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-2050 for more information or to register.

Wednesday The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/operators at: Panhandle Area Council, 11100 Airport Drive, Hayden, Idaho, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; call 208-772-0584.

Wednesday “A Public Relations Crisis: It Can Happen to You!” Maria Russell, professor of communication at Syracuse University, will be speaking at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Lunch: 11:45-1:15 p.m., Skyline Ballroom (speech by Russell). Seminar: 1:30-3:30 p.m., Ballroom D. Cost: Seminar (includes lunch): $32 for members, $45 non-members, $16 students. Lunch only: $9.50 for members and $14.40 non-members. Call 448-5255 for reservations or more information.

Wednesday Gonzaga University School of Business Administration will hold an MBA and MAcc information meeting from 6-7 p.m. at Jepson Center. Call 328-4220 ext. 3403 to register.

Wednesday and May 9 “Building an Effective Board” and “Getting Your Board to Fund Raise,” presented by Adams & Associates Consulting, Inc. and sponsored by U.S. Bank, KXLY and Foundation Northwest. Both workshops will be held at the Schoenberg Center at Gonzaga University, 7:30-11 a.m. Cost: $35 per person for each workshop; for more information, call 747-3878.

Thursday The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/operators at: N. Idaho College Work Force Training Center, 525 Clearwater Loop, Post Falls, 9 a.m.-noon, call 208-769-3296; Kennewick Chamber, 3180 W. Clearwater, 1-4 p.m., call 736-0510.

Thursday Business planning for start-up ventures: Offered by the community colleges’ Small Business Development Center from 1-4 p.m. at SIRTI, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-2050 for more information or to register.

Friday Howard Lincoln, chair of Nintendo of America, will be the keynote speaker at the annual awards dinner of the Eastern Washington University College of Business Administration. The awards dinner will be at 7 p.m. at the Crescent Court, with a no-host social hour beginning at 6 p.m. Cost: $40 per person; call Debbie Jinnings at 458-6396 for reservations.

Saturday Washington Mutual Bank sponsors a Home Buyers Seminar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone. Call Greg Hubbard at 358-4391 to register.

Saturday Robin Ryan, Seattle career counselor, will teach a job search seminar from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Cost: $85. The program is sponsored by the Washington Society of CPAs. Call 800-272-8273 for registration information.

Saturday Importing as a small business. Offered by the community colleges’ Small Business Development Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at SIRTI, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $60; call 533- 3448 for more information or to register.

May 8 Trade show exhibiting/ displaying. Offered by the community colleges’ Small Business Development Center form 6-9 p.m. at SIRTI, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-2050 for more information or to register.

May 9 The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/operators at: Lewis-Clark State College, SBDC at L-CSC, Lewiston, 9-noon, call 208-799-2465; TRIDEC SBDC, 901 N. Colorado, 1-4 p.m., call 735-1000.

May 9 Consumer Credit Counseling of Spokane will conduct a money management workshop at 1912 N. Division from 6:30-9 p.m. Call 327-3777 or 800-892-6854 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.

May 12 Gonzaga Law School will sponsor its Spring Tax Program entitled “Simple and Effective Estate Planning for the 55 and Over Generation” presented by Gary Randall in C-3 of the Law School from 1-5:15 p.m. Cost: $90 if registration is received by Friday; home study registration fee for Washington attorneys is $100. After Friday, the registration fees increase $25. For further information, contact Gary Randall at 328-4220, ext. 3770, or Marge Buck, ext. 3738.

Conventions:

Sunday-Tuesday - Washington State Conferences & Institutions, gender equity in athletics conference, West Coast Ridpath Hotel.

Sunday-Tuesday - National Council of Teachers of English, annual spring Northwest regional conference, Sheraton-Spokane Hotel and Cavanaugh’s Inns.

Tuesday-Thursday - Rural Nurse Organization, annual spring Northwest regional conference, Cavanaugh’s Inns.

Thursday - Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, Electrotech & Controls ‘95, Sheraton-Spokane Hotel.

Thursday-May 7 - Inland Empire Chapter of Family Physicians, primary care update, Cavanaugh’s Inns and Ridpath Hotel.

MEMO: Do you want to submit an item for “Business Beat?” Send a brief press release to: Bill Sallquist, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane WA, 99210-1615. Photos will be used, space permitting, with new staff additions, promotions and new businesses. Put names on backs of photos. If you want a photo back, write “WILL CALL” on the back and pick it up at the newspaper reference library. Allow three weeks for publication.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Spokesman-Review staff