Business Beat

New faces:

LeMaster & Daniels has added two people to its Spokane Valley staff:

Andrea Zacher is a staff accountant in the tribal/tax department. She recently received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University where she majored in business administration with a concentration in accounting.

Shawn P. Taylor joins LeMaster & Daniels as a staff accountant in the Spokane Valley audit/tax department. He recently completed an internship at the firm’s Kennewick office.

Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities has added the following people to its staff:

Jonnie Mann was named general manager of Metropolitan Investment Securities and will oversee all areas of the business, including product development, marketing and compliance issues. Mann has an extensive background in the securities industry and most recently owned a management consulting business.

Lisa Hildebrand was hired as manager of community and government affairs. Hildebrand, who has more than 14 years of experience in strategic planning and implementation, will focus on public issues. She previously was employed by Washington Water Power in its public relations division.

Chuck Hand, a veteran of more than 20 years in property management, was named property manager. Hand, who previously oversaw construction planning and facilities maintenance for BDM International in Virginia, will be responsible for various Metropolitan holdings in the company’s Property Development Division.

Zirkle & Co. Business Brokers and Investment Bankers has hired Colin P.A. Thompson as a financial analyst. A 1993 graduate of Gonzaga University, Thompson is a certified public accountant and previously worked as a business and finance officer for Arctic Sivunmum Ilisagvik College in Barrow, Alaska. He will be responsible for financial analysis, appraisal research and client support.

Spokane Technet Committee has invited the following people to join the committee, which facilitates the networking of Inland Northwest hightechnology companies: Linda Clark, ComputorLink; Sue Christilaw, Itron; Janine Kardokus, Johnson Matthey; Reed Olson, OSI; Art Hill, Argo Technologies; Stan Hatch, The Towne Group; and Glen Larson, Telect.

Moving up:

U.S. Bank of Washington has named Jason Thackston trust officer in its Spokane office. Thackston, who joined the bank in 1993 as an analyst in the Trust Department, is a graduate of Whitworth College. His responsibilities include investment management, education and counsel on corporate and individual employee benefit plans.

LeMaster & Daniels has promoted the following employees:

John Bjorkman, who joined the firm in April as a manager in the tax department at its Valley office, was named senior manager. His areas of emphasis are estate tax and succession planning, as well as business valuation.

Ken Stauffer was named manager. He joined the firm in 1992 as a staff accountant in the tribal department, located in the Valley office.

Sean Douglas and Cari Cramer were promoted to supervisor. Douglas has been with LeMaster & Daniels since 1991 and most recently was a senior accountant in the health care department of the downtown Spokane office. Cramer, who joined the firm in 1993 as a senior accountant in the Valley office, focuses on small business and professional service companies.

James Maxwell, Andrew Platte and Timothy Throckmorton were promoted to senior. Maxwell joined the firm in 1994 as a staff accountant in the health care department at the downtown Spokane office, while Platte, who joined the company in 1993 as a staff accountant, specializes in government and non-profit audits at the Valley office. Throckmorton also joined the firm in 1993 as a staff accountant. He is assigned to the tribal department at the Valley office.

Olsten Kimberly QualityCare has promoted two employees:

Jorie L. Jacobs was named director of clinical management. Jacobs, a registered nurse, was previously a manager of clinical practice.

Lisa A. Walker was promoted to records coordinator. She was previously a senior field staff supervisor.

Rings & Things Wholesale Division has promoted two employees:

Erin Meenach was promoted from sales associate to manager of the wholesale showroom. She has been with Rings & Things for two years.

Christina Wieber was named accounts payable supervisor. She joined Rings & Things in 1989 and has worked as a sales associate and customer service representative.

Starting up:

Neil Fitzgerald, previously with Better Homes & Gardens, has opened Fitzgerald Realtors in U-City North, 10623 E. Sprague. Fitzgerald, who earned his broker’s license in 1993, will specialize in residential real estate.

Transactions:

The Estates Club has chosen Janek Co. as its exclusive member for Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. Estates Club members have a large share of the luxury home market and last year had sales of more than $15 billion.

Appointed:

Bill First has been reappointed by Gov. Mike Lowry to the Small Business Improvement Council. First, who will serve a six-year term, owns a Spokane consulting business and formerly was press secretary to U.S. Rep. Tom Foley.

Certifications:

Jacqueline Witter, credit manager for Telect Inc., has successfully completed the National Association of Credit Management’s credit business associate exam, qualifying her to use the CBA designation.

Dr. Paula A. Lantsberger of Occupational Medicine Associates recently passed the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners’ certification examination.

Dr. Royce F. Van Gerpen of Occupational Medicine Associates has qualified as a certified medical review officer. MROCC certification indicates a physician is qualified to handle workplace drug and alcohol problems and chemical dependency.

Opportunities:

The Eastern Washington University College of Business and Public Administration is seeking nominations for its Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award. Nominees must hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from EWU in business administration, business education, public administration, urban and regional planning or health services administration. Selection criteria include innovative accomplishments, professional achievements, leadership and community service. Nominations can be mailed or faxed by Feb. 16 to: Distinguished Alumnus Award, MS-182, College of Business and Public Administration, Eastern Washington University, 526 Fifth Street, Cheney, Wash., 99004-2431. Fax: (509) 359-6649. For more information, call (509) 359-2455.

Kudos:

The Quality Inn Valley Suites has been honored for the fourth straight year as Inn of the Year Finalist by Choice Hotels International. The selection is based on unannounced inspections that evaluate hospitality, service, appearance and operations. There are 351 Quality hotels nationwide.

Tamarack Center has been accredited with commendation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Facilities. Accreditation with commendation is the highest level of accreditation awarded by the commission, which conducted an onsite survey of Tamarack Center in October.

The St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute Auxiliary has donated $10,000 to St. Luke’s Rehab for the purchase of a voice-activated environmental control bed. The bed will be used by the institute’s spinal cord injury unit, enabling patients with disabilities to enjoy greater independence.

Events:

Wednesday - Clarence H. “Bud” Barnes, dean of the Gonzaga University School of Business Administration, will speak on “Trends in Business Education: Critical Skill Sets for the Future” at a meeting of the Inland Northwest Society of Consulting Professionals at 7:30 a.m. at Cavanaugh’s on Fourth Avenue. For more information, call William Olson at 455-8244.

Friday - The 53rd Annual Cherry Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m-3:45 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. 8th Street. Cost: $17 for lunch and workshops, $8 for workshops only and $12 for lunch only; for more information, call (509) 453-4837.

Jan. 8-9 - The community colleges’ Training and Education Coordinating Center presents a class on “Time Management, the Franklin System” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $195, including a 1996 Franklin planner and instruction by a certified Franklin trainer; for more information or to register, call 533-4700.

Jan.8-11 - The community colleges present a class on “Computer Basics” from 5-8 p.m. at the Mobile Training Unit in the Institute for Extended Learning Lodge parking lot, 3303 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Cost: $110; for more information or to register, call 533-3770.

Jan. 8-March 4 - The community colleges’ Training and Education Coordinating Center presents a course on “Learn Importing On-Line Now!” Participants will download the lectures and discuss the topics and assignments in live on-line conferences. Cost: $95; for more information, e-mail John Spiers at spiers@eworld.com or call 533-4700.

Jan. 9 - The community colleges’ Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “How to Deliver Excellent Customer Service” from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $40; call 358-7544 for more information or to register.

Jan. 10 - The Intermountain Grass Growers Association holds the second annual meeting of the Grass Seed Cropping Systems for a Sustainable Agriculture from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Templin’s Resort in Post Falls. For more information, call 891-9248.

Conventions:

Friday-Jan. 7 - Northwest gamefish show, Interstate Fairgrounds.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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