Business Beat
New Faces:
Clayton Looney has joined the accounting firm of McFarland & Alton P.S. as senior manager in the Information Systems Consulting Division. Looney, who was previously with Andersen Consulting in Seattle, has six years of experience in the information systems consulting field.
Robert Ciccone has joined Hayden Lake-based Investors Capital Management Inc. as a licensed associate.
DataPro Solutions Inc. has hired Lorne Bilesky as an account manager. Bilesky will be responsible for systems integration utilizing work force management, bar code, optical disk, and accounting/payroll systems in the Spokane area. Bilesky previously worked for Comstor Productivity Centers. Tyna Jefferson has also joined DataPro Solutions as a customer service representative.
Pete Nettles has been reassigned to Acme Materials & Construction Co.’s new Post Falls office as the company’s North Idaho sales representative.
Jim Clarizio has joined Acme Materials & Construction Co. as a sales representative for the South Hill area. Clarizio was previously with Joey August Distributors.
Dr. John Pennings has opened a practice in general, vascular and laparoendoscopic surgery with offices in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. Pennings received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota and completed a general surgery internship and residency at Legacy Hospitals in Portland. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Daniel Rasmussen is the new dental associate of Dr. Kevin King. Rasmussen graduated from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland and completed a general practice hospital residency at the University of Washington.
Heather Lopez has joined Aspen Personnel Service Inc. as an account executive. Lopez relocated from Seattle where she worked for Chicago Title as a marketing assistant.
Quisenberry Frazier & Partners, a fullservice advertising agency, has hired Caty Frazier and Jennifer Martin. Frazier will handle client marketing planning and print production. Martin is an administrative coordinator.
Raymond Keevy has joined the staff of ITT Technical Institute as director of placement. Keevy will work with area employers developing job opportunities for graduated of the Electronics Engineering Technology and ComputerAided Drafting Technology programs at the college in Spokane. Keevy was recently a career development coordinator at Trend College in Spokane.
Richard Flann has joined ITT Technical Institute as director of recruitment. Flann will oversee the recruitment staff and manage the advertising and promotional resources of the college. Flann was recently at ITT/ ESI in San Diego.
Larry Lapidus has joined RE/MAX of Spokane as a sales associate. Lapidus specializes in residential and new construction properties.
Dee Leathers and Mary Van Wechelhave joined RE/MAX of Spokane-North as sales associates. Leathers, who was affiliated with Windermere prior to joining RE/MAX, specializes in residential properties. Van Wechel, also previously affiliated with Windermere, specializes in residential and new construction properties.
Lynn Flores has joined Windermere Real Estate’s Spokane-North Wall Street office as a sales associate. Flores, who has been in real estate with ERA Realty since 1991, has a GRI (Graduate Realtors Institute) designation.
Moving Up
Peggy Stewart has been promoted to manager of Aspen Personnel Service’s temporary placement division. She will also continue to work as an account executive in the permanent placement division.
Washington Trust Bank has promoted security officer John Weber to vice president. Weber joined Washington Trust in 1969 and has been the bank’s security officer since 1987. He retains those responsibilities.
Key Tronic Corp. has appointed Jack Oehlke to the newly-created position of senior vice president-operations. Oehlke will oversee the manufacturing, engineering and marketing functions. Oehlke joined Key Tronic in December 1993 as vice president-manufacturing operations.DataPro Solutions Inc. has promoted Bob Jibby to sales manager, Tim Alston to senior account executive and Frankie Hunt to payroll services customer service representative.
The Guardian has appointed Lloyd Tereno as director of group claims for the company’s western regional office in Spokane. Tereno will oversee all aspects of the processing of group medical claims at the regional office.
Starting Up:
Sheryl Drexel has opened Sheryl’s Travel & Tours, which will specialize in group travel. Drexel has been in the travel business for 18 years and with Buzz Baldwin Travel for the past 2 years.
Andrew Bohrnsen and Mary Owen have established a new law practice, the Law Offices of Bohrnsen & Ownen P.S. in Suite 550 of West One Bank Building, N9 Post. Bohrnsen was formerly a partner with Lukins & Annis P.S. and Owen was previously in private practice.
Transactions:
Western Medical Services and Inland Nurse Providers have combined to form Inland Nurse Providers/Western Medical Services with offices at W933 Third, Suite 106. The company will provide home health care and supplemental staffing for hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories and physicians’ offices. Beth Flaherty, affiliate owner and executive director, is an eight-year Spokane resident and cofounder of Inland Nurse Providers in 1990.
Farmin, Rothrock, & Parrott Inc. has acquired South & Associates Insurance Services. Mark O’Neill, the previous owner of the business, will remain with the company as personal lines manager.
Opportunities:
The Small Business Council of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking nominations for the 10th Annual Small Business Excellence “AGORA” Awards. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, W1020 Riverside. Deadline for returning nominations is Feb. 17.
Events:
Monday - The Small Business Development Center offers Fast Trac II from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the center, N665 Riverpoint Blvd., through June 23.
The Training and Education Coordinating Center will offer the following Classes:
Monday-Thursday - Introduction to Quicken For Windows, 1-4 p.m., at the Extended Learning Lodge, W3303 Fort George Wright Drive. Tuition and workbook, $110. Call 533-3770.
Monday-Thursday - Introduction to Excel, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Extended Learning Lodge, W3303 Fort George Wright Drive. Tuition and workbook, $110. Call 533-3770.
Monday-Thursday - Introduction To Wordperfect 5.1, 5-8 p.m., at the Extended Learning Lodge, W3303 Fort George Wright Drive. Tuition and workbook, $110.
Wednesday-Thursday - Customer Service Champions, 9 a.m.noon, at the Institute for Extended Learning. Cost is $59. Call 533-3222 for information and to register.
Feb. 13-Feb. 16 - Intermediate Excel, 1-4 p.m., at the Institute for Extended Learning, W3303 Fort George Wright Drive. Tuition and workbook, $110. Call 533-3770.
Feb. 13-Feb. 16 - Introduction To MS-DOS, 5-8 p.m. at the Institute For Extended Learning, W3303 Fort George Wright Drive. Tuition and workbook, $110. Call 533-3770.
Feb. 13-Feb. 16 - Introduction To Windows, at the Institute For Extended Learning, W3303 Fort George Wright Drive. Tuition and workbook, $110. Call 533-3770.
Wednesday-Friday - The Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Show, Moses Lake.
Wednesday - Northwest Inland Empire APICS dinner meeting, Templin’s Resort, Post Falls, Idaho, social hour will start at 5:15 p.m. followed by dinner at 5:34 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:45 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $15/person. Call 927-5585 by Monday 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.-3 p.m., (208) 772-0584; Pasco Chamber, N1600 20th, Pasco, Wash., 1-4 p.m., call 547-9755.
Thursday - Farm & Business Succession Seminar, BBCC Bldg. 1500, Room 1507; Big Bend Community College, Business Development Center, 7662 Chanute Street, Moses Lake. Call 762-6289.
Thursday - Bottom Up Marketing: Give Your Business the Competitive Edge, offered by the Idaho Small Business Development Center at North Idaho College, at the Workforce Training Center, Riverbend Commerce Park, W525 Clearwater Loop, Post Falls, Idaho. Cost is $35/session. Call (208) 769-3444 to register.
Feb. 13-Feb. 16 - Cash Flow Management, offered by CCS Small Business Development Center, 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, N665 Riverpoint Blvd. Cost is $45. Call 358-2050.
Feb. 14 - 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, Idaho, 9 a.m.-noon, call (208) 799-2465; Pullman Chamber of Commerce, N415 Grand, Pullman, 9 a.m.-noon, call 334-3565; TRIDEC SBDC, N901 Colorado, 1-4 p.m., call 735-1000.
Feb. 14 - Interviewing Techniques, offered by the Idaho small Business Development Center at North Idaho College, at the Workforce Training Center, Riverbend Commerce Park, W525 Clearwater Loop, Post Falls, Idaho. Cost is $35/session. Call (208) 769-3444 to register.
Feb. 15 - Real Estate Market Forum, 7:15 a.m.- 1:45 p.m. at the Spokane Opera House, W334 Spokane Falls Boulevard. Register by Friday, $35; at the door $45. Call 326-9222 for registration and information.
Feb. 17 - Northwest Inland Empire APICS Chapter presents Cycle Counting Seminar at the Comfort Inn, N9905 Sullivan Road, 1-5 p.m. Cost is $55; students $25. Call (208) 772-6645 or 927-5585 for information and to register.
Feb. 18-Feb. 19 - Sharon Adams of Welcome to my World presents Starting Your Own Business as a Concessionaire at the Ridpath Hotel, University Room, both days at 1 and 7 p.m. Call 459-1064 for information and to register.
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.