Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Business Beat

Compiled By Karen Mason

New faces

Gary Squires has joined GeoEngineer’s Spokane office as a senior geotechnical engineer. Squires has 13 years of experience in geotechnical and environmental engineering, hydrogeology and mining geology. He previously worked for Applied Geotechnology Inc. as an engineer and Nchanga Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd. as a geologist.

Gary Stevens has joined GeoEngineers as staff hydrogeologist. Stevens provides environmental and geotechnical field services for Washington and Idaho. He has a dual masters in hydrogeology and geophysics from the University of Idaho.

Kiemle & Hagood Co. has hired Gary Rogers as HUD property administrator. Rogers was formerly chief of loan management and acting branch coordinator for the regional Department of Housing and Urban Development. He has 23 years of HUD experience.

Rhea Rice has joined Kiemle & Hagood as an administrative assistant in the HUD Property Management Department.

North Idaho Title has added the following people to its staff:

Kathryn Sabens is as an escrow officer. Sabens spent the last nine years as an escrow officer at First American Title Co. in Coeur d’Alene.

Rod Burleson joined the company as director of marketing. Burleson has been in the title business for 15 years, most recently with First American Title Co. in Coeur d’Alene.

Katie Ogle is a business development representative. Ogle was a real estate sales associate for two year with Coldwell Banker/Schneidmiller Realty in Coeur d’Alene.

The following people have joined the staff of Baker & Dougherty CPA’s:

Darian Panasuk will manage the accounting firm’s new Business Resources Department. Panasuk, a CPA, is a graduate of the University of Montana and has eight years of experience in corporate and partnership tax and accounting.

Kelly Carlson joins the firm as a staff accountant. Carlson has worked as a bookkeeper for several small businesses in the area and has a degree in accounting from the University of Idaho.

Suzette Kessler is an administrative assistant. Kessler graduated from Fresno Pacific College in Fresno, Calif., with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems. Most recently she was employed as office manager for Travis Energy & Environmental Inc. in Hayden, Idaho.

Diana Thomas has joined Noble Funding Inc. Thomas, who previously managed a mortgage company in Coeur d’Alene, has 14 years of experience in the mortgage lending business.

James Whiteley has been hired as administrator for The Waterford. Whiteley, who has been at Garden Terrace Manor for the last 4 years, is a graduate of Gonzaga University’s MBA program.

Starting Up:

NationsCredit has opened a new branch in the Northpointe Plaza, 9710 N. Newport Highway. The branch will offer a variety of consumer loans, including home equity and personal loans, and personal lines of credit. It will also offer retail financing. Brad Ludes was named manager of the branch.

International Audit Systems has opened a Spokane office at 620 E. Glencrest Dr. IAS is part of a nationwide network of affiliates auditing lease payments, utility bills, freight and shipping bills, telephone and cellular bills, and select overhead expenses for area businesses. IAS attempts to secure refunds and future billing reductions for business owners due to errors found in the various overhead expenses. Sean Callahan is head of the local consulting department.

Moving Up:

Clifford H. Crismore has been promoted to council program director of the area Scouting Council. He will serve as staff advisor to the council activities, advancement, camping, and leadership training committees, and serve as chief of the fire to the Order of the Arrow.

Transactions:

John Beutler & Associates has joined All Points Relocation Service Inc. as a representative in Coeur d’Alene. The affiliation enables Beutler & Associates to provide a total relocation service to families moving virtually anywhere.

June Sinn has converted her brokerage, Sinn Properties, W110 Crawford, Deer Park, to Century 21 People’s Choice. She is a member of the Spokane Association of Realtors and served as chair of the local MLS Steering Committee for the past two years.

Kudos:

Caterina Winery’s 1993 Chardonnay and 1992 Merlot have received national honors. The Wine Spectator selected Caterina’s 1993 Chardonnay as a “Spectator Selection” in its Feb. 28th issue. The Caterina 1992 Merlot received a gold medal from the 1995 Dallas Morning News National Wine Competition.

Robert Moe & Associates P.S has successfully completed an independent peer review of its accounting and auditing practice. The reviewers concluded that the firm complies with the stringent quality control standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The peer review was conducted by the Denver, Colo. firm of Williams, Ritchie & Co. under procedures established by AICPA.

Spokane-based Global Federal Credit Union has earned a five-star rating from Bauer Financial Reports Inc., a nationally recognized banking research firm that analyzes and rates federally insured U.S. banks and credit unions.

Certifications:

Dr. Thomas Thilo has been recertified by the American Board of Surgery, following the successful completion of a written examination held in San Francisco, Calif. Thilo is a general and vascular surgeon who has practiced in Coeur d’Alene since 1985. He received his surgical training at the University of Washington and completed medical school at the University of Iowa.

The Lambert Group, an environmental consulting firm, announced that Dave Lamb, Bob Doler, and Jeff Lambert have been certified as underground storage tank site assessors in Washington. Doug Ladwig, Dave Lamb, Bob Doler, andJeff Lambert have also been certified as UST site assessors in Idaho.

Opportunities:

Eastern Washington University’s College of Business Administration is seeking nomination for its annual C. Paul Sandifur Sr. Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Nominees should have demonstrated innovation and some willingness to assume risk. Nominations must be received by April 7. To obtain a nomination form, contact Debbie Jennings at 458-6396.

Events:

Tuesday - “Partnership in Employment Expo ‘95” sponsored by five Eastern Washington colleges and universities will be held at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park in Spokane, from 3-7 p.m. The event is free for current students and alumni of Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Washington State University, Whitman College and Whitworth College. Some 60 employers will be on hand to discuss full-time employment opportunities, internships, summer jobs, and part-time positions. For more information, contact Mary Heitkemper at 328-4220, ext. 4234, or Robin Showalter at 359-2221.

Tuesday - Craig Walters, research assistant with WSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, will discuss research conducted utilizing aerial photography to manage fertility, weed control and even protein estimates for growing wheat crops at the Whitman County Ag Tech breakfast meeting at 7 a.m. at the Wheel Inn Restaurant, Steptoe, Wash. For more information, call 397-6290 in Colfax.

Tuesday-Thursday - The 46th Annual Road Builders’ Clinic, sponsored by the University of Idaho and WSU, will be held at the Red Lion Inn. For information on registration and fees, call 1-800-942-4978.

Wednesday - APICS dinner meeting at Telect, 2111 N. Molter Rd., Liberty Lake. Telect President Wayne Williams will discuss “The Next Level of Competition”. Dinner, 5:30 p.m.; program, 6:30. Reservations are required; cost: $10 for dinner, free for the program. For more information, call Barb Woodall at 927-5585.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/operators: Pasco Chamber, 1600 N. 20th, 1-4 p.m., call 547-9755; Panhandle Area Council, 11100 Airport Drive, Hayden, Idaho, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., call (208) 772-0584.

Wednesday - Ethics in Business, offered by Community Colleges of Spokane, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Institute for Extended Learning. Cost: $69; call 533-3222 for more information or to register.

Wednesday-Thursday - The Washington State Housing Finance Commission sponsors a free community home buyer education seminar at the Farmers and Merchants Bank, 25 N. Mullan, 6:30-9 p.m. Cost: free; call Landie Chappell of Farmers and Merchants Bank at 922-9405 for reservations.

Thursday - Whitworth College’s Master in International Management program will host an open house at 6:30 p.m. in Room 4 of Whitworth College’s Lindaman Center. For more information, call the MIM offices at 466-3742.

Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/operators at: Yakima SBDC, 1105 S. 15th, 9 a.m. - noon; call 575-2209.

Thursday - Rushworth M. Kidder, founder and president of the Institute for Global Ethics, will speak on “Ethical Issues Raised by New Technologies” at 7:30 p.m. at Whitworth College’s Music Recital Hall. For more information, call 466-3291.

Thursday-Friday - Connections ‘95 Electrical Expo at the Ag Trade Center, sponsored by the Inland Northwest Electrical League. Call 326-5410 for more information.

Friday - Export Licensing, offered by Community Colleges of Spokane from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Spokane Falls Community College, Building 1, Rm. 106. Cost: $125; call 533-3448 for more information or to register.

March 14 - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/operators at: TRIDEC SBDC, 901 N. Colorado, 1-4 p.m., call 735-1000; Lewis-Clark State College SBDC at L-CSC, Lewiston, 9 a.m. - noon, call (208) 799-2465; Pullman Chamber of Commerce, 415 N. Grand, 9 a.m. - noon, call 334-3565; Yakima SBDC, 1105 S. 15th, 9 a.m. - noon, call 575-2209.

March 14 - Consumer Credit Counseling of Spokane offers a money management workshop from 6:30-9 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Call 327-3777 or 800-892-6854 for more information or 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.

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.