Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Mike Heiser has joined WhiteRunkle Associates as an account executive. Heiser, who received an MBA from the University of Southern California, previously was director of account services at Wendt Advertising. He will handle account management and strategic planning duties for a number of the firm’s clients.

Karlene Beaumont has joined the Med Centers as director of public relations/marketing. Beaumont, who received a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University, previously was a personal banker with U.S. Bank of Washington.

John Williams has been elected to the board of directors for the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors. Williams, an associate with Acuff Northwest Inc., has served as the chairman of the Association of Realtors Grievance Committee.

Leslie Flinn has joined Washington Trust Bank as branch manager for the bank’s new Sullivan Branch, expected to open his fall. A Central Washington University graduate, Flinn has experience in branch management, consumer lending and credit analysis.

James S. Black-North has added the following people to its staff:

Kerry Ames will be the recruiting coordinator.

Derek Budig received a degree in finance from Washington State University.

Keith Bymers and Pat Gow will be sales associates.

Patrick Griffin has more than 16 years of local real estate experience.

Ken Kozol has a background in advertising and printing and comes to Black from another real estate company.

Debbie Kozol, who owned a local travel agency before joining Black, will be a new agent.

Denise March previously spent 10 years with a local real estate closing attorney.

Dexter Opela, Gallery Homes Inc. president, has joined Black as builder and sales associate.

Pat Price and Kara Price will both be sales associates.

Joe Westenskow, another new sales associate, has experience with another local real estate company.

Wade LaVigne joins Black as an experienced sales associate.

MOVING UP:

Washington Trust Bank has promoted the following people to assistant vice president:

Walter Crook, manager, Manito Branch.

Claire DeRusha, manager, NorthTown Branch.

Chris Potter, manager, Second and Wall Branch.

George Smith, manager, Opportunity Pines Branch.

Leah Taylor, manager, Five Mile Branch.

Sandie White, manager, Indiana Branch.

Ron Steele, commercial loan officer.

Steve Prince has transferred to LeMaster & Daniels’ Post Falls office as a representative of the consulting services group, which specializes in implementing, training and supporting computerized accounting systems. He joined LeMaster & Daniels in 1992 after graduating from Central Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Darrell Scott has been made a principal in the law firm of Lukins & Annis where he will practice general litigation. Scott joined Lukins & Annis in 1990 as an associate in the Litigation Department.

Mark Mitchell has been promoted to assistant vice president and senior customer service manager at West One Bank, Coeur d’Alene. Mitchell will supervise the branch operations staff of 20. He has been at West One since 1982.

U.S. Bank has named Kathleen Lewis assistant vice president and manager of its Post Falls Branch. Lewis, who has 24 years of banking experience, will oversee the sales activities of the branch’s 10 staff members.

Philip Crawford has been named interim assistant director of Washington State University Cooperative Extension’s agriculture and natural resources program. Crawford will work with state and county extension faculty in the WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics to deliver educational programs throughout the state.

STARTING UP:

Karen Hudson has opened Secretarial Services of Spokane, which offers a wide variety of businessoriented services including brochures, resumes, original special designs and writing, flyers, and newsletters.

Paula Rose has started On The Spot door-to-door dog food delivery. Rose, an animal science student at Washington State University in Pullman, delivers on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Pullman and Moscow and plans monthly delivery trips to Spokane.

Craig Jacks has formed North Idaho Interactive a full-service multimedia software design group in Hayden Lake, Idaho. North Idaho Interactive specializes in the development of interactive software for corporate training, advertising and education.

MOVING:

Ground-Down Inc. has relocated to 525 N. Fancher Road. The company specializes in manufacturing, machining and repairs of heavy equipment for all industries, hydraulic services and drilling supplies.

CERTIFICATIONS:

Paul Fitzpatrick has been designated an accredited estate planner by the National Association of Estate Planners. Fitzpatrick is an attorney with the Spokane Firm of Fitzpatrick & Culbertson and his practice emphasizes estate, business, and tax planning.

Harvey Meier, president of the Harvey A. Meier Co., a Spokane management consulting firm, has been designated a certified management consultant (CMC) by the Institute of Management Consultants.

ELECTED:

Richard Flaig of Flaig Steel & Fabricating has been elected vice president of the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA). He will also chair the 1996 convention committee.

Doug Scoville has been elected chairman of the National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation (NAWGF). He is a wheat producer in Potlatch, Idaho, and past president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association.

Ron Bertolucci has been elected president of the board of directors at Center Pointe, which provides classes and recreational activities for adults with disabilities. Other officers include: Tim Walsh vice president; Robert Grant, secretary; and George Brower, treasurer.

The 1994-95 officers of INWPGC are: Jane Orr, chairman; Steven Kocharhook, vice chairman; Carol Neupert, membership chairman; Debbie Hansen, treasurer; and Ed McBride, program chairman.

Jane McLeish, credit manager at Hoffman Music Co., has been installed as president of the Spokane Credit Association. Other officers and directors include: Steve Wilcox, Washington Mutual Savings Bank, vice president; Gary Garrison, Spokane Railway Credit Union, vice president; Roy Buck, URM, vice president; Nick Warrick, Credit Bureau Services, secretary; and Paul Billberg, Credit Bureau Services, treasurer.

EVENTS:

Wednesday - Home Buying in Today’s Market offered by Consumer Credit Counseling, with guest speaker Gary Wisben. The workshop will be at 1912 N. Division from 6:30-9 p.m. Cost: $20/person; spouses attend free. Call 327-3777 or (800) 892-6854 to register.

Thursday - Business Planning For Start-Up Ventures, offered by CCS Small Business Development Center form 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI), 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-2050 for information or to register

Thursday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest will offer a seminar on Employment References & Background Investigations from 9:30 a.m. at Associated Industries, 920 N. Washington. Cost: $35/members, $70/non-members; for questions, call Bill Sweigert at 326-6885.

April 1 - Grant County Economic Development Council will hold its fourth annual membership and prospective member banquet, at the Hallmark Inn, Moses Lake. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Cost: $25/person; RSVP by March 27 to: Grant County Economic Development Council Office, Grant County Courthouse, P.O. Box 369, Ephrata, Wash., 98823 or call (509) 754-0978.

April 3-6 - Introduction to Windows at the Institute for Extended Learning Lodge, 3303 W. Fort Wright Drive, from 1-4 p.m. Cost: $110; call 533-3770 to register.

April 3-6 - A class on computer basics at the Institute for Extended Learning, 3303 W. Fort Wright Drive, 5-8 p.m. Cost: $110; call 533-37700 for information and to register.

April 4 - ISO 9000 Overview at the Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya, from 8 a.m.-noon. Cost: $100; call 533-4705 for information and to register.

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

April 6 - Oles Morrison & Rinker presents a seminar on construction and public contracts law at the Spokane Club. Registration will be from 7:15 a.m., with the program from 8:15 a.m15 p.m. Lunch will be served from 12:30 p.m. Cost: $50/person, including course materials, continental breakfast, lunch and guest speaker. Call Jerilyn Warren at (206) 623-3427 by April 3 to register.

CONVENTIONS:

Tuesday - Northwest Power Association, customer relations workshop, Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.

Thursday and Friday - Annual Northwest Regional Conference of Newspaper Executives, International Newspaper Financial Executives, Cavanaugh’s River Inn.

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.