Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Gigabit Ethernet industry leader Packet Engines announced three industry veterans have joined the company to head strategic departments. They are:

Nick Schommer, who will be the new director of business development, has 14 years of data networking industry experience in financial consulting, marketing, product management and sales. Schommer was previously with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Technology Group providing data networking industry consulting services to the bank’s research and corporate finance entities.

James Wilson, who will be the new director of product development, previously served as director, encoder systems engineering for DviCom. Wilson managed development of the second generation 1 RU MPEG2 encoder, with responsibilities for all software, hardware and mechanical development.

Don Reckles, who will be the new director of outbound marketing, following more than three years at FORE Systems, Inc. during which the company grew from $23 million to $395 million in revenue, making it one of the fastest growing network equipment suppliers in the United States.

New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Spokane recently added the following new certified instructors to its Spokane-based operation:

Phil Aldrich, who was previously with Conoco, will be a senior Instructor.

Joel Fulton, who was previously with Spokane Molding, will be an instructor.

Floyd Garner, who is currently studying to become a masters certified trainer, will be an instructor.

Mick Mason, previously with the United States Air Force, who will be an instructor.

John Schickling, a graduate of Western Washington University, who will be an instructor.

Rob Liljenberg, who has been in the real estate business for 18 years, has joined Windermere Real Estate/North Wall Street, Inc.

Michael Washburn has joined the electrical department of Riley Engineering, Inc. Washburn has a diverse electrical background and more than 25 years of experience.

Output Technology has hired Tom Hill as a International Sales Manager. Hill’s responsibilities include worldwide sales, with specific emphasis on Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He was previously employed as International Sales Executive at ASC Machine Tools and as International Sales Manager at Key Tronic Corporation.

The following people have recently joined Output Technology:

Kim Crumpacker has joined as Materials Director and is responsible for managing purchasing, traffic and production planning and scheduling. Crumpacker was previously a purchasing manager at Spokane Transit Authority.

Tom Mandsager has joined as a Buyer/Planner. Mandsager, who was previously a buyer at MOR Manufacturing, will be responsible for electro/mechanical procurement.

Cyndy Sweitzer has joined as Purchasing Administrative Assistant. Sweitzer, who was previously a stock transfer agent with Transecurities International, will be responsible for procurement support.

MOVING UP:

Magnuson, McHugh and Company, P.A., a Coeur d’Alene Certified Public Accounting firm, announced the following promotions:

Shelly Romine, CPA has been promoted from staff accountant to senior accountant. Romine joined the firm in 1994.

Mollie Brinkley, CPA has been promoted from tax accountant to senior tax accountant. Brinkley joined the firm in 1996.

The following employees have been promoted within Output Technology:

Sally Hoeck has been promoted to Associate Buyer/Planner and Traffic Coordinator. Hoeck, who was previously the Purchasing Administrative Assistant, will be responsible for MRO buying and international traffic.

John Dechenne has moved into the role of Network Administrator. Dechenne was previously the Repair Center Manager.

Gloria Ybarra has been promoted to the position of diversity and affirmative action administrator with Washington Water Power Co. Ybarra was the human resources administrator and assistant to the diversity strategist.

D.A. Davidson and Company in Coeur d’Alene has named Branch Manager Brad Dugdale, Mark Bowlby, Bryan Ross and Mic Armon to their Chairman’s Council. The purpose of the Chairman’s Council is to involve top Financial Consultants in the direction and philosophy of the firm.

STARTING UP:

State Farm Insurance Companies announced the appointment of Agent Jeri Mainer and the opening of her business office at 2901 N. Argonne Suite 2 in Millwood. Mainer brings 13 years of insurance experience to her agency and her new office will sell annuities, IRA’s, life, disability, homeowner and automobile insurance.

APPOINTED:

Habitat for Humanity-Spokane has named three new board members. They are: Kelly Nolen, an attorney with Witherspoon Kelley Davenport and Toole and retirees, Mary Lou Cassidy and Harriett Jacobsen.

ELECTED:

Shayla Bolt, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Inland Empire, was elected to a three-year term on the board of Directors of EconomicsAmerican, the Washington Council on Economic Education.

The membership of the Spokane Country Club has elected the following individuals to lead the organization into its 100th year:

Greg Hougham, President of the Board of Trustees; Mark Virden, Vice President; Dan Harbaugh, Secretary-Treasurer; elected Trustees are: Gene Annis, Rick Davis and Art Nordling.

Harold Prinz, of Nampa, Idaho, was re-elected as a Director to CoBank. Printz is the CEO of Producers Supply Co-op, Inc.; District Director of Land O’Lakes and Director of AgAmerica Farm Credit Council.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Packet Engines Incorporated, a worldwide leader in Gigabet Ethernet solutions, announced that the company’s G-NIC Gigabit Ethernet Network Interface Card has achieved the industry’s highest performance for a PCI Bus NIC.

KUDOS:

The following companies were nominated for the 1997 Work and Family Northwest Progress Awards presented by the Child Care Advantages Program: Goodale & Barbieri of Spokane; Telect, Inc. of Liberty Lake; and Group Health Northwest of Spokane.

Attorneys Kenneth Howard and Louis Garbrecht, both of Coeur d’Alene, received the Idaho State Bar’s annual Professionalism and Pro Bono Awards. Another professionalism award recipient was Randall Robinson. Pro bono awards also were presented to Dee Ellen Grubbs and Edwin Litteneker. All three are from Lewiston.

Cort Wilcox, Vice President, Financial Consultant, Assistant Office Manager at the Coeur d’Alene office of D.A. Davidson and Company was this year’s recipient of the Bragg Lewis Knutson Community Service Award for outstanding volunteerism and service to his local community. The award is given in memory of Bob Bragg, Gene Lewis and Don Knutson, three D.A. Davidson and Company corporate officers who were killed in a company airplane crash in 1994.

D.A. Davidson and Company in Spokane has named R.C. Roland, Garry Shea and Dave Milbrath to DAD’s Chairman’s Council. Doug Dumais and Glenn Baldwin were named to DAD’s President’s Club. All are in recognition of outstanding performance and service to clients.

Steve Russel, Sales Associate with Tomlinson Black North, has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representative designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors. Russell has also achieved the Certified Residential Specialist and Graduate Realtor Institute designations.

Rex Hoffmeister, M.D., a private practice rheumatologist in Spokane, has received the Arthritis Foundation’s most prestigious Quality of Life Award for his clinical observations on usefulness of methotrexate which set the stage for the extensive research into its effectiveness.

The National Quality Award from the National Association of Life Underwriters went to Coeur d’Alene’s David Pelz who is with New York Life Insurance Company. Pelz was cited for excellence in client and customer representation.

Russ Roeber, Spokane-area leader for The Franklin, has been named the company’s Area Leader of the Month based on his agency sales during August.

Susan Green, a member the board of Spokane Insurance Women, received the Certified Professional Insurance Woman designation. Green currently works for Sedgwick James of Washington Inc.

EVENTS:

Tuesday -The American Business Women’s Association, Spokane Falls Chapter meeting, will meet at 5:30 p.m. at Casey’s Restaurant; call Irene LaBounty 534-6560 for reservations or information.

Tuesday - The National Association of Purchasing Management will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the Quality Inn Valley Suites. Cost is $9 for lunch. Call Dean Stone at 927-6417 for reservations.

Wednesday - A new business outreach workshop will be held from 8:30-1:30 a.m. and again from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Department of Revenue’s Spokane office, 8th floor training room, cost is free; call 482-3805 for reservations or information.

Wednesday - A presentation entitled “The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 - Focus on Retirement,” will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at Patsy Clark’s. Call Margot Hamstra at 458-4219 for more information or to register.

Wednesday - The Executive Women’s Network will hold its annual Christmas luncheon at the Quality Inn Valley Suites beginning at 11:30 a.m. Guests are welcome. Call 924-1595 for reservations.

Thursday - The Association of Records Managers and Administrators will present a 20-minute film entitled “Attitude is Everything,” with Keith Harrell. The film will be part of a lunch meeting at the Shilo Inn beginning at noon. Call 299-9254 to RSVP.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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