Red Lion Hotels director retires

Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corp. announced Wednesday the retirement of Arthur Coffey as its president, CEO and director.

The company’s board of directors named Anupam Narayan, executive vice president and chief financial officer, as president and CEO effective immediately. Narayan also was appointed to the board and will be a director nominee at the shareholders meeting in May.

“We cannot thank Art enough for his 27 years of service to Red Lion and its predecessor companies and for his tireless work in turning Red Lion into the success that it is today,” board Chairman Donald Barbieri said in a statement.

Coffey began his career in 1971 and joined Red Lion in 1981, when it was known as Goodale & Barbieri. He was named CEO in 1990 and became executive vice president and CFO in 1997. In April 2003, Coffey was named president and CEO.

Red Lion Hotels includes 52 hotels in eight states and one Canadian province.

– From staff reports

Spokane

Kaiser upgrading Trentwood plant

Upgrades at Kaiser Aluminum Corp.’s Trentwood plant will improve the energy efficiency of its casting process, the company said Wednesday in a news release.

The enhancements, including a “state-of-the-art furnace and combustion system,” are expected to reduce natural gas consumption per pound of aluminum cast and cut material waste, according to the release. The changes are part of $14 million in investments for three Kaiser plants.

Foothill Ranch, Calif.-based Kaiser previously announced $139 million in upgrades to increase capacity and capabilities at Trentwood.

The company has 11 plants in North America, producing more than 500 million pounds of products annually.

– Parker Howell

Spokane

GU president to speak at forum

The Rev. Robert Spitzer, president of Gonzaga University, will talk about the role that ethics play in business at the Spokane City Forum next Wednesday.

“Business Ethics in Spokane – The Good City” is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spokane First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar St. Reservations are required by Monday. The cost is $10, $5 for students, and includes lunch.

Spitzer, a Jesuit and author, will draw from his experiences in leadership, higher education, theology, physics, metaphysics and the ontology of ethics for the talk. He also has some business background, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga in 1974.

Spitzer has been Gonzaga’s president about 10 years. He founded or co-founded a number of institutes of higher education and learning, such as the Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education, Gonzaga Institute of Ethics, Magis (Center for Executive Leadership and Spiritual Life) and Spitzer Center for Executive Leadership.

To register, call (509) 777-1555, e-mail info@spokanecityforum.org or go to www.spokanecity forum.org/registration.htm.

– From staff reports