Business Beat
NEW FACES
David Seese has been hired by Taylor Engineering Inc. as general survey manager. He has 18 years of surveying experience and is a graduate of the University of Washington.
Massage Therapy Associates, of Coeur d’Alene, has hired Lisa Kuhl- Thomas. She is a reflexology practitioner.
Jamie Gehring has been hired as a mortgage loan officer for Global Credit Union’s Coeur d’Alene branch. She previously worked for a mortgage broker as a loan officer and has eight years of banking and mortgage lending experience.
AmericanWest Bank has hired Jay Simmons as executive vice president and general counsel. He previously worked for Zion’s Bancorporation and has 20 years of related experience. He holds bachelor’s and law degrees from Brigham Young University and has practiced law since 1985.
John Wilson has been hired by Windermere Real Estate/Cornerstone Inc. as a sales associate for the company’s Spokane office. He previously worked for Columbia Paint for 23 years.
Global Credit Union has hired Stacie Bernhart as a mortgage loan officer for the company’s Coeur d’Alene branch. She previously worked as a sales coordinator for a bank and has 10 years of mortgage lending experience.
Greg Bishop has been hired by Massage Therapy Associates, of Coeur d’Alene. He is a certified Rolfer, Rolf movement practitioner, cranio-sacral practitioner and massage therapist. Rolfing is a system of soft tissue manipulation.
Steven A. Meek Architects has hired Esteban Vallejo as a designer. He previously worked for Lindquist Architects.
Nathan Huestis has been hired as a designer/drafter for the Colmac Industries engineering team. He previously worked as a drafting manager for an engineering firm in Spokane and is a graduate of ITT Technical Institute.
PROMOTIONS
Rick McElhose has been promoted to national accounts manager for Colmac Industries in Colville. He has been with the company for more than 11 years and previously worked for the inside sales and service department. He holds an associate’s degree in robotics and electrical maintenance from Spokane Community College.
Red Lion Hotels Corp. has promoted Lisa Rowe to corporate controller. She previously served as the director of accounting and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in accounting from Gonzaga University.
Karch Polgar has become a senior mechanical engineer for Telect. He has more than 10 years of high-tech industry experience.
KUDOS
The Washington State Dietetic Association has named Caroline Steele Washington State’s Outstanding Dietician of the Year for 2008. She works as a neonatal academic specialist for Mead Johnson Nutritionals.
Bill Simer has been awarded the Washington Society of CPAs Vincent A. Gervais Public Service Award for 2008. He is a partner with McDirmid Mikkelsen and Secrest accounting firm in Spokane.
The Washington Community Mental Health Council has selected Yoke’s Fresh Market as employer of the year in the state of Washington for its work with the Evergreen Club employment program.
APPOINTED
Steve Taylor has been appointed vice president of corporate development for HuntMountain Resources. He previously served as government affairs director for the Spokane Home Builders Association and has 10 years of public affairs, marketing and administration experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, and a master’s degree in public administration, both from Eastern Washington University.
Idaho Independent Bank has appointed Diana Tuttle as a real estate loan officer for the Hayden branch. She has more than 23 years of mortgage lending experience and owned and operated a mortgage company. NEW POSITION
Steve Martini has accepted the position of chief pilot for Empire Airlines. He served as a flight crew’s chief pilot for 13 years and has been with the company 23 years.