Business beat

New faces

McDirmid Mikkelsen and Secrest, P.S. has hired Staci Huffman and Greg Kelly as staff accountants. Both are graduates of Eastern Washington University.

Ben Doornink has been hired as business manager for Far West Agribusiness Association. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University and studied business administration at Washington State University.

Inland Northwest Bank has hired Greg Hubbard as a mortgage loan officer. He previously worked for Chase Bank (formerly Washington Mutual) for 15 years.

Promotions

Winston and Cashatt Lawyers promoted Kammi Menke Smith and Greg Devlin to principals.

New position

Kim Pearman-Gillman has been hired as business development director for McKinstry’s Spokane office. She previously worked for the city of Spokane’s economic development office, Itron Inc., Ascentium and as vice president of Avista Corp.

Kudos

IBF has been named among the 10 best companies on the Print Services and Distribution Association’s top U.S. print distributorships for mailing and fulfillment services in 2008. The Boise-based company has offices in Idaho Falls; Burley, Idaho; Coeur d’Alene and Spokane.

The Idaho Small Business Development Center has named Bill Jhung as the 2009 State Star for his contributions to the center and small businesses in Idaho.

Jhung works as regional director of the North Idaho College Idaho Small Business Development Center.

Chipman Moving and Storage Inc. in Spokane received a Performance Excellence Award by United Van Lines for July 2008 through June 2009. The award is based on customer satisfaction and service in addition to packing, hauling and warehousing claims liability.

Seattle Business magazine has awarded the following individuals with its Top Innovators and Entrepreneurs Award for 2009: Bioscience category, Lisa Shaffer and Dr. Bassem Bejjani of Signature Genomic Laboratories in Spokane; Energy category, Edmund Schweitzer III of Schweitzer Engineering Labs in Pullman; Manufacturing category, Tamsin Jolley of Decagon Devices of Pullman.

Gifts

Spokane Community College received a $50,000 grant from the Welty Endowment for Systemic Program and Professional Development for the college’s culinary arts and hospitality programs.

New businesses

Katie Gehn and Shelley Alkier have merged their yoga studios to form Spokane Yoga Shala, located at 505 E. 24th Ave. The expanded studio specializes in providing Ashtanga and Vinyasa-inspired classes, meditation courses, workshops, retreats and more. Gehn founded the Spokane Yoga Shala studio in 2003 which was previously named City Yoga. Alkier previously owned Twist Yoga Studio. Contact: (509) 869-4121.

Kent Gold has opened Kid Sports, an indoor sports and activity center for children 18 months to 12 years old. The center specializes in providing SoccerTots, HoopsterTots and Lil Sluggers classes in addition to an Open Bounce play area and birthday parties. Location: 416 N. Madelia St. Contact: (509) 534-KIDS (5437).