Business beat

New faces

Dr. Nicole Brandt has joined Spokane Eye Clinic as a board certified eye specialist. Brandt is a graduate of Northwestern University Medical School and the University of California at Berkeley. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of California, San Diego, where she also completed fellowship training in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery.

Dunn and Black, P.S. has hired Heather DeBlieck as an attorney. She will practice in the areas of eminent domain, construction, employment and general business litigation.

Larry Trefry has been hired by Andre-Romberg Insurance as a commercial lines agent. He previously worked for Western States Insurance.

U.S. Bank Private Client Group has hired Jean Edwards as a vice president and managing director for the company’s investment/trust division in Spokane. She is a graduate of Montana State University, the American Bankers Association’s National Graduate Trust School and the Cannon Trust School. She is also a certified financial services counselor and has 27 years of trust and wealth management industry experience.

Spokane VA Medical Center has hired Catherine Caskey as a registered nurse for behavioral health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social psychology from Park College and is a graduate of St. Luke’s College of Nursing. Caskey is also a Vietnam War-era veteran and has more than 35 years of nursing experience. In addition, the center has hired Dr. Jesse Jangula as an optometry resident. He is a graduate of Pacific University’s College of Optometry and holds a biology degree from the University of North Dakota.

William “Bill” Mulholland has been hired as finance director for the city of Pullman. He is a certified public accountant in both Washington and Arizona and a certified fraud examiner, and he has more than 25 years of accounting and management experience. He graduated from Arizona State University, earning bachelor’s degrees in accounting and political science.

Kudos

Chuck Horgan has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accreditation for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. Horgan works as an associate for Bernardo-Willis Architects.

The Washington Finance Officer’s Association has awarded Arlene Fisher and James Plaster with Professional Financial Officer awards. Fisher is the city administrator for the city of Cheney and Plaster serves as director of finance and administration for Spokane Transit Authority.

Chipman Moving and Storage Inc. in Spokane was named Agent of the Month for June 2009 by United Van Lines. The company was selected from more than 475 agencies for best rankings in customer service, vehicle safety, operational performance and low claims experience.

The U.S. Commerce Association has presented Bruttles Candy Shoppe at the Davenport Hotel with a 2009 Best of Spokane Award in the retail stores category.

Appointed

Greer Gibson Bacon has been appointed by Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire to the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership. Bacon serves as president of Asset Planning & Management Inc., a fee-only financial planning and management firm.

The following individuals have been appointed to the Spokane Regional Marketing and Communications Association’s (MarCom) 2009-2010 board of directors: president, Allison Benjamin of Cancer Care Northwest; past president, Jeff Thomas; vice president/incoming president/programming chair, Ashley Martin of Klundt Hosmer; event chair, Leslie White Hebert of Coffman Engineers Inc.; SPARK Awards judging chair, Lori Humphrey of Proforma Good Work Marketing; finance chair, Denise Echelbarger of WSU Spokane Academic Center; communications chair, Joe Johnson of Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau; membership chair, Dawn Picken of Greater Spokane Inc.;internship chair, Alyssa Ando of Sterling International; and fundraising chair, Dean Davis of Dean Davis Photography.

Promotions

Mike Brixey has been promoted from special assets administrator to assistant vice president of Sterling Savings Bank. He has been with the company for two years.