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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Business Beat

Have an item for Business Beat? Send it to businessbeat@ spokesman.com.

Accounting

Nicholas Knapton, P.S. has hired Margaret Reynolds and Jaime Miller as support staff and promoted Nick Crooks from intern to Staff B accountant. Miller was previously a HUD occupancy specialist at Kiemle and Hagood in Spokane.

Business

Patti Usselman, owner of Patti Usselman HAIR.STYLE in the University District of downtown Spokane, was named the winner in the Best Service Based Business category at the 2013 Action Coach Business Excellence Awards Gala in Las Vegas.

E-commerce

GreenCupboards has hired Jack DeWenter as drop ship specialist; Kyle Scott as a member of its merchandising team; and Jason Pearce as financial analyst. Previously, Scott worked for Premier Agenda in Bellingham. Pearce brings more than 10 years of finance experience, including from his most recent position as an accountant at CU*Northwest, a local CUSO in Liberty Lake.

Education

Gail Laferriere, North Idaho College Career Services assistant director for 19 years, has been named the 2013 Counselor of the Year by the Idaho Counseling Association. Laferriere is the only master career counselor in Idaho.

Washington State University College of Nursing has hired Brett Oglesbee as its director of finance and administrative services. Previously, he worked at Eastern Washington University’s College of Science, Health, and Engineering as the finance and administrative officer.

Environmental

Ed’s Premier Auto Body received the 2013 Clean Air Award from Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (Spokane Clean Air) at Spokane County’s “Way to Go” recognition event.

Financial

President of Sterling Bank and Sonoma Bank, and Chief Operating Officer for Sterling Financial Corp. Ezra Eckhardt, of Spokane, was named Washington state’s chief operating officer of the year at Seattle Business magazine’s inaugural 2013 Executive Excellence Awards dinner.

Fitness

A Personal Fit, which specializes in personally designed fitness and nutrition programs, has relocated to 1300 N. Mullan Road in Spokane Valley, and will reopen March 2. For more information call Amy Brantner at (509) 475-5258 or email amyb@apersonalfit.com.

Health care

The American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest (ACCOIN) has added Wells Fargo as a new partner, and will be opening a new office at 3021 S. Regal St., Suite 104. ACCOIN provides support and services to families of children diagnosed with cancer. For more information call Executive Director Mary Anne Ruddis at (509) 443-4162 or (509) 844-4674, or email mruddis@ accoinlandnw.org.

Marketing

Mary Jantsch has been hired as marketing manager at BumbleBar, makers of an organic sesame bar. Jantsch began as an intern at BumbleBar last school year and will graduate from Gonzaga University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a minor in political science in May.

Nonprofit

Sustainable Resources INW is the new administrator for the Sustainable Management of Assets, Resources, and Technology (SMART) Program, launched by the city of Spokane in 2008.

• There were $8,600 in grants given by Avista Foundation to nonprofit organizations in Washington and Idaho in the fourth quarter of 2012, including $2,500 to First Judicial District CASA in Coeur d’Alene.

Parks and recreation

Spokane Parks Foundation and Make a Splash in a Kid’s Life (MAS) have merged their operations and Executive Director of MAS Jen Hussey gained a seat on the Spokane Parks Foundation’s executive board of directors.

Real estate

Century 21 Beutler and Associates has hired Robyn Shea to its professional residential sales team. Shea has 21 years experience in the housing industry, with 13 as a Realtor.

Software

Russell Page is now partner at Imprezzio Inc. Page has been president of Imprezzio for three years and has 18 years of experience in technology, business and leadership roles.