Business beat
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Architecture
Dell Hatch has joined Bernardo|Wills Architects as a landscape architect and design coordinator. Hatch was previously with the firm from 2009 to 2013. He has 32 years of experience in landscape architecture, including experience in master planning and design of municipal and state parks, recreational complexes, outdoor sports and athletic facilities, higher-education campuses, K-12 schools, and urban-revitalization streetscapes. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and is licensed in Washington, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada.
Communications
Avista Corp. has named Kevin Christie as vice president for customer solutions. Christie was previously the senior director of customer solutions and has been with Avista for 10 years. He completed the utility executive cfourse at the University of Idaho and the finance for senior executives program at Harvard Business School.
River Linguistics has opened at 811 W. Second Ave., Suite 208. This business provides translation, transcription and telephonic interpreting services for businesses and individuals. For more information, call (707) 474-8374 or visit riverlinguistics.com.
Construction
Kevin Cook, with Champion Concrete Pumping & Conveying Inc., has been named a recipient of the national 2014 Safe Operator of the Year Award from the American Concrete Pumping Association in recognition of his outstanding work as a concrete pump operator. He received the award at association’s World of Concrete 2015 convention in Las Vegas earlier this month. Cook has been with Champion since 1994 and has been certified by the association for 19 years.
Finance
Northwest Farm Credit Services received the 2015 Farm Credit Council Phelps-Martin Award for Services to the Non-Agriculture Community. The award was presented to Northwest FCS for the creation of the “Pink Tractor” campaign to fight breast cancer. The award is given to a Farm Credit organization each year to recognize efforts made to enhance the quality of life in rural communities and support of charitable organizations.
Hospitality
Visit Spokane announced that Quality Inn Downtown 4th Ave has been awarded the 2015 Gold Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International. The award is determined by hotels that are ranked in the top 10 percent of all 6,300 Choice Hotels across the nation and is based on 2014 performance ratings.
Insurance
Janette Smith has joined PayneWest Insurance as a commercial insurance account specialist. Smith has seven years of experience in the insurance industry.
Law
Kevin J. Curtis, principal and litigator with Winston & Cashatt, Lawyers, will be inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers on Feb. 28 in Key Biscayne, Florida. Fellowship in the group is extended by invitation only and is based on a trial lawyer’s advocacy and demonstration of the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Curtis has extensive trial experience in criminal defense, complex commercial litigation and class action litigation.
Attorneys Mari Luna and Stephanie Zimmerman have opened Luna Legal LLC at 716 E. Rockwood Blvd. Luna and Zimmerman are members of the Washington State Bar Association and Certified Professional Qualified Mediators. The firm specializes in all types of mediation services, including family law, contract, employment, landlord-tenant, foreclosure and workplace negotiation. For more information, call (509) 455-4444 or visit lunalegal.net.
Miscellaneous
Pam Duckmanton has opened Peaceful Paws Massage, a mobile pet massage service. Duckmanton is a certified small animal massage practitioner in Washington state. For more information, call (509) 768-5939 or visit http://www.peacefulpaws massage.com.
Nonprofit
Jessica Matthews has joined the YMCA of the Inland Northwest as human resources director. Matthews has experience in human resource management, as well as leading strategic workforce and talent management initiatives. She is certified as a senior professional in human resources through the Human Resources Certification Institute and was previously with Macy’s Inc. and the Boeing Co.
Real estate
Jurene Phaneuf and Shane O’Neill have joined the sales team at RE/MAX Inland Empire as brokers. Previously, Phaneuf and O’Neill were with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson.
Retail
Etailz has hired Cassandra Hamlin as an accounting relationship coordinator and Chris Miiller as a first to market associate.