Business Beat

New faces:

Kim Robinson has joined Hanna & Associates Inc., as an account executive. Robinson was an account executive at KREM Television for three years before joining Hanna. She is a graduate of the Washington State University School of Communications.

Susan Troppman has joined the law firm of Etter & McMahon P.S. She will specialize in employment, commercial and municipal litigation. Troppman, who received her law degree magna cum laude from Gonzaga University, was formerly an associate with Chase, Hayes & Kalamon P.S.

Morris Goldade has joined LeMaster & Daniels, a certified public accounting firm, as a pension consultant. He was previously with Milliman & Robertson Inc., of Seattle. Goldade specializes in retirement plan administration, specifically with large employers.

Mutual Travel has hired Dave Vahala as client sales and service manager. Vahala has more than 15 years of experience in sales and client service, including 11 years with Alaska Airlines. He was most recently director of sales for Spokane and Coeur d’Alene with US Travel. Vahala will service corporate accounts in the Spokane area.

Buckeye Beans & Herbs named Nancy Kvamme project coordinator and Linda Estep wholesale sales coordinator. Kvamme, who joined Buckeye from Odyssey 2 Inc., is in charge of shepherding new projects through the company, to see that production schedules and deadlines are met. Estep, who previously worked in U.S. Bank’s Loan Recovery Department, is in charge of servicing wholesale customers and developing programs to improve communications with the company’s network of distributors and sales brokers.

Sharon Chaikin has joined Details Salon as a licensed massage practitioner. Chaikin specializes in Swedish massage.

Associated Builders & Contractors has hired Deanna Schulte as education director. Schulte will be responsible for guiding the association’s educational programs and ABC’s Apprenticeship & Training Trust. She previously was Spokane County coordinator for Sen. Slade Gorton’s re-election campaign.

Mary Haile and Beth Pfeiffer have joined the Regional Information Service, Gonzaga University’s business information program. Haile, formerly secretary for the Gonzaga library’s associate dean, is the program assistant and will be in charge of office management, reception and accounting. Pfeiffer is the new information specialist and will work with Hewlett-Packard and other RIS business clients, providing research, competitive intelligence, and database searching services. She previously worked for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute library in Troy, N.Y.

Hospice of Spokane has added the following people to its staff:

Anne Koepsell R.N., M.H.A., is the executive director. Koepsell has experience in health care administration, operations management, and total quality management (TQM). She has worked for the past eight years in the private home health sector.

Agnes Ericson has been named office manager; Dusty Eide,N.A.C. has joined the nurse aide staff; Chris Stewart has been named receptionist; and Linda Campbell is new accounts receivable/medical billing clerk.

Pullman-based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has added the following people to its staff:

Carlos Quecan is application and sales engineer. He will operate the company’s fifth field office in New Port Richey, Fla., which covers Mexico, Central and South America. Quecan previously worked for Beckwith Electric Inc. and Westinghouse Electric Corp.

Gordon Myers and Bert Tsutakawa are international marketing specialists. Myers has experience and expertise in export operations, international trade finance, and cross cultural communications. He previously worked for Atlas Tours Lts., Washington State University and Emco Wheaton Inc. He will initiate and support sales and marketing activities in Europe and Latin America.

Tsutakawa has experience in Pacific Rim client development, industrial marketing, strategic planning, and market research. Prior employers include General Dynamics Corp., Arbitron Co. and Santona Corp. Tsutakawa will select international distributors for the Pacific Rim, Middle East and Africa.

Pam George has joined Time To Travel, Coeur d’Alene as the branch manager. George’s responsibilities will include overall branch operations and the quality and service of the 12 travel consultants at that branch. George has 18 years experience in the travel industry.

Bonnie Robinson and Lisa Sedlacek-Marcum have joined the faculty of Holy Names Music Center at Fort Wright as teachers of music. Robinson previously taught at the Music Center of the North Shore in Winnetka, Ill., and Sedlacek-Marcum recently relocated to Spokane from Colville, where she had her own studio.

Dawn Allison has become an associate of the Lukin & Annis law firm. Allison received her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. Allison will be located in the Coeur d’Alene office where her practice will focus on land use, real estate, environmental law and general practice.

Jan Gouveia has become as associate of Lukins & Annis where she will focus on general litigation and insurance law. Gouveia received her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law.

Judy Imhof has joined Lukin & Annis as the business development coordinator. Imhof will coordinate marketing and client services for the firm.

Moving Up:

Laraine Hunter has been named manager of the John L. Scott Real Estate downtown office. Hunter, who joined the company a year ago as director of career development, will continue to administer the John L. Scott Institute of Real Estate, which offers courses to real estate professionals throughout the region.

Elected:

Wallace McGregor has been chosen president of The Northwest Mining Association. McGregor is president of Steelhead Specialty Minerals and Pacific Coast Minerals. Other officers include: Jami Paul Fernette,Cominco American Resources, first vice president; Allan Marter, Endeavour Financial Inc., second vice president; John Neff, an attorney, secretary; and David Menard, West One Bank, treasurer.

Opportunities:

The deadline to register for the National Accountancy Exam sponsored by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT) is April 7. The exam will be given from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 12. Contact Judy Hinman, Spokane Community College accounting department, 533-7391 or write the ACAT National Office, 1010 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Va., 22314, (703) 549-2228 or FAX (703) 549-2984.

Events:

Tuesday - PacificCAD will sponsor Softdesk 7 Seminar at Gonzaga University’s Foley Center. The morning session will concentrate on civil/survey and mapping solutions; the afternoon will be devoted to building design & management. To register, call Natalee Reistad at 326-7789.

Wednesday-April 11 - The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) offers business counseling to potential and existing small business owners/ operators: Wednesday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Panhandle Area Council, 11100 Airport Drive, Hayden, Idaho, call (208)772-0584; Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon at North Idaho College Work Force, Training Center, 525 Clearwater Loop, Post Falls, call (208)769-3296, and 1-4 p.m. at Kennewick Chamber, 3180 W. Clearwater, call 736-0510; April 11, 9 a.m.-noon at Lewis and Clark State College, SBDC at L-CSC, Lewiston, call (208)799-2465, and 1-4 p.m. at TRIDEC SBDC, 901 N. Colorado, call 735-1000.

Thursday - Helen Rockey of Brooks Sports Inc. is guest speaker at Eastern Washington University’s Academic Business Community breakfast at 7:30 at Crescent Court, 707 W. Main. Cost: $12; call 359-2455 or FAX for tickets to 458-6393.

Thursday - Low Cost Promotional Ideas For Small Business, offered by the community college’s Small Business Development Center, 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI), 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-2050.

Thursday - 4th Annual Alumni Career Fair, hosted by the Gonzaga University’s Career Resources Center, from 9 a.m- 3 p.m. at the Spokane Room of the COG. Registration booth sets up at 9 a.m. followed by brunch from 10-11 a.m. and forum for students from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Call Carol Oyler at 328-4220, ext. 4285 for information.

Friday - Starting A Small Business Workshop, sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, at Spokane Falls Community College, building 17, from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Cost: $30, including lunch; call 353-2820 to register.

April 10 - Quality Education Systems For Your Buyers & Sellers, hosted by Action Mortgage, at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Continental breakfast in included. For reservations and complimentary tickets call (800) 441-7478 or (619) 720-9600.

April 10-April 13 - Learn how to use Quicken Windows For Business from 5-8 p.m. at the Institute for Extended Learning Lodge, 3303 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Cost: $110; call 533-3770 to register.

April 10 and April 17 - Business Writing With Confidence, 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $59; call 533-4700 for more information.

April 11 - Money Management Workshop sponsored by Consumer Credit Counseling of Spokane, from 6:30-9 p.m. at 1912 N. Division, conference room, lower level. Call 327-3777 or (800)892-6854.

April 11 - Leadership, A Key To Quality, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Business Training and Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $59; call 533-4700 for information.

April 11 - Learn about Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research Technology Institute (SIRTI), 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-2050 for information or to register.

April 11 and April 12 - Washington Mutual sponsors a free two-part home buyers seminar for people who want to qualify for special financing and buy a home with a down payment of as little as 3 percent. The seminar will be held at West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt, from 7-9 p.m. Call 358-4393 or (800)572-0782 to register.

April 20 - Business & Industry Emergency Planning Workshop, sponsored by the Department of Emergency Services American Red Cross, will be at Spokane Community College, Lair building, #6, from 8:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Deadline to register is April 10. Cost: $25, including course materials and a continental breakfast; call Carol Morrisen at 456-2204 for more information.

MEMO: Do you want to submit an item for “Business Beat?” Send a brief press release to: Bill Sallquist, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane WA, 99210-1615. Photos will be used, space permitting, with new staff additions, promotions and new businesses. Put names on backs of photos. If you want a photo back, write “WILL CALL” on the back and pick it up at the newspaper reference library. Allow three weeks for publication.