Business Beat
NEW FACES:
Jonathan Scott has joined Crown West Realty L.L.C., as controller. Scott, a CPA with five years of public accounting experience, will manage financial reporting for the Spokane Business and Industrial Park and other properties owned by Crown West. He previously worked as an accountant for Coopers and Lybrand.
The Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has hired Laurie Clein as a convention sales manager. Her market segments include communications, corporate, transportation, scientific, financial and legal/crime. Clein most recently worked as the on-premises sales manager for Jim Beam Brands in Chicago.
The Spokane office of American Express Financial Advisors Inc. has added two financial advisers to its staff:
Joi Libsack previously worked for Guenther Management as operations manager. She has a special interest in working with families in the military service.
Joan Riojas Hubbard, a graduate of Eastern Oregon College, served as a manager at Boeing Computer Services in Richland before moving into the financial industry in the Spokane area.
Jeff Oka has joined the Valley office of LeMaster & Daniels PLLC. Oka received a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from Eastern Washington University.
Mark Shelby has joined the downtown Spokane office of LeMaster & Daniels. Shelby relocated to the Spokane area from Idaho Falls.
The Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center has named Dr. Robert Piston as its new medical director, replacing Dr. Vicki Volz, who was with the organization for more than eight years. A graduate of Vanderbilt University Medical School, Piston began his professional career with Coeur d’Alene Pediatrics in 1978 and currently has a private practice with the Valley Young People’s Clinic.
Kiemle & Hagood Co. announced the following staff additions:
Karen Kofmehl joined the leasing department as an administrative assistant. She worked in the sales department at DIVCO for the last five years.
Lisa Elvidge, who previously worked at S.L. Start & Associates, was hired as an accountant assistant in the residential department.
Lorie Arnold is working as a HUD housing assistant in the residential department. Arnold worked for the last two years for the city of Spokane Community Development Division as a citizen participation coordinator.
Dr. Lynn Derby will join Holy Family Hospital’s active medical staff in the practice of plastic and reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial surgery, cosmetic surgery and surgery of the hand. Derby graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and completed an integrated plastic surgery/ general surgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She will be associated with Dr. Frank Walchak at Spokane Plastic Surgeons.
American Electronic Sign has hired Vandy Vanderford as vice president of sales and marketing. Vanderford was president of Grandwell Industries, a manufacturer of indoor LED displays, for the past six years. Earlier he founded a successful furniture manufacturing business.
MOVING UP:
Elizabeth Nelson has been named an economic development specialist for Washington Water Power. Nelson joined WWP in 1986 as a customer service representative and has been a human resources consultant for the past seven years. One of her duties is to design a WWP economic development homepage for the Internet.
Julie Ann Shiflett has been promoted to director of accounting for Egghead Inc. Shiflett, a CPA, joined Egghead last August as general accounting manager. Previously she worked for two years as tax/external reporting manager for Sterling Financial Corp. From 1986-1993, she worked for the Spokane office of Coopers & Lybrand, where she rose from associate to manager. Shiflett received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Washington University.
ELECTED:
The Executive Women’s Network elected these new officers for 1996-97: Nancy Flanary, Thunder Mountain Dog Supply, president; Angie Marsh, LeMaster & Daniels, vice president; Mary Runcorn, Independent Services Corp., secretary; Donita Skimmer, D.A. Davidson, treasurer; Darlene Hurliman, Hurliman Heating & Air Conditioning, membership; LaNice Korus, Mary Kay Cosmetics, program; Janie Rumberger, Minuteman Press, and Karla Kleine, Sylvan Learning Center, newsletter.
1996-97 officers of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association include: Michael Verbillis, Coeur d’Alene, president; Steven Verby, Sandpoint, vice president/president-elect; Steven Andersen, Boise, secretary; Timothy Walton, Boise, treasurer.
Darrel Ahern, Lewiston, was elected as a governor of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA). Nicholas Chenoweth, Orofino, was elected as an ATLA delegate.
CERTIFICATIONS:
Ellie Chambers, Washington Water Power economic development specialist, became a certified economic developer (CED) by passing the American Economic Development Council certification exam. Chambers has been with WWP since 1991.
Wendy Ohme has achieved certification as a life care planning specialist through the Commission on Disability Examiner Certification. Ohme, a registered nurse, provides life care planning services through her company, Nurse Consultants Northwest.
The Human Resource Certification Institute has awarded the following professional certifications: Ron Berkshire, director of human resources for Wismer Martin, and Teri Trigsted, staffing specialist for Key Tronic Corp., are certified Professionals in Human Resources (PHR); and Marlys Buzby, human resources manager for Layrite Products Co., earned certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
KUDOS:
The McGregor Co.’s Thornton branch outlet won the 1996 state environmental respect award for Washington. This award recognizes farm supply retailers who have demonstrated a commitment to environmental stewardship. McGregor is one of 25 retailers across the United States to receive the honor this year.
Tom Ley, a Washington State University Cooperative Extension irrigation engineer, was recently honored at the annual Spillman Agronomy Field Day and will receive the 10th annual Kenneth J. Morrison Extension Award in Agronomy and Soils. The annual award recognizes WSU extension faculty for significant contributions to agronomic crop production and soil management. Ley is being recognized for development of the WSU Public Agricultural Weather System, an automated network of 69 remote weather stations that collect and report real-time weather data.
Dianne White, co-owner of Platter’s Pharmacy in Spokane, received the Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories Bowl of Hygiene Award for outstanding community service by a pharmacist. White, who owns the pharmacy with her husband, Kirby, is a member of the Spokane County Board of Freeholders and serves as chair of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Council.
EVENTS:
Monday - U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton will hold a small-business roundtable at 1 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt will join Gorton in a discussion of current issues facing small businesses.
Tuesday-Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) offers free counseling to potential and existing small business owners from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Business Information Center in the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, 1020 W. Riverside. Call 353-2820 for appointments, or 924-4994 for appointments at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Thursday - The Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) will meet at 6 p.m. at the Shilo Inn. Cost: $15 for members; $20 for non-members. For information, call Cathy Doerr at 838-8755.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos
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