Business Beat

New faces:

Donna Koberstine has joined Medical Service Corp. of Eastern Washington as manager of customer service. Koberstine will direct department staff, assist in the development of new programs and ensure that customer service responses are prompt, fair and accurate. Koberstine has more than 20 years of experience in health care.

AGRA Earth & Environmental Inc. has hired Stephen J. Coover as its project geotechnical engineer. Coover, who has 18 years of experience, will provide geotechnical engineering services and help with Northwest region business development.

Thomas Davis has joined May-Davis Inc. as an agency underwriter in training. Davis is the son of May-Davis President William Davis.

Hospice of Spokane has hired Pam Burch as pharmacy consultant. Burch received a doctorate in pharmacy from Washington State University and previously studied pain control methods, symptom management and hospice philosophy at hospices in England. She also will be active in physician education, staff teaching and patient counseling.

Dr. Joni Nichols has joined Hospice of Spokane as a medical director. Nichols, who is associated with Spokane Oncology Hematology, will join Dr. Ken Kraemer, who has been medical director since 1977. Nichols is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine, a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and certified by the American Board of Medical Oncology and the American Board of Hematology.

Troy Ballew, a Gonzaga University alumnus, has joined Coopers & Lybrand LLP as a business assurances associate, after serving two years as an intern in the firm’s tax department.

R.W. Robideaux & Co. has hired Jane Primmer as an executive assistant in its residential division. Primmer previously worked for Tomlinson Black Commercial Real Estate and Associated Leasing.

DMI Computers in Coeur d’Alene has added the following people to its Internet staff:

Justin Masterson, a recent Lakeland High School graduate who took classes in computer science, business management and accounting.

Mark Jerome, a 1994 graduate of North Idaho College. Jerome has worked in the areas of graphic art, layout and design, marketing and journalism.

Medical Service Corp. of Eastern Washington has hired Celestine “Celest” Hall as manager of medical management. Hall, a registered nurse, previously worked with Prudential Insurance Co. of America as associate manager of health services. Her responsibilities at MSC include all aspects of utilization management, such as prior authorization for care, case reviews and policy development.

John L. Scott Real Estate Network has two new sales associates from Spokane: Karen Valandra and Mac McCarrell.

The Lilac City Gymnastics Center has added Missy Wells to its competition coaching staff as head girl’s team coach and head of the team development program. Wells was a member of the University of Utah’s 1992 and 1994 NCAA National Champion Gymnastic Team and was a two-time All-American on the balance beam and vault and an Academic All-American.

Moving up:

Robert Ingram has been named president of Columbia Lighting, a Lighting Corp. of America subsidiary which has been separated from Lighting Corp.’s Prescolite and Moldcast subsidiaries. Ingram joined Prescolite Controls in 1981 as purchasing manager. He later served as materials manager and marketing manager. He was named marketing manager of Columbia Lighting in 1986, rising to director of marketing, vice president of marketing and, most recently, as executive vice president of operations.

The Spokane office of Coopers & Lybrand LLP has promoted the following employees to senior associates in the firm’s business assurance services:

Brenda Baker and Matthew Nielsen, both graduates of the University of Washington; Ryan Krasselt, a University of Idaho graduate; and Kelly Prior a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

Kim Transue has been promoted to retail operations manager at R.W. Robideaux & Co. Transue was previously an executive assistant in the retail division.

Elected:

The Spokane Chapter of Financial Analysts recently elected the following officers: Mike Barcelo, Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities, president; Tom Nesbitt, Washington Trust Bank, vice president/programs; Paul Steenblik, Pentzer Corp., treasurer/ membership; Ken Roberts, Ken Roberts Investment Management, secretary/notes.

Transactions:

Paul Smart has been appointed an AgriPlan/BizPlan Provider in the Spokane area.

Events:

Wednesday - The Executive Women’s Network (EWN) will meet at noon at the Red Lion Inn at I-90 and Sullivan. Call Darlene Hurliman at 891-5110 or Nancy Flanary at 928-3677 for information or reservations.

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 call 924-4994 for appointments on Tuesday at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, 8817 E. Mission.

Thursday - The YWCA and Linsco/ Private Ledger present a free seminar on “What Every Woman Should Know about Investing” from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the YWCA, 829 W. Broadway. For more information and to register in advance, call 326-1190.

Thursday - Merrill Lynch presents a complimentary luncheon seminar on “What Every Woman Should Know About Money,” from noon-1 p.m. at Patsy Clarks. Call April Vorpahl at 458-4254 or Margot Hamstra at 458-4219 for information or registration.

Thursday - The Inland Northwest Sheet Metal Contractors’ Association sponsors a free HVAC Duct Systems and Seismic Restraint Manual seminar from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Sheet Metal Training Center, 2110 N. Fancher. Mr. David Bevirt, SMACNAs former director of technical research, now technical director of the National Environmental Balancing Bureau, and James Bower, chapter manager, SMACNA British Columbia Chapter, will be the program’s featured speakers. There will be a hosted lunch. Call Phil Petersen at 535-8700 for information or to register.

August 26 - CareerTrack Seminars offers “The Grammer Game!” from 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. The workshop is designed to refresh grammar rules and the use of business English. Cost: $79 per person, including lunch, or $69 each for a group of three or more from the same organization; to register, call 1-800-334-6780 or (303) 447-2300.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 photos

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.