Business Beat

New faces:

Information Mini-Mall announced the following staff changes:

Mike Rahmn was named general manager. Rahmn, a licensed Washington state Realtor, is the founder of Virtual Realty, an on-line real estate information service. He is publisher and editor of “The New Construction Research Report,” a directory of new home construction activity in Spokane.

Robin Waddell was named regional program manager. She manages the development of content for IMM’s on-line publications and the Community Internet Participation Programs. Waddell previously was a travel consultant for Sutherland Travel in Spokane and Blue Sky Travel in Sandpoint.

David Hauan was named network systems administrator. Hauan has six years of technical Internet experience and is a certified UNIX systems specialist.

Martin Nellor has joined the Coeur d’Alene office of Mellon Mortgage as a residential loan officer. Nellor has more than 10 years of experience in the field and has given motivational seminars and sales training workshops throughout the Inland Northwest.

Tonya Bean has joined the Jeff Hoover Insurance Agency in the Spokane Valley as an independent agent. She is licensed in both Washington and Idaho and has 14 years of experience.

Qpoint Home Mortgage Loans announced the following staff additions: Judy King joined the company as a senior loan officer. Previously with Action Mortgage, she has more than 20 years of experience in Spokane.

Debbie Walter is a senior loan processor. She has 19 years of mortgage experience, most recently with Washington Mutual.

John Jennings, Jody Mellon and Steve Long joined Qpoint as loan officers. Jennings and Long previously were with Hallmark Mortgage, while Mellon has an extensive background in sales and marketing.

The following people have joined the new North Spokane office of John L. Scott:

Steve Hagen, a veteran of retail management in the Spokane area, is the designated broker.

Shawn Codd and Lonna Ryan Vopat are both real estate agents. Codd has six years of experience in home sales and new construction, and Vopat has spent four years as a residential specialist.

Ed Renouard Jr. has joined Washington Water Power as public relations coordinator. Renouard, formerly associate creative director for WhiteRunkle Associates, will be responsible for customer communications, corporate publicity and various strategic and corporate communications initiatives at WWP.

Starting up:

Scott Kneeshaw, formerly an art director and graphic designer for nine years with Robideaux Warner, has started ScottGraphics. The firm will offer a full range of design services for print and electronic media, including design for the Internet.

Elected:

The Spokane Public Relations Council elected new officers and directors: Dana Anderson, Washington Water Power, president; Hugh Imhof, Vision Communications, vice president; Julie Smitt, 3E Design Group, immediate past president. New directors are: Derek Poole, Inland Automobile Association; Cris Salsbury, Trade Promotions; Eric Sodoroff, WSU Spokane; Annie Matlow, Downtown Spokane Partnership; and Maggie Crabtree, Empire Health Consolidated Services.

The Citizens League of Greater Spokane elected new officers and board members: Tom Agnew and Don Higgins, co-presidents; Chris Venne, secretary/treasurer; Chris Wright, membership vice president; Terren Roloff, events and communications vice president; Jeanne Ager and Chris Marr, finance vice presidents. New board members:Mary Brown, Harold Clark, Sheila Collins, Linda Crabtree, Rex Hallowell, Robert Herold, Wallace Stanley, Cheryl Steele, and Greg Sweeney.

The Spokane Estate Planning Council has elected the following new officers: president, Ronald Douglas, Douglas, Eden, Phillips & DeRuyter; vice president, Gary Schroeder, LeMaster & Daniels PLLC; secretary/treasurer, Craig Korthase, U.S. Bank of Washington; program chairperson, Jim Howard; membership chairperson, James Bockemuehl, Northwestern Mutual Life.

Transactions:

Spokane’s Strategic Alliance has selected Regional Information Services (RIS) at Gonzaga University’s Foley Center Library to design and manage an economic information/data center to serve the alliance partners. RIS will work with the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce on the design and management of the center.

Ronald Deming of Anderson, Peretti & Cohas, has been appointed an AgriPlan/BizPlan Provider in the Spokane area. AgriPlan/BizPlan allows qualifying farmers and small business owners to deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums and uninsured medical, dental and vision care expenses.

Kudos:

Mike Craigen, general manager at Western Farmer Stockman Insurance, was selected as Business Associate for 1996 by the American Business Women’s Association, Spokane Falls Chapter.

The Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) has accepted Robert Bishopp, Northwestern Mutual Life, as a qualified member.

The Spokane Public Relations Council announced SPARC awards recipients for communications excellence:

Audio visual: One time video program award of merit to Dale Goodwin, Pete Tormey, Don Highberger, Gonzaga University “Jundt Art Center and Museum”.

Publications: Four-color magazine award of merit to John Carter, Spokane Club “Smoke Signals Magazine”.

Newspapers award of excellence to Dale Goodwin, Pete Tormey, Gerald Almanza, Gonzaga University, “Signum”.

Brochures award of excellence to Jennifer West, Jennifer West Public Relations, “ICM Asset Management”.

Newsletters award of merit to Valerie Harper-Murdoch, West Central Community News.

Newsletters award of merit to Chad Hutson, Spokane County Public Works, “In The Works”.

Special Projects Design: Posters award of merit to Edmond Bruneau, Creative Consultants, “Mike Neun Poster”.

Writing: Recurring columns award of merit to Terren Roloff, Empire Health Services, “This Week”.

Editorials award of merit to Chad Hutson, “Public Comment on Sewers”.

Open/Other award of excellence, Terren Roloff, “Miracle Baby”.

Award of merit to Pete Tormey, “Lubera: Lion of the Law”.

Community and Government Relations: Government, association, non-profit award of merit to Chad Hutson, “Sewer Public Participation”.

Media Relations: Service industries award of excellence to Jennifer West, “Ridpath Hotel Press Kit”.

Government, Association, Non-profit award of excellence to Jennifer West, “Spokane Area Economic Development Council Media Relations Program”.

Marketing Communications: Services award of excellence to Jennifer West, “HealthPlus and Rockwood Clinic Health Talks”.

Crisis Communication: Other award of excellence to Dale Goodwin, “Dealing with and Healing from Racial Harassment”.

Multi Audience Communications: Industrial, Manufacturing, Retail award of excellence to Jennifer West, “Go for the Green at the Park; Pentzer Development Corporation”.

Government, Association, Non-profit award of excellence to Terri Ann Fredette, Spokane Mental Health Center, “Celebrating our Past, Embracing our Future”.

Award of merit to Joyce Cameron, Courtney Susimiehl, American Red Cross, “Are You Prepared TV Series”.

Dussault Award: To Gerald Almanza, Libby Barnes, Carol Bonino, Eric Galey, Dale Goodwin, Don Highberger S.J., Gigi Preston, Margot Stanfield, Pete Tormey, “Gonzaga University Jundt Art Center and Museum”.

Events:

Wednesday and Thursday - The Institute for Extended Learning presents a course on Transition from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95 from 5-8 p.m. at the Mobile Training Unit in the institute’s parking lot. Cost: $75; call 533-3770 for more information or to register.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents an “Introduction to Exporting” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7544 for more information or to register.

Thursday - The Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) will meet at 6 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, 923 E. Third. Cost: $15 for members; $25 for non-members. Call: Cathy Doerr at 838-8755 for information.

Thursday - One-day “First Things First” workshop, offered by SkillPath Seminars. Cost: $195 per person, $185 per person for four or more. To register: call 1-800-873-7545; fax 1-913-362-4241; e-mail skillpath@mcimail.com or 7293072@mcimail.com.

Thursday and Friday - Washington State University Cooperative Extension offers The Bud Williams Stockmanship School, a two-day school in Moses Lake for anyone who works with livestock. Cost: $450 per person. Call: Cindy McGuire at 509-335-2817 or Nelson at 509-335-2922 for information.

Friday - Eastern Washington University presents a free public affairs symposium on the revitalization of Spokane’s metropolitan core from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Met in downtown Spokane. Call: 359-4221 for information.

Saturday - The National Speakers Association presents a seminar by Ralph Palmen, founder of the Palmen Institute in Woodenville, on “How to Build a Profitable Speaking Business” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Ramada InnAirport. Cost: $35, including lunch; for information or to register, call 323-0906 or (208) 664-2910.

July 17 - The Inland Empire Rental Association sponsors a seminar on “The Internet and the World Wide Web” from 2-4 p.m. in the second floor conference room at the Hutton Building, 9 S. Washington. Cost: $5 in advance, $10 at the door; call 515-1018 for reservations.

June 28-July31 - A symposiumrelated course, titled Downtown Planning Seminar (PLAN 496-10) is available for academic credit from EWU. Tuition is required for the three-credit course which will be held at the Riverpoint Classroom Building in Spokane. Call: 359-4221 for information.

, 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.