Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Doug Wright has been appointed vice president-community banking production officer by Sterling Savings Association. He will function as the primary liaison between production personnel, bank support personnel and the branch administrator. Before joining Sterling, Wright was with West One Bank for nine years, most recently as manager of West One’s Sandpoint branch. He also served as supermarket banking division manager, credit policy officer and real estate production manager.

Encoder Products Co. of Sandpoint has hired Daniel Craner as national sales manager. Craner, who has 16 years of experience in industrial automation sales, will focus on expanding domestic original equipment manufacturer (OEM) business opportunities.

Hagen Ledeboer has joined Jacklin Seed Co. as manager of grower services operations in Oregon. He will be responsible for managing all aspects of contracting and placement of Jacklin varieties in Oregon’s Williamette Valley. Hagen previously was farm manager and custom applicator for Ledeboer Farms.

Zak Designs Inc. has added the following people to its staff:

Jana Kimpel is the marketing and public relations coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating all national customer advertising, public relations, implementing special promotional projects and overseeing all facets of the Zak Kids Club. Kimpel previously worked as an independent writer/ producer, specializing in corporate video presentations, and as an advertising consultant.

Geoff Webster was named chief financial officer. A CPA, he oversees Zak Designs’ accounting, credit and management information systems departments. Webster previously was vice president of finance and vice president of manufacturing for O’Neill Inc. in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Jonathan A. Scott has joined Crown West Realty LLC as controller. Scott, who has five years of experience in public accounting, will manage financial reporting for the Spokane Business and Industrial Park and other properties owned and managed by Crown West. He previously worked as an accountant for Coopers and Lybrand.

Windermere Real Estate’s Coeur d’Alene office has added two sales associates to its staff:

Karen Corcoran has 10 years of experience in real estate, working most recently for Re/Max Preferred Realtors. She holds Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI) designations.

Tom Davis, who is new to real estate, has worked in the forest products industry for the past 13 years. He also spent six years in state forestry.

The following people have joined Janek Co. Real Estate Marketing, Consulting & Sales as agents:

Michelle Ma has worked in the retail and banking industries and was a physician in China, where she was born and raised.

Kirk Herring, a multimillion-dollar real estate producer, specializes in residential markets, new construction and income property.

Paul Murray has an extensive background in the real estate industry.

MOVING UP:

Zak Designs Inc. has promoted the following employees:

Michele Miller has been promoted from assistant controller to controller. She will oversee the accounting department, manage cash flow and prepare financial statements.

Mark McGavran, formerly the office coordinator, has been named central regional sales coordinator. His duties include overseeing all orders from the central region of the United States, providing sales support for the central regional sales manager and all sales representatives from that territory.

Washington Trust Bank has promoted the following personnel:

Karen Maruyama was named vice president and manager of the bank’s Home Loan Center. Maruyama, previously a vice president in commercial lending, has more than 15 years combined residential and commercial lending experience as well as an extensive background in private business, consumer finance and bank mortgage management.

Connie M. Bischoff was named manager of builder’s services. Bischoff has more than 22 years of lending experience and most recently was vice president and manager of the bank’s Home Loan Center.

The Spokane-based accounting firm LeMaster & Daniels PLLC has admitted the following people as members of the firm:

Ardis “Art” Ribail, who joined the firm in 1986, represents LeMaster & Daniels’ Spokane Valley office. He specializes in governmental services and represents several tribal and institutional clients.

Steven Ditzler, who has been with the firm since 1985, represents the Spokane office. He specializes in Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).

Harley Reckord represents the Spokane office. He joined the firm in 1982 and currently is in charge of the accounting and auditing department. Reckord specializes in audits of employee benefit plans.

Dakotah Direct Inc. has promoted Tim Potts from team leader to senior team leader-scheduling. Potts was hired last year as a customer service representative.

STARTING UP:

Neil and Sheryl Brown have started Topnotch Tutoring. Neil Brown currently works for Northern Energy propane company. Sheryl Brown worked for many years for Spokane public schools.

Spokane-based Johnson Matthey Electronics has opened a facility in Juarez, Mexico, after purchasing the equipment of Technologia Electronica de Juarez. The new Mexican operation, Johnson Matthey Servicios de Ensamblado Electronico de Mexico S.A. de C.V., assembles high-quality flexible circuit boards, printed wiring boards and other electronic subsystems. The plant will provide regional support to customers in the southwestern U.S., give Johnson Matthey access to potential new business in Mexico and help achieve a competitive cost for JME customers.

TRANSACTIONS:

Janek Co. Real Estate Marketing and Sales has been selected as the local representative for Relo, a leading international network of independent real estate brokers specializing in relocation services. Relo maintains a computer referral system that can help transferees locate a home anywhere in the U.S. or 22 foreign countries.

ELECTED:

The Northwest Inland Empire Chapter of APICS has elected the following officers for 1996-97: Barb Woodall, Key Tronic Corp., president; Ed Woodall, Telect Inc., vice president of programs/seminars; Lori Reiss, Key Tronic Corp., vice president of finances; Jim Holcomb, Caelus Inc., vice president of education; Bill Turnquist, vice president of membership; Debra Benson, Cowles Publishing Co., vice president of facilities; and Maree Jackson, Caelus Inc., newsletter editor.

Bobbi Johnson, president of Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of Goodwill Industries International Inc. Johnson joined the Spokane Goodwill in 1981 and has been its president since 1982.

KUDOS:

Washington Water Power’s Project Share Fuel Fund has received a third place award for its television public service announcement. The award from the National Fuel Fund Network honors “Life Isn’t Always Easy,” a 30-second public service announcement developed for WWP by Hanna & Associates of Coeur d’Alene.

Promus Hotel Corp. has named the Spokane Hampton Inn hotel as a recipient of the company’s Roy E. Windgardner Award. The hotel was one of 10 in the 556-hotel chain to receive the award, based on guest satisfaction and product quality.

Jacklin Seed Co. has received the 1996 Idaho Governor’s Export marketing Award for Service. The award recognizes Jacklin’s efforts to sell Idaho turfgrass seed in overseas markets. Jacklin Seed exports have grown from 8 percent of sales in 1983 to more than 35 percent now. Jacklin exports to more than 50 nations.

Global Federal Credit Union has earned a second straight five-star “superior” rating from Baauer Financial Reports Inc., a leading banking analyst. The award, which reflects financial strength and performance, covers the last six months of 1995.

Everett Widman, manager of the McGregor Co. branch outlet in Thornton, Wash., is the Washington state winner of the Environmental Respect Award. The award, one of 25 nationwide, is based on fertilizer and ag chemical application methods, facility design, environmental activism and community service.

Darigold Farms has named its top quality milk award winners for 1995/1996:

Larry and Judy Porter, Dunrenton Ranch in Deer Park, nine consecutive years.

S&M Farms, Springdale, seven consecutive years.

Mike and Debbie Cates, Spokane, six consecutive years.

EVENTS:

Tuesday-Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business 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. For appointments, call 353-2820, or call 924-4994 for appointments at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday - Linsco/Private Ledger presents a free luncheon seminar on “Investing - For Women Only” from noon to 1 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI), 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. For more information and to register, call 328-5627.

Wednesday - Jack Wimer, publisher and editor of Expansion Management magazine, will be the featured speaker at the Spokane Area Economic Development Council’s semiannual membership meeting from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Red Lion City Center. Cost: $12.50; for more information or to make reservations, call 624-9285.

CONVENTIONS:

Today-Tuesday - Washington Association of Community and Technical Administrators, annual summer conference, Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.

, 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.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Spokesman-Review staff