Business Beat
New faces:
The accounting firm Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co. P.C. has made the following staff changes:
Eric Schindler joined the firm as a shareholder. Schindler, a CPA, had worked in the firm’s Helena, Mont., office from 1979 to 1984 and most recently was employed as vice president of finance and administration for Columbia Paint and Coatings. He will focus on providing management consulting services for strategic, organization and operations planning, financial management systems and general business management.
Glenda Gibson has joined the firm’s Spokane office. Gibson, a CPA, was previously associated with another local firm. She will focus on Solomon IV software consulting.
Michael Graham, CPA, also joined Anderson ZurMuehlen from another Spokane firm. His focus will be financial reporting, tax, and management issues of closely held businesses.
Larry McDonald is the new assistant branch manager of United Security Bank’s downtown branch. McDonald, who has 24 years of experience in banking, most recently was assistant vice president and commercial loan officer at Washington Trust Bank.
Don Jones has been appointed a financial services representative for the Spokane General Office of New York Life. Jones previously worked in management with Costco Wholesale and in sales and building design with Spokane Structures.
Coeur d’Alene-based Acuff Northwest Inc. has added the following people to its staff: Rob Reagan, previously with Better Homes/Jordan Realty, has been in real estate sales for 12 years. He handles all areas of real estate.
Janet Beck has worked in real estate for more than seven years in Western Washington and Australia. She also has experience in design and remodeling.
The husband and wife team of Shawn and Beth Macauley has joined the faculty of Washington State University at Spokane. Beth Macauley is an assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences. Her primary interests are speech and language deficits following strokes. She expects to complete requirements this summer for a Ph.D. in communication processes and disorders from the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Shawn Macauley is a research associate with WSU Spokane’s Health Research and Education Center. He will establish collaborative research programs that bridge the lab research of WSU faculty and clinical activities of Spokane area health professionals. He also will work to bring a master’s degree program in genetics and cell biology to WSU Spokane.
AgAmerica, Farm Credit Bank, has hired the following new employees:
Craig Haydamack has joined the bank as credit analyst. Haydamack is a recent MBA graduate from the University of Oregon and is responsible for credit and market analysis and special projects.
Steve Scranton has joined the bank as assistant treasurer-financial operations and investments. Scranton, previously vice president and manager of funds management with Washington Trust Bank, will be responsible for administering financial operations and the investment portfolio of the bank.
Moving up:
AgAmerica, Farm Credit Bank, has promoted Ross Baglien to investment and operations specialist. Baglien, who previously was an accounting assistant, supports the investment and financial operations of the bank.
Events:
Monday - The Northern Rockies Ground Source Heat Pump Association and Kootenai Electric Cooperative present a free seminar on the benefits of geothermal heat pump systems from 7-9 p.m. at the Kootenai Electric Cooperative meeting room, 2451 W. Dakota, Hayden.
Monday through Thursday - Washington State University College of Agriculture and Home Economics presents the 11th annual Cheese Making Short Course on the Pullman campus. Cost: $475; call Jill Whelchel at (509)335-4014 for information and to register; call Marc Bates at (509)335-7516 for course information.
Tuesday - Betty Woods, chief executive officer of Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska, will be the guest speaker at a breakfast meeting of Academic Business Community (ABC) at 7:30 a.m. in the Skyline Ballroom at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Cost: $12.50; call 623-4335 for reservations.
Tuesday - A program on trade show exhibiting and displaying will be offered by the Small Business Development Center from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 655 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7544 for information and to register.
Wednesday - Robert Potter, president of Jobs Plus, will speak on “The Role of the Consulting Professional in Economic Development” at a meeting of the Inland Northwest Society of Consulting Professionals at 7:30 a.m. at Perkins Restaurant, Trent and Division. For more information, call William Olson at 455-8244.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center offers a three-hour workshop on business planning for start-up ventures with an introduction to the Functional Management System (FMS) from 6-9 p.m. at SIRTI, 655 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50 for one or two people from the same business using one set of instructional materials; call 358-7566 for information and to register.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on payroll recordkeeping from 6-9 p.m. at SIRTI, 655 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7544 for information and to register.
Friday - The Inland Northwest Certified Commercial Investment Member Chapter sponsors a seminar by Bob Lundstedt on “How to Build Wealth in Real Estate” and “Exchanging Made Easy: How to Profit from Real Estate’s Best Kept Secret” at the Quality Inn Oakwood, 7919 N. Division. Cost: $89 for CCIM members, including lunch.; for more information or to register, call Ruthann Hashagen at 326-9222.
Saturday - WSU/Spokane County Cooperative Extension presents the 25th Annual Liberty Ag Day, in cooperation with Fairfield Grain Growers Inc., Rosalia Producers Inc., and Northwest Pea and Bean Co. Inc., at Liberty Elementary School in Spangle, Wash. The program begins at 8:20 a.m. and concludes with a hosted luncheon. Call 533-2048 for information.
Conventions:
Thursday-March 10 - American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, annual Northwest meeting, Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.
Thursday-March 10 - American Choral Directors Association, annual Western regional meeting, WestCoast Ridpath Hotel.
Saturday-March 10 - Spokane Stamp Dealers Association, annual spring regional meeting/show, citywide.
Saturday-March 16 - Associated Public-Safety Communications Officers, annual Western regional meeting, Red Lion City Center.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos