Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Robert Thompson has joined Coeur d’Alene-based Travel Management Inc. as vice president of customer service. Thompson, who is the former owner of Cosmos Travel, will oversee the implementation of technology enhancements and client services at Travel Management.

United Security Bank of Spokane has hired Linda Miller as vice president and manager at USBs downtown branch. Miller comes to United Security after 13 years at U.S. Bank and West One Bank.

Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities Co. Inc. has added the following people to its staff:

Michael Heiser, who is the company’s new marketing director, will oversee marketing efforts for Metropolitan and its affiliates. Heiser has more than 10 years of experience in the planning, development and implementation of marketing strategies and most recently worked for WhiteRunkle Associates.

Steve Rehn was named internal auditor. Rehn has more than nine years of financial services management and auditing experience and previously was an auditor with U.S. Bancorp in Portland.

The staff of Metwest Mortgage Services Inc., a new affiliate of Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities, includes:

Ron McKay, vice president, will be responsible for Metwest’s entire operation. McKay has more than 25 years in the lending industry and most recently opened and managed the Spokane office of San Antonio-based BancPlus Mortgage Corp.

Diane Kofmehl, operations manager, will oversee the origination, underwriting, closing and processing of all residential mortgage loan activity. Kofmehl has been with Metropolitan since 1987 and has had management responsibilities for several departments in the operations division.

John Rogers, wholesale account executive, will be responsible for initiating and funding loans for real estate brokers. Rogers has more than 13 years of experience in the real estate industry and was most recently the area manager for a Bellevue, Wash., mortgage firm.

Gary Crithfield, commercial real estate loan officer, will handle commercial property and income property lending. Crithfield has 29 years of experience and was most recently vice president with a mortgage company in Kirkland, Wash.

Lisa Vold was hired as an underwriter; Russell Feist, as a loan officer; Sharon White, as senior closer; and Angela Rapier, as administrative assistant.

R.W. Robideaux & Co. has hired Marlene McDonald as an executive assistant in its commercial division. A Spokane Community College graduate with an associate’s degree in accounting, McDonald managed a Texaco Express Lube from 1989-92.

Dr. Sean Hurley has joined Drs. Byrd, Kramp and Lochner and the active medical staff at Holy Family hospital in the practice of internal medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, completed an internship at Saskatoon City Hospital and a residency at the University of Saskatchewan.

Amy Puseman has rejoined Pass Word Telephone and Radio Communication Center as customer service manager. She succeeds Ellen M. Katterfeld, a seven-year company veteran, who has transferred to sales.

Tomlinson Black Management Inc. announced the following staff appointments:

Gloria Ries has been named controller and corporate secretary of Tomlinson Black Management Inc. Ries will also serve as corporate secretary of Tomlinson Black Commercial, Inc., and secretary-treasurer of James S. Black & Co., Inc. Ries is a 1993 University of Montana graduate and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Ries is a certified public accountant in Washington and Montana and was previously senior auditor at McFarland & Alton.

April Nill and Lorraine Brooks have joined the company as accounting assistants in the company’s residential management division. Brooks was previously employed by a property management company in Lafayette, Calif. Nill will deal with single family rentals and apartment communities.

Steve Millard and Peggy Newcombe have joined the company as property managers in the residential management division. Millard was previously employed by Dixon Investments, Newcombe by R.W. Robideaux and Co.

MOVING UP:

Wayne Colpitts has been promoted to technical service manager with Pass Word Telephone and Radio Communications Center. Colpitts has 10 years of experience in technical services and is managing construction of the new Pass Word paging transmitters in Bonners Ferry, Colville, Kellogg, Odessa, Lake Roosevelt, Omak and Chelan, and the move of the company’s Coeur d’Alene office.

Sterling Savings Association has promoted Jim Shideler to vice president of business lending at Sterling’s Spokane headquarters. Shideler, who joined Sterling in 1994 as a commercial loan officer, has more than 35 years of experience in commercial lending. He previously was a vice president and commercial loan officer with West One.

Washington Trust Bank has promoted Teri VanNoy to manager of direct banking. VanNoy will continue to manager the bank’s priority service department, but will expand into the development and delivery of PC-based, Internet and other non-branch products.

Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities Co. Inc. has promoted the following people:

Dan O’Neill has become the chief information officer and will be responsible for the information systems division. O’Neill has been with the company since 1991.

Robert Thomsen was named compliance officer. Thomsen will oversee compliance for Metropolitan and all its affiliates as well as internal audit operations.

Doug Greybill and Nancy O’Neill were named assistant vice presidents of Metwest Mortgage Services, an affiliate of Metropolitan. Greybill is currently vice president of the contract division and secondary marketing for Metropolitan Mortgage. O’Neill is Metropolitan’s operations support manager.

Linda Mason was appointed vice president of underwriting and claims for Old Standard Life Assurance Co., headquartered in Boise, and Arizona Life Insurance Co., in Phoenix. Both companies are affiliates of Western United Life Assurance Co., a subsidiary of Metropolitan.

Tomlinson Black Management Inc. has promoted Janet Hoyt to property management accounting supervisor. Hoyt joined the company in 1991.

ELECTED:

The Inland Northwest World Trade Council elected the following officers for 1996-97: Matt McCoy, United Parcel Service, president; Peter Raven, Eastern Washington University, first vice president; Robin Toth, Itron, second vice president; Renee Ditton, Washington Trust Bank, treasurer; and Philip Sandifur, Summit Trade Services, program director/secretary. Board members include: attorney Rob Huneke; Tom Hill, ASC Machine Tools; and JoAnn Nielsen, Whitworth Institute of International Management.

EVENTS:

Monday-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. For appointments, call 353-2820. Counselors also are available at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, 8817 E. Mission. For appointments there, call 924-4994.

Tuesday - Steve Busch of Busch Distributing will discuss “How to Do Business on the Palouse” at a meeting of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce’s Agriculture Business Committee at noon at the Hilltop restaurant. Call 334-3565 by noon Monday to make reservations.

Tuesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “How to Evaluate the Feasibility of a Business Idea” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50; call 358-7544 for information or to register.

Tuesday-Wednesday - Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors presents a 16-hour “Construction Outreach” training workshop for contractor and subcontractor personnel working at the Hanford site, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the conference center, 451 Hill Street, Richland. The workshops will be repeated Nov. 25 and 26. Cost: $300, first person; $250, second person; $200, three or more people from AGC member firms; non-member fees are $375 for the first person, $300 for two or more persons.

Wednesday - The Idaho Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Advertising and Promotion: How Much Is Enough?” from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center in Post Falls. Cost: $39; call (208) 769-3333 for more information.

Wednesday - The Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors presents “Construction Law Update ‘96” from 2-5 p.m. in the Phase I classroom building at Riverpoint Higher Education Park, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50 for AGC members, $85 for non-members; for more information or to register, call Carolyn Pierce at 535-0391 or FAX 353-3706.

Friday - The Workplace Connection, a non-denominational Christian business group, will discuss “Gender Role Issues in the Workplace” during its monthly meeting at 7 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar.

Saturday - Gonzaga University presents an education technology fair, including hands-on workshops about the Internet and technology as a classroom tool, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at GU’s Rosauer Center for Education. Cost: $5 in advance, $7 at the door; call Angie Parker at 328-4220 ext. 3494 for information.

Saturday - The Inland Northwest Electrical League (INEL) presents an 8-hour class on “Job Site Electrical Safety,” from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call INEL at 536-4177 for information about fees, class locations and registration.

Nov. 5 - Automated Options Inc. presents a free Solomon Solutions Seminar on Solomon IV for Windows from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. For more information or to register, call 467-9860.

Nov. 6 - The Spokane Advertising Federation will receive the 1996 Gold Clio Award Winners Reel during a meeting at 11:45 a.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members; for more information or reservations, call Judy Morris at 448-5255. Reservation deadline is Nov. 4.

CONVENTIONS:

Today-Thursday - Northwest College Bookstore Association, regional meeting, Red Lion City Center.

Wednesday - Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, annual membership meeting, Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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