Business Beat

NEW FACES:

David Taylor was named regional sales manager of business data networks and major accounts for GTE Telephone Operations in North Idaho and Eastern Washington. Taylor is an 11-year GTE employee and works out of Coeur d’Alene.

Life Care Centers of America appointed Michelle Stelzer executive director of Life Care Center of Coeur d’Alene. Stelzer formerly worked for Medical Rehabilitation Consultants Inc., as a nurse consultant and served as vice president/administrator of St. Luke’s Extended Care Center for three years. Stelzer has also served as an assistant professor of nursing and adjunct faculty member at Lewis-Clark State College for the past five years.

Jean Bening R.N., was named Kootenai Medical Center’s director of perinatal services. Bening comes to KMC from Spokane, where she was the program director of Heartflite Air Ambulance at Sacred Heart Medical Center from 1985 to 1994, when she was appointed administrator of Northwest MedStar.

The Spokane County Medical Society announces the following new members:

Cecilia Kuyper, M.D., joined Pediatric Critical Care Associates in the practice of pediatrics. Kuyper graduated from the University of Washington.

Patrick Lynch Jr., M.D., joined Associated Orthopaedic Specialists in the practice of orthopaedics. Lynch graduated from the University of Washington and completed his internship and residency at the U of W.

John Naylor, M.D., joined Dr. Daniel Coulston in the practice of internal medicine. Naylor graduated from the University of Washington and completed his internship and residency at the U of W.

Mark Schemmel, M.D., joined Spokane Obstetrics and Gynecology in the practice of OB/GYN.

Lori Smetana, M.D., joined with Drs. Hager & Hampton Irwin in the practice of OB/GYN.

Michael Sorensen, M.D., set up a solo practice in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Erik Strandness, M.D., joined Northwest Neonatology Associates in the practice of pediatrics/neonatology.

Gordon Teel, M.D., joined Radiology Associates, P.S., in the practice of radiology. Teel graduated from the University of Washington.

Jay Wittenkeller, M.D., joined Rockwood Clinic in the practice of oncology.

Brian Zeranski, M.D., joined Associated Family Physicians in the practice of family medicine. Zeranski graduated from the University of Washington and completed his internship and residency at Family Practice Residency of Idaho.

Kenneth Gallaway, P.A.-C., joined Spokane Cardiology.

Roger Gilstrap was appointed administrator/principal of Classical Christian Academy, Coeur d’Alene. Gilstrap holds a lifetime secondary education credential in California and has experience teaching sixth and seventh grades and adult education. Gilstrap spent the past 23 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators, most recently as vice president of human resources.

MOVING UP:

Leslee Conner has been appointed manager of Landau Associates’ Spokane office. A hydrogeologist, Conner has 13 years of professional environmental experience, including seven years at Landau Associates’ Edmonds office. In addition to managing the Spokane office, she will continue to provide technical consultation and project management for environmental projects.

EXPANDING:

The Center for Farm Health and Safety at Eastern Washington University has received a $50,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to help the center expand its outreach throughout Eastern Washington. The grant will be used to help the center share information with a network of other centers across the nation, increase contact with state legislators to provide information about the link between farm stress and injury, and work with the Eastern Washington Farm Safety Coalition to broaden membership and create an action plan.

STARTING UP:

Kay Swoboda, a longtime Spokane resident, opened a word processing-transcribing service at 2109 W. Mansfield Court, in Spokane.

KUDOS:

Robideaux & Associates has received eight National Healthcare Marketing Awards for outstanding concept, copy and design in sales collateral, public relations, outdoor and print advertising. The awards were for work performed by Robideaux for Group Health Northwest, Holy Family Hospital and Journey - A Breast Cancer Survival Group. Toni Robideaux was the account executive for all eight projects.

Spokane Railway Credit Union has received the highest ratings from two independent financial rating firms. For a seventh straight period, SRCU received a “Five-Star Rating” from Bauer Financial Reports Inc. IDC Financial Publishing Inc. again placed SRCU in its “superior” category, a position the credit union has held since 1991.

The Land Surveyors’ Association of Washington presented a certificate to Dwight Greenfield of Century West Engineering, for successfully passing the Level I surveyor’s aides exam.

Meyer Tax Service co-owners Sue Meyer Suppiger and Richard Avey have been licensed as enrolled agents by the Internal Revenue Service. They operate a main office in Coulee Dam, Wash., and Suppiger staffs a branch office in Libby, Mont.

Coachmen Recreational Vehicle Co. has presented a One Million Dollar Round Table Award for 1996 to R’NR Holiday RV of Spokane. The business also received a five-year service award.Clarke American Checks Inc., has presented a $17,500 ATM machine to Spokane Railway Credit Union. The cash machine, which was awarded in a drawing held at the 1995 National Credit Union Symposium, was manufactured by Diebold specifically for the credit union. The ATM was installed at SRCU’s Lincoln Heights branch.

Rick Ericksen of Halpin’s Pharmacy and Treasure Room, has been awarded a plaque commemorating the store’s 15 years of participating in Ideation Inc.’s gift catalog program.

The Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation received a $5,000 grant from Tree Top Inc., of Selah, Wash. The grant will be used to fund a position in the two-year Leadership Program, a three-week seminar in selected foreign countries and a 10-day visit to the Washington, D.C. area to study the federal legislative process.

Johnson Matthey Electronics has received the 1995 Preferred Quality Supplier award from Intel Corp. To qualify for PQS status, suppliers must attain a score of more than 525 points out of 1,000 on a self assessment based on Malcolm Baldridge National Quality award criteria and 80 percent performance against set improvement plans. Johnson Matthey provides Intel with sputtering targets, seal lids, polymer die attach materials and metal die attach materials.

Four members of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council (EDC) were recognized for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of the EDC. Recipients of the EDC Extra Mile Award were Susan Ashe for Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation; Steve Larsen of Humanix Personnel Services; Jeannine Marx, Terry Chambers and Dave Lenartz of the Inland Northwest TechNet; and Pete Kerwien, of Washington Water Power.

Kaiser Aluminum was saluted for its establishment of a manufacturing scholarship fund as a great boost to the EDS’s efforts in workforce development for local manufacturers.

Larsen was recognized for serving as a loaned executive in the EDC’s local business expansion efforts.

TechNet, an organization fostered by the EDC, was praised for the valuable forum which it provides for high-tech executives to meet and share ideas.

Kerwien was cited for his behind-the-scenes work in the negotiations between WWP and the Davenport Hotel to help make that project a reality.

APPOINTED:

The following people have been appointed to the Nursery Advisory Council by the Idaho Department of Agriculture: Randy Poss of Sandpoint, as chairman, for a three-year term; and Erick Madson of Bonners Ferry, for a two-year term.

ELECTED:

The National Association of Purchasing Management-Spokane has elected officers for 1996-97: David Raymond, Spokane County, director for national affairs; Denise Davies, Bayer Corp., president; Gary Greenleaf, Allied Security, first vice president; Janet Prendergast, Kaiser Aluminum, second vice president; Sandee Patterson, Output Technology, secretary; Charlie Gutierrez, city of Spokane, treasurer; Don Tucker, Key Tronic Corp., international chair; Dean Stone, Kaiser, membership chair; Kaye Latham, Kaiser, professional development; Laurie Hitchcock, city of Spokane, public relations chair. Trustees include: Kim Crumpacker, Spokane Transit Authority; Tim Wick, Wagstaff Inc.; Connie Wahl, city of Spokane; Francine Lyngstad, Medical Service Corp.; and Bruce Devereaux, Washington State University.

EVENTS:

Oct. 4 - The Workplace Connection, a non-denominational Christian business owners group, hosts it’s monthly meeting at 7 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar.

Oct. 8 - The 13th Annual Meet the Professionals, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Crescent Court, third floor. This is an opportunity for high school and college students and area professionals to meet in a relaxed environment. Appetizers and beverages will be provided.

Oct. 10 - A half-day workshop on managing for security - defusing violence in the workplace, presented by VR, a managed care company and the Inland Empire Employee Assistance Program, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The workshop will feature Michael Mantell, author of “Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace”, and panel members from the City of Spokane, The Spokesman-Review, Moses Lake School District, The Ridpath Hotel, and others, and will address types of violence, cost to employees and employers and getting back to business. Cost: $15 for the workshop; $15 for the luncheon. Call: 624-7360 or 800-775-7360 for information.

Oct. 17-18 - The National Association of Purchasing Management-Spokane will host the 53rd Annual Pacific Northwest Purchasing Conference at The Ridpath Hotel. Featured speakers will be Joseph Bonn, vice president, planning and administration, Kaiser Aluminum Corp., and Margo Long, founder and director of the Center for Gifted Education and associate professor for the School of Education at Whitworth College. Cost: $225. Call: Laurie Hitchcock at 625-6405 for information and a registration brochure.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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