Business Beat

From BUSINESS BEAT column, January 4, 1998: Correction: Kristin M. Bacon has joined Denny Christenson & Associates. She previously worked for ALSC Architects. Bacon received a bachelor’s degree in interior design with an architectural emphasis from Washington State University and ASID professional certification in 1994. An item in the Dec. 21 Business Beat column incorrectly identified her current employer.

NEW FACES:

Telect Inc. has hired Tim Szymanowski as vice president of sales. He will oversee a department with more than 40 outside sales representatives worldwide and more than 30 inside sales people based at Telect’s Liberty Lake headquarters. Szymanowski previously worked for Van Waters & Rogers, a global chemical distribution company, where he held sales and branch management responsibilities for the Northwest region.

Spokane Teachers Credit Union has added the following people to its staff:

Paul Chalmers joined the company as vice president of human resources. Chalmers, who has more than 21 years of human resource experience in the financial institution industry, most recently was assistant vice president and director of human resources at Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Co. Inc.

Susan Cerutti-Jensen was hired as public relations officer. Cerutti-Jensen, who graduated from Western Washington University, will focus on business development and public relations. She has more than four years of financial institution experience.

Kristin M. Bacon has joined the firm of ALSC Architects. Bacon received a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Washington State University and earned ASID professional certification in 1994. She will assist ALSC with both architectural and interior projects.

Parker Toyota of Coeur d’Alene has hired Donald Walde as a sales professional. Walde, who earned a degree in business administration/ management from the University of Colorado, is the former president and owner of Lookout Pass Ski Resort.

Air Control Heating, a Spokane mechanical and roofing contractor, has named Maria Buck as office manager and controller. Buck previously operated her own consulting and accounting software business.

Susan Legel-Wecker has has been appointed chief financial officer of Spokane Mental Health. Legel-Wecker, a certified public accountant who received a master’s degree in business administration from Seattle Pacific University, has worked in the health care industry for 15 years. She most recently was financial director for Group Health Northwest.

MOVING UP:

Pegasus Gold Corp. has promoted John W. Pearson to vice president investor and public relations. Pearson joined Pegasus more than three years ago as director of investor relations. He has more than 16 years of experience in the natural resource industry in both the communications and technical fields. Previous positions include five years as the director of investor relations for Lac Minerals Ltd, two years as manager of investor and public relations for Canamax Resources, and six years as an exploration geologist with various Canadian companies.

Richard W. “Rick” Boutz has been named chief financial officer of Washington Trust Bank. Boutz, who joined the bank in 1975, also will continue serving as senior vice president and manager of the bank’s finance department. He has held a variety of positions within the bank’s finance department.

Zak Designs Inc. has promoted the following people: Geoff Webster was named senior vice president. In addition to overseeing Zak’s accounting, credit and MIS departments, Webster will add the warehouse operation. Before joining Zak, he was vice president of finance and vice president of manufacturing for O Neill Inc. in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Mike Jones was promoted to human resource manager. He will oversee the education and training of new Zak employees. Jones, an Air Force veteran, previously was customer service manager for Zak’s sales division.

STARTING UP:

The financial services firm Edward Jones has opened its seventh branch office in Spokane and hired Walker P. Sandlin III as the new office’s investment representative. The office is located in the Gonzaga district at Hamilton and Sharp. Sandlin has worked in natural gas marketing and most recently in the forest products industry. He received a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University.

Randall A. Kenworthy has started Five Star Productions, a video production business that specializes in corporate marketing and training videos. Kenworthy, who has 13 years of experience in the video industry, will offer services ranging from free-lance videography to full-service producing.

Global Credit Union has begun work on a Post Falls branch office in the 3100 block of Seltice Way. The new branch, which eventually will replace one in Tidyman’s, will have more than 1,700 square feet, two drive-up windows, and a 24-hour ATM. Baker Construction is building the branch for Global.

MOVING:

The law office of Andrew C. Bohrnsen P.S. has moved to Suite 300 of the Hutton Building, 9 S. Washington. Daniel E. Stowe has become an associate with the firm and will be practicing in the area of insurance defense. Prior to attending Gonzaga Law School, Stowe was a casualty claims adjuster for Safeco Insurance Cos.

ELECTED:

Officers and directors of the Spokane Building Owners and Managers Association for 1998 include: Dave W. Tomson, president; David B. Wright, president-elect; Kevin L. Kragt, vice president; Peter J. Cain, Toni L. Habets, Gordon W. Hester, Eric A. Mewhinney, John P. Mielock and Kenneth W. Schug, board members. Frank R. Schoonover is executive director.

KUDOS:

Bernie O’Brien, a Spokane Realtor for five years, has been awarded the accredited buyer representative designation (ABR) by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors. O’Brien recently joined Re/Max Citywide as a residential listing and sales specialist working countywide. He was employed by Spokane County for 10 years as community development director before becoming a Realtor in 1992.

Spokane-based Global Credit Union has earned another 5-Star Superior rating from Bauer Financial Reports Inc., an independent banking research firm. This is Global Credit Union’s fifth consecutive 5-Star rating, the highest awarded by Bauer.

Donald Clough, a dry van driver from Deer Park, has been named to Werner Enterprises’ Hall of Fame. Inductees each have logged more than one million accident-free miles with the carrier. Clough joined the company in 1988.

The Spokane Chapter of Executive Women International has named Diane Mangano as Representative of the Year. The annual award recognizes a representative’s active involvement in the organization’s activities. Mangano owns Kershaws Inc.

Wendt Advertising has won honors for two television promotions. Wendt won a Flame Award in the financial category for a series of Washington Trust Bank television commercials. In the public service category, Wendt took top honors for “Let Yourself Go” - public service announcements promoting Cheney Cowles Museum.

Terry Swanger has graduated from the Strategic Planning for Investor Relations program of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Swanger is the principal of Swanger Eriksen and Associates, an investor relations and corporate communications firm based in Spokane.

Dr. John Pennings has been elected a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Pennings, who has offices on Lincoln Way in Coeur d’Alene, received his medical degree in 1988 from the University of Minnesota and is certified by the American Board of Survery. The American College of Surgeons is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

Gary McLain of Spokane has completed a course in colored stones with the Gemological Institute of America and been awarded the institute’s colored stones certificate. In gemology, the term colored stones means all gem materials other than diamonds.

Three students have been named to receive $1,500 full-tuition scholarships to attend Spokane Community College this years under the first awards from the Kaiser Aluminum Manufacturing Technology/Skilled Crafts Scholarship Endowment. They are:

Jason Bishop, 18, Edwall, Wash., a graduate of Christian Heritage School, who is studying machine shop technology.

Joshua Lindstrom, 19, Deer Park, Wash., a graduate of Riverside High School, majoring in electrical maintenance technology.

Jess McClure, 18, Davenport, Wash., a graduate of Davenport High School, also majoring in electrical maintenance technology.

Spokane Railway Credit Union has received the highest ratings from two independent financial rating firms. They’ve earned a Five-Star Rating from Bauer Financial Reports Inc., and IDC Financial Publishing Inc., has placed the credit union in its Superior category.

Ken Lupton, a Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance agent, was honored at the annual Robert W. Baird and Co. Most Valuable Producer Meeting to recognize sales excellence. He is associated with Brian Hubbell General Agency in Spokane.

Chipman Moving and Storage Inc., a Spokane agent of United Van Lines Inc., was recognized for special professional achievement. Chipman received the President’s Club award, which signifies achievement of at least $1 million in sales for the United system during the past year.

Spokane Railway Credit Union recently garnered three Spectrum Awards. They recognize the outstanding marketing achievements of credit unions in the state of Washington. They earned second place awards in the categories of Newsletters and Special Communications. An honorable mention award was also given to the credit union for their recently unveiled internet web site.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Nominations are now being accepted for the 1998 AGORA Awards for Business Excellence in the Inland Northwest, sponsored by the Small Business Council of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce. The AGORA Awards, now in their 13th year, are considered as Spokane’s most prestigious awards for business excellence. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 17, 1998. Nomination forms are available by calling the chamber at 624-1393.

The Institute for Extended Learning presents a free 10-week course for women on basic academic skills and computer training, with emphasis on job opportunities in the trades and technical fields. Classes begin Jan. 12 at the institute, located across from Spokane Falls Community College. To register, call 533-3131.

CORRECTION:

Susan Green, a member of the board of Spokane Insurance Women, has received the Certified Professional Insurance Woman designation. Green currently works for Connor and Kelly Insurance Brokers. An item in last week’s column gave the wrong affiliation.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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