Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Robert Kelly has joined Packet Engines as vice president of manufacturing. Kelly, who has 17 years of experience in the high-tech industry, most recently was vice president of manufacturing with FORE Systems Inc. in Warrendale, Pa. Kelly will be responsible for onsite and outsourced manufacturing, quality management, procurement, manufacturing engineering, product support, warehousing and distribution.

Jeffrey White has joined Packet Engines as vice president of marketing. White was previously director of marketing for the Enterprise Business Unit of FORE Systems Inc. in Pittsburgh. Earlier he was product manager at Telecommunications Techniques Corp. in Germantown, Md.

Management Technologies Inc. has added the following people to its staff:

Tom Burk was hired as a consultant and trainer. Burk, who was more than 17 years of experience in management and sales, was most recently director of food service sales for Litehouse Salad Dressing. He previously was vice president and owner of Aldrich Morris Burk Food Brokerage.

Ken Lathrop is a senior consultant and trainer for Management Technologies. Lathrop was previously general manager for Riley Creek Lumber Co. and a consultant for the forest products industry.

The Heart Institute of Spokane has appointed Carrie Jarvis as Cardiovascular Network coordinator responsible for initiating and operating managed care contracts. Jarvis previously worked in managed health care for insurers, including Premera. She will implement a new contract with QualMed and develop policies and procedures for the new Cardiovascular Network.

Kathy Booth was named development director for Coeur d’Alene Homes. Booth will be responsible for advocacy programs, fund raising and public relations. She attended North Idaho College and the University of Idaho. Booth has worked in health care facilities and served as a caregiver and bereavement counselor for Hospice of North Idaho.

S.G. Taylor Construction Inc. has hired the following new project managers:

Nancy Kitano, formerly with US West Business Resources Inc., has 16 years of construction management experience. Kitano has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington.

Mark Ossello has worked as a field manager for CMA Project Management and John Stone Development and earned his bachelor of science degree in construction management at Washington State University.

MOVING UP:

Acme Materials and Construction Co. has promoted the following employees at its Rathdrum Prairie Concrete and Aggregate facility:

Willis “Pete” Nettles was appointed sales manager for the North Idaho operations. Nettles spent the last three years developing Acme’s customer base in the North Idaho region.

John Rose was named sales associate for the North Idaho facility. He previously was senior coordinator of distribution for concrete and aggregates.

Barbara “Bobbi” Holmes was promoted to senior coordinator of distribution. She will be responsible for the delivery of all concrete and aggregate products from the North Idaho plant.

Jill Manfred, who has seven years of experience in distribution, was named associate coordinator for distribution. Manfred previously was with Interstate Concrete and Asphalt.

Tom Mattix was named operations manager of the Rathdrum facility and will be responsible for the harvesting and production of all concrete and construction aggregates.

Sally Poutiatine has been promoted to assistant dean for admissions at Gonzaga University School of Law. Poutiatine was admissions coordinator of the law school for the past two years.

Scott Olin has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for Columbia Paint and Coatings’ metro region, which includes Boise, Everett, Salt Lake City, Park City and the Spokane metropolitan area. Olin, most recently district manager in Everett, joined Columbia in 1979.

ELECTED:

Spokane County Bar Association officers and trustees for the 1997-98 term include: Richard Kayne, president; Mark Casey, vice-president; William Hyslop, secretary; and Carl Hueber, treasurer. New trustees are: Laurie Connelly, David Groesbeck, and Steven Grovdashl. Mark Wardrop has been named assistant executive director and Kellee Spangenberg was chosen as lawyer referral coordinator.

The Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross has elected new members to its board of directors for the 1997-98 fiscal year: chairman, Don McClellan, Safeco Insurance Companies; chairman-elect, Lance von Marbod, Seafirst Bank; vice chair of development, Kate McMahon, AT&T Wireless Services; vice chair, Ric Gaunt, Seafirst Bank; treasurer, Dave Walker, Washington Trust Bank; secretary, Bonnie Phillips; at large board member, Steve Corker, Corker Communications. The following members will serve a three-year term: Jay Hopkings, Washington Water Power; and Ron Sims, ALSC Architects.

Lois Johnson has been elected president of the Kootenai Medical Center Auxiliary. Also named as officers were: president-elect, Nikki Lockman; corresponding secretary, Judy Griffith; recording secretary, Doryne Rogstad; and treasurer, Dorothy Wiegele.

KUDOS:

Mark Anderson, transportation manager for Supervalu Inc., has been awarded the “Certified Private Fleet Manager” designation by the National Private Truck Council. The CPRM designation recognizes a fleet manager’s professional experience and continuing education.

Dixie Randock, owner/broker of Century 21 Randock Citywide in Spokane and Pend Oreille and A+ Real Estate Institute, has been approved as a Washington real estate instructor in all subject areas.

Spokane Mental Health has received the Effective, Efficient Provider Organization (EEPO) Award from the National Community Mental Healthcare Council for overall excellence in behavioral health care services. The organization also received the 1997 Eli Lilly and Co.-National Managed Health Care Congress Managed Behavioral Healthcare Leadership Award, in the public sector, for leadership and innovation.

Spokane’s Foothills Lincoln-Mercury automobile dealership has been awarded the 1996 North American Customer Excellence Award for Quality in Customer Satisfaction by the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Co. The award recognizes the Foothills dealership for consistency in meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of their customers.

Foothills-Mercury-Mazda also was chosen to receive an Agora award for small-business achievement by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented for the dealership’s reputation for customer satisfaction and efforts to change public perception of automobile dealers.

APPOINTED:

Thomas Magnuson, president of Magnuson Hospitality Group, has been appointed to the Executive Marketing Advisory Committee for Best Western International Inc. Magnuson brings 10 years of property management and positioning expertise to the group and will help shape the industry’s sales and marketing programs.

Christine Schnug, a shareholder with the McFarland and Alton accounting firm, has been appointed chairwoman of Gonzaga’s Spokane Planned Giving Committee. New additions to the committee include: William L. Child, LeMasters & Daniels; attorneys William D. Eden, Paul D. Fitzpatrick and Donald “Kit” Querna; Jim O’Connell, James F. O’Connell & Associates Inc.; Dale Sebo, Washington Trust Bank; and Jerry Wagner, Seafirst Bank.

OPPORTUNITIES:

The examination that qualifies tax preparers and other interested persons who are not attorneys or certified public accounts, is scheduled for Sept. 25-26 in Spokane and six other western locations. Applications are available by calling 1-800-829-3676 and must be postmarked no later than July 31. The cost of all four parts of the exam is $55, or $45 for fewer than four parts.

EVENTS:

Monday through Friday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to potential and existing small-business owners from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Business Information Center at the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, 1020 W. Riverside. For appointments, call 353-2820. Counselors also are available on Tuesdays at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, 8817 E. Mission. For appointments there, call 924-4994.

Tuesday - Author and facilitator Douglas Pittman will discuss “Creating a Personal and Professional Advantage” during a business leaders luncheon presented by Impact Training Unlimited at 11:45 a.m. at the downtown Doubletree Hotel (formerly Red Lion). Cost: $10; to register, call 325-3949 or (888) 325-3949 toll free.

Tuesday - Leads Club, a structured networking organization for business leads and referrals, meets from 12:15-1:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in the Spokane Valley. For more information, call Beth Ann Daigre at 921-9581.

Wednesday - Spokane Building Owners and Managers Association presents a lunch meeting “Downtown Security Ambassadors” from noon-1 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Cost: $9 for lunch; for information, call 466-4905.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “The ABC’s of Starting a Business” from 9 a.m.-noon at the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, 1020 W. Riverside. Cost: $15; for information and registration, call 353-2820.

Wednesday - Merrill Lynch presents a class on the basics of financial planning and investing at 5:30 p.m. at Patsy Clark’s Mansion. For information and to register, call Margot Hamstra at 458-4219.

Wednesday - Packet Engines President and CEO Bernard Daines will be the keynote speaker for the semiannual membership meeting of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council from 7:30-9 a.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Cost $12.50; for more information or to register, call 624-9285.

Thursday - Leads Club, a structured networking organization for business leads and referrals, meets from 12:15-1:30 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn on Fourth Avenue. For more information, call Nora Laughlin at 466-6832.

Thursday - Power Tipps, an organization for sharing business leads and networking, meets from 7-8 a.m. on the North Side. For more information, call 468-9695 or 891-2353.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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