Business Beat

New faces:

Schoedel & Schoedel, a Spokane certified public accounting firm, has added two people to its staff:

Scott Opperud, a CPA and Eastern Washington University graduate, previously worked in Omak, where he specialized in income and state tax planning and preparation and agricultural business.

Tracy Vaughan, who joined the firm as a staff accountant, is a graduate of Iowa State University.

Recent additions to the staff of Coeur d’Alene-based Hanna & Associates Inc. include:

Teresa Gavin, who joined the advertising agency as production/traffic coordinator. Gavin will assist with the agency’s print production and will be responsible for maintaining communications between departments to ensure the efficient handling of projects. A graduate of Eastern Washington University, she previously worked for Heckler Associates, a Seattle design agency.

Tom Ryse, who joined the firm as a graphic artist. Ryse is a graduate of Eastern Washington University. He previously worked for The Traver Co., a Seattle design studio.

Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter has been named manager of marketing and outreach at KSPS-TV. Wheatley-Billeter has a 20-year background in broadcast journalism and was most recently employed at the Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau as director of communications.

Melanie Madden has joined Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises as director of sales. She will book charter cruises on the company’s five Lake Coeur d’Alene boats and The Sandpoint on Lake Pend Oreille. A graduate of the American College of Applied Arts, Madden formerly worked for Sound Publishing on Bainbridge Island, Wash., as advertising supervisor.

Dr. Sean Urquhart has joined the practice of Valley Obstetrics and Gynecology P.S. Urquhart formerly practiced with the Rockwood Clinic in Spokane. He is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

John Weisel, a doctor of optometry, has joined the practice of Coeur d’Alene Ophthalmology P.A., where he will specialize in contact lens care. Weisel obtained his professional training at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.

Dennis Fuller has been named consulting manager for Century West Engineering Corp.’s Spokane office. Fuller, a registered professional engineer in Washington, Idaho and Montana, has management experience with sewer, water, roadway and aviation projects throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Charles “Charlie” Cohen and Judi Baker have been hired by Northwest Broadcasting Inc., as account executives for FOX 28 KAYU-TV. Cohen is a graduate of Arizona State University. Baker, a Gonzaga University graduate, was formerly with KZZU radio’s marketing research department. Both will focus on selling commercial time and helping to develop client commercial spots.

Moving up:

Jessie Garcia has joined Eagle Rehab as manager of its Newport Highway clinic. Garcia previously worked as a clinical fill-in therapist and co-developer of the Eagle Dynamic Group Exercise program. He has held clinical management positions at Air Force physical therapy clinics in Germany and at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Rod Strom was named manager of Eagle Rehab’s Post Falls clinic. Strom was previously a staff therapist at Eagle’s Valley Pines Clinic in Spokane. He has extensive experience in industrial physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Starting up:

WT Mortgage Group, 1010 N. Normandie, a new mortgage lending provider, has opened with Gregg Patterson as manager and Cliff Berdar and Bob Krous as loan originators. Patterson has more than six years of experience in the real estate industry, most recently as a loan originator. Berdar’s background includes real estate sales and management, while Krous has more than 26 years of sales and management experience.

GTE Wireless has opened a Spokane office as part of its preparations to launch a next-generation personal communications services (PCS) network in Spokane by midyear. Doug Robinson has been named market manager to oversee local operations. He previously was a market manager for GTE Mobilnet in Iowa.

Fancy Feet Errand Service, 3214 W. Fifth, a pick-up and delivery service for the working family, has been started by Margie Knight and Jim David. The business offers grocery shopping, dry cleaning drop-off/pick-up, will-call service waiting, bank depositing, pharmacy pick-ups and vacation house checking.

Elected:

The Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council’s 1997 officers are: president, Kathy Wilson, Eller Corp.; vice president, Mike Gibbons, Spokane City Water Department; and treasurer, Merry Gregory, TCI.

1997 officers of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council include: board of trustees chair, Frank Tombari, Farmers & Merchants Bank; vice chair, Sterling Haskins, The Haskins Co.; secretary-treasurer, Bill Pupo, City of Spokane.

Newly elected members of the EDC board of trustees are: Thomas White, Empire Health Services; Barry Baker, Baker Construction; Janet Hasson, Journal of Business; James Williams, Spokane Community College; and Robert Stevens, Spokane Packaging.

Officers and directors of Independent Brokers include: president, Anita Day, Watson Co. Inc.; vice president, Joseph McKinnon, Simpson Realty; secretary, Patrick Kenney, F.S. Barrett & Co.; treasurer, Marshall Gates, Gates Realty; directors, Bettie Roecks, Roecks & Roecks; Sabrina Jones, Jones & Associates; and Clancy Bean, Bean & Associates; past president, Kitty Archer, Archer Realty.

1996-97 advisory board members for the Spokane Sexual Assault Center include: chairman, Michael Loft, Loft, Layman & White; board members, Julie Clausen and Maria Galluci, Spokane Sexual Assault Center; Trisha Kissler, Sterling Savings Association; Gary Lorentzen, Wells Fargo Bank; Lori Nicol-Bingham, consultant; Irma Pena, Eastern Washington University; Robi Railey, Allstate Insurance; Pat Smith, Gonzaga University; Steve Matthews, attorney; Michael Otis, FRP Benefits; Stacey Vandemark, Department of Corrections; and Julie Shifflet, Egghead Software.

Transactions:

Medical-Dental Management of Spokane has merged with the accounting firm of Schoedel & Schoedel. Medical-Dental Management has provided accounting, tax, consulting and practice management services to medical, dental and health care-related professionals for more than 20 years. Schoedel & Schoedel has developed a large medical and health care-related clientele during more than 40 years in business.

Baskin Robbins, 1230 S. Grand, has reopened under new ownership after remodeling and updating the interior. A full-time cake decorator also has been hired. New owners Tom and Joan Wall have operated the Baskin Robbins store on Country Homes Blvd. for the past five years.

Events:

Monday - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents an ISO 14000 overview from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost $75; call 533-4700 for information or to register.

Monday through Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business 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.

Wednesday - The Spokane Area Sheep Producer’s Association and Washington State University Cooperative Extension present a free workshop on “Managing the Wool Clip” at 8:15 p.m. at the Ag Center, 222 N. Havana. The association will hold a business meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. For information, call (509) 725-4171.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Basics of Recordkeeping” from 8 a.m.-noon at the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, 1020 W. Riverside. Cost: $35, including materials; for information or to register, call 353-2820.

Thursday - Susan Thomas of Selective Media and Marketing will speak on “Media, What to Choose, What to Lose” during a meeting of the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, 923 E. Third. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members; for information, call Cathy Doerr at 838-8755.

Thursday - Maria Beebe, who recently served with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Liberia and South Africa, will speak on “Environmental Threats to Stability: The Role of Population Growth” at 7:30 p.m. at Whitworth College’s Lindaman Center. For more information, call 466-3270.

Friday - Merrill Lynch presents a free luncheon seminar for women on “What Every Woman Should Know About Money” from noon-1 p.m. at Patsy Clark’s Mansion. For more information or to register, call Margot Hamstra at 458-4219.

Friday - Michael J. Parks, editor and publisher of Marple’s Business Newsletter, will be the featured speaker for the Good Morning Spokane Area program presented by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce from 7:30-8:45 a.m. at the Red Lion Spokane Valley. Cost: $10 if prepaid, $15 at the door; for reservations, call 459-4111.

Saturday - Bill Sacre, national director of the National Association of Investors Inc., will be the featured speaker for a workshop on “Stock Analysis 103-Advanced” presented by the association’s Inland Empire Council from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main. Cost: $15 if preregistered, $20 at the door. Send name, address, phone number and check payable to Inland Empire Council, NAIC, 1011 W. Comstock Court, Spokane, WA 99203. For more information, call Susan Means at 235-5491.

March 18 - Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors presents a Mining Safety and Health Act training seminar from 8-11:30 a.m. in the lower level of the Great Western Building, 221 N. Wall. Cost: $15; for information or to register, call Carolyn Pierce at 535-0391.

March 27 - The Spokane Department of Emergency Management presents a workshop to assist local business and industry to develop an emergency operation plan to lessen the impact of a disaster from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, 923 E. Third. Cost: $35, including lunch and materials; call Carol Morrisen at 456-2204 for registration information.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 photos

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