Business Beat

NEW FACES:

North Idaho Immediate Care Center has named Steve Judy human resources director. He will oversee personnel development, payroll issues and physician recruitment. Judy formerly was executive director of Concerned Businesses of North Idaho.

Melisa Tiffany and Danette White have joined the staff of Family Home Care. Tiffany is a board-certified enterostomal therapy nurse with eight years of home health experience. White is a oncology-certified nurse who has had eight years of experience working with oncology patients.

VRI Employee Assistance Program has added the following people to its staff:

Marcy Few was named marketing representative for Eastern Washington. Few is responsible for new contract sales and retention of existing business. She has six years of experience in sales and marketing and was previously with Lionhead Media Inc.

Traci Sams was hired as a receptionist. Sams is a graduate of Interface Computer School and has six years of experience coaching gymnastics for Spokane Elite Gymnastics.

Christy Nolting has been named manager of the Valley Holiday Inn Express. Nolting was previously the Director of Sales for Shilo Inn in Spokane.

Windermere Real Estate/Leroy Johnson Inc. has hired John Lowry as a sales associate. Lowry has been a self-employed musician for nearly 10 years.

Mary Bates and Bruce McClelland have been added to the Empire Health Services Board of Directors. Bates, an employee of First American Title Co., has been a volunteer with the Deaconess and Valley Healthcare Foundation. McClelland is a physician at Spokane Valley Ear, Nose and Throat P.S. He is a former member of the Valley Hospital and Medical Center board.

Washington Forest Protection Association has appointed Peter Heide director of forest management. Heide will handle operational issues relating to owning and managing private forests. He was previously senior forester for Plum Creek Timber Co. in Eastern Washington.

Laurine Jue, former television news anchor and spokesperson for Spokane Public Schools, is the new assistant vice president of Community Relations at Empire Health Services.

GeoEngineers announced the new hire of Bruce Williams as a Senior Environmental Scientist to the Redmond-based firm’s Spokane office. Williams brings more than 15 years of experience as an environmental consultant focusing on site assessments for property transactions, contaminated site characterization, remedial investigations and feasibility studies, site remediation, regulatory liaison, and risk assessments.

Bernadette Garner, who previously was a Mortgage Loan Officer for another local bank, has accepted the position of Real Estate Loan Officer for Idaho Independent Bank in Coeur d’Alene specializing in residential loans.

American Behavioral Health Systems, Inc., a behavioral rehabilitation program specializing in residential services for adults from throughout the state, has named Craig Phillips president and chief executive officer. Phillips has over ten years experience in behavioral health services; most recently administrator of The Salvation Army’s treatment programs.

Yvonne Lopez Morton has joined the Cheney Cowles Museum as the Marketing/Visitor Development Coordinator. Morton has 14 years experience as a communicator and editor in the Spokane area.

Pinnacle Realty, Inc. has hired Carlo Jensen as a new commercial sales and leasing agent. Jensen brings 12 years of commercial real estate experience.

MOVING UP:

Tom McCotter has been appointed general manager of Hyster Sales Co.’s Spokane and Missoula facilities. McCotter has been Hyster’s Portland sales manager since 1992. He will oversee all parts, service, rental and sales functions for the Spokane and Missoula operations.

McDirmid, Mikkelsen and Secrest, P.S. has announced the following promotions within its staff. They are:

Winston Mouser and Marcie Pettis to Managers.

Karis Brotherton and Andrew McDirmid to Supervisors.

Patrick McDonald and Cassandra Moore to Staff A.

Candy Hanford has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice President of Foundation Northwest, The Community Foundation. Hanford, who has 12 years of experience with the foundation, will supervise the program and financial operations of the foundation.

STARTING UP:

Randall LaPlante, Joseph Scholze, and John Bauer have recently formed the new engineering firm of LSB Consulting Engineers, PLLC. The new firm will provide professional structural engineering services to industrial, architectural and commercial clients.

Roger Coombs, Attorney at Law, has opened his firm Roger A. Coombs, P.C. on Mullan Road. Coombs has provided legal services in the greater Spokane area for 23 years. His practice will continue to emphasize Business Law, Elder Law, Real Estate Law, Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate and Arbitration Services.

ELECTED:

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington has elected the following Spokane trustees to its statewide board of directors: attorney Peter Moye is chairman of the statewide board; and Mary Dinnison, Dinnison Properties, is chairperson of the Eastern Washington committee, a standing committee of the statewide board. Other local trustees include: Dr. Leanne Ager, Dr. Judy Felgenhauer and Patty Kilcup. Other local committee members are: LaLoni Myers, Oliva Wicks and Judy Rogers.

APPOINTED:

Pam Praeger, dean of instruction for community/vocational education at the community colleges’ Institute for Extended Learning, has been appointed to a second two-year term on the state Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Richard Tucker, associate dean of student services for student-funded programs and special projects at Spokane Falls Community College, has been appointed to the city of Spokane’s Chase Youth Commission. He will serve a three-year term.

EVENTS:

Monday - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents a training seminar on “Establishing Performance Expectations” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $65; call 533-4700 for information or to register.

Monday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Why and How to Develop a Personnel Policy Manual” from 6-9 p.m. both days at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Tuesday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a Safety Roundtable from 7-8:30 a.m. at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $25 for members, $49 for non-members; to register, mail check to Associated Industries, P.O. Box 2125, Spokane, WA, 99210-2125, or register on line at http://www.aiin.com.

Tuesday and Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Cash Flow Management” from 6-9 p.m. both days at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Tuesday - Merrill Lynch will present a free luncheon and seminar entitled “The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 - Focus on retirement from noon to 1 p.m. at Solicitor’s Corner Restaurant at Francis and Division. To register, call 458-4219.

Tuesday - Novell, Compaq and CallWare Corporation will present a seminar to introduce K-12 educators to Novell’s Border Management and GroupWise software. The free seminar will be held at Spokane’s Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For reservations, call 922-4600 or e-mail to swilson@abcoe.com.

Wednesday - A luncheon and symposium entitled “Advertising: A Right and a Responsibility,” will be held at the Ridpath Hotel. The luncheon begins at 11:45 p.m., with the seminar running from 1:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Spokane Advertising Federation and the Better Business Bureau of the Inland Northwest. Luncheon cost is $15 for Ad Club and BBB members. The symposium cost is $25 for members or $35 for both events. Non-members add $5 to those prices. For reservations and information call 326-8818.

Wednesday - Gary Randall, Gonzaga University professor of law, will discuss how the 1997 Tax Act changes the rules for small corporations at SIRTI’s Technology Business Forum at 4 p.m. at SIRTI, 665 North Riverpoint Blvd. The program is free and open to the public. Call 358-2059.

Wednesday - “Best Consulting Practice” will be the program for the November meeting of the Inland Northwest Society of Consulting Professionals at 7:15 a.m. at the Ridpath Hotel.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives Association will present a workshop on preparing a business plan from 8 a.m. to noon at the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, 1020 W. Riverside. Cost is $35. To register, call 353-2820.

Thursday - Long-term health care cost issues will be the topic of a free seminar offered by Seafirst Bank at the Fort Colville Grange in Colville from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call 800 241-8769.

Thursday - “Construction Law Update ‘97” sponsored by the Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the SIRTI Building, Room 326, 668 North Riverpoint Blvd. Registration begins at 1 p.m. Fees are $50 for AGC members and $85 for non-members. For information call 535-0391, or fax 535-3706.

Friday - The Deaconess and Valley Healthcare Foundation present Epicurean Delight from 6:30 p.m.-midnight at the Spokane International Ag Trade Center. Cost: $125 per person, $1,250 per table of 10, or $1,500 per sponsored table of 10 with proceeds to benefit the Deaconess Center for Perinatal Medicine. For information or reservations, call 744-7673.

Friday - The Hispanic Business and Professional Association will hold its monthly lunch meeting at 11:30 a.m. at Cavanaugh’s Fourth Avenue.

Saturday - The Gonzaga University School of Education will host a free technology fair for educators and parents from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rosauer Center for Education on the Gonzaga campus. For information call 328-4220, ext. 3494.

Nov. 3 through Dec. 15 - The Inland Northwest Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Association presents a class on “Heat Mechanics II License” from 6-9:30 p.m. at the Master Mechanic Training Center, 811 E. Trent. Cost: $350 for association members, $450 for non-members; for information or to pre-register, call 747-8810.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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