Business Beat
New faces:
GTE Wireless has named Jeffrey Suskind general manager of its Personal Communications Services market in Spokane. Suskind will oversee all sales, distribution and market efforts for the Inland Northwest. Previously he guided PCS distribution channels and sales support for GTE Wireless’ Northwest region. He joined GTE Wireless in 1989 and has held several major sales and management positions.
Duvoisin & Associates LLC has added the following people to its staff: Dave Morse was hired as an information systems specialist. Morse, who previously worked for Northwest Imaging as a radiology information systems computer operator, has experience in Unix, MS, TCP/IP network configurations and systems implementations. He is project manager for the IDX RAD implementation.
Renee Frank joined Duvoisin as an information systems support specialist. She previously was in information system administration at Kaiser Trentwood. Frank is supporting a DEC Aplha 1200 and is certified in Windows NT.
Lynne Burke was named a systems analyst. She previously held a similar position at Bayer Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Co. in Spokane. Burke has experience in systems design, programming and project planning with IBM, Computer Sciences Corp., Battelle Northwest and WWP.
Cem Ullman joined Duvoisin as a computer systems specialist. Ullman, who has a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and administrative office management, previously was an Eastern Washington University computer lab technician. He supports MS Windows 95 and NT applications.
Warren Daubel was hired as a teleradiology systems support specialist. Daubel, who received a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Eastern Washington University, supports 15 outreach facilities.
Kevin Cunningham has been named area manager for Commercial Equipment Lease, doing business as Liberty Leasing. Cunningham’s territory includes Eastern Washington and the state of Idaho. He has more than seven years of experience in the industry and was previously lease equipment portfolio manager for a Spokane company and a partner in a commercial leasing company.
Dr. Michor Gentemann has joined Regal Veterinary Clinic in the practice of small animal medicine, surgery and dentistry. Gentemann is a graduate of Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He also received a degree in psychology from the University of Washington.
The following people have been accepted for membership in the Spokane County Medical Society: Dr. Thurman Merritt joined Neonatology Associates Spokane in the practice of pediatrics/neonatal-perinatal medicine. A graduate of the University of Kansas, he completed an internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a residency and fellowship at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
Dr. Charles Britt has joined Drs. Clark and Thrower in the practice of neurology. Britt graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed an internship and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital. He also completed a fellowship at the Methodist Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Mark MacFarlane joined the Rockwood Clinic in the practice of general surgery. He graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine and completed an internship and residency at the University of California, San Francisco. He also completed a fellowship at the National Institute of Health and an additional residency at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Christopher Montague has joined Pathology Associates Inc., P.S., in the practice of anatomic and clinical pathology. He graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and completed an internship and residency at Penrose Hospital. Montague also completed a fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Dr. Michael Kerkering has joined Internal Medicine Spokane. He graduated from the University of Washington Medical School and completed an internship and residency at Internal Medicine Spokane.
Dr. Jeffrey Jamison, who joined The Doctors’ Clinic in the practice of family medicine, graduated from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Science. He completed an internship and residency at Central Washington Family Medicine.
Moving up:
Qpoint Home Mortgage Loans Inc. has promoted Nancy Charlston to branch manager of the Qpoint Spokane office. Charlston, who has more than five years of experience in the mortgage industry, joined Qpoint in 1997.
Kelly Sand has been promoted to training administrator of Global Credit Union. A 16-year veteran of the staff, she was previously the call center manager.
Starting up:
Remodeling is under way at Idaho Independent Bank’s new branch at 113 East Idaho Avenue in Meridian, Idaho. The branch, which is scheduled to open in early September, will be managed by Gerry Mattison, vice president and manager, and Terry Smith, vice president. Both were previously with Idaho First National Bank, West One and U.S. Bank. Idaho Independent also plans to open a branch at 804 12 Ave. South in Nampa in early October.
Evatac Enterprises has established an Internet Web site to sell heavy-duty German beer growlers and growler accessories to individuals, brewpubs and breweries online. The site is located at http://www.growlers.net.
Kudos:
The Volunteer Action Fund administered by the American Express Foundation has presented a $1,000 grant to the Inland Empire Council of Camp Fire Boys and Girls. The grant was used to update the fire protection equipment at the organization’s Dart-Lo day camp. The fund awards grants on a competitive basis to eligible organizations at which employees regularly volunteer.
The Inland Northwest Division Office of the Mutual of Omaha Insurance Cos. has earned the 1997 Professional Growth Award from The American College. The award is presented to life insurance agencies that have demonstrated an active commitment to professionalism through education. The Inland Northwest Division Office serves Eastern Washington, North Idaho, western Montana and eastern Oregon.
Jim Thompson of Thompson Homes and Marcea Siemers of Design Works won top honors at the 1998 Showcase of Homes. Thompson’s entry, Le Pavillion, received first place for the master bedroom, interior design, craftsmanship, furnishings (provided by Design Works Furnishings), architectural design, kitchen and landscaping and exterior appeal. The home also received the judge’s choice award as the best all around home in its category. The Thompson Homes/ Design Works team also received the People’s Choice award based on voting by people attending the show.
Former Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty was honored as the third recipient of the Greater Spokane Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s Ken Degerness Award for Excellence in Public Relations. Geraghty has been a member of PRSA since 1971 and was a founding member of the Greater Spokane Chapter in 1974. Since then, he has served stints as a member of the board and as chair of numerous committees. He was chapter president in 1985. Geraghty also has served as a Spokane County commissioner, an official for Expo ‘74, publisher of “The Falls” newspaper, and as a public relations executive with his own firm and with Alliance Pacific Inc.
Lori Barschig, employee transportation coordinator for Sacred Heart Medical Center, has received the All Star Coach Award from Spokane County’s Commute Trip Reduction Recognition Program. She was cited for her leadership, flexibility and creativity in encouraging Sacred Heart’s 3,800 employees to use alternative commute options.
Windermere’s Spokane Group has donated $4,000 to St. Margaret’s Shelter, which provides homeless women and their children with emergency shelter. The donation, from the East Sprague, Johnson, Manito and North Wall offices and the Windermere Foundation, will help purchase furnishings for the shelter.
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council has awarded Building Operator Certification - Level 1 to the following people: Mike Nichol, East Valley School District No. 361; Thomas Bishop, environmental services officer, Rockwood Retirement Community; Eugene Knizek, Boeing Co. mechanic; and Jim Lobach, Coyote Ridge Corrections Center plant manager.
Director of the City of Spokane’s Construction Services Department, John Bjork, has received the Powell-Lindsay Award from the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Water Works Association. The award goes to the person who best exemplifies the desired attributes of the organization.
Kathleen Hutchins, personal financial program manager at Fairchild Air Force Base, has been awarded The Accredited Financial Counselor designation by the Institute for Personal Finance. To qualify, Hutchins completed extensive course work in personal finance, debt management, and financial counseling. She also must abide by the AFC Code of Ethics and remain current in her field through continuing education.
Greg Thompson won the American Trucking Association National Truck Driving Championships in twin trailers for Washington state. Thompson, who works for USF Reddaway, advanced to the ATA National Truck Driving Championships.
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. at the Business Information Center in Room 240 of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 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.
Sept. 9 - Tom Cox, second vice president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Management, will speak on “Customer/ Supplier Relationships” during a meeting of Northwest Inland Empire APICS at 5:15 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in the Spokane Valley. Cost: $17; registration deadline is Friday.
Sept. 9 - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a seminar on “EEO-1 Reports Completion” from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers; for information, call 326-6885.
Sept. 9 - The Inland Northwest Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Association presents a class on “Gas Codes and Installations” on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Master Technician Training Center, 811 E, Sprague, No. 6. For information, call 747-8810.