Business Beat

New faces:

Scott R. Calhoon has joined Williams & Webster P.S. CPAs as a staff accountant and computer systems specialist. Calhoon is a recent graduate of Eastern Washington University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting, and minored in information systems.

Portland-based TeleMark Inc. has hired Carole Mohr as director of business development. Mohr, who will be based in Spokane, has more than 15 years of experience in telemarketing, corporate sales and marketing management and client services. Mohr previously was senior vice president of operations at Dakotah Direct, which she helped to found in 1992. She was named Telephone Professional of the Year in 1997 by the American Telemarketing Association.

Personnel Unlimited Executive Search has added two corporate recruiters to its staff:

Mike Busch, who has more than 10 years of experience, will focus on the telecommunications industry.

Brian Adam, a veteran of more than 10 years in corporate distribution, will focus on the accounting and financial services industry.

Jan Wigen has joined Wendt Advertising as an account manager and operations manager in the agency’s Spokane office. Wigen previously was development officer for the Cheney Cowles Museum. She was responsible for marketing, fund-raising, membership development and public relations for Eastern Washington State Historical Society, which operates the museum and Campbell House. She received a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.

Linda Lopez-George has joined Washington State University at Spokane as regional director of development. Lopez-George, who previously was acting director of development and alumni relations for Gonzaga University’s School of Law, also held other development positions at the law school and served as director of development and alumni relations for Eastern Washington University’s College of Business Administration. She earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Texas at Austin and was recently elected chair of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

Dr. John K. Shuster has joined the medical staff of Northwest Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic. Shuster, who recently completed a spine fellowship at the Emory Spine Clinic in Atlanta, Ga., will treat spine disorders in patients of all ages. His interests are in minimally invasive techniques and the surgical treatment of cervical spine myelopathy.

Debra Little, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, has joined Family Health Center of Spokane. Her specialty is women’s health.

Moving up:

John Bumgarner has been promoted to vice president of Sterling Savings Bank. Bumgarner, who received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Idaho, joined Sterling in December 1996 as a private banking loan officer. He has more than 12 years of experience in the financial services industry, including stints as assistant vice president and branch manager, as well as consumer loan officer, credit analyst and commercial loan officer.

Great Falls-based D.A. Davidson & Co. has promoted the following people, who are assigned to the company’s Spokane office: Kirt Fredericks, a senior financial consultant, was named vice president, financial consultant.

Fredericks, who joined D.A. Davidson in 1994, earned a degree in economics from the University of Southern California. Fredericks also was named to the company’s President’s Club in recognition of outstanding performance and service to clients.

Gary Douvia was promoted from financial consultant to senior financial consultant. Douvia received a master’s degree in business administration from Washington State University and joined D.A. Davidson in 1992.

Michelle Bowles has been named customer service manager for the wholesale division of Rings & Things of Spokane. Bowles joined Rings & Things retail division in 1984 and has held several positions since then. She also is on the team of Rings & Things wholesale trade show managers, coordinating trade shows for the arts and crafts industry throughout the nation.

Starting up:

James E. Bailey has opened a psychology office at Rockpoint Tower, Executive Suites. Bailey received a doctorate in psychology from the University of Kansas, and completed a doctoral internship at the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kan. His practice, which is limited to adults, will specialize in evaluations.

Elected:

Steve Tveit, chief regional forester for Boise Cascade Corp. in Kettle Falls, has been elected treasurer of the Washington Forest Protection Association.

John Morey Maurice has been elected president of the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho. Maurice, who is a professor at the Gonzaga University School of Law, also serves as a member of the Spokane Civil Service Commission. The Federal Defenders program represents indigent defendants in federal criminal cases as required under the Criminal Justice Act of 1984.

Kudos:

Rockwood Retirement Community has received the 1998 Community Service Award from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and of the Washington Association of Homes for the Aging. The award honors the commitment by volunteers, leadership and staff for meeting community needs as part of the organization’s overall mission and planning. Rockwood was honored for its contribution to the Carlyle Personal Care Center. The company matched the funds of Wells Fargo Bank to finance construction of the Carlyle so residents could have improved accommodations.

The staff of the Human Resource Office at the Community Colleges of Spokane has received the Quality in Human Resource Practice Award from The College and University Personnel Association. The award honors CUPA members who have made significant contributions to the practice of higher education human resource management. The community colleges’ human resources staff was recognized for its unique approach to ensuring diversity in the work force.

Wells Fargo has named Jan Holmes as one of its top volunteers for the year. Recipients of the $1,000 cash award donate the money to the nonprofit agency or school where they were a volunteer. Holmes does volunteer work for the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene and has been an active Kiwanis member for seven years. She has served as leader in all positions within the club and was recently a chartering adviser for a new high school.

Red Robin International has named Brent Staples as one of eight “team members of the quarter.” Red Robin selects the winners from 6,500 team members nationwide based on their ability to exceed guest expectations and support peers. Staples has worked for nearly two years as a prep and line cook at the Spokane Red Robin, 9904 N. Newport Highway, even while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments for a brain tumor.

The Glass Depot auto glass distribution center in Spokane has earned the 1998 Award of Excellence from the auto glass companies of Apogee Enterprises Inc. The Depot was selected as Team of the Year for the best overall performance among the company’s 74 facilities in 34 states.

Inland Northwest Bank and the Spokane Housing Authority have been honored by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment with a 1998 National Award of Merit for Resident and Client Services. The bank and housing authority have teamed up to create a successful tenant empowerment strategy that is a key part of the Independent Family Futures Program in Spokane. The program helps participants overcome barriers to self-sufficiency by obtaining small loans through the bank.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has declared Potlatch Corp.’s Consumer Products Division at Lewiston a Star Site under the Voluntary Protection Program. Only seven other industrial sites in Idaho have achieved Star status. The division produces private label tissue products for U.S. and Canadian consumption.

Three Harmon AutoGlass stores in Spokane have received four 1998 “Awards of Excellence” from the auto glass companies of Apogee Enterprises Inc. The shop on East Francis was named “Shop of the Year” for the top performance among Harmon’s 334 retail locations in 39 states. All three of the stores - East Sprague and East Main in addition to East Francis - earned the “Winners Circle Award” for outstanding overall performance.

Senior Services of Washington has presented its “New Organizational Award” to John and Gail Goeller of Mature Matters. The Goellers were honored for their annual directory, “The Complete Directory for Seniors and Their Families,” a publication for seniors and those who care for or assist seniors.

Magnuson, McHugh & Co. P.A., a Coeur d’Alene accounting firm, has successfully completed the seventh peer review of its accounting and auditing services. The firm received an “unqualified” report, which is only given to those meeting the highest standards of practice in the profession.

The March of Dimes has honored Carole Wendle, civic leader and child advocate; Dr. John Moyer, retired obstetrician and gynecologist and state legislator; and Deaconess Medical Center for their contributions to the Inland Northwest.

The Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program has received a $75,000 gift from the AT&T Foundation to help create a new telework exhibit and a new series of seminars. Telework, also known as telecommuting, involves telecommunications and computer technology that lets employees work outside of the traditional workplace.

Certifications:

Kathryn Eaton Lee, human resources director for Lutheran Social Services, has earned certification as a senior professional in human resources. To qualify for the certification, awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute, candidates must pass an examination demonstrating mastery of a body of knowledge in the field.

James D. David, an agent with Principal Life Insurance Co. and a registered representative with Princor Financial Services Corp., has been granted the LUTC Fellow designation. David is an agent with Principal’s Spokane agency.

Paul S. Viren, an agent with Principal Life Insurance Co. and a registered representative with Princor Financial Services Corp., has earned the Chartered Financial Consultant professional designation from The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pa. Viren is an agent with Principal’s Spokane agency.