Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Eugene Kubik has joined the Spokane office of American Express Financial Advisors Inc. as a personal financial adviser. Kubik, who received a bachelor’s degree from Ambassador University, was office manager for the Worldwide Church of God in New Zealand for three years and has served in the ministry for the past eight years in the Northwest, Minnesota and North Dakota.

Bayer Corp. has named David Stellingworth vice president, allergy products in the corporation’s North American pharmaceutical division. Stellingworth, who joined Bayer in 1976, has moved from Killingsworth, Conn., to Spokane, where Bayer’s allergy operations are based. Since 1992, he directed the marketing and managed health care functions for the pharmaceutical division.

Steven Larsen has joined the law firm of Layman, Layman and Fennessy. A graduate of Western Washington University and Gonzaga University’s School of Law, Larsen’s practice will focus on personal injury, product liability law, employment law, criminal law and general civil and trial practice.

Klundt & Hosmer Design Associates has added the following people to its staff:

Jasen Jahn joined the company as Web master/3D animator. His responsibilities include developing design and animation for Web sites and multimedia applications. Jahn recently completed an extended 3D animation program in Seattle. He is a graduate of the graphic design program at SFCC.

Judy Heggem-Davis was hired as art director. She previously was lead graphic designer and art director for Pacific Marketing since 1987.

Melanie Lynch was named project manager. Before joining Klundt & Hosmer, she was an account executive and production coordinator at WhiteRunkle Associates since 1992. She is integrating new database and timekeeping software that will enable the firm to initiate projects faster, improve turnaround time and communication with clients and vendors.

MOVING UP:

Zak Designs Inc. has promoted the following employees:

Robert Keuren was named director of operations. He will oversee all aspects of receiving, assembling and shipping of products to Zak’s worldwide customers and providing strategic direction for the warehouse operation. Keuren, who previously was material control manager, is a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Greg Strub was promoted to operations support manager. Strub will manage all product inventory in response to production, customer and shipping demands. A graduate of Eastern Washington University, he previously was material control coordinator.

Ron Reimer was named facilities manager. Reimer will manage all company safety, security, equipment, recycling, maintenance and expansion programs, as well as perform secondary duties as the operation manager assistant. Reimer, who graduated from Park College in Parksville, Mo., had been pallet build-up night shift supervisor.

The Hampton Inn Spokane has promoted the following employees:

Vicki Rizzo was named general manager. Rizzo, who joined the lodging chain four years ago, had been assistant general manager.

Shane Smith was promoted to front office manager after joining the company about a year ago. He will oversee the front desk, accounts receivable and payable and other managerial tasks.

MOVING ON:

Ryan J. Healy has been named agency manager of the Country Companies insurance group’s Bothell agency. He is responsible for recruiting agents and administering policyholder services for the agency. An Eastern Washington University graduate, Healy joined Country Companies in 1994 as an agent in Spokane.

ELECTED:

The Inland Northwest Electrical League has elected the following officers for 1998: President, Barbara Bjerke, Graybar Electric; president-elect, Rod Wolff, Square D Co.; treasurer, Mark Kovacevich, Consolidated Electrical Distributors; secretary, Michael Holehan, Rainbow Electric; and past president, Larry Bryant, Kootenai Electric Cooperative. Board Members include: Ardee Ableman, City of Spokane Construction Services; John Dunlap, Washington Water Power; Denny Ward, Pro-Lines Sales and Marketing; and Michael Washburn, Riley Engineering.

1998 officers for the Spokane Chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Washington are: President, John Layman, Layman, Layman and Fennessy; vice-president, Judy Davis, Kootenai Medical Center; vice-president, Tim Day, Day Chiropractic Clinic; secretary, Robert Greer, Feltman, Gebhardt, Eymann and Jones; and treasurer, Mike Beasley, Farmers and Merchants Bank.

KUDOS:

The Spokane Chapter of Executive Women International has named Carol Haskell as its Most Valuable New Player of the Year. Haskell was honored for her initiative in becoming actively involved in the organization’s activities. She is an account executive for the Journal of Business.

Spokane Insurance Women has presented the following awards:

Industry Leader, Frank O’Neill, Maloney O’Neill Corkery and Jones Inc.

Insurance Woman of the Year, Sherry Westermann, Moloney O’Neill Corkery and Jones Inc.

Rookie of the Year, Michele Williams, Sedgwick of Washington Inc.

Susan Bolles, manager of the Spokane H&R Block district, has been honored for achieving the greatest growth in business among 200 H&R Block offices in the Western Region.

Dr. James Sledge has been named a recipient of the Access Recognition Award presented by the American Dental Association’s Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. The award honors individuals who have demonstrated leadership and inspiration in gaining access to dental care for those in need at the local level. Sledge is co-founder of Spokane’s Low Income Community Dental Clinic.

Spokane Railway Credit Union has named Nancy Schlepp Employee of the Quarter. Schlepp has worked at the credit union’s Havana office for three years as a member service assistant.

The Association of Washington Business presented 1997 Cornerstone Awards to Sen. Bob McCaslin (R-Spokane), Rep. Larry Crouse (R-Spokane), and Rep. Marc Sterk (R-Spokane) for their pro-business voting record. The award is given to legislators who voted in favor of AWB’s 1997 legislative priorities at least 80% of the time.

CORRECTION:

Kristin M. Bacon has joined Denny Christenson & Associates. She previously worked for ALSC Architects. Bacon received a bachelor’s degree in interior design with an architectural emphasis from Washington State University and ASID professional certification in 1994. An item in the Dec. 21 Business Beat column incorrectly identified her current employer.

EVENTS:

Wednesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Trade Financing,” the first in a three-part International Fast Track Series, from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35, or $90 for the three-class series; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a class on the “ABCs of Starting a Business” from 9 a.m.-noon at the Small Business Administration conference room, 601 W. First. Cost: $15; for information or to register, call 353-2800.

Thursday - Greg Bever, associate publisher of the Journal of Business, will discuss “Why Women Succeed as Business Owners” during a meeting of the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, 923 E. Third. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for non-members; for information and reservations, call Susan Thomas at (208) 773-3906.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents an “Employer’s Tax Seminar” from 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $20; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on the “Top 20 Home-Based Business Ideas” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Friday - The Hispanic Business and Professional Association meets at 11:30 a.m. at Cavanaugh’s Fourth Avenue, 110 E. Fourth. For information, call Marilyn DeCoster at 535-3770.

Saturday - John Scherer will speak on “The Millennium Approaches: Our Successes and Challenges in Leadership Development” from 10:30 a.m.-noon at Jepson Center on the Gonzaga University campus. The program, which is free and open to the public, is part of the American Association of University Women 1997-98 speaker series and is cosponsored by the GU School of Business Administration and Leadership Spokane. Call Sharon at 747-4509 or K.J. at 455-9301 for a complete schedule of speakers.

Jan. 12 - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents session I of the Zenger Miller Leadership Training Core Series, “Your Role and the Basic Principles” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $225 for the four-class series; call 533-4700 for information or to register.

Jan. 12 through May 4 - The Small Business Development Center presents the 12-session NxLevel II Business Plan Development Course from 6-9 p.m. each Monday at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $300; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Jan. 13 - Dr. Leland Kaiser, a futurist, lecturer, writer and health policy analyst, will be the keynote speaker for the Third Annual Regional Leadership Forum presented by Leadership Spokane from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Ridpath Hotel. Cost: $65, including breakfast and lunch; call 459-4116 for information on registration.

Jan. 13 and 15 - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Understanding and Using Your Financials to Manage Your Business” from 6-9 p.m. each day at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 12 Photos

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