Business Beat

New faces:

Paul M. Watson has been named president of Spokane-based Partners in Travel, and of its parent company, International Travel Spectrum Inc. Watson previously was executive director of sales for Ambassador Programs Inc. in Spokane.

Gerard Fischer has joined Sacred Heart Medical Center as vice president of health systems development. He will help to oversee various collaborative activities and joint ventures undertaken by Sacred Heart. Fischer previously was vice president of service development with Catholic Health Initiatives and the Franciscan Health System, based in Tacoma.

Regence BlueShield of Idaho has appointed Scott Burkhardt marketing executive for its North Idaho region. He will be responsible for acquiring new group business, servicing existing clients and serving as liaison between Regence BlueShield of Idaho and the independent insurance agencies which sell its products. Burkhardt worked for The Guardian Life Insurance Co. in Spokane for eight years as a group underwriter and regional sales manager. He has been self-employed for the past two years.

Dr. John D. Sestero has joined Spokane Internal Medicine. He received his professional training at Creighton University Medical School and did post-graduate work in internal medicine as well as rehabilitation medicine at the University of Minnesota.

Kootenai Medical Center has added the following people to its staff:

Shari L. Hendrickson, a 1995 graduate of the University of Nevada, was appointed social worker for the medical center’s Rehabilitation Center. She will specialize in social services, work fitness and the unit’s support groups. Prior to joining KMC, she was director of clinical services at Tesh Industries and a psychotherapist with Lutheran Social Services.

Kim Dahlquist has joined Kootenai Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center as a physical therapy assistant. Dahlquist, a graduate of the physical therapist assistant’s program at Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash., will specialize in home health, outpatient and geriatric physical therapy.

Sue DeLand, a graduate of Loma Linda University, has joined Kootenai Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center as a physical therapist. DeLand, who worked in a variety of settings before coming to KMC, will work with acute care patients.

Douglas Wordell has been named director of nutrition services for Spokane Public Schools, effective July 1. Wordell currently is director of nutrition services for Bend-LaPine School District in Bend, Ore. He is a registered dietitian with a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University.

The following attorneys have joined the firm of Lukins & Annis P.S.:

Thomas M. Culbertson, who has 20 years of experience in estate planning, business succession, general business and tax issues, is moving his practice to Lukins & Annis. Culbertson is a member of the Executive Committee of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section of the Washington State Bar Association.

Sean L. Anderson, who graduated magna cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1997, will be working in the firm’s Spokane office where his practice will focus on litigation issues.

Darin C. Davidson graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1997. He will be practicing in the Spokane office in the area of business law.

Dwayne C. Fowles graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1997. He will practice in the areas of tax, estate planning and business in the firm’s Moses Lake office.

Suzanne R. Seburn graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1995. She previously practiced in Texas. Seburn will be based in Moses Lake, where she will focus on litigation and family law issues.

Moving up:

Sterling Savings Association has promoted Sherry Snediker to private banking loan officer. Snediker joined Sterling as a consumer loan servicing specialist in 1994 and moved to the private banking department in 1996 as a representative. Prior to joining Sterling, she worked in retailing, most recently as assistant manager for Target. She received a bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Washington University.

Washington Trust Bank has promoted the following employees:

Mary Jo Hoisington was named retail banking officer. Hoisington, who has more than 11 years of banking experience, including nine with Washington Trust, is the branch service manager at the Opportunity Pines Branch.

Cindy McGlothen was promoted to retail banking officer. McGlothen began her banking career with Washington Trust in 1983. She is the East Sprague Branch manager.

Keith D. Hegg, a certified financial adviser with the Spokane-area office of American Express Financial Advisors Inc., has been appointed a member of the company’s Advanced Advisor Group-Senior Financial Advisors. Members of the group represent only 8 percent of all advisers with the company. They are authorized to provide an expanded scope of personal, comprehensive planning to clients.

Eugene I. Annis has been elected managing partner at Lukins & Annis P.S. He is one of the firm’s founding partners and is very active in both the Spokane business and legal communities.

Bryce J. Wilcox has been named a principal at Lukins & Annis after working in the firm’s Spokane office as an associate since 1994. Wilcox, who chairs the Lukins & Annis Environmental Practice Group, will continue his practice in commercial litigation with a focus on employment and environmental issues.

Elected:

The Spokane Chapter of Executive Women International has installed the following directors and officers for 1998: president, Renee Carman, McDirmid, Mikkelsen and Secrest; vice president/president-elect, Georgette Grainger, Washington Trust Bank; secretary, Betty McMillan, URM Stores; treasurer, Marie Hackney, Lincoln Data; sergeant-at-arms, Sherry Lewis, Jerry Packard and Associates; ways and means director, Adrienne Choate, Sunshine Disposal Inc.; program director, Terry Carrier, Bayer Corp.; publications director, Connie Smith, Northwest Gourmet; membership director, Polly Phalen, Dale Carnegie Training; and scholarship director, Meg Self, Kelly Temporary Services.

New officers of the Lilac City Chapter of Business and Professional Women include: president, Judy Personett and president-elect, Charlene Rinkuns.

Kudos:

Five ads produced by DW Green Co. for Super 1 Foods won first place awards for “Best Use of Color” and “Best Item and Price” from the National Grocers Association. The ads includes one headlined “Awe, Shucks!” for Washington corn, and another - “B.L.T. Fixin’s” - for sliced bacon, head lettuce and tomatoes.

Events:

Monday - Ray Watkins, senior engineer for Casne Engineering, will speak on “Last Phase of the WWP Downtown Oil Spill” during a meeting of Associated Engineers at noon at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. Cost: $10 for full lunch, $3 for salad alone.

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.

Wednesday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a class on “Understanding Garnishment Regulations” from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers; call 326-6885 for more information.

Thursday - Richard L. Sayre, a principal with Sayre and Sayre P.S., will discuss “Protecting the Estate” during a breakfast meeting presented by the Spokane Business and Industry Member Services Committee of the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Gonzaga University’s Schoenberg Center. Cost: $40 for members, $45 for nonmembers; for information, call Jim Morrison at 455-8173 or Debbie Hill at 467-7126.

Thursday - State Sen. Lisa Brown will discuss issues affecting small businesses at 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 information or reservations, call Susan Thomas at 1 (208) 773-3906.

Thursday - The Gonzaga University School of Law presents “Trial by Jury: A View from the Other Side” from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel City Center. Cost: $300 after June 5; for information or to register, call Marge Buck at 323-3738 or 1 (800) 448-2138.

Thursday - Community Colleges of Spokane, Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce and the Florence R. Kluckhohn Center present “Understanding Multicultural Relations in the Workplace” from 3-7:30 p.m. at the Spokane Community College Lair Student Center, 2000 N. Greene. Cost: $10 for general admission, $20 for patrons; for information, call Ron Vails at 533-4705.

Thursday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a class on “How to Communicate Bad News” from 8:30-noon at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $49 for members, $75 for nonmembers; call 326-6885 for more information.

Friday - Leadership Spokane, Youth Leadership Spokane and the Institute for Neighborhood Leadership present a luncheon to celebrate completion of leadership classes by more than 100 individuals from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Ag Trade Center. For reservations, call Kareem at 459-4116.

Friday through June 21 - The Spokane Home Builders Association’s annual Showcase of Homes begins a 10-day run at Eagle Ridge and The Ridge at Hangman, located south off of Highway 195. Hours: 3-9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $6 for adults, children 12 and under free; for information or to purchase advance tickets, call 532-4990.

June 15 - Cary C. Humphries, former president of Cargill North America, will speak on “The Six Secrets of Cargill’s Success” at a banquet sponsored by the Whitworth Institute and Graduate School of International Management at 6:30 p.m. at Hotel Lusso, 1 N. Post. Cost: $45; for reservations, call 777-3742 or 777-3291.

June 16 - Richard B. Cohen of the U.S. Department of Justice will speak on “Purchasing’s Role in Antitrust Enforcement” during a meeting of the National Association of Purchasing Management-Spokane at 11:30 a.m. at the Quality Inn Valley Suites, I-90 and Argonne. Cost: $12; for information or reservations, call Dean Stone at 927-6417.