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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Business Beat

Compiled By Tina Carey

New faces:

RXL Pulitzer, which specializes in video and multimedia production, has hired Darla Buck as regional marketing executive. Buck has a strong background in business solutions and consulting expertise. Her primary focus will be to add regional customers to the company’s client list, which already includes Microsoft, Boeing, Kaiser Aluminum and Hewlett Packard, among others.

Rick Shenfield has joined D.A. Davidson and Co.’s Coeur d’Alene office as a registered financial consultant. Shenfield previously worked for Albertson’s Inc. for 21 years, including stints in Boise and LaGrande and Pendleton, Ore.

Dakotah Direct has hired John Kozma as account manager. Kozma will be responsible for managing and developing Dakotah’s client campaigns. He was previously the sales manager for the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Everett.

Dr. Tracy Wood has joined the Alpine Animal Hospital in Coeur d’Alene. Wood is a 1994 graduate of the Washington State University School of Veterinary Medicine and has been in practice for the past four years. She has a special interest in exotic animals as well as dogs and cats.

Lorie Hager, financial manager and corporate secretary for Wendt Advertising, has been elected to the agency’s board of directors. Hager is a certified public accountant with a degree in accounting from the University of Great Falls (Montana). She has been with Wendt for 10 years.

Yellowstone Trucking, a subsidiary of Crown Pacific, has named Daniel White as vice president. White will oversee dispatch operations, customer service and sales and marketing. He brings more than 13 years of industry experience, and most recently was vice president of sales and marketing for Jones Brothers Trucking.

Tom Newburry has been named general manager of Nextlink Washington. Newburry has more than 17 years of experience in business administration, systems analysis and telecommunications network design. He is a former vice president of operations and management information systems at International Pacific Inc.

Helen Malone, office manager at Joseph Cooney Legal Services P.S., has been appointed to the Community Colleges of Spokane Board of Trustees by Gov. Gary Locke. Malone, who received an art degree from Spokane Community College in 1973, will serve a term that expires Sept. 30, 2002. Before joining the law firm in 1990, Malone was manager of claims and customer service for Medical Service Corp.

Moving up:

Coeur d’Alene-based Yellowstone Trucking, a Crown Pacific subsidiary, has made the following changes in its executive ranks:

P.A. ‘Tony’ Leineweber, Crown Pacific’s vice president of administration, has been given the added responsibility of serving as president of Yellowstone Trucking. Leineweber has more than 14 years of experience in the transportation industry.

Thomas Stott was appointed vice president of Yellowstone along with his responsibilities as Crown Pacific’s manager of fleet and mobile equipment. Stott will be responsible for driver and owner-operator recruitment and retention, safety and loss prevention, purchasing and maintenance, and management of Yellowstone’s terminal facility in Coeur d’Alene. He has more than 18 years of experience in the trucking industry.

Rockey West Public Relations has promoted Marcie Haeg from assistant account executive to account executive. Haeg joined the firm in 1994 and has coordinated media relations, special events and promotional programs for several Rockey West clients.

Jennifer Wagner has been promoted to national account representative from the position of account executive at Dakotah Direct Inc. Wagner is responsible for recruiting potential clients.

Sabrina Schafer has been named general manager of the Valley Mustard Seed. Schafer was previously the dining room manager.

Ken Allen has been promoted to regional sales coordinator for AFLAC (American Family Life Assurance Co. of Columbus, Ga). Allen has qualified for several company production awards.

Lumbermen’s of Washington Inc. has promoted Joe Martin to yard supervisor at its Spokane store. Prior to his promotion, Martin was the load builder/dispatcher.

Starting up:

Ron and Nancy Wilson have opened RW Multi-Link with offices at 3327 W. Indian Trail Road, Suite 231. The business, which is affiliated with NW Pacific Link of Oregon, will provide Internet services, including Web site creation and design. Ron Wilson, who has been active in the business community since 1980, worked the last 15 years for Hunt-Wesson Foodservice. Nancy Wilson has been a teacher with District 81.

Thomas McGarry has returned to the private practice of law. McGarry’s practice focuses on residential and commercial landlord-tenant matters and guardian ad litem appointment. His mailing address is P.O. Box 9505, Spokane, WA 99209-9505.

Elected:

Dr. David Gerber, of Coeur d’Alene, has been elected president of the Idaho Veterinary Medical Association.

1998 officers and directors of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane include: president, Marilyn Thordarson, Sacred Heart Medical Center; president-elect, Steve Stocker, Stamper, Rubens, Stocker and Smith P.S., Attorneys; secretary/treasurer, Ken Secrest, McDirmid Mikkelsen and Secrest P.S.; past president, Kevin West, Smith Barney. New directors are: Nancy Fike, U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt’s regional office; William Ogle, retired; Carolyn Ringo, Deaconess Medical Center; Dan Roos, Washington Water Power; Dave Tanner, North by Northwest; Chuck Young, Shriners Hospital; Pam Pyrc, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute.

Appointed:

Julie Moyer-Nesbitt, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane, has been appointed to the National Local Operational Advisory Council for Oakbrook, Ill.-based Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Certifications:

Spokane management consultant, William Olson, CEO of Effective Management Systems Corp., has been certified as a rapid improvement leader by Deltapoint Corp. of Bellevue. Olson is currently working under an agreement with Deltapoint to help Boeing Co. suppliers nationwide adopt lean, high-velocity production systems.

Kudos:

Gonzaga University student Lisa Hunter, a senior political science major from Portland, has won a Hammer Award. Hunter was an intern in the office of Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt last fall. The award is given to government workers who help improve the efficiency of government. Hunter was cited for helping prepare the Interior Department’s contributions to a government Internet addressing project.

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. each day at the Business Information Center, Room 240, 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 - Kathy G. Mitchell, Seafirst Bank vice president of financial planning services, will discuss “Women and Investing - Investment Basics” during a free seminar presented by Seafirst from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Seafirst Financial Center, 601 W. Riverside. For reservations, call (800) 241-8769.

Wednesday - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents Session V of a Career Transitions Workshop on “Filling Out Applications” from 10-11 a.m. at the Career Transition Center, 3939 N. Freya. Call 533-4726 for information or to register.

Wednesday - Merrill Lynch presents a free seminar for women on “What Every Woman Should Know About Money” from noon-1 p.m. at Patsy Clark’s Mansion. For more information or to register, call Margot Hamstra at 458-4219.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Preparing a Business Plan” from 8 a.m.-noon at the Small Business Administration Conference Room, 601 W. First. Cost: $35, including materials; for information or to register, call 353-2822.

Thursday - Sherri Miller, a graduate of the University of Washington Executive Management Program and past president of Commencement Bay, will speak on “Conflict Resolution” during a meeting of Northwest Inland Empire APICS at 6 p.m. at Templin’s Resort in Post Falls. Cost: $15; for reservations, call Debra Benson at 459-5202 by Monday or e-mail her at debrab@spokesman.com.

Thursday - Betty Zachow of Zachow Write Associates will discuss “Who’s Watching the Store” 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 information and reservations, call Susan Thomas at (208) 773-3906.

Friday and Saturday - “Pushing Our Envelope” is the theme of the annual meeting of the Washington State College Health Association co-sponsored by the health centers of Gonzaga University and Whitworth College at the Bozarth Retreat Center. For more information, call 323-4052.

March 16 - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents Session III of a Zenger Miller Frontline Leadership Series on “Clarifying Team Roles and Responsibilities” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $65; call 533-4700 for information.

March 16 - The Building Industry Association of Washington, the Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association and the Northwest Cement Producers Group present a video teleconference on “Quality Concrete for Home Builders” from noon-3 p.m. Call (800) 228-4229 for cost and location information.

March 16 and 17 - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a two-day program on “Leadworker Training” from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. both days at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $199 for members, $375 for nonmembers; to register, send payment to P.O. Box 729, Spokane, WA, 99210-0729 or register online at http://www.aiin.com. Call 326-6885 for more information.

March 17 and 19 - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Cash Flow Management” 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

MEMO: Do you want to submit an item for “Business Beat?” Send a brief press release to: Bill Sallquist, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane WA, 99210-1615. Photos will be used, space permitting, with new staff additions, promotions and new businesses. Put names on backs of photos. If you want a photo back, write “WILL CALL” on the back and pick it up at the newspaper reference library.

Do you want to submit an item for “Business Beat?” Send a brief press release to: Bill Sallquist, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane WA, 99210-1615. Photos will be used, space permitting, with new staff additions, promotions and new businesses. Put names on backs of photos. If you want a photo back, write “WILL CALL” on the back and pick it up at the newspaper reference library.