Business Beat
NEW FACES:
Spokane Teachers Credit Union has named Gail Berendt as manager of its Newport, Wash., office. Berendt, a 13-year veteran of the financial industry, previously was a vice president of another Newport-area financial institution.
Bob Keeney has joined Re/Max of Spokane as a sales representative. Keeney has 25 years of experience in the residential real estate industry, including 12 years in new home sales, and will oversee sales with various Spokane builders.
Chris Collins has joined Dakotah Direct Inc. as an account manager. Collins will be responsible for managing client campaigns.
BDO Seidman LLP has hired Jason Munn, Janet D’Anjou, Dolly Deane DuBois, Connie Lovoi and Marsha Cayko as associates. Munn and D’Anjou are recent accounting graduates of Washington State University, while DuBois, Lovoi and Cayko graduated from the University of Idaho.
MOVING UP:
BDO Seidman LLP has named Wayne Walther managing partner of its Spokane office. Walther was managing partner of the accounting firm of Walther-Shriver and Associates P.S. before it merged with BDO Seidman four years ago. He succeeds Steve R. Cox, who was named managing partner of the firm’s Seattle office.
Diane Thoren has been elected assistant treasurer of Washington Water Power Co. Thoren, who joined WWP in 1975, will be responsible for the company’s corporate finance activities, including the issuance of all long-term debt, preferred stock, common stock, and leasing. She also will continue to manage WWP’s investor relations program and serves as the company’s primary contact with the investment community.
Sterling Savings Association has promoted Bridget Piper to vice president. She established and oversees Sterling’s Corporate Development Department. Piper, who joined the company in 1988 as a communications officer, has more than 25 years of experience in management and administration, training, program development, consulting and project coordination.
STARTING UP:
Michael Pelphrey of the Business and Technology Solutions Group of BDO Seidman LLP has moved to Spokane, where he will help clients enhance productivity and profitability with a range of business management and technology solutions. As director-manufacturing consulting, Pelphrey is an authority in planning and implementing total quality management, supply chain management, and process re-engineering.
The Cactus Co., formerly located at the Spokane Market Place downtown, has opened a retail shop at Riverwalk. The company specializes in cacti and succulents and offers unique gifts and accessories for the home and garden. Owners are Bert and Scott Miller.
ELECTED:
Winegrape Growers of America has elected Roger Gamache, of Basin City, Wash., as chairman. Gamache is also vice president of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers.
The following Inland Automobile Association officers have been reelected:
Richard Rubens, Metallic Arts Inc., chairman of the board of directors; Bruce Bixler, McFarland and Alton, and Thomas Neupert, Consolidated Supply, vice chairmen; James Calderhead, retired banker, treasurer; and Stanley Miller, president.
Bridget Piper, a vice president of Spokane’s Sterling Saving Association and a 28-year member of AAA, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors. Re-elected to three-year terms on the board were: Dr. Harry Green Jr., William Hyslop, Lynn Jones, Dennis McLaughlin, Thomas Neupert, H. Avery Peyton, Karen Robideaux and Theodore Strohmaier.
KUDOS:
Jim Wilson of Tomlinson Black has been awarded the designation of Real Estate Innovator by Realty Electronics Publishing. The designation is given to a select group of real estate professionals who offer extraordinary service to home-sellers.
Robert Bishopp, James Bockenmuehl, Peter Elliott, Debbie Hamilton, Davis Herron, Neal Kroll, Kent Lupton, Edward Van Vliet, and Bret Wheeler have been awarded the National Quality Award by the National Association of Life Underwriters. The award recognizes and promotes excellence in client and customer representation.
EVENTS:
Monday and Wednesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Covering Your Bases - Small Business Management” from 6-9 p.m. each night at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; for information, call 358-7890.
Monday through May 27 - The Inland Northwest Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Association presents a course on “Controls” from 6-9:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Master Technician Training Center, 811 E. Sprague. Cost: $280 for members, $380 for nonmembers; To register, call 747-8810.
Tuesday - The Small Business Development Center presents Session II of an International Fast Track Series: “Importing Made Easy” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; for information, call 358-7890.
Tuesday and May 12 - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Beginning Recordkeeping” from 6-9 p.m. each night at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; for information, call 358-7890.
Wednesday - The May breakfast meeting of the Inland Northwest Society of Consulting Professionals at 7:15 a.m. at the Ridpath Hotel will feature a “Member Showcase.” For more information, call Bert Mills at 327-6681.
Wednesday - Pat Davis, president of the Washington Council on International Trade, will be the guest speaker for a meeting of the Spokane Regional International Trade Alliance from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park. For information or reservations, call 459-4123.
Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop 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 353-2820.
Wednesday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a seminar on “Managing the Professional Elite” from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $99 for members; $149 for nonmembers; for information, call 326-6885.
Wednesday - Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program presents a free workshop on “Managing Telework, Compressed Workweeks and Flextime” from 8:30 a.m.-noon. For workshop location and registration, call Meg Hafer Satz at (360) 956-2087.
Wednesday and Friday - The Washington state departments of Revenue, Licensing, Labor and Industries and Employment Security present a free Business Information Workshop from 7:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Wednesday at Shilo Inn in Moses Lake and Friday at Spokane Falls Community College Student Union Building. To register, call (800) 647-7706.
Wednesday and May 13 - Spokane Falls Community College presents Part III of a class on “Internet Basics for Business or Pleasure” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each night at SFCC, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Cost: $25; for information, call 533-3522.
Thursday - The Spokane Chapter of the Northwest Human Resource Management Association presents a seminar on “(S)He Said … (S)He Said - Conducting an Effective Internal Investigation” from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Inn City Center. Cost: $95 for full day, $50 for half day for members, $105 for nonmembers; for information or reservations, call Yvonne Shulman at 623-2043.
Thursday - Tremaine Smith, program manager for the Washington state Department of Revenue Taxpayer Services Division, will discuss liaison between his agency and the business community at a session sponsored by the Spokane Business and Industry Member Services Committee of the Washington Society of CPAs 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 - Spokane Community College and the Hispanic Business & Professional Association present the “Third Annual Hispanic Graduate Awards Banquet.” For more information, call Maria Gaines at 483-0350 or Lucia Morales at 465-5183.
Saturday - Angela Gilliam, an anthropologist at The Evergreen State College, will speak on “Language, Communication and Power” during a free program presented by the American Association of University Women at 10 a.m. at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, 4000 W. Randolph. Lunch will be available at 11 a.m. Cost: $10; for lunch reservations, call Sharon Murphy at 747-4509 or K.J. McCleary at 455-9301 by Thursday.
May 11 - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents Session I of a Zenger Miller Frontline Leadership Series on “Solving Problems - The Basic Process” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $65 per session or $225 for the four-session series; for information, call 533-4700.
May 11 and 18 - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Why and How to Develop a Personnel Policy” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; for information, call 358-7890.
May 13 - Ian Hill, director of hotel operations at the Eldorado Hotel and Casino, will speak on “Are You Dead?” during a joint dinner meeting presented by APICS, ASQ and NAPM at 5:45 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Cost: $20 for dinner; for reservations, call Debra Benson at 459-5202 or e-mail her at debrab@spokesman.com or call Dean Stone at 927-6417 by May 11.
May 13 - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a briefing on “The Basics of Wage and Hour Law” from 8:30-10:30 a.m. (basic) and 1-4 p.m. (advanced) at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive (basic) and 920 N. Washington (advanced). Cost: $15 for members, $19 for nonmembers (basic) and $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers (advanced; to register, mail checks to Associated Industries, P.O. Box 729, Spokane, WA 99210-0729 or register online at http://www.aiin.com. Registration deadline is Wednesday.
May 14 and 15 - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a workshop on “Giving Outstanding Presentations” from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. both days at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $199 for members, $299 for nonmembers; to register, mail checks to Associated Industries, P.O. Box 729, Spokane, WA 99210-0729 or register online at http://www.aiin.com. Registration deadline is May 7.