Business Beat
NEW FACES:
The Valley office of LeMaster and Daniels PLLC has added two new employees to its staff:
Catherine Clark, who will focus on the Tribal Division, is a staff accountant in the Auditing and Accounting Department. Clark received a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, where she majored in accounting and political science.
Nichole Jose, whose assignment will focus in the Tribal Division, was hired as a staff accountant in the Auditing and Accounting Department. Jose earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University, where she majored in business administration with a concentration in accounting and finance.
Jeffrey Bunch has joined the law firm of Leveque and Kirkpatrick P.S. His practice will continue to emphasize worker’s compensation, personal injury and insurance defense. Bunch, a 1992 graduate of Gonzaga School of Law, was an assistant attorney general with the state of Washington for four years before moving to private practice in 1996.
Washington Water Power has named Reid Grossmann director of corporate credit and Alan Roark as director of corporate risk management. Grossmann will oversee all corporate credit operations, including the management of credit risk associated with the company’s energy trading and marketing operations. Roark will oversee the development and implementation of corporate risk management policies and coordinate risk management activities across the company’s lines of business. Grossmann was previously with PG&E Energy Trading Corp. in Houston as the director of credit and contracts. Roark was previously the risk manager for Destec Power Services.
Laura Bracken, who is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, has joined the staff at AllWrite as a senior technical writer. She was previously a Web site developer and writer for Egghead Software and also has edited “Computer Link” and served as managing editor of “Today’s Dallas Woman.”
Crown/Mayflower Moving and Storage has hired John Gish as a consultant. Gish has been in the transportation industry since 1974 and has operated three of his own companies.
The Ohio Casualty Group of Insurance Cos. has named James C. Ropp a field representative in its Denver branch office. Ropp graduated from Gonzaga University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Lumbermen’s of Washington Inc. has hired Tracy Skidmore as assistant manager for its Spokane store. Skidmore was previously the manager of the Copeland Lumber facility in Moses Lake.
MOVING UP:
Northwest Architectural Co. has promoted the following architects:
Keith Comes, a 1986 graduate of Montana State University who joined the firm in 1992, was named an associate principal. Comes is currently lead architect for the Animal Disease Technology Facility at Washington State University and is a key programmer in the pre-design phase for a new Apparel Merchandising, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture Building at WSU.
William Rash, a 1982 graduate of the University of Idaho who has worked in the firm’s Seattle and Spokane offices, was named an associate principal. Rash is currently the lead architect for multi-phased renovations at Eastern State Hospital.
Dana Harbaugh, who is a 1989 graduate of Montana State University and joined the firm in 1994, was named an associate. Harbaugh’s recent or current projects include Liberty Lake Elementary School, two middle schools in Yakima, Washington State Court of Appeals Building, AAA Administration Building and Pet Emergency Clinic.
Brent Harding, who is a 1991 graduate of the University of Oregon and joined the firm in 1992, also was named an associate. Harding has worked on Mt. Spokane-Mead High School, Washington Trust Bank Downtown Branch and Deaconess Hospital Health and Education Center.
STARTING UP:
Dale De La Pena and Carmella Sarquilla have opened a martial arts school at 13 S. Main, Suite B, in Deer Park. The school offers traditional tang soo do, a Korean style, which focuses on self defense, self control, self confidence and respect. For information, call 276-7477.
Larry Van Dyke has established Bullfrog Enterprises to distribute and service Neopost Mailing Equipment and other paper handling products, including postage meters, scales, folder/inserters, openers, bursters, check signers and paper shredders. The business is located at 408 N. Mullan Road, Suite 101.
ELECTED:
Ron Rehn, chief administrative officer for Northeast Washington Medical Group, has been elected president of the Colville Chamber of Commerce. New officers serving under Rehn include: Perry Anderson, manager of the Colville Comfort Inn, first vice president; and Tim Gray, Stevens County auditor, second vice president. New board members include: Kelly Brye, manager of Colville Wal-Mart, and Bob Butler, manager of Colville Les Schwab. Holdover board members are: Pat Graham, Marty Deubel, Rod Fogle, Rick Cole, Mike Hansen, Jeff Pitts and Mae Schultz.
Newly elected officers and directors of the Spokane Hotel-Motel Association are: president, Anne Thompson, Cavanaughs Ridpath Hotel; first vice president, Larry Ross, Doubletree Spokane Valley; second vice president, Ralph Morgan, Quality Inn Oakwood; secretary, Tanya Guenther, Suntree Inns; and treasurer, Jeff Fox, Cavanaughs River Inn. Directors include: Jeannie Berg, Shilo Inn; Vicki Rizzo, Hampton Inn; Carl Naccarato, Hotel Lusso; Rick LaFleur, Ramada Inn Airport.
EVENTS:
Monday - Mayor John Talbott will discuss “Current Developments & Challenges in the City of Spokane” 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 business 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. Call 353-2820 for appointments. Counselors also are available on Mondays at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, 8817 E. Mission. For appointments there, call 924-4994.
Tuesday - Northwest Nexus presents a free “Bagel Bytes” seminar on Internet search engine placement, banner ads and how to make it work for your business from noon-1 p.m. at the Spokane Club. Reservations required; reserve by e-mail at bagelbytes@nwnexus.com or online at http://bagelbytes.nwnexus.com.
Wednesday - Spokane Building Owners and Managers Association will hear an update on efforts and activities during a meeting from noon-1:15 p.m. at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. Luncheon cost: $10; call Frank at 466-4905 for reservations.
Wednesday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a briefing on “Affirmative Action - New EEO Enforcement Initiatives” from 8:30 a.m.-noon at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $49 for members, $75 for nonmembers; for information, call 326-6885.
Wednesday - Lynn Stephens of Eastern Washington University will give a “FASB Update” during a meeting of the Spokane Area Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s River Inn. Cost: $14, $7 for students; call Scott Wilhelm at 921-8766 for information.
Wednesday - David A. Barbe of McCormick, Dunn & Black, will speak on “Contract Payment Provisions & Claims Procedures Common in the Construction Industry” during a class sponsored by the Inland Northwest Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Association at 5:30 p.m. at 811 E. Sprague. Cost: $5 for dinner; for reservations, call 747-8810 or (800) 786-3148.
Wednesday and May 27 - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Basic Taxes for Small and Home-Based Businesses” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50; for information, call 358-7890.
Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Basics of Recordkeeping” 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 353-2820.
Thursday - “Budgeting and Accounting in the Training Function” will be discussed at a meeting of the American Society for Training and Development from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Cavanaughs River Inn, 700 N. Division. Call 625-3843 to register.
Thursday - Lee Fish will discuss “‘Dynamics of Staff-Volunteer Relationships” during a meeting of Directors of Volunteers in Agencies of the Inland Northwest at 11:30 a.m. at Gonzaga University’s Schoenberg Center, 200 E. Cataldo. Lunch cost: $6 for members, $10 for nonmembers; call Bonnie Abernethy at 624-0151 for reservations.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a “Small Business Tax Seminar” from 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $20; for information, call 358-7890.
Thursday - The Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours visits the Shriners Hospital for Children-Spokane from 5:15-7 p.m. at the hospital, 911 W. Fifth. Cost: $5; for information, call Diane Clawson at 459-0077.
Thursday - Gonzaga University Law School Professor Gary Randall will speak on “BIG Changes in Personal Residence Rules” during a breakfast meeting presented by the Spokane Business and Industry Member Services Committee of the Washington State 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 - The Small Business Development Center presents a “Prebusiness Workshop” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $25; for information, call 358-7890.
Friday - Faith Wohl, president of the Child Care Action Committee, and Rosemary Strong, founder of the Atlanta Inn for Children, are featured speakers for a seminar on “From Obstacle to Partner: Creating a Family-Friendly Workplace” from 7:45 a.m.-noon at Cavanaughs Ridapth Hotel. Cost: $25, including breakfast; for more information, call 456-3733.
May 27 - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a class on “Productivity-Based Performance Reviews” from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $99 for members, $149 for nonmembers; for more information, call 326-6885. Deadline for registration is Wednesday.