Business Beat

New faces:

Dr. Jason A. Taitch has joined the dental practice of Dr. Larry J. Schwartz in the Tapio Office Center, 104 S. Freya. Taitch attended Washington State University and received his professional training at the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry.

GeoEngineers Inc. has hired David Enos as a project geologist in its Spokane office. Enos has nine years of experience as a geologist in the environmental assessment and remediation industry. He is a registered geologist in the state of Oregon, a certified site assessor in Washington and a certified building inspector and management planner.

Moving up:

The Spokane accounting firm of A. Avery & Co. has promoted the following people:

Christine L. McDaniel was promoted from tax manager to tax partner. McDaniel, a CPA, has six years of experience with the firm. She earlier worked for McFarland & Alton.

Blaine S. Knight was promoted to tax manager. Knight, who is a certified public accountant, received an MBA from Brigham Young University and was formerly with a Big 5 firm. He specializes in estate and gift taxes.

Washington State University has appointed Glenn L. Johnson interim deal of the College of Business and Economics, effective in June. Johnson, who has been seen serving as director of the School of Accounting, Information Systems and Business Law, succeeds Gale Sullenberger, who is leaving to become dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Tulsa. Johnson joined the WSU faculty in 1979 as professor and chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law. His appointment as interim dean runs through June 30, 2001.

Lifestream Technologies Inc. has promoted Jackson “Jack” Connolly to vice president of product development. Connolly, who has more than 10 years of management, design and sales experience in the high-tech and medical devices industry, has been Lifestream’s director of product development since 1997. He earlier directed engineering and customer sales programs and managed support at Advanced Input Devices in Coeur d’Alene.

Terry Brown, who has more than 10 years of manufacturing and production experience in the medical and hightech device industries, was named manager of manufacturing at Lifestream Technologies’ Post Falls facility. A graduate of Northern Montana College, Brown previously worked as project engineer at Advanced Input Devices and as manufacturing engineer at Advanced Technology Laboratories.

Kudos:

Two Spokane-based Consolidated Freightways drivers have been honored for driving more than 3 million accident-free miles each during their careers with the trucking firm. James Klinger and Charles Rogers had their names imprinted on two company trucks to commemorate the feat, which is equal to 120 trips around the world. It generally takes a full-time professional 30 years to reach that milestone.

Sterling Savings Bank has honored the following employees:

Doug Wright, vice presidentcommunity banking production officer, received the 1998 Founders Award, which is given to the person who best exemplifies Sterling’s ideals and commitment to excellence. Wright, who has more than 12 years of experience in the banking industry and joined Sterling in 1996, acts as primary liaison between production personnel, bank support personnel and the branch administrator.

Carolyn Gay and Shelley Menne received Leadership Awards, which are based on performance, commitment to Sterling’s values, quality leadership and community service. Gay, a certified public accountant, is assistant vice president/controller and manager of the accounting department. She joined Sterling in 1996 and was named controller in 1997. Menne, vice president and team leader of the private banking department in Spokane, joined Sterling in 1988 as a commercial loan officer at Sterling’s Manito Branch. She was promoted to vice president in 1996.

Spokane Federal Credit Union has presented awards to the following staffers:

Patrice Bichler, a member service specialist, received the Outstanding Member Service Award, which recognizes service excellence to credit union members that exceeds normal expectations. Nominations for the award come from credit union members and staff. Recipients are chosen by their peers.

Amy Brown, a main office teller, received the Outstanding Co-Worker Service Award, which recognizes service excellence to co-workers above normal expectations. Nominations for the award are solicited from the staff at large and recipients are chosen by their peers.

Elected:

New officers and directors of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane include: President, Steve Stocker, Stamper, Rubens, Stocker and Smith PS; president-elect, Carole Jones; secretary-treasurer, Ken Secrest, McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest P.S.; and Marilyn Thordarson, Sacred Heart Medical Center. New directors include: Bill Bouten, Bouten Construction; Hilary Smith, U.S. Bank; Barbara Peterson, AirTouch Cellular; Clayton Linnell, T.W. Clark Construction; Andy Vickers, Avista; Patti Reeves, Kiwanis of Downtown Spokane; Linda Takami, Spokane School District 81; and Marie Olson, Ronald McDonald House Charities Friends group chairwoman.