Business Beat
New faces:
Spokane Railway Credit Union has named Toni Ganey as manager of its Havana branch. Ganey, who has more than 16 years of managerial experience, previously was a branch manager for Sterling Savings Bank. Earlier, she was a manager for Washington Mutual Bank and Pacific First Federal Bank in Spokane.
Eric Ovlen has joined Spokane Railway Credit Union as chief operating officer and senior vice president, member services. Ovlen has more than 15 years of senior level human resources and administration management experience.
Dennis M. Scott has joined Janek Co. Real Estate as a residential specialist. Scott previously was director of public works for Spokane County. He currently is a member of the board of directors and treasurer of the Mirabeau Point board. He is a former vice president of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and has served on the board of directors of the Spokane Club, Spokane Area Economic Development Council and the Exchange Club of downtown Spokane.
Sarah Rowe has joined the finance department at Output Technology Corp. as an accountant. She is responsible for financial statement reports, general ledger transactions, month-end close and cost accounting. Rowe, who received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Central Washington University, previously worked for Basic American Foods in Moses Lake for 3-1/2 years.
Moving up: Nora Seelbach has been promoted to assistant controller at Sterling Savings Bank. Seelbach joined Sterling in 1996 as a loan accountant and was promoted to financial analyst later that year. Before joining Sterling, she was the financial controller for Seiko Hattori in Guam. Earlier, she held positions as an electronics technician with the Navy and a management consultant for KPMG Peat Marwick. Seelbach, who is a certified public accountant, earned a bachelor’s degree in finance/accounting from St. Martins College.
Starting up:
Gross-Hatch & Associates, a Spokane-based advertising agency, has begun construction on a new building at 1716 N. Union in the Spokane Valley. The 5,000-square-foot structure will be solely occupied by the firm, which has had the same location on East Sprague for 25 years. The move to the new building is expected to occur Oct. 1.
New identity:
Leisure Care Inc., which operates 29 retirement communities in nine Western states, has named its Spokane community Fairwinds-Northpointe. It originally was to be called The Belmont-Northpointe. The facility, located at 520 Holland near the Northpointe Medical Center, is expected to open in fall 2000. Each of the company’s future projects will bear the Fairwinds name and a geographical locator. Existing facilities will retain their individual names.
Milestones:
The MAACO Auto Painting and Bodyworks, 422 E. Francis, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since opening in 1979, the facility has worked on more than 21,000 cars. The business, owned by Ray DeWitt, offers services ranging from rust repair and repainting to collision services. It is one of 565 centers in the MAACO chain.
Opportunities:
The Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute is seeking new technology-based products to commercialize. The institute will provide commercialization expertise and funding up to $25,000 per project to help move new products and innovations into the marketplace. Specific technology sectors targeted by SIRTI’s 1999 request for proposals include digital technologies, environmental technologies and biotechnologies. Concept papers are due by 5 p.m. Sept. 1. For more information, call Nancy Perrigue at 358-2059, or e-mail nancyp@sirti.org.
Kudos:
Jeffrey M. Taylor, a vice president and financial consultant in the Spokane Valley office of D.A. Davidson & Co., has bee named to the 1999 Fidelity Advisor Council. The council recognizes the achievement of investment professionals who offer Fidelity Advisor Funds. Taylor joined D.A. Davidson in 1994 and has more than 12 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Marna Bateman, oncology and medical director for Holy Family Hospital, has been named an affiliate of the American Academy of Oncology Medical Administrators. The honor is reserved for those whose credentials in health care administration merit such recognition. The academy’s purpose is to develop innovative concepts in the field of health care administration to promote the advancement of members in knowledge, in professional standing and in personal achievements through continuing education and research in health care management.
United Van Lines van operator Jeff McLangan of Sandpoint has received a “Safe Driving and Excellent Performance Award.” To qualify for the award, drivers must have driven at least 64,000 miles while in United service and had an accident-free record for the year, as well as meeting various other requirements. McLangan, who drives for Chipman Moving & Storage of Spokane, an agent for United Van Lines, has been in the moving industry for 28 years.