Business Beat
Unpublished correction: The name of Reggie Eans of The Spokesman-Review was misspelled in this story.
New faces:
Coeur d’Alene-based Idaho Independent Bank has hired Lexie AhHee as an investment representative at the bank’s Hayden Lake and Coeur d’Alene branches. AhHee has 14 years of experience in the banking industry in both Idaho and Washington. She previously held various banking positions, including loan officer, and most recently was an independent personal financial analyst. She holds a securities and insurance license in Idaho and Washington.
LineSoft, a Spokane firm which provides consulting services and software solutions to the utility transmission and distribution industry, has added the following people to its staff:
Christopher Cockey was hired as a software engineer responsible for developing enhancements to LineSoft’s line design software products. Cockey previously worked for B&B Software. He earned a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences from Johns Hopkins University.
Jon M. Ferguson joined the company as a senior project manager. He will be responsible for project engineering and management, and will provide technical support for the company’s software development efforts. Ferguson previously worked as a consulting engineer with J.S. Jones Power Delivery in Fort Worth. He received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas.
Kyle Springer joined LineSoft as a senior programmer. His responsibilities include developing dynamic user interfaces using 3-D graphics and voice recognition. Springer earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Eastern Washington University.
Chelsea Dickinson has joined Cavanaughs Templin’s Resort as local area sales manager. Dickinson, who has more than five years of experience in the hospitality industry, previously was the sales manager at the Ramada Inn Clover Island in Kennewick.
Don Yackley has been named director of residence life at the University of Idaho. He will direct a staff of four resident directors and the graduate and resident assistants in the university’s 23 residence halls and apartments. He also will help create programs and activities that involve students and promote the UI’s emphasis on living-learning communities in its residence hall system. Yackley previously was first year student area coordinator at Central Washington University. Earlier, he was residence hall director and adviser at Oregon State University and Pacific University. Yackley earned a master’s of education in college student services administration from Oregon State University.
Rebecca J. Andrew has been named assistant Greek adviser at the University of Idaho. She will assist with the development of student leadership programs and services for the 18 fraternities and eight sororities affiliated with the university. Andrew also will be a liaison between the Greek system and university departments, community agencies, local businesses and new students and their parents. She most recently was Panhellenic adviser and graduate teaching assistant at Oregon State University. She also has served as international educational leadership development consultant for Alpha Phi International Fraternity Inc. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington State University and is working on a master’s of education degree at UI.
Moving up:
Ed and Sabrina Schafer have become partners in the two Spokanearea Mustard Seed restaurants. Ed Schafer has been general manager of the downtown store for seven years, and Sabrina Schafer has held that post at the Valley store for two years. They will retain those positions. Ed also helps oversee the Valley store plus the Noodle Express on Sullivan, which the Mustard Seed is a partner in. Dave Hall continues as the operating partner, along with several partners from the Missoula area. Besides the two Mustard Seeds in Spokane, the group operates two others in Missoula and three Noodle Express restaurants in Spokane, Missoula and Billings.
Certifications:
The following people have met requirements to become certified as professionals in human resources: Chris Carson, Dakotah Direct; Alison Eldred, Software Spectrum; Georgine Froewiss, Washington Trust Bank; Reggie Evans, The SpokesmanReview; Alene Glock, Itronix Corp.; Susan Shiplett, Sunshine Precious Metals; Cindy Eskelson, Coldwater Creek; Cheri Butterfield, North Idaho College; Melissa Hoadley, Cavanaughs Hospitality; Diane Phalen; and Kris Sherman, Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Tim Keaty, Environment Controls; Larry Nelson, Silver Valley Resources; Maile McFarland, Cavanaughs Hospitality; Marilyn Hunt; and Chris Benenson successfully completed an exam to qualify as senior professionals in human resources.
Delphine Palmer of the city of Newport has been awarded certification as a senior professional in human resources for life. Only an elite few have earned the life designation.
Kudos:
Gonzaga University biologists William Ettinger and David Boose have received two-year research grants totaling $73,750 for plant research from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver, Wash. Ettinger, associate professor of biology, is using his grant of $37,750 to support research on calcium and magnesium transport across the plant chloroplast thylakoid membrane. Boose, a biology assistant professor, is using his $36,000 grant to investigate genetic variation within and among vernal populations of Naverretia minima using allozymes and microsatellites. The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was established in 1975 by the will of the late Melvin J. Murdock, a co-founder of Tektronix Inc.
Cheryl Grounds of Coeur d’Alene was chosen as Kootenai Medical Center’s Employee of the Month for August. Grounds, a medical technologist in the laboratory, has worked at KMC since 1992. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon.
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. at the Business Information Center in Room 240 of the 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.
Tuesday - The Spokane Falls Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association meets at 5:30 p.m. at 7878 N. Wilding Drive. For information and reservations, call Irene LaBounty at 534-6560.
Tuesday - Leads Club, a networking organization for business leads and referrals, meets at 12:15 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel on Sullivan at Mission. For information, call Beth Ann at 921-9581.
Tuesday - Power Networking meets at 7 a.m. to exchange business leads and other business information. For information about location and topics, call 468-9695 or 467-2081.
Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Small Business Money Management” from 8 a.m.-noon on the second floor of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. Cost: $35; for information or to register, call 353-2820.
Wednesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a “Pre-business Workshop” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $25; call 358-7890 for information or to register.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “How to Evaluate the Feasibility of a Business Idea” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50; call 358-7890 for information or to register.
Thursday - The Lake City Women’s Chapter of Leads Club meets from noon-1:15 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, 414 W. Appleway in Coeur d’Alene. For information and reservations, call Karen Welts at (208) 667-5606.
Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, 324 S. Pioneer Way in Moses Lake. Call (509) 765-7888 for appointments.
Friday - CareerTrack presents a course on “How to Handle People with Tact and Skill” from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. Cost: $129; to register, call (800) 334-6780.
Conventions:
Monday and Tuesday - Practical clinical courses, Dental Education Conference, Cavanaughs Ridpath Hotel.
Thursday through Aug. 29 National Street Rod Association, DoubleTree Valley/citywide.