Business Beat

New faces:

Dan Johnson has joined the Spokane office of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. as a financial consultant. Johnson, who has 13 years of business experience, previously worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. He received a master’s degree in business from Portland State University.

Callahan Insurance has hired Jan Jesberger as a licensed agent. Jesberger has eight years of experience in the insurance industry, specializing in home, auto and life insurance.

Dr. Brian Kelly has joined Houk Chiropractic Clinic at 3809 N. Monroe. Kelly graduated with honors from Western States Chiropractic College in 1998. He received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 1985.

Tricia Bland has joined Hampton Inn as sales manager. Bland, who is a graduate of Western Washington University, will manage conference and meeting room bookings, local advertising and coordinating tour groups.

Moving up:

Jeff Hardin has been named vice president of Minneapolis-based Farm Credit Leasing, a leading agricultural equipment leasing company serving agricultural producers, cooperatives, rural utilities and Farm Credit System entities. Hardin, formerly a sales director, manages sales and operations for the company’s western region from his Spokane office.

Hampton Inn Spokane has promoted the following employees:

Ron Kegley was named maintenance manager of the hotel, where he has worked for five years.

Rickye Duncan, a three-year employee, was named assistant maintenance manager.

Mary Cochran was promoted to pantry manager. Cochran, who previously was assistant pantry manager, has been with the Hampton Inn for three years.

Lisa Schafer, an eight-year Supercuts veteran, has been promoted to executive administrator to Supercuts owner Gina Lillie. Schafer’s duties include coordinating advertising and marketing opportunities for the company, which is expanding its Spokane operations and plans to open in Lewiston this spring.

Transworld Systems Inc., a debt collection business with more than 130 offices nationwide, has promoted Raoul Bennett to Spokane district manager. The local office is located at 400 S. Jefferson, Suite 118.

Chris Flynn has been promoted to account executive at Rockey West Public Relations. Flynn joined the firm in 1996 as an assistant account executive. He manages writing, media relations and research projects for a range of clients, including River Park Square, Spokane Area Economic Development Council, Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, Avista Corp. and Baker Construction.

Interstate Concrete & Asphalt Co. has named Pat McFarlane as sales manager of its concrete division. McFarlane managed Central PreMix Concrete Co.’s Coeur d’Alene branch for the past nine years. He joined Central PreMix in 1977 as assistant branch manager and quality control technician in Moscow. He transferred to the Coeur d’Alene branch in 1978, starting as a dispatcher then moving into sales. In 1990, he was named branch manager.

Transactions:

Spokane-based McFarland & Alton P.S. has merged with Moss Adams LLP of Seattle. Moss Adams has 19 offices in Washington, Oregon and California and 1999 projected revenues of $103 million. McFarland & Alton, with a total of 78 staffers, has $7 million in annual revenue.

Kudos:

Spokane Valley Mall, owned by JP Realty Inc., won a Merit Award for its “Come. See. Shop!” promotion in the Maxi Award competition sponsored by the International Council of Shopping Centers. The award was in the category grand opening, expansion and renovation of a 400,000 to 750,000-square-foot center. NorthTown Mall, also owned by JP Realty, was a finalist for “This is NorthTown” in the category consumer of trade advertising.

A 30-second television commercial produced for Yoke’s Food and Drug by the Birchell Hall Agency of Spokane has received a national advertising award. The spot, entitled “Cowboy Jimmy,” was named best TV commercial for 1998 by the National Grocer’s. Yoke’s and the ad agency also received a “People’s Choice Award” for best use of color in a newspaper ad.