Business Beat
NEW FACES:
The Spokane office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has added the following people to its staff:
Nikki Nessan joined the firm as an assurance/business advisory services senior associate. Nessan previously worked for KPMG Peat Marwick in Seattle.
Rod Mourant was named an associate in assurance/business advisory services. He previously was affiliated with LeMaster & Daniels in Spokane.
Ben Hawes joined PricewaterhouseCoopers as an assurance/business advisory services associate. Hawes is a graduate of the University of Washington.
Wendy Treffry, a graduate of Washington State University, joined the firm as an assurance/business advisory services associate.
New associates in the Spokane general office of New York Life include: Kevin Brick, Tom Sutherland, Ralph Williams, Dennis Kane, Bill Jones, Barry Kathrens and Bob Forster.
Mike McNamara has joined the staff of Windermere/Coeur d’Alene Realty as a sales associate. McNamara previously worked for three years at Century 21 John Beutler in Coeur d’Alene.
Clara Jindrich has joined the Spokane-Manito office of Windermere Real Estate as an associate. Jindrich earlier was assistant manager at Tarbell Realtors in Riverside, Calif.
Recent additions to the staff of Global Credit Union include:
Ellen Wheeldon, who was named a loan underwriter in Global’s real estate department. Wheeldon, who has five years of experience in mortgage lending, is an FHA, VA and conventional underwriter. She previously worked for Family Home Mortgage.
Sue Caruso was hired as the call center manager at Global’s main office. Caruso, who has more than 18 years of credit union and banking experience, previously worked for Norwest Bank in Great Falls.
Janna McCasland was named a member service representative. She is based at Global’s North Spokane branch, located inside Tidyman’s.
Barbara Theisen was hired as a member service representative at Global’s Post Falls branch. She has experience in both member services and mortgage loan processing.
Tichelle Mitchell joined the credit union as a loan processor at Global’s Coeur d’Alene real estate loan center. She has eight years of experience in the financial industry.
Tarsolan Greer was hired as a member service representative at Global’s Fairchild branch office.
Charlie Varnell, who has more than 10 years of experience in the financial industry, joined Global as a loan processor at its Coeur d’Alene real estate loan center.
Lisa Vallieres was hired as a member service representative at Global’s Valley branch. She has more than 16 years of experience in the financial industry.
MOVING UP:
Telect Inc. has promoted Brett “Bo” Mix to technical support manager. He will oversee Telect’s applications engineering group, a team that helps develop new products and supports the company’s existing product lines. Mix, who has nearly 20 years of telecommunications experience, previously worked for GTE of California for about 12 years. He spent the last year with Telect as an applications engineer.
Dave Nakagawara, a professional plans examiner for the city of Spokane, has been named city building official. Nakagawara, who has worked for the city for eight years, succeeds Bob Eugene, who is retiring after 22 years with the city. Eugene has taken a new post with Underwriter’s Laboratory in Edmonds, Wash.
TRANSACTIONS:
Awnings Unlimited Inc. has acquired Janitorial Services Unlimited in a deal that creates a company which offers awning cleaning, restoration and resurfacing work as well as janitorial, window cleaning, floor and carpet care services. Janitorial Services employees have joined the Awnings Unlimited work force. IPS Inc. is providing management and consulting services to the combined company.
Bovay Northwest has been awarded a contract with the city of Spokane to provide conceptual engineering and preliminary design services for the upgrade and expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Bovay, a subsidiary of Dames & Moore, is acting as a subcontractor to CH2M Hill. Bovay will compile information for the conceptual structural and electrical design for the plant’s upgrades and will provide preliminary design engineering, cost estimates, production of the proposal documents for the final design, assistance in selecting detailed engineering design consultants and overall management of the project.
CERTIFICATIONS:
Mary Cooper of National Associates Spokane Inc. has been awarded the Accredited Pension Administrator (APA) designation by the National Institute of Pension Administrators. Candidates must successfully complete a six-part examination to establish expertise in all aspects of pension plan design, consulting and administration. Only nine other people in Washington have received the designation.
KUDOS
Ralph Yount of Pullman has been recognized by Iowa State University, his alma mater, with the Distinguished Achievement Citation. Yount, who has contributed to improved understanding of the molecular basis of muscular contractions, was awarded the first Merit award by the National Institute of Health in 1986. He also is the president of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology. Yount has been with Washington State University since 1960 and is currently a professor of biochemistry and chemistry and chair of the department of chemistry.
Brett Schuster, a motorcycle safety and skills instructor from Sandpoint, has received the Veteran Instructor Award of Merit from the Idaho Department of Education for his expertise as an instructor in the Skills Training Advantage for Riders (STAR) course. Jack Stemmer, of Coeur d’Alene, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and Kootenai Saw & Cycle Inc. of Coeur d’Alene was honored for providing support and equipment to the program. The STAR course is required in Idaho before drivers under the age of 21 can be licensed to operate a motorcycle.
Roseann Lindsey, a loan officer with INB Mortgage Co., has received a “Friend of Housing” award from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. Lindsey was honored for being the highest producer of mortgage loans through the Washington State Bond Program since its inception 15 years ago. She also was recognized as a top educator for the program, which requires applicants to attend a class for first-time home buyers to qualify.
EVENTS:
Monday - Brenda Sims, Spokane County stormwater utility manager, will discuss the “Glenrose/Central Park Watershed Plan” during a meeting of Associated Engineers at noon at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. Cost: $3 for salad alone, $10 for full lunch.
Monday - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents session II of a Zenger Miller Leadership Training Core Series on “Giving Constructive Feedback” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $225 for the series; call 533-4700 for information or to register.
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 Valley Leads Club is holding an open house at 12:15 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel at Sullivan and Mission in the Spokane Valley. Cost: $7.50 for lunch; for more information, call Beth Ann Daigre at 921-9581.
Tuesday - Northside Power Tipps meets at 7 a.m. For information about meeting location and topics, call 468-9695.
Tuesday through Thursday - The Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum meets at the Washington State International Ag Trade Center, Spokane Convention Center and Spokane Arena. The theme for this year’s events is “Tools for Tough Times.” Call 1 (888) 374-EXPO for information.
Wednesday - City Manager Bill Pupo will present an update on city issues during a meeting of the Spokane Building Owners and Managers Association from noon-1:15 p.m. at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. Luncheon cost, $10; call 466-4905 for reservations.
Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Preparing a Business Plan” from 8 a.m.-noon at 801 W. Riverside. Cost: $35; for information or to register, call 353-2820.
Wednesday and Jan. 20 - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Selling Your Expertise” from 6-9 p.m. both nights at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-7890 for information or to register.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents an “Employer’s Tax Seminar” from 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $20; call 358-7890.
Thursday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a workshop on “Lawful and Unlawful Interviewing Questions” from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $29 for members, $44 for nonmembers; for information or to register, call 326-6885.
Thursday - Betsy Cowles will discuss River Park Square and downtown Spokane revitalization during a meeting of the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Spokane Club, 1002 W. Riverside. Cost: $15; for reservations, call Susan Thomas at (208) 773-3906.
Jan. 18 - The Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service and USDA present a program on “Managing Farm Risk: Using Risk to Profit” from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Extension Service’s Spokane office. Preregistration is required; for more information about content, fees and locations, call 1 (800) 598-6890.
Jan. 19 - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to potential and existing small-business owners from 1-4 p.m. at the Tri-County EDD, 347 W. Second, Suite A in Colville. For appointments, call (509) 684-4571.
Jan. 27 and 28 - The Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce and Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsor a joint legislative trip to Olympia to meet with area lawmakers and discuss issues of concern to members. Cost ranges from $100 to $350; for information or to register, call Lacey Martin at 624-1393 or register online at www.spokanechamber.org.