Business Beat
NEW FACES:
Eric J. Roth has joined Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole P.S. as an associate. Roth is an honors graduate of both Gonzaga University and the University of Washington School of Law. He will practice in the areas of business and employment law.
The Don Wilson Insurance Agency has added Kammy Cox and Randy Cox to its staff. Kammy Cox has 15 years of experience in the sale and servicing of property, casualty and life insurance policies. She will be responsible for developing new small-business and personal accounts and overseeing existing accounts. Randy Cox, who is Kammy Cox’s brother, also has several years of experience in the industry. His responsibilities are to develop new property, casualty and life insurance accounts, as well as overseeing existing accounts.
Del Kraft has joined Credit Bureau Services as an account executive concentrating on tenant screening sales as well as mortgage reporting sales. Kraft, who previously owned his own engraving business, also has more than 18 years of experience in the property rental industry.
Idaho Independent Bank has named Denise Morris as senior underwriter for residential real estate lending. Morris has more than 14 years of experience in real estate finance. Prior to joining the bank, she was a residential real estate underwriter for another financial institution. Morris attended business college in Lincoln, Neb..
Tomlinson Black South has added the following people to its staff as sales associates:
Kim Perdue has more than eight years of experience in banking and seven years as a licensed stockbroker.
Sherrie Bowman previously worked in the medical field and has more than 10 years of experience in health education.
Mike Kucich has returned to manage Heilig Meyers’ North Division store. He previously managed the Heilig Meyers store in Boise.
MOVING UP:
US West has promoted Randy Maurer to sales and service manager for Eastern Washington. Maurer will be responsible for leading US West’s Sales and Service Group for large business and strategic accounts in Eastern Washington. A 13-year US West veteran, he previously was the company’s senior account manager for large business services in Spokane. Maurer, who received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Washington State University, has held a variety of sales and marketing positions in the data and telecommunications field.
Mary Henry Cameron has been promoted to director of auditing for Avista Corp. Bill Payne was named audit manager.
Cameron will have overall responsibility for corporate auditing, including providing support for the company’s Board Audit Committee. She joined Avista, then called Washington Water Power, 12 years ago. A senior auditor/tram leader for six years, she most recently was a team advisor for the finance department. She earned a master’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University and is a certified public accountant in Washington.
Payne will focus on the company’s growing number of nonregulated business units and affiliate companies. Payne, who joined Avista last year as an internal auditor, previously worked for seven years as vice president and treasurer for Group Health Northwest, 14 years in public accounting and nine years as a partner in a certified public accounting firm. He received a master’s of taxation from the University of Denver and is a certified public accountant in Washington and Montana.
Washington Trust Bank has promoted Janelle Embrey to retail banking officer. Embrey, who joined Washington Trust in 1995, will continue to manage bank operations in the Lincoln Heights Safeway and South Regal Albertson’s supermarkets.
STARTING UP:
FirstBank Corp., the holding company for FirstBank Northwest, plans to open a branch in Tidyman’s Market in Post Falls in February. The new branch, which will be the Lewiston-based bank’s seventh overall, will be its first in a supermarket.
KUDOS:
Eastern Washington University, Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories, Spokane County and Zak Designs Inc. earned top honors for their efforts to reduce employee commute trips and preserve air quality. EWU’s 12-member Commuter Trip Reduction Committee received the All Star Team award, which is given to one outstanding worksite committee each year. It was EWU’s second win. Zak Designs, Spokane County and Pathology Associates received 1998 Pinnacle Awards, which are given to local organizations that have implemented and supported a well-rounded, innovative transportation program for employees.
EVENTS:
Monday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Managing Change” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7890 for information or to register.
Monday - The Institute for Extended Learning presents a workshop on “Debt-free Living/Debt Elimination” from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Rogers High School, 1622 E. Wellesley. Cost: $10; call 533-3770 for information or to register.
Monday - The Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service and the United States Department of Agriculture present an advanced workshop on “Managing Farm Risk” from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Ritzville. Call 1 (800) 598-6890 for more information.
Monday through Friday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to prospective 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. 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 - Doug Hurley of the Washington Transportation Alliance will discuss statewide transportation needs and strategic solutions during a meeting sponsored by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce and Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce at noon in Cavanaughs Hospitality Conference Center on the first floor of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside.
Tuesday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a free briefing on “Adventure-Based Training” from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at 920 N. Washington. For more information, call 326-6885.
Tuesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Product Presentation and Display” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $40; call 358-7890 for information or to register.
Wednesday - Todd Woodward, public relations manager for Spokane Airports, will give an update on Spokane International Airport expansion during a meeting of the Spokane Building Owners & 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 Spokane Chapter of the International Association for Administrative Professionals meets at 5:30 p.m. at Gonzaga University. Cost: $13 for dinner; call 536-8918 for information and reservations.
Wednesday - Leadership Spokane presents a briefing session for people interested in joining the Class of 2000 at noon in the first floor conference center at the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside.
Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Small Business Money Management” from 8 a.m.-noon at the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. Cost: $35; for information or to register, call 353-2820.
Wednesday and Feb. 2 - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a two-part workshop on “Managing Poor Performance” from 8:30 a.m.-noon both days at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $45 for either program or $80 for both for members, $84 for either program or $120 for both for nonmembers. For information or to register, call 326-6885.
Wednesday - March of Dimes of the Inland Northwest presents a Spokane Leaders Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Spokane Club. For information, call 328-1920.
Wednesday and Thursday - The Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce and Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce travel to Olympia to meet with area legislators and voice concerns on issues of mutual interest. Package prices range from $100 to $350. For information, call Lacey Martin at 747-0077.
Wednesday and Feb. 3 - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Basic Taxes for Small and Home-Based Businesses” from 6-9 p.m. both days at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50; for information or to register, call 358-7890.
Thursday - Bob Francis of N.B.S. Solutions will offer technology tips during a program on “Countdown to the Year 2000 - Solutions for the Small Business” presented by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Network at 7:30 a.m. at Cavanaughs Hospitality Conference Center in the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside.
Thursday - The Medical Center Toastmasters Club holds a free demonstration meeting for people interested in evaluating the Toastmasters program from 6:10-7:35 a.m. in room 200 of the St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, 711 S. Cowley. For information or reservations, call Cheryl at 838-7299 or Eric at 354-8020.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Payroll Recordkeeping” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; for information or to register, call 358-7890.
Thursday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a roundtable discussion on “The Role of the Senior Training and Organizational Development Consultant” from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $15 for members, $22 for nonmembers. For information, call 326-6885.
Friday - Neal Peirce, an author and syndicated newspaper columnist on urban issues, will be the keynote speaker for the 4th Annual Leadership Forum sponsored by Leadership Spokane, Washington Mutual and The Spokesman-Review from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Ag Trade Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Cost: $65 for the entire forum, including breakfast and lunch, or $40 for the morning session. For information, call Kareem Wilcher at 459-4116.
Feb. 2 - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to potential and existing small-business owners from 9 a.m.-noon at Tri-County EDD, 347 W. Second, Suite A, in Colville. For appointments, call 684-4571.