Business Beat
New faces:
The following people have joined Gregg Jones & Associates as sales associates:
Claudia Bauer has three years of real estate experience in Spokane. Earlier, she was a Mary Kay sales director for 12 years in Santa Fe, N.M.
Dominick Musulman joined Gregg Jones with more than 15 years of sales experience in Florida and Southern California.
Debbie Momb has more than five years of real estate experience in the Spokane area.
CLS Mortgage Inc. has added the following people to its staff: Kevin Hillyer, formerly with Liberty Northwest Insurance, joined the company’s 10-person Spokane loan officer staff.
Steve McLean was hired as a loan officer after 35 years with Beneficial.
Greg Roberts, previously with First Plus, also was named a CLS loan officer.
Stu Stiles has joined the Spokane branch of Nextlink Communications Inc. as sales manager. Stiles, who has a broad background in sales, marketing and strategic planning, previously worked for Teknon Corp. as general manager and vice president of sales. Earlier, he was with the Gallo Winery for more than 10 years where he served as general sales manager and Northwest Division manager.
Moving up:
Sterling Savings Bank has promoted the following people:
Jennifer Hall was named manager of Sterling’s NorthTown branch. Hall joined Sterling in 1992 as a customer service representative in Moses Lake. She then served as customer service manager, and later branch manager, at Sterling’s Burien branch. Hall moved to Spokane last December and was regional operations coordinator for the northeastern region.
Brenda Wilbur , technical support manager for Sterling’s Information Systems Department, was named an assistant vice president. Wilbur joined the bank in 1997 as an information workstation analyst. She was promoted to IS technical support supervisor in 1998. Prior to joining Sterling, Wilbur was with Central Pre-Mix for eight years, where she was network technician/PC support.
Nextlink Communications Inc. has promoted Russell Shriver to marketing manager of its Spokane branch. Shriver joined Nextlink in 1998 as building access/marketing analyst. As such, he secured entrance agreements for 61 area buildings and implemented an internal database that will be used as a model at Nextlink affiliates nationwide.
CLS Mortgage Inc. has promoted Stan Brazington to president and Norm Wigen to executive vice president in charge of sales and marketing. Sharon Brazington has retired and Gene Brazington, as a prelude to retirement, has relinquished the chief executive role and is now chairman of the board. Donita Abney has replaced Sharon Brazington as controller, and Julie Stirpe was named office manager of the escrow company.
Ronald H. LaFayette, executive vice president of the Community Colleges of Spokane’s Institute for Extended Learning, has been named interim president of Spokane Community College. He replaces Jim Williams, who has been named president of Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colo., and will be leaving SCC June 30. LaFayette has been in Spokane for 10 years and is credited with building the Institute for Extended Learning into a far-reaching learning network serving some 28,000 students over a six-county area of northeastern Washington. He is expected to serve as interim president of SCC until next June while the college completes a nationwide search for a new president.
Transactions:
Heat Transfer Inc. of Spokane has joined forces with Coeur d’Alene-based Parrott Mechanical to provide expanded electrical service, complete plumbing services, duct cleaning and heating and air conditioning services. The combined operation, which will be known as Parrott Mechanical, will have more than 60 radio dispatched service and installation technicians.
Kudos:
The Ramada Inn at Spokane International Airport has been honored for its commitment to superior customer service. The hotel is among the 20 Ramada properties to have the lowest number of guest service complaints for the second half of 1998. There are more than 1,000 Ramada properties nationwide. Rick LaFleur is general manager of the Spokane operation.
The Spokane Federal Executive Association has presented 1999 Federal Employee of the Year Awards to the following people: manager/supervisor, Richard M. Graham Jr., United States Border Patrol; agency or unit executive, William G. Hiett Jr., USDA Risk Management Agency; administrative professional, Special Agent Selby Smith, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; technical/automation, Patricia A. Franks, USDA Risk Management Agency; administrative assistant, Karen S. Rogge, CDC, HRMO, Spokane Research Laboratory; military, Senior Airman Jennifer Diaz, 92nd Communications Squadron; community service, LaQuitta J. Moultrie, Social Security Administration; and special emphasis programs, Florence L. Wilder, NIOSH, Spokane Research Laboratory. John R. M. “Ros” Hill, director of NIOSH’s Spokane Research Laboratory, was selected as the Spokane Federal Executive Association’s overall 1999 Federal Employee of the Year. He was commended for leadership that has “developed a highly motivated group of professionals and has created a positive and infectious work culture, which has influenced other groups across NIOSH.”
Walter Teets, assistant professor of accounting at the Gonzaga University School of Business Administration, has been chosen to receive the 1999 Outstanding Accounting Educator Award by the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. Teets, who joined Gonzaga in 1994, was selected for his ability to teach future accountants. He also was commended for taking an active role in shaping the future of the accounting profession.
Members of the Student Bar Association at Gonzaga University’s School of Law have honored the following faculty and staff: Gerald Hess, Professor of the Year for first-year classes; Gary Randall, Professor of the Year, upper-division classes; and Milt Rowland, Adjunct Professor of the Year. Staff Support Person of the Year honors went to Sandy Burda, program assistant.
Bank of America and its Seafirst subsidiary have presented Leadership Excellence in Neighborhood Development Awards to Geri Pelissier and Richard Scott of Spokane. The LEND Award honors Seafirst/Bank of America associates who show outstanding leadership in their local communities. Pelissier, vice president and manager of customer service at Seafirst Bancard Services, was nominated for the award for her support of various community projects, including acting as a mentor for a college graduate who is a Yakama Indian Nation tribal member and serving as an advisor in hiring and training bank associates from local welfare-to-work programs, among others. Scott, a field engineer for Seafirst’s Equipment Management and Support, is a member of Pratt Elementary School’s Site Counsel and is an active member of the Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort.
Tom Fortune, the new general manager of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, has received a SAMMY Award from Ski Area Management Magazine. The annual awards honor individuals for leadership in the ski industry. Fortune was cited as an “innovative, creative and compassionate employee” by Ron Nova, general manager at Stevens pass. Fortune was director of operations at Stevens Pass for two years before moving to Schweitzer.
Eastern Washington University’s Students in Free Enterprise team finished in the top 48 among more than 600 teams from around the world at the International SIFE Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. Eastern’s SIFE team outperformed several larger, more established organizations. SIFE was organized in 1975 by Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, to promote and teach free enterprise around the world. Students teach business principles, money management and other free enterprise skills in their home communities.
The following students have been chosen to receive Minority Business Education Program awards, which are offered through Eastern Washington University’s College of Business and Public Administration. The program provides full tuition scholarships, faculty monitoring, career counseling and advising, mentoring by business professionals and internships at area businesses to African-American, Asian, Latino/Chicano and Native American students pursuing business degrees: Kelly Charvet, marketing; Ater Beltran, marketing and international business; Valerie Dvnae, health services administration; Kimberly Alverson, finance; Norma GarciaPark, business administration; and Kyle Desautel, business administration. The scholarships are underwritten by Empire Ford, Excell Foods Corp., First Interstate Bank, Sterling Savings, Telect Inc., U.S. Bank, Washington Mutual Bank Foundation, Avista Corp. and Wells Fargo Bank.
Events:
Monday through Friday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free business counseling to potential and existing small-business owners from 9 a.m. to 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 Public Library presents a class on “Marketing Resources I,” the first of a six-part series designed to show how businesses can make maximum use of resources at the downtown library and through the library’s dial-in service, from 12:15-1 p.m. on the second floor of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. For information or to register, call 353-2800.
Tuesday - Power Networking meets at 7 a.m. to exchange business leads and other business information. For location and topics, call 468-9695 or 467-2081.
Tuesday - The Valley Chapter of Leads Club meets at 12:15 p.m. at the Spokane Valley DoubleTree Hotel, Sullivan and Mission. For information, call Beth Ann at 921-9581.
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; for information or to register, call 358-7890.
Wednesday - Northwest Inland Empire APICS will tour The Spokesman-Review during its monthly meeting at noon at 999 W. Riverside. For information, call Debra Benson at 459-5202 or e-mail her at debrab@spokesman.com.
Wednesday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a class on “Improving Communication Skills.” For information on cost and location, call 326-6885.
Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Preparing a Business Plan” from 8 a.m.-noon on the second floor of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. Cost: $35; for more information, call 353-2820.
Thursday - A panel discussion of employment law issues will be the topic for 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: $18; for reservations, call Susan Thomas at (208) 773-3906.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Determining 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; for information or to register, call 358-7890.
Friday - The Spokane Advertising Federation presents “Grape & Grain,” a wine and beer tasting event, at the former Salty’s Restaurant. Cost: $25; for tickets, call 326-8818.