Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Simplot Turf and Horticulture has added the following people to its International Marketing Division:

Lili Meng was named a sales coordinator and will handle distribution efforts in Asia. Meng was raised in northwestern China and immigrated to the United States in 1987. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration management in 1992 from the University of Tennessee.

Josh Howe, who joined Simplot as an international marketing representative, will handle production and sales accountants for Europe and work to expand fertilizer sales in various overseas regions. Howe has experience in marketing and networking. He received a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Cornell University.

Re/Max of Spokane has hired Brenda Jo Earhart as a sales associate. She previously was office manager for Gregg Jones & Associates for 7-1/2 years and a loan service representative at Gibraltar Money Center in San Diego.

Gina McKenzie has joined John L. Scott Real Estate in Spokane as an associate broker. McKenzie, who has more than 13 years of experience in the real estate industry, specializes in residential property.

A Way Through Counseling Center, 1110 E. Polston in Post Falls, has added Laurie Ingebritsen to its counseling staff. A graduate of the University of Idaho, Ingebritsen has been practicing in Coeur d’Alene for the past several years. She works with individuals, couples and families.

Dr. Cornelius Bakker has been named medical director of Spokane Mental Health. Bakker has held a similar position at Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry since 1984, and will retain that post in addition to his new role at Spokane Mental Health. He attended the University of Utrecht Medical School in Utrecht, Holland, and completed postgraduate training in Rotterdam, Holland, and the United States. He is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Windermere Real Estate has named Lynn Cain as associate broker at its recently opened Colfax office. The new office, located at 120 S. Main, is the 21st Windermere affiliate in Eastern Washington. Before joining Windermere, Cain worked for DRA Real Estate in Colfax. She began her real estate career in 1985 with James S. Black Realty in Spokane.

MOVING UP:

Jerry Lyon has been promoted to senior vice president of Sterling Savings Bank. Lyon manages Sterling’s southern region, which includes branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He joined Sterling in 1996 as the branch manager and business banking leader for Sterling’s Argonne branch. He was promoted to district manager in 1997 and southern region manager in 1998. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and was vice president and senior branch manager of the Ketchum US Bank branch prior to joining Sterling.

Seattle Crab Co./Skippers Inc. has promoted Judy Meyer to field training coordinator. She will be responsible for the training and certification of management personnel and restaurant quality audits for the company’s 88 seafood restaurants in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Alaska. A 19-year employee, she previously managed the Coeur d’Alene Skippers and most recently was the certified training manager for the Eastern Washington District.

KUDOS:

Jacqueline Tee of Fairfield was among the 10 highest scorers on the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination taken last November by 1,556 candidates in Washington state. Tee placed fifth. Other successful candidates from the Spokane area include: Gregory Amend, Ross Baglien, Penny Brown, Patrick Bucknum, Lorene Butzall, David Eastman, Richard Gullett, Chad Houck, Celia Kearce, Stacy Mattson, Leilani McKernam, Jennifer Lee Myers, Kellee Quick, Jackie Smith and Deborah Weber, all of Spokane; Kimberly Beal, Elizabeth Kimberly Burger and Noelle Gering, Veradale; Donna Enburg and Mandie Stern, Chattaroy; Deanna Kriegh, Liberty Lake; Alan McKee, Colville; Patti Quick, Fairchild Air Force Base; Richard C. Van Zandt, Newman Lake; and Bradley Wicker, Coeur d’Alene.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, located 10 miles west of Spokane, off I-90, has won its franchise system’s “Facility of the Year” award. The award recognizes top quality facility management and overall management excellence within the franchise group. The 18-acre facility, which opened in 1959, is owned by Gary Wight and managed by Murray and Jennifer Landauer.