Business Beat

NEW FACES:

MSC, incorporated as Premera Blue Cross, has added two people to its management team and created a new position in its Network Development department:

Sandy Hatch was hired as regional manager for network development. She is responsible for negotiating and maintaining contracts with physician and hospital networks. Hatch, who earned a master’s degree from Washington State University, has nearly 12 years of experience in provider relations with Providence Health Plans.

Nancy Stewart joined the company as regional manager-provider relations, education and training. She will oversee development and implementation of provider relations strategies, programs and tools for education and training. A graduate of the Deaconess School of Nursing and Whitworth College, Stewart has experience in a broad range of health care positions.

Debbie McQuade has moved into the new position of regional manager-network strategy and planning. McQuade joined MSC/ Premera Blue Cross in 1996 and most recently was regional manager for network development. In her new role, she will focus on developing network and marketing strategies throughout Washington, as well as developing contract compliance and performance measurements for network development. Before joining MSC/ Premera Blue Cross, McQuade worked in the marketing department at PAML. She received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Oregon University.

Ross Litho-Flexo-Prepress has added the following people to its sales staff:

Dean Moore has more than a decade of sales experience. A graduate of Eastern Washington University, he previously worked as a commercial account manager with Kinko’s.

Candis Meyer, who has an extensive sales background, formerly was an assistant vice president with Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.

Dustin Gurkowski has joined Inland Mortgage Co. as a loan consultant. He specializes in FHA, VA, Conventional and non-conventional mortgage programs. Gurkowski earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Eastern Washington University.

Monte L. Chitwood has joined the Spokane office of D.A. Davidson & Co. as a financial consultant. He previously was president and chief executive officer of Northwest Imaging Management Inc. in Spokane and also owned a health care practice management firm. He received a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma Central University. A certified public accountant, he is one of the charter members of Leadership Spokane.

MOVING UP:

Mike Smith has been appointed district director for Sprint PCS in Oregon and the Inland Northwest for its wireless division. He will oversee sales operations in Oregon, Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Smith, who has nine years of experience in the telecommunications industry, previously was Sprint PCS’ district director for the Inland Northwest. He received a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University.

MILESTONES:

New York Life insurance Co. will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the company’s general office in Spokane at 10 a.m. Friday at the plaza adjacent to 818 W. Riverside. Spokane Mayor John Talbott will deliver a proclamation at the ceremony commemorating the event. For information, call Chuck Harris at 626-4046.

EVENTS:

Monday - Directors of Volunteers in Agencies of the Inland Northwest presents a workshop on “Work Smarter Not Harder: A Management Approach to Volunteer Administration” from 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Deaconess Health and Education Center, 910 W. Fifth. Cost: $30 for DOVIA members, $40 for nonmembers; to register or for more information, call Jerrie Allard at 838-6581.

Monday - Habitat for Humanity-Spokane holds a volunteer orientation at 7 p.m. at the Audubon Park United Methodist Church. For information, call 534-2552.

Monday and Wednesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Cash Flow Management” 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.

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 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.

Tuesday - The AHANA (African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American) Business and Professional Association meets at 7:30 a.m. at the Avista Corp. auditorium. For information, call Ben Cabildo at 325-5057.

Tuesday - The Valley Chapter of Leads Club meets at 12:15 p.m. at the Spokane Valley DoubleTree Hotel. For more information, call Beth Ann at 921-9581.

Tuesday - Power Networking meets at 7 a.m. to exchange business leads and other business information. For information about location and topics, call 468-9695 or 467-2081.

Tuesday and May 25 - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Beginning Recordkeeping” 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.

Wednesday - Executive Women’s Network meets from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in the Spokane Valley. Cost: $10, including lunch.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Basics of Recordkeeping” from 8 a.m.-noon on the second floor of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. Cost: $35; for information, call 353-2820.

Wednesday - The Idaho Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Shortcuts to Creating and Maintaining Organized Files and Records” from 6-9 p.m. at the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, 525 W. Clearwater Loop in Post Falls. Cost: $39; for information, call (208) 769-7863.

Wednesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Cost-Effective Advertising” 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.

Wednesday - Lynn Stephens of Eastern Washington University will speak on “Accounting Trends: What’s New” during a meeting of the Spokane Area Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Cavanaughs River Inn. Cost: $15, $7.50 for students; call Scott Wilhelm at 921-8718 for more information.

Wednesday - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents session III of a Zenger Miller Leadership Training Core Series on “Recognizing Positive Results” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $230 for the four-class series; call 533-4700 for information.

Wednesday - A representative of Keyfile Corp. will discuss and demonstrate the latest in document management, workflow and electronic commerce technology during a free seminar presented by Datapro Solutions Inc. from 8:30 a.m.-noon at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park.

Wednesday - The Spokane office of the Washington State Department of Revenue presents a free “New Business Outreach” workshop from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and again from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in the eighth floor training room at 4407 N. Division. To register or for more information, call 482-3805.

Thursday - The Small Business Network of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 1999 Agora Awards Breakfast at 7:20 a.m. at the Spokane Ag Trade Center. Cost: $20, or $160 for a table of eight if prepaid, $30 at the door; for information, call Diane Clawson at 459-4111.

Thursday - Spokane Chapter 143 of the National Association of Women in Construction holds a tour of the Gonzaga University School of Law construction site at 4:30 p.m. at 701 N. Cincinnati. For information or reservations, call Joyce at 535-3354.

Thursday - Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors presents a seminar on “Sexual Harassment and the ADA” from 9 a.m.-noon at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $55 for members, $85 for nonmembers; to register or for more information, call Carolyn Pierce at 353-0391 or (800) 572-4108.

Thursday - Brian Gosline, a Spokane attorney and CPA, will speak on “The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be: Making Sense of a Changing and Complex World” during a breakfast meeting sponsored by the Spokane Chapter of the Washington Society of CPAs from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Gonzaga University’s Schoenberg Center. Cost: $45 for nonmember CPAs, $40 for members and non-CPAs and $10 for students; for information, call Jim Morrison at 455-8173.

Thursday - John Scherer will discuss “Spirit in the Workplace” during a meeting of the American Society for Training and Development from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Cavanaughs River Inn, 700 N. Division. An optional workshop follows from 1:15-4:15 p.m.. Call 625-3843 for information or to register.

Thursday - The Internal Revenue Service presents a “Small Business Tax Workshop” from 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $20, including a workbook; to register or for more information, call 358-7890.

Thursday - The Idaho State Electrical Board will review administrative rules governing electrical inspection and discuss specialty electricians/ contractors and electrical examinations during a meeting at 1:30 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn and Conference Center, 414 W. Appleway in Coeur d’Alene. For information, call (208) 334-2183.

Friday - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a workshop on “Plurals, Capitalization and Weird Punctuation Rules” from 8:30 a.m.-noon at 920 N. Washington. For information, call 326-6885.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Basic Legal Structures” 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.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a “Small Business 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 for information or to register.

May 24 - Susan Thomas will speak on “Media and Advertising: What to Choose, What to Lose” during a meeting sponsored by the Service Corps of Retired Executives and the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners from noon-1:30 p.m. at 801 W. Riverside, Suite 240. Cost: $10, including lunch; for reservations, call 353-2800 by Wednesday.

CONVENTIONS:

Today through Thursday - Washington Health Care Association, DoubleTree Hotel City Center.

Wednesday through Thursday - Washington Wastewater Collection Personnel Association, citywide.

Wednesday through Saturday - Sons of Italy Northwest, Cavanaughs Ridpath Hotel.

Friday through May 23 - Spokane Marian conference, citywide.

Friday through May 26 - International Union Gospel Missions, DoubleTree Hotel City Center.