Business Beat

New faces:

Humanix Learning Centers has added the following people to its staff:

Tracy Stevens was hired as admissions director. She will focus on corporate, government and private sales. Stevens previously was director of marketing for Criticare Medical Transport in Matteson, Ill.

Joel Fulton joined Humanix as director of instruction. Fulton is a certified Novell instructor, Microsoft certified trainer, master certified Novell engineer, Microsoft certified systems engineer, certified Citrix administrator and certified Internet professional. He previously worked for Resource Computing of Spokane as technical manager.

Sue Stierwalt has joined the Spokane-North Wall office of Windermere Real Estate as associate broker. Stierwalt, who attended Eastern Washington University, previously worked as a loan officer at Qpoint in Spokane. She also worked for three years at Spokane County Title and eight years at Tomlinson/Black.

Junior Achievement of the Inland Northwest has added Linda Johnson and Suzie Seefried to its staff. Johnson will manage the middle and high school programs, while Seefried oversees the elementary school program.

Moving up:

Humanix Learning Centers has promoted Kimberly Rose to school director. Rose most recently was the school’s account executive.

Jack Hancock has been named headmaster at Northwest Christian Schools. Hancock has held various jobs at Northwest Christian since 1993, including high school teacher, baseball coach, middle school teacher and elementary principal. He holds two master’s degrees

Moving:

Nichols & Associates Private Investigations has moved into new offices in the Colonial Building, 315 W. Ninth, to accommodate growing business and a larger staff. The company is a full-service private investigation agency offering employment screening, process services and background checks, among other services.

Certifications:

Lael Duncan, executive director of the North Central Washington Business Loan Fund, has been certified as an economic development finance professional by the National Development Council. Candidates for the certification must complete an intensive economic development finance training series conducted by the council. The classes cover credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs.

Marilyn Hunt, president of the Human Resources Network of North Idaho, has been certified as a professional in human resources (PHR). To qualify for certification, which is awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute, candidates must pass a rigorous examination. Hunt formerly was the human resource manager for Kootenai County.

Kudos:

The Hampton Inn Spokane took second place in the chain’s Pinnacle Award of Excellence competition. The Spokane property competed in the large market division of the Promus Hotel chain, which includes more than 800 Hampton Inns and Hampton Inn & Suites nationwide. The award recognizes hotels with superior guest satisfaction and financial performance over the previous year. The Spokane Hampton Inn is managed by Vandervert Developments LLC Hotel Division. Its general manager is Vicki Rizzo.

Paul A. Willax has been chosen as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 1998 Media Advocate of the Year for Region X, which includes the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska. Willax’s nationally syndicated newspaper column appeared in The Spokesman-Review for several years. The award commends Willax for his “extraordinary contributions in small-business journalism.” Willax is chairman of the Center for Business Ownership at Daemen College and president of Brass Tacks in Clarence, N.Y., and Spokane. He is also a founder and director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the School of Management at the State University of New York in Buffalo.

Junior Achievement of the Inland Northwest has received a Bronze Leadership Award based on financial solvency, program quality/customer satisfaction, overall management effectiveness and program growth. During the 1997-98 school year, Junior Achievement reached more than 4,400 students in the area; in 1998-99, 6,800 area students will participate in the organization’s classroom programs of economic education.

The American Society of Women Accountants has awarded Mary M. Fraijo Accounting Scholarships for 1999-2000 to the following people: Jamie Schrack, Fruitland, Wash., received $1,000 toward her education at Eastern Washington University; Chris Richard, Portland, $500 toward his education at Gonzaga University; and Anne Marie Meester, Fortine, Mont., $500 toward her education at the University of Montana.

Zachariah Ventress of Spokane, a senior at Providence College in Rhode Island, has been inducted into the college’s chapter of Tau Pi Phi, the international honor society that recognizes academic achievement in accounting, business administration and economics. Tau Pi Phi encourages students to exercise leadership and initiative in the study of economic and business issues on campus.