Business Beat

New faces:

LeMaster & Daniels PLLC has added the following people to its staff:

Kenny Hall joined the firm as a manager in the Health Services Department. He previously worked at LeMaster & Daniels and then was the chief financial officer and interim chief executive officer for Lincoln Hospital in Davenport before returning to the firm. Hall earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Washington University.

Bradley Haines was hired as a senior consultant in the Management Advisory Services Department. Haines, who is an affiliate member of the Association for Investment Management and Research, received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Brigham Young University. His responsibilities include business valuation, investment due diligence, buy-sell agreement formulation and estate planning.

Mark Lupton joined LeMaster & Daniels as a staff accountant in the Accounting and Auditing Department. Lupton is a graduate of Whitworth College with a bachelor’s degree in both accounting and economics.

Silverwood Theme Park has added Michelle Norton of Spokane and Pete Wilkening of Coeur d’Alene to its year-round staff.

Norton was named the theme park’s human resources training manager. She graduated last December from Lewis & Clark State College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Norton has spent several summers working at Silverwood in the operations and human resources departments as a seasonal manager.

Wilkening joined the park as corporate account manager in the sales and marketing department. He has 15 years of outside sales experience, and in 1992 earned the Outstanding Salesmanship Award as the account manager/professional sales consultant for IB&B Supply of Boise. He attended Spokane Community College and transferred to Eastern Washington University with a major in mass communications.

Inland Northwest Health Services has made the following additions to its administrative team:

John Craig was named chief financial officer. Craig previously was CFO for Outer Cape Health Services in Massachusetts. He has more than 10 years of experience as a chief financial officer. He is a fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is certified as a managed care professional. Craig received a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

Chad Hutson joined INHS as public relations coordinator. He previously was the public information specialist for Spokane County and spent more than seven years as a writer and editor for a daily newspaper in Western Washington and the Spokane Valley News. His responsibilities include oversight of all communication and marketing activities, including media relations, Web site development and public relations activities. Hutson received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Eastern Washington University.

The Spokane office of the American Cancer Society has added the following people to its staff:

Debbie Ramos was named community cancer control manager. Her responsibilities include several quality of life programs and Camp Goodtimes, which is designed to assist children who have had cancer or are still battling the disease. The programs she spearheads include: “Look Good … Feel Better,” “Reach to Recovery,” “Man to Man” and “I Can Cope.” Ramos previously spent five years working for two members of Congress as a constituent services specialist.

Beau McCann was hired as an information systems technician. He is responsible for the configuration and maintenance of the American Cancer Society’s eastern area computer systems. McCann was an Air Force senior airman before joining the Spokane ACS office.

Jeff Kennedy was appointed call center coordinator. His responsibilities include direct patient services as well as information referral. He also is responsible for referrals to cancer support groups and financial assistance. A graduate of Northwest College, Kennedy previously spent five years as a youth pastor and currently serves as a part-time music minister at his church.

Jim Ryan is the society’s new media relations and marketing manager. His territory includes Central and Eastern Washington, northwest Oregon and Montana. A graduate of Montana State University, he formerly was a reporter for the Spokane Valley Herald and director of communications for the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce.

Moving up:

Jacklin Seed Co. has appointed Steve Rusconi as grower services supervisor. Rusconi joined Jacklin Seed in 1995 and has served as a grower service representative in the Northwest. In his new assignment, he will be based in Albany, Ore., and will be responsible for managing seed procurement in the Willamette Valley. This includes contracting, field work and overseeing the work of Jacklin’s Oregon Grower Services Department. He received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management from California Polytechnic Institute, San Luis Obispo in 1980.

Kudos:

Mary Ann Keogh Hoss, chief operating officer for St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, has been named a Distinguished Fellow by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. The award is the most prestigious given by ATRA in the field of recreation therapy. Keogh Hoss was recognized for her 20-year commitment to the profession at both a regional and national level. She was lauded as “truly a pioneer in the field of recreation therapy” and cited for her leadership capabilities, development of treatments for Alzheimer’s patients, research of patients with serious mental illness and her teaching achievements.

Events:

Monday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “How to Develop Excellent Customer Service” from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $40; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Monday - The Spokane International Trade Alliance presents a seminar on the Asia Development Bank from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Hotel Lusso. Cost: $30, including lunch; for reservations, call 459-4123.

Tuesday - The Idaho Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Doing What You Do Best Better” 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) 769-3444.

Tuesday - Programs on “How to Bid on Government Contracts” and “An Affordable and Easy Way to Certify Your Business with the Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprisesss” will be presented during a meeting of the African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Business and Professional Association at 5:30 p.m. at the Avista Corp. cafeteria. For information, call Ben Cabildo at 325-5057 or Paul Smith at 922-9089.

Tuesday - About 70 employers from the Spokane area will have exhibits at the SCC Job Fair from 8 a.m.-noon at the SCC Lair-Student Center, Building 6, 1810 N. Greene. The job fair is free and open to the public; for information, call Christy Doyle at 533-8123.

Wednesday - “Accounting World Today” is the theme of a student night dinner meeting presented by the Spokane Area Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Cavanaughs River Inn. All practicing accountants and accounting students are welcome. Cost: $18, or $9 for students; for information, call Scott Wilhelm at 921-8718.

Wednesday - Webiness presents a free class on “Webology 101: Just Because You Build It Doesn’t Mean They’ll Come” from 2-4 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel Spokane Valley. For reservations, call Karen at 755-9324, ext. 238, or e-mail Karen@webiness.com.

Wednesday - The Better Business Bureau of the Inland Northwest presents a workshop on the basics of quality customer service from 8 a.m.-noon at the Red Lion Inn in Lewiston. Cost: $45 for members, $65 for nonmembers; for information, call (800) 248-2356 or (509) 838-3841.

Wednesday - The Idaho Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Advertising and Promotion: How Much Is Enough?” 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) 769-3444.

Thursday - Command Sergeant Major Michael C. Beegle of the 1st Battalion 161st Infantry Division (Mechanized) will be the guest speaker for the 44th Annual Military Persons of the Year Award Luncheon presented by the Armed Services Committee of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce at noon at the DoubleTree Hotel City Center, 322 N. Spokane Falls Court. Cost: $17.50; call 459-4111 for reservations by noon Tuesday.

Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents “Breakfast for Your Brain” from 7:30-8:45 a.m. in Suite 240 of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. Topic is “Hiring and Retaining Quality Employees.” Cost: $15, or $10 for chamber members; call 353-2800 for reservations.

Thursday - Waddell & Reed, financial planners and consultants, will showcase their North Side office and operations during a “Business After Hours” session presented by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce from 5:15-7 p.m. at 8607 N. Division. Cost: $5; call 459-4105 for reservations.

Thursday - The Spokane International Trade Alliance presents a session on “Challenges and Opportunities in International Exhibiting” from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute. Cost: $12, including lunch; for reservations, call 459-4123.

Friday - Major Gen. Timothy J. Lowenberg, adjutant general for the state of Washington, will be the featured speaker at a meeting of the Spokane Federal Executive Association at 11:30 a.m. at Days Inn, 4212 W. Sunset Blvd. For reservations, call Karen Rogge at 354-8110 by noon Wednesday.