Business Beat
New faces:
Media Design has expanded its programming staff with the following additions:
William Huber has a strong background in both Macintosh and Windows-based operating systems and all aspects of traditional design and printing. He previously worked in prepress operation for Ross Printing and Johnston Printing. Huber earned degrees in both computer aided drafting and design and graphic design.
James Stewart joined Media Design as database developer. Stewart is well versed in various Web programming languages, including IIS, SQL, ASP, ODBC, Visual basic, Access, VBScript and C/C++. Stewart has worked for Washington State University, US Lottery, Maxitron Corp. and Olivetti Corp.
Dr. Michael R. Leachman has joined Dr. David N. Cohen at Eye Consultants in the practice of ophthalmology. Leachman received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Western Washington University and a master of physical therapy degree from the U.S. Army/Baylor University program. Following service in the Army Medical Specialists Corps, he earned a medical degree from the University of Texas. Leachman completed an ophthalmology residency at the Jones Eye Institute of the University of Arkansas. His office is located in the Holy Family Medical Building.
Dr. Jason H. Jones has joined the Spokane Eye Clinic. He received his medical degree and completed a residency in ophthalmology at Ohio State University. Jones, who had fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal and vitreous disease.
Post Falls-based Medinex Systems Inc. has named Colin Christie as executive vice president of technology. Christie will lead all technology development within the company, including product development, application services provider services and management information systems. He has nearly 20 years of operations and executive management experience with publicly traded technology firms, such as Motorola Semiconductors, Philips Semiconductors and Linfinity Microelectronics. He also was co-founder and technology architect for POP Communications, formerly Internet Resource. Most recently, Christie was co-founder of EnableGroup.com Inc., an Internet strategies company.
Moving up:
Yoke’s Foods has named the following people to management positions at its new Mead store:
Tony Faux, meat manager; Greg Barnufsky Jr., produce manager; Dave Johnson, pharmacy manager; Robin Alexander, floral manager; Nancy Martell, deli manager; Greg Hanson, food service manager; Stephanie Mason, customer service manager; and Betty Wiyrick, seafood manager.
Media Design has promoted Kevin Smith to senior programmer. His responsibilities now include project coordination and tech guidance, as well as management and training of the department’s six staff members. Smith has a degree in mathematics from Eastern Washington University and additional training in multimedia programming.
Caroline Nilsson has been promoted to associate director of development at the University of Idaho. She replaces Ran Railey, who accepted a position as associate director of athletics at the University of Denver. Nilsson, a 1984 UI graduate, will head up The Campaign for Idaho, a multiyear, fund-raising effort aimed at supporting the university’s strategic initiatives. She previously was associate dean for advancement in the College of Agriculture, where she played a key role in raising funds for the college’s biotechnology facility.
Starting up:
The 68,000-member Spokane Teachers Credit Union has opened a downtown branch on the skywalk level of Crescent Court, 707 W. Main. Shane Hatcher manages the new branch, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The new facility also features a 24-hour ATM. STCU, which has $365 million in assets, operates six branches in Spokane and Pend Oreille counties.
Elected:
Jim Mahoney, a social worker in private practice whose family owns and manages 24 rental units, has been elected president of the Inland Empire Rental Association. Other officers include: Vice president, Kathleen Buford, Affiliated Information Resources; secretary, Tom Townsend, Kiemle & Hagood property manager; treasurer, Gary Whitney, a landlord; and immediate past president, Bill deWeber, owner of the Information Source. Directors are: Kim Hickethier, Deer Park Realtor and landlord; Patrick McKinney, landlord; Dave Miller, landlord; Bette Fears, Tomlinson Black Property Management; and Christopher Batten, Wells & Co. property manager and landlord. Deanna Schulte continues as executive vice president.
Kudos:
Yuimusa Smith, president of SMK Construction, has been named the Minority Enterprise Development Week 2000 Minority Small Business Person of the Year by the Seattle District of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Smith founded SMK Construction in 1990. SMK, which also was nominated for the SBA’s Contractor of the Year Award, is currently working on the WSU Health/Science Building at Riverpoint, the Cheney Cowles Museum expansion and Lewis & Clark High School.
Justin McGinnis of Wendle Ford has achieved Master Technician status with Ford Motor Co. It is the highest award bestowed by Ford.
John Bennett, business manager for Shearer Lumber Products in Grangeville, Idaho, has been recognized as the leading volunteer in association service by the Washington Society of Association Executives. Bennett was recognized for his exemplary leadership and service to his trade association, the Spokane-based Timber Products Manufacturers Association. He was nominated by TPM executive director Larry Carroll.
Events:
Monday - The Downtown Chapter of Business Networking International meets from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Ram Restaurant. For more information, call Carol Groves at 994-0047.
Tuesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to potential and existing small-business owners from 9 a.m.-noon at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, 8817 E. Mission. For appointments, call 924-4994.
Tuesday - AHANA Business & Professional Association presents a Business Partnership Celebration to celebrate the AHANA/Empire Health Services/BeloGroup-KREM partnership at 5:30 p.m. at the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside.
Tuesday - The Valley Chapter of Leads Club, a networking organization for business owners, professionals, managers and sales people, meets at 12:15 p.m. at Shari’s Restaurant, 320 N. Sullivan. For reservations, call Bill at 483-4015; for more information, call Beth Ann at 924-4507.
Tuesday - Northside Power Networking meets at 7 a.m. Call 468-9695 or 467-2081 or check the Web site at http://www.nwcities.com/pn for meeting details.
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; call 353-2820 for information or to register.
Wednesday - The South Hill Spokane Chapter of LeTip International meets from 7-8:30 a.m. at Ripples Restaurant in the WestCoast River Inn, 700 N. Division. For reservations, call Kelly Porter at 893-1743.
Wednesday and Thursday - CompuMaster presents a workshop on “Fundamentals of Cisco Router Configuration” at the DoubleTree Hotel Spokane Valley. Cost: $895; to enroll, call 1(800) 867-4340.
Wednesday and Aug. 23 - Whitworth College’s School of International Management is offering a two-session seminar on business communications between Eastern and Western cultures. The sessions are Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the SIRTI conference room downtown. Presenting the seminar is Virginia Whitehouse, a member of Whitworth’s communications department. The sessions are free. Registration is required; call 777-4279.
Thursday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to potential and existing small-business owners from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, 525 Clearwater Loop in Post Falls. For appointments, call (208) 769-3296.
Thursday - Northwest Inland Empire APICS sponsors a tour of Harpers, 1500 W. Seltice Way in Post Falls, at 5:30 p.m. For reservations, call Mari Ragland at (208) 777-6693 by Monday.
Thursday: The Lake City Women’s Chapter of Leads Club meets at noon at Perkins Restaurant, 290 W. Appleway. For reservations, call Linda at (208) 773-6134; for more information, call Beth Ann at (509) 924-4507.
Thursday - The Downtown Chapter of Leads Club, a networking organization for business leads and referrals, meets at noon at the Cathay Inn, 3714 N. Division. For reservations, call Melissa at 456-6067; for more information, call Beth Ann at 924-4507.
Thursday - The Downtown Spokane Chapter of LeTip International Inc. meets from 7-8:30 a.m. at the Ram Restaurant, 908 N. Howard. For reservations, call Pat Bishop at 926-0141.
Conventions:
Wednesday through Friday - Building Industry Association of Washington board meeting, WestCoast Inn at the Park.
Wednesday through Saturday - Washington State Emergency Medical Services, DoubleTree Hotel Spokane Center.
Friday through Aug. 20 - North Central High School reunion, Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.