Business Beat
NEW FACES:
The following people have joined the Spokane law firm of Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller LLP:
Carol K. Haugen has taken a position as of counsel with the firm. Haugen, who formerly was general counsel of Itronix Corp., has a strong background in acquisitions and mergers and the high-tech industry. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and history at Pacific Lutheran University, a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law and a diploma in advanced international legal studies from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Salzburg, Austria. Her practice will emphasize commercial and corporate finance and computer law.
Terri Alvarado joined Paine Hamblen as a paralegal with the Business Practice Group. Alvarado was a member of Haugen’s legal team at Itronix.
Marsh has hired Felipe “Phil” Sarquilla Jr. as an account manager in its benefits department. Sarquilla previously worked for MSC Premera Blue Cross, where he was a marketing coordinator. He will work with Rick Grover in Marsh’s Spokane office.
Crissa Fracz has joined Advanced Benefit Inc. as a marketing coordinator. Fracz, who is a graduate of Lewis-Clark State College, previously held marketing and managed care service positions with Regence Blue Shield of Idaho. She will be responsible for small and large group client retention and procurement at Advanced Benefit, a regional insurance brokerage and consulting agency with an emphasis on group insurance and employee benefits.
Recent additions to the local staff of Sprint PSC include:
Ron Norman joined the company as business sales manager. He will be responsible for directing business sales in the Spokane and North Idaho markets. Norman earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Point Loma Nazarene University and has prior experience in the wireless communications industry.
Robert LaGuardia joined Sprint PCS as indirect sales manager. LaGuardia, who was previously with Sprint PCS in Seattle, is responsible for development and direction of the company’s third party retailers. He is a graduate of Seattle Central Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree in business/marketing.
Dr. John R. Simmons has joined Pathology Associates Inc. P.S. in the practice of pathology. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1994 and completed an internship and residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in 1999. He also completed a fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch this year. Simmons has been accepted for membership in the Spokane County Medical Society.
Beth Hellwig-Olson has been hired as dean of student services at Gonzaga University’s office of student life. Hellwig-Olson previously worked at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, most recently as director of student life. She has more than 20 years of student affairs experience. Hellwig-Olson earned a bachelor’s degree in pre-law and political science from New Mexico State University, a master’s of education from Colorado State University and a doctorate in student personnel administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
Northwest Regional Facilitators, a Spokane-based nonprofit corporation, has named Ken Briggs as executive director. Briggs previously spent 17 years as a business manager with Northwest Center, a Seattle-based nonprofit which helps children and adults with disabilities. He replaces Bob Stilger as head of NRF, which works with individuals, small groups and entire communities to create suitable, affordable housing, support working families and their employers, enhance communication among community members and strengthen the performance of nonprofit organizations. Stilger left NRF earlier this year to launch New Stories, a nonprofit corporation which provides services and activities in the Inland Northwest to help people develop more suitable lifestyles.
MOVING UP:
Shane Hatcher has been promoted to manager of the new Spokane Teachers Credit Union downtown branch in the Crescent Court Building. A graduate of Gonzaga University, he has eight years of experience with financial institutions, including two years in management. Most recently, Hatcher was a loan officer at the STCU north branch.
ELECTED
Dan Cromwell, president and owner of commercial-broker.com, has been elected to the 80-member Governing Council of the CCIM Institute. The Chicago-based institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors and is the governing body of the world’s largest commercial real estate network. Cromwell, who earned his CCIM designation in 1990, has been active in commercial real estate for more than 20 years and is a licensed broker in Washington, Idaho and Hawaii. He specializes in site selection and development while providing consultation and referral services through commercial-broker.com.
New officers and board members of the Women Helping Women Fund for 2000-2001 include: President, Betty Wilkerson; president-elect, Christie Hinnen; secretary, Roberta Brandt; treasurer, Karin Burkhardt; and past president, Mary Perdue. New board members include: Heather Barbieri, Lea Horn, Terry LaLone, Donna Martin and Linda Takami.
Lisa McRae of Ritzville has been elected historian of the American Salers Junior Association, the organization for juniors interested in becoming more involved in the Salers cattle breed.
CERTIFICATIONS
Brian M. Wilson, an associate broker at Watson Co. Inc., has received the Certified Business Intermediary designation from the International Business Brokers Association Inc. Wilson was awarded the designation after demonstrating a superior knowledge about the functions and applications of business broker services, documenting practical experience, participating in a curriculum of at least 60 hours of association courses, passing a comprehensive exam and pledging to uphold and practice IBBA’s Code of Ethics.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Applications are being accepted for the inaugural BEST Awards, which are intended to recognize businesses and organizations in the Spokane area that are demonstrating environmental excellence. BEST is an acronym for Building an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow. Awards will be presented in five categories: energy efficiency, water conservation, pollution prevention/ waste reduction, clean and efficient transportation and BEST success for excellence in all four categories. Award recipients will be selected by an independent review panel. Application deadline is Sept. 29. For information and applications, visit http:/ /www.avistautilities.com or call 495-8752.
EVENTS:
Monday - J.D. Hoye, former director of the National School to Work Office, will be the keynote speaker for a program on “Redesigning U.S. Education for the 21st Century” presented by the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Rathdrum chambers of commerce and the Kootenai Business Education Partnership at 7 a.m. at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene.
Monday - The Small Business Development Center and Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce present an information reception for a NxLevel entrepreneurial training program from 6-7 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. For reservations, call 358-7890.
Monday - The Downtown Chapter of Business Networking International presents “Networking at Noon” from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Ram Restaurant. For more information, call Carol Groves at 994-0047.
Tuesday - The Valley Chapter of Leads Club, a networking organization for business leads and referrals, 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 online at http://www.nwcities.com/pn for meeting details.
Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Small Business Money Management” from 8 a.m.-noon on the second floor of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. Cost: $35; for information or to register, call 353-2820.
Wednesday - U.S. Bank presents a free seminar on “Fraud Prevention for Seniors” from 1-3 p.m. at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone. For reservations, call Nellie Lockhart at 353-5092.
Wednesday - 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 Panhandle Area Council, 11100 Airport Drive in Hayden, Idaho. For appointments, call (208) 772-0584.
Wednesday - The South Hill Spokane Chapter of LeTip International meets from 7-8:30 a.m. at Ripples Restaurant in WestCoast River Inn, 700 N. Division. For reservations, call Kelly Porter at 893-1743.
Thursday - The Better Business Bureau of the Inland Northwest will host the Coeur d’Alene Chamber After Hours at Mountain West Bank, 125 Ironwood in Coeur d’Alene. For information, call 838-3841.
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.
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 Lake City Women’s Chapter of Leads Club meets at noon at Perkins Restaurant, 290 W. Appleway in Coeur d’Alene. For reservations, call Linda at (208) 773-6134; for more information, call Beth Ann at (509) 924-4507.
CORRECTION:
Dr. Karla E. Khan has joined the medical staff of Holy Family Hospital in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. Khan received her medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1995 and then completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She has joined the North Spokane Women’s Clinic. Her name was misspelled in last Sunday’s column.