Two Special Events Highlight Week’S Activities

A new industry that civic leaders hope to cultivate locally and an old industry that remains an important contributor to the Inland Northwest economy take center stage at separate events this week.

The Fourth Annual Washington State University-Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce Research Forum on Thursday offers updates on new developments in health sciences research programs at WSU, as well as a discussion of efforts to position Spokane as a biotech center.

The forum runs from 4-6:30 p.m. at the WSU Spokane Phase One Classroom Building, Riverpoint Higher Education Park, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Admission is free and open to the public; for reservations, call Stacie Harris at 358-7528 by Wednesday.

On Monday, the Northwest Mining Association kicks off its five-day annual meeting at the Convention Center. The theme of the Spokane-based organization’s 106th annual gathering is “Winds of Change.”

Tuesday’s keynote session, beginning at 1:30 p.m., focuses on “Opening Doorways to a Sustainable Future for North American Mining.”

About 2,500 people are expected to attend the meeting, which concludes Friday.

In other events this week:

Monday

Conference Board releases Index of Leading Economic Indicators; U.S. Commerce Department reports on new home sales for November.

Tuesday

Global Credit Union offers a free First Time Home Buyer Seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. at Global’s main office, 1520 W. Third. The seminar also runs the same hours on Wednesday.

Wednesday

Leonard J. Weber, director of The Ethics Institute at the University of Detroit Mercy, will deliver the Aram Lecture in Business Ethics at 7:15 a.m. at Gonzaga University’s Jepson Center Auditorium. Weber’s topic is “Rising Expectations: The Cutting Edge in Business Ethics.” Cost: $7.50, including a continental breakfast; for more information, call 323-3404.

* A hearing on proposed changes in Washington state’s organic food handler standards is from 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 205 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington, in Olympia. For a copy of the proposed rules, call Miles McEvoy at (360) 902-1924.

* U.S. Labor Department reports third-quarter productivity and costs.

Friday

Nancy Isaacson, associate professor in the doctoral program in leadership studies at Gonzaga University, presents a workshop on “Trust Building and Repair in Organizations” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program also runs the same hours on Saturday. For information or to register, call Leisa at (800) 793-1722 or 323-3548.

* Jay Tejera, director of research at Seattle-based Ragen MacKenzie Inc., will speak on “Capital Markets: Perspectives on the Financial Services Industry in Transition” during the Gonzaga University School of Business Administration’s Puget Sound Business Forum at 7:30 a.m. in the Winslow Room of the Columbia Tower Club in Seattle. Cost: $15, including a continental breakfast; for reservations, call 323-5502.

This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Embracing high-tech

Fortune Small Business, December/January issue: Small companies that fully embrace technology stand the best chance of gaining a competitive edge, venture capitalist Adam Dell writes.

Business Week, Dec. 4: Toys R Us CEO John H. Eyler Jr. faces an uphill struggle in his effort to remake the embattled retailer into a fun and affordable place to shop, a cover story says.