Business Beat

NEW FACES:

The Spokane County Medical Society has accepted the following people for membership:

Dr. Diane McCarthy has joined Spokane Pediatric Specialists in the practice of pediatric surgery/surgical critical care. She graduated from LSU-New Orleans in 1989 and completed an internship and residency at Erie County Medical Center in 1997. She also completed a fellowship at Children’s Hospital this year.

Theresa M. Vance has joined Family Medicine Spokane as a physician assistant. She graduated from Medex Northwest/University of Washington in 1999.

Dr. Richard N. Mattis has begun the practice of family medicine at Newport Family Medicine. A 1997 graduate of the University of Washington, he completed an internship and residency this year at Family Medicine Spokane.

MOVING UP:

WhiteRunkle Associates has promoted the following employees:

Sibylla Roth was promoted to product manager. Roth will manage all collateral and point of sale advertising for AT&T Wireless Services.

Kim Hill was named an account executive after only nine months with WhiteRunkle. A Washington State University graduate with credits toward an MBA, Hill works exclusively with AT&T Wireless Services.

Lori Hrovat, who was promoted to an account executive, will be responsible for managing strategic product development for AT&T Wireless Services. Hrovat earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Sacramento and has worked at WRA for one year.

Patsy Morford was promoted to account executive. Morford, who joined WRA three years ago, will continue to work with Kaiser Aluminum, Spokane Transit Authority, Hollister-Stier Laboratories and Logan Industries.

Potlatch Corp. has named Douglas D. Spedden as assistant treasurer, effective Dec. 1. Spedden, who joined Potlatch in 1983 as an internal auditor, has been manager, internal audit, since 1995. Prior to joining Potlatch, he worked as a staff accountant for Peat Marwick, Main & Co. A certified public accountant, Spedden received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Idaho.

TRANSACTIONS:

Dr. Seth Valentine has purchased Pioneer Veterinary Services, 5311 S. Highway 27. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Colorado State University in 1978 and a doctor of veterinary medicine from Kansas State University in 1987. Valentine, who recently moved from the Yakima area, has a special interest in small animal internal medicine.

KUDOS:

Washington CEO Magazine has ranked the Colville Tribal Enterprise Corp. as the second-largest minority owned business in Washington in terms of revenues. CTEC was established in 1984 by the Colville Confederated Tribes’ Business Council to promote tribal self-sufficiency through economic development by providing revenue for the tribes and employment opportunities for tribal members. CTEC manages several businesses on behalf of the tribes, including gaming establishments, wood products corporations, a credit union, retail stores and recreational enterprises on Lake Roosevelt.

Christina Johnson was named Kootenai Medical Center’s Employee of the Month for November. She was chosen based on her ability to work well with others and positive attitude, as well as being a team player who is supportive and professional. Johnson, who is a staffing assistant, has worked at KMC since 1992.

Kristen Busko, a May graduate of Gonzaga University in mechanical engineering, took first place in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers national Old Guard Competition held at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in Orlando, Fla., in November. Competitors give oral presentations on original engineering work before a technical audience and a panel of judges. Busko presented the results of the work that she and her teammates, Ray Rigamonti, Daniel Lantz and Jesse Gilman, performed on the design of a microchannel recuperator for a gas turbine engine. The design was developed as part of their Senior Design course. Busko won a $2,000 prize for her presentation.

Five Gonzaga University students have received Gates Millennium Scholarships, which aim to expand access and opportunity for higher education to those who help to reflect the diversity in American society. Recipients include: Joseph Duong, freshman, Wildomar, Calif.; Alicia Sitan, freshman, Hilo, Hawaii; Phuc Ngo, sophomore, Spokane; Terrie Scott, doctor of philosophy in leadership studies, Spokane; and Monique Rizer, junior, Tacoma. The scholarships, which are funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, provide for tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, personal spending money and transportation not covered by other scholarships and grants.

EVENTS:

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.

Monday - The Professional Business Referral Group meets from 7-8:15 a.m. at Solicitor’s Corner, 6301 N. Division. For more information, call John B. Nugent at 327-7707.

Tuesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to prospective or 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 - 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 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 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 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; for more information, call 353-2820.

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.

Thursday - The Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants holds a general membership meeting at 6 p.m. at the WestCoast River Inn. For reservations, call Gina Marvin at (208) 623-2165 or e-mail dir3@aswa4.org by Monday.

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 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.