Business Beat

New faces:

Marsh Inc. has added the following people to the staff of its Spokane office:

Charlaine Higley joined the company as an analyst in its benefits department. Higley, who has more than seven years of experience in the health insurance industry, received a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho.

Darin Pike was hired as a technical consultant in the benefits department. Pike previously worked for Regency Blue Shield as a senior group underwriter. Pike earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University.

Jeff Randall joined Marsh on a part-time basis while he continues his education at Spokane Community College. He is assisting in Marsh’s pollution liability department.

Angel Ebel was hired on a full-time basis in the mailroom. She previously was working at Marsh part-time while she attended Spokane Falls Community College.

Terry Davis has joined the Spokane Regional Health District as controller. A graduate of Penn State University, he previously was assistant director of public works for Stevens County. He has also held positions in finance for the Wellpinit School District and the states of Washington and South Dakota.

Moving up:

Greg Poynter has been named manager of the Country Companies Spokane agency. His responsibilities include helping the agency’s 10 agents serve the insurance and financial needs of area clients. Poynter began his career in 1996 as an agent in DeKalb, Ill. Most recently, he was an agency development specialist for Washington and Alaska in Olympia. Poynter received an associates degree from Waubonsee Community College of Sugar Grove, Ill. He is a member of the Life Underwriters Training Council.

Sandpoint-based Coldwater Creek has promoted the following employees:

Tom Scott, chief operating officer, was named executive vice president. Scott, who joined the company in 1997, previously was vice president of business systems for VF Corp.

Don Robson was promoted from chief financial officer to executive vice president. Robson joined Coldwater Creek in 1995 after serving as vice president and chief financial officer for Neiman Marcus Stores.

Moving on:

Carl Vennes will retire Jan. 3 after working for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service for the past 31 years. Vennes has been a soil conservationist at the NRCS Spokane Field Office since February 1983. He served as district conservationist for the past year. Vennes started his federal career as a student trainee in the summer of 1966 while attending Montana State University in Bozeman. During his career, he has worked in NRCS field offices in Raymond, Ephrata, Ritzville and Spokane.

Transactions:

Travelbyus has selected Spokane-based Lancer Ltd. as its primary business forms vendor. The travel agency “super consortium” consists of more than 2,000 travel agency members, including CheapSeats, Global Leisure, Hawaii Leisure and Sunmakers.

Certifications:

Marilyn Camp, a licensed real estate agent with Windermere Real Estate/North Wall Street Inc., has been awarded the designation of Accredited Staging Professional. To earn the designation, Camp successfully completed a detailed course and passed an examination on preparing, or staging, homes for sale. Staging involves visual enhancements, such as utilizing existing furniture, art and light, to communicate a home’s strongest qualities.

James E. Connolly, president of James Connolly Consulting Ltd. in Spokane, has been named a certified professional agronomist by ARCPACS, a federation of certifying boards in agriculture, biology, earth and environmental sciences. To become certified, candidates must meet rigorous academic, ethical, character and professional experience standards. Connolly received a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Washington State University. His consulting firm provides agronomic and environmental planning for golf courses.

Kudos:

Ethan LeGrand, a third-year apprentice ironworker, placed 12th at the Ironworkers National Apprenticeship Competition held in October in Miami, Fla. LeGrand, who is a member of Ironworkers Local 14, represented the Pacific Northwest Ironworkers District Council. A total of 43 apprentices nationwide competed in ornamental, rigging, rebar tying, instruments, welding and burning and the column climb.