Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Zak Designs Inc. has added the following people to its staff:

Chaz Fitzhugh was named vice president of marketing and will be responsible for all aspects of marketing and licensing for Zak Designs. Fitzhugh received a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. He previously worked for Applause Inc., where he was senior director - brand management. Earlier, he worked for The Upper Deck Co. as the Pyramid brand manager.

Patty Talbott was hired as customer service manager. She will oversee all sales customer service staff, order entry personnel and receptionists. Talbott earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California. She worked for American Honda Motors Co. for nearly 10 years.

Paul Andrade joined Zak Designs as western regional sales director. His responsibilities include sales and account development in the western region. Andrade previously worked for Clay Design Inc., a manufacturer and importer of ceramic housewares, gift and tabletop products, for five years. Earlier, he was with Loui Michel Cie., a photo frame and giftware company.

Todd Fagan joined Zak as creative art director for the Mass Division. He will oversee art design for all products targeted at the mass market. Fagan, who received a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Texas Tech University, worked for Hallmark Cards as an artist and manager for 14 years. More recently, he was a creative director for licensing at Anagram International.

Susan Perkins was named vice president of product development. She will oversee the research and development of all products. Perkins previously worked for Target, where she worked her way up from merchandise analyst to buyer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in east Asian studies from the University of Minnesota.

Patti Wingenter was hired as product development manager for the mass division. Her duties include directing and managing all aspects of product development for the mass market. Wingenter previously worked for Jensen Distribution Services as a merchandise manager for housewares, seasonal, sporting goods and paint and paint sundries. She attended Spokane Community College.

The Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce has hired the following people:

Linda Finney has been named executive director of Leadership Spokane, an affiliate organization of the chamber. She previously worked as development director for Seattle Lutheran High School and as community relations director for Columbia Lutheran Home, as well as serving as an active volunteer with the West Side, Ballard, and Greenwood chambers of commerce. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho.

Elizabeth Byrd joined the chamber as director of investor relations. She is responsible for membership sales, retention and member services. Her experience includes working as director of marketing and sales for International Educational Delegations at Ambassador Programs Inc., and as both corporate and regional manager for Sta-Fit Inc. in Spokane prior to its sale to 24-Hour Fitness. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University.

Gina Mauro was named program coordinator for the chamber’s Ag Bureau and Northwest Natural Resources Institute, an affiliate organization. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University and a master’s degree from Gonzaga University. Mauro previously was a marketing and research analyst for Key Tronic Corp. in Spokane and The Joyce Institute in Seattle. She also served as a leadership training coach for Landmark Education and did free-lance film production work.

MOVING UP:

Zak Designs Inc. has promoted Trevor Werttemberger to sales, marketing, product development and licensing product manager. He will oversee the long-term direction of Zak’s Customer Service Department and will coordinate the activities of the sales, marketing, product development and licensing departments along with Zak’s senior vice president. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Gonzaga University and joined Zak Designs five years ago. Most recently he was customer service manager.

Recent promotions by Sterling Savings Bank include:

Geoff Asan and Ron Hartsoch were named vice presidents. Asan is a business banking officer at Sterling’s Spokane main office. He joined the bank in 1995 as a business lender. Previously, he was manager of statistics and analysis for Dakota Direct and a loan officer for Farmers & Merchants. He attended the University of Washington and received a degree in accounting and business from Whitworth College.

Hartsoch is chief appraiser with Sterling’s Credit Administration. He formerly was a fee appraiser and partner in Auble, Jolicoeur, Gentry and Hartsoch, a commercial appraisal firm. He also was a founding principal of Columbia Valuation Group Inc., managing appraiser with Hoagland & Associates Inc. and staff appraiser with Goodale & Barbieri. He earned a degree from Eastern Washington University.

Dan Oenning was promoted to assistant vice president. Oenning, who joined the bank in 1998, is a business banking officer at Sterling’s Valley branch. Formerly, he was chief financial officer for Argus Services Inc. and comptroller at Window Products Inc. He also has 12 years of banking experience with Farmers & Merchants and Rainier National Bank. He earned a degree in professional accounting from Eastern Washington University.

CERTIFICATIONS:

C. Stanley-Lee, a JP Realty Inc. employee who works at Spokane Valley Mall, has earned professional accreditation as a certified marketing director from the International Council of Shopping Centers. To qualify, candidates must have at least four years of relevant professional experience and pass a day-long written examination.

Bart Cloninger, a sales associate at Windermere Manito, has earned the GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) designation from the Washington Association of Realtors. The designation is awarded to professional real estate practitioners who complete three 30-hour classes covering every facet of real estate laws.

EVENTS:

Monday and Wednesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Cash Flow Management” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $45; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Monday through Friday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives provides free counseling to potential and existing small-business owners from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Business Information Center in Room 240 of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. For appointments, call 353-2820. Counselors also are available on Tuesdays at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, 8817 E. Mission. For appointments there, call 924-4994.

Tuesday - Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors presents a two-session seminar on “Doing Business with the IRS.” Session One, for small contractors with less than $10 million in gross receipts annually, runs from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Session Two, for large contractors with more than $10 million in gross receipts, is scheduled from 1:30-5 p.m. Both sessions will be held at the OXARC Training Facility, 4003 E. Broadway. Cost: $20 for AGC members, $30 for nonmembers; for information or to register, call Sherry Lynn Dow at 535-0391.

Tuesday - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents session II of a Zenger Miller Leadership Training core workshop on “Constructive Feedback” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $230 for the four-class series; for information, call 533-4700.

Tuesday - Leads Club, a networking organization for business leads and referrals, meets at 12:15 p.m. at Shari’s restaurant, 320 N. Sullivan. For information, call Melissa at 893-9717.

Tuesday - Power Networking meets at 7 a.m. to exchange business leads and other business information. For information about location and topics, call 468-9695 or 467-2081.

Wednesday - Betty Zackow will give a two-part talk on “Professionalism: The Impact of Certified Professional Secretary Certification” and “Women Traveling Alone” during a meeting of the Spokane Chapter of the International Association for Administrative Professionals at 5:30 p.m. at Gonzaga University’s WA-CA Room. Cost: $13; for information or reservations, call 623-8000.

Wednesday - Dr. Jeff Butler, a rheumatologist, will discuss “Arthritis and Alternative Therapies” during a free HealthTalk program presented by Rockwood Clinic, Premera HealthPlus and MSC Premera Blue Cross at 7 p.m. at Rockwood Clinic, 400 E. Fifth. For reservations, call 838-2531, ext. 6200.

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.

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 - The Lake City Women’s Chapter of Leads Club meets from noon-1:15 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, 414 W. Appleway in Coeur d’Alene. For information or reservations, call Karen Welts at (208) 667-5606.

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.