Business Beat

New faces:

Eric M. Butterworth has joined the law firm of Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller LLP in an of counsel capacity. He has practiced law since 1984, and in Kennewick since 1987. Butterworth, who is a former member and past chairman of the City of Kennewick Planning Commission and has acted as special counsel to the City of Kennewick, has experience in real estate, estate planning and probate law. The Spokane-based law firm has a branch office in Kennewick at 7601 W. Clearwater, Suite 104.

Klundt Hosmer Design has hired Ramona Patton as a project coordinator. She will coordinate project schedules, work with vendors and assist in keeping projects on track and within budget. Patton previously was convention services coordinator for Cavanaughs Hospitality Corp. for the past four years. Earlier, she worked as an advertising and special events manager for the Bon Marche.

Spokane-based Itronix Corp. has named Jeff Robinson as director of sales of its Aerospace Group. Robinson is a 15-year veteran of the Boeing Co. Most recently, he was regional sales manager, digital data, with the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. Itronix’ aerospace sales offices are located in Seattle.

Gregg Jones & Associates has hired the following people as sales associates:

Cathy Lawrence joins the company with extensive sales and marketing experience, including work in mortgage and business sales. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Gary Glaze has more than 20 years of manufacturing and financial management experience. He also is a senior noncommissioned officer in the 242 CBCS Washington Air National Guard unit.

Kathy Black brings 25 years of experience in administration and management/sales experience with Healthrider.

Itron Inc. has named Russell N. Fairbanks to the newly created position of vice president and general counsel. Fairbanks has more than 25 years of experience in managing the legal and administrative affairs of public corporations. His areas of expertise include negotiating and drafting complex transactions, SEC compliance, intellectual property, litigation management, international transactions, employment law, antitrust and government affairs. From 1997 to 1999, Fairbanks was vice president and general counsel of ASM America Inc. He was vice president, general counsel and secretary for Cyrix Corp. from 1993 until 1997 and was with EDS Corp. from 1985 to 1993 as deputy general counsel. Fairbanks earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Trinity College and a law degree from Columbia Law School.

Walter W. Howard has joined Kootenai Medical Center as an intern in the hospital’s chaplaincy program. Howard has served as one of the medical center’s assisting chaplains for about one year. He has completed a four-year course through the School of Theology, University of the South and was approved as a candidate for holy orders to the diaconate in March 1999. Howard served 33 years with the Navy as a civilian oceanographer and system engineering manager.

Scott Simmons has joined Nextlink Communications as finance manager. He previously worked for BDO Seidman as an audit manager. A certified public accountant, he holds a seat on the Spokane Community College Accounting Advisory Board.

Landau Associates Inc., a Seattle-based environmental and geotechnical consulting firm, has hired Ryan Reich as a staff geologist in the firm’s Spokane office. Reich has two years of environmental experience.

Certifications:

Cindy Stanley-Lee, general manager assistant at the Spokane Valley Mall, has earned the certified marketing designation (CMD). A CMD directs the marketing and promotion efforts of a shopping center. Stanley-Lee, who has worked for JP Realty since 1995, started her shopping center career with Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d’Alene. Her experience includes marketing research, marketing plan implementation, record-keeping, special events implementation, sales promotion, public and community relations, advertising and media buying.

Kudos:

The Spokane Chapter of Executive Women International has honored the following people: Patti VanHeel, owner of Little River Publishing, was named “Most Valuable New Player of the Year.” The award is given in recognition of a new representative’s initiative to become actively involved in the organization’s activities.

Renee Carman was named “Representative of the Year.” Carman, a certified public accountant/tax manager with McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest P.S., was chosen for her active involvement in the organization’s activities.

Holiday Inn Express Spokane Valley has received the Bass Hotels & Resorts Torchbearer Award, the company’s most prestigious award given for quality service. The property is one of only 65 chosen for the award from the entire Bass Hotels & Resorts system of more than 2,700 hotels. Recipients are chosen for maintaining the highest standards of excellence in product quality, hotel operations, guest services and profitability.