Business Beat

New faces:

Spokane-based Spoval Fiber Optics Inc., which makes fiber optics and copper-related products for the voice, data, telecommunications and Digital Subscriber Loop, has added the following people to its staff:

Mickey Jaiswal joined Spoval as a partner and vice president of new business development. Jaiswal, who previously worked for Cable Exchange in Garden Grove, Calif., received a business degree and a master’s degree in materials management from the University of Bombay, India.

Tina Thayer was hired as a customer service/inside sales representative. She previously worked as a department manager at the WalMart store in the Spokane Valley.

Susanne Davis joined Spoval as an administrative assistant. She formerly worked for Polmars Fisheries in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Robert Gordon and John Paikuli have been named agents for the Country Companies insurance group. Both men, who recently completed the insurance group’s New Agent School, share an office at 1500 W. Fourth, Suite 501.

Windermere Real Estate has added Delores M. Luft to the staff of its Pullman office as a sales associate. Luft was previously self employed as an accountant and has past experience in office management.

Moving up:

Spokane Teachers Credit Union has promoted the following employees:

Darla Sowl, who has been with the credit union for more than 11 years, was named manager of the South Branch at 412 E. 30th. Sowl previously served as a teller, member service loan officer and assistant branch manager of consumer loans at STCU’s Main Branch.

Susan Cerutti-Jensen was promoted to manager of business development and public relations. Cerutti-Jensen, who joined STCU three years ago, began her financial career after earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from Western Washington University.

Denise Gabel was named vice president of strategic direction after serving as vice president of marketing at the credit union for 10 years. She will oversee STCU’s planning and innovation efforts. She has 20 years of experience in the financial industry.

Chrys Wall has graduated from a trainee position to branch office administrator at the Ephrata office of Edward Jones. Her responsibilities include daily operation of the branch, as well as providing top-level client service and marketing support for office activities. She previously worked for Washington Mutual Bank in Moses Lake and Ephrata.

Starting up:

Tango’ Concierge International has opened an office to provide corporate and private concierge services to Inland Northwest companies and individuals. T.J. Ward and Glynda Brown are principals in the firm, which will offer services ranging from event planning and facilitation to picking up dry cleaning, gift selection, welcome home services, personal shopping and managing events. The business will serve North Idaho and other areas of the Inland Empire from Post Falls. For information, call (208) 457-8613 or (208) 676-1636.

Moneytree, which specializes in short-term loans and check cashing for immediate cash-in-hand, has opened two new stores in Spokane. The stores, at 9222 N. Newport Highway and 4808 E. Sprague, are the 61st and 62nd in the Seattle-based chain, which operates in Idaho, California and Nevada as well as Washington. Both stores operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Appointed:

The Inland Northwest Area of Leads Club has filled the following management team positions: Valley Chapter - Director, Bill Aoyama, sales associate with Jerry Packard & Associates; assistant director, Teri Craggett, loan officer for GMAC Mortgage; and recorder, Carol Fischer, fashion coordinator for Weekenders Clothing. Lake City Women’s Chapter - Director, Kellie A. Storrer, CPA with Clark Anderson McNelis & Co.; assistant director, Toni Kaufman, owner of Homesitters Plus; and recorder, Linda James, sales consultant with Princess House Products. Downtown Spokane Chapter - Director, Melissa Anderson, consultant with Mary Kay Products; assistant director, Jeff Hulse, financial planner with American Express; and recorder, Marla Carey, attorney with Huppin Ewing Anderson & Paul.

Transactions:

Hyster Sales Co. has reached an agreement with Genie Industries to supply its lifting equipment from Hyster Sales Co.’s locations in Spokane, Yakima, Wenatchee and Pasco, Wash.; Fremont, Santa Rosa, Salinas and Martinez, Calif., and Portland and Salem, Ore. The agreement, which took effect April 15, brings to 21 the number of Hyster Sales Co. facilities operating throughout the West Coast.

Kudos:

Klundt Hosmer Design won two American Advertising Awards in the American Advertising Federation competition. The firm was honored for its “Oh Baby! Oh Baby! Oh Baby! Birth Announcement for Lisa and Rick Hosmer and for an ICM Brochure Jump Computer Enhanced Photograph. The creative and production team on the birth announcement included Darin Klundt, Henry Ortega, Rick Hosmer, Don Hamilton and Johnston Printing. The creative team on the second project included Dean Davis, Judy Heggem-Davis and Darin Klundt.

Nicole Grier, marketing director for the Spokane office of Moss Adams LLP, has received the following awards from the Association for Accounting Marketing: Distinguished merit and first place in the Survey category for the 1999 Construction Survey and 1999 Bankers’ Compensation Survey; first place in both Niche Building Campaign and Client Referral Source Seminars for the Construction Management Conference; and honorable mention in General Firm & Capabilities Brochure for Getting It Right school to career curriculum.

Events:

Monday - Ann Rydalch, director of the Mid-West Regional Resource Center for Innovations for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Industrial Technologies, will conduct a free workshop on “Funding for Innovative Ideas” from 9 a.m.-noon at the University of Idaho Research Park, 510 Clearwater Loop, Suite 2, in Post Falls. For information, call Theresa Cowles at (208) 777-4700.

Monday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Patents/Trademarks/Copyrights” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Tuesday - A job fair to fill more than 300 positions in downtown Spokane is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt. Representatives from Pottery Barn, Sawtooth Grill, Travelers, Dakotah Direct, The Spokesman-Review, Pitney Bowes and other downtown employers will take applications for jobs ranging from sales associates to assistant managers.

Tuesday - Developer John Stone will discuss his Riverstone project during an Upbeat Breakfast presented by the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce at 7:25 a.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn. Cost: $8 at the door.

Tuesday - USA-Sites.com presents a “Web Site Marketing Seminar” from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. Cost: $25 for Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce members, $40 for nonmembers; to register, call Lynda at 459-4105 or online at http:/ /www.spokanechamber.org.

Tuesday - The Willow Breeze Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association meets in Post Falls for a picnic lunch and a paddleboat cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Tuesday - The Valley Chapter of Leads Club, a networking organization for business owners, professionals, managers and sales people, meets at 12:15 p.m. at Shari’s Restaurant, 320 N. Sullivan Road. For reservations, call Bill at 483-4015; for more information, call Beth Ann at 921-9581.

Tuesday - Northside Power Networking meets at 7 a.m. Call 468-9695 or 467-2081 or check the Web site at http://www.nwcities.com/ pn for details.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Preparing a Successful Business Plan” 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.

Wednesday - The South Hill Spokane Chapter of LeTip International meets from 7-8:30 a.m. in Ripples Restaurant at Cavanaughs River Inn, 700 N. Division. For reservations, call Kelly Porter at 893-1743.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents an “Employers Tax Seminar” from 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $20; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a workshop on “Determining the Feasibility of a Business Idea” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

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 reservations, call Melissa at 456-6067; for more information, call Beth Ann at 921-9581.

Thursday - The Lake City Women’s Chapter of Leads Club meets at noon at Perkins Restaurant, 290 W. Appleway in Coeur d’Alene. For reservations, call Kellie at (208) 772-6460; for more information, call Beth Ann at (509) 921-9581.

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.

Friday - Dakotah Direct and Vision Tech will be featured at the Good Morning Spokane Area meeting of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce at 7:30 a.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel Spokane Valley. Cost: $12 for members if paid by Wednesday, $15 after, or $20 for nonmembers if prepaid, otherwise $25; to register, call 459-4105, e-mail lklymko@chamber.spokane.net or online at http:/ /www.spokanechamber.org.

Conventions:

Monday through Saturday - Pacific Northwest Shrine Association, Spokane Center.