Business Beat
New faces:
John Pomada has joined Sterling Savings Bank as vice president and business banking officer for Sterling’s Dealer Banking Division. He is responsible for all aspects of commercial lending to automobile, boat and R.V. dealers in the bank’s four-state market area. Pomada has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry, starting at Rainier National Bank, which became Security Pacific. For the past seven years, he was a relationship manager with U.S. Bank, responsible for commercial lending to dealers in Idaho, Montana and Eastern Washington. He received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Eastern Washington University and graduated from Northwest Agricultural Lenders School at Washington State University.
Dr. Rod H. Peterson has been appointed cancer liaison physician for the Hospital Cancer Program at Holy Family Hospital. The appointment is for three years. Peterson joins a national network of more than 1,800 volunteer cancer liaison physicians who provide leadership and support to programs and activities administered by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
Boh A. Dickey, president and chief operating officer of Seattle-based Safeco Corp., has been elected to the board of directors of Potlatch Corp. Dickey joined Safeco in 1982 and was named chief financial officer in 1989 and executive vice president in 1992. He assumed his current position in 1996. Dickey, a 1966 graduate of the University of Montana, is currently chair of the Pacific Science Center board and chair of the University of Washington Academic Medical Center board.
Landau Associates Inc. has hired Gary Andres as a project hydrogeologist in its Spokane office. Andres has 14 years of experience in groundwater, surface water and instream flow studies.
Moving up:
Washington Trust Bank has promoted the following employees:
Kim Reetz was promoted to retail banking officer. Reetz, who is a marketing sales representative in Spokane, joined the bank in 1992. She has more than 11 years of banking experience.
Mike Coffey was named a retail banking officer. Coffey serves as a marketing sales representative and has been a Washington Trust employee since 1989.
Tami Ferguson, who manages the Main branch in downtown Spokane, was promoted to assistant vice president. Ferguson joined Washington Trust in 1995.
The following employees of Sterling Savings Bank have received promotions:
Kade G. Peterson was promoted from director of item processing to vice president. He has overall responsibility for check processing operations, statement imaging and initial adjustment processing. Peterson joined Sterling earlier this year to direct the Item Processing Center. He previously was a vice president for Zions Bancorporation in Salt Lake City, where he oversaw a division of 200 employees in banking operations. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.
Alan Juris, network services manager in Sterling’s Information Systems Department, was named an assistant vice president. Juris joined Sterling in 1996 as the temporary print operator in information systems and was promoted to network administrator in October 1996. Prior to joining Sterling, Juris was branch manager for Dairyland Computers for seven years. He received an associate of arts degree and an associate of applied science from Spokane Community College. He is a certified network engineer, a certified network administrator and a Microsoft certified professional.
Sherry Snediker was named assistant vice president. Snediker, who is business services manager, joined Sterling in 1994 as a consumer loan servicing assistant. She held two other positions before being promoted to business services manager last summer. Before joining Sterling, she was an area manager for Target Stores. Snediker received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Eastern Washington University and completed Omega training for commercial lenders.
TEI, a unit of Alliance Machine Systems International LLC, has promoted the following staffers:< Charles R. Sullivan was elected vice president, Spokane site management. Sullivan has been manufacturing manager at TEI for the past six years. He previously worked for R.A. Hanson Co. and Garco Steel Buildings.
Terrance J. Judge was named vice president, western hemisphere sales and marketing. Judge joined TEI in 1996 and most recently served as director of sales and marketing, Americas. He previously worked for Hexcel Corp. in Kirkland, Wash., the Boeing Co. in Everett and IBM in Spokane. Judge earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Gonzaga University and an MBA from Seattle University.
Moving on:
Kevin Kalstad has been named general manager of Ram Restaurant and Brewery’s newest location in Indianapolis, Ind. Jeremy “JJ” Boston was named lead sous chef at the new eatery, and Wade E. Hinkle was appointed sous chef. All three formerly worked at Ram Restaurant and Brewery or C.I. Shenanigans in Spokane. Kalstad most recently was area manager for Ram’s two Spokane restaurants. Boston was assistant kitchen manager at the Spokane Ram Restaurant and Hinkle served as sous chef at C.I. Shenanigans.
Certifications:
The interior design program in the college of agriculture and home economics at Washington State University has been reaccredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research Accreditation Commission. The accreditation team praised the Interdisciplinary Design Institute at WSU Spokane and its unique instructional approach, which combines advanced studies in interior design, architecture, landscape Architecture and construction management.
The graduate program in health policy and administration in the college of pharmacy at Washington State University Spokane has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services Administration. It becomes one of only 68 health services administration programs accredited by ACESHA in the United States and Canada. The program was cited for its strong foundations in economics and law courses, overall excellence in course syllabus design and good relationships with many regional health services organizations and agencies.
Leitzke Training & Consulting of Coeur d’Alene has been named a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider for the second straight year. Such providers are independent companies that receive resources and training directly from Microsoft to help them solve business challenges across industries for customers worldwide using Microsoft technology. Founded in 1994, Leitzke Training and Consulting trains information technology professionals worldwide.
Events:
Tuesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Payroll Bookkeeping” 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 - North Side 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.
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. For reservations, call Bill at 483-4015; for more information, call Beth Ann at 921-9581.
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 information or to register, call 353-2820.
Wednesday - The Small Business Development Center presents a “Pre-Business Workshop” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $25; call 358-7890 for information or to register.
Wednesday - The South Hill Spokane Chapter of LeTip International meets from 7-8:30 a.m. at Ripples Restaurant in WestCoast River Inn, 700 N. Division. For reservations, call Kelly Porter at 893-1743.
Thursday - The Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce presents Business After Hours from 5:15-7 p.m. at Manpower, 720 W. Boone, Suite 100. Cost: $5 at the door; to register, call 459-4105, e-mail lklymko@chamber.spokane.net or register online at http://www.spokanechamber.org.
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 W. Clearwater Loop in Post Falls. For appointments, call (208) 769-3296.
Thursday - The University of Washington and Eastern Washington University present an informational meeting on the UW/EWU Certificate Program in Career Development to be offered in Spokane this fall from 5-6 p.m. in Room 222 of EWU’s Spokane Higher Education Center, 705 W. First. For more information, call 623-4353 or e-mail professional.development @mail.ewu.edu.
Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a “Small Business Tax Seminar” from 8:45 a.m.-4:30 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 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 Chapter of Leads Club meets at noon at Perkins Restaurant, 290 W. Appleway. For reservations, call Kellie at (208) 772-6460; for more information, call Beth Ann at (509) 921-9581.
Saturday - Washington Mutual and Safeco Insurance sponsor a free Home Buyers Fair hosted by the Spokane Homeownership Resource Center from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center. For more information, call 343-7472.
Conventions:
Monday through Saturday - Whitworth College Institute of Ministry, Whitworth College.
Tuesday through Friday - Turfgrass Producers International, DoubleTree Hotel City Center.
Tuesday through July 23 - Second Indianhead Division Association Inc., DoubleTree Hotel Spokane Valley.