Business Beat

NEW FACES:

Barb Sinnott has joined World Wide Packets as senior software engineer. She previously was the principle engineer working on operating systems and device driver development for rugged notebook computers at Itronix. Sinnott, who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer technology from Eastern Washington University, now designs and develops the embedded software for World Wide Packets products.

Dr. David S. McKinney has joined the Rockwood Clinic in the practice of internal medicine. McKinney is a 1992 graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed an internship and residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in 1995.

John Shipman has rejoined Thompson Communications Inc. as sales manager after a three-year absence. During his absence, he designed communication and virtual dispatch systems worldwide. He will oversee the design and sale of all virtual dispatch, tracking and asset management and wireless connectivity and communications products for Thompson.

MOVING UP:

Sterling Savings Bank has promoted Thomas Colley to assistant vice president. Colley, who joined Sterling a year ago, manages Sterling’s Medical Lake branch. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and was relationship manager for KeyBank prior to joining Sterling.

Media Design has promoted the following employees:

Marc Gray was named president. Gray, who manages corporate operations, has an extensive background in both computer science and operations management. He also is responsible for logistical management of corporate alliances and strategic partners. Gray also is chairman of the design firm’s board and responsible for corporate public relations. Gray spent 12 years in the U.S. Army and later served as president of First National Financial Group Inc.

Gary Whitman was promoted to vice president of products and services. He is responsible for all aspects of the products and services Division, including the M-Disc line, Web development, and all Aviso product lines. He also is responsible for the personnel and project management of the Products and Services division. Whitman received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and an MBA from Webster University. He previously served in management and planning positions at such firms as Egghead Software, Software Spectrum and Traveler’s Insurance.

STARTING UP:

Alliance Title and Escrow has opened an office in Priest River. Christy Presley, escrow manager in Alliance’s Sandpoint office, will operate the satellite office along with Bill Malone, the company’s Sandpoint office manager. Presley has an extensive real estate background, including 14 years as an escrow officer. The Priest Lake office is located at 102 10th Street.

KUDOS:

Wes Teterud of New York Life Insurance Co. has been awarded the National Sales Achievement Award. The National Association of Life Underwriters confers the award to promote and recognize excellence in client and customer representation. Only 10 to 15 percent of the nation’s insurance agents receive one of the annual awards.

Dr. Klaus Gottlieb of Spokane Digestive Disease Center has earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He also was elected a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor society which restricts membership to MBA students who graduate in the upper fifth of their class. Gottlieb, who received his medical degree from the University of Bonn in Germany, is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.

Charles Lyall, a grape producer from Mattawa, Wash., has been named the first recipient of the National Grape Cooperative/Welch’s Leadership Fellowship. Lyall, who is currently participating in the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program, is a member of the National Grape Cooperative, the Washington State Horticulture Association and the Cherry Institute. The fellowship was established by the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation in honor of a major scholarship grant given to the leadership program by the National Grape Cooperative/Welch’s.

Larry Stein, owner and operator of Stein’s IGA Plus in Rathdrum, Idaho, has been named 2000 International Retailer of the Year by IGA, an alliance of more than 4,000 supermarkets. Stein, whose father and uncles established the family grocery business, was honored for his operational excellence, excellent customer satisfaction and community involvement. He shared the honor with six other IGA supermarkets in Grand Cayman, British West Indies; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Hannibal, N.Y.; Justin, Texas; Oberlin, Ohio; and Flora, Ind.