Business Beat

New faces:

Duane Dombrowski has joined Billings-based Gardner Distributing Co. as territory sales manager for western Montana, Idaho and the Spokane area. Dombrowski, who will be based in Spokane, attended the University of Wisconsin and Montana State University. He previously worked for Farwest Equipment and United Pipe Supply as a territory manager. Dombrowski also owned Changing Landscapes of Kirkland, and worked for Sound Environmental Services, Lied’s Nursery and Landscape, Cashman Nursery and Green Bay Nursery and Landscape.

Recent additions to the staff of Global Credit Union include:

Edward Solis was hired as a real estate loan officer at Global’s real estate department in downtown Spokane. Solis, who has five years of experience in mortgage lending, previously worked for Sterling Savings Bank.

Erin McLaughlin joined Global as a special credits officer at the credit union’s main office in downtown Spokane. She previously worked for Ethan Allen as a sales representative and designer.

Gary Day was appointed a real estate loan officer at Global’s real estate loan center in Coeur d’Alene. He formerly was a real estate loan officer at Mission Hills Mortgage.

Jay R. Anderson joined Global as a real estate loan officer at the credit union’s Coeur d’Alene real estate loan center. He has 23 years of experience in financial and mortgage lending and previously worked for United Security Bank as a mortgage loan officer in Liberty Lake.

Diana Gaston joined Global as a call center representative at its main office in downtown Spokane. She previously was an agent for New York Life Insurance Co. in Spokane.

Moving up:

Rhonda Smith has been promoted to bankcard manager for Idaho Independent Bank. Smith, who joined the bank in 1994, has 20 years of banking experience in accounts payable and wire transfers. She graduated from Spencer School of Business and attended Iowa State University. She also has completed various American Institute of Banking classes.

Sterling Savings Bank has promoted Barry R. Nichols to assistant vice president. He is an indirect consumer loan underwriter in Sterling’s dealer banking department. Nichols joined Sterling in 1997 and has seven years of experience in dealer banking. He previously was an assistant vice president and loan officer in the dealer department of First Security Bank in Lewiston. Nichols received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lewis Clark State College.

Phil Latendresse has been named manager of operations and the Spokane Branch of Trinity Universal Insurance, a Unitrin Property and Casualty company. He joined Unitrin as a marketing representative in 1993.

Dale Walls has been promoted to manager-claims of Trinity Universal’s Spokane Branch. He was hired by Unitrin as an adjuster in 1995.

Trinity’s Chris Barclay has completed the 10-part certified property and casualty underwriter program through the Insurance Institute of America in Malvern, Penn.

Gardner Distributing Co. Inc. has promoted the following employees:

Rob Chouinard was named president of the firm. He joined the company in 1996 in the marketing department. He subsequently served as operations manager and, most recently, as general manager. He earned a degree in business/marketing management, from Eastern Montana College. Prior to joining Gardner, he received sales and marketing experience working for Colgate Palmolive and eight years with SuperValue Inc.

Milan Cook, who began his career with Gardner as branch manager of the Spokane warehouse in 1994, has been promoted to operations manager and relocated to Billings. In his new role, he will oversee warehouse and transportation operations for the entire company and continue to oversee the Spokane operation. A graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in horticulture, he previously worked for Bitterroot Supply in Great Falls, Tessman Seed and Chemical and Baker Nursery Gardens in Fargo.

Monti J. Wetsch was promoted to the newly created position of human resources administrator. She attended Montana State University-Billings and has several years of warehouse/distribution experience, including 10 years with SuperValue Inc.

Kudos:

Traci Hanegan has been named Engineer of the Year by the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning engineers. Hanegan, a mechanical engineer for Coffman Engineers, was chosen for the honor based on participation in the local chapter, projects that she has been involved in and community service. She served as secretary and chairperson for the student activities committee and was instrumental in exposing local high school and college students to the rewards and benefits of an engineering career.