Business Beat
New faces:
The Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors has hired Carrie Oja as executive officer. Oja previously spent nine years working for the Idaho Association of Realtors in Boise as program coordinator. She has an extensive knowledge of the real estate industry, the workings of local associations, as well as skills in budget planning, accounting, coordinating continuing education classes and convention planning.
Marsh (formerly Sedgwick James) has added the following people to its Spokane staff:
Jodie Bailey has joined the company as an account manager in the benefits department. Bailey, who will work with Mark Patrick, previously was a service representative/account manager for Qualmed Health Plan. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University.
Debbie Wilkey was hired as an analyst. Wilkey, who will work with Rick Grover, previously was a Medicare coordinator for Qualmed Health Plan.
Julia S. Doyle has joined Drs. June Goldman and Laurie Summers as a nurse practitioner. Doyle graduated from Carroll College in 1987 as a registered nurse and completed the nurse practitioner program at UCLA in 1993. She previously managed an inpatient dual diagnosis unit in Portland and continued that work in Spokane. She also worked for the Spokane Community Mental Health Center as a crisis interventionist. Doyle further served as supervisor and case manager for the Chronically Mentally Ill/Dual Diagnosis Program for several years. Last year she began consulting as an expert for women’s health issues, assisting in legal cases determining standard of care for nurse practitioners.
Susan Ackerman has joined Powers Candy & Nut Co. as a food service consultant. She will counsel food service accounts in 11 western states about the uses for confectionery and nut meats for snacking and as ingredients. Ackerman has 20 years of experience in food service and previously worked for Rykoff Sexton/US Food Service in the Spokane area.
Joyce M. Cameron has been named director of development and communications for the Eastern Washington State Historical Society and Cheney Cowles Museum. She most recently was director of development and public relations for the Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross. Cameron, who has 20 years of experience with Spokane’s nonprofit, social service sector, also is the treasurer for the Inland Northwest Planned Giving Council and active in the Spokane Advertising Federation, Public Relations Council and Inland Northwest Development Council.
Jim Northcott has joined Credit Bureau Services collection division as a sales executive. Northcott will be marketing the bureau’s collection services in the Inland Northwest. His background includes nine years writing commercial insurance and surety bonds for contractors throughout the western United States.
Appraisal Foundation trustees have appointed Ed Morse of Coeur d’Alene to the Appraisal Qualification Board, which sets qualification criteria for appraisers nationwide. Morse served on the Idaho Real Estate Appraiser Board until his appointment to the Appraisal Qualification Board. He specialized in complex valuation assignments, counseling on the regulatory and legal issues in the appraisal, lending, taxation and valuation processes and litigation valuation and expert testimony throughout the Northwest.
Jacklin Seed/Simplot Turf and Horticulture has hired Larry Perotti as technical service manager. Perotti fields questions from Jacklin Seed customers on topics such as grass species and variety selection and growth characteristics. He also provides backup technical and sales services for JacklinGolf’s three outside sales representatives. He previously was a branch manager and sales representative for Sharp Brothers Seed Co. in Greeley, Colo. He also served as nutrient systems manager for L.L. Johnson Distributing. Perotti received a master’s degree in plant pathology from Colorado State University.
Transactions:
Spokane’s Cremation Society of Washington has become a local office for the Neptune Society, which is the leading cremation company in North America. No changes in staff or prearrangement plans with customers are planned. The Cremation Society of Washington was established five years ago. The deal will enable the company to offer expanded service locations.
Kudos:
Twenty-four area businesses have been named finalists in the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce Year 2000 Agora Awards competition. Finalists include: Nonprofit category - Excelsior Youth Center, Nova Services, Pre-Vocational Training Center, Retired Senior Volunteer Program of the YMCA, Spokane Child Abuse Prevention Network and Spokane Symphony Society; small business category - Asbell Professional Group, Chicken-n-More, Express Personnel Services, Jan Krogh Insurance, Petroleum Distributors and Terry’s Quality Service; medium business category - Aurora Consulting Group, Fidelity Associates, Jewelry Design Center, LCD Exposition Services, the Pacific Northwest Inlander and WhiteRunkle Associates; large business category - WestCoast Hospitality Corp., Contractors Northwest, Northern Technologies, Onions Inc., Rockwood Clinic and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Awards in those four categories and two others - community service and entrepreneurial spirit - will be presented at a ceremony scheduled May 17 at the Ag Trade Center.
Coeur d’Alene Brewing Co’s Polar Bear Stout won the Microbrew Judging Competition at the Wine, Stein and Dine event held recently to benefit the Post Falls Education Foundation. The company’s Honeymoon Wheat Ale won the People’s Choice first place award.
Garco Construction Inc. claimed several honors at Garco Building Systems’ annual awards ceremony, including the “President’s Award” for top standing among Garco’s builders based on 1999 sales. Garco Construction also took top honors in three “Design and Construction Excellence” award categories. Liberty Lake Athletic Club placed first among entries in the recreation class, Spokane County Fire District No. 10 in Airway Heights was the winner for institutional buildings and Action Express won in the transportation category.
Timothy J. Vorpahl, a registered representative with Vorpahl Wing Securities in Spokane, has earned membership in Planco’s 1999 Captain’s Club. Planco, a wholesaler of financial products, honors representatives who produce $1 million or more in a calendar year in The Hartford investment products with Captain’s Club membership.
James Glover, Levi Hutton, Joel Ferris and Neal Fosseen have been inducted as laureates of the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. The induction commemorates Junior Achievement’s 50th anniversary in the Spokane area.
Events:
Monday through Friday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives offers free counseling to existing and prospective small-business owners from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Business Information Center in Room 240 of the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 W. Riverside. For appointments, call 353-2820.
Tuesday - The Valley Chapter of Leads Club, a networking organization for business owners, managers and sales people, meets at 12:15 p.m. at Shari’s restaurant, 320 N. Sullivan. For reservations or information, call Bill at 483-4015.
Tuesday - Power Networking meets at 7 a.m. to exchange business leads, discuss developments in Spokane County business and often hear from a speaker from the business community. For information, go to http://www.nwcities.com/pn.
Tuesday - Spokane Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse Task Force meets from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Prevention Center, 7202 E. Sprague, Suite H. For information, call 922-8383.
Wednesday - DataPro Solutions Inc. and LeMaster & Daniels PLLC present a free seminar on “Investing in Technology Wisely” from 8:30 a.m.-noon at the WestCoast Inn at the Park. Topics include the Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server suite and a talk on “Business Performance Measurement, Linking Strategy, Operational Effectiveness and Profitability.”
Wednesday - 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 Panhandle Area Council, 11100 Airport Drive in Hayden, Idaho. For appointments, call (208) 772-0584.
Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “Small Business Money Management” 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 Chapter of LeTip International meets from 7-8:30 a.m. at Ripples restaurant in Cavanaughs River Inn, 700 N. Division. For reservations, call Kelly Porter at 893-1743.
Thursday - The Idaho Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Interviewing to Select the Best” from 6-9 p.m. at the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, 525 W. Clearwater Loop in Post Falls. Cost: $39; for information, call (208) 769-3444.
Thursday - The Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce presents a business-to-business tour of three 1999 Agora Award winners from 12:30-5:30 p.m. For reservations, call 459-4109.
Thursday - The Downtown Chapter of Leads Club, a networking organization for business leads and referrals, meets at noon at C.I. Shenanigans. 332 N. Spokane Falls Court. For reservations or information, call Susie at 455-8600.
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.
Thursday - The Lake City Women’s Chapter of Leads Club meets at noon at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, 414 W. Appleway in Coeur d’Alene. For information, call Karen Welts at (208) 667-5606.
Friday - CPA Don Rodman will lead a Quickbooks training seminar from 9 a.m.-noon at Cavanaughs River Inn. Cost: $55, including one hour of free on-site consultation, a workbook and a free annual subscription to an e-mail Quickbooks newsletter. To register, call 534-0423.
April 3 - 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.
April 15 - The Northwest Inland Empire Chapter of APICS presents a certification review class in “Just-in-Time” at Harpers in Post Falls. For more information or to register, call Jeff Brune at (509) 495-8506.