Business Beat

New faces:

Farm Credit Services has added the following people to its staff:

Mike Jewell joined the company as vice president of leasing. He will be responsible for the direct marketing of leasing projects and services, implementing leasing programs, facilitating support and training to 46 branch locations in four states. Jewell has more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry and most recently was vice president and area manager for U.S. Bancorp Leasing and Financial in Spokane. He is a graduate of Central Washington University with a degree in economics and business.

Matt Becker was hired as an account service manager in Farm Credit Services’ finance division. His responsibilities include servicing designated participation and syndication, corporate and commercial accounts. He will be the primary customer contact regarding non-real estate collateral and borrowing base evaluations, and also serve customers concerning daily funds management, borrowing base and cash surplus requirements. Becker was formerly area manager of financial services for Purina Mills Inc., where he worked for 12 years covering a nine-state service area. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Washington State University in 1983.

Simply Northwest has hired Diane Groshoff as an outside sales representative. Groshoff, who has 27 years of sales experience, will focus on corporate accounts and gift programs. A graduate of the University of Montana, she previously worked for The Spokesman-Review for 23 years.

Lynne Cunnington has joined Kiemle & Hagood Co. as the human resources manager/office manager. She was previously the regional administrative assistant with VRI, a Care Management Co.

Kathie “Kate” McCollim has joined G&B Real Estate Services, a division of WestCoast Hospitality Corp., as property manager. McCollim was previously regional property manager for American Property Management in Bellevue.

Moving up:

Great Falls-based D.A. Davidson & Co. has promoted the following employees at its Spokane office:

Gary Douvia was named vice president, financial consultant. Douvia, who was previously an associate vice president and financial consultant, joined the company in 1992 after working for PaineWebber. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Washington State University.

Molly Harley, a senior financial consultant, was named associate vice president, financial consultant. She joined D.A. Davidson & Co. in 1995 after working more than 10 years for Boettcher & Co. and the former Dain Bosworth.

Lee D. Shepard has been named vice president-agribusiness at Farm Credit Services. His responsibilities include maintaining and growing Farm Credit’s relationship with regional and national agribusiness vendors. Shepard joined Farm Credit in 1981 as a credit officer. He has since served as branch manager and regional vice president for several Farm Credit locations. He was most recently vice president of internal audit since 1994, based in Spokane. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and economics from Fresno State University in 1980.

Starting up:

A Spokane Chapter of the National Institute of Pension Administrators has been formed for professionals involved with employee benefits and retirement plan administration. Officers of the new group include: President, Pat Gamache, Randall & Hurley Inc.; vice president, Lisa Church, Quantum Pension Services Inc.; secretary, Mary Cooper, National Associates Spokane Inc.; and treasurer, Judith Hawkins, Randall & Hurley Inc. The chapter will meet from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday at the Spokane Club. Guest speaker is Richard Jaeger of the IRS Seattle office, who will speak on plan audits and examinations and other developments. To register or for more information, call Judy Hawkins at 838-1388 or e-mail jhawkins@randallhurley.com.

Chris Ohlsen has established Liberty Lake Pet Sitters, a professional at-home pet care service. The business provides pet care in homes as an alternative to kennels or leaving pets in the care of neighbors or friends. Additional services available include watering plants, rotating lights, bringing in mail and newspapers to give homes a “lived-in” appearance. Ohlsen earned a master’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Indiana University. She has provided pet sitting services on a part-time basis for the past five years.

Kudos:

Glenn’s Food City earned the third-highest point total for total store operations and customer service in the 23-store Quality Foods Independent Group, which includes stores in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The results are based on multiple visits to each store by the group’s counselors, who judged customer service, store conditions, department conditions and quality, among others. About 50 items were checked on each visit.

The Coca-Cola Foundation has contributed $25,000 to Gonzaga University to help fund scholarships for Native American students to attend the school. The foundation is devoted exclusively to providing support for advancing excellence in education. As the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Co., the foundation contributed $100 million to education during the 1990s.

U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt has been chosen to receive the 2000 Wheat Leader of the Year award from the National Association of Wheat Growers, U.S Wheat Associates and the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee. Nethercutt was honored for his leadership and dedication in opening new markets for wheat and wheat products through the lifting of U.S. sanctions. A citation calls him “truly one of the best friends wheat producers have in Congress.”

Events:

Monday - The Downtown Chapter of Business Networking International presents “Networking at Noon” from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Ram Restaurant. For more information, call Carol Groves at 994-0047.

Tuesday - The Washington State University College of Education presents a public reception for anyone interested in becoming a teacher or learning more about professional preparation programs from 4-6 p.m. at the Design Institute Gallery in the Phase I Academic Building at Riverpoint Higher Education Park, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. For information, call 358-7500.

Tuesday - The Valley Chapter of Leads Club, a networking organization for business leads and referrals, meets at 12:15 p.m. at Shari’s Restaurant, 320 N. Sullivan. For more information, call Dianne at 926-8481.

Tuesday - Northside 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.

Wednesday - Joe Albert of Gonzaga University will speak on “Organizational Leadership” at a meeting of the Spokane Area Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the WestCoast River Inn. Cost: $18, or $9 for students; call Scott Wilhelm at 921-8718 for more information.

Wednesday - The Spokane office of the Washington state Department of Revenue presents a free New Business Outreach workshop from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and again from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on the eighth floor of the Northtown Office Building, 4407 N. Division. To register or for more information, call 482-3805 or online visit http://dor.wa.gov.

Wednesday - Eastern Washington University’s College of Business and Public Administration and Professional & Technical Programs in cooperation with Fortune magazine hosts a teleconference on “The Brave New Workplace: Strategies to Excel in a World of Change” from 7:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Spokane Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Cost ranges from $159 to $199. To register, call (800) 689-9771 or register online at http:/ /www.wyn.com.

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 more information, call 353-2820.

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

Wednesday, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29 The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Starting and Operating a Construction Business” from 6-9 p.m. each day at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $50; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Thursday - Grant Furulie, Fairchild Air Force Base contracting officer, will discuss “Breaking the Project Barrier at Fairchild Air Force Base”during a session presented by the Marketing Associates of Spokane at noon at the Ram Restaurant, 908 N. Howard. Cost: $13 for MAS members, $25 for nonmembers; for information, call Marty Orchard at 838-8681.

Thursday - Geoff Forshag will speak on “Linking Strategy with Performance in the Workplace” during a meeting of the Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants at noon at the WestCoast Grand Hotel at the Park. For reservations or information, call Barbara at 838-5111.

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 information, call Michele at 755-5000.

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 - Drs. Calvin Pabst and Will Fagan of Kootenai Vision Center will hold an open house from 4-7 p.m. at the center, 1801 N. Third in Coeur d’Alene. For information, call Jackie Pabst at (208) 667-1591.

Friday - The Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors and the Seattle District Corps of Engineers present a seminar on “Construction Quality Management” from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Spokane Community College Training Center, 2110 N. Fancher. Cost: $55 for AGC members, $90 for nonmembers; for information or to register, call Sherry Lynn Dow at 535-0391 or (800) 572-4108.

Friday - Brett Sports and Entertainment presents a “Sports Career Seminar and Job Fair” at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The event is intended for college seniors, recent graduates and others interested in sports management as a career. For more information, call 324-4014, ext. 332, or e-mail karndtspokanechiefs.com.