Business Beat

NEW FACES:

DigiDeal Corp. has hired Scott Zlateff as a designer and multimedia specialist. He helps to design and maintain the DigiDeal Web site, create interactive CDs, assists in product development and designs and updates technical publications. Zlateff previously spent two years as the head designer for the marketing department at Key Tronic Corp.

R. Karl Zipf Jr. has been named a branch chief at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s Spokane Research Laboratory. Zipf heads the Catastrophic Failure Detection and Prevention Branch. He replaces Ken Hay, who has retired. Zipf earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Lehigh University, a master’s in mining engineering from the University of Arizona, and a PhD. in mining engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Zipf, who is a registered professional engineer in Colorado, has expertise in rock mechanics, mining methods and mining safety and health. He previously held academic positions at the University of Missouri in Rolla and the University of Brisbane in Australia. He also had a stint as a researcher with the defunct U.S. Bureau of Mines and held engineering positions with Morrison-Knudsen Co. and Wahler Associates.

MOVING UP:

Fawn Owens has been promoted to manager of the AAA Service Center at 296 W. Sunset Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Owens has been a travel agent at the office since it opened in 1995. Earlier, she was with Coeur d’Alene Travel for more than two years. She succeeds Ruby Amerson, who has retired.

Allstate insurance agent Bruce Cralley has passed the Series 6 and Series 63 securities license exams and completed a training program to earn the title of personal financial representative. Cralley, who is appointed with the broker dealer Allstate Financial Services LLC, can now sell variable annuity, variable life and mutual fund products, in addition to auto, homeowner and traditional life insurance products.

STARTING UP:

Drs. Jeanine McDonald and Michael Melkers have opened a dental practice at 930 N. Mullan Road, Suite 2 in the Spokane Valley. McDonald graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco in 1994. Melkers is a graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wis., also in 1994. Their practice focuses on comprehensive, aesthetic and restorative adult care.

KUDOS:

Sherri DeWitte of Coeur d’Alene was chosen Kootenai Medical Center’s Employee of the Month for October. Her customer service and positive attitude impressed selection committee members. DeWitte, a food service supervisor, has worked at KMC since 1990. Earlier, she worked for Heritage Place retirement home for three years.

ELECTED:

James R. McKay of Spokane has been installed as president of The Gardeners of American/Men’s Garden Clubs of America. McKay has been a member of Gardeners of Spokane for 12 years and has served as secretary of the local group for two years and as president for two years. He retired after 37 years of teaching vocational agriculture in Walla Walla but still works for an insurance company during the summers adjusting field crop losses from hail, wind and fire.

APPOINTED:

John R. Madri, president and CEO of Global Credit Union, has been appointed by the Washington Credit Union League to serve as vice chair of the State Government Affairs Committee. His 12-month term began Oct. 1. The committee recommends policies and positions to the WCUL board on legislative and regulatory issues pertaining to state chartered credit unions.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Applications are being accepted from high school seniors who are the dependents of independent small-business owners for a scholarship offered by the Padgett Business Services Foundation. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who plan to attend a postsecondary accredited institution. In addition, the parent or legal guardian of the student must be an active owner of at least 10 percent of the stock or capital in a local business that employs fewer than 20 people. Awards are based on college aptitude test scores, high school grade point averages and educational and career plans. Deadline for applying is March 1, 2001. For an application or more information, call 838-8575.