Business Beat

New faces:

Obie Media Corp. has hired Tricia Espinoza and Bryce Ogle as district sales managers. Their responsibilities include building and maintaining Obie’s transit and outdoor advertising in the Spokane area. Obie, based in Eugene, Ore., provides full-service, out-of-home advertising.

Moving up:

The following people have been named principals in ALSC Architects of Spokane:

Rustin Hall earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management in 1985 and a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1984 from Washington State University. He joined ALSC seven years ago. His recent work includes project development, design and construction administration for the Spokane Valley YMCA, the city of Richland Shops Complex and the new 100,000-square-foot Indoor Practice Facility at WSU.

Dave Huotari, who has been with ALSC Architects for 14 years, is a 1983 graduate of the University of Idaho. He is deeply involved with K-12 school planning and construction, including projects such as the new Browne Elementary School for Spokane District 81; Franklin, Sunnyside and Jefferson Elementary Schools in Pullman; and facility upgrades for Cusick School District. He is currently managing principal for the city of Spokane’s Operations and Maintenance Facility, which is in the design development phase.

W. Scott Whitesitt earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural studies in 1985 and a Bachelor of Architecture in 1986 from Washington State University, with additional study in urban housing at the University of Copenhagen. Since joining ALSC in 1993, Whitesitt’s design efforts have included Trent Elementary School modernization in Spokane, several retail facilities for Coldwater Creek and ongoing projects throughout the nation for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, including the award-winning Base Exchange Shopping Mall at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

WhiteRunkle Associates has promoted the following employees:

Rod Keller was named vice president of client services. Keller, who joined the firm two years ago, will champion and supervise account and media coordinators, in addition to planning and building client brands.

Leslie Wright-Bail was named vice president of business development. Wright-Bail joined WRA five years ago after earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington State University.

Nick Murto was named interactive director of WRA Interactive. He oversees both the Spokane and Seattle offices, and acts as the account executive for Nintendo of America.

Elected:

Moses Lake businessman Jim Turner has been elected president of the Olympia-based Western Building Material Association. Turner owns Able Building Supply Inc., which has six locations in Eastern Washington, including Ephrata, Quincy, Ritzville, Royal City and Wenatchee, as well as Moses Lake. A regional trade association, Western Building Material Association serves the building material industry in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Other officers of the organization from the Spokane area include: Rick McCartney, Valley Bestway Supply, a member of the Executive Committee; and Bob Myers, Alpine Lumber Supply of Post Falls, a director.

Starting up:

Spotlight Communications, a local graphic design company owned by Susan Daniels, has begun publishing Student Bylines Magazine. The new publication showcases the writing and artwork of students in grades 6-12 and is distributed to schools and libraries. Each issue will also feature brief articles by an established, successful author and artist with ties to the Inland Northwest. For more information, visit the magazine’s Web site at http://www.studentbylines.com.

Kudos:

The Spokane Building Owners and Managers Association has presented its Member of the Year Award to Mary Whitson of American Building Maintenance Co. The award is given to a member who has exhibited outstanding dedication, commitment, accomplishments and personal contributions of time and expertise to BOMA Spokane throughout the year.

Flatbed carrier System Transport and refrigerated carrier TW Transport, have honored 13 of their truck drivers for achieving 1 million and 2 million safe driving miles. Two-million-mile safe driving awards went to System Transport driver Ken Burch and TW Transport driver Del Howey. System Transport drivers recognized for 1 million safe driving miles include: Melvin Dunham, Jimmy Howell, Charles Ramsey, Richard Poppie, Mark McCall, Richard Lee, John Klosterman and Dean Gradert. TW Transport one million-mile safe drivers are: Darris Heaton, Roger Engle and Eldon Stevenson.