Business Beat

NEW FACES

Tony Yazzolino has recently been hired at Sterling Savings Bank as vice president and merchant manager. He was previously an operations manager at West One Bank and branch manager/industrial banking at U.S. Bank. Yazzolino is a graduate of the University of Oregon.

Sterling Savings Bank has recently hired Larry Sutton as assistant vice president and branch manager of its branch on Argonne Road. Sutton was previously a branch manager of the Bank of Hawaii, a branch manager of the Sterling Savings Bank in Blaine, Wash. and has over 20 years of banking experience. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

Dave Brukardt has recently been hired as corporate administration manager at Sterling Savings Bank. He will oversee the human resources, marketing, facilities and construction and leasing departments. Brukardt was previously vice president and treasurer at Avista Corp. and helped establish the Avista Foundation.

The Post Falls office of Windermere Real Estate has recently hired Hayle McCray as a sales associate. McCray was previously at the Coeur d’Alene office of Tomlinson Black Real Estate and is a Kootenai County 4-H leader.

Carole Louise Winn has recently been hired at the Post Falls office of Windermere Real Estate as a sales associate. She is new to the field of real estate.

Chase Breckner has recently been hired at Crown West Realty L.L.C. as a business development representative. Breckner was previously a property management consultant at Western Properties and is a graduate of Gonzaga University.

Crown West Realty L.L.C. has recently hired Robin Bishop as a marketing assistant. She has 15 years of marketing and administration experience and recently had a small in-home business.

Ryan Knudson has recently been hired at the Spokane Valley office of Windermere Real Estate. He was previously a salesperson at Pella Windows.

Evergreen Realty at Schweitzer Mountain Resort has recently hired Tom Fortune as part of its sales team. Fortune has 26 years of experience in the ski industry and worked for six years as general manager at Schweitzer.

KUDOS

Kerry Kirking, a senior financial advisor for American Express Financial Advisors Inc., has recently been inducted into the companies Diamond Ring Club. Kirking received this honor for achieving above-average sales for over 13 years and for meeting rigorous client service and quality of advice criteria. His offices are in the Spokane Tapio Center Office, 104 S. Freya.

Gold Reserve Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary, Compania Aurifera Brisas del Cuyuni, has recently received an Award of Excellence in Social Management from the Latin-America Mining Organization.

Physical therapist Valerie Wang of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute has recently earned her Certification in Competency in Vestibular Rehabilitation.

Sharon Hall, a physical therapist sat St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, has recently earned the title of neurological certification specialist.

Physical therapist Dana McPhee of Sacred Heart Medical Center has recently earned the title of neurological certification specialist.

NEW BUSINESS

Dale Willhite of Spokane has recently opened A&D Scrubwear and Uniforms at 626 W. Garland. The store specializes in apparel for those in the medical profession.

Tammy Schneider has recently opened Zi Spa & Salon, a state-of-the-art day spa, at 1859 N. Lakewood Drive in Coeur d’Alene. Schneider has worked as spa director at the Coeur d’Alene Resort since 1999. The spa can be reached at (208) 765-9400, or visit them at www.zispas.com.

PHILANTHROPY

North Idaho College and the NIC Foundation have raised $1,015,000 through their fundraising campaign “Providing Opportunities—Fulfilling Dreams.” Some of the major donors were Kootenai Medical Center, Ben and Anna Rolphe, J-U-B Engineers, and Ace Walden. The funds will go towards the construction of a health and sciences building on the campus of NIC.

Spokane Community College has recently received a $300,000 Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The funds will go towards establishing a Center for the Humanities on the campus.

Horizon Credit Union has recently presented Ride for Life a check for $8,000. Ride for Life is a program that benefits the American Cancer Society and Cancer Patient Care.

The Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs Energy Assistance Program has recently received a grant from AT&T in the amount of $1,500.

Eastern Washington University’s Business Resource Center has recently received a $94,000 two-year funding renewal from the Herbert B. Jones Foundation.