Business Beat

NEW FACES

Ezra Eckhardt has been hired at Sterling Savings Bank as corporate technical services manager and senior vice president of the bank. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy and his master’s of business administration from Gonzaga University. Eckhardt was previously a director on the corporate strategic planning and analysis team at Microsoft.

Magnuson, McHugh & Co. of Coeur d’Alene has hired Chris Harrison as a staff accountant. He is a 2003 graduate of Washington State University and previously worked at WSU.

Debra Moore has been hired at Farmers Insurance and has opened an office in North Spokane. The office will move to Liberty Lake in early 2005. Moore was previously a buyer’s agent at Telect Inc. in Liberty Lake.

WhiteRunkle has hired Annie Meyer as a traffic coordinator. Meyer is a 2003 graduate of the University of Idaho where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public communication. She most recently worked as a tourism marketing coordinator for the Coeur d’Alene Visitor Bureau and Chamber of Commerce.

Sharon Anderson has been hired at Humanix Personnel Services as a recruiter. Anderson is a graduate of Whitworth College.

Thomas D. Dingus & Associates has hired Mike Gorton as a supervisor. Gorton was previously senior auditor at Symonds, Evans & Co. in Portland. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Michelle Carlin has been hired at Magnuson, McHugh & Co. of Coeur d’Alene as an administrative assistant. She previously worked at a property management firm as an administrative assistant.

Magnuson, McHugh & Co. has hired Jan Ahlig as a receptionist. Ahlig was previously a medical clerk for a pathologist in Spokane.

Bernard (Bud) Leber Jr. has been hired at CH2M Hill as a senior project manager aluminum industry specialist. He was previously an environmental manager for Kaiser Aluminum and has been in the aluminum industry for over 30 years. Leber holds degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Idaho.

CH2M Hill has transferred John Culley to its Spokane office as an industrial hygienist. Culley was most recently in the company’s Bellevue office and holds an associate’s degree in environmental medicine. He has over 10 years of experience.

PROMOTED

State National Bank has promoted Chad Dashiell to assistant vice president controller. Dashiell was previously an assistant cashier and has been with the bank for three years.

Dotti Price has been promoted to commercial products manager and assistant vice president of Sterling Savings Bank. Price has been with the bank since 1992, when she was hired as a customer service representative. She holds a degree from the University of Idaho.

WhiteRunkle has promoted Jennifer O’Callaghan to account manager of the company’s AT&T Wireless and Motorola accounts. She has been with the company for four years and attended the University of London, Goldsmiths College.

Eunice Fortuna-Butler has been promoted at the Doubletree Spokane City Center Hotel to guest service manager. She has been with the hotel since 1999.

The Spokane office of BDO Seidman has promoted Amy Moe, a certified public accountant, to assurance manager. Moe has been with the company since 2000 and is a graduate of Washington State University.

Cathy Doran has been promoted to chief executive officer and president of YFA Connections. Doran has been the adult treatment services director since 1995 and holds a master’s degree in counseling and psychology from Gonzaga University.

Brian Read has been promoted at Sterling Savings Bank to vice president and consumer credit manager. Read has been the consumer credit manager since April and has 11 years of experience in banking. He is a graduate of Santa Clara University.

KUDOS

Annette Guise, a member service specialist at Spokane Federal Credit Union, has been chosen as Employee of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2004.

Humanix Personnel Services has been ranked by DiversityBusiness.com as the ninth largest diversity-owned business in Washington State and the 257th of the 500 largest women-owned businesses in the United States.

Jim Hammond, an administrator with the city of Post Falls, has received the International City/County Management Association’s Credentialed Manager designation.

Chipman Moving & Storage of Spokane has been inducted into United Van Lines’ President’s Club for generating sales of at least $1 million. The company is an agent of United Van Lines.

Heritage Funeral Home of Spokane has been awarded the 2004 Pursuit of Excellence Eagle award by the National Funeral Home Directors Association. This award is given to funeral homes with outstanding community service, technical ability and professional integrity.

APPOINTED

Thomas Gibson has been appointed to Mountain West Bank’s board of directors. Gibson has been the vice president and financial consultant for D.A. Davidson for 10 years and is a certified public accountant.

The Inland Pacific Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors has appointed Kathy Autry to president and chief executive officer. Autry was previously the president and CEO of the Texas Mid-Coast chapter of ABC.