Business Beat

NEW FACES

Eagle Home Mortgage has recently hired Susan Sprecher as branch manager of its new office at 12309 E. Mirabeau Parkway. Sprecher was previously with U.S. Bank Mortgage and has been working in the financial and mortgage lending industry since 1988.

Kevin Schindlerhas recently been hired at Eagle Home Mortgage as a senior mortgage banker. Schindler has over 15 years of experience in mortgage banking and finance and holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Washington University.

Eagle Home Mortgage has recently hired Aaron Simas as a mortgage banker. Simas has been in the mortgage banking and finance industry for eight years and is a graduate of Linfield College.

Enoch Maple has recently been hired at Eagle Home Mortgage as a mortgage banker. Maple has worked as a real estate appraiser and has over five years of experience in the mortgage industry.

LeMaster & Daniels has recently hired John Murray as a staff accountant. Murray is a former firefighter at the Frenchtown (Mont.) Fire Department and earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Central Washington University in 2004.

Michael Asmussen has recently been hired at LeMaster & Daniels as a staff accountant. Asmussen was previously a dental claims analyst at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Washington University in 2004.

Country Insurance and Financial Services has recently hired Brian D. Evers as an agent. Evers received training at the company’s New Agent School which focused on enhancing his communication skills and achieving goals.

Jason Rounsaville has recently been hired at Country Insurance and Financial Services as an agent. Rounsaville is a 1995 graduate of Oregon State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology.

Rhiannon Nilson has recently been hired at U-District Physical Therapy and Institute of Sports Performance and will be coordinating the front desk duties of the office. Nilson is a graduate of Gonzaga University and is working towards a master’s degree.

Tina Valentine has recently been hired as head athletic trainer at U-District Physical Therapy and Institute of Sports Performance. Valentine was previously an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Lydig Construction has recently hired Matt Knoll as a marketing assistant. Knoll is a recent graduate of Whitworth College and earned bachelor’s degrees in business management and speech communications.

Lydig Construction has recently hired Adam Webster as an assistant project manager. Webster previously worked at Bouten Construction and will provide on-site project management support at the Seasons at Sandpoint.

Dr. V. Peter Semogas has recently been hired at Spokane Radiology Consultants. Semogas graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and completed his residency at Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He is board certified from both the American Board of Radiology and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

The Spokane Ear Nose and Throat Clinic has recently hired Dr. John F. Hoffman. Hoffman is a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at the University of Utah. He is board certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Theresa Sanders has recently been hired at the Spokane Area Economic Development Council. Sanders, who will be working to lead business expansion and retention efforts, has over 20 years of sales, marketing and economic development experience and has previously worked at Microsoft Corporation and for Pend Oreille County.

KUDOS

Steve Zemke, a graduate student at the University of Idaho, has recently been awarded Best Paper at the American Society of Engineering Education Conference. Zemke’s paper, entitled, “Tailoring Cooperative Learning Events for Engineering Classes,” was chosen from a field of 1,500.

The Spokane County Community Services Department, Developmental Disabilities Program has recently awarded Shirley Evenoff and Jenny Schuetzle with an Employer of the Year award at a recent meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. Evenoff and Schuetzle are owners of the 14th and Grand Solon.

The Princeton Review has recently named Gonzaga University School of Law as one of the nation’s best 117 law schools. The school is featured in the student opinion-driven book, “Best 117 Law Schools.”

At its recent Recognition Banquet, the Spokane Lilac Festival Association awarded several community volunteers and directors for their service. Kathy Kendall of Avista received the New Director of the Year award, and In the Shadows awards were given to Duane Hamp of Hamp’s Automotive Plus; Michael Moore of the Mead School District; Gino and Robin Sarcomo of the U.S. Air Force; Jane Moore-Schwartz and Wilma Engstrom, community volunteers. The Purple Hammer award was given to Jon Edwards of Jewelry Design Center, and Beyond the Call awards were given to community volunteers Bev Stenson and Cecelia Stephens.

Community Colleges of Spokane has recently awarded Heather Keast, English instructor, and Una McDowell, manager of the Head Start Program at the Institute for Extended Learning’s Adult Education Center, with Deccio Excellence in Equity Awards.

VNA Home Health Care Services has recently named Dr. Mary Badger of Northside Internal Medicine its annual Physician Partner Award. Badger was chosen for her knowledge of home health services and collaboration with VNA staff. VNA also named Cancer Patient Care as VNA Supporter of the Year.

Arlene Fisher, finance director and city clerk for the City of Liberty Lake, and Brittany Garwood, an accountant with Spokane Public Facilities District, have recently received the Professional Finance Officer Award from the Washington Finance Officer’s Association.

Marjorie Burns, a local Avon representative, has recently been named among the company’s top 10 percent.

Blue Haven Tree Farm in Coeur d’Alene has recently won first place at the National Decorated Wreath Contest in Lake Harmony, Penn. The tree farm is owned and operated by Tom and Carolyn Leege.

PROMOTED

Kevin McCarry of Lydig Construction has recently been promoted to the position of full-time estimator. McCarry was previously a project engineer.

Lydig Construction has recently promoted Brian Singer to the position of project manager. Singer was previously a project engineer.

Vivato has recently promoted Chris DeMarche to senior vice president of marketing and business development. DeMarche has over 20 years of management experience and has worked at Pactel, Onecom/Nextel, Verio and Vistard.

Steffen Rassmussen of Vivato has recently been promoted to senior vice president of engineering. Rassmussen has worked with Terawave Communications and has a wide range of business and technical experience.

Robert P. DeVleming has recently been named acting vice president of the consumer products division of Potlatch Corp. DeVleming has been with the company since 1978 and is a graduate of Washington State University.