Business Beat

NEW FACES

Dr. Dieter Lubbe, a cardiologist, has been hired at Spokane Cardiology. Lubbe completed his internal medicine residency, cardiology fellowship and interventional cardiology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, N.Y. He previously worked as an associate professor at Houston’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Baylor University College of Medicine.

Kiemle & Hagood Co. has hired Meaghan Cathey in its brokerage and marketing departments. Cathey previously worked as they office manager at River Park Square, has six years of experience in insurance and over seven years of administrative and public relations experience.

Pete Bredeson has been hired as an attorney at the law firm of Wetzel & Wetzel in Coeur d’Alene. Bredeson previously worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Twin Falls, Idaho, and is a graduate of the University of Montana.

Kiemle & Hagood Co. has hired Matt George as a part-time licensed assistant to Carl Guenzel and Craig Soehren. George is a senior studying real estate at Washington State University.

Kelley Ducharme has been hired as an optometric assistant at Spokane Vision in the Spokane Valley Wal-Mart. She is a graduate of the medical assisting program at Apollo College.

Holy Family Hospital has hired Mary Balakier, a registered nurse, as the director of materials management for Holy Family Hospital, Deer Park Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital. Balakier previously was the director of supply, distribution, warehouse and linen for St. Mary’s Medical Center in Walla Walla.

Greg Johnson has been hired at U-District Physical Therapy and Institute of Sports Performance as a performance specialist. He is a graduate of Carroll College and holds a degree in sports management.

The Spokane office of Landau Associates has hired Ryan Reich as a staff hydrogeologist. He studied construction management at Eastern Washington University.

PROMOTED

Thomas Briggs of the Spokane office of Landau Associates, has been promoted to senior hydrogeologist and office manager.

The tribal accounting firm of Ribail, Stauffer & Associates in Liberty Lake has promoted Kristin Walker to member of the firm.

Jeffrey Oka has been promoted to member of the firm at the tribal accounting offices of Ribail, Stauffer & Associates.

The Spokane office of D.A. Davidson & Co. has promoted Monte Chitwood to associate vice president, financial consultant. Chitwood has been with the company since 1999 and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma Central University.

Al Yost has been promoted to vice president of finance for Esterline’s Interface Technology. Yost has been with the company for six years and holds a master’s of business administration degree in finance from Utah State University.

Preston Gates & Ellis has promoted Mike Ormsby to office managing partner. Ormsby is a long-standing partner in the firm and has held the position of managing partner from 1990 until 1994 and again from 1997 until 2002. He has been with the firm since 1988.

KUDOS

Tom Watson of Tomlinson Black Valley has completed the Certified New Home Specialist training program, which covers architectural design and planning, blueprint reading, topography, building site design, and evaluating quality construction, among other topics.

Spokane Mental Health has named Linda McGrath as the 2003-2004 Employee of the Year. McGrath has been with the organization for 15 years and is a team leader in Elder Services.

Jill Quinn, a junior at Gonzaga University, earned an Eighth Place All-Star Attorney Award at the University of California, Los Angeles Mock Trial Invitational Tournament.

The Davenport Hotel has been named by Conde Nast Johansens the only recommended hotel in the Inland Northwest in its 2005 Guide to Recommended Hotels, Inns and Resorts—North America, Bermuda, Caribbean, Mexico and Pacific.

The Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority has bestowed the 2005 Clean Air Award on Avista Corp. The Spokane power company was recognized for air pollution control upgrades to its Northeast Combustion Turbine facility and for its part in developing the Vehicle Emission Repair Program and the Voluntary Accelerated Vehicle Replacement Program.

ELECTED/APPOINTED

Darel Thomsen, a certified public accountant, has been elected to the ownership group of LeMaster & Daniels. He has been with the firm since 1991 and specializes in agricultural business services. Thomsen is a 1991 graduate of the University of Washington and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting.

The city and county of Spokane has appointed Steve Hanson to serve on the Spokane Area Workforce Development Council. Hanson is president of Spokane Community College.

Mary Sue Gorski has been appointed to the state Board of Nursing Home Administrators. Gorski is an assistant professor of nursing and department chair at Gonzaga University.

GIFTS

The Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation scholarship fund has received a $10,000 endowment from Spokane Rotaract, a community service organization of professionals aged 18-35 years.

BACK IN BUSINESS

Peking Garden, 3420 E. Sprague, has reopened; the restaurant closed following a fire a year ago. The restaurant has been owned by Ruth and George Lo since 1973. The restaurant can be reached at 534-2525.

NEW BUSINESS

Inland ReTech, a computer equipment recycler, has opened at 928 W. Spofford. The company is accepting all computer equipment, whether it works or not, including monitors, printers and scanners. The company can be reached at 475-5820.