Itronix chief Tom Turner promoted
Tom Turner, CEO of Spokane-based Itronix Corp., said Tuesday he has been named head of a new division within parent company General Dynamics.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, Turner said he’s become vice president of computing technologies, a General Dynamics division that include both Itronix Corp. and another recently acquired tech company, Tadpole Computer Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif.
Itronix develops ultra-rugged computers and mobile handhelds used around the world by military and commercial customers.
Since gigantic General Dynamics has more than 70,000 employees and racks up more than $19 billion in revenue, it is structured into four main groups, then into related business units, and then into smaller divisions.
The computing technologies division has total sales of around $400 million, said Turner. Itronix expects 2005 sales of around $150 million, he added.
That division will be focused specifically on developing highly reliable mobile computers and handheld devices for defense and commercial customers .
General Dynamics acquired Itronix from Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco private venture firm, last month. Terms of the sale have not been released.
Conference to focus on silver investing
Post Falls The Silver Summit, a three-day conference focusing on silver investment opportunities, kicks off Thursday at the Red Lion Templin’s Hotel on the River.
Templin’s is located at 414 First Ave. The cost for the conference is $25, which includes a commemorative silver coin. Speakers include Phil Baker, chief executive officer of Hecla Mining Co.; Dennis Wheeler, chairman of Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp.; Silver-Investor.com’s David Morgan; and Scotiabank commodity analyst Patricia Mohr.
For a complete agenda, or to pre-register, call (208) 556-1621 or (208) 752-1877 or visit www.silversummit.com.
Senate retaliates, keeps ban on Japanese beef
Washington Angry with Japan for refusing to lift a mad cow-related ban on U.S. beef, senators retaliated Tuesday by voting to retain a ban on Japanese beef.
Once the biggest customer of American beef, importing more than $1.5 billion’s worth in 2003, Japan has refused to allow the purchase of U.S. beef since the first U.S. case of mad cow disease was confirmed in December 2003. Last fall, Japan agreed to lift the ban but still hasn’t done so.
In June, U.S. authorities confirmed a second domestic case in a Texas-born cow. Japan, in contrast, has found 20 cases of mad cow disease. U.S. regulators proposed last month to partially lift the ban on Japanese beef.
Japan’s stalling is “just unfair,” said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.
“There have been two cases of mad cow disease in the United States, one from Canada,” Nelson said in a Senate speech. “Statistically, it’s nonexistent, in terms of the millions of head of cattle that are sent to slaughter every year.”
Senators adopted, on a 72-26 vote, an amendment by Nelson prohibiting importation of Japanese beef until Japan lifts its ban on U.S. beef. They adopted a similar, nonbinding measure by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., on a voice vote.