Business Beat

NEW FACES

Dr. Brian Nilges has been hired in the dental office of Dr. Brad DeCounter. Nilges is a graduate of the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry.

Marae Carr has been hired as an esthetician and massage therapist at Reflections Med Spas and the Laser & Vein Center. Carr is a graduate of the Moscow School of Massage and the Greenwood Academy of Hair and Aesthetics. She has been working in the industry for four years.

Range has hired Ben Delaney as a designer and photographer. He previously owned Junebugs Café.

Chris Gallagher has been hired as a project engineer in the civil engineering department of DCI Engineers. He is a graduate of the University of Idaho and holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Maureen Williams has been hired as a real estate agent in the downtown Spokane office of Century 21 Beutler & Associates.

Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller has hired Jenae Ball as an associate. She previously worked as an intern in the Spokane County prosecuting attorney’s office and will focus on civil litigation.

Chuck Leonhardt has been hired at Gonzaga University as assistant vice president for marketing and communications. He has over 17 years of marketing experience and previously worked as director of marketing at Spillman Technologies.

The Pullman office of Windermere Real Estate has hired Carolyn Kromlich as a sales associate. She previously taught special education and science at an elementary school.

Storhaug Engineering has hired Harold Fleiger to assist in construction observation and survey crew. Fleiger owns his own photography studio and will also take photographs of Storhaug’s projects.

PROMOTED

HollisterStier Laboratories has promoted Kimberlee Brown to manufacturing supervisor in small-lot manufacturing filling and filtration. She is a graduate of the University of Idaho and holds a master’s degree in sports and recreation management.

Alan Roberts has been promoted to vice president and banking team leader of the Spokane Private Banking Team at Sterling Savings Bank. He has over 20 years of experience in banking and was previously the bank’s community bank sales leader.

Spokane Falls Community College has promoted Jim Brady to Dean of Instruction for Computing, Math and Science. He has taught math at the college since 1991.

Dave Whitehead has been promoted to vice president for research and development at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. He has been with the company since 1994, holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is working toward a Ph.D. at the University of Idaho.

Peggy Sue Loroz has been promoted from assistant professor to associate professor at Gonzaga University. She teaches in the School of Business Administration.

KUDOS

Sue Iwata has earned the Adobe Certified Expert, Acrobat 7.0 designation. She is an instructor at New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Spokane.

Tony Hanna of the Post Falls office of Windermere/Coeur d’Alene Realty has earned the Recreation and Resort Specialist designation by the Worldwide Recreation and Resort Sales Council.

The Spokane Public Relations Council has awarded its 11th Annual SPARC Awards to the following: Crisis Communications/Government, Association, Nonprofit, Merit Award, Ron Nichols, Natural Resource Conservation Services, NRCS Crisis Plan; Community Government Relations Campaign, Government, Association, Nonprofit, Merit Award, Madonna Luers, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Dedication of new regional headquarters; Excellence Award, Betsy Godlewski, Elizabeth Thompson, Mary Joan Hahn, Rayanne Zackery, Amy Fritsch, Fox Theater Campaign, produced by Rockey, Hill and Knowlton; Communication Process, Communication Training, Merit Award, Jennifer West, Mary Joan Hahn, Steve Boyer, Art Merrick, Dale Gluck, Scott Whiteaker, Washington State Hospital Association and Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts, SHA Message Training, produced by Rockey Hill and Knowlton; Student Division, Excellence Award, Lance Kissler and Ian Shea of Eastern Washington University, Washington State Combined Fund Drive, 2005 Washington State Combined Fund Drive Poster.

ELECTED/APPOINTED

The Spokane Insurance Associates has elected its officers. They are: president, Sherry Brophy, Paine Financial Group; vice president, Kathy Fromont of Acordia Northwest; treasurer, Denise Hesse of Liberty Northwest; secretary, Karen Munsey of Fidelity Associates; parliamentarian, Karen Plybon of Conner & Kelly Insurance Brokers.

Randy Wells has been elected to vice president of the National Auctioneers Association. He is the co-owner of MR Auction and has conducted over 1,600 estate, business liquidation, benefit and real estate auctions throughout his career.

Mary Mapes has been appointed to the Washington Commission on National and Community Service by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Mapes is the director of volunteer services and human resources of the American Red Cross in Spokane.

The Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners has elected new members to its 2006 board of directors. They are: president, Karen Warrick of ACRAnet; president-elect, Mary Runcorn of Independent Services Corp.; executive vice president, Omega Chandler of Litho Art Printers; secretary, Lorinda Knight of the Lorinda Knight Gallery; treasurer, Bonita Bell of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, vice president of corporate partners, Coralie Myers of Wheatland Bank; vice president in charge of membership, Becky Tiller of Tiller Care Strategies; publicity chair, Cindra Shields of Graphic Business Systems; hospitality chair, Barbara Marney of the Meal Maker; and immediate past president, Shelley Runolfson of Fashion Carpets.

GIFTS

Numerica Credit Union has donated $3,000 to Camp Fire USA. The funds will be used to send 10 children to camp in 2007.

NEW NAME

The Courtyard by Marriott has changed its name to the Courtyard by Marriott Spokane Downtown at the Convention Center.

NEW LOCATION

SafeDesk Solutions has moved to the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI). The company can be reached at (509) 455-6720.

NEW BUSINESS

Michael Metcalf has opened Metcalf Financial Services in Spokane Valley and on the South Hill. He has over 25 years of insurance and securities experience and can be reached at (509) 232-5414.