Business Beat

NEW FACES

Mike Sawicki has been hired as a real estate agent in the Coeur d’Alene office of Century 21 Beutler & Associates. He will work as a team with his wife, Peggy.

McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest has hired Jillian Caples as a staff accountant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and professional accounting from Eastern Washington University.

Candace Lugviel has been hired as a loan officer at American Home Mortgage.

Coldwell Northwest Banker has hired Aimee Stoner as a sales associate. She previously worked as a teacher for Spokane School District 81.

Brian Graves has been hired as a project manager at HollisterStier Laboratories. He previously worked as director of manufacturing at Synthetic Inc. in Oregon and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics from Augustana College in Illinois.

Debbie Dyche has been hired as a broker in the Liberty Lake office of Century 21 Beutler & Associates. She has over 30 years of real estate experience and previously owned a real estate brokerage firm.

Steve Taylor has been hired as the government affairs director of the Spokane Home Builders Association. He is a current member of the Spokane Valley City Council.

The Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau has hired Marci Sonnenberg as convention services and housing coordinator. She previously worked at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Seattle.

Sacred Heart Medical Center has named Tena Cramer director of orthopedic/neuroscience services. She previously worked at Deaconess Medical Center as an assistant vice president.

Dr. Dagmar Johnston is a new provider at Rockwood Clinic in urgent care. She received her medical degree from Charles University Third School of Medicine in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Spokane Valley office of Coldwell Banker Northwest Group has hired Mary Rua as a real estate agent. She previously worked as a paralegal.

Dave Strasser has been hired as vice president and IT infrastructure services manager of the Spokane office of Sterling Savings Bank. He previously worked at Toyota Financial Services.

Paul Warfield has been hired as community affairs director at the Spokane Home Builders Association. He previously worked as operations manager in the international distribution division of North by Northwest Entertainment and holds a degree in communications from Washington State University.

A&B Mortgage has hired Shawn Van Gordon as president and chief operating officer.

PROMOTED

Brian Sommerfeldt has been promoted as a business specialist for the Coeur d’Alene area Wells Fargo. He has been with the bank since 2004 and has worked as a credit manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University.

Wells Fargo Bank has promoted Joshua Melcher to a business specialist in the Spokane Area. Ha has been with the bank since 2003 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington State University.

Donald Gary Jr. has been promoted to principal at the law firm of Winston & Cashatt. He has been at the firm for less than a year and specializes in tax, business transactions and closely held business representation.

AtHome America has promoted Jennifer Senske to the Three-Star Special Team Leader level.

KUDOS

Brad Spears has been named the 2006 Builder of the Year from the Building Industry Association of Washington. Spears is the president and owner of Northwest Equity Builders.

VNA Home Health Care Services has been chosen as one of the 2006 HomeCare Elite based on Medicare quality, improvement and financial performance data.

Carol Neupert has received the Outstanding Sustainer Award for 2006 from the Junior League of Spokane. The award is for sustaining members who have made significant contributions to the community.

Steven and Tanya Tramp have earned the Certified Hotel Administrators designation from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. The two purchased and updated the Quality Inn on Fourth Avenue in Spokane.

The following have earned the Building Operator Certification Level I from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council: Santos Cardenas of Goodale & Barbieri; Bonnie Duprie, Ken Janson, Dale Jones and Terry Kerr of East Valley School District #361; Matthew Mimnaugh and Tracy Pierce of the Washington State Department of Transportation; and John Smith of Avista Utilities, Colville, Wash.

Surgical Bariatrics has received the Top Growth Award from Novartis, the manufacturer of Optifast, a weight-loss supplement.

ELECTED/APPOINTED

Thomas Corley has been elected as a member-at-large of the Washington State Hospital Association’s board of directors. Corley is the president of Holy Family Hospital.

Dr. Glen Baird has been appointed as assistant chief of staff at Spokane Shriners Hospital for Children. He is a graduate of the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake and has been on staff at the hospital since 1999.

Mark Bowlby has been appointed to the Chairman’s Advisory Council of D.A. Davidson and Co. He is a senior vice president and financial consultant with the company and has worked there since 1986.

Lon Lee, president and general manager of KHQ-TV Spokane has been re-elected to a two-year term on the board of directors of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters.

The following have been elected to the Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors: president, Dan Chapleski of True North Inspections; vice president/secretary, William Hay of Northwest Home Inspection; treasurer, John Ferry of Inland Home Inspection; education chair, Bill Meyer of Inland Home Inspection; Gary Fuller of Building Tech Inspection; public relations chair, Vince Vargas of Vargas Home Inspection Services; and ASHI COR Rep. chair, Gary Fuller of Building Tech Inspection.

GIFTS

The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation has granted $20,000 to the YWCA Alternatives to Domestic Violence program. Local Mary Kay sales director, Darla Kottwitz, and her sales unit also donated 30 purses filled with personal care items.

Yoke’s Fresh Markets volunteers served 500 meals at the company’s annual charitable dinner at Anna Ogden Hall, the Union Gospel Mission, and the Downtown Senior Center (Mid City Concerns).

The Fred Meyer Foundation has given Junior Achievement of the Inland Northwest $1,000. The funds will be used for educational programs for kids in kindergarten through the 12th grade.

NEW BUSINESS

Inspired American Décor has opened at 501 W. Appleway, suite Y, Coeur d’Alene. The home furniture store can be reached at (208) 664-8876.