Business Beat

NEW FACES

Dr. Marek Janout has been hired at Heart Clinics Northwest. He is a graduate of Creighton University and completed his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Kestell Co. Realtors has hired Kim Plant as an agent. She is a graduate of Gonzaga University and is working toward her master’s degree at Washington State University.

The Spokane Valley office of AAA Washington/Inland has hired Lisa Skorick as a travel agent. She specializes in destinations to Hawaii, Mexico, and Disneyland, and has over 10 years of experience in the travel industry.

Keller Williams Realty Coeur d’Alene has hired Elizabeth Davis as an agent. She previously worked in the childcare industry.

Kathy Sanders has been hired at Exit Real Estate-Jones & Associates as a real estate agent.

Erika Neff has been hired as communications coordinator at Kootenai Electric Cooperative. She previously worked as an account executive at Desautel Hege Communications, and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Gonzaga University.

Bill Jhung has been hired as the regional director of the Idaho Small Business Development Center of North Idaho College. He holds a master’s of business administration degree from Wharton School of Business and previously worked as executive pastor of Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane.

Robert Stevenson has been hired as vice president of bank-wide operations at AmericanWest Bank. He previously worked as vice president of retail operations and training at Washington Trust Bank and has over 25 years of experience in the industry.

Dr. Camtu Thai has been hired as a full-time hospitalist at Group Health Cooperative. Thai will see patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center and at Holy Family Hospital, and previously worked at Rockwood Clinic North and is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine.

The commercial division of Coldwell Banker Northwest Group has hired John Hentges as an agent. He has a background in retail sales and marketing.

Joe Vessey has been hired as chief financial advisor at Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital. He is a certified public accountant and is working toward his master’s in business administration degree from Eastern Washington University.

PROMOTED

Northern Quest Casino has promoted Lisa Bonga to director of cage operations. Bonga previously worked as slot operations manager and has been working at the casino since 2000.

Advanced Input Systems has promoted Mike Hughes to material quality manager. He has been with the company for 13 years and has worked in various positions in the quality department.

Mountain West Bank has promoted Louise Masterson to construction loan operations manager. She has been with the bank since 1994 and previously worked as construction loan processor.

Daryl Smith has been promoted to vice president at Blaine & Co. Insurance Brokers. He is a graduate of the University of Idaho, and is the manager of the Coeur d’Alene branch of the company.

Kiemle & Hagood Company has promoted Charlie Organ to a loan coordinator in the housing rehabilitation department of the company. He previously worked as a resident manager.

KUDOS

The International Association of Fairs and Expositions has recognized the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo with two first place Agricultural Awards of Excellence for its exhibitor’s handbook and the book’s cover art.

Elissa Glassman has received the 2005 Communicator of the Year Award from Ruralite Services. She is the communications and conservation director at Northern Lights Inc.

Scott McGann of Payne Financial has received the Industry Leader of the Year Award from Spokane Insurance Associates.

The following hotels and restaurants have received the 2006 Four Diamond Awards from AAA: The Coeur d’Alene Resort, 20 consecutive years; The Davenport Hotel, three consecutive years; and Beverly’s Restaurant, 17 consecutive years.

Fortune Magazine has named CH2M Hill as one of the country’s “Top 100 Best Companies to Work For.”

ELECTED/APPOINTED

ISR, of Liberty Lake, has appointed the following to its board of directors: George Clute, Lou Ryan and Rick Fox.

Steve Herling of KXLY Broadcast Group has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters.

Pat Kenney has been appointed to the Business Advisory Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Kenney is the owner of Pat Kenney Realty.

The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery has elected its board of trustees and its officers for 2006. The officers are: Rick Beebe of BDO Seidman, president; Drew MacAfee of Physician Hospital Community Organization, president-elect; Dean Sonnenberg of URM Stores Inc., treasurer; Carol Haugen, a private practice attorney, secretary; Jeff Benesch of Trans-System Inc., past president. The members of the board of trustees are: Marian Durkin of Avista Corps.; Todd Edmonds of U.S. Bank; Stan Fong of Vehr’s Inc.; Paul Keeble of Leone & Keeble Inc. Contractors; Kim Kelley of Avista Advantage; Doug Koffinke of Olympic Foods; Peggy Mangiaracina of Sacred Heart Medical Center; Liz Morris of Deaconess Medical Center; Pastor Linda Sharkey of Spokane Christian Center; Karen Snyder, a community volunteer; Greg Tarr, retired from the food service industry; and Bob Wigren of U.S. Bank.

NEW BUSINESS

Michael Bissell and Richard Campbell have opened the law firm, Campbell & Bissell PLLC at 7 S. Howard. Bissell represents and advises business owners, and Campbell specializes in construction law. The firm can be reached at 455-7100.

GIFTS

Inland Northwest Health Services has contributed $243,000 to benefit the Meditech System of the North Idaho College Nursing Department.

The employees of HollisterStier donated $9,022 to Toys for Tots and $2,260 to Second Harvest. The funds were raised during a year-long effort by the company’s Community Spirit Committee.

NAME CHANGE

The law firm of Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC has changed its name to Foster Pepper PLLC.