Business Beat

John Le Friec has been hired as corporate general manager at Wendle Motors. He has over 20 years of experience in the auto sales industry.

D.A. Davidson & Co. in Coeur d’Alene has hired Bradley Rice as a financial consultant. He previously worked in the law firm of Aherin, Rice and Anegon and also played football for the New York Giants. Rice earned his juris doctorate from the University of Idaho College of Law.

Dawn Abernathy has been hired in the operations department of Partners Investment Network. She has over 30 years of experience.

Tomlinson Black Valley has hired Bill Gire as an agent. He previously worked at Tomlinson Black South.

Nancy Piscitelli has been hired as a real estate loan officer at Global Credit Union in the Coeur d’Alene Real Estate Branch. She previously worked as a loan officer at Numerica Credit Union and has over 10 years of experience.

Spokane Community College has hired Carole Lionberger as dean of instruction for business, hospitality and information technology. She previously worked as director of career and technical information for the Colorado Community College system and has taught for over 35 years.

Steve Sunleaf has been hired as a project manager at T.W. Clark Construction. He holds a degree in construction management from Washington State University and previously worked at Elmer Construction.

Richard H. Denenny Co. has hired Darin Pike as an associate. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and previously worked at Mercer Health & Benefirst.

Khalil Beznaiguia, Adam Burton, and Wendy Kliment have been hired as real estate agents in the downtown Spokane office of Century 21 Beutler & Associates.

Advanced Input Systems has hired Troy Cuff as an electrical engineer. He recently worked at the Office of Naval Research Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Project at the University of Idaho and holds a master’s degree in computer engineering.

Washington Trust Bank has hired Linda Williams as senior vice president and private banking team leader in the Oregon office. She previously worked as senior vice president at U.S. Trust.

PROMOTED

HollisterStier Laboratories has promoted James King to analytical quality control, senior scientist. He holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Washington State University.

Kevin Haiar has been promoted to structural project manager at DCI Engineers. He has been with the company since 2004 and has over seven years of experience.

Century 21 Beutler & Associates has promoted Ben Fairfield to director of relocation and business development. He has worked at the company for a year as a sales agent.

Nancy Jean Hake has been promoted to vice president at Sterling Savings Bank. She has been in the banking industry since 1998 and has been with Sterling since 2002. Hake holds a bachelor’s degree in business finance and management from the University of Idaho.

Capt. Celestine Ruwethin and Capt. Shoshannah Ruwethin have been hired as the Spokane Corps officers/pastors at the Salvation Army. They previously worked as associate corps officers in the Seattle White Center office.

Jennifer Shepherd has been promoted from assistant professor to associate professor at Gonzaga University. She teaches in the College of Arts and Sciences.

John Dickson has been promoted to corporate solutions manager at Dale Carnegie Training. He holds a master’s degree from Washington State University and received the 2005 Top Rookie Trainer Club award.

ELECTED

The Whitworth Foundation at Whitworth College has elected new members to its board of directors. They are: president, Terri Wilson of Spokane Teachers Credit Union; vice president, Peter Enkema of Tomlinson Black North; secretary/treasurer, William Moore, who’s retired from Washington Trust Bank; and members Richard Barney, Mary Dewey, William Fix, Mina Gokee, Dorothy Goss, Jeff K. Johnson, Frank Knott, Raymond Lawton, Ron McCloskey, Ben Nielsen, Steve Rector, Werner Rosenquist, Jerry Sheffels, Jay Wernz, William Robinson, Kristi Burns and Thomas Johnson.

The Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Spokane has elected officers to its 2006-2007 Executive Committee. They are: Weiling Zhu, president; Brian Brill, vice president, Dean Keifer, treasurer and Karen Oeser, secretary.

KUDOS

The 49° North Ski Patrol has received the Silver Star from the National Ski Patrol. The award means that they are the runner-up for Best Large Alpine Patrol in the United States.

Myron Bursell has received an Accolade of Excellence in the animals/pets category of the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International competition. Bursell is a photographer at Green Gables Photography.

GIFTS

The 2006 Zak! Celebrity Open golf tournament raised over $400,000. The funds will benefit the Rypien Foundation and YWCA Child and Youth Services.

The Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program of Gonzaga University has received $69,500 from the Herbert B. Jones Foundation of Seattle. The funds will be used for the program’s business plan competition for the next three years.

NEW BUSINESS

Lolo Boutique has opened at 319 W. Second Ave. The store specializes in furniture, home décor, gifts, gourmet items and clothes. The store can be reached at (509) 747-2867.

NEW LOCATION

Sterling Savings Bank has opened a branch in Liberty Lake. The branch is at 21601 Country Vista Drive and can be reached at (509) 892-1357.

BUSINESS EXPANSION

Blue Line Home Design has launched a Web site, www.bluelinehomedesign.com, which features single-family home plans, plus information on custom home designs and remodels.