Business Beat
NEW FACES
Mari Walker has been hired by Empire Airlines as accounting manager. She has 12 years of public accounting experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Washington State University.
Empire Airlines has hired Nicola Phillips as flight operations standards and training manager. She previously worked as a check airman, assistant chief pilot, check airman supervisor and instructor for Skyway Airlines in Milwaukee.
Numerica Credit Union has hired Deanna Hanley as manager for the company’s Havana Branch in Spokane. She previously worked as a branch manager for American General Financial Services.
Micah Sheets has been hired by Klündt | Hosmer to handle the firm’s information technology needs and work with designers and creative directors in the development of Web sites for the firm’s clients. He has a background in Web programming and IT support and previously was self-employed.
Global Credit Union has hired Kimberly La Liberte as content manager for its main branch in Spokane. She has 18 years of credit union industry experience and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/technical writing from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Business Administration in managerial leadership from City University.
Jaime Campanella has been hired as a sales trainer for Numerica Credit Union. She previously worked for Safeco Insurance.
PROMOTIONS
Moloney O’Neill has promoted Debbie Johnston to account executive for the company’s Coeur d’Alene office in the commercial insurance division. She has extensive commercial insurance experience and has been with company since 2001.
Pat Vedder has been promoted by Idaho Independent Bank to vice president and human resources manager. She has been with the company since 1996 and has 23 years of banking industry experience with more than 12 years of experience in human resources.
Moloney O’Neill has promoted Jennifer Mendenhall to account executive in the company’s commercial insurance division. She has been with the company since 2003 and has nine years of commercial insurance experience. KUDOS
Clyde Haase, of Haase Landscaping, has received the 2007 Associate of the Year Award from the Spokane Home Builders Association. He is an associate member of SHBA.
The North Idaho College Idaho Small Business Development Center won several state awards during the tri-state Small Business Development Center Conference. These awards included: most jobs created by an Idaho small business development center, highest increase in clients’ revenue, and the million dollar award for the most capital raised by an individual coach, presented to senior coach Frank Bendinelli. Bill Jhung serves as the center’s regional director.
Spokane Home Builders Association has awarded Tana St. Marie with the 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award. She is an associate member of SHBA and has been appointed to serve as a member of the executive committee for the Building Industry Association of Washington.
Ben Greenfield has been honored as 2008 Personal Trainer of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He works as an exercise physiologist, nutritionist and personal trainer for Champions Sports Medicine in Spokane.
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and Inc. Magazine has named Kauffman and Associates Inc. the 27th fastest-growing inner city business in the United States. KAI is an American Indian-owned government contractor specializing in public health, research, evaluation, training, technology solutions and strategic communications.
The Spokane County United Way 2007-2008 campaign has raised more than $4.5 million. The 2008-09 campaign will be chaired by Scott Morris, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Avista Corp. Tom Stevenson, managing partner at Moss Adams, will join Morris in recruiting and leading business leaders, volunteers and community partners in this year’s campaign.
APPOINTED
The following have been appointed to the St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute Community Advisory Board: Rodney McAuley, of Spokane Public Schools, and Robbie Paul, of Washington State University Spokane Native American Health Sciences.
The Inland Northwest Health Services Foundation has appointed Brent Russell and Arneda Toillion to the foundation advisory board.
The Spokane Regional Sports Commission has appointed the following individuals to serve as board members: Lynnelle Caudill, general manager of the Davenport Hotel; Rita Santillanes, co-owner of the Best Western Peppertree Airport Inn and Liberty Lake Inn; and Irv Zakheim, president, chief executive officer and founder of Zak Designs and owner of the Spokane RiverHawks.
ELECTED
Dr. Kurt Seppi has been re-elected chairman of the board of directors for Regence BlueShield of Idaho. He works as medical director and managing partner of Physician Center in Twin Falls, Idaho, and has served as a member of the board since 1997.