Business beat

New Faces

Global Credit Union has hired Morgan Collett as a commercial loan processor for the company’s Member Business Services department in Spokane. She has four years of banking experience and previously worked as a private banking representative with AmericanWest Bank.

Ben Lyman has been hired by Fidelity Associates Insurance Brokers as an account executive. He previously worked for U.S. Bank, is a licensed insurance producer in both personal and commercial lines and is a graduate of Washington State University.

Windermere Real Estate/City Group LLC has hired Bernadette Pillar as a sales associate for the company’s Spokane office. She previously worked for Tomlinson South.

Chad Heimbigner has been hired as a senior civil engineer for Coffman Engineers. He has more than 13 years of professional civil engineering experience and holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Idaho.

Andre-Romberg Insurance has hired Brenda Britton as a commercial lines customer service representative. She previously worked for the Argonne Agency.

Promotion

Kristina Riener has been promoted from corporate education liaison to corporate education manager for the University of Phoenix’s Spokane campus.

Kudos

Spokane Sizzle and Idaho Cuisine Web site SizzlenCuisine.com received the Nichee Award for Best Website during the Niche Magazine Conference recently in Tempe, Ariz. The site features restaurants, food, wine and other beverage businesses in Spokane and North Idaho.

Vickie Johnson has graduated from the Western Association of Chamber Executives professional development program. Johnson serves as director of promotions and events at the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association presented Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center with its Silver Performance Award for the hospital’s use of “Get with the Guidelines” to improve quality of care for heart-disease and stroke patients.

Deaconess Medical Center has been granted full Chest Pain Center Accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

The National Panhellenic Conference presented the Spokane Alumnae Panhellenic Chapter with a Citation for Merit Outstanding Alumnae Panhellenic 2007-2009 Biennium Award.

Avista Corp. contributed $100,000 to 16 nonprofit organizations in Washington to support local energy assistance programs. Spokane area organizations receiving contributions include: Volunteers of America, Cancer Patient Care, Spokane Valley Community Center, Our Place Community Ministries, The Salvation Army, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center, St. Augustine Parish, Caritas Center and Catholic Charities.

Appointed

Hecla Mining Company in Coeur d’Alene has appointed David Sienko as vice president/general counsel. He has more than 15 years of related experience and previously served as partner in the corporate, mergers and acquisitions and securities department for K and L Gates LLP in Chicago. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and law degrees from Marquette and Georgetown universities.

Robert Martinez has been appointed to Timberline Resources Corporation’s board of directors. He is self-employed as an operations and management consultant and previously served as president and chief operating officer of Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp.

AARP has appointed Dr. George Rice as a member of its Washington State Executive Council. Rice is a retired physician from Spokane and is a past president of the Washington State Medical Association.

Clark Brekke has been appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to serve a three-year term on the Washington State Board of Correctional Industries. Brekke is president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest.

The Spokane Society of Young Professionals has appointed Melissa Dettmer to serve as events chair on its board of directors. Dettmer is the owner of Momentum Admin Services in Spokane.

Scott Marikis has been appointed to Empire Holdings Inc.’s board of directors. Marikis is the chief financial and administrative officer of Empire Airlines Inc. and corporate treasurer of Empire Holdings.

Elected

Inland Northwest Business Alliance has elected the following individuals as 2010 officers for its board of directors: president, Marvin Reguindin of Thinking Cap Communication and Design Inc.; vice president, James Mellot of Washington Trust Bank; treasurer, Barrie Ryan of U.S. Bank; and secretary, Paul Tiesse of John L. Scott Real Estate. Board members include: Sandy Davidson of Brighton Court Assisted Living; Darrin Belgard of Avista Utilities; Dan Brown, retired educator; Marnie Schroer of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Steve Faust of Faust Law Firm; Shawna Sampson of SpokAnimal; and Steven Rodenbough of Northern Exposure Photography Studio.