Business beat

New Faces

Winderemere Real Estate/Valley Inc. has hired Andrea Malone and Jan Roseleip as sales associates for the company’s Spokane Valley office.

Laura Wells has been hired by Guild Mortgage as a certified mortgage planning specialist. She has more than 20 years of related experience and previously worked as a certified mortgage planning specialist for Bank of America Home Loans. The company has also hired Julia Hansen as a mortgage loan officer. She has 14 years of mortgage industry experience in Spokane Valley and previously worked as a mortgage loan officer for Bank of America Home Loans.

Desautel Hege Communications has hired Christine Varela as an account director. She previously served as communications and business development director for Deaconess Medical Center. She has more than seven years of communications experience, holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in political science from Gonzaga University, and holds Public Relations Society of America accreditation.

Amy D’Amato has been hired as a litigation associate for Foster Pepper PLLC’s Spokane office. She previously served as an extern for former Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Gonzaga University School of Law.

Promotion

Design Source promoted Georgie Feeser to marketing coordinator. She has been with the company since 2007.

Kudos

Vicky Houle has been named Realtor of the year by the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors. She is a sales associate with Windermere Real Estate/Coeur d’Alene Realty Inc.

Gonzaga University has named Todd Finkle, business professor, consultant and speaker, as the inaugural Pigott Professor in Entrepreneurship for the School of Business Administration.

Kim Zentz received the Innovator of the Year Award during the 13th Annual Catalyst Awards presented by Greater Spokane Incorporated, Technet and The University District. In addition, Zentz was named on the 2010 Pivotal Leaders list for her commitment to clean technology. Zentz is executive director of Sirti.

The Sirti board of directors named Norm Jangaard, former CEO of two biotechnology companies, as chairman. He has served on the board since 2008.

Steve Anthony received Idaho Recreation and Parks Association’s Outstanding Individual Achievement Award for his work with the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission. Anthony is recreation director for the City of Coeur d’Alene.

Gifts

Avista donated a $4,400 foundation grant to the North Idaho College Welding Technology program to purchase a new multiprocess welding machine.

Elected

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has elected Marilyn Dalby Sabella to its board of advisers to serve a three-year term. Sabella is a business owner and manager in downtown Sandpoint.

Doug Eastwood has been named president-elect of the Idaho Recreation and Parks Association. Eastwood is director of Coeur d’Alene Parks.

New Business Location

Miller Paint has opened a Spokane store, located at 7 E. Third Ave. The company specializes in manufacturing and selling high quality paint and coating products. Contact: (509) 455-4555. Website: www.millerpaint.com.