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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Business Beat

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New Faces

Rick Benecchi has been hired by Coffman Engineers to work in land surveying. He has close to 20 years of land surveying experience and is licensed as a professional land surveyor for Washington and Idaho. He previously worked for Landworks and Engineering and is an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University.

Inland Insurance Inc. has hired Christy Peterson to work in the company’s Spokane Valley office. She has more than 30 years of insurance experience and previously worked for Farmin Rothrock and Parrott.

Rick Cloutier Jr. has been hired as vice president/senior portfolio manager for Washington Trust Bank. He previously served as director of research and portfolio manager at Heritage Capital Management in Boston. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Rhode Island, a master’s degree in business administration from Boston University and has more than 20 years of investment and portfolio management experience. The company has also hired Pam Phay as a mortgage loan officer. She previously worked as a Realtor for Prudential Spokane Real Estate and has an extensive amount of related experience.

MetLife Home Loans has hired John Clemens as a senior mortgage loan officer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing from Eastern Washington University and has 13 years of local mortgage industry experience.

Barbara Frye has been hired as a sales associate for Exit Real Estate North. She previously worked for Katz Realty in Davenport, Wash. The company also hired Rick Tedrow as a sales associate. He previously worked as a postmaster for the Mead Post Office.

Spokane Mental Health has hired Susan Hammond as director of outpatient treatment and psychology services. She previously worked for Spokane County Regional Support Network as a special projects consultant.

Lary Ilk has been hired as a vice president and commercial loan officer for Inland Northwest Bank’s Coeur d’Alene branch. He previously worked as a team leader and commercial lender in the Coeur d’Alene area and has 36 years of banking experience.

Washington Trust Bank has hired Mary Lionello-Payne as a real estate loan officer for the company’s Spokane Home Loan Center. She previously worked as a regional lending manager for Mountain West Bank and has 24 years of mortgage lending experience.

Promotions

Chris Angell has been promoted by Keller Williams Realty Spokane to a trainer and coach to real estate agents and small businesses. He previously served as team leader and CEO for the company’s Spokane office. The company has also promoted Keith Riddle to team leader. He previously worked as part of the company’s Synergy Property team.

The Idaho Department of Labor has promoted Vicki Isakson from assistant manager to manager of the Kootenai County office in Post Falls. She has been with the department for 20 years.

Kudos

Chiropractor Kirk Parge of Common Sense Chiropractic in Hayden has earned his second doctorate degree in psychology from California Coast University.

Safeco Insurance has earned call center certification from J.D. Power and Associates’ Certified Call Center Program for the second consecutive year.

The Northwest Public Power Association presented Cheney Mayor Tom Trulove with its Paul J. Raver Community Service Award. Trulove is also a professor and chair of the Economics Department at Eastern Washington University.

The Davenport Hotel and Tower has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Green Building Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The University of Idaho College of Law presented Ford Elsaesser with its Award of Legal Merit during the college’s commencement ceremony May 14. Elsaesser is partner in the law firm of Elsaesser Jarzabeck Anderson Elliott and MacDonald in Sandpoint and is a 1978 graduate of the University of Idaho College of Law.

Appointed

Jeff Thomas has been appointed associate director for Spokane Mental Health. He previously worked for Family Service Spokane as executive director and is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed independent clinical social worker.

Elected

Gregory Deckard has been re-elected to the Independent Community Bankers of America’s board of directors and has been appointed chairman of the organization’s Regulatory Review Committee. Deckard is chairman, president and CEO of State Bank Northwest.

The Idaho Fire Chiefs Association elected Kenny Gabriel as president. Gabriel is chief of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.