Katzele replaces Quintrall at BBB

The BBB serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Montana has a new CEO and president.

Eleanor “Elea” Katzele, who has been vice president of the Spokane-based Better Business Bureau since 2007, will step into the position being vacated by Jan Quintrall.

Quintrall has accepted the position of head of the City of Spokane’s business and economic development efforts, the mayor’s office announced Monday.

Katzele said she intends to focus on building relationships with BBB-accredited businesses and encouraging consumers to become educated buyers throughout BBB’s three-state region.

Prior to working for BBB, Katzele spent six years with Bank of America in various roles. She has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University with management, marketing and  human resources majors.

Staff report

Moody’s downgrades Greece even more

ATHENS, Greece – The ratings agency Moody’s downgraded Greece to the lowest rating on its bond scale late Friday, following a deal with private investors that would see them ultimately lose about 70 percent of their holdings in Greek debt.

Moody’s lowered Greece’s sovereign rating to C from Ca, arguing that the risk of default remains high even if a bond-swap deal with banks and other private investors, due to be completed this month, is successful.

It said it would “reassess the credit risk profile” after Greece issues the new bonds.

Associated Press

Production of Volts to halt for five weeks

DALLAS – General Motors Co. is suspending production of its Chevrolet Volt electric car for five weeks amid disappointing sales.

A GM spokesman said Friday that the company will shut down production of the Volt from March 19 until April 23, idling 1,300 workers at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.

The Volt was rolled out with great fanfare in late 2010 but has since hit bumps in the road. Sales have fallen short of expectations, and its reputation was bruised by an investigation into a possible fire risk.

Associated Press