Business Beat

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Communications

• Sound Telecom presented call center employee Michelle Carson with its Infinity Award for excellence in customer service. Carson works as a call center agent for the company’s Spokane office.

Construction

• Jason Cook has been hired as assistant estimator/project manager for Burke Construction Group’s Pacific Northwest Region office in Cheney. He is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional and holds a business degree in construction management from Colorado State University.

Education

• North Idaho College named Lita Burns vice president of instruction. She previously served as dean of NIC’s Health Professions and Nursing department and has been with the college since 2001.

Energy

• Monica McLean has been hired as human resources administrator for Kootenai Electric Cooperative. She previously worked as a human resources generalist for Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho. She holds Professional Human Resources and Certified Benefits Professional certifications, as well as a bachelor’s degree in human resources from the University of Idaho.

Finance

• Banner Bank promoted Tasha Feagan to assistant vice president/branch manager of the company’s Third and Stevens branch. Feagan has been with Banner Bank since 2007.

• Matt Weed has earned the Certified Portfolio Manager designation from Columbia University. Weed is a research administrator for Pinkerton Retirement Specialists, LLC in Coeur d’Alene.

• Spokane Teachers Credit Union hired Jeff Verble as commercial lending manager. Verble has 29 years of banking industry experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from Eastern Washington University.

• Jessie Chastain has been promoted from a real estate loan officer to a home loan relationship development officer for Spokane Teachers Credit Union. She has been with the company for five years. STCU also promoted Terri Mills from business services manager to small-business manager. Mills has been with the credit union since 2007.

Health care

• National Vision’s America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses in North Spokane hired Laura Renz as general manager. Renz is a licensed dispensing optician and holds Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) certifications. She has 22 years of optical experience and previously worked for JC Penney Optical since 2002.

• The following individuals have been appointed as new members of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute’s Community Advisory Board: Allen Battle of LaunchPad Inland Northwest, LLC; John Bumgarner of Washington Trust Bank; Dr. George Rice, retired physician; and Tracy Van Orden of Avista Corp.

Insurance

• Scott Peterson has earned an Accredited Adviser of Insurance Designation by completing coursework sponsored by Liberty Northwest Insurance. Peterson works for Harris/Dean Western States Insurance in Coeur d’Alene.

Marketing

• Klündt | Hosmer promoted Ashley Martin to account director. She has been with the firm for seven years.

Miscellaneous

• Jim Munro has earned NxLevel instructor/facilitator certification from NxLevel’s “Train the Trainer” program. Munro is a business coach with ActionCOACH Business Coaching in Spokane Valley.

Nonprofit

• The following individuals have been elected as new members to the Inland Northwest Planned Giving Council’s board of directors: Kjirstin Graham of K&L Gates; Tony Higley of Community Colleges of Spokane; Bobbie League of Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center; and Kerry Wiltzius of Spokane Humane Society.

• Andrew Robideaux has been named director of development for the Diocese of Spokane. He has owned and operated Robideaux Inc. public relations/advertising firm for six years. He has 16 years of advertising industry experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.