Business Beat: A collection of regional advancement and achievement

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Accounting

Mike Schaffer has joined Magnuson, McHugh and Company as a tax manager and Kim Fontes has joined the firm’s consulting and accounting services department. Previously, Schaffer was a senior manager in the tax department at Eide Bailly LLP in Boise. Prior to joining the firm, Fontes was a self-employed certified public accountant, a controller for Master Plan Developments, Inc. and a senior tax accountant for Ernst & Young, LLP. In addition, the firm has promoted Korby Baker to senior accountant in audit and assurance services. Baker has been with the firm since 2010.

Construction

Jerry Sparling has opened a bathroom remodeling services company, Five Star Bath Solutions of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, at 311 E. Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive in Coeur d’Alene. Sparling has 27 years of experience in glass installation and bathroom renovation. For more information on this new business, call (509) 321-4351.

Government

Richard B. Kayne has been named a recipient of the William O. Douglas Judicial Service Award from the Washington State Association for Justice in recognition of 20 years of diligent service and commitment to the justice system in the state of Washington. Kayne is a judge for Medical Lake Municipal Court and Kalispel Tribal Court. He is a 1977 graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law.

Healthcare

Sean Sipe has opened Inspire Physical Therapy at 601 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 308. The clinic offers treatment for sports injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation and general orthopedic conditions. Sipe also owns Spokane Occupational and Hand Therapy. In addition, Eric Schaefer has been hired as the clinic director. Schaefer has more than 23 years of outpatient orthopedic experience. For more information on this new business, call (509) 413-2495 or visit www.inspireptspokane.com.

Moscow Vision Clinic is now North Idaho Vision. It remains at its location at 1420 S. Blaine St. in Moscow. In addition, Katey Hajos has joined North Idaho Vision as its first full-time vision therapist. Hajos has been working in vision therapy since 2005.

Human Resources

Melody Matthews has been named a recipient of the Society of Human Resources Management’s 2015 SHRM Learning System Champion award. Matthews is the director of certifications for the Inland Northwest Society of Human Resources Management and human resource information system director at Community Colleges of Spokane.

Insurance

Wendy Christeson has joined PayneWest Insurance as an account specialist in the Spokane office. Christeson has been in the insurance industry since 2013 and was previously a coverage specialist.

Non-profit

Jessie Wuerst, of Avista Utilities, and Bryce Wilkinson, of Washington Trust Bank, have joined the board of directors for Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest. Wuerst will sit on the planning and mission development committee and Wilkinson will sit on the oversight and finance committee.

EWI of Spokane has named Alissa Kensok as a recipient of the Most Valuable New Player of the Year award and Jillian Robison as a recipient of the Representative of the Year award. These awards recognize EWI members who have dedicated valuable time and expertise to the organization.

The Spokane University District has announced the 2016 board of directors and officers. Officers are: chair, Karl Otterstrom of Spokane Transit Authority; vice chair, Steve Trabun of Avista Corporation; treasurer, Tom Johnson of Spokane Teachers Credit Union; secretary, Mike Livingston of Kiemle & Hagood Company; past chair, Kim Pearman-Gillman of McKinstry. Returning board members are: Barry Baker of Baker Construction & Development; Chancellor Lisa Brown of Washington State University Spokane; Mayor David Condon of City of Spokane; Mary Cullinan of Eastern Washington University; Taudd Hume of Parsons/Burnett/Bjordal/Hume, LLP; Christine Johnson of Community Colleges of Spokane; Thayne McCulloh of Gonzaga University; Mark Richard of Downtown Spokane Partnership; Council President Ben Stuckart of Spokane City Council; Beck Taylor of Whitworth University; Robin Toth of Greater Spokane Incorporated. New members are: Catherine O’Connell Brazil of the University of Washington; Bruce Butterworth of Contract Design Associates, Inc.; Kent Hull of Iron Bridge, LLC; Mariah McKay of Spokane Regional Health District; Kim Zentz of Washington State University. In addition, Alden Lee Jones has joined the organization as the marketing and communications project manager and assistant to the executive director. She has extensive experience working with top academic, corporate and non-profit leaders. Previously, she was the administrator and assistant to the executive director of the Life Sciences Discovery Fund Authority.