Business Beat

New faces:

Kelli Thompson has joined the investment firm of Richards, Merrill and Peterson as an account executive. Thompson moved back to the Spokane area from Seattle to partner with Kurt Orton and Tom McDonald. The firm provides investment services with expertise in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and retirement planning.

WT Mortgage Group has hired Michael Bjorge as a loan originator. Bjorge, who is a graduate of Montana State University, has more than seven years of mortgage financing experience. He will work out of the Spokane office.

Sedgwick Noble Lowndes has added the following people to its staff:

John Carlson joined the company as a consultant. Carlson was previously the senior vice president for Medical Service Corp. and is currently a trustee of Whitworth College.

Angie Nordling previously was an insurance and Medicare adviser with Inland Cardiology Associates P.S. She also is a member of the Washington Air National Guard and the 560th Air Force Band.

Federated Insurance has named Keith Krueger its auto dealer marketing specialist for Eastern Washington, with offices at 1504 Northwest Blvd. Krueger, who has been with the company since 1984, relocated from the Midwest.

Nancy McMurray has been named administrator of HealthLink, a nonprofit company providing systems and support for Northwest Medical Services Organization and Northside Physician Hospital Network physicians and health plans. Mark Shelby, a certified public accountant formerly with LeMaster and Daniels, is controller. Clay Hatch, HealthLink’s former intranet systems manager, was promoted to operations manager. John Driscoll joined the company as executive director of the Practice Management Division.

The Spokane Public Facilities District has elected Lynn Ericksen, general manager of the Doubletree Hotel-City Center, to a four-year term on the district’s board. Ericksen has more than 20 years of hospitality industry management experience, including 14 with Red Lion and Doubletree Hotels.

Moving up:

Robert Neate has become a partner at Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke and Miller LLP. During his 15 years with the firm, his practice has focused on advising business clients, often in the context of commercial litigation or contract negotiations. Neate, who earned his law degree from Notre Dame, is based in the firm’s Spokane office.

Washington Trust Bank has promoted Beverly Gleason to vice president/ investment services. Gleason, who has been with the bank since 1988, currently is the manager for several investment products. She provides investment advisory services to bank customers and will continue her role as an investment officer.

Michelle Viau has been promoted to vice president and chief financial officer at Pegasus Gold Inc. Viau joined the company in 1984 and has held a variety of financial positions, including tax manager, assistant controller, controller and most recently treasurer.

Transactions:

United Coatings has designated Macon Supply of Spokane as a distributor for the UNI-TEX exterior insulation and finish system for Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

Elected:

The Inland Northwest Chapter of the Appraisal Institute has installed the following officers for 1998: president, Scot Auble; vice president, Michael Gentry; secretary, Edward Morse, and treasurer, Terry Neal; directors include: Terry Savage, Jeffrey Lembeck and Karl Albrecht.

Tom Clark, president of Shea Construction Inc., has been elected president of the Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors. Other officers for 1998 are: vice president, Eric Brown, Eric Brown Construction Inc.; vice president, Lonnie Cargile, Cargile Construction Group; re-elected treasurer, Bob Haney, Max J. Kuney Co. Newly elected members of the board of directors are: Nick Tommer, Tommer Construction Co.; Ken Schwartz, Lydig Construction Inc.; Chris Anderson, North Star Enterprises Inc.; and Rob Crick, Winston and Cashett Lawyers.

The new executive director for the Washington Utilities Coordinating Council is John Michler of Washington Water Power.

The Spokane Public Facilities District Board elected Trish McFarland as chair and Carl Lind as vice chair for a one-year term. McFarland is Gonzaga Preparatory School’s development director and is responsible for fund-raising, marketing, publications, alumni and volunteer services. She formerly was executive director of the Ronald McDonald House. Lind is a retired concrete, sand and gravel executive. He has served on the board of directors of the Salvation Army, the Spokane Interstate Fair, St. George’s School and Associated General Contractors.

Appointed:

Randall Stamper has been appointed to the board of directors of Oakland-based American Baptist Homes of the West. Stamper is senior partner at Stamper, Rubens, Stocker and Smith P.S.

Allen Schweim, executive director of Spokane Transit System, has been appointed to the Washington state Department of Transportation’s Transportation Improvement Board. Schweim will serve as one of two representatives who represent a general manager, executive director or transit director of a public transportation system in an urban area with a population of over 200,000.

Certifications:

The following people have qualified as certified drafters under criteria established by the American Design Drafting Association, according to the ITT Technical Institute: Mungo Becker, George Brooks, Mike Budd, Raymond Burnahm Jr., Casey Dorsey, Jeremy Drager, Fredrick Ferguson, Bryan Hamilton, Todd Harmon, Faith Kidder, Shane Longdin, Travis Maiuri, Dan Myers, Chad Oster, William Partain, Hudson Peavey, Jeremy Ruby and Christy Schaff.

Kudos:

Northwest Farmer-Stockman Inc. has received the “Number One Producing Manager” award as the top producing agency in the country for Mutual Protective/Medico Life Insurance Co. NWFS General Manager Michael R. Craigen said the award was based on 1997 totals of 3,584 policies and $4.1 million. NWFS is a subsidiary of Cowles Publishing Co.

Thomas Drynan finished in the top 100 out of more than 8,000 agents for New York Life and was awarded 1997 Agent of the Year for the Spokane General Office. The award is presented annually to the top producing New York Life agent in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

A book authored by Gonzaga University nursing associate professor Susan Norwood, ‘Nurses as Consultants: Essential Concepts and Processes’, has been recognized by the American Journal of Nursing as a Book of the Year in three categories: advanced practice nursing/professional role development, gerontological nursing and nursing education/continuing education. The book, published by Addison-WesleyLongman, was written specifically for nurses who are pursuing graduate degrees and preparing themselves to assume advanced nursing roles.

Events:

Tuesday - The Small Business Development Center presents Session III of an International Fast Track Series on “Cultural Sensitivity for International Business” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Wednesday - Smith Barney presents a free seminar on “Roth or Traditional IRA - How Can I Decide?” from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Spokane Club, 1002 W. Riverside. For reservations or information, call Gayleana Dschaak at 455-6069.

Wednesday - The Service Corps of Retired Executives presents a workshop on “The ABC’s of Starting a Business” from 9 a.m.-noon at the Small Business Administration conference room, 601 W. First. Cost: $15; for information or to register, call 353-2822.

Thursday - The Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Developments presents a teleconference on plans to use disaster recovery funds from 9-11 a.m. at Educational Service District 101, 910 N. Ash. Comments will be taken on the state’s plan to distribute $2.4 million in federal disaster recovery grant funds and $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds linked to the Jan. 19, 1997, disaster declaration. For more information, call Lynn Dahman at (360) 586-0869.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Introduction to Construction Bidding” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Thursday - The Small Business Development Center presents a class on “Payroll Recordkeeping” from 6-9 p.m. at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35; call 358-7890 for information or to register.

Friday - The Hispanic Business and Professional Association meets at 11:30 a.m. at Cavanaughs Fourth Avenue, 110 E. Fourth. For information, call Marilyn DeCoster at 535-3770.

Saturday - The Spokane Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction and the Inland Northwest Chapter of Associated General Contractors sponsor the Sixth Annual Block Kids competition at 8:30 a.m. at Carpenters Apprenticeship Hall, 5309 E. Third. The free contest is open to children in grades one through six. For more information, call Chris Wigginton at 926-8235.

March 9 - The Training and Education Coordinating Center presents Session II of a Zenger Miller Frontline Leadership Series on “Building a Constructive Relationship with Your Manager” from 6-9 p.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center, 3939 N. Freya. Cost: $65; call 533-4700 for information.

March 10 - Disney University and Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest present “The Disney Keys to Management Excellence” from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. Cost: $325 for members, $375 for nonmembers; for more information, call Dennis Ashley at 777-2656.

March 10 - The Valley Leads Club presents a Visitor’s Day from 12:15-1:30 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Doubletree Hotel at Sullivan and Mission. Cost: $7.50 for lunch; for reservations or more information, call Beth Ann at 921-9581.

March 16 and 17 - Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest presents a program on “Leadworker Training” from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. both days at 920 N. Washington. Cost: $199 for members, $299 for nonmembers; registration deadline is Tuesday.

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