Business Beat
Leah Ausburn has been hired as a sales associate at Tomlinson Black Valley.
Denny Christenson & Associates has hired Sheetal Mehta as an intern architect. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture, from the Institute of Environmental Design in India.
Brent Booth has been hired as director of operations at the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Washington, North Idaho & Montana. He is a graduate of the University of Montana and holds a master’s of business administration.
Northwestern Mutual has hired Rick Carey as a financial representative. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds a bachelor’s degree in operations management.
AmericanWest Bank has hired Cynthia MacGeagh as vice president and commercial loan officer. She has 11 years of financial experience and holds a master’s of business administration from Seattle University.
Kevin Pooley has been hired as a Realtor at Keller Williams Realty Coeur d’Alene. He previously worked at Lighthouse Sporting Goods and will focus on residential, new construction, waterfront and rural and ranch properties.
Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital has hired Melinda Moore as director of human resources. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Washington University and has over 12 years of experience in human resources management.
Greg Scott has been hired as a sales associate at Tomlinson Black Valley.
Kim Johnson has been hired as an insurance and financial services agent at Farmers Insurance Group and has opened an office in Spokane.
Heart Clinics Northwest has hired Michael Sells as a nurse. He holds a master’s degree in nursing from Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing.
PROMOTED
Global Credit Union has promoted Ron McKay to senior vice president of real estate lending. He has worked at the credit union for eight years.
CJ Williamson has been promoted to assistant vice president of Sterling Savings Bank. She has been with the bank since 1996 and was first hired as the commercial loan servicing receptionist.
Avista Corp. has promoted Christy Burmeister-Smith to vice president and treasurer. She previously worked as vice president and controller and has been with the company since 1980.
RBC Dain Rauscher’s Spokane office has promoted James McMullen to Portfolio Focus, Senior Portfolio Manager Group. He is a first vice president and financial consultant for the company.
APPOINTED/ELECTED
The Inland Northwest Business Travel Association has elected its 2006 officers and board members. They are: president and hospitality co-chair, Dana Devine of the Davenport Hotel; vice president and technology chair, Karolynn Clark of Avista Utilities; past president, bylaws and programs chair, Gerri Vance of Lifestream Technologies Inc.; treasurer and hospitality co-chair, Sandy Hoveskeland of Farm Credit Services; secretary, Kelli Hochstedler of Baker Construction; membership chair, Linda Bankey of Jensen Distribution Services; public relations chair, Melanie Hays of the Courtyard by Marriott.
The Gonzaga University Board of Regents has appointed Tim Thompson as a member. Thompson is president of Thompson Smitch Consulting Group in Tacoma and is a 1981 graduate of Gonzaga.
The Kiwanis Club of Downtown Spokane has elected its 2005-2006 officers. They are: Don Largent, president; Terry Bollum, president-elect; Scott Sherman, vice president; Gary Nogle, treasurer; Matt Ries, secretary; Tim Vorpahl, past president; and board members, Patti Reeves, Dale Walls, Becky Clinton, Dick Kunze, Jeannie Shepherd, Matt McCoy, Austin DePaolo and John Beck.
The Spokane HomeOwnership Resource Center has elected its 2006 board of directors. They are: president, David Bauer; vice president, Doug Gore; treasurer, Raymond Mooney; secretary, Al Haslebacher; immediate past president, Kay Keyser-Cram; and board members Matthew Burchill, Stephen Flinn, Chuck Hormel, Matt Riener, Clifford Walton Jr., and Diana Wilhite.
Inland Northwest Land Trust has elected the following to its board: Gordon Milbrandt, Jan Moulder, Linda Moulder, Lisa Prochnow, Gee Sutherlin; Jane Takai, and Peter Witherspoon.
Jennifer Hall has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board. She is the small-farm marketing coordinator of the Spokane County extension of Washington State University and executive director of Chefs Collaborative.
NEW BUSINESS
Andy and Heidi Jarski have opened Mountain Comfort Furnishings and Design at 310 W. Haycroft, Coeur d’Alene. The store can be reached at (208) 667-8686.
Tanya Little, a registered counselor, is offering counseling services through her Web site, www.helphorizons.com. She has over 20 years of family services experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in human development from Washington State University.