Monday, July 20, 2009

Spokane has been named one of America's Next Cities, the best places to live and work for young professionals, by Next Generation Consulting. Spokane placed 13th on the list of Mighty Micros, cities with populations from 100,000 - 200,000. "Next Cities" announced their rankings - the best places to live and work for young professionals - in three population categories. NGC tabulated the rankings after collecting and analyzing 45 measures for all U.S. cities with over 100,000 people. NGC has studied the residential and relocation patterns of 20-40 years olds since 1998, and has developed a one-of-a-kind indexing system that evaluates a city based on the assets that are important to next gen workers. According to NGC, the seven indexes of a "Next City" are: Earning, Learning, Vitality, Around Town, After Hours, Cost of Lifestyle, and Social Capital. The rankings are based on a city's total score in all seven indexes.

Yoke's Fresh markets has promoted Jeff Weisgerber to manager of the Sprague store in Spokane Valley at 15111 E Sprague Avenue. He has been with Yokes' for more than 16 years. Yoke's website is www.yokesfoods.com

Cassano's Italian Grocery has settled in to their new location at 2002 East Mission at Napa, just east of Avista. The store, owned by Carl Naccarato, has the finest selection of imported Italian foods, wines and specialty items in the inland northwest, and has expanded services to include a larger selection of standard grocery items, a deli serving sandwiches and pasta dishes, a full service Italian restaurant and a catering service. The restaurant called Mission Street Bistro and the catering service, called David DeCarlo's are being operated by long time restaurateur Dave Finney. The Italian restaurant, located in the back of the grocery store, has a family feeling and serves "homemade-style" old country dishes like Carl's Famous Lasagna, made from a recipe passed down through the generations of Naccarato's family, as well as Vegetarian Pomodoro, and Chicken Asiago Fettuccini. Sandwiches, salads and burgers are also on the menu along with sensational New York style, hand tossed pizzas. And for dessert - hand made Italian Cannoli and Tiramisu! The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 2 pm and dinner Tuesday thorough Friday from 5-8pm. You can also order for take out. For more information you can contact Cassano's at 509-747-3888.

Patrick DeVries, owner of DeVries Business Services, was recently honored by the North Spokane Exchange Club with its annual Golden Deeds Award, recognizing his efforts for his working with Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest as a board member and past president. DeVries Business Services provides secure Document Destruction and Records Storage services to its clients in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

Karin Kasinger has taken her neighborhood welcoming service, A Grand Welcome, to new heights with a college campus program debuting next month. When 1,200 new Gonzaga University students arrive on campus this fall they will be greeted with an orientation packet from A Grand Welcome. Inside there will be a wide array of ads and inserts containing community and business information, gift certificates and maps. Insertion in the packet is available at surprisingly affordable prices. If you would like to reach these incoming students with information about your business, contact A Grand Welcome at 509-534-5214 or check their website at www.agrandwelcome.com. The deadline is the end of July.

The Referral Institute is a new business that is set to open in Liberty Lake at 21950 East Country Vista Drive #500, on August 3 and will begin training sessions, with Dave McKenzie at the helm. McKenzie is a long time sales professional and Valley Chamber volunteer who was most recently with Go Wireless. The mission of the Referral Institute is to help people create Referrals For Life® and teaches business professionals how to harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing to drive sales for fast, sustainable business growth. Their programs and events allow students to stay immersed in the material basically guaranteeing implementation of the material into their business. The web site is www.referralinstitutespokane.com, Dave McKenzie's phone is 509 - 868, 9801 and his email is david@referralinstitutespokane.com

According to the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, August conventions and events will bring in $1.8 million to our local economy. Meetings and events next month include the Highland Games and Good Guys Rod and Custom Association at the Spokane County Interstate Fair and Expo Center, the Spokane Falls Northwest Indian encampment and Pow Wow in Riverfront Park and the Federation of Northwest Outdoor Clubs at the Montvale Hotel.

Numerica Credit Union recently welcomed Keith Connolly as a new employee in the position of AVP of branch administration and sales. Connolly has nine years of management experience in the financial industry, five being with credit unions that include AVP, regional and branch levels. He graduated college from Boise State University and has attained the following certifications from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA): Certified Credit Union Executive, Certified Financial Services Professional, and Certified Lending Specialist.

Meridian Construction, Inc. president, Mark D'Agostino has announced that Mike Keenan, senior project manager, has passed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design exam, earning the title of a LEED Accredited Professional. Meridian Construction, Inc. is a General Contracting and Construction Management company located at 15807 E. Indiana Avenue in Spokane Valley. The phone number is 509-443-0252./p>

Spokane Seed Company has received the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency's 2009 Small Business of the Year award.

Reservations are now open for The Pumpkin Ball, a black-tie gala that benefits Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and Sacred Heart Children's Hospital. This year's event will be October 24 at 5:30 pm at the Spokane Convention Center. Last year the Pumpkin Ball attracted close to 600 health care, community and business leaders, and raised more than $180,000 to benefit our region's youngest and most vulnerable citizens. The event features dinner, high-end live and silent auctions, and dancing. One of the evening's highlights is a pumpkin carving contest featuring well-known community leaders. You can get more information, learn about sponsorship opportunities and make reservations at the website, thepumpkinball.org, or by calling Pumpkin Ball director, Kathy Maurer at 509-838-2721.

Kristen Paul has been promoted from Account Coordinator to Account Executive at Desautel Hege Communications. In her new capacity at DHC, Paul will assist with strategic consultation and planning, coordinate copywriting, design, and media outreach and support new business development. Paul has established herself as a key player on a variety of accounts with tasks ranging from copywriting and media outreach, to research and implementation and the development of collateral materials. Paul graduated from Gonzaga University in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations, a minor in Political Science and a concentration in Entrepreneurial Leadership. Paul is the communications chair for the Spokane Society of Young Professionals and an active mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The West Plains Chamber of Commerce has relocated its offices to the second floor of the Bank of Whitman Building at 8727 West State Route 2, Suite 212 Spokane WA. 99224. The new phone number is 509-747-8480, the new fax number is 509-624-5244 and the website remains westplainschamber.org.

The 6th Annual Spokane Advertising Federation Charity Golf Tournament for Project Share is Wednesday, September 2, at MeadowWood Golf Course in Liberty Lake. The cost is $80 per person and includes greens fees, deli box lunch, beverages, and BBQ after the game. Or you can put together a team for $300. Tournament sponsorships are available for as little as $100. The tournament kicks off with a shotgun start at 1 pm, Wednesday, September 2. Early arrivers can play the driving range at no charge. The reservation deadline is August 26. MeadowWood Golf Course is located at 24501 East Valley Way, Liberty Lake. Promotional sponsors of the event are: Anderson Mraz Design, Dean Davis Photography, Johnston Printing, Quisenberry Marketing & Design, The Inlander and InHealthNW Magazine. For more information go to www.spokaneadfed.com or call 509-328-5855.

How many business organizations are fortunate to have member businesses that have supported the organization with their consistent membership for more than 100 years? Greater Spokane Inc. is one of those organizations, with twelve members that have passed the century mark:
Anthony Baker & Burns, Avista, Cowles Company, Deaconess Medical Center, Dodson's Jewelers, Gonzaga University, Jensen Distribution Services, Pacific Steel & Recycling, Paine Hamblen LLP, Providence Health Care, Qwest Communications, and Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole, P.S.
Some of the names have changed over the last century, (even the name of the Chamber of Commerce to GSI), yet these businesses, and the Chamber, have made a significant the business community and on the community as a whole.

The business quote of the week is thoughts from the late Mary Ann Sanger, business educator extraordinaire at Community Colleges of Spokane, who passed away from cancer July 11 at the age of 51: "Look famous. Be legendary. Appear complex. Act easy. Radiate presence. Travel light. Seem a dream. Prove real."

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