Monday, April 19, 2010

Best wishes to Spokane personal trainer Michelle Levitch as she runs the Boston Marathon today! Michelle is the owner of Body by Michelle that is located within Wellbody Training Studio, which is operated by Donna Braunbeck on the lower level of the Bank of America building. The phone number is 509-270-0230.

Thompson Custom Orthotics and Prosthetics is operating out of their new 12,400 square foot building at 401 South Sherman starting today. The $2 million building, on a two acre site, was built by Meridian Construction, Inc. The building houses Thompson's main office and production lab, including eight patient rooms and fabrication space for their orthotic and prosthetic business. Founded in 1985, Thompson's Custom Orthotics and Prosthetics has a long tradition of providing patients the highest level of care, quality of product, and participation in the team healthcare approach. Thompson's is a leader in cutting edge O&P technology and prides itself in offering certifications in emerging innovations in the field. In addition to their new Sherman street location, they have offices in the Integrated Medical Plaza at 601 West 5th, suite 302 and in Clarkston. Thompson also provides inpatient services to local hospitals and nursing homes. The website is thompsons-op.com.

Tom McArthur has joined the Rockin' B Ranch as house manager and chief audience wrangler at all events this summer. He will also be working with Tim Behrens, Marketing Director, on a variety of promotions. McArthur, former television news reporter and Congressional press secretary, composer and published author, previously served the past 8 years as Communications Director for the Davenport Hotel. Rockin B Ranch, Spokane's only cowboy supper show, also offers Jazz and Bluegrass nights, Family nights and the comedy of Pat McManus. Rockin' B opens for the season June 11 through September. For more information, visit www.rockinbranch.com.

The Spokane Country Club is hosting an Open House on Friday, April 30th from 5:30 to 9:00 for people considering social, corporate or golfing memberships at the club. Members and staff will host guests as they tour the facilities and grounds of the 100 year old club to include dining and social event areas, swimming pool, pro-shop, locker rooms, practice facilities and a riding tour of the championship golf course. Guests will be able to view information and have their questions answered about the many programs and activities at the club. SCC merchandise, gift certificates for the restaurant, rounds of golf and other prizes will be raffled in a drawing that evening. A limited number of golf and social memberships are currently available at prices that have not been seen in decades. Golf applications received prior to May 31 qualify for a $1000 discount off of the standard initiation fee. For detailed information and directions, visit www.SpokaneCountryClub.com. For more information, and to RSVP for the Open House, contact John Stone, GM at John@SpokaneCountryClub.com or Debbie Baty, MGR, at Debbie@SpokaneCountryClub.com, or call 509-466-2121.

Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI) has announced the 2010 AGORA Awards Finalists. Winners will be announced at a ceremony and breakfast June 2nd from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at The Davenport Hotel. The public is invited to attend, pre-registration is required. Award recipients (GSI members and non-members), exemplify business excellence in categories listed. Small Non-Profit: Christ Clinic, Spokane Humane Society, Tincan. Medium Business: Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, Coffman Engineers, Inc., DeVries Business Services, Nystrom Olson Collins, Inc. Large Non-Profits: Catholic Charities of Spokane, The Salvation Army of Spokane, YMCA of the Inland Northwest. Large Business: Advantage IQ, Inc., CH2M Hill, Inc., Inland Empire Distribution Systems, Inc., Moss Adams LLP. Small Business: Caffe Pazzesco, Catered For You, Inc., Design Source, Inc., Stewart & Associates, PS. Judges measure success in areas such as company growth, marketing strategy, employee environment, customer service, response to adversity and contribution to the regional economy. More than 100 businesses and organizations have been recipients of the AGORA Award for a quarter century, and several thousand have been nominated and named as finalists. To register, visit events.greaterspokane.org.

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The 60th Annual Sukiyaki Dinner, part of the Japan Week Celebration, a cultural event and an appreciation of cultural diversity in our community, will be held on Saturday, April 24 from noon to 7pm. This dinner is prepared by the Japanese-American Congregation of Highland Park Methodist Church, most of which are 2nd and 3rd generation Japanese families from the Spokane community. The dinner will be at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 611 South Garfield Street in Spokane. Dine-in or take-out are available. Tickets are $12 and are available by calling 509-535-2687.

Paine Hamblen LLP recently hired Julie A. Owens as an associate in the Coeur d'Alene office. Her emphasis is in Civil Litigation. She earned her J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Truman State University. Ms. Owens is admitted to practice in the states of Idaho, Washington, Missouri and Illinois.

Custer's 35th Annual Spring Antique & Collectors Sale is this Friday through Sunday, April 23-25 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. This year's show features over 300 dealers from across the country, in the largest indoor Antique & Collectors sale of its kind in the Inland Northwest. Hours are Friday 4-9pm; Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 11am-5pm. Admission is $6, good all weekend, children 12 and under are free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.CusterShows.com. Also at the sale this year is The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC) on Saturday and Sunday with MAC Appraisal Days, where you can bring your family treasures to find out what they're worth. Cost of this admission is $5 per item, limit 3 items per person.

Chris Majer, CEO and founder of the Human Potential Project and author of "The Power to Transform," is a pioneer in the design of transformational education who has helped organizations ranging from the U.S. Army to AT&T to elevate their team performance, turn around failing divisions and meet aggressive growth goals. For the first time, he is offering his program locally to business and community leaders in the Spokane region. If you have met Chris, you know he's not about the quick fix or miracle pill. His proven methodology is about helping individuals and teams develop new "embodied competencies" that allow them to create and sustain high performance. "Competing for the Future" is a 6 month program that consists of conferences, assignments and small team coaching. It's the ideal program for executive or project teams who are starting something new, facing challenges, or looking for a breakthrough in their performance. It's also designed for individuals who want to take their careers to the next level, by learning how to make more powerful offers in the market. Space is limited and the course is expected to sell out. The course starts on May 24th. For more information and enrollment details, go to http://www.humanpotentialproject.com. How's Business readers can receive a $400 discount upon registration by entering the code ECHP2. Contact: Mike Hammer mike.hammer@humanpotentialproject.com.

Longtime Spokane radio personality Dave Spencer recently entered the business of Real Estate after joining Coldwell Banker Northwest Group in March. Spencer spent 19 years with the KXLY Broadcast Group, most recently as the producer for "Dave, Ken & Molly" on 92.9 ZZU. Spencer's departure from KXLY came at the end of February after receiving notice of his layoff in early January. Coldwell Banker Northwest Group is owned by brothers Neil and Eric Johnson and their sister Melinda Denton. Their family real estate office first opened in 1963, with offices on the South Hill and in North Spokane. Dave Spencer can be contacted at 509-869-7453 or at dspencer@cbspokane.net.

Latah Creek Wine Cellars announces the release of Monarch Red, a handcrafted blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah with an engaging new art label. Mike Conway, a long-time accomplished Washington winemaker, and Edward W. Gilmore, a Northwest painter, have joined forces to create Monarch Red. The label is a replication of a painting by the abstract expressionist, Gilmore, and is available for viewing at the winery. Giclees, (reproductions on canvas) and artist's prints are also available for purchase at the winery's gift shop to accompany the wine. To taste this new wine and see the painting, join Latah Creek Wine Cellars and Gilmore Fine Arts on Friday, April 23rd from 5-7pm at the winery, 13030 East Indiana in Spokane Valley. The phone number is 509-926-0164 For more information about Latah Creek Wine Cellars, go to www.latahcreek.com and for Edward W. Gilmore, go to www.isitagilmore.com.

MJ's Chocolate Fantasy, Spokane and the Inland NW's Premier chocolate fountain company will be providing the Belgian chocolate fountains for two upcoming nonprofit events this week. Friday, April 23rd they will be doing the fountain for Union Gospel Mission's thank you party for their volunteers. Saturday, April 24th they will be at the Bing for the "Dancing with Celebrities" fundraiser for Christian Youth Theatre. For more information contact MJ Clarke at mjclarke@comcast.net or 509-991-1167.

The Rockin' Art event is a fundraiser for the Spokane Public Schools Foundation where Mark Graham's band-The 8 Tracks-is playing. The event will be at The Lincoln Center (1316 N. Lincoln Street) on April 23. The 8 Tracks play rock and roll, and you likely know the words to all the songs! Student art (grades 9-12) will be displayed for the silent auction. The works of art were created by high school students from throughout the district. The suggested donation is $10 per person. This event supports all the SPS schools and helps to fund the annual All-City 5th and 6th grade Band and Strings concert at the Arena (which many of our children played in). They need to raise a lot of money to support the concert event. For more information contact Susan Nielsen at 509-991-9151 or email susan@strategicniche.com.

Congratulations to the NW ADDY Award winners for excellence in advertising. Local winners received 6 Gold ADDY Awards and 28 Silver ADDY Awards at the regional competition, and several will be moving on to the National ADDY competition. (All Gold winners are automatically sent on to Nationals.) Special congratulations to Quisenberry Marketing & Design which won Best of Show, Print, for their 2009 URM Annual Report.

Save your loose change for the Spokane Guilds' School Foundation's 14th Annual Community Penny Drive on Saturday, April 24th. This year, there are 16 donation drop-off sites around Spokane County; please visit their website for a complete list (www.guildschool.org). Over 500 volunteers will participate on April 24th to collect the pennies, dimes, dollars etc. from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is the community's opportunity to support infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities at the Spokane Guilds' School & Neuromuscular Center. Your loose change, even your pennies, can make a tremendous difference in the lives of children, birth to age three, who need and deserve early intervention therapies at the Spokane Guilds' School. Local businesses are invited to support this fundraiser by displaying it on their reader boards. The Spokane Guilds' School Foundation Penny Drive partners and sponsors are: Darigold; Lawton Printing; PEMCO; Sterling Savings Bank (media sponsor); D.A. Davidson; Spokane Association of Realtors; Witherspoon Kelley; Moloney, O’Neill, Corkery & Jones; Butler, Robinson & Associates PS; Randall & Danskin PS; and the Inland Northwest Car Club Council.

The business thought of the week is from David Frost: "Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally."

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