Movers & Shakers July 22, 2010

Slam Shop now Elite

Dick Woller, who has operated The Slam Shop for about 10 years, changed the name and focus of the body shop.

Elite Body Shop and Restoration Services is the new name, reflecting a change in business model for the shop at 23111 W. Highway 53 in Post Falls.

Cars, trucks, hot rods, boats, motorcycles and even airplanes will now be considered as projects by Woller, who has been in the business for 40 years, and his employees.

General collision repairs are not part of day-to-day operations, but custom welding and fabrication are.

Information: 777-7020

Fleck joins JP Stravens

Martin Fleck has joined the planning and market research staff at JP Stravens/Planning Associates in Coeur d'Alene.

Fleck is a graduate of the University of Washington and has considerable experience with the new G.I.S. data systems. He arrived in Coeur d'Alene after working in Washington, D.C., as coordinator for a national organization where he used Internet-based tools to build a nationwide network.

JP Stravens/Planning Associates (www.jpstravens.com) is a small organization located in North Idaho offering planning services, demographic data and mapping for a variety of public and private clients. They develop and collect data in seven counties in three states - which comprise the largest market area between Seattle and Minneapolis - to provide clients with data

"Martin has the necessary experience in a leadership capacity with government and industry to provide the kind of quality service we all expect," said principal Jim Stravens. "His customer service skills, Internet-savvy, and interest in the needs of our clients will enable JP Stravens/Planning Associates, Inc. to continue providing a blueprint for success."

Promoters sued over

investment scheme

The Idaho Department of Finance has filed a civil lawsuit in Bonneville County District Court against Brock Bruegeman, Brian Birch, Brandon Johnson and Sonny Jensen. Bruegeman, Birch and Johnson operated in or near Idaho Falls, while Jensen traveled into Idaho from his business location in Utah. The complaint alleges that these defendants, acting through one or more LLCs, violated the registration and anti-fraud provisions of the Idaho Uniform Securities Act.

The department's complaint alleges that the defendants offered and sold more than $2.1 million in unregistered promissory notes to Idaho investors and that misrepresentations and omissions of material information occurred in connection with the sale of these notes. More specifically, the defendants are alleged to have:

1. Misrepresented that the investments were risk free, virtually guaranteed or backed by real estate.

2. Failed to disclose to later investors that some of their funds were not sent "upline" to another Utah promoter, but instead used to repay earlier investors and for the personal purposes of the defendants.

3. Failed to disclose important information about the defendants and their "upline" business associate, Rick Koerber and his company the Franklin Squires Company, LLC.

The state's suit seeks a permanent injunction and a court order that investors be repaid in various amounts by each defendant, while placing restrictions on the defendants' future business activities. Koerber was not named in the lawsuit, but he is the subject of a 22-count federal criminal indictment alleging a $100 million investment fraud and was previously sanctioned by the State of Wyoming for apparent securities violation.

If you have a new, relocated or expanded business, or announcement of events, promotions or awards, The Press wants to let our readers know. The service is free and items run Tuesday through Saturday. To get the word on the street on your movers and shakers, call city editor Bill Buley at 664-8176 Ext. 2016 or e-mail [email protected].