Bradley honored by Contractors Association

The North Idaho Building Contractors Association announced that Barb Bradley of R.R. Bradley and Associates, a public accounting firm in Coeur d'Alene, has been named the association's Associate Member of the Year. Meanwhile her and husband Ray's firm won the Business of the Year award.

Rod Underhill, 2011 association president and owner of Underhill Construction, said, "To win both of these awards in the same year is almost unheard of."

Barb was also recently named "Citizen of the Year" by the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the board of directors for the Lake City Playhouse, Soroptimist and the North Idaho Building Contractors Association and serves on the Fund Raising Committees for the North Idaho Violence Prevention Center and On Site For Seniors.

Ray serves on the Kootenai County Waterways Board and the Kootenai Health Foundation Finance Committee.

Carey recognized for customer service

Ann Carey, Avista Corp.'s national key account executive, has been recognized by chain store and multi-site companies for her customer service.

Carey was one of three utility account executives nationwide to receive the national customer service award, which was presented to her at the recent 2011 Edison Electric Institute (EEI) National Key Accounts Workshop in Atlanta. EEI is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies.

More than 700 companies, encompassing a variety of industries, including such national brands as Best Buy, HealthSouth, Staples, Starwood Hotels, The Limited and Walmart, were eligible to nominate and vote for the annual outstanding customer service awards. Most of the voting companies are in at least 48 states, conduct business in more than 40 different regulatory environments, and work with hundreds of different utilities.

Carey, a 29-year Avista employee, provides a range of customer services to national chains and multi-site businesses within Avista's service areas in North Idaho, Eastern Washington, and parts of southern and eastern Oregon.

Nelson new president, CEO at AAA

Kirk Nelson has taken the helm as the new president and CEO of Bellevue-based AAA Washington, the preeminent provider of roadside assistance in North Idaho and Washington.

After 14 years, former president and CEO Charlie Liekweg, has retired.

Nelson comes to AAA Washington from Qwest Communications, where he was the Washington president since 1999. He has held a wide range of management positions since starting his telecommunications career with Pacific Northwest Bell in 1979. Before assuming his current post, Nelson was vice president of Operations for US WEST's Business and Government Solutions division. He has previously held positions in marketing, finance, investor relations, public policy and wholesale markets.

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 bbuley@cdapress.com.