Thrift store to hold grand opening

The Coeur d'Alene Exchange Thrift Store, 849 N. Fourth St., is scheduled to have a grand opening at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 2.

Owned by Steve and Debbie Thompson, the store will carry gently used items, including clothes, shoes, furniture, household items as well as jewelry and new items. They can pick up donations.

The Thompsons plan to contribute to schools through sales, fundraisers and other programs.

"We realize our children are the future of our country," she wrote. "In this economy and with cutbacks in the schools we wanted to give back to our teachers in our local schools they have given so much of themselves, they are actually purchasing hundreds of dollars of materials for their classrooms."

Store hours will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Info: 449-1977

Chase steps down from Purcell

Peter J. Chase, vice chairman and former CEO of Purcell Systems, is stepping down from the company he helped turn into a trusted telecommunications equipment provider.

Chase co-founded the Spokane-based maker of integrated telecommunication enclosures in 2000. Under his watch, it has grown to a profitable global operation with year-over-year growth and 170 employees, as well as an international office in Stockholm.

"It's with great pride that I've watched this company grow," Chase said. "This has been an amazing 12 years. The incredible people who've worked for me at Purcell get much of the credit for our success."

Purcell Systems was named 21st on the top 500 U.S. growth companies by Inc. Magazine in 2005. In 2006, Chase received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Ernst & Young for achievement in the communications industry.

In 2011, Purcell was awarded Company of the Year by Greater Spokane Incorporated. It's estimated that Purcell Systems has delivered $400 million into the region's economy in the form of jobs, vendor spending and use of service providers.

Chase continues to serve on the Innovate Washington Foundation Board and as a 2012 judge for the Pacific Northwest Entrepreneur of the Year program.

Crawford honored by Time Warner

Time Warner Cable recently recognized an employee from its Mountain West - Coeur d'Alene region as a national winner of the company's Mission & Values Performance award program.

The local winner, Keeler Crawford, lead customer service representative from a Coeur d'Alene cable store location, was selected from more than 45,000 Time Warner Cable employees coast to coast.

Winners of Time Warner Cable's National MVP Award program are selected by a committee devoted to identifying employees who go above and beyond what is expected and who consistently exemplify the Time Warner Cable Mission and Values in carrying out their job duties. Nominated by their peers, supervisors or other colleagues, these MVP winners were awarded with the opportunity to attend a TWC sponsored leadership program in Puerto Rico.

Keeler Crawford has been with Time Warner Cable for more than 15 years and was named Customer Care Professional of the Year in 2011 by the Idaho Cable Telecommunications Association.

"MVP winners are perfect examples of the exceptional customer and community service that Time Warner Cable is striving to provide in Idaho," said Debi Picciolo, Time Warner Cable regional vice president of operations. "The MVP award is the highest honor that we give to our employees, and I am so proud of all of our winners."

Ryan to meet collectors, sign works

The Trail of Painted Ponies artist Maria Ryan will meet with collectors and sign her figurines at The Painted Pony at The Resort Plaza Shops, 210 Sherman Ave., Suite 121, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

She will be featuring her original works of art and custom painted ponies. Maria Ryan has created figurines including "Earth Angel," "Kachina Pony," and "Boot Camp."

Also that day, The Painted Pony is sponsoring country dance lessons from 3-5 p.m. The lessons and demos are free and will be in middle of The Resort Plaza.

Information: 765-4959

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.