Clugston qualifies for Financial Adviser Leaders Conference

Rod Clugston, an Edward Jones financial adviser in Coeur d'Alene, qualified for the firm's 2012 Financial Adviser Leaders Conference.

This conference recognizes financial advisers who are among the leaders in the financial-services firm. The conference also will provide additional training to help them serve more individual investors in their communities.

Clugston was one of only 570 financial advisers who qualified out of the firm's more than 11,000 financial advisors.

The 2012 conference will be held in May at the firm's headquarters in St. Louis.

"Qualifying for this conference shows a tremendous amount of discipline, commitment and work ethic," says Alan Kindsvater, an Edward Jones partner responsible for financial adviser training and host of the conference.

Avista names Gfeller operations manager for Coeur d'Alene

Avista Utilities has named Greg Gfeller operations manager for Coeur d'Alene. Gfeller will oversee all aspects of electric operations in the Coeur d'Alene area.

Prior to taking a temporary assignment in Coeur d'Alene for the past 14 months, he served as the operations manager in Sandpoint for five years.

"Greg's diversity of experience in nearly all aspects of the utility business will serve him well in this new role," said Jason Thackston, vice president of Energy Delivery for Avista Utilities. "He brings an unparalleled perspective for our employees and customers in the Coeur d'Alene area."

Gfeller's Avista career began in 1978. In his more than 33 years with the company, he has worked in Pullman, Tekoa, Kettle Falls, Deer Park, Othello, Spokane, Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene.

Gfeller is a graduate of Eastern Washington University, and holds a master's degree in Organi-zational Leadership through Gonzaga University.

Gfeller and his wife, Ruth, live in Coeur d'Alene. The couple has two grown children.

Numerica Credit Union hires new business services employees

Numerica Credit Union is ramping up the staff in its business services department in order to offer more products and services that will better serve its business members.

Nichole Dahl Ryan was recently hired as the Cash Management Sales Manager. She has worked in the banking industry for more than 12 years, most recently at AmericanWest Bank as the Treasury Management Consultant. Ryan's higher education was received at Big Bend Community College and Eastern Washington University.

Curt Fuller was also recently hired as a Business Services Relationship Officer. Fuller has worked in the banking industry for 26 years, spending the first 21 years with large, national financial institutions in various lending and managerial positions. He most recently was employed by Banner Bank as a Vice President/Relationship Manager in the Spokane Commercial Loan Center.

Fuller has a bachelor's degree in business administration from EWU, where he is currently a director on the university's Foundation Board.

Numerica Credit Union currently has more than 90,000 members throughout Central and Eastern Washington and North Idaho and more than $1 billion in assets.

Brunn receives Windermere/Cd'A Realty Rookie of the Year award

Josh Brunn with Windermere/Coeur d'Alene Realty received 2011 Rookie of the Year award at its annual meeting. Brunn is a longtime resident of North Idaho, and enjoys spending time with his family. He enjoys helping people and building long lasting relationships.

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.