BUSINESS BEAT.

Byline: The Register-Guard

People

Paul Fooks returned to Balzheiser & Hubbard Engineers in March. Fooks previously worked for the firm from August 2000 to October 2005. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology from Oregon Institute of Technology and has six years of experience designing various systems as a consulting engineer.

Nicole Mcomber has been promoted to senior accountant with Jones and Roth in Eugene. Mcomber is a certified public accountant in the firm's tax and assurance departments.

Kudos

Shannan Odum won first place in the speech contest at the 2006 Active 20-30 International Convention in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in July. Odum has been a member of the Active 20-30 Club for 1 1/2 years and is serving as Activator in the Eugene club.

Serenity Lane achieved outstanding accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Serenity Lane is among the 4 percent of behavioral health facilities in the nation that earn dual accreditation.

Open for business

Gottschalks, a new retail department store at Valley River Center, opens for business on Thursday. Chuck Harvison, store manager, brings 21 years of retail experience. He was previously at the Auburn, Calif., location. Denise Redinger, assistant store manager, has seven years of management experience and comes here from the Albany store. Other appointments include: Kathy Hart, manager of the men's, young men's and juniors departments; Theresa Schoner, manager of women's better, moderate and petite sporstwear; Joyce Hill, manager of lingerie and accessories; Jady Adkins, cosmetics manager; Lori Olson, receiving manager, and Pam Halford, shoe department manager. All six previously worked for the Bon store and, most recently, Macy's.

Other managers are: Laura Lane, furniture department; Pam Lowery, gift-wrap and customer service; Debbie Gerdes, homeworld, china, crystal, silver, luggage, bridal registry and children's; Pearl Hergert, fine jewelry.

Tim Officer and Samuel Ward have opened the local franchise of N-Hance, a national company that has developed a process to renew hardwood surfaces such as cabinets and floors.

F.Y.I.

McKenzie Midwifery & Women's Services, P.C., owned and operated by Michele K. Bouche, is closing. The Springfield-based midwifery practice will attend births at Sacred Heart Medical Center until Sept. 30, and the office will remain open for exams until Oct. 31.

Transactions

Pizza Pete's south Willamette location at 2673 Willamette St. has been sold by Pete & Donna Goodale to Robert Rikhoff. Ken Larson of Oregon Business Properties negotiated the sale.

Business Beat runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. It covers promotions, new hires, professional achievements and other news. Fax items to Business Beat, 683-7631; e-mail (with text in message body and photos attached) to [e-mail]; or mail to Business Beat, The Register-Guard, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440. Photos cannot be returned. For information, call Chris West, 338-2619.