New Hires & Promotions

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has announced four appointments to her leadership team. Alexander Scott has been promoted to city administrator. Scott previously served as chief of staff. Laz Martinez has been promoted to information technology director. Martinez previously served as IT manager for public works. Allison Adam has been hired as the human resources director. Adam previously worked as the director of HR for Washington Gastroenterology. Jon Snyder, a former City Council member, has been hired as the director of transportation and sustainability. Snyder previously was the senior policy adviser for outdoor recreation and economic development for Gov. Jay Inslee. 

Control Solutions Northwest has promoted one employee and hired another. David Stephenson has been promoted to general manager. Stephenson was previously construction manager. Jake Radtke has joined as a sales representative for CSN’s life safety and security group. Radtke has worked in the industry for the last two decades at the national, regional, and local levels.

Awards and Designations

Ron Rehn, chief administrative officer of Providence Stevens County ministries, has been selected to receive the 2024 Joe Hopkins Memorial Award.  The award, presented by the Washington State Hospital Association, celebrates individuals who embody the characteristics of Joe Hopkins, a pioneer in rural health care advocacy.

Spokane International Airport CEO Larry Krauter has been elected to the Airport Council International-North America Board of Directors. The ACI-NA represents more than 300 commercial-service airports operating in the U.S. and Canada.

For the second consecutive year, Pinkerton Retirement Specialists, a Coeur d’Alene-based wealth management company, is the highest-ranked registered investment firm in the Inland Northwest, according to Forbes business magazine. 

The National Association of Women in Construction Spokane Chapter 143 has announced its new board of directors and leadership.  Matina Whitney, of Marsh McLennan Agency, Courtney Dixon, of Gold Seal Plumbing, and Sarah Olson, of Lydig Construction will serve on the board of directors. Brea LaRue, of Garco Construction, has been named president. Donni Gabbert, of Kilgore TEC Products Inc., is immediate past president. Kathryn Piraino, of Swinerton, is vice president. Emily Peterson, of Bouten Construction, is secretary. Bylinda Vyverberg, of Continental Door Co., will serve as treasurer. Sarah Cottam, of Associated Builders & Contractors Inland Pacific Chapter Inc., will serve as parliamentarian.

Spokane International Airport has been awarded a $2 million grant by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminal Program to support the final phase of the terminal renovation and expansion project, dubbed TREX.

Hayden Homes LLC, a Redmond, Oregon-based homebuilder and developer with a presence in the Inland Northwest, has been recognized by Fortune business magazine as a top 10 finalist on the 2024 Fortune Best Workplaces in Construction list and a top 100 finalist on the 2024 Fortune Best Medium Workplaces list.

NextCycle Washington, an accelerator-style program funded by Washington state Department of Ecology, has awarded Spokane-based Reclaim Project Recovery group the People’s Choice Award during its second annual NextCycle Washington Pitch Showcase. Reclaim Project Recovery pitched a plan to add a new reuse-rebuild center offering deconstruction and building material reuse services to support existing workforce development programs focused on construction and green-collar jobs.

Spokane-based No-Li Brewhouse won two awards at the Tokyo, Japan International Beer Cup 2024. The brewery earned a gold medal for its Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout and a bronze medal for its Big Juicy IPA.

Spokane Sports and Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame Committee named eight individuals to the 2024 Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.  The inductees include Hal McGlathery, Chuck Stewart, Jen Stinson-Greeny, Denny LaRue, Sue Doering, Bud Nameck, Isaac Fontaine, and Stacy Clinesmith.

Coeur d’Alene has been ranked number one for the best cities for military Veterans to start a business, according to the 2024 Best Cities After Service list compiled by Navy Federal Credit Union and Sperling’s BestPlaces.

Philanthropy

The Avista Foundation awarded $122,750 in grants to 27 nonprofit organizations in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska to support economic and community development. AHANA, Hispanic Business Professional Association, Spokane Valley HUB, and Providence Foundation received some of the largest grants.

Bank of America has awarded $385,500 in grants to 40 Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Boise nonprofit organizations. The grants focus on three major funding priorities: improving the lives of individuals and families, strengthening community, and youth workforce development. 

The Washington state Recreation and Conservation office has awarded $5.3 million to build or improve outdoor recreation facilities in Spokane County. The City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Division will use $1 million toward improving Beacon Hill Recreation Area and $1.4 million toward repairing Riverfront Park’s south suspension bridge. The Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf Department will use $1.4 million toward renovating Bear Lake Regional Park. The city of Spokane Valley will use $1.5 million toward the continuing development of Greenacres Community Park including adding one tennis court, six pickleball courts, and two basketball courts.