New Hires & Promotions

Melissa Schock has joined Spokane-based Kiemle Hagood as a commercial property manager. Schock previously worked as business development director for the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Spokane-based Rockwood Retirement Communities has promoted six employees. Andrew Gorton has been promoted to vice president of operations from general manager of Rockwood South Hill. Marianne McCormack has been promoted to vice president of philanthropy from director of development. Jason Druffel has been promoted to vice president of human resources from director of human resources. Dan DeBoise has been promoted to general manager of Rockwood South Hill from executive director of health and wellness services. Michelle Duke has been promoted to executive director of resident services from director of dining and life enrichment. Sarah Gassman has been promoted to health care services director from assisted living and memory care manager.

Sacramento, California-based Carrington College has appointed Victoria Zones as campus director for its Spokane location. Zones previously served as program director.

Coeur d’Alene-based Mountain West Bank has promoted Matt Colwell to vice president, credit underwriting manager from commercial credit analyst.

The Coeur d’Alene Economic Development Corp. has appointed Wally Jacobson to interim director. Jacobson currently serves as executive director for the Panhandle Area Council.

Brian Karlberg has joined Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster as innovation team manager. Karlberg currently works as lead computational scientist for Precision Quantomics Inc.

Spokane-based SVN Cornerstone LLC has hired Ariel Mizrahi as an associate adviser. Mizrahi previously worked at Amazon as a financial analyst.

Chris Mantie has joined Spokane Valley-based Numerica Credit Union as senior vice president of retail. Mantie recently served as vice president, retail sales and service at First Tech Federal Credit Union, in Bellevue, Washington.

Awards & Designations

The American Public Works Association and the Washington Asphalt Pavement Association have recognized the city of Spokane Valley and Shamrock Paving Inc. for the pavement preservation project between 16th Avenue and Evergreen Road with the 2025 Asphalt Paving Award.

Five members of the operations leadership team at Spokane Regional Emergency Communications have completed the National Emergency Number Association’s Center Manager Certification Program, including Lori Markham, executive director; Kim Arrendo, deputy director; Kari Kostelecky, training and accreditation coordinator; Brad Kane, operations manager; and Heather Thompson, operations manager.

Cynthia Pemberton, president of Lewis-Clark State College, and Jennie Jones Hall, director of college advancement at LC State, have been named in Idaho Business Review’s annual Idaho 500 list.

Andrew Northrop, CEO of Spokane Hardware Supply Inc., has won the 2025 Associate of the Year Award from the Building Industry Association of Washington.

Airway Heights-based Billie’s Diner is one of 15 restaurants nationwide to receive a $10,000 grant through the Toast Changemakers Program, an initiative that recognizes establishments that have worked to address food insecurity in their communities.

The Seattle District of the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that $1.2 billion in funding went to small businesses in its areas served during fiscal year 2025. Businesses in Spokane County received 167 loans, nearly $79 million in total.

The Association of Washington Business has recognized multiple companies with Spokane-area operations at its annual Evening of Excellence awards. Newman Lake-based Knife River Prestress Inc. was the winner of the Leading Environmental Practices category and a finalist for Employer of the Year. Spokane-based Jubilant HollisterStier LLC received the Manufacturing Excellence Award for Operational Excellence. Spokane Valley-based CarbonQuest Inc. received the Manufacturing Excellence Award for Innovation. Kaiser Aluminum Washington LLC, of Spokane Valley, was a finalist for the Manufacturing Excellence Award for Operational Excellence. Altek Inc. and Premier Manufacturing Inc., both of Liberty Lake, were finalists for the Manufacturing Excellence Award for Innovation.

The Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors has been named the 2025 Large District Board of the Year by the Washington State School Directors’ Association.

Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster has received a $5,000 grant from the Avista Foundation. The grant will support the acquisition of essential laboratory equipment.

Spokane-based interior design firm Designology Luxury Interiors Inc. has won the ASID/WA 2025 Best Commercial Project for its work on Kindred & Co., a bookstore and café in Post Falls.

Kelly Fukai, CEO of Northwest Gas Association, has joined Spokane College’s board of trustees for a term running through 2029.