New Hires & Promotions

Knight Wall Systems Inc. has hired three new employees. Tyler Baun and Robert Clawson have been hired as estimators. Baun formerly worked as a laborer for Jackson Contractor Group Inc. in Bozeman, Montana. Clawson previously worked for Ogden, Utah-based Swift Restoration & Remodeling as lead mitigation technician. Spencer Price has been hired as project manager. Price formerly worked for Apex Site Solutions in Elk Grove, California, under the same title.

Concord, California-based Swinerton Builders has announced one new hire and three promotions at its Spokane office. Jake Marrujo has been hired as senior estimator. Marrujo previously worked for Graham as an estimator. Travis Bradford has been promoted to senior estimator from project executive. Both Josh Grote and Austin Mead have been promoted to assistant project manager from senior project engineer.

Dave Dowers has joined TOK Commercial as a brokerage specialist. Dowers formerly worked as principal for Dowers Commercial Real Estate Group Inc.

The Woodshop NW LLC has announced one new hire and one promotion. Richard Clark has joined as project manager. Clark previously worked for Ben Joyce Studios as marketing coordinator. Eilis Smith has been promoted to director of operations and integrator from director of digital marketing.

Kootenai Health has hired Paul Amador as government affairs and community relations manager. Amador previously served as regional director for Blue Cross of Idaho.

Emily Poole has been promoted to chief planning and development officer at Spokane Transit Authority after serving in the role on an interim basis for five months. Poole previously served as service development manager.

Studio Ascent PLLC has hired Nathan Albrecht as project architect. Albrecht previously worked for Uptic Studios Inc. as residential project manager.

Visit Spokane has hired Monica Kirn-Pea as vice president of sales and services. Kirn-Pea most recently served as director of sales for Portland, Oregon-based Oregon Convention Center and Portland Expo Center.

Family Learning Organization has appointed Carleen Horton-Varner as executive director. Horton-Varner previously worked as technology project manager for Ednetics Inc.

Jon Wyss has joined the West Plains Chamber of Commerce as executive director. Wyss previously served as the Washington state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Ramon Guel has been appointed to executive director at Kootenai Care Network. Guel previously worked as director of MultiCare Connected Care's Clinically Integrated Network.

Breast Intentions of Washington has hired Gerriann Armstrong as executive director. Armstrong previously served as program manager for The Way Out Center.

Awards & Designations

Northeast Youth & Family Services has received $175,000 from Gov. Ferguson’s budget to update and restore its facilities.

Mira, a patient at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, has been named a 2026 Children’s Miracle Network National Champion, representing children receiving care at Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

Washington State University has received a 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement.

Rockwood Retirement Communities has appointed three new board members, including Paul Branin, Diane Gibson, and Alan Lesher. Tom Johnson has been appointed as the board's chair, and Catherine Kardong has been named vice chair.

Philanthropy

The STCU Here for Good Foundation has donated more than $750,000 in grants to organizations in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon during its 2025-26 Season of Giving.

The Kootenai Health Gift Shop has donated more than $185,000 to the Kootenai Health Foundation, an organization that directly supports patients, caregivers, and critical programs.