New Hires & Promotions

Fargo, North Dakota-based accounting firm Eide Bailly LLP has promoted two employees at its Spokane location. Stephanie Brenden has been promoted to managing director, client accounting services from outsourced accounting senior manager. Katie Hulquist has been promoted to managing director, national assurance office from national assurance senior manager.

U.S. Air Force Col. Brian Epperson has been named commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base. Epperson previously served as the 92nd Operations Group commander.

Coeur d'Alene-based Mountain West Bank has promoted one employee and hired another. Chandra Tesone has been promoted to vice president, loan servicing manager from loan servicing assistant manager. David Bobbitt has been hired as senior vice president, commercial lending manager. Bobbitt previously served as senior commercial relationship manager and commercial banking group manager at First Interstate Bank.

Beth Passmore has joined Spokane-based Cancer Care Northwest as executive director. Passmore previously served as president of EAP Consultants LLC, an information technology healthcare consulting firm in Spokane.

Seattle-based engineering firm KPFF Consulting Engineers has hired Jake Smith as senior civil and transportation engineer for its Spokane and Coeur d'Alene offices. Smith previously served as region hydraulic engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Jon Mayben has joined Spokane-based Kiemle Hagood as a commercial real estate agent at the firm's Coeur d'Alene office. Mayben previously worked at Marcus & Millichap as an apartment broker.

Ability Employment Services Inc., an employment agency in Spokane, has hired two employees and promoted one. Lizzy Zuleski and Shawn Davis have joined as employment consultants. Zuleski previously worked as a personal trainer, and Davis previously worked in sales. Troy Marshall has been promoted to business development director from business development consultant.

Miami, Florida-based construction management firm Consertus Inc. has hired Victoria Seebeck as a project manager in Spokane. Seebeck is the founder and CEO of Sauvage ZSA, a retail store and wine bar in Spokane.

Josh Cardozo has joined Spokane Gymnastics as NinjaZone department leader. Cardozo previously worked for San Diego Gymnastics, in San Diego.

Awards & Designations

Liberty Lake Wine Cellars has been awarded nine Gold and five Double Gold medals for its newest vintage wine at the 2026 Seattle Wine Awards.

Numerica Credit Union has awarded $532,000 to 23 nonprofit organizations throughout central and Eastern Washington and North Idaho through its Numerica Charitable Fund. In Spokane, recipients include Boys & Girls Club of Spokane County; Communities in Schools of Northeast Washington; Family Promise of Spokane; Partners with Families & Children; Second Harvest Inland Northwest; Transitions; Vanessa Behan; Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington & North Idaho; and Women & Children’s Free Restaurant & Community Kitchen. North Idaho beneficiaries include 3rd Avenue Marketplace; Boys & Girls Clubs of Kootenai County; Family Promise of North Idaho; Safe Passage; and Sandpoint Teen Center.

John Nelson, AVP commercial relationship manager at Banner Bank in Spokane, has been named MoFi’s 2025 Washington State Lender of the Year. Nelson was recognized for his efforts in helping businesses across the state access capital and pursue new opportunities.

The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $5.6 million in grants to 37 early learning providers throughout the state. Awarded in collaboration with the Department of Children, Youth, & Families, the grants will fund facility renovations and sustain existing qualitative childcare opportunities. In Spokane County, Woodland Montessori School and YMCA of the Inland Northwest received $160,000 and $250,000, respectively.