New Hires & Promotions

Spokane Valley-based Horizon Credit Union has hired two individuals and promoted two employees. Wendy Duncan has been promoted to vice president of retail operations from director of retail services for Horizon’s Spokane Valley locations. Josh Seitz has been promoted to vice president of human resources operations from director of human resources. Rod Austin has joined as vice president of marketing. Most recently, Austin served at Blue Federal Credit Union in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Nick Krumbholz joins as vice president of growth and service from Academy Bank, in Colorado.

Novara Energy Alliance, a Spokane-based nonprofit, has appointed Nathan South as CEO, replacing Kim Pearman-Gillman who has served as interim CEO since February. South previously served as volunteer program manager and advocate for the expansion of electrical transmission in the Northwest.

Matthew Price has joined Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, a Spokane-based nonprofit, as preserve manager. Price is a recent graduate of Eastern Washington University.

The Boys & Girls Club of Spokane County has hired Joel Akins as development and events coordinator. Akins previously served as volunteer and events director at Better Together Animal Alliance. 

Linda D. Jellum has been named interim dean of Gonzaga University School of Law. Previously, Jellum served as professor of law and director of the tax program at the University of Idaho College of Law, where she also held the role of associate dean for faculty.

Awards & Designations

Darcy Bourcier, designer at Spokane-based Hatch Interiors, has earned the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Certification for her professional competency in commercial interior design through a combination of accredited education, professional experience, and successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

The Austin, Texas-based Colleges of Distinction organization has named Eastern Washington University as a 2026-27 College of Distinction at the state and national levels for its commitment to providing an engaged, experiential education.

Four faculty members from the School of Hospitality Business Management in the Washington State University Carson College of Business have been named among the world’s top 100 influential educators in hospitality for 2026 by the International Hospitality Institute. Honorees include Jim Harbor, SHBM director; Dogan Gursoy, professor; Dipra Jha, associate professor, career track; and Bob Harrington, professor emeritus.

Philanthropy

The East chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, a Washington state mountain bike association serving riders in Eastern Washington, has received a $25,000 gift from First Interstate Bank and the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation as part of the financial institution's fifth annual Believe in Local grant campaign.