At the Journal of Business, we spend a lot of time working to attract younger readers and to earn their business. 

It’s a worthwhile endeavor and an important one.

At the same time, we’re keenly aware of the strong base of older readers who have been with us for years—in some cases, since our inception 30-plus years ago. We wouldn’t have had the degree of success we’ve had through the years without their support and leadership in the community.

Many of them, thankfully, have stayed with us even as they’ve transitioned into retirement. In some cases, these are the men and women who laid the groundwork for many of the successes that Spokane enjoys today.

To honor some of those living legends, the Journal has developed Icons, a new special section and event designed to recognize those who have made lasting contributions to the Spokane business community. 

In the inaugural event, we’ll recognize a half-dozen of the businessmen and businesswomen who have been influential and left a lasting, positive impression on our city.

In order to come up with our first group of Icons, we need your help in the form of nominations. We have some ideas about whom should be on such a list, but we want to hear yours. 

We’ll be taking nominations for Icons through our website, spokanejournal.com/icons-inw/, now through Dec. 15.

The parameters are simple. To be considered, nominees must have spent a significant amount of their career in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area. They must be 70 years old or older and retired or no longer involved in their primary business’ day-to-day operations. 

Perhaps most importantly, the awards won’t be given posthumously, so Icon candidates must be living.

We’ve used a similar nomination process for our Rising Stars special section and event, which recognizes emerging professionals under the age of 40. Last year, we garnered more than 100 nominations for that event. We’re hoping for a strong group of nominees for Icons as well. Your contributions are much needed and will be greatly appreciated.

Once the nomination window closes, we’ll select the honorees and inform them, as well as their nominators. They will be invited to the first Icons event on Feb. 27 at the John J. Hemmingson Center, on the Gonzaga University campus. 

At that event, the Icons will be recognized for their contributions and will be invited to share their experience and perspective with those in attendance.

Our intent is not only to honor those who have left a lasting mark on the Spokane business community, but also to provide valuable wisdom to all in attendance, regardless of age. With all of our events, our mission is to give attendees an opportunity to network, to learn, to be inspired, and to leave better prepared to do business than they were when they arrived. Icons will be no exception.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 509.344.1265.

Thank you for reading the Journal. I’m looking forward to your contributions to this new, special event.