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2021 Rising Stars: Visit Spokane's Jamie Rand

Room to Roam project lead enjoys taking risks

September 9, 2021

While Jamie Rand isn't averse to taking praise, one of his defining qualities is to want to celebrate everyone's wins, says Meg Winchester, CEO of Visit Spokane. 'It's not a singular 'I,'â€ she says. 'It's a 'we.'â€ Rand, 38,

2021 Rising Stars: Avista Corp.'s Kara Hensley

Project manager enjoys learning how things work

September 9, 2021

Natasha Nellis

Tenacious is the first word that comes to mind when describing Kara Hensley, says Jan Quintrall. Hensley, formerly Heatherly, 31, currently works as a project manager for Avista Corp. Quintrall and Hensley met in 2012 when Hensley started working for

2021 Rising Stars: Crimson Medical Solutions' Stephen Bone

Company aims to reduce medical complications

September 9, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Stephen Bone, the CEO and cofounder of Crimson Medical Solutions Inc. uses the word 'stokedâ€ to describe his excitement for the company's simple but practical advance in intravenous safety equipment, called the IV Manager. 'I'm so excited about

2021 Rising Stars: Champion Empire's Maayan Gordon

Entrepreneur succeeds in following passions

September 9, 2021

Virginia Thomas

Where Maayan Gordon's curiosity and passions lead her, she follows. The 30-year-old entrepreneur currently is involved in five businesses and maintains a thriving social media presence across several platforms. Her ventures here include business coach

Commerce programs expand in scope

Emphasis includes climate, environment

August 26, 2021

Lisa Brown

The new fiscal year is underway, and the Washington state Department of Commerce is ramping up our work strengthening communities with dozens of new programs, additional funding, and partnerships entrusted to us by the Legislature. Much of our work over

Drought spurs interest in low-water landscaping

Commercial, residential clients seek relief from water, maintenance costs

August 26, 2021

Virginia Thomas

Demand for low-water landscaping has increased significantly during an exceptionally dry and hot Inland Northwest summer, experts here say. Last month, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed the Spokane area in the most extreme category for drought, called D4

Coeur d'Alene Basin cleanup progresses

Focus is on containing contaminants, restoring wetlands for waterfowl with $24.7M in projects

August 26, 2021

Natasha Nellis

This year, the U.S. Environmental Agency, in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene Work Trust, plans to complete three construction projects throughout the Coeur d'Alene basin area and haul over 500 truckloads of historic mine waste-contaminated material

Hazzard Fab Worx races to keep up with demand

Custom off-road shop faces supply chain, hiring issues

August 12, 2021

Virginia Thomas

Luke Shuman, owner of Spokane-based Hazzard Fab Worx LLC, says demand is at an all-time high for his shop's custom offroading and four-wheel drive products and services, but parts availability remains unpredictable.

Production and Manufacturing Academy returns

More students experience work in industry in Spokane

August 12, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Though COVID-19 derailed the second Production & Manufacturing Academy class in 2020, it didn't dampen the spirits of a group of high school juniors and seniors who just graduated in the 2021 class.

Distribution space is in high demand across the Inland Northwest

Developers add 4.5M square feet of space in INW industrial market

August 12, 2021

Natasha Nellis

Spokane is booming with new manufacturing and distribution warehouse space as developers attempt to seize on the area's most in-demand commercial sector.