Virginia Thomas

Northwest Bedding to be shuttered

Company has two stores, factory, about 30 employees

May 24, 2018

Longtime Spokane-area mattress maker and retailer Northwest Bedding Co. will shut down operations this summer, says controller Lee Kvalheim, citing a lack of a succession plan and an absence of interested buyers in the decision to close the company.

MacKay Manufacturing reports growth in sales

Manufacturer provides internal education, hopes to attract students to field

May 24, 2018

Virginia Thomas

A decade after the Great Recession, MacKay Manufacturing Inc. owner and Vice President Katie MacKay says business is good. From 2014 to 2016, the computer numerical control precision machining manufacturer had stagnant sales of around $22 million ann

Avista plans $165M meter upgrade

Using Itron technology, about 450,000 devices to be replaced in phases

May 21, 2018

Virginia Thomas

Spokane-based Avista Utilities is partnering with Liberty Lake-based meter technology manufacturer Itron Inc. to install smart meters throughout Avista's Washington service territory in a $165 million project scheduled to begin next fall, the utility comp

Anderson Peretti CPA firm acquires Spokane-based practice

Valley-based company now has four branch offices

January 18, 2018

Virginia Thomas

Spokane Valley-based accounting firm Anderson Peretti & Co. CPAs PS has acquired Blodgett & Co. CPAs. Erica Young, vice president at Anderson Peretti, says all six employees with Blodgett & Co. will remain with the firm, including Dave Blodgett, who foun

Energy, water issues slated for discussion at green forum

GSI's three-person panel slated to present Oct. 15

September 11, 2014

Virginia Thomas

Greater Spokane Incorporated's sixth annual State of the Green Economy panel discussion will focus on what role Inland Northwest businesses can play in the world of green energy. The panel discussion and reception will take place Oct. 15 in the Georgi

Inland Northwest Blood Center looks to solve drop in demand

Hospitals are buying less blood as cost-savings measure, center CEO says

September 11, 2014

Virginia Thomas

Spokane-based nonprofit Inland Northwest Blood Center is endeavoring to maintain revenue while hospital demand for blood is decreasing and donations of blood are declining. INBC President and CEO Jeff Bryant says that as hospitals look to cut costs, buy

Cascade Windows looks to southwestern U.S. to expand its window sales

Company acquires Tempe manufacturer, employs 850

August 28, 2014

Virginia Thomas

Spokane Valley-based Cascade Windows, already one of the larger vinyl window and door manufacturers in the western U.S., is expanding to the Southwest. It says it has acquired Tempe, Ariz.-based manufacturer Paramount Windows, boosting its overall workfo

Third annual manufacturing expo slated next month

Range of product makers expected to be on hand

August 14, 2014

Virginia Thomas

Manufacturers from a broad range of industry sectors are expected to gather here for the third annual Advanced Manufacturing, Materials & Aerospace Expo, which will be held Sept. 29-30. The expo aims to highlight opportunities for Inland Northwest manufac

Hop Jack's restaurant to open in Spokane Valley Mall space

Second Spokane-area eatery set to employ 90

August 14, 2014

Virginia Thomas

Rock Solid Restaurants LLC, an Auburn, Wash.-based restaurant chain operator, has leased 5,000 square feet of floor space in Spokane Valley Mall and plans to open a Hop Jack's restaurant there in early November. The eatery will be Rock Solid's secon

Targeting a bull's-eye niche

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July 17, 2014

Virginia Thomas

As customers walk in the front door of Sharp Shooting Indoor Range & Gun Shop Inc., CEO Robin Ball greets most by name. From the shooting range on the other side of the building comes the intermittent bang of pistol shots. At the glass counters where hu