When Becky Rempe arrived at the Barton English School at First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, the decades-old program consisted largely of one-on-one tutoring sessions. Today, the school is abuzz with conversations in multiple languages as immigrants, refugees, volunteers, and residents gather to learn and engage with each other and the community.

Phyllis Campbell, 2026 Spokane Journal of Business Icon, led an accumulative 50-year career in banking, philanthropy, and board service across the Inland Northwest and western Washington.

Olympia, Washington-based Heritage Bank has moved to a new permanent location following recent approval to operate as a full-service branch, says James Krejci, senior vice president and commercial team leader.

Spokane-based intellectual property law firm Lee & Hayes PC has won a major court ruling in its effort to recover unpaid legal fees from its former client, 3D printing company Continuous Composites Inc.

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has purchased nearly 43,000 acres of timberland from Oregon-based Stimson Timber Company over the past two years, restoring land lost within the Coeur d’Alene Reservation during the late 1800s.

Mary McDirmid, co-founder of All Needs Planning, has co-authored a book designed to help educate and empower families caring for loved ones with disabilities as they navigate the complexities of wealth management, caregiving, and long-term planning.

Since launching The Genova Foundation in February 2025, Mike and Sandi Genova have awarded or pledged $1.2 million in grants to nonprofits with initiatives in health care, youth, and economic development.

Missing middle housing — once a mere sliver of residential permits issued by the city of Spokane between 2020 and 2022 — surged to nearly 20% of all residential permitting in 2025.

Novara Energy Alliance, a newly formed organization, is focused on challenges at the intersection of energy and water systems.

Integrated Lipid Biofuels LLC, a biotech and sustainability company based in Spokane Valley, has developed and launched its first consumer product and is preparing a Kickstarter campaign to support its initial market rollout.