Retrospective

Catching up with: Dr. Suzan Marshall, owner of Trauma Forensics

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

When Dr. Suzan Marshall founded Plan B Forensics LLC in 2019, the name reflected the company's early focus on helping families who were seeking a second opinion when official investigations into a person's death fell short. Marshall's company has now rebranded to Trauma Forensics, a name she says more clearly signals her expertise.

Catching up with: Brynn MacLennan, CEO of Slate Dental Inc.

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Slate Dental Inc. has grown its operations from a South Hill garage just two years ago to launching its mini dental flosser product in 844 Target Corp. stores nationwide, marking a significant retail milestone for the Spokane-based dental-technology company.

Remembering four Spokane business community leaders

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Over the last month, four men who made lasting impacts on Spokane’s culture, business landscape, and community have died: Gordon Budke, Larry Brown, Frank Bouten, and Steve Strom.

Catching up with Shaun Cross, Maddie's Place president and CEO

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Last April, Maddie’s Place President and CEO Shaun Cross was worried the Spokane-based neonatal transitional care facility might not secure $2 million from the Washington State Legislature to continue operating. To help prevent a potential closure, the organization launched a social media campaign. The campaign not only helped raise additional funds but sparked national interest, with groups in more than 30 states now exploring how to bring a Maddie’s Place-style facility to their communities.

Catching up with Tina Gordon, Ketamine Clinic of Spokane co-owner

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Amid ongoing political, social, and economic uncertainty and tumult, demand for ketamine infusion therapy at the Ketamine Clinic of Spokane LLC has remained steady as patients seek tools to manage depression, anxiety, and emotional overload, often compounded by collective stress.

Catching up with Patrick McHail, AAMMC Tech Hub director

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Last month, the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center Tech Hub reapplied for federal funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce, seeking $39 million that would help establish a national test bed for next-generation aerospace prototypes in Spokane.

Catching up with: Jennyfer Mesa, executive director of Latinos en Spokane

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Latinos en Spokane, a nonprofit serving the Latino community, has continued to grow despite funding cuts and the country’s current immigration climate, in which the organization’s constituents are being targeted, says Executive Director Jennyfer Mesa.

Catching up with: Ami Manning, executive director of Spokane Land Bank

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Spokane Regional Land Holding Properties LLC has sold its first property to an affordable housing developer and has a growing pipeline of projects, showing the organization’s model is beginning to take hold.

Catching up with: Chris Pengra, executive director of S3R3 Solutions

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Two years after taking the helm at S3R3 Solutions, executive director Chris Pengra says the public development authority has evolved from a fledgling group into a key player helping shape the West Plains into one of the Inland Northwest’s premier industrial hubs.

Catching up with: Andy Johnston, president and principal engineer of Johnston Engineering

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

After securing two dozen U.S. Department of Energy projects, Spokane-based Johnston Engineering PLLC is expanding its footprint by building a new 11,500-square-foot headquarters on the West Plains and preparing to increase its staff as clean-energy work accelerates.

Catching up with: Andrew Henry, CEO of Revival Tea Co.

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

A year after setting out to build drive-thru tea shops in Arizona, Revival Tea Co. founder Andrew Henry is steering his company in a new direction — toward the Midwest.

Catching up with former professional boxer Rick Welliver

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Every year for the past decade, Spokane Boxing Gym LLC has grown a little bigger, drawn a little more attention, and pulled in students from farther afield. For owner Rick Welliver, the numbers matter less than witnessing and being a part of the transformation of many of his students.

Catching up with: Brian Jon Garvey, founder of Vata7 startup

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Brian Jon Garvey has come up with his next invention: a dual-propulsion fin system that could power Navy SEALs through the ocean at 15 mph, dubbed JetFinz.

Remembering: Larry Stanley, founder of Empire Bolt & Screw

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Larry Stanley, founder of Empire Bolt & Screw, is remembered by friends and family for his integrity, diligence, and civic leadership.

Catching up with: Michaele Armstrong, executive director of Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:35:51 -0400

Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster has opened a 5,000-square-foot incubator in North Spokane—a tangible step toward a bigger vision for the region's life sciences future.

Remembering health care executive Sarah Doxey

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Sarah Doxey, the health care executive who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in mid-July, is remembered by loved ones as a servant leader who led by example with vision and warmth.

Catching up with: Chef Chad White

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Chad White, the once prominent Spokane restaurateur, has taken his culinary skills into nature cooking for outdoor enthusiasts off the grid.

Catching up with: Gonzaga legend Dan Dickau

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 03:00:36 -0400

Shoot 360, a high-tech basketball facility in North Spokane, has emerged as a hub for athletes of all ages and is set to launch its first summer basketball clinic series.

Selkirk Sport expands as pickleball proves to be more than a fad

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 22 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Selkirk Sport, a family-owned manufacturer and retailer of pickleball equipment, has grown to 200 employees and 1,500 square feet of space in the past five years.

Catching up with former Spokane Mayor Mary Verner

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 08 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Life after leaving office has been filled with career opportunities for former Mayor Mary Verner, who fondly looks back at her time in office.

Taylor'd Containers gets fired up

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Taylor'd Containers has grown in a niche market of desinging custom training props for fire departments across the country.

Catching up with: Pearson Packaging Systems

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Pearson Packaging Systems anticipates a sales surge this year following three years of steady, but below-forecast sales.

Catching up with: Greenstone's Mead Works project

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Infrastructure is in place for the first phase in the Mead Works development, and lots are staked for housing starts.

Remembering Dick Edwards: West Plains real estate pioneer

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Prominent commercial real estate broker Dick Edwards, who died Feb. 11, is being remembered as the driving force behind economic growth on the West Plains.

Catching up with Silver Valley's Sunshine Mine

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500

The current owners of the Sunshine Mine complex, near Kellogg, Idaho, are working on a plan to reopen the mine in about five years and eventually employ about 250 miners.

Remembering Spokane contractor Jim Elmer

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Jim Elmer, who died Jan. 6 is being remembered as a prominent Spokane contractor and a nationally recognized construction industry advocate.

Remembering Pearson Packaging leader Pam Senske

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Pam Senske, former leader of Spokane based Pearson Packaging Systems, instilled a culture that continues to drive the company, people who knew and worked with her say.

Catching up with: COVID-19 fraud strike force

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500

As the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force approaches its third year of cracking down on thefts of COVID-relief funding there’s no slowdown to prosecutions in sight.

Catching up with retired Spokane bank executive Randall Fewel

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500

Randall Fewel, former president and CEO of Inland Northwest Bank, remains in touch with some of his one-time counterparts in the banking industry, but he’s really enjoying being out of the business

Catching up with Sylvan Learning founder Berry Fowler

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500

Since the Journal last visited with him nearly a decade ago, Berry Fowler, who perhaps is best known as the founder of the Sylvan Learning Centers franchise operation he sold in 1985, remains active with his executive coaching business school and a franchise consultancy.