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2026 Icons: Ray Lawton

dylanh@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Four generations of the Lawton family have maintained leadership of Lawton Printing Inc. and FILE-EZ Inc. — an accomplishment many family businesses can’t claim. Instrumental to that level of continuity has been Ray Lawton, 79, who, along with his late brother Gary Lawton, represents the third generation to lead both Spokane companies.

2026 Icons: Bill Simer

Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Retired certified public accountant and Spokane community leader Bill Simer says his life would have looked much different had he not happened to meet a young woman and her brother in Spokane more than 50 years ago.

2026 Icons: Barry Baker

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Barry Baker, longtime head of prominent Spokane-based general contracting company Baker Construction & Development Inc., says he doesn’t need to go into the office every day, but now he’s having too much fun there to stay away for long.

2026 Icons: Phyllis Campbell

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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.

2026 Icons: Jeff Philipps

Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

From a service clerk in Montana to the leader of a regional grocery chain in Spokane, Jeff Philipps says his legacy was built by consistently restocking a few simple ideas: "Businesses succeed when they invest in people, and communities grow stronger when leaders choose to give back."

2026 Icons: Elaine Couture

ericab@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

Elaine Couture, former regional chief executive at Providence Health & Services who retired in 2021, is currently living her "best life," staying active and involved following a move to Arizona three years ago. Despite her relocation, her impact on the Spokane community remains anchored in the medical institutions she helped lead and expand over a distinguished 34-year career.

2025 Icon: Steve Duvoisin

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

If you ask former Inland Imaging CEO Steve Duvoisin how he got his start with the company in 1984, he will give you a humble answer.

2025 Icon: Ron Sims

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

Work begat work throughout Ron Sims' architectural career, and while his design DNA is intertwined in some of Spokane's most recognizable structures, he reflects as fondly on the relationships formed during his 40-year career as he does the resulting projects.

2025 Icon: Bobby Brett

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

There’s no telling what Spokane’s minor-league sports scene would look like today if not for Bobby Brett.

2025 Icon: Kevin Twohig

Thu, 08 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Kevin Twohig’s career arguably could be viewed as a string of serendipitous events that ultimately led to his lauded 16-year tenure as CEO of the Spokane Public Facilities District.

Icons 2025: Susan Ashe

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

Susan Ashe, Spokane Journal of Business 2025 Icon served in various leadership roles throughout her 50-year career in the Inland Northwest.

2025 Icons: Christine Johnson

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

Christine Johnson has enjoyed a highly-influential career positively impacting the Spokane area's educational landscape, where she served as chancellor of Community Colleges of Spokane, now Spokane Colleges, for 12 years before retiring in 2022.

2024 Icons: Mark Sonderen

mikem@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Journal Icon Mark Sonderen took over Sonderen Packaging Inc. from his father in 1978 and led the company’s growth for 36 years before handing the reins over to his son and daughter.

2024 Icons: Providence's Mike Wilson

dylanh@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Mike Wilson’s inherent ability to bring people and ideas together played a significant role in shaping Spokane’s largest health care system.

2024 Icons: Inland Northwest Health Services' Nancy Vorhees

karinae@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Nancy Vorhees, former chief operations officer for Inland Northwest Health Services, paved a path for telemedicine in the region, worked with legislators to improve access to care, and mentored future leaders during her decades-long career.

2024 Icons: Haase Landscape Inc.'s Clyde Haase

Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Though retired from the prominent Spokane Valley-based landscaping business he co-founded, Clyde Haase remains active and keeps his eye the ball.

2024 Icons: Jeanne Ager

ericab@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Jeanne Ager is a philanthropic fundraising icon, according to many people who have worked with the 91-year-old Spokane entrepreneur.

2024 Icons: Itron Inc.'s Johnny Humphreys

linnp@spokanejournal.com — Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400

As CEO of Itron Inc. from 1987 to 2000, Johnny Humphreys, saw annual revenue climb to $280 million from $20 million.