2023 Rising Star Ryan Arnold: Startup mindset leads to global focus

Dylan Harris

Ryan Arnold has channeled his passion, breadth of knowledge, and interpersonal skillset to make a positive impact on not only the Inland Northwest, but the entire world, some of his peers say. Arnold, 39, is the Coeur d’Alene-based vice president of ...

2023 Rising Star Nico Archer: Connecting with clients, community

Keith Erickson

Nico Archer is the newest partner-owner at Spokane-based DH, and he’s making a difference at the agency and throughout the community, says his colleague and a vice president at the agency, Tyler Tullis. During his eight years with the 27-year-old ...

2023 Rising Star Stephaine Courtney: Sparking change for new moms

Keith Erickson

Activist. Innovator. Leader. Stephaine Courtney is described by her Rising Star nominator as driven to connecting people and sparking change for the underrepresented in the greater Spokane community. As executive director and founder of The ...

2023 Rising Star Oladunni Oluwoye: Researcher follows passion

Karina Elias

Oladunni Oluwoye, a researcher and assistant professor at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University, is working in a field that she hopes will cease to exist. “I have a job because these disparities exist,” she says...

2023 Rising Star Brandon Rose: Pulling double duty pays dividends

Having one person manage two branches of Washington Trust Bank isn’t a normal operating procedure for the company, but 32-year-old branch manager Brandon Rose was not slow to volunteer his skills and fulfill both roles when he saw a need in the company....

2023 Rising Star Jessica Garza: Making place for rural businesswomen

Karina Elias

Jessica Garza says her decade of experience as a police officer continuously informs the way she operates her agrotourism business, Moose Valley Ranch Inc. “It’s the lens through which I view my community and the kind of legacy I want to leave,” ...

2023 Rising Star Matt Meyer: Rocking Spokane’s concert scene

Erica Bullock

Entertainment in Spokane has expanded to a varied and diverse range of options for patrons to enjoy in the 13 years since Matt Meyer, 39, joined the Spokane Public Facilities District, says Jessica Deri, facility director and director of sales at the Spok...

2023 Rising Star Cola Boyer: Program head shapes emerging leaders

Cola Boyer says she has far exceeded her own expectations. The 35-year-old administrator for The Kalispel Tribe of Indians Leadership Academy has an undergraduate degree in race and culture from Eastern Washington University, along with certificates in...

Accelerating CarbonQuest: Spokane tech firm selected for national program

Dylan Harris

Spokane Valley-based CarbonQuest Inc., a building decarbonization tech company, has been selected to participate in a 12-week, mostly virtual, business accelerator program with a global company. Out of 118 applicants, CarbonQuest was one of seven...

Tractor Beverage tracks sustainability as it grows

Karina Elias

Hayden-based organic soft drink maker Tractor Beverage Inc. says it’s on track this year to avoid the use of 34.5 tons of synthetic pesticides in its food system, compared with conventional production practices. Kevin Sherman, CEO of Tractor Beverage...