Some good business news for a change:  Three area folks have won big in this years's Washington Manufacturing Awards, sponsored by Seattle Business magazine.

The awards were announced two weeks ago in Seattle.

Manufacturer of the Year: (midsized company (tie): MacKay Manufacturing, Spokane,  and Watson Furniture Group of Poulsbo.

Executive of the Year:  (midsized company) Craig Dias, Haskins Steel Company, Spokane.

And in the Silver category,

Manufacturing Innovation of the Year: Leisure Concepts of Spokane.

The Association of Washington Business Tuesday recognized two Spokane companies for community Service.

Inland Northwest Health Services received the education award for companies with more than 100 employees.

Inland created EMS Lite @ Nite, an interactive video-conferencing program that enables volunteer rural emergency medical service providers to get and maintain their certification without having to leave work, or their communities.

The system reaches 108 rural locations, and serves an average 208 participants each trainiing session.

The volunteerism award for companies with fewer than 25 employees went to Craig Dias, general manager of Haskings Steel Co. Inc.

Among the boards Dias serves on are the Rotary Club 21's youth services committee and the advisory council for the Inland Northwest Lighthouse for the Blind's fund-raising committee.