Business Beat: A collection of regional advancement and achievement
Agriculture
The Dude Ranchers’ Association recently recognized Kettle Falls’ Bull Hill Guest Ranch for meeting the highest standards of the dude ranching industry. DRA membership is awarded after completing a two-year inspection and approval process, ensuring the ranches provide genuine, Western hospitality. Bull Hill opened as a guest ranch in 1995 and is part of a working cattle ranch that dates back to 1903.
Education
Mary Jo Gonzales has been named the new vice president for student affairs at Washington State University and will assume the new position Feb. 6. Gonzales’ position is responsible for the non-curricular aspects of student life, including health, student access, administrative services and the dean of students office. She has been a senior administrator at the University of Rhode Island since 2013.
Washington State University Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown and Elson Floyd, WSU’s late former president, have been announced as the fifth recipients of Leadership Spokane’s annual King Cole award. The award recognizes exceptional and transformative servant leadership and is named after King Forrest Cole, the “father” of Expo ’74. Brown and Floyd are being recognized for working together to bring a medical school to Spokane.
Health care
Catherine Field has been promoted to president and intermountain region market leader for senior products. She will oversee Humana’s Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, Private Fee-For-Service and Dual-eligible Special Needs health plans, prescription drug plans and Medicare supplement policies. Field joined Humana as director of operations for senior products in Washington and Oregon in 2011 and has more than 25 years of health care experience.
Nancy Vorhees will retire as chief administrative officer of Inland Northwest Health Services at the end of the year. Vorhees began with INHS in 1997 as chief operating officer of Northwest Health Partners. She will continue to serve as interim executive director of the Spokane Teaching Health Center.
Marketing
Coeur d’Alene’s JEBCommerce has hired Geoff Marshall as their new director of affiliate services, overseeing all the company’s affiliate accounts. Marshall has been with JEBCommerce for nearly five years, beginning as an assistant affiliate manager in 2011.
Natural Resources
Boise Cascade Wood Products’ log buyer, Chris Magruder, has been selected to participate in the AgForestry Leadership Program. Magruder began the 18-month program in the fall and will study local, state, national and international policy issues.
Outreach
Providence Health Care has pledged $50,000 from its Community Benefit program toward Union Gospel Mission’s new Crisis Shelter for Women and Children that opened this month. The crisis shelter has been housed in the old Budget Saver Motel on East Sprague Avenue for nearly ten years and is the only drop-in, emergency shelter for women with children in Spokane. UGM purchased a newer, larger facility that will house more people and features a dining room, kitchen, child care space, wheelchair-accessible rooms, a learning center, meeting rooms and an on-site clinic for women’s and pediatric health.
Real Estate
Richard Fox has joined Kiemle & Hagood Company’s Commercial Brokerage Division. He is also a broadcast commentator on KHQ and Root Sports Network for Gonzaga men’s basketball team.
Recreation
Tyler Chisholm has been hired at Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness as Winter Program Coordinator. She will run the Winter Tracks outdoor education program and a rare carnivore study the FSPW is undertaking. She works for the National Park Service at North Cascades National Park in the summer.