Business Beat

Architecture

Bernardo|Wills Architects has hired Autumn Hewitt and Anthony Finley as BIM/CAD technicians. Hewitt has focused on several new credit union branches and Newport Hospital & Health Services’ remodel in Newport, Washington. She was previously employed with Benson Industries Inc. Finley has five years BIM/CAD experience and has been working on Eagle River Luxury Living, a senior living community in Eagle, Idaho. He was previously employed with Evergreen Truss & Supply as a project manager and designer.

Construction

Wilbert Precast Inc. has hired Rachelle Henning as a marketing assistant. She will also be working with Redi-Rock as a sales associate.

Education

The Walmart Foundation and U.S. Conference of Mayors announced Washington State University will receive a $365,000 grant for research on recycling waste cotton products into high-quality regenerated fibers for use in consumer goods. WSU plans to develop an economically viable and environmentally friendly solvent system for cotton waste dissolution and fiber spinning. Hang Liu, assistant professor at WSU’s Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles will be working with Ting Chi, another professor in the department, and Jinwen Zhang, a professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Financial

Paul S. Viren has been appointed president of the National Association of Estate Planners Councils, an organization of 165 estate planning councils including 29,000 members throughout the United States. Viren, along with his wife, Beth, are co-owners of Viren and Associates Inc., a financial planning and employee benefits firm in Spokane.

Health care

To commemorate 100 years in Spokane, Ross Printing has donated $35,000 to Providence Health Care Foundation. The donation will be used to create the Ross Printing Pediatric Patient Emergency Fund, which will help cover necessities such as groceries, utility bills, travel expenses, auto maintenance and essential home repair for families with children being treated at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

Human resources

Associated Industries has hired Stefanie Howe as new membership director. Howe will focus on helping small and mid-size organizations address employer-related issues more effectively through membership services and support. She brings nine years of experience in consultative sales and business development to Associated Industries.

Savannah Englert has been promoted to direct-hire recruiting manager at Provisional Recruiting + Staffing. She was most recently the accounting and finance recruiting manager for the Seattle Market and brings six years of human resource management experience to the team.

Production

Buck Knives has hired Trent Malone as chief financial officer and promoted Joe Piedmont to chief operations officer. Malone, with over 15 years of senior management, finance and accounting experience, will be responsible for Buck Knives’ long-term growth, as well as planning, implementing, managing and controlling financial activities. Piedmont will oversee company operations, including sales, marketing, product development and quality control. He was formerly the vice president of operations and has been with Buck Knives for over four years.

Utilities

Korey Woodley has been selected as the executive manager of the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee. Woodley’s focus will be on the long-term sustainability of water resources in the Palouse.