Business Beat

Banking

Banner Bank has recognized nine Spokane-area employees as Banner Bank’s Best. They are: Oana Norman and Alisa Hensley, vice presidents; Rachelle Green, assistant vice president; Chad Kubik and Christi Kile, loan officers; Dustin Balam, Jackie Scotch and Linnea Tibbetts, personal bankers; and Marcy Bennett, loan officer. The award recipients are selected by the bank’s executive leadership.

Health

Bob Lutz, M.D., M.P.H., has been named the Spokane Regional Health District’s health officer. He will enforce public health regulations, advise city officials and the public on community health issuesand maintain clinical hours in Rockwood’s urgent care. He has been a health member for the district for eight years.

Medicine

Erin Milhem, a doctor of psychology, has opened a private practice in the Schade Tower. She is a neurodevelopmental psychologist focusing on children and young adults and works specifically with those with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and anxiety and mood disorders.

Janet Katz has been named an American Academy of Nursing fellow. Katz, a professor at the Washington State University College of Nursing, was judged based on how her career’s influence on public health and policy. Her work is focused on increasing the number of Native American and Hispanic students in the health sciences as well as working to decrease substance abuse and suicide rates among Spokane Tribe members. Katz is among 173 nurses selected worldwide as a fellow.

Washington State University’s Alumni Association Alumni Achievement Award has been awarded to Don Trunkey, professor emeritus of surgery at the Oregon Health Science University. Trunkey graduated from WSU in 1959 and has been chief resident for the University of California hospitals, chief of surgery for the University of San Francisco and president of American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the American Surgical Association and the Society of University Surgeons. He has authored 174 journal articles and 25 books.

Miscellaneous

The Blood Center Foundation of the Inland Northwest has announced its board of directors. The executive board is: Chairman Wayne Longo, retired Coeur d’Alene polie chief of police, City of Coeur d’Alene; Vice Chair Lynn Hurley, president and administrative department manager for Randall+Hurley; and Secretary and Treasurer Dan Demchuk, a partner with Moss Adams LLP. Board members are: Jessica Allen, an attorney with Witherspoon Brajcich McPhee; Judi Baggarley, Banner Bank senior vice president, talent management; Dr. William Dittman Jr., a hematologist at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital; Sidney Kasuga, Ph.D., immunologist, Eastern Washington University; Dr. Christopher Montague, pathologist with InCyte Diagnostics; Mario Reyes, Ph.D., clinical faculty, finance and management science, Washington State University; and Cathy Simchuk, health care consultant. Jeff Bryant, president and CEO of the Inland Northwest Blood Center, is ex officio member, and Loreen McFaul is executive director.

Community Cremation and Funeral has changed its name to Pacific Northwest Cremation. Pacific Northwest Cremation has locations in the Spokane Valley and in north Spokane.

Real Estate

Windermere Real Estate has hired brokers Nicole Langager and Donna Wilburn at its north Spokane office. Langager has been promoted from front office administrator;Wilburn is the owner of Island Glow Tanning.