Business Beat

Architecture

Bernardo|Wills Architects has hired Sheila Gates-Ping and Emily Moline Meyer. Gates-Ping, an architect, has 16 years of experience and is currently working on The Northern, an apartment complex in Coeur d’Alene. Meyer will manage front-office activities and help with the firm’s operation as office manager.

Banking

Kurt Sager has been named vice president and commercial loan officer at Idaho Independent Bank. Sager has been in commercial banking for 17 years and will focus on sales, development and growing customer relationships.

Education

Li Yang has been hired by Gonzaga University as director of the English Language Center. Yang has been teaching English for more than 10 years, beginning at Xinjiang University in China. He most recently was director of the International Center and Intensive English Language Program at Rowan University in New Jersey. In her new position, Yang will lead the center’s programs, including the university-level intensive ESL program.

The Washington State University Carson College of Business’ online MBA and executive MBA programs have been ranked 12th out of 267 online MBA programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Carson College was ranked the eighth-best online MBA program for veterans.

Medicine

Monica Graybeal has been awarded the Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award by the Washington State Pharmacy Association, recognizing innovative pharmacy practice to improve patient care and outcomes. Graybeal, a pharmacist at Unify Community Health, has worked to improve access to hepatitis C treatment for patients through Project ECHO, a telehealth model. Project ECHO connects expert specialist teams with primary care clinicians in local communities via weekly “tele-clinics.” Unify Community Health is part of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic health system.

Miscellaneous

Associates Anne Hanenburg and Darren Teal have been named partners at SPVV Landscape Architects.

The 2018 Board of Directors and Executive Committee have been announced for Mobius Children’s Museum and Science Center. Executive members include President Tom Beil, Vice President Cheryl Kilday of Visit Spokane, Treasurer and Finance Chair Ryan Krasselt of Avista, Secretary and Communications Chair Kelli Hawkins of Numerica, Past President and Governance Chair Amalie Day and Building Chair Terry Goebel. Board members include Sarah Beemer, David Bowman, Patti Boyd, Marty Frazier, Jennifer Gee, Steve Goodell, Development Chair Shelly Kuney, Education Chair Charlotte Lamp, Larry Larison, John Moloney Jr., Deane Osterman, Shelley Redinger, Jennifer Robinson and Harry Sladich.

David Roles has been named United Van Lines’ Western Region Van Operator of the Month for November in the household goods category. Roles, from Chipman Relocation and Logistics Inc., in Spokane, was recognized for his performance in proficiency, claim prevention, customer service and safety.

Timothy Link, of Moscow, and Paul Buckland, of Coeur d’Alene, have been appointed by the Idaho Department of Lands to fill positions on the Idaho Forest Practices Act Advisory Committee, providing assistance relating to the Idaho Forest Practices Act. Link is a professor of hydrology at the University of Idaho. His research focuses on forest hydrology, snow-vegetation interactions and watershed systems. Buckland is the forest resource manager for Inland Empire Paper and is a member and former president and vice president of the Idaho Forest Owners Association.

Utilities

Avista has been recognized by the Edison Electric Institute with the Emergency Assistance Award for helping those affected by Hurricane Irma in September. Eighteen employees and 15 vehicles were dispatched from Avista to Gainesville, Georgia, to help with the restoration effort.