Business Beat
Architecture
NAC Architecture has hired several new employees. Rodrigo Rada has been hired as an architect, working previously with SmithGroup in Phoenix. Tiffany Bronowski joins NAC as an architectural designer, previously working at Russell Page Architects. Angel Meegan has been hired as a project accountant, working previously at Moss Adams. Natalie Curtin is a new interior designer, previously working for Uptic Studios. Marci Schreiber joins NAC as an interior designer and associate, working previously at ZBA Architecture. John Vega has been hired as a construction administrator, previously working as a project manager with Palm Springs Unified School District in California. David Sabry is a new I.T. systems administrator, working previously with Flynn BEC. Chris Howard joins NAC as a desktop support specialist, previously with the U.S. Air Force.
Banking
Dennis Durfee has been promoted to executive vice president at Mountain West Bank, a division of Glacier Bank serving areas in Eastern Washington, northern Utah and throughout Idaho. Durfee has been CFO at Mountain West Bank since 2011.
Education
Mobius Children’s Museum and Science Center has announced its 2019 board of directors. Tom Beil of Wells Fargo and Inland Northwest Regional Commercial Banking is president, Kelli Hawkins of Numerica Credit Union is vice president and communication chair, Ryan Krasselt of Avista Corp. is treasurer and finance chair, Jennifer Robinson of WSU’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is secretary and retired biomedical engineer Amalie Day is past president and governance chair. Board members include David Bowman of EWU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Patti Boyd of Windermere Real Estate, retired educator Marty Frazier, community volunteer Jennifer Gee, retired physician Steve Goodell, Charlotte Lamp of Rockwood Consulting LLC, Larry Larison of Larison and Associates, Deane Osterman of Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Shelly Redinger of Spokane Public Schools and Harry Sladich of Red Lion Hotels Corp.
Government
Deer Park Chamber of Commerce has announced the nine members of its 2019 board of directors and officers. Dough Knight of Knight Construction is president, Jeff Whittle of Yoke’s Markets is vice president, Dan Roberts of Deer Park Physical Therapy and The Gym is treasurer and Nate Hoeksema of Lauer Funeral Home is secretary. Board members include Jennifer Shorts of Kelly Realty, Julie Becker of Directors Mortgage, Ryan Moore of Edward Jones Investment, Jane Reilly of Marketplace Realty and Billy Costello of State Farm Insurance.
Health
Cancer Care Northwest hired two new certified nurse practitioners, Colleen Moore and Patricia Schumacher, in February. Moore worked previously as a surgical oncology nurse at Kalispell Regional Hospital and Schumacher worked at the Levine Cancer Institute and Myers Park Pediatric in Charlotte, N.C.
Landscaping
Sure Green Lawn and Tree Service has hired Matt Engle as a licensed technician and director of technical development. Engle worked previously as a lead analyst for Western Union in Denver.
Honors
Forbes Travel Guide has named Northern Quest Resort and Casino a four-star recommended hotel for the sixth consecutive year in its 2019 Star Rating list, and La Rive Spa has earned the four-star rating for the seventh consecutive year.
The Downtown Spokane Partnership and Business Improvement District awarded the Downtown Legacy Award and Impact Award on Feb. 28. The Legacy Award was given to Don Kardong, who founded the Lilac Bloomsday Run and has directed the race for 42 years. 2019 is Kardong’s final year as director. The Impact Award was presented to Walt and Karen Worthy for the restoration of the Historic Davenport Hotel.
The IEEE international MGA Award for Leadership was presented to Spokane Section Chair Amber E. Orr during the organization’s Cyber Security dinner on Feb. 21. Only three such awards were presented for 2018, with Orr’s award being the only one given in the Western hemisphere.
The Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene has been granted the Best Western 2019 Green Award, signifying a commitment to conserving energy and sustaining resources. The hotel also ranked in the top 40 percent of overall service and quality assurance for 2018.
The International Master Gardener Conference selected Spokane County Master Gardeners’ diagnostic plant clinic and plant clinic specialist volunteers program to receive the Search for Excellence Community Service Award, recognizing extension volunteer work throughout the U.S., Canada and South Korea. Spokane County Extension Plant Clinic currently has 22 diagnostic specialists and approximately 160 active volunteers.