Spokane-based law firm Lukins & Annis PS has hired Melissa Murdock as a litigation associate. Murdock previously worked as an associate attorney at Bristol George, formerly Macomber Law.

Spokane-based nonprofit YMCA of the Inland Northwest has promoted Suzanne Heutmaker to multibranch executive for the Valley and North YMCAs. She previously worked as Valley YMCA branch executive. Patrick Bryant was promoted to multibranch executive of the South and Central YMCAs from interim executive. Bryant previously worked as the south YMCA branch executive. The YMCA has also promoted Jeff Polello to aquatics executive from North Spokane YMCA branch executive. Polello will support the aquatics programs at all five YMCA locations in Spokane and Sandpoint, Idaho, overseeing all aspects of aquatics programs.

Spokane Valley-based State Bank Northwest has hired Tim Cassels as its chief financial officer. Cassels was previously vice president of financial risk and capital planning at Global Federal Credit Union, formerly Alaska Federal Credit Union.

Spokane-based architectural firm Bernardo Wills has hired Danielle Harlan as an emerging architecture professional. Harlan previously worked at Spokane-based Cortner Architectural Co.

Spokane-based construction company Meridian Construction & Development Inc. has hired Heather Furchtenicht as project coordinator. Furchtenicht was previously an administrative assistant at LT Landscaping. Meridian Construction also has hired Riley O'Keeffe as a project manager. O'Keeffe previously worked at construction company Kilohana Builders as a project manager. 

Awards & Designations

Hayden Jones, a student in the University of Washington School of Dentistry Regional Initiatives in Dental Education program, has been welcomed as a doctor of dental surgery candidate at Spokane-based Unify Community Health clinic. Jones will work to increase dental patient capacity at the clinic while training to become a rural oral health care provider.

Coeur d'Alene-based silver producer Hecla Mining Co. has appointed Mark P. Board as director. Board previously served as vice president of innovation and technical services for Hecla Ltd., a subsidiary of Hecla Mining Co., from June 2014 until his retirement in June 2020.

Sarah Carlson, a financial adviser and owner of Spokane-based wealth management company Fulcrum Financial Group, has been named by Forbes in its Top Women Wealth Advisors, Best-In-State list. This report recognizes U.S.-based female financial advisers who are leading the way in offering best practices and providing high-quality experiences for their clients.

Spokane-based Downtown Spokane Partnership has named Christopher Varallo, of Kutak Rock LLP, board chair. Bryn West, vice president of Cowles Real Estate, was also elected chair of the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District by Business Improvement District Ratepayers board of directors.

Scottsdale, Arizona-based Ethisphere, a company that evaluates and measures corporate ethical standards, has named Spokane-based energy company Avista Corp. as one of the 2024 World's Most Ethical Companies. Avista has been recognized for this honor by Ethisphere for five consecutive years.

Philanthropy 

Spokane Valley-based Numerica Credit Union has donated $20,000 toward literacy programs and children's books. Numerica partnered with nonprofit Spokane County United Way and Wenatchee, Washington-based child care agency Chilean Douglas Child Services to deliver thousands of books through the Imagination Library program.