Eastern Washington University has hired Jennifer J. Hicks as its new director of philanthropy for the College of STEM. Hicks previously was with Glenrose Philanthropy Advisors, of Spokane.

Spokane-based Forster Financial, a financial planning firm, has hired three employees. Nathan Clark has joined as a financial adviser. Clark previously worked at Numerica Credit Union Financial Services. James Walker has joined as case planner. Walker is a senior at Whitworth University. Tyler Piper has joined as marketing coordinator. Piper is a sophomore at Spokane Falls Community College.

Deer Park-based Knight Wall Systems has hired Kathryn Butler as an estimator. Butler is a recent graduate of Eastern Washington University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering technologies with a minor in manufacturing.

Coeur d’Alene-based Architects West has hired Justin Traw as an architectural designer in its Spokane office. Traw previously worked in the Spokane office of architecture company CollinsWoerman.

Spokane Valley-based Numerica Credit Union has hired two employees. James Numata has joined as senior vice president of risk. Numata will oversee compliance, fraud, and risk management departments. He previously worked at Honolulu, Hawaii-based Bank of Hawaii. Clif Jenkins has joined as vice president of digital experience support. Jenkins will lead Numerica’s digital workforce management, communication, and quality monitoring teams. He previously worked at Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based Cenlar as its contact center technology manager.

Spokane-based Riverview Retirement Community has promoted Mike Schleigh to chief operating officer. Schleigh was previously director of plant operations.

Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce has selected Georgia Oxford as vice president. Oxford previously served as director of membership and events from 2017 to 2022. 

Awards & Designations

Spokane-based law firm Piskel Yahne Kovarik PLLC has had seven attorneys named to the 2024 Washington Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists for Thomson Reuters. Jason T. Piskel, Nicholas D. Kovarik, and Ryan D. Yahne have been named Super Lawyers. Whitny L. Norton, Benjamin J. McDonnell, and Troy D. Sims have been named Rising Stars.

Best Lawyers, a peer-review research and marketing company in the legal profession, has selected attorneys Adam R. Baird and Geana M. Van Dessel, both of Kutak Rock’s Spokane office, to its Lawyer of the Year list for 2025. Alex Fern and Tanya L. Lawless were recognized on the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list.

Spokane Valley’s Minuteman Press owners Troy and Collette Bise were awarded the President’s Club Award for achieving $1 million in gross sales for the year ending 2023. The award is the top honor owners can receive by the Minuteman Press franchise system.

The U.S. Strategic Command has awarded the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base the 2023 Omaha Trophy in the global operations category. The Omaha Trophy recognizes prestigious military units that perform exceptionally in the categories of intercontinental ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines, strategic bombers, and global operations.

Spokane-based architecture and construction firm Hanson Carlen has won the national 2024 Chrysalis Award for its Silo project in the residential specialty item category.

Spokane-based No-Li Brewhouse won five awards in the international 2024 World Beer Awards in Norwich, England. The brewery won two gold, a silver, and two bronze awards in the imperial IPA category.

The Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility has been awarded the 2023 Wastewater Treatment Plan Outstanding Performance Award by the Washington state Department of Ecology.