New Hires & Promotions

Spokane-based ALSC Architects has hired four employees. Nick Brandt has joined as marketing coordinator. Brandt has two decades of experience in multimedia development and user experience design. Francisco Rivero and Darcy Durgan have joined as project architects. Rivero’s portfolio of work includes health care, commercial, and institutional projects. Durgan has worked in architecture for over two decades and will work on the health care team. Becky Acuff has joined as a billing specialist. 

Spokane-based law firm Lukins & Annis PS has promoted three employees and hired one. Court Hall, Shaun Greer, and Corey Metzner have been promoted from associate attorneys to principal attorneys.  Tsveta Todorova-Kelly has joined as a litigation attorney. Todorova-Kelly previously worked at Lewis Thomason PC, in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Catholic Charities Eastern Washington has hired Dave Meany as director of communications and marketing. Meany previously worked for Eastern Washington University.

Inland Power & Light Co. has promoted two employees. Dallas Childers has been promoted to vice president of operations. Childers began his career at Inland Power & Light in 2018 as a lineman and was promoted to general foreman in 2022. Tracy Kieffer has been promoted to vice president of member experience. Kieffer previously worked as an operations assistant.

Numerica Credit Union, of Spokane Valley, has promoted Dmitriy Borisyuk to business banking relationship officer. Prior to joining Numerica three years ago, Borisyuk worked as a small business banking underwriter for Banner Bank.

Seattle-based law firm Foster Garvey has hired municipal, health, and housing counsel Andrew Schillinger at its Spokane office. Schillinger previously worked as the assistant attorney general for the Washington state Office of the Attorney General.

Spokane Transit Authority has appointed Brandon Rapez-Betty and Karl Otterstrom as interim co-CEO’s. Rapez-Betty is STA’s chief operating officer. Otterstrom is STA’s chief planning and development officer. The STA’s board of directors has commenced a national search and expects to appoint a new CEO in 2025.

Coeur d’Alene-based Mountain West Bank has promoted Besse Bailey to regional market president. Bailey previously served as the senior vice president commercial lending manager.

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture has hired Rachel C. Allen as curator of modern and contemporary art. Allen previously worked as curator and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Delaware. Allen’s position is funded by a new grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, of Vancouver, Washington. 

United Way North Idaho has hired Rachel Peterson as its executive director. Peterson is an entrepreneur and has over 25 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations.

Awards & Designations

Scott Morris, former CEO of Avista Corp., has been awarded the University District 2024 Impact Award. Morris was honored for his participation in the redevelopment of the University District into a hub for higher education, collaboration, and innovation. 

Sprague Pest Solutions, a Spokane-based preventive and remedial pest management and food safety consulting business, was recognized as an industry leader with three awards, including the South Sound Magazine Best Large Business Award, Seattle Top Workplaces, and ESG Innovator Award from Avetta. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development fund has awarded Broadlinc Public Development Authority $4.5 million to construct a public fiber-to-the-home project that will serve 380 broadband serviceable locations in Spokane County. Broadlinc was established in 2022 by the Spokane County Commissioners and serves as the Spokane Regional Broadband Development Authority. 

Spokane Arts has awarded a total of $54,500 to Fat Gratitude Productions, Bright Comet Theatre, Finding Human Project, Stage Left Theater Association, James Pakootas, Aimee Brooks, Spokane Art School, and Cori Schuman. The Spokane Arts Grant Awards winners will carry out art projects and programs in film, education, ceramics, storytelling, and festival hosting. 

Aleasha McDaniel, of STCU, was named best contact center manager by the International Customer Management Institute. McDaniel has been with STCU since 2012 and is the assistant vice president-contact center director.

 Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners has awarded its annual partnership appreciation awards to Bekah Bennett & Team, Mission in Action; Jessica Salquist, Value of Community; Claire LePoullouin, Value of Respect; Erica Bullock, Value of Justice; Sara Clements-Sampson, Value of Equity; and L.J. Kennedy, SNAP Hidden Hero. The awards honor local organizations, businesses, volunteers, and individuals who have provide opportunities for people in need. 

Philanthropy

No-Li Brewhouse, of Spokane, has donated $20,000 to Giving Back Spokane and Spokane Sports. As part of No-Li’s “25 Days of Christmas,” each nonprofit organization will receive $10,000 to benefit underserved youth in the community.

Family Promise of Spokane was one of three Washington nonprofits to receive a grant from Numerica Credit Union and Federal Home Loan Bank, of Des Moines, Iowa. The $120,000 Member Impact Fund grant will help bolster programs that strengthen local families and communities. 

The Kalispel Tribe and Northern Quest Casino has committed $100,000 over three years to support Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.