Up Close

Don't lose new employees to burnout

One key is not letting them wither in entry-level posts

April 13, 2017

As managers, we have all been there. There seems to be a revolving door in Human Resources. Everyone is continually searching for that great employee. And, every once in a while, a good prospect comes walking through that revolving door. Alice is that

Blending work, play in hobby entrepreneurship

Consider several key factors before launching own venture

April 13, 2017

Guest Writer

Work and hobbies lie at opposite ends of the motivational spectrum. By definition, we go to work to make a living and practice hobbies in our leisure time, primarily for intrinsic enjoyment. Rather than maintaining strict boundaries between work and leisu

WSU adds to research, innovation capabilities in Spokane

New commercialization office hire staying busy

April 13, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Washington State University's Office of Commercialization has added a new position to the university's Spokane campus, establishing its first point of contact here for researchers hoping to develop and market new technologies in life science fields.

Space studies blast off at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy

North Idaho STEM Academy to send own satellite into orbit

April 13, 2017

Mike McLean

Students at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, in Rathdrum, have started up their own space program, dubbed Project DaVinci, and they hope to inspire excitement among younger people around the world about science, technology, engineering, and math-and sp

Next Generation Zone prepares young adults for careers

Spokane center expects another increase in visits

April 13, 2017

Sherman Birdtail says he doesn't know where his life would be without the educational, employment, and emotional support he's received from the staff of Spokane's Next Generation Zone, a career center for young adults. 'I came in at 16 to get my

Spokane-area events planner merges her passions

Entrepreneur applies her skillset to help homeless

March 30, 2017

It wasn't what she originally planned upon starting her own business three years ago, but Spokane Valley resident and entrepreneur Karen Herford now is using her skillset in the hospitality industry and applying it to a second job working with homeless

The future of the hotel key

New feature ties into mobile check-in apps

March 30, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Several large hotel brands have begun experimenting with digital key technology here, which enables hotel guests to enter their room by holding their smartphone to the lock, rather than using the traditional plastic key card. Hotel representatives here

Rocking the private-event business at the Knitting Factory

Planner says venue now slates weddings, other gatherings

March 30, 2017

Mike McLean

The Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, which is known as a venue for showcasing an eclectic array of regional and nationally touring performing artists, also has become a rental venue and service provider for local private events, says Annie Christy,

Home equity loan demand expected to rise here

HELOC volumes surpass peaks during recession era

March 2, 2017

Spokane-area lenders say they've recently been approving more applications for home equity lines of credit, commonly referred to as HELOC loans, reminiscent of around the time of the Great Recession. 'We're seeing home equity lines of credit reach

Spokane-area credit unions looks to expand commercial lending

Several cooperatives expand business lending services here

March 2, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

Following several years of increased demand for commercial lending services here, several credit unions say they're looking to put greater emphasis on building up that portion of their loan portfolios. Lynn Heider, vice president of public relations a