Business beat
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Education
The Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center has promoted Korin Michielli from events manager to development director and Tammy Sweeney from assistant events manager to events manager. Michielli has been with the organization for nearly five years. Sweeney has been with the organization for nearly two years.
Insight Into Diversity magazine has named Julie Beckstead a recipient of the “100 Inspiring Women in STEM” award. Beckstead is a professor of biology and environmental studies at Gonzaga University. The award was given in recognition of her work inspiring young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
Community Colleges of Spokane’s Center for Workforce and Continuing Education has hired Nolan Gruver as the operations manager. Gruver previously served as campus center director for three years at Park University at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Finance
Idaho Independent Bank has promoted Michael Dolezal to assistant vice president and credit administration officer and Kellie Peterson to vice president and commercial loan officer. Dolezal and Peterson have been with the bank since 2005. Dolezal has more than 23 years of banking experience. Peterson has more than nine years of banking experience.
Law
Keller W. Allen has been named by Super Lawyers magazine as a 2015 Super Lawyer. Allen practices labor and employment law. He is the founder of the Law Firm of Keller W. Allen P.C. Super Lawyers lists attorneys based on a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Witherspoon Kelley P.S. announced that Robin L. Haynes has been elected to serve as president of the Washington State Bar Association for the 2016-2017 year. Haynes is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Employment groups. In addition, Joel Hazel has been named a recipient of the Idaho State Bar’s Professionalism Award for 2015. The award is one of the bar’s highest honors and is given to Idaho lawyers who reflect the highest standards of professionalism.
Lee & Hayes, PLLC has announced that three of the firm’s Spokane partners were named to the 2016 edition of Best Lawyers in America, a publication for the legal profession. Lewis Lee was recognized in the Patent Law category and Bryce Wilcox and Leslie R. Weatherhead were recognized in the Commercial Litigation category. Lee is the firm’s co-founder and has practiced law for 26 years. Wilcox and Weatherhead are with the firm’s litigation practice and are both experienced with complex commercial litigation.
Nonprofit
The Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded grants to area nonprofits in recognition of the organizations’ work with local children. The New Bryant Arms South received a $4,000 grant for the Neighborhood Networks’ Summer Teen Workforce Development Program. Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery received a $4,000 grant for the Family Support Program. West Central Community Center received a $2,500 grant for the Youth Enrichment Project.
Realty
Veronica Johnson and Karin Stuart have joined Keller Williams Realty Spokane.
Retail
Etailz has hired Paul Secrest and Shay Smith as international onboarding coordinators.
Zak Designs has hired Kay Janis-Carlsen as a key accounts/special projects manager in the international contracts management department. Carlsen previously worked for Amazon.com and Eddie Bauer.
Transportation
The American Association of Airport Executives has named Lawrence J. Krauter as a member of the organization’s board of directors and as chair of the Operations, Safety, Planning and Emergency Management Committee. Krauter is the chief executive officer of Spokane International Airport.