Business Beat

Banking

Numerica Credit Union has announced a number of new hires and promotions. Josh Melcher has been hired as vice president of private and business banking. Melcher joins Numerica from Umpqua Bank. Dennis Wagner has been hired as the manager of the bank’s Wandermere Branch. He comes to Numerica from Chase, where he was a branch manager. Bryce Chamberlin brings nine years of experience and has been hired by Numerica as a private banking relationship officer. Jose Vasquez-Barrueto, an employee at Numerica for four years, has a new position as a business banking relationship officer. Jason Kelly and Angie Meadows have both been hired as senior loan officers. Kelly has six years experience and specializes in first-time home buyers. Meadows comes to Numerica from HomeStreet Bank and has over 23 years experience.

Education

Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine has announced the hiring of six new administrators. Steven Grossman, a medical director of hospice care in Canton, Ohio, has been hired as assistant dean of learning communities and as a clinical professor. Leila Harrison comes from Texas A&M College of Medicine and has been hired as assistant dean for admissions and recruitment. Joshua Jacobs has been named chair of medical education and clinical sciences and a clinical professor and Andrew Richards comes to WSU as the new technology incubator officer. Santiago Toro-Posada comes from University of British Columbia as director of curriculum accreditation and management. Randi Wasik has been named associate dean of administration, finance and strategy after working at University of Washington’s College of the Environment.

Michael Wolcott has been named to the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, a bioenergy technology advisory committee to the U.S. Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture. Wolcott is a Washington State University Regents Professor, directing the Institute for Sustainable Design and Composite Materials & Engineering center.

Dr. Jo Ann Dotson has been named the Director of Undergraduate Nursing Programs at the Washington State University College of Nursing. Dr. Dotson was the director at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and a faculty member at Montana State University and Carroll College. The college also announced Dr. Janessa Graves as a Honors Faculty Fellow, recognizing her contributions to the Honors College, and appointed her to the WSU Honors Council, the body that helps set policy and practice within the Honors College. Addy Hatch has been hired as Director of Outreach and Communications at the College of Nursing. Hatch comes to WSU from The Spokesman-Review, where she was Managing Editor. Sarah Wilson has been named Ph.D. Advisor for the College of Nursing.

Finance

Asset Planning & Management, Inc. has announced Thomas M. Swoffer has joined the firm as Senior Portfolio Manager. Swoffer brings 25 years of experience to the firm and has held the same position within an investment advisory firm as well as a privately-owned trust company.

Insurance

Ally Lust has been hired by Dan Hoffman Insurance Agency as a customer service agent. She has experience in investments and life insurance and recently graduated from Washington State University.

Manufacturing

Buck Knives has announced six management-level moves. Ryan Duckett has been promoted to Director of Operations. Duckett was hired over 10 years ago as a temporary employee in the packing and shipping department. Kelly Schroeder has been promoted to Production Manager from Senior Assembly Supervisor. He is a seven-year veteran of the company. Paul West has been named IT Manager from network administrator. Tim Keaty has been hired as Human Resources Manager. He brings 29 years of H.R. experience to Buck Knives. Recently promoted Vice President of Sales and Business Development Bob George has worked in sales and marketing before his promotion. John Renzi manages international operations and is the liaison for licensing at Buck Knives. Renzi is the company’s new Director of Licensed and Sourced Product Development.

Litehouse has announced Roxie Lowther’s retirement after 34 years at the Sandpoint salad dressing company. Lowther launched the company’s first website, served as VP of Marketing, and handled graphic design and public relations.