Business Beat

Education

Eastern Washington University has announced four additions to two of its boards. New to the EWU Foundation Board are Von Klohe, retired executive and a 1988 EWU alumnus from Aflac Insurance, and Rob Dietz, senior vice president of Banner Bank, both of Spokane. New to the EWU Alumni Board are Marianne Duong, of Seattle, vice president of international communications at Starbucks and a 2006 EWU alumna, and Jenna Linerud, of Washougal, Washington, a social worker in the Camus School District and a 2001 and 2005 EWU alumna.

Health

Emily Faust, Ph.D., has been hired as new provider at Unify Community Health on Mission Avenue. Faust graduated with a doctorate in clinical psychology from Washington State University. Her work focuses on the influence of mental health on physical well-being, with interest in combining medical and behavioral health.

Law

Campbell & Bissell PLLC has hired two associate attorneys. William A. Gieri graduated from Gonzaga Law School in 2017 and previously practiced criminal defense and administrative law. His practice will now focus on construction law and commercial litigation. Grace Maldonado graduated from Gonzaga Law School in 2020. She will focus her practice on construction law, employment and labor law, and commercial litigation.

Nonprofit

Julie Wukelic has joined the Morning Star Foundation as chief executive officer. Wukelic was previously director of account-based marketing at Ignitium. Morning Star Foundation is a nonprofit that raises funding for and makes grants to children’s charities.

HonorsTwo local businesses have been named as the Best Places to Work Inland Northwest, a survey and awards program that uses employee feedback to recognize the region’s best employers.

Kaspien Inc., formally etailz, was recognized in this year’s list and was previously recognized in the 2016 and 2018 lists as etailz. Kaspien is an e-commerce growth platform that offers software and services to brands in order to grow on online marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, eBay and Google Shopping.

Purcell Systems Inc. was recognized for a third consecutive year as part of Best Places to Work Inland Northwest. The Spokane Valley company provides stored energy solutions for industrial clients, designing and manufacturing thermally managed, modular outdoor electronic equipment enclosures.

The annual list of Best Places to Work Inland Northwest is in its fourth year and is presented by the Journal of Business and Inland Northwest Society Human Resource Management. Businesses are recognized in four possible categories according to size, including Small Employer, Medium Employer, Large Employer and Enterprise Employer.