When you visit a new city, you instinctively pick up on its “vibe.” Is it a sleeper or does it seem unwelcoming? Do the people you see on the street seem to carry themselves with ease or do they appear rushed to get from point A to B? Do the stores beg to be entered or do they shutter themselves in shame? Are the parks inhabited with community members or are they dried up parcels of forgotten times?

What puts a city on the map? What is it that gives it its vibe? In addition to several social elements, I believe a community’s leadership is significantly responsible for how a city presents itself. While this most obviously includes municipal leaders as well as business leaders, and community support entities, it also includes leaders in the arts, philanthropy, and the certain je ne sais quoi of a robust new business community. Additionally, a city’s vibe is also contingent on whether its residents buy into what’s offered. The people of our fair city, obviously are on board. It takes a lot to create a hot spot on the map and Spokane has a leadership base whose influence reaches beyond the city limits to create a substantial draw.

Leadership that helps create a healthy energy does so by maintaining a healthy sphere of influence. In this issue we celebrate fifty of the region’s most influential leaders. These individuals’ efforts, whether decades long or brand new, have left their mark in making Spokane a city of incredible energy and that is to be celebrated. Check out who made the list this year in our feature section.

Also in this issue Brian Newberry, one of this year’s Power 50, shares with us what it means to trust in leadership and Pete Taylor, CEO and founder of Spiceologist, shares some wisdom about using Kickstarter to launch or grow your business.

Spokane has a thriving business start-up and incubator community, but it is helpful sometimes to learn as much as you can about options for financing your new or growing business. There are a number of innovative new ideas in financing, so make sure to check out “Identifying Lender Risk – Assessing Credit in Alternative Lending” in our Topix section.

Providing you relative and pertinent content is what Catalyst strives to do, so please send me an email or give me a call if there is something you would like to see in your regional quarterly business magazine.

As always, I hope you enjoy the people you meet and the things you might learn in this issue. Happy reading.

– Robin Bishop