Contineo Helps Prepare Against Breaches

Contineo is a managed IT services and security company focusing on small to mid-sized business in the Western United States. Contineo was founded to provide IT security consulting and project management services to the financial industry. “The biggest challenge,” says Craig Sanders, President and CEO, “has been educating businesses to understand that just because you are not a fortune 500 company doesn’t mean you are not a target of a breach.” It takes a team to design, install and manage a proper technology environment. Through their integrity and customer-service driven approach, the team at Contineo has grown to be a mid sized company with clients in more than half the states in the country. “The need for quality partners will be critical moving forward with evolving technology,” says Sanders. www.contineotech.com

 

Gravity Jack

Specializing in custom mobile apps, augmented reality, virtual reality, 360º video and more, Gravity Jack works to help some of the world’s most innovative brands and government agencies create a world where technology and the human experience intersect seamlessly. Gravity Jack was founded in 2009. The team of five, led by software veterans Luke and Jennifer Richey, began in Liberty Lake, WA, offering fully custom software development services, ranging from mobile apps and websites, to custom algorithms and hardware solutions. 509.863.9228 www.gravityjack.com

Finally Light Bulb Company – A New Light Bulb

The Finally Light Bulb Company has created Acandescence™, an innovative lighting technology for everyday home use, which reliably recreates the same light as an incandescent without the energy waste or excessive cost.  The light it produces is both eco and consumer-friendly, easy on the wallet and comfortable on the eyes. Learn more at www.facebook.com/FinallyLightBulbCompany

Dutch Brothers Opens Valley Location

Kerry and Kevin Parker opened their first Spokane Dutch Bros in 2006. In November they opened their seventh location at 20 North Pines in the Spokane Valley. The Parkers strive to make a difference with every cup of coffee. This is why Dutch Bros Spokane gives back to nonprofit organizations and local causes. Dutch Bros Spokane employs 130 full-time and part-time employees. Follow Dutch Bros Spokane at www.facebook.com/DutchBrosSpokaneWA

Spark Solutions – Restaurant Point of Sale

Spark Solutions is an authorized re-seller for MICROS, Dinerware, MobileBytes and NCR Silver.  They offer two different types of digital signage, as well, along with credit card processing (Mercury, FirstData and TSYS).  Spark Solutions has a combined 50 years of hands-on restaurant experience in their organization making their consultation services of great value to anyone needing a little guidance when looking into restaurant technology. “We’ve been serving the Salt Lake market for over 40 years and with that success have been able to move into the Boise and Spokane markets as well. Our ultimate goal is to develop long lasting relationships with our customers that partner with them as they grow and expand,” says Randy Gunter, Spark Solutions Vice President. www.sparksolutionsgroup.com

Tracy Jewelers Steps Up To Third Generation

Tracy Jewelers announced recently that the family business is being passed on to Third generation Sean Tracy. In 1950 Patrick Tracy and his wife Norann opened Tracy Jewelers in a small shop on Argonne in the Spokane Valley. In 1972 second-generation Leo Tracy took over the family business. Leo Tracy sold the business to his sister Maureen Tracy in 1995. Maureen and her husband Dave Hansen built a freestanding building to house Tracy Jewelers in 2007. Now in Tracy Jewelers’ 65^th year third-generation Sean Tracy is taking over. Sean, Son of Leo Tracy worked as a jeweler in the 1990s. Sean recalls working with his grandfather sweeping the floors and learning the basics gluing pearls and repairing chains as a teenager. His training quickly progressed to jewelry restoration, repair and custom design. Along with his technical training he learned the family values of honesty, integrity and community involvement. Sean’s aunt Maureen will remain on staff at a limited basis as a gemologist and AGS certified Appraiser. www.tracyjewelers.com

 

Spokane Valley Tech Expands Programs

Located at the corner of Sprague and University in the Spokane Valley, SVT is a collaborative effort of Central Valley, East Valley, Freeman and West Valley School Districts. Their programs are built around local industries that are growing and include Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). SVT received an award for Exemplary Instruction in STEM by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and was designated a Washington STEM Lighthouse School for the 2014-2015 school year. There are currently ten programs that are offered to students as well as two academic programs.  The academic programs include The STEM Academy for 9th and 10^th graders and the Senior Academy.  Enrollment for the 2016–2017 school year will be opening soon.  www.spokanevalleytech.org

DogLux Grooming

Bathe your pet in luxury at DogLux Grooming salon, Spokane’s newest and most luxurious pet care facility.  DogLux is the ultimate spa-like environment with top-notch grooming services that ensure your precious fur-baby looks and feels its best. All breeds, sizes, and special requests are welcome.  Call for an appointment at 509.315.4292

Family Home Care Honored at 2015 Family Business Awards

Family Home Care was named as one of 13 companies honored at the 6^th Annual Washington Family Business Awards by Seattle Business Magazine. This annual celebration recognizes the impact and legacy of Washington State’s top family-run companies. Congratulations to Family Home Care. www.fhccares.com

Pinot’s Palette

Pinot’s Palette teaches painting classes for beginners at a studio sporting a bar with local wine and beer, and plenty of music to entertain while you Paint. Drink. Have Fun. Owner, Jackie Casey attended a studio while living in Tulsa, Oklahoma and not being an artist herself was amazed at how well her painting turned out and the incredible fun she had throughout the evening. Pinot’s Palette is continually expanding their painting library and finding new specialty classes to offer, such as: paint your pet, painting on jumbo canvases, tote bag classes, paint your own stocking, etc. Their classes are made for people who have never picked up a paintbrush. Absolutely no experience is required! Pinot’s expanded their offering with a new studio in Coeur d’Alene that opened in November. www.pinotspalette.com

Stay Alfred – Relax and Play Where You Stay

Stay Alfred was founded, right here in Spokane, based on the idea of offering innovative, reliable, and consistent short-term vacation rentals at an affordable price while making booking, check-in, and check-out quick, easy, and stress-free. Stay Alfred is the first nationwide urban vacation rental company. They provide the consistency of a hotel and the size and space of a vacation rental in the most sought-after downtown locations. Each Stay Alfred property offers first-class modern amenities, attractive decor, 4-star housekeeping, unsurpassed location, and is equipped with all the comforts of home.

The people of Stay Alfred have a simple vision: Do Better. With this vision they will never be complacent. They strive to improve what they are doing, everyday. They set themselves apart by delivering on a consistent promise: “We will put you in the best location.” In Seattle, that means Pike Place. In New Orleans, that means the French Quarter. You will be steps from the things you came to see. In the heart of downtown, you will be within easy walking distance of upscale dining and shopping, as well as walking trails, parks, and historic sites. www.stayalfred.com

Rotary 21 Wins Philanthropic Organization of the Year! Congratulations to Rotary 21 for winning the Philanthropic Organization of the Year!  This prestigious award is given by Spokane County United Way and the Emerging Leaders Society.  Rotary 21 was nominated among twelve organizations for the many acts of compassion and philanthropy it leads in our community!  Rotary 21 is a fellowship of business and community leaders committed to providing opportunities for people of Spokane and worldwide through the ideal of service above self. Rotary Club 21 champions health, education and peace through fellowship and service using our resources to make our community and world a better place! www.rotaryspokane.com

Archbright Offices in Spokane

Archbright, providers of HR advice and legal counsel to employers in Washington State, recently opened an office in Spokane to accommodate growth in the region, as well as future expansion plans. Located at 5709 West Sunset Highway in Spokane, the office provides increased capacity for member services, sales, and training classes. With Archbright membership, every employer gets unlimited access to the HR Hotline, two hours per quarter of attorney advice, hundreds of resources in the online HR Toolkit, compensation survey data, and more. Once a member, employers can purchase additional services that span every stage of the employer-employee relationship, including HR Consulting, Payroll, Retirement Programs, Safety & Workers’ Compensation, Employment Law, Labor Relations, and Employee and Leadership Training. www.archbright.com

Second Harvest Goes Mobile

Second Harvest will unveil a new mobile kitchen program and support vehicle, funded by a $75,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare that will expand food programs and nutrition education efforts in at-risk communities throughout the region. The “Mobile Kitchen” will provide low-income families with cooking demonstrations and nutrition classes, along with other health promotion programs including healthy-eating classes, scratch cooking demonstrations and meal sampling. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan will help Second Harvest provide free health screenings and other resources to promote healthy living at many of the events scheduled throughout the year. www.uhc.com

Geneva Woods Pharmacy & Healthcare Services has leased approximately 2,700 square feet of space in Building N-15 in the Spokane Business & Industrial Park at 3808 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley, WA. Their goal has been to keep their patients healthy in a home setting. Geneva Woods specializes in meeting a wide range of home healthcare needs, whether delivered at home or in assisted living facilities, and whether they are self-administered or provided by professionals.

Former Liberty Lake Safeway to become Yoke’s Fresh Market

Spokane-based Yoke’s Fresh Market will soon have a Liberty Lake location as the grocery chain takes over the former Haggen/Safeway store at 1233 N. Liberty Lake Road. This past June Bellingham-based Haggen bought the Safeway store in Liberty Lake and re-branded it. Haggen, with 18 stores, grew to over 160 locations throughout the West after acquiring Albertsons and Safeway stores following their merger. However, Haggen filed bankruptcy in August and began closing some stores, the Liberty Lake store among them. Yoke’s had the winning bid for the Liberty Lake location. Yoke’s has six locations in the Spokane area, a store in Kellogg, one in Sandpoint, and four locations in the Tri-Cities. The website is yokesfreshmarkets.com.