Special Reports
North Idaho Alliance Women of Impact: 'E' is for education
Women have persevered to shape society in so many ways, using the most powerful tool available to them — education. In the 1800s, women’s positions and opportunities in education began to increase. The 19th century saw a shift in perspective on women. It opened educational opportunities for females in various education levels, which paved the way for more women to pursue various degrees of education, first as learners and then as educators. Women have surpassed men in the number of bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees conferred annually in the United States.
SANDPOINT CHAMBER: What is within our control
There are a lot of things we all would like to have more control over: the weather, our elected officials, customer preferences, and whatever else you have on your wish list. As individuals, there are only three things over which we have complete control: our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions. In business, especially as a business owner, you have a great deal of influence. You get to decide what products and services you will offer, how you will price, and deliver them. You have influence over who you hire, and who you will retain, on your team, but you don’t have complete control of any of these things. There are always external, mitigating factors that will impact your decisions on the products and services you sell. New tariffs, government regulations, and availability can impact your decisions. You want the best skilled and the brightest employees, but attracting and retaining qualified staff is challenging.
Housing affordability and tariffs in real estate
North Idaho and the Spokane area are generally insulated from national disaster trends: floods, earthquakes, tornados, persistent wildfire outbreaks, etc. The region has continued to be a place people want to move to: population growth has been strong over the past decade, and still it remains a really nice place to live.
Real estate investment strategies
Owning a home is the most important component to build net worth over time. It is far more significant a contributor to financial well-being than any stock market or other investment vehicle. In addition to the emotional and psychic benefits of homeownership, the equity you are creating is tax sheltered with mortgage interest deductibility, homeowner exemption property tax policies, and capital gains shelter. This is why it is often referred to as the “American Dream.” There is a lot of media attention these days on the difficulty of realizing this Dream however, given the high cost of homes, mortgage rates, insurance coverage, and property taxes. But if you are lucky enough to own your home, and have funds you could invest in other real estate, what might you consider?
POST FALLS CHAMBER: Making a profound impact
The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce recently gathered for our annual Recognition Reception to honor remarkable individuals and businesses who have made a profound impact in Post Falls. It was uplifting to witness the strength, generosity, and dedication in our community.
North Idaho Alliance: Women of Impact — March is Women’s History Month
Each year, March is designated as Women’s History Month through a presidential proclamation, honoring the significant contributions of women throughout American history.
SANDPOINT CHAMBER: Spring cleaning: Kick the procrastination habit
You know those little tasks that you don't particularly like to do, those little things that you put off for later? All of us have one. Some of us have many. One of mine used to be taking action on the emails in my Inox. I don't know why I procrastinated on doing the simple task of responding, filing, and/or deleting, but I got into the habit of scanning my emails, and then closing them to deal with them later. Sometimes that would be days later. That small task would add up to be a large Inbox in a short amount of time. My habitual pattern was to put it off until I just couldn't avoid it anymore. Then finally, I spent a hefty amount of time dealing with a huge number of emails that if I had only done those little tasks when I should have done them, it would have been a whole lot easier and a whole lot faster.
North Idaho Alliance: Women of IMPACT, T is for Technology
Let’s be real — I’ve surrendered to the tech takeover. From AI to those sneaky midnight iPhone updates, to my never-ending password chain updates, change is constant when it comes to technology. But honestly, I bet if women were in charge, we’d sprinkle some gentleness and grace into the mix.
Boardco acquires Mark’s Marine in Hayden
Mark's Marine in Hayden has been acquired by Boardco, according to a recent announcement by Stacey International, LLC. Additionally, Aaron Thykeson, a historical partner of Mark’s Marine Inc., will continue as a partner and president in the organization.
Cd'A Casino Resort spa introduces Aescape
Wellness is meeting the future as the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel has added new wellness technology with the installation of Aescape, an AI-powered, automated massage experience at its Spa Ssakwa'q'n (pronounced Sock-wah-kin).
Chaos theory and the economy
We like to believe that the various sectors of the economy believe in rational ways. The “law” of supply and demand: as one side increases the other side decreases. Or, doubling the money supply while holding an asset base static will cause price inflation. Measurable stuff. Predictable.
POST FALLS CHAMBER: Celebrating our local business leaders
This is such a special time of year! Friends and family are all cozied up, enjoying the last days of winter…hopefully…and we as a community get to celebrate some amazing stories at our Recognition Reception. Every year a group of previous winners have the painstaking job of sifting through nominations to select this year’s winners. For the first time in a long time, we had an overwhelming number of nominations — 38 in total. What a beautiful problem to have. This means that at a minimum, we had 38 citizens who felt compelled to share the story of how a local business or individual made an impact on our community. That makes my heart sing. We have such a caring community and this outpouring proves it.
SANDPOINT CHAMBER: LUCK!
Luck is often seen as some magical force that appears to some and not to others. But when it comes to business, luck is much more about preparation and taking action than merely just chance.
North Idaho Alliance: Women of Impact Roundtable Series explores local commerce drivers
Let us examine the concept of "commerce." While it may initially seem unremarkable, consider the term "money." This is undoubtedly a more engaging topic. Money encompasses the ways we generate, spend, save, and invest, as well as how it circulates within our communities and on a global scale. It serves as the vital mechanism propelling our world forward.
POST FALLS CHAMBER: Working together as a chamber
As we step into 2025, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible work we have accomplished together as a chamber. The dedication and engagement drove meaningful change in our community, and I’m thrilled to share some highlights and upcoming initiatives that showcase the power of collective action.
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