Getting to know Liberty Lake Resident and World Traveler Blue Stiley
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
Motivational speaker, model, actor and martial artist Blue Stiley started making money by selling his chocolate milk to other students at his middle school. His path to success has been unique and Stiley doesn’t encourage people to follow his path, he encourages them to find their own.
“There’s no right or wrong way to achieve your goals,” he said.
Part of his unique path is how he got his name. Stiley, who was born with blue eyes, went unnamed for several months while his parents waited to see if his eyes would remain that color. They did. “They were hippies,” he said. “Their favorite color was blue.”
Stiley said he didn’t appreciate his name when he was a kid, in part because of kids who bullied him. “I got the Jesus beat out of me at 8 years old because of my name,” he said.
That’s what prompted him to begin taking traditional karate classes taught in Japanese. That, in turn, helped spark his interest in foreign languages and travel and he would later study and train in Japan.
When he was in middle school, another student offered to buy Stiley’s chocolate milk for 50 cents. Stiley accepted, and it became a daily ritual. Then one day on the way home, Stiley stopped and bought two packs of baseball cards for 25 cents each. He brought them
DOCKSIDE
to school, where someone offered to buy the unopened packs for 50 cents each. He accepted. Then he bought more, selling each for a handsome profit.
“In the 80s, everyone collected cards,” he said. “By day eight I was making over $80 a day. I did that for almost a month until the principal caught on.”
No longer able to sell to his classmates, Stiley got a business license. He bought cards and then sold them at various trade shows in the area that his mother would drive him to. “I had no expenses,” he said. “I did that for almost two years.”
Stiley quit when his grades began to suffer, but not before
he’d earned enough money to pay for college, plus have some left over. “That never would have been possible without parents who supported me,” he said.
He attended the University of Washington with the goal of studying international business and signed up for a study abroad program in Japan, where he polished his Japanese and competed in karate tournaments. “It was just this great thing,” he said.
He switched gears from international business and became a certified personal trainer so he could teach karate at Gold’s Gym locations. He started his own dojo, then was recruited to be a model and actor.
Stiley can remember the first time he thought about being a model. When he was a teenager, he saw a Bowflex commercial and sent away for a VHS tape. He told his mother that he wanted a Bowflex so he could look like the man in the video and she pointed out that the person in the video was a model.
Blue’s still represented by an agency and works as a model in between speaking engagements. “I’ve been able to travel the world,” he said. “My kids have been in shoots with me.”
He was once hired to do a photo shoot with fitness equipment manufacturer Nautilus in Portland. Once there, he learned that Nautilus now owned Bowflex and he was going to be in a Bowflex ad campaign. “I ran outside and called my mom and said ‘Guess who the new Bowflex guy is,’” he said.
Along the way Stiley has also added published author to his resume. He describes his book, The Sum of 4, as a self help memoir. It has its roots in journaling Stiley did to process his feelings after his father and karate instructor both died. He still remembers the first time he sent his manuscript off to an editor.
“It came back with more red on it than black and white,” he said. “It looked like a CSI thing.”
He rewrote it and sent it back several times, getting fewer red comments each time.
Being asked to be a guest on a podcast spurred him to create his own called “Navigating No.” Stiley spends his time talking to a wide range of guests about how they’ve overcome challenges to achieve their goals. He plans to take what he’s learned to write a second book.
“We’re all different,” he said. “You have to figure out how to stand out.”
Stiley credits his name, which he long ago came to terms with, for helping him stand out. “It is a
Photo by Nina Culver
Blue Stiley is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and parent who moved back to the Spokane area and landed in Liberty Lake. His passion lies is in assisting others in becoming the best version of themselves by overcoming rejection, failure and self doubt.
STILEY
Continued from page 2
wonderful name to go through life with,” he said.
Stiley and his wife moved to Liberty Lake when they started a family, in search of a slower pace of life and less traffic. He credits his wife for her support and said it was good to come home to his community. “Every one of my childhood best friends is still here,” he said. “I feel like I have a blessed life. We’re so happy to be back.”
He’s still a frequent traveler, however, giving motivational talks and doing modeling work around the globe.
One of his recent talks was given at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo earlier this year. “I gave a speech called Darkside for Life,” said Stiley, who counts himself as a Star Wars fan.
Q: How has your background with its varied experiences helped create you into a motivational speaker?
A: My varied background is the foundation of my message and what’s made me the expert I am today. I’ve worn a lot of hats — and belts — from going through life with the unique name Blue, martial artist to entrepreneur at twelve, from coaching Olympic athletes to acting, modeling, becoming an author and working with thousands of leaders worldwide. Each experience taught me the power of mentorship, connection, and learning from others.
on Spokane’s South Hill. I headed off to Seattle and graduated from UW, then took a pretty wild ride — living, working, and going to college in Tokyo, Japan. I experienced life from small towns to medium cities to one of the biggest cities in the world, then spent 30 years back in Seattle.
When it came time to raise our two kids, my wife and I wanted them to feel a true sense of community, escape the traffic, and step out of the rat race. Liberty Lake gave us all that — and so much more.
Q: How would you summarize your book, The Sum of 4?
A: The Sum of 4 is a self-help memoir filled with life lessons and habits we all know but often forget to practice. It emphasizes that we all reach “4” differently—there’s no single path to a goal, dream, or destination. The book shows that the easiest way to succeed is to seek out mentors who have gone where you want to go, and then ask for their guidance. Mindset, effort, genuine relationships, and resilience combine to shape success. Through personal stories, popculture references, and practical strategies, it teaches readers how to navigate rejection, overcome selfdoubt, and build a life of confidence, connection, and purpose.
Q: What do you find is the most common obstacle for people who are trying to improve their lives and better themselves?
I’ve lived the lessons I share on stage. Trust is earned through consistency and authenticity. Relationships are built with intention and purpose. Confidence grows when you surround yourself with people who challenge and support you.
I don’t just talk about connection, going above and beyond and building trust — I model it. When you lead with heart, intention, and give that extra 3–5%, trust and meaningful relationships naturally follow.
Q: What led you to settle in Liberty Lake?
A: My wife might say she twisted my arm on this one! I was actually born and raised right here
A: Honestly, the biggest obstacle most people face when trying to improve their lives is themselves. We get in our own way. We make excuses, blame others, lose consistency, and give up before we even see progress. The truth is, change isn’t complicated — it’s simple. The key is making yourself and your goals a priority, having a positive mindset, showing up every day with intention, and remembering that even small, consistent efforts make you valuable, memorable and referable. When you focus on the fundamentals and keep it simple, you realize that improving your life isn’t as hard as we make it out to be.
Q: Do you have a favorite guest from your podcast, Navigating No?
THE SPOKANE VALLEY HERITAGE MUSEUM PRESENTS
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OPENING NOVEMBER 28TH
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A: Honestly, it’s impossible to pick a single favorite — it’s like asking someone to choose their favorite movie! Every episode holds a special place, packed with clear takeaways, powerful themes, and nuggets of inspiration. Some standouts that come to mind are Liberty Lake Elementary Principal Jennifer Tesky, author and actor Russ Banham, local Spokanite and Darth Vader suit actor Dmitrious Bistrevsky, Olympian Jean-Luc Baker, entrepreneur Natalie Fairchild, Lilac City Comic Con founder Nathan O'Brien, IFBB pro Tanji Johnson… and truly, the list goes on. Every guest brings something unique, and that’s what makes each episode unforgettable.
Q: When you’re not giving motivational talks or hosting your podcast, what do you like to do for fun?
A: I’m all about being the best dad and husband I can be. I love traveling, creating what I call “Net Experiences” with my family and friends, and building my personal and professional “Confidence Team.” And, of course, I never miss a chance to geek out on all things Star Wars— Darkside For Life™
The Lookout
Liberty Lake City Council accepting applications for Position 7 vacant seat
The Liberty Lake City Council is accepting applications from individuals interested in being appointed to the currently vacant City Council Position #7. The term for service will be through certification of the November 2027 general election.
Liberty Lake brings you “Home for the Holidays” this winter!
What will the city of Liberty Lake do this year to replace the former Winter Glow that had been at Orchard Park for the past several years?
Answer: Stage FIVE other community attractions and activities instead!
The city’s (with assistance from some supporting sponsors) is presenting “Home for the Holidays” for the community this season. It involves a little bit of Christmas past along with a lot of new potential traditions. Here’s a look at the multi-location merriment that’s being offered starting the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend:
• The 2nd annual “Light Up Liberty Lake” tree lighting ceremony comes to the Trailhead Golf Course parking lot at 22302 E. Country Vista Drive on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. Copresented with the Light Up Liberty Lake and Liberty Lake Together organizations, this public event will include the lighting of an 18foot Christmas tree – larger than last year’s -- as well as music, high school dance performers, and treats. Plus, Liberty Lake will get its familiar Saturday-afterThanksgiving visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, with an opportunity for kids to meet those special guests inside the Trailhead Rotary Room. Please note that
The City of Liberty Lake was incorporated in 2001 as a noncharter code city with a mayorcouncil form of government. Liberty Lake currently has over 14,000 residents and an operating budget of approximately $23 million. The City Council is a body of seven members, elected at-large, to function as the
city’s legislative and policy-making authority. It is broadly authorized by RCW 35A (state law) to make laws, adopt budgets, and set policies. Regular Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Additionally, special Council meetings are scheduled throughout the year to address urgent and/or significant matters.
State law requires that a council member be a resident of Liberty Lake for at least one year and a
that parking will not be available for this event at the Trailhead parking lot.
• Winter Wonderland: A new initial setup of lights will continue to bring some sparkle at Orchard Park from Saturday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Jan. 4. Although the site won’t have the massive spread that populated the park in recent years, the city has purchased a handful of new displays and lights centered from the Depot area. Visitors can view this year’s Winter Wonderland at 20298 E. Indiana Ave. from 5 to 10 p.m. each night.
• Battle of the Branches: Families, individuals, and organizations can sign up through Nov. 21 to decorate one of several pine trees that will be displayed for the public for this new activity. The city is supplying the trees (along with simple white lights) that participants can decorate and further enhance with their own
lighting. Decorating will occur on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. An overall “Best in Show” winner will be selected by a panel of judges. Visitors will be able to see the “Battle of the Branches” trees from Dec. 6 to Jan. 2 at Orchard Park, the entrance to City Hall, and the north part of the Trailhead Golf Course property.
• Deck The Homes: This year, local outdoor lighting and display enthusiasts can be part of an actual city-wide contest instead of just trying to out-do the lights and figural setups of the neighbors! Residents throughout the city limits are invited to bring forth their inner Clark Griswold and register online at the City of Liberty Lake Recreation’s “Home For The Holidays” web page by Nov. 21 to participate in this home decorating contest. Eligibility and decoration guidelines can be found at that same web page. Participants must make sure their lights are turned on for judging
registered voter at the time of application.
The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, with interviews tentatively scheduled for a City Council meeting in mid-December.
Complete information on how to apply for the position can be found on the City’s website at www. libertylakewa.gov. Questions may be directed to Rochelle Caton, city clerk, at (509) 755-6729.
from 5 to 8 p.m. during the evenings of Dec. 6, 13, and 20, and placements will be awarded for the top displays. And, if you want to see every extravagant entry in this contest, the “Home for the Holidays” web page will have a map of every participating home.
• Santa’s Mailbox: A big red mailbox at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library will serve as a designated drop-off point during Dec. 1-12 for children to deliver a letter they’re wanting to send to Santa Claus. Library staff members are being designated as deputy elves to forward all those letters directly to The Big Guy. The only stamp required is the one for you to place on a self-addressed envelope to include with the letter in order for the child to receive a personal response back from Santa. (The stamped return envelope will help Santa with the volume of correspondence he’s getting this time of year.) Kids may come to the Library with their letters on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Library is located at 23123 E. Mission Avenue – which by all accounts is several hundred miles closer for local residents than the North Pole.
Full details about all of the 2025 “Home for the Holidays” activities – including guidelines for the contest components – are posted here at the city’s website: www. libertylakewa.gov/804/Home-forthe-Holidays.
LLPD Crime Analysis
LLPD Crime Analysis
Total Calls for Service: 1,241
Total Calls for Service: 1,241
Introducing the Safety Awareness Channel
Police Report - Sept 2025
Splash news sources
Significant Cases
2025-88009487: THEFT
On 9/5/2025, a male suspect stole a bike from the bike rack in front of Safeway. He arrived on his own bike and then swapped it out for the bike in the rack. The male was identified, and the bike was recovered.
2025-88009907:
THEFT
On 9/18/2025, multiple designer purses, valued at approximately $5000, were stolen from Consign Furniture. The male suspect was identified but has not been located.
2025-88009958:
DV / RECKLESS DRIVING
On 9/20/2025, an officer responded to a DV incident at the McDonald’s parking lot after being flagged down by a witness who reported “a husband was assaulting his wife.” The couple began arguing earlier in the day and it escalated while they were driving. Upon exiting the freeway, the male attempted to force open the female’s locked passenger door then “smashed” her head against the seatbelt mount. After the assault, the male fled the scene driving recklessly through the McDonald’s parking lot with the passenger door open, nearly striking a witness head-on and forcing her to swerve to avoid collision. The case resulted in warrant requests for three charges, with the domestic violence assault elevated to a Class C felony due to prior convictions within the past ten years.
2025-88010061: SHOPLIFTING
On 9/22/2025, a male suspect stole merchandise from Safeway. Surveillance images have been distributed, but he has not been identified.
The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone to drive slowly and safely in all marked school zones and neighborhood areas. Plan on taking additional time to get to your destination as there will be an increase in pedestrian traffic. The Liberty Lake Police Department continues taking proactive enforcement action on speeding violators to reduce accidents. Remember to secure your belongings inside your residence and out of your vehicles to prevent vehicle prowlers. Stay well and be safe!
ents are an opportunity for two-way conversations with your School Board Directors and Superintendent John Parker in an open house format. Join us as we talk about our upcoming plans, hear our feedback about what you want to see for our students in the future, and answer any questions you may have.
ents 6-7:30pm in the commons at the following schools:
Council gets new City Hall overview, sidewalk repair program proposed
By John McCallum
Splash contributor
The Liberty Lake City Council received a preliminary design overview and update at its Oct. 21 meeting on renovating the former Legacy Church building as the city’s new City Hall — a project that has now blown past the originally proposed cost estimate of $5 million set out in the city’s recently approved Facilities Master Plan.
According to a presentation by design consultant BCRA, Inc., the new estimated cost to renovate the building is $5.966 million. Council authorized a $428,398 contract with BCRA in September for City Hall renovation design services.
The city purchased the building in 2022 for $2.175 million and originally designated it as the new location for the Municipal Library, setting aside $3.99 million for improvements along with the ability to use a $937,000 Department of Commerce grant should the city move forward with the project.
Despite public input advocating for the project, council abandoned it in favor of the Town Square concept in late 2024. Commerce rescinded its grant approval this past May.
Nicky Poole-Duris, BCRA associate principle, told council a sizeable portion of the cost increase was the result of needed upgrades to aging and out-of-date infrastructure, particularly mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. In asking how much of the nearly $6 million was related to these upgrades, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Cargill acknowledged these systems were part of the council’s “heartburn” about using the building for a relocated library.
Poole-Duris said upgrades are a “significant portion” of the
costs. Besides modernization, some systems are also required by new state codes to be electrified, such as the mechanical air-handling units.
“Currently those are gas-fired mechanical units, and right now those are at the end of their life expectancy,” she said.
Poole-Duris said the plumbing system needed to be upsized to include requirements for more restrooms and other functions. The building is not equipped with a fire suppression system and portions of the roof have to be strengthened to handle the new mechanical units.
Councilman Mike Kennedy said despite being overbudget already, renovating the building was a look to the future of the city. He hoped overruns wouldn’t lead to a “nickel and dime” approach to construction.
“This is something for the citizens of Liberty Lake,” he said.
Public Works Director Ben Turner said the review signified the end of the design phase. The next phase is creating plans and specifications for construction, and looks to bid the project in early 2026.
“Unless there are any objections,
we’ll move forward,” Turner said.
There were no council objections.
“Have fun,” Mayor Cris Kaminskas said.
Sidewalk Master Plan to be proposed
At its Oct. 21 meeting, council received an overview of a literally growing problem in the city — the destruction of sidewalks due to tree roots. The city recently completed a condition assessment to map and catalog damaged sidewalks, revealing specific locations of damage but also whole sections needing repair if not replacement.
Public Works Director Ben Turner said the study identified 7,830 specific incidents of “sidewalk distress,” damage ranging from minor to hazardous. Of these, 5,304, were minor uplifts, surface distortions or cracks easily repaired through grinding or sealing.
“They’re not anything we need to hit right now, but they will become more severe over time as those trees continue to mature,” Turner said.
About 10%, 759, were labeled “severe” where the uplift and distortion was so bad that panel
replacement needed to be done as well as tree removal in some cases.
“This is kind of the scope of the issue over the last 20 years and it’s only going to get worse,” Turner said.
Weather conditions such as the freeze-thaw cycle can also damage sidewalks, as can soil shifting in older sections of the city as well as rapidly-growing new developments. But many of the incidents stem from trees that might not have been suitable for the area, or others where precautions to ensure proper root growth were not taken.
Community Development Director Lisa Key said new development developers, such as in the River District, were required by the city to install root barriers around trees that would force the roots to grown down, not out. Developers pushed back on this and the city backed away from it.
The damaged sidewalks create a physical danger and a monetary liability as well. Turner noted a recent incident of a Liberty Lake woman who fell and broke her wrist after tripping on an uplifted sidewalk segment covered by new
Graphic courtesy of BCRA
snow.
A report produced by the city noted some of the liabilities involved, along with listing a number of lawsuits against other cities resulting from tree-related issues. The Washington Cities Insurance Authority recently reported an 84% increase in claims and rising settlement costs resulting from sidewalk hazards.
Deciding who should take care of these hazards is something the city is looking to the community to help solve. Under current Liberty Lake regulations, repairing damaged sidewalks falls to the adjacent homeowner, something several council members said could run into the thousands of dollars.
After discussion, council directed staff to look into options where a partnership between the city, homeowners or potentially a Home Owners Association could be created to address the problem. The city is best-equipped to handle sidewalk repair, Key noted, since it has the ability to solicit bids from contractors capable of doing the work at essentially a bulk rate. Council members Jed Spencer and Kennedy felt because the issue is one of public safety that the city should take the lead in repairs, with Spencer proposing some form of General Fund allocation to cover costs.
Key said Liberty Lake is in the process of forming a 9-12 person focus group to look into the issue, and will also be seeking public input in the coming months. The city is working with SCJ Alliance to facilitate the public engagement process and complete a Sidewalk Master Plan.
City Administrator Mark McAvoy advised council that more money would be needed if the city assumed more sidewalk repair responsibility.
“We need to get the input from the community because those methodologies will require new revenues,” he said.
Van Orman resigns council
At the Oct. 7 meeting, Councilwoman Wendy Van Orman announced her intention to resign from her seat, effective at the end of that meeting. Van Orman cited focusing on family and health as reasons for her departure.
Van Orman was appointed to Position 7 in early 2022, and ran successfully for election in November 2023. She served six years on the City Council prior to being elected mayor in 2007, serving four years in that role.
Her departure means four of the seven council seats will be filled by new members come January, 2026. Current council members Kenney, Spencer and Mayor Pro Tem Cargill terms expire at the end of the year and they are not seeking reelection.
A process has been established to fill Position 7, with applications accepted through Nov. 21. Go to www.libertylakewa.gov/m/ newsflash/home/detail/850 for the application form.
The appointed candidate will serve out the rest of Van Orman’s term through November, 2027.
Three-year police contract approved
At its Oct. 21 meeting, the council unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Liberty Lake Police Department’s Police Guild for 2026-2028. The agreement involves changes to 13 of 35 articles in the original agreement, including pay scale, as well as wages, overtime, holidays, vacations, education and longevity, specialty positions and staffing.
According to the department’s webpage, per the 2024 wage scale between the city and the Guild, lateral officers start with an annual salary of $78,969 and experienced officers begin at $73,094 per year. While officers receive a 2% salary increase in 2026, and 3% cost of living adjustments in 2027 and 2028, most of the salary increases are based on incentives for shift differential, specialty positions and education and longevity.
“We as a city took the position that we do not need to be market leaders in this space,” Liberty Lake Finance Director Kyle Dixon told the council at an Oct. 7 workshop on the CBA.
“We have a very attractive community for officers but we have to be competitive,” he added.
Guild President Officer Kelly Jenson told the council the organization represents about 20 members of the department staff.
Liberty Lake manufacturers gain state wide recognition
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
Liberty Lake is full of large, nondescript buildings that hide the fact that the small city houses a whole host of manufacturers making everything from airplane parts to the plastic that covers an ultrasound machine. Two of those companies, Altek Inc. and Premier Manufacturing, recently took home awards from the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and are under consideration for another award at the statewide level.
At the recent Manufacturing Matters awards banquet, the Valley Chamber gave an award for Manufacturing Excellence in Innovation to Altek, citing their breakthrough technologies poised to solve engineering challenges. “Altek tackles the problems other manufacturers won’t touch,” read
the Chamber citation. “They’re pushing manufacturing forward while making it more sustainable. This award celebrates a company that proves innovation means more than great products. It means building a better future for everyone.”
Altek was founded by Al Marzetta, who first created K&M Engineering in his Otis Orchards garage with a friend in 1976. Four years later, Marzetta, a tool and die maker, left the company and created Altek to offer a variety of custom manufacturing services. The business grew over the years as a true family business, with many family members working there.
The company is now owned by Marzetta’s six children, who took over the business after the elder Marzetta died last year.
Currently Altek makes products in the aerospace, medical, space, technology and defense industries using injection molding and precision machining. The goal, said program manager Chris Marzetta, is to be a one stop shop. That means Altek also offered finishing and assembly work in-house.
The company makes everything from a panel for the Apache attack helicopter to parts for underwater drones to pieces of a defibrillator.
There are 170 employees working three shifts, using injection molding machines to fill the heavy molds that are lifted into place by crane.
Profitability took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marzetta said,
but has been making a comeback. “Volumes are really high,” he said. “We’re on the uptick.”
The company rarely advertises and relies on word of mouth, often getting new customers who come after receiving a recommendation for Altek from existing customers, Marzetta said. “We have a pretty good relationship with our buyers,” he said.
The company prides itself on being debt free and takes meticulous care of its machines. Each are stripped down for cleaning and maintenance between two and four times a year to keep them running smoothly, Marzetta said. Just recently the company replaced a lathe that had been humming along quietly since 1990.
The company is pitching its clients to use molded parts with carbon fiber as lighter, and cheaper while also still retaining its strength, Chris Marzetta said. “You can produce more in a certain amount of time,” he said.
Altek is beginning to work toward using plant-based materials in its injection molding, he said. “We’re willing to take those risks,” he said.
COO Rick Taylor said Altek is unique because it offers in house tooling, a machine shop and value-added services in addition to injection molding. He’s excited about the work to expand to using a plant-based resin for injection molding. “This plant-based material
Photo by Nina Culver
A home generator control box built in Liberty Lake by Premier Manufacturing for Generac, one of the many products built by Premier Manufacturing.
Photo by Nina Culver Altek co-owner and program manager Chris Marzetta shows samples of the products made by Altek, the injection molding company based in Liberty Lake.
Chamber hosts Manufacturing Matters Awards
By Nina Culver Splash contributor
When author and speaker Jeff Utecht spoke to manufacturers and business owners at the recent Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing Matters awards banquet, he didn’t speak to them about automation, manufacturing methods or production lines. He talked about how to create teams of workers from different generations who have different goals, different ways of working and different expectations.
of the workforce and grew up with technology and a 24-hour news cycle. They have a philosophy that they want to “play” while they work instead of waiting until retirement, which requires a good work-life balance, Utecht said. That’s partly because they saw their boomer parents work hard for a dream like travel that they were never able to achieve. “Don’t blame them for wanting to live life today,” he said.
Millennials are also willing to take a mental health day if they need a break rather than coming to work no matter what as their boomer parents do. It’s this sort of conflict between expectations and goals that can cause issues between a boomer manager and a millennial employee, Utecht said. “That is frustrating if you’re a boomer,” he said. “The idea of work-life balance gets them in trouble.”
has a lot of promise,” he said.
Altek is partnering with the company who developed the product, Taylor said. “We’re their only manufacturer,” he said.
The supplier is formulating sheet stock to be sent to Altek’s clients for destructive testing to check the strength of the product. “It’s 100 percent flame retardant, too, which is huge for aerospace interiors,” he said. “You can put a torch on it and all it will do is turn it black.”
Taylor envisions using the plant-based resin, which can be reinforced with hemp fiber, for interior airplane parts. It’s normal for airlines to change the interiors of their planes every seven years, he said. “That’s a lot of materials going into landfills,” he said.
However, the plant-based resin would be recyclable. “You can grind it up and it actually becomes fertilizer,” he said.
Altek is also considering two other new resins for molded parts, including one that was originally developed for the F-35 fighter jet. Another resin would feature long strand carbon fiber, which would add a tremendous amount of strength, Taylor said.
Though Taylor is scheduled to
retire in mid-November after nearly 41 years with Altek, he refuses to leave completely because he’s so invested in promoting the use of the plant-based resin. “Even when I retire I’m going to stay connected because that stuff’s fun,” he said.
It’s important for Altek to continue investing in research and development in order to remain competitive, Taylor said. “The one thing we always try to do is look for innovative solutions to set ourselves apart from our competition,” he said.
At the same Manufacturing Matters awards banquet, the Spokane Valley Chamber awarded the Manufacturer of the Year award to Premier Manufacturing. The chamber referenced changes the company made in 2018 to restructure and focus on lean manufacturing. “Premier Manufacturing turned crisis into opportunity,” the Chamber’s citation read. “The results speak for themselves: monthly sales doubled, customer satisfaction hit 98 percent, on-time delivery improved 20 percent and they did it all while staying debt free.
“This award recognizes more than a successful turnaround. It
See MANUFACTURING, Page 19
Too often employees of different generations spend time in conflict, Utecht said. Companies can have four or five distinct generations of workers at once, something that’s unprecedented, he said. Each of those generations give different weight to money, purpose and autonomy. “That’s part of the issue,” he said.
Boomers, the oldest generation, were raised to work hard so they can “play” after they retire, Utecht said, but for many that retirement hasn’t come yet. They’re purpose focused, loyal to their company and take pride in showing up to work every day.
Generation X is also called the latchkey generation. Either both parents worked or there was only one parent, so those children were often home alone after school. That bred a persistent independent streak.
“We hate group work,” Utecht said. “We just want to work alone. It’s just the way we are.”
Members of Gen X tend to want autonomy and value transparency, Utecht said. “If you have Gen X, you give them a task and get out of the way,” he said. “Check in with them maybe a week later.”
Millennials are about 40 percent
Many boomers are still loyal to companies, Utecht said, but companies are no longer loyal to employees. Millennials have seen layoffs, poor pay and other new corporate realities and know companies will easily replace them. “They have very little trust in companies and organizations,” he said.
Those millennial behaviors are taken even further by Generation Z. Those employees are purpose driven to the extreme, take the idea of a work-life balance to the extreme, do only what is expected of them and believe all work should be group work, Utecht said. They also have little devotion to companies.
“They have one foot out the door constantly,” Utecht said. “If you can keep a Gen Zer employed for three years, you’re beating the odds.”
Manufacturers have been short-staffed in recent years, unable to find trained employees. Part of that is due to a decadeslong push to get graduating high school seniors into college rather than into a trade. Vocational classes disappeared from schools and the education system was designed for college readiness. “We didn’t give them any other
Photo by Nina Culver Premier Manufacturing CEO Britt LaChance with the award presented by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce recognizing them as the Manufacturer of the Year.
By John McCallum
Splash contributor
Cross country
repeat state title, girls cross country advances
Things are looking pretty good in the post season for the Ridgeline girls cross country and volleyball teams. Both squads are in positions to advance, including chances for state appearances.
The Falcon girls wrapped up the league portion of their 2025 schedule with a 5-4 overall record, bettering last year’s 3-6 mark. They finished fifth overall and third among 3A schools, trailing Mt. Spokane and second-place University.
Heading into this the District 6 championships Nov. 1 at Wandermere Golf Course, Ridgeline was ranked sixth in the state in the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association’s Oct. 20 3A girls poll. University was ranked fifth and Mt. Spokane was third, with Seattle Prep and Mercer Island 1-2 respectively.
Head coach Heather Graham said the varsity team at districts would be Gretchyn Carter (12), Emery Sevy (9), Kalia Blanchard (9), Erika Bell (9), Myranda Evans (11), Kayla Jensen (11) and Mary Pollman (9). Going as alternates are seniors Rachel Christensen and Sophia Sine.
Sevy currently has the second-best time among District 6 runners with an 18 minute, 30.6 second mark in the Varsity Gold Division at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational Oct. 11 at Lakewood High School near Tacoma. The Falcons finished fourth as a team in their first appearance at the invitational.
Football
Graham said. “They created a culture where each girl ran with courage, knowing her teammates had her back no matter the result, and that support helped everyone get faster together.”
Graham also pointed to the team’s third-place finish in the Varsity Division at the annual Battle of the 509 at the Polo Grounds in Airway Heights as another sign of the program’s improvement. It was the first time Ridgeline competed in that division at the 509, and trailed only Gonzaga Pre (second) and meet champion Lincoln from Portland, Ore.
And in a sign of good things coming up, the Falcons junior varsity team finished with a 4-5 GSL mark, taking fourth overall as a team at the JV/Frosh Championships Oct. 25. Maliah Tsuber placed ninth in the freshman division, and in JV, Rachel Christensen, Sophia Sine and Lily Bulkley placed 5th, 7th and 13th respectively.
The top-3 teams and top 21 individual runners at the District 6 meet advance to state competition at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, Nov. 8.
The Ridgeline boys finished their GSL season at 2-7, ninth overall. Junior Keean Huntsinger is the only runner ranked in the District 6 top-20, currently 16th with a time of 16:24.0.
The Falcons had a difficult year, going 2-6 in league play through Oct. 28. Their final league game was Oct. 30, at home against winless Ferris. A win and a Central Valley (2-6) loss to visiting 4A Lewis and Clark could vault Ridgeline over the Bears and into seventh place.
Girls soccer
Ridgeline finished its GSL regular season at 5-3, 9-5-1, 15 points, good for third overall and second among 3A schools, three games and six points behind GSL regular-season champion and 3A third-ranked Mt. Spokane (7-0,
Valley on Oct. 29.
Slowpitch softball
The Falcons finished their GSL season at 8-4, 14-7 overall and advanced to within one win of an appearance at the 3A state tournament.
Ridgeline notched a No. 6 seed, earning them a first-round game against second-place and No. 3 University where they lost 12-11 in extra innings. Knocked into the bracket for the third and final slot to state, the Falcons easily dispatched No. 7 Deer Park, 15-5, and upset fifth-seeded Central Valley in convincing fashion, 16-4.
In the game for the third seed they faced a familiar foe — University, who lost their semifinal game to Walla Walla, 10-6. The eventual state-runnersup to 3A champion Mt. Spokane scored 12 runs in the first inning, a hill the Falcons couldn’t peak in a 22-6 loss to end the season.
“Despite being a fairly inexperienced group, our players showed tremendous growth throughout the season,” head coach Lori Maupin said. “This marks the fourth straight year we’ve made it to just one game shy of state, and we’re determined to make it over that final hurdle soon.”
Maupin pointed to an early sweep of Chiawana as another example of the team’s potential. The Riverhawks lost to Moses Lake in the 4A state title game.
Maupin said senior Jenna Fleeman “dominated on the mound, providing consistency and leadership every game.” She also said fellow senior Quincy Coder “made big contributions both in left field and at the plate,” and was a GSL All-league Second Team selection.
Besides Fleeman and Coder, the Falcons say goodbye to seniors Abigail Savage and Ella Score, but return a pretty good nucleus of young players
3A state title last season, the Falcons volleyball team came up with a motto to guide them to success: “WEB4ME.” As in, “We before me.”
In defending the state, 3A GSL and District 6 titles and 20-1 overall record, head coach Whitney Abell said her girls came up with a new motto. For that, they went to ancient Northwest Southeast Asian language of Sanskrit and came up with “Mudita:” meaning “joy or pleasure derived from the happiness and success of others.”
“The concept embodies the team’s culture of unity, gratitude and selfless support,” Abell said. “The girls work every day to challenge each other in practice so that when game time comes, they can simply have fun and play hard.”
So far the motto has worked. The Falcons 6-2 in the GSL, tied with Mt. Spokane for second and first among 3A teams, but own the league tiebreaker over the Wildcats courtesy of a 3-2 road win Oct. 23.
The win gives Ridgeline the league’s top-seed into District 6 competition with Mid-Columbia Conference teams. The Falcons closed the regular season against sixth-place Ferris (3-5, 5-9) on Oct. 28, and await the winner of a playin game against the MCC No. 4 team and GSL No. 5.
That team will face the Falcons in a Nov. 4 match at Ridgeline, beginning at 6 p.m.
Ridgeline’s only losses in the GSL have come against 4A schools. The Falcons lost to GSL-leader and 4A state fifth-ranked Gonzaga Prep (7-1, 13-1) 3-0 on Oct. 13, and 3-1 to 18th-ranked Mead (6-3, 9-5) on Oct. 9.
“With a tight-knit group that plays for one another and a postseason spot secured, Ridgeline volleyball is ready to carry their Mudita mindset into November — and aims to be state bound,” Abell said.
Student of the Month
Ridgeline senior Isabella Johns is active in an out of school. You may recognize Johns from the Falcon Theatre productions, she has been apart of the school theatre department for the last four years and has had a role in each of their shows. Currently Johns is the lead for the upcoming show “Radium Girls” which debuts Nov 19th through 22nd. Isabella also enjoys performing with the school choir program where she has been singing since in the 4th grade and currently teaches piano for other students. Outside of performing arts Isabella is apart of the Key Club (a service leadership program), the National Honor Society, and HOSA (a future medical professionals association like FBLA) while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Outside of school Isabella is very involved in her church, she is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints where she serves as a church organist, a youth leader, Ancestry coordinator, and serves on the Seminary Council.
After graduation Isabella hopes to attend BYU Provo to pursue a medical degree with plans to become a surgeon.
Ridgeline varsity football player Jameson Murphy has been playing football since the 7th grade. Murphy plays receiver, safety, and kicker on the Ridgeline team and is in the Greater Spokane League’s top 10 for receptions and number of touchdowns. Murphys original sport is Basketball where he starting playing basketball at the age of 5 and now plays on the Ridgeline Basketball team playing guard. Last year Murphy received the Teams Hussle Award. More recently Murphy also joined the school Golf team after getting more serious in the sport as he entered high school. The Ridgeline Junior maintains a 3.85 GPA and after high school hopes to play sports in college while studying sports management or some other sports field with a desire to become an Athletic Director.
Citizen of the Month
Liberty Lake Police Department Public Information Officer and Patrol Deputy Kyle Fritz. Deputy Fritz started his professional career in sales, marketing, and customer relations for large corporations which he attributes his success in communication tactics and de-escalation to. Deputy Fritz began his law enforcement career with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2014 and then relocated to Post Falls in 2021 to join the Post Falls Police Department and before joining the Liberty Lake Police Department in July of 2023.
While currently working on the night shift, Deputy Fritz serves as a tactical flight officer for the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit and the Liberty Lake PD Public Information Officer managing social media content, participates in media interviews, and has recently been hosting Fraud Prevention training classes for the community.
Athlete of the Month
holiday guide for the Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Otis Orchards, Newman Lake, Airway Heights, Medical Lake, and West Plains areas
“Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a special cover section that will champion what the Valley area has to offer in the way of gifts and food. Advertise in this holiday guide aimed at area consumers and businesses — and as a bonus we’ll include your idea as part of our story featuring can’t-miss local gift ideas. Restaurants are encouraged to advertise and contribute a tantalizing menu item for our article on dining out.
On November 24 and 25, the guides will be distributed throughout the greater Valley and West Plains areas via The Splash, The Current and The Stream. The December issues are strategically scheduled to land before Thanksgiving, just in time to remind residents about supporting local businesses on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season.
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MANUFACTURING
Continued from page 13
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Premier Manufacturing focuses on precision sheet metal fabrication using punch presses and lasers. They also provide welding, powder coating and screen printing along with assembly. It has clients in the telecommunications, medical, military and aerospace industries, as well as utility companies.
The company was founded in 2001. “We started as a finishing shop and then worked backwards into manufacturing,” said CEO Britt LaChance.
It began when customers, pleased with their high quality finishing work, began asking if Premier could just make the products themselves, LaChance said.
The business started in downtown Spokane, then moved to its current space in 2008. The building was previously a multitenant space, but the company knocked out walls and made it into one space. “We’ve revamped our entire facility,” he said.
The entire facility is cleanly organized so flat sheets of metal start at one end and work their way through various departments until the completed project emerges at the other end, having been punched, bent, baked and coated. That includes data center racks and boxes for utility equipment. “We’ve got punches, we’ve got lasers, we’ve got punch/laser combos,” said LaChance.
After the pieces are formed, they get washed and then dried in a tall oven. Heating the metal up for a powder coat is applied helps it stick, LaChance said, and then the pieces are baked in another oven to cure the coating.
If the finished product is a utility box, the company then uses its inhouse screen printing department to print warnings and instructions on the boxes. “What we’re really unique for is our assembly and integration department,” he said.
The organization of the building is part of the effort to make the company leaner and more efficient.
The company has worked to reduce waste and invest in new machines. “We’ve implemented some new software,” he said. “We’ve reinvented ourselves as a facility that actually makes sense, that flows properly. We’ve made things as efficient and modern as possible.”
In recent years Premier Manufacturing has increased its focus on medical equipment and defense contracts, LaChance said. For example, the company makes the brackets and other inside components for AED machines, he said.
“We’re not building scalpels, but we’re absolutely building trays and roll around stacks,” he said.
The company has about 130 employees mostly running in one shift, with the exception of a few swing shift workers. Annual sales have been trending upward and LaChance said the company is only running at half capacity. “We’re not anywhere near capacity,” he said.
LaChance agrees that not many suspect all the products they use that are made in their own backyard. “There’s a lot of manufacturing,” he said. “The Spokane County area is just loaded with manufacturing,” he said.
But the parts, pieces and machines made don’t stay local.
“We ship product all over the world, which is crazy to think about in little Liberty Lake, Washington,” he said.
LaChance said he’s pleased that his company has been recognized by the Spokane Valley Chamber.
“I was very thankful the team was recognized for all their hard work,” he said. “They’re acknowledging our success over the last several years.”
AWARDS
Continued from page 13
path,” he said.
That push to college, however, has begun to reverse. High schools are slowly bringing back shop class and other CTE classes. “The whole system is changing,” Utecht said. “This is where connecting to your local schools is important.”
But manufacturers and other employees can’t rely on the old ways to find and recruit employees, Utecht said. They have to be on social media, particularly TikTok. “I don’t care if you don’t know how to do TikTok,” he said. “Find a Gen Zer who does and hire them. You have an employment problem because you’re not looking in the right spot. Short form video is where it’s at.”
Now is also the time for employers to begin to accommodate Gen Z, who like to work with their hands and can see a career in the trades. However, many of them are willing to work part time, just enough to get by, in order to meet
their other non-work goals, Utecht said. Companies will be required to adapt to their mindset, he said.
“They’re coming,” he said. “You’re going to need them.”
Manufacturing Matters award winners
Manufacturer of the Year: Premier Manufacturing. The award “celebrates a company that proved strategic discipline and operational excellence can transform struggling operations into industry leaders.”
Operational Excellence: Jubilant HollisterStier. The company “set the standard for what modern manufacturing should achieve” and the award “recognizes a company that shows the world what’s possible when you combine strategic thinking with relentless improvement.”
Innovation: Altek, Inc. The company “tackles the problems other manufacturers won’t touch” and is “pushing manufacturing forward while making it more sustainable.”
Next, either Altek or Premier Manufacturing could take home another award, this one from the Association of Washington Business. Each year the organization gives out awards to manufacturing companies in Washington State and this year both Liberty Lake companies, along with CarbonQuest in Spokane Valley, are the finalists for the Manufacturing Excellence Award for Innovation. The winner will be announced at an event scheduled for Nov. 20 in Seattle.
Photo by Nina Culver Manufacturing Matters awards banquet Keynote speaker Jeff Utecht (left) with Central Valley School District Superintendent John Parker (center) and Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Lance Beck (right).
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Craig Howard memorial bench and plaque added at City Hall site
Splash
In recognition for his many years he shared out the stories of the city’s government, a pair of memorial pieces have been added to the Liberty Lake City Hall site this fall in recognition of Craig Howard.
Howard began reporting on Liberty Lake City Council meetings for the Spokane Valley News Herald in 2002. He continued to do so for the “Splash” for more than a decade, until his death in November of last year.
On Sept. 24, a memorial bench to honor the longtime local reporter was installed just west of the driveway to Liberty Lake City Hall. The new bench is flanked by racks to hold golf equipment for the nearby
putting green at Trailhead Golf Course.
Then, during the Oct. 7 City Council meeting, council member Mike Kennedy presented a memorial plaque honoring Howard. The plaque now hangs on the back wall of the council chamber, where the reporter often sat throughout his many years of taking notes during that group’s sessions.
Kennedy says he had initiated the idea for the tributes during the same weekend of learning about Howard’s passing. A committee was soon formed that also involved Betty Kennedy, Laura Frank, Arlene Fisher Mauer, Tim Olsen, and Ben Wick. The group provided donations and conducted other fundraising efforts up through this past summer to collect the more than $2,000 needed to purchase and install the memorial bench, as well as the plaque.
Remembering the local reporter, Mike Kennedy said: "Craig not only represented the Splash, but represented the citizens and the City Council very well."
ENRICHED LIVING. LASTING VALUE.
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Citizenship
When Benjamin Franklin walked out of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a curious woman reportedly stopped him and asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got — a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin’s reply was as sharp as it was prophetic: “A republic — if you can keep it.”
Those words have echoed through American history as both a warning and a challenge. They remind us that citizenship — real, active citizenship — is the glue that holds a free nation together. It is not a passive label; it is a lifelong duty.
Citizenship is often defined by where one is born or what papers one holds. But the Founders understood it as something deeper. To them, citizenship was a moral and civic calling — a daily affirmation that liberty survives only when citizens choose to sustain it.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “the qualifications for selfgovernment in society are not innate. They are the result of habit and long training.” In other words, a republic depends not on rulers, but on the character of its citizens. What kind of citizen are you?
James Madison described
government as “the greatest of all reflections on human nature.”
He knew that the Constitution’s checks and balances would mean little if citizens retreated into apathy. The system only works when people see themselves as partners in it — willing to think critically, vote conscientiously, and engage in civil debate even when it is uncomfortable.
George Washington echoed this idea in his Farewell Address, warning that liberty must be “guarded by every citizen” through virtue, knowledge, and vigilance. He did not envision a people of spectators but of stewards — those who take responsibility for their communities and one another.
Citizenship, then, is an
act of faith — faith that selfgovernment is possible and worth preserving. It is faith that differences need not destroy us, that persuasion is stronger than coercion, and that truth, though challenged, can prevail.
In his later years, John Adams reflected that “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” He was not preaching piety; he was reminding us that liberty without virtue is unsustainable. A free people must also be a responsible one.
Today, we face our own test of Franklin’s challenge: Can we keep it? In an age when citizenship is often reduced to slogans or social media posts, we must reclaim its true meaning — participation, sacrifice, and service.
The Founders did not hand us a finished nation; they gave us a project. Every generation is a new steward of that fragile experiment. The republic is not self-sustaining — it survives only when citizens choose to do the work of freedom.
Citizenship is not about what we receive from America or our government. It is about what we give to her.
Chris Cargill
Liberty Lake Council Member Chris Cargill
