POST FALLS — Northwest Specialty Hospital CEO Rick Rasmussen was named the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year on Wednesday.

Rasmussen said he was humbled by the honor and said he’s thrilled that Northwest Specialty Hospital continues to grow. 

"Community is our North Star,” Rasmussen said, adding that he never saw himself working in health care when he attended Coeur d’Alene High School, but he found his vocation. 

Chamber President and CEO Christina Petit said the list of 38 community members and groups nominated for awards at the Community Recognition Reception was an “overwhelming” offering of Post Falls excellence, 

Rasmussen was praised by last year’s Citizen of the Year, Lynn Borders, for his efforts to make a difference in Post Falls over the last decade.  

“With this award, he will join an exclusive club, along with Paul Anderson and Gary Schneidmiller, of people who have been honored as both Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene Citizens of the Year,” Borders said during the event at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.

Rasmussen's community involvements include serving on executive boards for the Boys and Girls Club, the Innovia Community Foundation, Make a Wish Idaho Foundation and North Idaho Hall of Fame. Other notable support for the community includes assisting with the 3rd Avenue Marketplace food drives, Newby-ginnings, Post Falls Police and fundraising for the capital campaign for the Boys and Girls Club remodel. 

Rasmussen is a supporter of the Post Falls School District levy and a member of the district’s booster club. He also helps with the Post Falls Education Foundation’s Wine, Stein and Dine event. 

“In his spare time, he’s CEO of Post Falls’ largest employer,” Borders said. 

Winners of the 2024 recognition awards included Safe Start, which won the Spirit of Post Falls Award, Jordan Cisco, who won the Volunteer of the Year Award, New York Pizza Department won the Small Business of the Year Award, HMH Engineering won the Large Business of the Year and Kerri Thoreson won the Heritage Award. 

The “small and mighty team” at Safe Start was honored by the chamber for their work to provide more than 100 Post Falls families with no-cost car seats and share on preventative educational materials to over 2,250 families on how to keep kids safe. 

Christina Petit made a point to give Jordan Cisco a special shoutout for random acts of kindness.
“He even wipes the snow off our cars before we come out,” Petit said. 

Cisco was also thanked for going above and beyond to support the River City Leadership Academy, chamber events such as the reverse job fair, golf tournaments, Hard Hats, Hammers and Hotdogs, Connect4Lunch and Unlock Your Future. 

Small business award winner NY Pizza Department owner Glenn Gatherer was lauded by Woodworth for his selflessness over the last 20 years “serving the community with a generous heart.” 

While accepting his award, Gatherer said he only knows one way to show he cares when it comes to Post Falls. 

“I love giving back to my community and I love first responders,” Gatherer said.   

Matt Hall of HMH Engineering accepted the Large Business Award for the 4-H work the business has carried out over the years. 

HMH has grown to 150 employees in its 13 years of operation. 

“We started here in Cd'A and Post Falls and it’s my home,” Hall said. 

Pam Houser introduced Heritage Award winner Kerri Thoreson’s long list of credentials she’s racked up over the years: Chamber of Commerce CEO, journalist, interim Post Falls Food Bank director, Interim JACC executive director, community parade chairman, KC Veterans Plaza project chairman, Post Falls City Council chair and worked serving a range of nonprofits as a board member. 

“She no longer punches a clock, but in her own words, she’s part of the ‘special teams’ division,” Houser said. “She is the kicker, very important to the team, especially when we are down by three. She is happy to be called in to get a project over the finish line.” 

Thoreson acknowledged that in the 40 years she has lived in Post Falls, there has been a lot of change, but reminded audience members, especially the younger ones, that each individual can make a change.  

“It’s your time; it’s your community," Thoreson said. "Thanks for letting me live here. Go, Post Falls!” 

    Pam Houser presents Kerri Thoreson with the Heritage Award during the Post falls Chamber of Commerce Community Recognition Awards.
  

    Christina Petit and Mark Woodworth crack a joke during the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce Community Recognition Awards on Wednesday at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.
  

    Liz Montgomery, executive director of Safe Start, accepts the Spirit of Post Falls Award from Mark Woodworth during the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce award ceremony Wednesday.
  

    Jordan Cisco accepts the Volunteer of the Year award from Mark Woodworth at the Post Falls Chamber award reception Wednesday at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.
  

    Post Falls Chamber of Commerce chose New York Pizza Department as the Small Business of the Year Award winner. Owner Glenn Gatherer accepted the award from Mark Woodworth Wednesday at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn.
 

    Leslie Orth of the 3rd Avenue Marketplace presents Allison and Rob Burnett, the owners of Embers in Post Falls, with a Business of the Year award for their support of the nonprofit.
  

    Leslie Orth gives Charlene Holbrook an award Wednesday at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. Holbrook was honored as the 3rd Avenue Marketplace's Volunteer of the Year for logging over 600 hours of service at the nonprofit.