MAY NIBJ: Movers & Shakers - April 28, 2026
Kubacz joins Bonner General Family Practice
Bonner General Family Practice has announced the addition of Dr. Dean Kubacz to its primary care team.
Dr. Kubacz brings a comprehensive clinical background, global medical experience and a deep commitment to whole-person care to the Sandpoint community.
Dr. Kubacz’s path to family medicine began with a love for nature and the Rocky Mountains. After completing undergraduate studies in wildlife biology in the 1990s, he journeyed from South Carolina to Colorado. Although he never planned to leave the West, graduate studies in forestry brought him back to the Southeast, where an unexpected shift led him to medical school.
In Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Kubacz met his wife, also a family medicine physician. Together, they completed residency and fellowship training in international medicine in Kansas. Their work then took them to France for language training before moving to the African nations of Chad and Niger, where they spent several years providing medical care in underserved regions. With a growing family, they later returned to South Carolina in 2019 and, compelled by their enduring passion for the mountains, made their way back to the West.
“Living and working in Sandpoint excites me for several important reasons: watching my children enjoy friends and experiences in a community with a reputation for friendliness and safety; working at a clinic and hospital whose smaller size allows them to respond more personally to the needs of the community; and finding pleasure in pursuits outside of work so that work itself can remain more pleasurable,” Kubacz said.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kubacz has practiced the full breadth of family medicine, including outpatient care, hospital medicine and obstetrics. His philosophy of care centers on the belief that health extends beyond the physical body, encompassing spiritual, emotional and relational well-being. Known for bringing both seriousness and humor to his work, he believes strongly that laughter is good medicine. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys exploring the mountains, forests and lakes with his wife and children, as well as moments of stillness and gratitude in the natural world.
STCU names North Idaho business VP, promotes branch manager in Spokane Valley
Trevor Young is the credit union’s new Vice President of Business Banking. He will lead STCU’s business efforts in North Idaho as it seeks to expand its market presence and provide additional business and commercial banking resources across its growing retail footprint.
Young has more than 20 years of experience in business, commercial banking, and real estate experience in North Idaho, most recently with Mountain West Bank. A Coeur d’Alene resident, he is an active community volunteer with the Excel Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and proud supporter of many other North Idaho organizations. Young has both a Bachelor of Science and MBA from the University of Idaho.
Young’s arrival continues the credit union’s years-long focus on its business and commercial divisions. STCU’s growing team of bankers is well equipped to help larger businesses with more complex needs, offering robust point-of-sale solutions, cash management and payroll tools, and commercial loans for a wide range of projects.
Additionally, Ryan Cruz, a nine-year veteran of the credit union, was recently promoted to Community Branch Manager at STCU’s South Valley location, furthering the organization’s goal of developing leaders internally.
A graduate of Central Valley High School and Spokane Community College, Cruz joined STCU in 2017 and has worked in a variety of member-facing roles, most recently as Assistant Branch Manager at the nearby Valley Branch.
Founded in Spokane in 1934, STCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that serves more than 300,000 members at 51 branches in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, and online at stcu.org.
Price retires from Mountain West Bank
Dan Price, community banking president for Mountain West Bank, retired effective April 3, concluding a banking career spanning more than four decades, including nearly 25 years with Mountain West Bank.
Price joined Mountain West Bank in 2001 following 17 years with First Security Bank, which was later acquired by Wells Fargo, where he served as a district manager. He was hired as Executive Vice President and Manager of Retail Banking and later advanced to Community Banking President. In that role, he helped guide the bank’s growth from 10 branches to more than 20 locations throughout Idaho.
Price’s leadership was particularly evident in the Treasure Valley, where he expanded the bank’s presence through new branch development, the relocation and continued growth of the downtown Boise branch, and the integration of operations following acquisitions. Most recently, he oversaw the transition of Bank of Idaho’s Treasure Valley branches to Mountain West Bank in 2025 after Glacier Bancorp’s acquisition of Bank of Idaho.
“Dan’s impact on our organization is difficult to overstate,” said Scott Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain West Bank. “He helped build the foundation that supports our growth today, doing so with integrity, humility, and a genuine commitment to people. Dan has been a trusted leader, mentor, and partner for many years, and we are deeply grateful for everything he has contributed to Mountain West Bank.”
Throughout his career, Price has been active in Idaho’s banking and business communities. He serves on the Idaho Bankers Association Board of Directors and the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and he chaired the Boise Chamber Board in 2024. He previously served as president of the Saint Alphonsus Foundation Board. He is a graduate of Leadership Boise and was recognized by the Idaho Business Review as an Excellence in Finance honoree.
“After more than 40 years in banking, I’m incredibly grateful for the many great people I’ve had the privilege to work with—both inside the industry and throughout our community,” said Price. “It’s been an honor to serve, collaborate, and build lasting relationships, and I look forward to staying active and involved in the Treasure Valley as I transition into retirement.”
Anderson named Mountain West assistant vice president
Mountain West Bank, a division of Glacier Bank, has announced that Kara Anderson has been promoted to assistant vice president. Anderson, who is based in Sandpoint, serves as training supervisor for the Community Banking Training Program, leading training initiatives for employees across the bank.
Anderson joined Mountain West Bank in 2014 and brings 11 years of banking experience to her expanded role. As CBTP Training Supervisor, she oversees initiatives that promote operational consistency and professional development across the organization. Her tenure with the bank reflects a steady commitment to strengthening internal processes and equipping employees with the tools needed to deliver responsive, relationship-based service.
Throughout her tenure, Anderson has strengthened the bank’s training programs, reinforcing a culture grounded in accountability, knowledge, and customer service. Her promotion to Assistant Vice President recognizes her leadership and ongoing impact on team development. Anderson remains active in the Sandpoint community, volunteering with Angels Over Sandpoint and teaching financial literacy through Mountain West Bank’s Everfi program.
Himes named 2025 AAAS fellow
Katherine E. Himes, director of the McClure Center for Public Policy Research at University of Idaho, has been named a 2025 fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
The national honor recognizes Himes for her “distinguished contributions to international science diplomacy and state policy development, particularly for founding the first science policy fellowship program in Idaho and maintaining its support among bipartisan policymakers,” according to AAAS.
“Being recognized by AAAS in this way is deeply meaningful to me,” Himes said. “I am proud to have used my technical expertise in a way that supports public service, strengthens policymaking and builds trust across party lines in Idaho and beyond.”
Himes joined U of I’s McClure Center in 2017 as its fifth director. She founded the Idaho Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (ISTPF), a partnership among Idaho’s three public research universities, which brings highly trained scientists and engineers into state government to serve in executive and legislative offices. Since its launch in 2020, the program has had 11 fellows who have cultivated technical expertise in state policymaking, fostered public service careers and helped Idaho tackle challenges ranging from sage grouse management to rural STEM education to energy system planning.
“The success of the ISTPF relies on cultivating trust and collaboration with agencies and the Legislature,” Himes said. “Fellows serve as neutral, fact-based resources and that focus on objective information is valued by policymakers across the political spectrum. It’s been exciting to see scientists and engineers engaged in public service, applying their expertise to real-world challenges and contributing to executive and legislative processes in meaningful ways.”
Himes is among an exclusive group of researchers from U of I who have earned the honor of AAAS fellow. Only six others are in the group: Jean’ne M. Shreeve, who was inducted in 1980; Lisette Waits, 2017; Eva Top, 2021; Adam Jones, 2023; Christine Moffitt, 2024; and Shirley Luckhart, 2024.
“Katherine has built bridges between science and policy in Idaho, empowering decision makers in the state to make informed, evidence-based decisions,” U of I President Scott Green said. “Her leadership, vision and dedication to public service exemplify the kind of impact the University of Idaho has on communities in Idaho and across the world.”
Himes’ fellowship places her among an elite group of nearly 500 scientists, engineers and innovators elected in 2025 for their distinguished achievements in both scientific research and societal impact. She will receive the AAAS Fellow award at the annual AAAS Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C., in May.
AAAS, founded in 1848, is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. Members are nominated for the rank of fellow by their peers and voted on by the AAAS leadership council. Election as a fellow is a lifetime honor, reflecting a career of exceptional achievement and professional integrity.
The McClure Center is based in Boise, across from the Idaho State Capitol. For more information, visit uidaho.edu/mcclure-center.
Boundary Tractor celebrating 50 years
For 50 years, Boundary Tractor has been more than an equipment dealership. It has been a neighbor, a partner and a trusted resource for the communities it serves. This year, Boundary Tractor will proudly celebrate a 50-year milestone built on relationships, hard work and a deep connection to the region.
Since opening its doors in 1976, Boundary Tractor has supported generations of homeowners, farmers, contractors and landowners across North Idaho and surrounding communities. From helping families maintain their properties to supporting local businesses that keep the region growing, the dealership has remained committed to serving the people who call this area home.
“Reaching 50 years is really a celebration of the community that has supported us all along,” said Matt Adams, general manager of Adams Tractor, Boundary Tractor’s parent company. “Our customers aren’t just customers. They’re neighbors, friends and families we’ve worked with for decades.”
Throughout the years, Boundary Tractor has built its reputation on knowledgeable service, dependable equipment and a team that understands the needs of the region. Many employees have spent significant portions of their careers with the company, helping build long-standing relationships with customers who return year after year.
Beyond its work in equipment sales and service, Boundary Tractor has remained closely tied to the community through local partnerships, events and support for the industries that drive the regional economy.
As the company reflects on the past 50 years, its focus remains firmly on the future, with continued support for the landowners, businesses and families who help the region thrive.
“This milestone belongs to everyone who has been part of the journey,” said Cal Russell, owner of Boundary Tractor. “We’re honored to serve this community and excited for the years ahead.”
Trevor Young 
Ryan Cruz 
Price 
Anderson 
HimesIf you have a new, relocated or expanded business, or announcement of events, promotions or awards, The North Idaho Business Journal wants to let our readers know. Send your submissions for Movers & Shakers to celebrate business news, events and people in the five northern counties to Caroline Lobsinger at [email protected] or Bob Kirkpatrick at [email protected].