Economy - Folks

Greg West

– Josh Smith photo.

Hometown: La Mirada, California
Place of Residence: Nine Mile Falls
Occupation: Executive Vice President at Healthcare Resource Group Inc.

Though Greg West was raised outside Washington, he considers Spokane his home. Prior to moving to Spokane in 1998, he lived in Seattle and Wenatchee.

"I loved both those places, and, to me, Spokane is the best of both. We are offered enough big-city amenities but still have a small town feel. In comparison, Seattle was too congested and Wenatchee was too small to offer the activities we are offered here," West says. "The other factor is that the cost of living in Spokane is much lower. My dollar goes further here in Spokane than any other place I have lived."

Professionally, West is executive vice president at Healthcare Resource Group Inc., a Spokane-based medical consulting and staffing agency for hospitals and clinics nationwide. He is responsible for the operations of the company's outsourcing division and management of its sales team.

"My biggest responsibility is assuring that our employee owners have a safe, growing, and fun environment to work in and each are benefiting from the hard work they contribute on a daily basis," he says.

In fact, the quality of potential employees in the Spokane region is high.
"The number and level of universities in the area continually deliver high-level candidates for our job openings. Add the desirable area and all the amenities we offer and we have it pretty good when it comes to recruiting talent," West says.

Healthcare Resource Group started in 1994 in California and moved its headquarters to Spokane in 2006.

"We have had a lot of assistance and advice from local organizations, such as GSI. When we first moved our operation to Spokane, we were given a grant for training and education. This allowed us to expand the abilities of our team and grow our business with new clients and new services," he says. "Spokane is also a community where businesses network and help each other. It's very friendly compared to other cities I have done business in."

In addition, he believes it is a great area to raise a family and has a myriad of activities to offer. He enjoys golfing, fishing, boating, hunting, riding motorcycles, and more.

"Besides that my grandchildren all live here, I love the fact that I can go enjoy outdoor activities very close to home and then eat at some of the best restaurants and see a Broadway show, all in the same day," he says. "Hoopfest is by far my favorite event. It has become a family holiday for us every year. It's a great statement about the Spokane area to put on an event of that size and scope and have it be a great experience every year."