First Interstate Bank

Rafuse

First Interstate Bank announced that Greg Rafuse has joined the organization as commercial market president. In this role, Rafuse will focus on expanding commercial banking relationships, supporting local businesses, and helping drive First Interstate's continued growth across Western Washington.

Rafuse brings more than 20 years of banking experience to First Interstate, with a career focused on commercial lending, relationship management, business development, and market leadership.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Rafuse studied Business at Bellevue College and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. He has extensive expertise in commercial credit and risk analysis and is committed to bridging the gap between bank credit administration and commercial client needs, always keeping client success at the center of his work.

First Interstate is a community bank headquartered in Billings, Montana, delivering banking and wealth management services across Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.

FSi Engineers

Luzius

Connell

Giamalis

Larson

FSi Engineers has hired Tyler Larson as an electrical designer. Larson is a graduate of Washington State University and brings 11 years of experience in the field. His projects include WSU's Tree Fruit Research Facility in Wenatchee, and energy upgrades for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's CapWay Building in Olympia.

The firm has also hired David Giamalis as director of electrical engineering. Giamalis brings 17 years of experience and is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Giamalis has worked extensively with Lake Washington and Mukilteo School Districts, Washington State University, Meta and Google. Giamalis is currently leading electrical engineering for construction administration for a new weld shop at Washington State Ferries' Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, and Seattle South Transfer Station Phase 2.

David Connell joins the firm as a mechanical engineer. Connell is a graduate of Gonzaga University and brings five years of experience in the field. Connell is working on projects with the Port of Seattle, city of Bellevue, and Community Transit.

The firm has also hired Dan Luzius as principal engineering leader. Luzius brings 25 years of experience and is a graduate of Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Luzius has worked extensively with Meta, Google, the state of Washington, and regional school districts. His current projects include the new Parks Operations Facility for the city of Bellevue, and modernization of the Kent Civic Campus.

Starbucks

Starbucks is building a global technology hub in Chennai, in southern India, according to a letter sent earlier this year to employees from Starbucks technology chief Anand Varadarajan, and shared Monday on the company blog.

“This is an important milestone in how we continue to build a more flexible and globally connected Technology organization,” Varadarajan said in the letter. “Our teams already work closely with technology vendors in India and other countries. Establishing a Starbucks Technology hub in India gives us the opportunity to build a more partner-centric organization which will be created by bringing capability inside Starbucks over time and creating stronger connections to the work, priorities and culture of our business,” he said in the letter.

Varadarajan said Chennai was selected because of its access to and retention of strong talent retention, its ability to support the company's long-term business needs, and alignment with the ways Starbucks teams work across Seattle, Nashville, London and Hong Kong.

The hub is expected to be operational in fiscal year 2027, and could employ as many as 800 tech workers. Chennai, once known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal.

Mutual of Enumclaw

Mutual of Enumclaw has unveiled a new brand identity aimed at strengthening its market position and supporting long-term growth as it builds on 128 years of service across the Pacific Northwest.

The Washington-based mutual insurance company said the refreshed brand shows its evolution into a modern regional insurer while maintaining its longstanding commitment to members, agents and communities.

“Our new brand reflects the strength of the company we have built and our growth plans for the future,” said CEO Bob Otis. “We are proud to show up as the powerful, modern insurance brand we have become.” Otis added that the rebranding effort is intended to create a clearer expression of the company's strategy while reinforcing its position as a trusted insurer with deep roots in the Northwest.

Mutual of Enumclaw continues to invest in new capabilities and expand partnerships with independent agents. Company officials said the brand refresh supports key priorities that include strengthening its presence across the Pacific Northwest, growing agent relationships and enhancing the experience it delivers to policyholders.

“Our history gives us a strong foundation, but our focus is on what comes next,” Otis said. “We have the financial strength, relationships, people, and ambition to grow. This brand represents our confidence in Mutual of Enumclaw and the opportunity ahead.”

Founded in Enumclaw in 1898, Mutual of Enumclaw has spent more than a century providing personal, business, farm and ranch insurance coverage. The new branding began appearing across the company's digital channels, communications, workplaces and community presence on Sept. 21.

Costco

(AP) — Costco said it's partnering with DoorDash to offer delivery from its U.S. warehouse stores.

DoorDash already offers Costco delivery in a few markets, including Australia, Sweden and Puerto Rico. But the nationwide partnership is a first for the San Francisco-based delivery company, which said Costco was among the most-searched retailers not yet on its U.S. platform.

DoorDash said it will deliver groceries, household items and electronics from all of Costco's U.S. stores. Delivery will only be available to Costco members, who can link their membership information to their DoorDash account.

Issaquah-based Costco has 81 million members worldwide. Most are in the U.S., where the company has 639 stores in 47 states.

Costco has offered delivery through Instacart for nearly a decade. In 2024, it announced a partnership with San Francisco-based Uber Eats, but under that agreement, Uber Eats only provided delivery in 17 states.

On Tuesday, Uber Eats said it was expanding Costco delivery nationwide. Like DoorDash, Uber Eats already provides delivery from Costco in other countries, including Japan, France, Spain, Canada and Mexico.

DoorDash and Uber Eats have been expanding their U.S. grocery offerings in recent years. Last fall, both companies announced partnerships with Kroger, the nation's largest supermarket chain.

SEI

Beherndt

SEI, an employee-owned management consulting firm, has appointed Joel Beherndt as managing director of its Seattle office.

Beherndt succeeds Bonnie Cote, who has led the Seattle market since its launch in 2023 and will remain with SEI as a principal consultant following parental leave.

“Building this market over the past three years has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career, and I couldn't be more confident in Joel as the person to lead us forward,” said Cote, in a news release. “Joel has already made a tremendous impact on our team and our business. He cares deeply about our people, builds genuine relationships with clients, and has the ownership mentality and ambition to continue expanding what we've built. I'm incredibly excited to see him take the helm and lead SEI Seattle through its next stage of growth.”

Beherndt brings extensive consulting and business development experience, with particular depth in large-scale strategy, technology, and operations transformations. He will focus on expanding SEI's presence across the West while preserving the entrepreneurial culture and client-first model that have shaped the Seattle business from the beginning.

“I'm excited to lead SEI's continued growth in the Puget Sound and across the West,” said Beherndt. “There's a real opportunity here to build something distinctive: a consulting business where experienced people stay close to the work, relationships are built on trust rather than transactions, and everyone thinks like an owner because we are owners. We want to bring that model to more clients across the region by helping leaders tackle their hardest problems with teams that are pragmatic, accountable, and focused on outcomes that last.”

Since launching three years ago, SEI Seattle has established a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest while increasingly serving clients across the broader West. The Seattle team works with organizations spanning healthcare, aerospace, retail and consumer goods, financial services, life sciences, and transportation.

Swenson Say Fagét

Wagner

Dalas

Kang

Swenson Say Fagét Structural Engineers (SSF) recently hired in its Seattle office Tammy Kang, Demetri Dalas and Samantha Wagner.

Kang joined the firm in April as a staff engineer. She holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Washington. After over two years with another Seattle firm, she is now working with SSF's residential team on new and renovated residences in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Woodway, Olympia, and Pacific Palisades, California.

Dalas joined in June as a project engineer. Dalas earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Washington. After two years with an international multidisciplinary firm in Bellevue, Dalas joined the SSF commercial projects team. He is currently working on several tenant improvement projects for a prominent Northwest technology company.

Wagner joined in July as a project manager. She attended Northeastern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a Master of Science in structural engineering. After nine years working in Boston, she returned to her home state to join SSF's retrofit team. Current projects include renovating the Sea View Theater in Eastsound (Orcas Island), the Park at Bothell Landing revitalization, and a seismic analysis for Assumption School for the Seattle Archdiocese.

REI Co-op

This National Public Lands Day on Sept. 26, REI Co-op is donating $1 million to support the trails that connect America. Until Oct. 2, members, customers and employees can vote online or in REI stores to help decide how a portion of the donation is directed to eligible nonprofit organizations that care for America's National Scenic and Historic Trails.

Every participating trail organization will receive funding, with a portion of the funding guided by the vote. Together, these organizations support projects and partners across more than 60,600 miles of National Scenic and Historic Trails, from iconic routes like the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail to local trail segments that connect communities to the outdoors.

“Our national trails give us room to breathe and help us feel connected to nature, to one another and to ourselves, so on National Public Lands Day, we're giving back to them,” said Mary Beth Laughton, president and CEO of REI Co-op. “Through this effort, the co-op is turning appreciation into care, and we're inviting our members, customers and employees to join us. Together, we can help protect and support these trails and strengthen the organizations that steward them.”

The effort is being launched with the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS), whose network includes organizations working across America's National Scenic and Historic Trails. Funding will support trail stewardship, volunteer engagement, youth leadership development, conservation advocacy and other efforts that help trails remain accessible, welcoming and maintained for future generations.

Throughout September, more than 130 REI stores will host local trail organizations and community groups, helping people discover places to explore, connect with partners in their communities and find new opportunities to volunteer, advocate and care for public lands close to home.

PNTS partner organizations will host hikes, stewardship projects, rides and outdoor events around the country, giving people opportunities to get outside and experience firsthand the trails and public lands they are helping support.

Panther Life Sciences

Hanana

Mounir Hanana, who most recently served as CFO of Amazon Business in Seattle, has been named CEO of New York's Panther Life Sciences, a company building a needle-free alternative to injections.

Panther Life Sciences founder Carlos Bhola will continue as executive chairman, partnering closely with Hanana as Panther commercializes its SmartPatch platform across high-growth health, wellness and therapeutic markets, including dermatology and aesthetic applications.

“We were intentional in our search for a partner with a track record of deploying global technology platforms, scaling manufacturing, and commercializing innovation — and we found that in Mounir,” said Bhola in a release. “I am excited by what Panther will accomplish under Mounir's direction and am looking forward to closely partnering with him.”

Hanana brings 25 years of global leadership experience across Procter & Gamble and Amazon. During his career, he has led initiatives ranging from several hundred million dollars in revenue to large global multibillion-dollar businesses, combining expertise in manufacturing, commercialization, technology platforms and operational scale.

At Procter & Gamble, he helped bring consumer products from development to market through world-class manufacturing, supply chains and commercial organizations. At Amazon, he led large global technology businesses. Together, these experiences span consumer products, advanced manufacturing, global technology platforms and operational excellence—capabilities critical for Panther's next phase of commercialization.

“Having spent much of my career building and scaling global businesses, I know a category-defining opportunity when I see one,” said Hanana. “That is why I joined Panther. Our team has built a unique, powerful technology capable of transforming both consumer and medical markets.”

Yakima County Superior Court

Black Horse

Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Bree Black Horse to the position of Yakima County Superior Court Judge. Black Horse's appointment fills the new position created by a law signed by Ferguson earlier this year. This is the first new position added to the Yakima County Superior Court since 1998.

Black Horse is a career litigator with more than 12 years of experience handling criminal and civil cases in federal, state and Tribal courts. She currently practices at the law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, where she represents Tribal governments and enterprises in complex civil litigation and governmental matters. She also serves as director and adjunct professor of law for the Seattle University School of Law Central Washington Hybrid Hub and leads its Pipeline Initiative, a regional partnership between Seattle University School of Law, Heritage University in Toppenish and the AccessLex Institute focused on expanding access to legal education and addressing the shortage of attorneys in Central Washington.

Black Horse previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, where she became the first regional prosecutor in the Northwest dedicated to addressing cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Based in Yakima, she served the U.S. Justice Department's Northwest Region, covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California.

Black Horse also served as a public defender and legal aid attorney for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, where she represented Tribal members in criminal proceedings and a broad range of civil matters, including family law, probate, housing and public benefits. Earlier in her career, Black Horse served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Chief Judge Brian Morris in the District of Montana.

Black Horse earned her bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific University and received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law, where she co-founded and served as editor-in-chief of the American Indian Law Journal.

Sterling Realty Organization

Campbell

Sterling Realty Organization recently named a new VP for land strategy: industry veteran Andy Campbell, who makes the move from Greystar. SRO’s Matt Skager said in a statement, “His deep understanding of land strategy, capital markets and long-term investment — along with his strong reputation for building trusted partnerships — will be instrumental to the team as we continue to evolve and expand SRO’s growing portfolio.”

Aegis Living

Aegis Living has announced a planned leadership succession that will unfold over the coming year.

Dwayne J. Clark, founder and chief executive officer of Aegis Living, has led the company since its founding in 1997. On July 27, 2027, the 30th anniversary of the company's founding, Clark will transition out of the CEO role, handing the current President Dirk Burghartz the dual role of president and chief executive officer.

Additionally, Derek Doke, the current chief financial officer, will assume the expanded role of chief financial officer and chief investment officer. Clark will become the executive chairman, remaining actively engaged in the company's vision, culture, and long-term strategy.

Burghartz joined Aegis Living in 2025 as president, after a career in hospitality and operations with companies like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and has spent the past year partnering closely with Clark on strategy, community operations and growth.

Under Clark, Aegis Living has operated over 60 communities over the past 29 years and pioneered a hospitality-driven model of senior living, assisted living, and memory care that has redefined the category nationally.

Aegis Living has been recognized across every dimension of its operation: architecture, sustainability, and design honors for its communities; continued recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in America; and culinary awards for its restaurant-quality dining program.

Clark has received numerous lifetime achievement awards in the senior living industry. He is also a nationally bestselling author, an executive producer of film and documentary projects, and a keynote speaker on the future of aging. He is also the founder and host of the annual EPIC conference, Aegis Living's invitation-only leadership and longevity summit.

Clark will remain CEO while transferring day-to-day executive responsibilities to Burghartz and Doke into Q2 of 2027.

Founded in 1997, Aegis Living is a national leader in luxury assisted living, memory care and lifestyle communities for older adults, operating 37 communities across Washington, California, and Nevada, with additional communities in development.

Edmonds Chamber of Commerce

Campbell-Danas

The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce has selected Michael Campbell-Danas as its new president and CEO.

Campbell-Danas brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, marketing, fundraising, business development, events and community engagement.

Prior to his current career, Campbell-Danas worked as a professional musician. That experience, combined with his subsequent work in event production, marketing, fundraising, operations and partnership development, gives him a broad understanding of how to create and manage community-focused events from both the organizer and participant perspectives, the organization said.

“I'm looking forward to getting to know our members and partners, learning what they need from their Chamber and finding new ways for us to work together,” Campbell-Danas said. “The opportunity ahead is significant. We can continue building a Chamber that is a strong advocate for local businesses, a connector across the community and a partner in Edmonds' economic and cultural vitality.”

Campbell-Danas succeeds Ryan Crowther, who is leaving the chamber after four years to become chief executive officer of APEX Everett.

The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce will remain focused on advocating for local businesses, strengthening the local economy, and creating opportunities that bring businesses, residents and visitors together.

Frazier Healthcare Partners

Lujan

Frazier Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, has closed on the acquisition of MatrixCare.

MatrixCare is a provider of cloud-based electronic health record and revenue cycle management solutions purpose-built for out-of-hospital care settings, including skilled nursing, senior living, home health, hospice, and life plan communities. A multi-year winner of the Best in KLAS award, MatrixCare is used by thousands of facility-based and home-based care organizations to improve provider efficiencies and promote a better quality of life for the people they serve.

The transaction includes MatrixCare and related software offerings historically sold under the MatrixCare brand, including Healthcare First, Citus, and home health and hospice solutions.

Frazier Executive in Residence Jonathan Lujan has been appointed chief executive officer of MatrixCare. Lujan most recently served as chief executive officer of Sight Growth Partners, where he led the company's operational transformation and growth into one of the nation's largest ophthalmology management organizations.

Founded in 1991, Frazier Healthcare Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. Since its inception, Frazier has raised over $11 billion of capital for private funds and co-investment opportunities and has invested in more than 200 companies over the past 35 years.

Frazier is headquartered in Seattle with an office in New York.

Redfin

Sanfilippo

Rocket Companies announced that Alessio Sanfilippo has been named chief executive officer of Redfin. Sanfilippo joins Redfin from Meta, where he served as vice president of Insights for Reality Labs.

“Millions of people begin thinking about homeownership on Redfin, often months before they ever talk to a lender,” said Varun Krishna, CEO of Rocket Companies. “I worked with Alessio at Intuit and saw firsthand how he combines deep analytical thinking with a real instinct for the consumer. He has spent his career using data and technology to make complex products work better for enormous audiences. Now he gets to bring that experience to Redfin and help us connect home search, brokerage, mortgage, closing and servicing into one experience.”

Sanfilippo brings more than 20 years of experience across product, data, analytics and technology. At Meta's Reality Labs, he led global teams across data science, data engineering and user research and helped build and grow the market for Meta's AI-enabled wearable glasses.

He previously led data and user research for WhatsApp, where his work helped shape the product's U.S. growth strategy as it expanded to more than 100 million monthly active users in the country.

Prior to Meta, Sanfilippo led data and analytics at Intuit, applying AI and machine learning across products including TurboTax and QuickBooks and helping shape product vision and go-to-market strategy. He previously held leadership roles at SAP, GoSeek, Hotwire and United Airlines.

Redfin is one of America's largest real estate brokerages and operates the country's most-visited brokerage website. Rocket Companies acquired Redfin in July 2025, bringing together home search, real estate brokerage, mortgage origination, closing and servicing capabilities.

KMB architects

Zhang

Smith

KMB architects has hired two new team members, Erin Smith and Chenlu Zhang.

Smith serves as the financial assistant for the administrative and accounting needs of the firm. She has been exposed to the A/E/C industry since childhood through her father's architecture career and has worked in project management and construction administration for multiple firms.

Zhang joins as an architectural designer with a bachelor's and master's degree in architecture, with a focus on sustainability. He has a background in hospitality, retail, and residential design with a focus on healthcare and people-centered architecture. He is working on the Youth Housing Project for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, which includes a 20-bed residential cottage and classroom expansion at the Child Study and Treatment Center campus in Lakewood.

Washington State Department of Commerce

Rider

The Washington State Department of Commerce announced Kelly Rider as its new Housing Policy Director, effective Sept. 16.

Rider brings nearly two decades of experience advancing strategic housing and human services initiatives across Washington state.

Before joining Commerce, she spent nine years with King County, advising the County Executive and County Council on housing, homelessness and behavioral health.

In roles including housing policy and special projects manager, director of external affairs/government relations, chief of staff, and director of community and human services, Rider led major initiatives such as Health Through Housing, the Crisis Care Centers levy, and the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy.

Her leadership resulted in the opening of more than 1,000 new supportive homes, financing 2,299 affordable homes across 21 sites, and launching new behavioral health care facilities. Rider holds a Master in Public Administration from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy & Governance.

GT Capital

Bauman

GT Capital, a private real estate investment and development firm, announced that Charlie Bauman has been named president.

Bauman will oversee the firm's day-to-day operations and real estate transactions, working in partnership with GT's founders on capital allocation and portfolio growth across the Pacific Northwest.

Bauman has spent more than 15 years in investment management and real estate, with a background spanning wealth management, investment banking, REIT investing, and local development.

Founded in 2010, GT Capital focuses on long-term ownership and disciplined capital deployment across commercial, residential, and marine properties.

Lake Washington Windows & Doors

Qualified Remodeler, a publication serving remodelers and home improvement companies in the U.S., has ranked Lake Washington Windows & Doors as No. 188 on its 48th annual TOP 500 remodelers of 2026. Since 1978, the QR TOP 500 has tracked the industry’s largest and fastest-growing companies. In 2026, the TOP 500 represented nearly $25 billion in remodeling sales volume and 2.2 million completed jobs.

Lake Washington Windows & Doors was chosen as a 2026 TOP 500 remodeler by the Qualified Remodeler editorial staff for meeting criteria including installed remodeling dollar volume, years in business, industry association membership, certification, awards and community service.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Renton, Lake Washington Windows & Doors handles window replacement and door installation for homeowners across King, Pierce, Kitsap and south Snohomish counties, with showrooms in Renton, Seattle and Tacoma.

Kidder Mathews

Schmeltekopf

Cobb

Stafford

Beeson

Martindale

Kidder Mathews is expanding to Texas, with its new office there in Dallas. The brokerage has long operated in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona. It announced this month that Mart Martindale, Brandon Beeson, Wilson Stafford, John David Cobb and Claire Schmeltekopf have joined the firm, bringing its national footprint to 20 offices across six states. Kidder's Bill Frame said in a statement, “Dallas has long been one of the country's most dynamic commercial real estate markets, and we have been deliberate about finding the right people before planting our flag.” Most of the new hires come from Edge Realty Partners. Kidder calls itself the largest fully independent commercial real estate firm on the West Coast, now with a headcount of over 900.