May 14, 2026

Kitsap County Superior Court

McKeeman

Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed Maureen McKeeman to the position of Kitsap County Superior Court Judge. Effective Aug. 2, the appointment fills the position that Judge Kevin Hull's resignation will vacate.

McKeeman is a career litigator with over 15 years of experience in civil, criminal and family law. She currently practices estate planning, probate, real property and criminal law as a partner at the law firm of Tolman, Hinson & McKeeman in Poulsbo. She also serves as a judge pro tempore in Bremerton Municipal Court, Bainbridge Island Municipal Court and Kitsap County District Court, and she previously served as a municipal court judge for the City of Poulsbo.

Earlier in her career, McKeeman spent three years handling a range of misdemeanor cases and traffic infraction matters as a prosecuting attorney in Bremerton. She spent two years at the law firm of LaCross & Murphy in Port Orchard, where she represented clients in criminal proceedings in Kitsap County Superior, District and Municipal Courts. She also practiced criminal law as a partner at McKeeman & Miller in Silverdale.

Outside the courtroom, McKeeman volunteers at the Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance and teaches estate planning classes with Poulsbo Parks and Recreation. She also served for five years on the board of trustees at West Sound Academy.

McKeeman earned her bachelor's degree from Willamette University and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law.

ShareBuilder

ShareBuilder 401k has announced a 50% off setup promotion on all 401(k) retirement plans to help small business owners establish tax-advantaged savings to help owners and employees alike build for a secure retirement.

With the multifaceted issues of AI implementations, difficultly attracting skilled talent, and managing complex tax burdens in today's business climate, small businesses are actively seeking effective strategies to build their business, reduce taxes and be in position to retire down the road. Recognizing that many small business employers decide to establish a 401(k) immediately after their spring tax strategy meetings with their accountants, ShareBuilder 401k is offering half-off plan setup costs to make this critical financial step more accessible.

Now through May 26, eligible U.S. businesses establishing a new ShareBuilder 401k plan can receive 50% off the setup of any new plan. The promotion provides up to $375 in initial savings for businesses with more than one employee 401(k) plan and up to $75 in savings for Solo 401(k) plans.

Companies with employees starting their first 401(k) plan can also qualify for tax credits that help offset other 401(k) administration charges and employer matching contributions for the first three years of the plan. For more information on the May promotion, visit http://www.sharebuilder401k.com.

May 13, 2026

City of Tacoma

The city of Tacoma's Equity in Contracting (EIC) Program is holding a workshop and Q&A session with the state Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) on the business certification process. The virtual event will be held from 9-10 a.m. on May 18.

Topics include: an overview of the city's EIC Program; federal and state certification; tips on how to successfully complete an application; what documentation is required; what to bring for the follow-up OMWBE Certification 201 workshop; and guidance on becoming a certified business and unlocking new contracting opportunities.

This workshop is the first in a two-part series. The OMWBE Certification 201 workshop will be offered in a hybrid format on May 28, from 9-11 a.m. Event details are available at http://makeittacoma.com/events, or contact Linda Cerna at lcerna@tacoma.gov or (253) 453-9488 for more information.

May 12, 2026

County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

McBroom

Taylor

King County Exec. Girmay Zahilay announced that John Taylor, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP), has accepted an appointment as the new CEO of the Cascade Water Alliance, a partner organization that contributes to safe, clean, reliable water supply in the Central Puget Sound region. Taylor will begin his new role May 29.

Mo McBroom — who has served as deputy director for DNRP since 2020 — has been appointed interim director.

The department completed major projects during Taylor's tenure, including King County's largest-ever floodplain restoration project, a unique onsite battery system that provides reliable power to West Point Treatment Plant, and the renewal of the King County Parks Levy.

Taylor was appointed DNRP director in February 2024 after serving as the first director of the King County Department of Local Services. He previously served as a member of the department's leadership team, and was one of the architects of the Land Conservation Initiative, a partnership protecting urban greenspace, forestland, farmland, river corridors and natural areas while increasing access to the outdoors.

The next director will lead a workforce of 2,300-plus employees. DNRP restores habitat, reduces flood risks, builds and operates major infrastructure that protects Puget Sound, transforms waste management to cut carbon emissions, and expands and enhances regional parks and trails.

May 08, 2026

City of Lynnwood

Harrell

The Lynnwood City Council has confirmed Monisha Harrell as the city's next assistant city administrator. The confirmation comes after a nationwide search to fill the position within the City's Executive Department.

Harrell is a senior leader with extensive experience in nonprofit governance, public policy, and organizational management. She has held executive roles in local government, including serving as director of the Office of Equity and Racial and Social Justice for King County and as senior deputy mayor for the city of Seattle.

Harrell has also led complex organizations and initiatives focused on civil rights, education and community impact, including serving as board chair of Equal Rights Washington and in national leadership roles advancing LGBTQ equality.

She holds an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business and a bachelor's degree in film studies from Columbia University.

May 07, 2026

Lorenz Private Trustees

Bitterman

Lorenz Private Trustees has appointed Heidi Bitterman, J.D., C.T.F.A., as a private trustee, serving clients across Washington, Oregon and California. Bitterman, a licensed California attorney who maintains her bar status, brings nearly two decades of experience in trusts and estates, fiduciary administration and multigenerational wealth advising.

Bitterman's background spans leadership roles in both legal and financial institutions. As vice president and client advisor at The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada, she advised ultra-high-net-worth families and provided strategic guidance in estate planning, trust administration, philanthropy, investment management, and complex family governance. She previously served as Estate Settlement Market Director for Bank of America. Earlier in her legal career, she established a trusts and estates practice within a family law firm, managing comprehensive estate planning, probate and trust administration matters.

Bitterman serves on the board of directors for the East King County Estate Planning Council; co-chairs the University of Southern California's Seattle Regional Alumni Network; and is a trustee of Path 2 Healthy, a nonprofit dedicated to holistic health and wellness.

Lorenz Private Trustees provides professional fiduciary services, including trust administration, estate settlement and related support for individuals and families across the country.

Puget Sound Partnership

Puget Sound Partnership is holding an Adaptive Management Forum for Salmon Recovery, May 19-20. Titled “Swimming Upriver: Learning from Our Setbacks to Adapt and Move Forward,” the two-day virtual forum will bring together practitioners, planners, decision-makers, scientists, and implementers from across Puget Sound watersheds to connect, share lessons learned, and explore how adaptive management can strengthen implementation efforts across the region. Through case studies, emerging science and facilitated discussion, the forum is designed to create space for peer learning, reflection and practical takeaways that participants can apply in their own work. Sessions are from 8:30 a.m .to 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register online here: https://tinyurl.com/ye6h3khc

May 06, 2026

Ballard Spahr

Beth Ann Lennon has joined Ballard Spahr's Litigation Department and Labor and Employment Group as partner. An accomplished labor and employment law attorney with 15 years of experience, Lennon is resident in the firm's Denver and Portland offices.

Lennon divides her practice between employment counseling and litigation. She regularly assists clients with the complex legal questions they face as employers, drafts policies and contracts, assists with internal investigations and M&A due diligence, and provides guidance and representation in agency actions and litigation throughout the country. Lennon represents clients across industries, including construction, hospitality, manufacturing, media, sports and technology.

As a member of the Labor and Employment Group, Lennon joins a coast-to-coast team of more than 50 attorneys. The group is noted for its thought leadership, including the Best Practices for Best Employers Labor and Employment Seminar, which has for over four decades been an indispensable resource for employers in the Pacific Northwest.

Ballard Spahr LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm founded in 1885, headquartered in Philadelphia, with over 700 attorneys across the U.S. In 2025, Ballard Spahr combined with Lane Powell, adding offices in Anchorage, Portland and Seattle.