Oct 16, 2026

Child's Play Charity

Child's Play Charity announced the appointment of Katie Stone Perez as its new executive director.

Perez joins Child's Play after more than two decades at Xbox. Her career has been defined by a commitment to expanding access to play and building inclusive gaming communities.

With a background in child psychology and personal experience navigating pediatric cancer within her own family, Perez brings a deep understanding of the emotional and therapeutic value of play. Her passion for supporting kids, combined with her industry expertise, makes her uniquely suited to lead Child's Play into its next era of growth.

In her new role, Perez will oversee Child's Play's hospital partnerships, therapeutic gaming initiatives, research investments, and community engagement efforts. She will also guide the organization's strategic development as it continues to grow its network hospitals worldwide.

Since 2003 Child's Play Charity has been improving the lives of children in hospitals through the power of play. Founded by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade, Child's Play partners with pediatric hospitals around the world to deliver games, technology and innovative tools that support healing and bring joy. For 23 years Child's Play has been endowed by the gaming community, and is dedicated to finding new ways to help kids.

Oct 15, 2026

Skagit County Superior Court

Sebens

Gov. Bob Ferguson has appointed Haley Wolcott Sebens to the position of Skagit County Superior Court Judge.

Sebens' appointment, effective Jan. 1, fills the new position created by a law signed by Ferguson earlier this year. This is the first new position added to the Skagit County Superior Court since 2006.

Sebens is a judicial officer and longtime litigator with over 16 years of legal experience. She has served as a Skagit County Superior Court Commissioner since January 2025. As a Commissioner, she presides over court calendars including domestic and family law, child welfare and dependencies, at-risk youth, guardianship, probate and estate cases. She serves on the Superior Court Judges Association Family and Juvenile Law Committee and the Minor Guardianship Committee.

Prior to being appointed as commissioner, Sebens acted as judge pro tem for municipal and district courts including Snohomish District Court, city of Ferndale and city of Lynnwood.

Sebens earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Washington. She graduated from Gonzaga Law School, where she served as an editor of the Gonzaga Law Review.

Highline College

As the first community college in King County, Highline College recently celebrated its founding 65 years ago.

On Oct. 10, 1961, the college opened its doors to 385 students and operated out of 14 portable classrooms on the campus of the former Glacier High School on South 142nd Street in SeaTac/Burien.

It now serves approximately 14,000 students annually and has more than 350,000 alumni. In addition, it is one of 34 community and technical colleges in the state of Washington and has been located on its 80-acre campus in Des Moines since 1964.

Oct 14, 2026

WASWD

The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD) recently awarded $12,000 in scholarships to 12 Washington state individuals who are preparing for careers in the clean water industry.

In continuation of WASWD's Clean Water Careers outreach program, this year's scholarships broke previous records in the number of recipients and total amount awarded, enabling students from all around our state to pursue careers ranging from fluid mechanics and environmental sciences, to the administrative management of water and wastewater utilities.

Here are the winners: Elisabeth Clary, Bellingham; Benedicte Diakubama, Kent; Gavin Eliason, Spokane Valley; Alexandra Estrada, Ephrata; Maddie Fannin, Des Moines; Cloey Fletcher, Olympia; Kara Glassman, Arlington; Sarah Lord, University Place; Kurin Miller, Tumwater; Mya Schlepp, Seattle; Ruby Warner, East Wenatchee; and Grace Willis, Orcas Island.

Named after Walt Canter, an industry advocate and commissioner of the Cedar River Water and Sewer District for nearly 50 years, WASWD's Scholarship Fund facilitates and encourages entrance, advancement and retention of employees in the water and wastewater industry.

Oct 13, 2026

Washington Attorney General's Office

Attorney General Nick Brown has named Managing Assistant Attorney General Jason Dickey-North as division chief for the Tacoma Division, taking over for Laura Wulf, who will retire at the end of the year after 35 years of outstanding work at the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

Dickey-North joined the AGO in 2019 as an assistant attorney general in the Labor and Industries Division and has distinguished himself serving as a team lead litigating industrial insurance matters and advising the State Fund and Self-Insurance programs of the Department of Labor & Industries. He exemplified flexibility and leadership during the COVID pandemic when he was the statewide lead litigator of work-related COVID cases during the public health emergency. This work helped provide compensation to frontline and emergency workers during unprecedented times and culminated in a Washington Supreme Court opinion confirming that workers who develop a disease during the course of their employment can receive workers' compensation benefits. He has also demonstrated leadership helping to strengthen training for new AAGs in the office.

Wulf, who joined the office in 1989 as a law clerk, later returned to the AGO in 1992 as an assistant attorney general after graduating from the University of Puget Sound Law School. She has served multiple client agencies, including working in the Social and Health Services Division, Agriculture and Health Division, and Labor and Personnel Division, where she spent 17 years, mastering complex labor and employment law. In 2020, she stepped into the role of Tacoma Division Chief, helping staff navigate the uncertainties and stress caused by the pandemic.

Thirty-eight attorneys and 47 professional staff members work in the Tacoma Division, serving communities in Pierce and Kitsap counties. Employees in the division provide a wide variety of legal services for state client agencies, including the departments of Children, Youth and Families, Social and Health Services, Labor & Industries, Employment Security, and Licensing. Staff in the Tacoma office also handle tort matters on behalf of various state agencies.

In his years at the AGO, Dickey-North has received the William V. Tanner award, is an Excellence Award recipient, and is a member of the AGO Academy Committee helping to orient and train new AAGs in the office. He obtained his JD from Seattle University School of Law in 2018. Prior to law school, he received a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Martin's University in 2015.

Wulf was twice recognized with an AGO Excellence Award as well as Social and Health Services Mental Health Section Outstanding Team Member Award. A champion for diversity efforts, Wulf represented the AGO on the governor's Interagency Committee of State Employed Women, offering guidance on issues affecting women across state government.

Oct 09, 2026

Stoel Rives

Moir

Stoel Rives announced that Alyssa Moir has joined the firm's environmental practice group as a partner in its Seattle office. Moir joins from K&L Gates, bringing more than 15 years of experience advising agricultural, timber, energy and technology clients on water rights and complex environmental permitting matters.

A respected water rights lawyer in the Pacific Northwest, Moir counsels clients on the acquisition, evaluation and long-term management of water rights, including water banking, adjudications and regulatory negotiations. Her practice also encompasses air permitting, environmental review and cleanup matters, helping businesses and public entities navigate regulatory requirements affecting their operations and major infrastructure projects.

Moir's arrival follows the recent addition of Ankur Tohan, who also joined the firm's Environmental practice group from K&L Gates. Together, their experience strengthens the firm's ability to help clients navigate complex environmental requirements and advance energy and natural resource projects across the Pacific Northwest.

Moir earned her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2006 and her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2000. Before entering private practice, she clerked for Judge Marlin J. Appelwick of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I.

Oct 08, 2026

Clise Properties

Freeburg

Clise Properties announced last month that Benjamin Freeburg has joined the firm as its new CFO. He makes the move from Martin Selig Real Estate. Clise says the industry veteran is succeeding Bryan Joyner, who'll retire in December after 34 years with the company. A.M. Clise said in a statement, “Ben has the right background to understand capital markets, operating platforms and investment strategies to support and elevate our diverse portfolio. We are confident his experience will provide transparent leadership and great collaboration with our internal and external partners.”

Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities has been selected as a 2026 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award winner by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. The award will be presented Oct. 27 during the association's Executive Management Conference in Seattle.

The national award recognizes drinking water systems for environmental stewardship, financial responsibility and equitable service delivery. SPU operates the largest water utility in the Pacific Northwest, serving 1.6 million people in Seattle and the surrounding region.

“Seattle Public Utilities is honored to accept AMWA's Sustainable Water Utility Management Award,” SPU General Manager and CEO Andrew Lee said. “It's wonderful to be recognized for our long history and commitment to sustainable financial management, environmental stewardship, and delivering equitable essential services to 1.6 million people in the Puget Sound region.”

Seattle's drinking water comes from the Cedar River and South Fork Tolt River watersheds, which encompass 100,000 acres of protected forest. SPU's water system includes 1,900 miles of pipeline, and the utility also incorporates climate science into its water-supply planning and participates in regional salmon recovery and water conservation efforts.