May 21, 2026

ACI Mechanical & HVAC Sales

Keller

ACI Mechanical & HVAC Sales has named Tyler Keller vice president, Data Center Solutions. Keller brings more than 17 years of experience driving revenue growth, with expertise in hyperscale, colocation and AI infrastructure, combined with a strong engineering background. Keller will lead ACI's data center solutions division, focusing on expanding the company's presence and supporting both existing and emerging client relationships.

Prior to joining ACI, Keller served as global account manager, Enterprise Solutions on Carrier's Global Data Center team. Earlier in his career, he held roles at Automated Logic, a Carrier company, managing large-scale automation projects for global enterprise clients across various markets.

Headquartered in Seattle, an ESOP company, ACI Mechanical & HVAC Sales is an the Pacific Northwest's premier partner for commercial HVAC applications. ACI collaborates with consulting engineers, contractors, and their customers to deliver solutions in data centers, industrial, education, commercial office, and healthcare. ACI is a team 55 degreed sales engineers and project professionals working with over 50 equipment manufacturers.

May 20, 2026

Liberty Bank

Woods

Liberty Bank announced the appointment of Rob Woods as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Woods brings decades of financial leadership and community banking experience to Liberty Bank, which is based in Poulsbo. Prior to joining the organization, he spent more than 20 years with SaviBank, where he was a founding member and chief financial officer.

Earlier in his career, Woods held the role of chief financial officer at Columbia Trust Bank in Kennewick and gained additional experience with several financial institutions, including the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Woods holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Western Washington University and a Master of Finance from Seattle University. He also completed advanced banking studies at the University of South Carolina's Graduate School of Bank Investments and Financial Management.

Liberty Bank is a locally owned community bank.

May 19, 2026

Foster Garvey

Randles

Flichtbeil

Foster Garvey announced the promotion of two senior leaders: Scott Flichtbeil was promoted to chief executive officer (CEO), and Andrew Randles was promoted to chief financial officer (CFO).

Flichtbeil previously served as the firm's chief operating officer for nearly five and a half years and before that, as CFO. Based in Seattle, Flichtbeil focuses on the long-term strategy of the firm and oversees the day-to-day operations and administrative functions. He works closely with other firm leaders on efforts impacting strategic growth and sustainability, including budget management, recruiting, capital structures and attorney compensation. Prior to joining Foster Garvey, he worked at other Seattle-based law firms, as well as professional service firms. He earned his MBA from Seattle University.

Randles was previously the firm's director of finance and accounting. As CFO, he works closely with Flichtbeil, the firm's co-chairs, the Executive Committee and other key stakeholders on the firm's financial operations. Based in Portland, he leads the development and execution of the budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis processes across the firm's six offices. He previously served as the president of the Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC).

Foster Garvey PC has offices in Seattle, Portland, Washington, D.C., New York, Spokane and Tulsa.

May 15, 2026

Sate Insurance Commissioner

Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer is visiting Eastern Washington communities in May as part of her Community Connect outreach events, focusing on meeting residents of wildfire-threatened areas and discussing their issues with home insurance.

“Large-scale wildfires are becoming more commonplace, and wildfire risk is an increasingly important aspect of home insurance,” Kuderer said, in a news release Monday.

The first of two events is set for May 16 in Deer Park at the Wildfire & Forestry Safety Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Deer Park Fire Station 41, at 315 Crawford St. The second is on May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Medical Lake City Hall, at 124 S. Lefevre St.

State insurance officials say home insurance nonrenewals and cancellations have more than doubled since 2021, largely in response to increased wildfire risk in parts of the state.

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recently added Washington to its list of states in which its Wildfire Prepared Home designation is available. The Wildfire Prepared program is a set of research-based mitigation actions that help homeowners and builders in high-risk areas better protect their homes and neighborhoods from wildfire. These home-hardening standards drive insurer confidence and market stability by directly reducing the likelihood of a home igniting.

More can be found at https://www.insurance.wa.gov/.

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.