Mar 28, 2023

UMC

Olmsted

Design-build mechanical and energy contractor UMC named Chris Olmsted as life sciences market lead. Olmsted has spent his career in various roles that have spanned many aspects of a facility's lifecycle, including building automation and controls, building optimization, critical environments, major construction support, tenant improvements, small repairs and facilitating emergency maintenance. He previously was sales manager for UMC's facility services sales team, and has been at the firm since 2019. He holds a degree in electrical engineering, and has training in whole-building optimization. Recently, he completed a professional certificate from MIT in biotechnology and life science.

Deacon Construction

Foster

Fish

Two industry veterans have joined the Seattle office of Deacon Construction: Alan Fish as senior estimator and Bill Foster as senior project manager. Fish comes from Venture General Contracting but prior to that worked at Deacon. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the AEC industry, and Deacon says he is well-versed in preparing estimates during all phases of design on a variety of project types ranging from below $1 million to over $100 million. Foster comes from Schuchart with nearly 35 years of construction industry experience in the Seattle area. He has extensive experience in tilt-up construction, large site development and stand-alone retail buildings, according to the company. Over the last decade, he was heavily involved in commercial tenant improvements and Boeing projects.

EagleView Technologies

Bellevue-based EagleView Technologies is collaborating with Mike Holmes Inspections to provide its aerial imagery services to a network of roof inspectors across Canada. The inspectors, trained and equipped with EagleView Assess drone technology, are using the technology to inspect properties for insurance claims without having to spend time on a roof. EagleView Assess has been in the U.S. market for the past year and has seen growing adoption among roof inspectors, independent adjusters, roofing contractors and insurance companies. Mike Holmes Inspections was founded by Mike Holmes, host and creator of a popular home improvement show. The company provides certified and trained professionals to conduct thorough home inspections.

Harbor Freight Tools

California-based Harbor Freight Tools is offering $1.5 million this year in its Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence contest. Harbor Freight plans to honor 25 outstanding public high school skilled trades teachers and their programs. Five grand prize winners will each get $100,000 and 20 others will get $50,000 each. Teachers can submit applications until May 5 to hftforschoolsprize.org. Finalists will be announced on June 13 and winners in October.

Mar 21, 2023

Graham Construction

Villegas

Gardner

Burke

Graham Construction promoted three local staff within its U.S. Health, Safety and Environment group: Hunter Burke to senior regional manager of U.S. operations; and Greg Gardner and Guilley Villegas to HSE managers. In his new role, Burke will oversee all HSE functions of Graham's buildings and infrastructure operations within Washington state. Graham says this promotion is essential to enhancing its regional HSE support and aligns with operational strategies for business growth in the U.S. Gardner is working with Burke to support the infrastructure group in the state. He led HSE efforts primarily on the state Route 520 project while touching other projects within Washington. Villegas is also working with Burke, supporting the buildings group within Washington as the primary contact for field matters. He joined Graham in 2018 and has worked on several prominent Washington building projects. Graham's U.S. offices are in Seattle, Bellevue, Spokane and Omaha, Nebraska.

Skanska

Lewis

Skanska USA Building hired Dean Lewis as its first director of mass timber and prefabrication. Lewis comes to Skanska with 13 years of experience in mass timber and engineering roles in Washington and California. Based out of Seattle, Lewis is responsible for the company's work on prefabrication and mass timber projects across the United States, and consulting on business development efforts around mass timber projects. Prior to joining Skanska, Lewis was with Alphabet-funded Sidewalk Labs for two years, working on new construction technologies in the mass timber space. He also worked for Swinerton Mass Timber, DCI Engineers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lewis graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's in structural engineering, studying under Dr. J. Daniel Dolan, a prominent figure in the mass timber industry.

Axis Survey & Mapping

Austin, Texas-based SAM Companies acquired Axis Survey & Mapping, a geomatics solutions company based in Redmond. Axis has relationships with engineering, public works, construction and infrastructure-focused clients. SAM provides geospatial and inspection solutions across the utility, transportation and broader infrastructure industries. The entire Axis team will join SAM, including CEO Travis Bradley, who will continue to focus on business development and operations. SAM says the acquisition is part of its plan to expand its capacity, experience and geographic presence in the Northwest. Axis was represented by Chinook Capital Advisors in the transaction. Other details of the deal were not disclosed. This is SAM's 15th acquisition in the past seven years.

Olympic College

Olympic College is starting a new construction trades program for the spring quarter at its Shelton campus, where class starts April 3. The school says students will graduate equipped with essential skills needed to secure work in the residential and light-construction industries as carpenters' helpers, construction laborers, and construction apprentices in local carpenters' and laborers' unions. It says a certificate of completion can be attained in three quarters.

ABC of Western Washington

Crisp Imaging and Hallmark Framing joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington. Seattle-based Crisp Imaging provides printing, construction document management, interior and exterior signage, trade show materials, design services, jobsite and safety signage, banners and jobsite fence screening. Woodinville-based Hallmark Framing is a commercial framer.