Dec 17, 2025

Hensel Phelps

Rundquist

Hensel Phelps has announced the retirement of Chief Estimator Brad Rundquist, following 29 years of service. Throughout his tenure, Rundquist has worked in five Hensel Phelps regions, during which he has procured $6.6 billion worth of projects across the country; led and won major design-build federal projects; and successfully implemented target value design during conceptual planning and supported GMP development for major projects like the SEA Gateway Project.

His contributions have had a lasting impact on the estimating team and the entire organization, and he is noted for his patience, positive attitude and ability to understand the bigger picture. As Chief Estimator/Preconstruction Director Sarah Forrest summed it up, “No matter which region or role he is working in, Brad is a positive, optimistic, curious and levelheaded colleague.”

After retirement, Rundquist will continue to share his expertise by teaching the Construction Estimating I course at the University of Washington as an affiliate assistant professor.

Moffatt & Nichol

Darnell

Moffatt & Nichol has hired Joel Darnell as senior water resources engineer in its Seattle office. Darnell brings more than 20 years of experience delivering port, coastal, water resources and transportation projects. His background includes five years as capital project manager for the city of Seattle, giving him direct experience with delivery of complex municipal programs. He holds a master's degree in ocean engineering from Oregon State University and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University.

Parametrix

Harmon

Von Stroh

Parametrix has recently hired David Von Stroh as a senior consultant with the firm's mobility and data technologies practice. He has over 15 years of experience in transportation planning and data analytics. His areas of expertise include curb and parking data management, transit data applications, active transportation and climate resiliency. He has worked with public agencies across the western United States. His project experience includes work with King County Metro, Sound Transit, the Seattle Department of Transportation, Portland TriMet, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Los Angeles Metro, Orange County Transportation Authority, and Southern California Association of Governments.

Scott Harmon recently joined Parametrix as a senior transportation engineer and project manager with the firm's transportation practice where he'll support transit, mobility and transportation projects throughout the Northwest. He brings nearly three decades of experience. His expertise includes traffic impact analysis, detailed transportation operations modeling, transportation needs assessments, signal operations, traffic management plans, corridor planning and concept design, active transportation management plans, and transportation system management and operations plans. He has worked with the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, and Utah Departments of Transportation as well as Oregon Metro, TriMet, Sound Transit, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, and counties and cities throughout the Northwest.

Perkins&Will

Buchanan

Perkins&Will has hired Todd Buchanan as managing director of its Seattle studio. Buchanan has over 25 years of experience managing civic, healthcare and aviation projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. His recent local work includes the $1 billion, 350-bed Western State Hospital behavioral health campus in Lakewood, which is currently under construction, aiming for LEED Gold and Net Zero certification. He also worked with the Port of Seattle for over 10 years, including participating in the largest capital program in the port's history. Buchanan served as principal-in-charge for Kaiser Permanente's ambulatory surgery and specialty center expansion in Seattle.

Dec 16, 2025

Truebeck Construction

Rohrs

Nielsen

Truebeck Construction has opened in new office in Seattle. Building on its Pacific Northwest foundation, this expansion strengthens Truebeck's long-term commitment to delivering projects across the West Coast. Two construction industry veterans, Jeff Nielsen and Joel Rohrs, will co-lead the Seattle office. Nielsen, with more than 30 years of construction leadership experience across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, brings specialized expertise in life science, data center, health care and education sectors. He has founded several successful general contracting firms, including BNBuilders in 2000, Nielsen Commercial in 2018, and the company that later became Truebeck with Sean Truesdale and David Becker in 2007. Rohrs, a Seattle-native, brings over three decades of construction and leadership experience, serving most recently as chief operations officer and executive vice president for notable Pacific Northwest Contractors. He excels in construction project team building, client development and relationships and operations management. Nielsen and Rohrs join Betsy Bice and George Ehara, co-leaders for Portland, in guiding Truebeck's Pacific Northwest strategy. Together, this leadership team will oversee growth across both the Portland and Seattle offices. Truebeck Construction is a full-service general contractor specializing in technical building, complex projects, and interiors. The company has five offices in California, Oregon and Washington.

Low Income Housing Institute

For the first time since the pandemic, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) hosted a live gala and auction at the Four Seasons Hotel, Seattle. The event raised a record $645,000 to support LIHI's Tiny House Villages, Urban Rest Stops, and Support Service programs. Highlights of the night included: a silent auction featuring dozens of items; a dessert dash with a high bidder of $5,000; a heads or tails game where the winner got half the $2,450 pot; and a golden ticket raffle where $100 per raffle ticket gave bidders a chance at many items. The winner chose a four night stay in a Methow Valley cabin. The live auction was lead by auctioneer Kevin Joyce and co-host Tan Macaraeg, and featured items including Seahawks and Kraken tickets; a week in Tuscany; an African safari; and vacation retreats in Suncadia; Washington, D.C.; Whistler, B.C.; and Ocean Shores. The gala featured a tribute to LIHI co-founder and longtime Washington Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, who passed away on March 22 of this year. The event's co-presenting sponsors were Walsh Construction, Seattle Jaycees, Lucky Seven Foundation, Jabooda Homes, Broadview United Church of Christ, John & Shari Behnke Family, and Brown & Brown.

Dec 12, 2025

OCMI

Salewski-Smith

OCMI Inc. named Heike Salewski-Smith as Seattle regional manager. Heike, a cost manager with over 20 years of experience, has been key to OCMI's growth across the Pacific Northwest. In her new role, Salewski-Smith will lead and expand OCMI's cost estimating, scheduling, and construction management services in the region, enhancing the company's ability to serve public agencies, higher education institutions, federal partners, and private sector clients. Salewski-Smith will work with Pacific Northwest and corporate leaders to strengthen OCMI's regional footprint. Established in 1982 as a cost consultancy serving owners and design professionals, OCMI has evolved over the past 43 years to offer comprehensive services covering every aspect of program, project, and construction management. OCMI is a veteran-owned and operated business with 12 offices nationwide.

Alaska Air Group

Schneider

Berry

Alaska Air Group has announced several leadership transitions. After nearly 15 years of service to Alaska Airlines, Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen will retire. Von Muehlen joined Alaska in 2011 and became COO in 2021, where she led the airline through a period of significant growth and transformation. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing safety, reliability and innovation across the airline's operations. Succeeding von Muehlen as chief operating officer will be Jason Berry, a 30-year industry veteran who currently serves as president of Horizon Air and executive vice president of cargo for Alaska Air Group. Berry's experience spans cargo, ground services, and regional operations, including leadership roles at Air Canada, Cargolux and McGee Air Services. Muehlen will stay on until February 2026 in an advisory capacity to support a transition. Andy Schneider will be named CEO and president of Horizon Air. Schneider currently serves as senior vice president of people at Alaska Airlines and has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's culture and talent strategy. Over her more than 35 years with Air Group, Schneider has held various operations roles, including as Alaska's vice president of inflight and call center services and senior vice president of people and customer services at Horizon. Her leadership will guide Horizon Air into its next chapter, continuing its legacy of regional service. Over the last year, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines teams have worked together to build and execute the plan to become a single mainline operating carrier under a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is anticipated later this fall.

Deacon Construction

Connell

Deacon Construction has promoted Kurth Connell to operations manager in its Seattle office. Connell joined Deacon in April 2021 as a senior project manager and has successfully completed several affordable housing projects in the region. His leadership, ability to build trust with teams and partners, and his commitment to delivering high quality work have all had an impact on Deacon's projects and on the people who work with him in the field and in the office.