May 20, 2020

Washington Department of Health

Secretary of Health John Wiesman submitted his resignation to Gov. Jay Inslee and accepted a faculty appointment at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health that will start July 2021. Wiesman will continue as health secretary until the end of Inslee's second term as governor, which will be Jan. 10, 2021.

Grant Thornton

Consulting firm Grant Thornton named Dan Powers as managing partner of the firm's Seattle office. Powers has 35 years of public accounting experience and has been with the firm since 2004, serving as Seattle interim office managing partner since July. He continues as global head of tax for Grant Thornton International Ltd. He previously was managing partner in the Wichita, Kansas, office and tax practice leader of the Kansas City, Missouri, office. He also helped establish the Grant Thornton Shared Services Center in Bangalore, India.

Kubota Vision

Seattle-based Kubota Vision said it has reached positive clinical results from myopia control tests in humans. The company uses a tabletop optical device to project myopically de-focused images on the peripheral retina of subjects to prevent progression of myopia. Based on these clinical results, Kubota plans to develop wearable devices to prevent myopia in children. It expects to have prototype smart glasses available by December and smart contact lenses at a later date. Kubota Vision is a subsidiary of Kubota Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. of Tokyo.

Score Greater Seattle

The U.S. Small Business Administration named Score Greater Seattle as Chapter of the Year. The local chapter was cited for its response to the coronavirus — nimbly shifting its in-person support to virtual and online services. Krista Fuller is the chapter chair. Score Greater Seattle is a nonprofit that helps small businesses grow through education and mentorship.

Bixby Land Co.

Newport Beach, California-based Bixby Land Co. donated $50,000 to 11 food banks throughout the U.S., including Northwest recipients Sumner Community Food Bank and Oregon Food Bank. The donations assist communities where Bixby currently acquires, redevelops and operates industrial, logistic, office and R&D properties.

MG2

Oh

Seattle-based MG2 hired Jooyeol Oh as a design principal. Oh leads the high-rise market sector and guides design excellence efforts for the community environments market. A former vice president at Arquitectonica, he has over 20 years of experience as a designer, including mixed-use, mid-rise residential, high-rise and urban design. MG2 said he is internationally recognized for his award-winning buildings and master plans, and was lead designer for the office building that will be in the western part of Manhattan's Hudson Yards. MG2 provides strategic planning, architecture, interior design, brand strategy and consulting services. It also has offices in Irvine, California; Minneapolis; Washington, D.C.; New York; and Shanghai.

Best Practice Architecture

Gregga

Seattle-based Best Practice Architecture promoted Kailin Gregga to partner. Gregga was hired in 2014 and has been one of the firm's creative leads. Previously, Gregga worked at LMN Architects, Diller Scofidio + Renfro and nArchitects. Gregga holds a master of architecture degree from Parsons The New School for Design and a bachelor of art in architecture from the University of Washington, where Gregga teaches architectural representation classes.

The Riley Group

Hemstreet

The Riley Group hired Jack Hemstreet as a staff geologist on the geotechnical services team. He is doing field inspections and laboratory analyses. Hemstreet holds a bachelor's in geology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. He joined The Riley Group as a geotechnical intern in 2019. The Bothell-based firm provides environmental consulting and geotechnical services.

Century West Engineering

Deters

Rick Deters joined Century West Engineering's Bothell office as a senior project manager, allowing the firm to provide electrical engineering services to its municipal and aviation clients in the Puget Sound region and elsewhere. Deters is an electrical engineer with over 30 years of experience. In the last 25, he has provided electrical engineering services on over 130 airfield projects.

Parametrix

Nicholson

In Bremerton, Parametrix hired Bryan Nicholson as a senior construction manager in the construction management group, providing services to public clients in the Kitsap peninsula and Puget Sound region. Nicholson was with Jacobs. He has over 35 years of experience, serving as resident engineer for capital improvement projects in urban areas and environmentally sensitive locations. His work includes major utility infrastructure and roadway improvements and LEED-certified building construction. Parametrix provides engineering, planning and environmental sciences.

ALSC Architects

Pece

Barnes

ALSC Architects of Spokane hired Gary Barnes as a project architect and Elizabeth Pece as a marketing assistant and lighting designer. Barnes has 22 years of experience. He is working on projects at Spokane Community College including the Lair Student Center remodel and campus ADA improvements. Pece has over 16 years in the AEC industry. She is developing marketing brochures, graphics and prospect tracking. ALSC provides planning and design.

DCI Engineers

Stevenson

DCI Engineers promoted Casey Stevenson to associate in the Bozeman, Montana, office. Stevenson has over 12 years of engineering experience and has led industrial projects in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East. His capabilities include nuclear structures, power/energy infrastructure, mining equipment, construction engineering, vibration mitigation and structural investigation. He is a project leader for DCI's industrial support teams represented in Spokane and Seattle. DCI is a civil and structural engineering firm.