Jan 05, 2024

Lane Powell

Motta-Wurst

McCurdy

Johnson

Cooper

Clark

Patterson

Lane Powell announced that six attorneys have been elected shareholders of the firm.

Julia Clark counsels clients in all stages of commercial real estate, including structuring and forming joint ventures and other business entities, acquisitions, construction, financing, leasing and asset management, and dispositions. Clark represents developers, real estate investment trusts, property owners, landlords, tenants, and other businesses in the office, multifamily, mixed-use, retail, and hotel sectors. Clark received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her BA in Political Science and Spanish Literature from Northwestern University.

Noelle Cooper focuses her practice on acquisition and financing transactions and general corporate matters for health care clients. Cooper represents buyers and sellers of senior housing facilities in complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, sale/leasebacks, loan financings, joint ventures, general corporate and securities law issues, and health care regulatory compliance. Cooper received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and her bachelor's degree from Northwestern University.

Aaron C. Johnson represents multinational, U.S., and regional businesses in state and local tax matters including tax litigation, audit defense, appeals, and planning and structuring tax efficient transactions, and currently teaches federal tax at the University of Washington School of Law. Johnson received his LL.M in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, and his BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, cum laude, from the University of Washington.

Devon McCurdy represents clients in complex commercial litigation and advises them on regulatory compliance, including in matters related to antitrust, trademark, fraud, class actions, products liability, and constitutional law. McCurdy initially joined the firm as a Summer Associate and Associate, and then returned to the firm in 2019 after clerking for the Honorable Scott Matheson, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. McCurdy received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, his Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington, and his BA in history, magna cum laude with distinction, from Carleton College.

Chris Motta-Wurst advises employers and individuals on a wide variety of immigration-related issues. Motta-Wurst's approach to immigration provides businesses and their employees with counsel throughout the employment-based immigration lifecycle, including all types of employment-based temporary visas and green card processes. Motta-Wurst received his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law and his BA in Economics and History from St. Lawrence University.

Kellen Patterson is an experienced commercial construction attorney, who handles the full range of dispute resolution and litigation proceedings, with a focus on achieving efficient and pragmatic solutions to clients' construction-related problems. She has wide-ranging experience handling all aspects of complex litigation, including pre-suit claims and negotiations, large-scale e-discovery, mediation, motions practice, and appeals. Patterson received her J.D. at the University of Washington School of Law and her B. Ed. in Elementary and Special Education Teaching Certificates, magna cum laude, at Gonzaga University.

Lane Powell opened its doors in 1875 and has grown to be one of the largest law firms headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, with nearly 180 attorneys across more than 35 practice areas and industry groups.

Jan 04, 2024

Washington Wine Industry Foundation

Sara Higgins was named the new executive director of the Washington Wine Industry Foundation. Higgins brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership with a focus on planning, program management, and community outreach. “Sara's energy and drive combined with her nonprofit experience and familiarity with the wine industry are an excellent match for the Foundation,” said Bill Shibley, board chair, and senior agriculture officer, and vice president at Wheatland Bank, Pasco, Higgins is a Washington native, and has previously supported Foundation programs including the Party + Auction friend and fundraiser. As the Foundation's executive director, Higgins is responsible for implementing the board's strategic plan and developing and stewarding donor relations. Since 2002, the Foundation has been awarded over $3 million in grants supporting winemaking and winegrape growing, and awarded $480,000 in scholarships to over 250 viticulture and enology students. As only the second executive director in the organization's history, Higgins follows Vicky Scharlau who led the Foundation since its inception in 2000. Scharlau will continue in an of-counsel position, supporting federal and state grant management. The nonprofit Washington Wine Industry Foundation aims to foster a thriving Washington wine industry by investing scholarships, industry events, and sustainability such as pest control, clean plants, risk management, and safety.

Insight Distributing

Imperial Dade, a North American distributor of foodservice packaging supplies, industrial products, and janitorial supplies, has acquired Spokane-based Insight Distributing. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. With history dating back to 1941, Insight is owned and operated by Ken and Luke Pearlstein. The company's two locations will continue to service its customer base throughout Washington and Idaho, now with even a greater offering of products and solutions. Founded in 1935, Imperial Dade serves more than 120,000 customers across North America. Chairman Robert Tillis and CEO Jason Tillis assumed their roles in 2007.

Jan 03, 2024

Berger Partnership

Gannon

Rowland

Henry

Berger Partnership announced the following promotions.

Jason Henry has moved into the firm's managing partner position. Henry joined in 1996 and became a principal and firm owner in 2003. In his new role he oversees the firm's operations, strategic direction, and implementation of organizational goals. He also supervises the firm's financial health while managing day-to-day business interests. In addition to fulfilling the role of managing partner, Henry continues to serve as principal-in-charge for a variety of projects including ongoing work for the Alaska Airline's campus in SeaTac, Everett Housing Authority, T6 Innovation Center in Seattle, WWU Kaiser Borsari Hall in Bellingham, and multiple projects for Chelan Parks and Recreation.

Stacy Rowland has been promoted to director of finance and operations. In her new position she plays a larger role in assisting the newly appointed managing partner, Jason Henry, in day-to-day financial operations, monitoring long-term financial goals and overseeing human resources. Stacy joined the firm in 2005 as a bookkeeper with 13 years of experience in the AEC industry and is a Certified Design Firm Administrator. As a member of the Society for Design Administration for 28 years she has served in multiple positions including National and Seattle Chapter president.

Christine Gannon has been elevated to office administrator and marketing assistant. In addition to coordinating daily office administrative needs and assisting with technology and communication systems, she is integral in the execution of the firm's proposal process and assists with marketing asset management as well as the creation of reports and employee on-boarding. She joined the firm in 2006 as an administrative assistant.

ESM

Bartenhagen

Combs

Stiff

Engineering, planning, and surveying firm ESM has announced significant leadership changes.

After 22 years of dedication to ESM, Trevor Stiff has been promoted to president. Stiff's wealth of industry knowledge, coupled with a successful tenure as vice president, positions him ideally to lead day-to-day operations and spearhead strategic initiatives.

Keith Combs has been appointed the new vice president. Comb's experience and dedication to excellence will continue to drive the growth and success of the firm's construction survey division.

Recognizing her outstanding leadership in industrial, commercial, and residential development, Laura Bartenhagen has been promoted to the position of director of engineering.

PACE Engineers

Teesdale

Parker

Shiels

Following the recent acquisition of Talasaea Consultants, PACE is welcoming the following team members:

Bill Shiels. Shiels brings over 40 years of experience in natural resources, environmental planning and design, project management, and field and laboratory analysis. Since starting Talasaea in 1981, he has managed nearly 2,000 projects. His experience includes Smokey Point Mixed Use Developments, Lake Washington-Sammamish WRIA 8 Mitigation Bank, Big Lake 200-Acre Wetland Delineation, and Microsoft Red West Campus. Shiels is a principal ecologist and the service line manager leading PACE's Environmental Group.

Eva Parker. Parker brings over 30 years of experience in landscape design, construction, and project management. She has studied environmental sustainability and has extensive experience in designing and constructing various projects ranging from urban plazas to nature trails. Eva's experience includes Microsoft RedWest South Campus, Facebook Building X Virtual Reality Labs, Solera Mixed-Use Development, Hyla Crossing Pump Discharge Station, Redmond Downtown Park, Sound Transit Eastlink: Overlake & Bellevue City Hall Stations, Recycling of Building Waste Research: Seattle Public Utilities. Parker is coming over as a senior landscape architect leading projects in PACE's Environmental Group.

David Teesdale. Teesdale brings over 25 years of experience throughout the Northwest as a wetland ecologist, botanist, wildlife biologist, and environmental restoration specialist. Over 20 of those years have been in leadership roles for public projects, including transportation, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, and waterline construction projects. His experience includes SR-2 Monroe Fryelands-Critical Areas Report and Mitigation Plan, Tibbett's Crossing- Buffer Averaging, Redmond-Schnitzer Development-Environmental Planning, and Soper Hill Development-Critical Areas Report. Teesdale is coming over as a senior ecologist in PACE's Environmental Group.

In addition, PACE welcomes Evan Todd, Tiffany Dazet, Kirstie Englis, Tianyi Hao, Kai Farmer, and Emma Frantz.

Parametrix

O'Brien

Stephanie O'Brien has joined Parametrix as a senior cultural resources specialist supporting clients in Eastern Washington and Oregon. She has 13 years of experience working in archaeology both in the public and private sectors. She is a historical archaeologist with specialized expertise in artifact analysis and curation and museum archive work.

O'Brien comes to Parametrix from Anderson Perry & Associates where she served as a technical lead for cultural resources deliverables for a range of projects and clients. She has worked on projects throughout the Western United States as well as internationally and is qualified to hold Archaeological Resources Protection Act permits in Washington, Oregon, and Utah.

At Parametrix, she brings senior technical leadership, deepening the firm's full-service cultural resources practice, which provides professional cultural resources planning and management services to clients across the Western United States.

Seattle Opera

The opera X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X will receive its West Coast premiere at Seattle Opera February 24–March 9, following critically acclaimed performances at Detroit Opera, Opera Omaha, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. It was written in 1986 by composer Anthony Davis and librettist Thulani Davis to a story by Christopher Davis.

The production continues Seattle Opera's commitment to telling vital, modern-day stories by living American artists, joining A Thousand Splendid Suns ('23), Bound ('23), Blue ('22), Flight ('21), Charlie Parker's Yardbird ('20), The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs ('19), and The Falling and the Rising ('19) in just the last five years.

The opera puts a spotlight on crucial moments in Malcolm X's spiritual and political life through a series of vignettes, following the iconic figure from his interrupted childhood in Lansing, Michigan, to his tragic murder in Harlem, New York. The score, by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Anthony Davis, fuses elements of modernism, minimalism, and jazz, producing a sound world that is unmistakably individual.

UMC

Pelayo

Griffiths

Kinney

In Lynnwood, mechanical contractor UMC hired Patrick Kinney as senior project developer in the Energy + Environment Group; Tracy Ballweber as business development manager for the Industrial Group; Conner Foster as project manager in the Industrial Group; Tommi Griffiths as financial analyst on the finance team; and Patty Pelayo as accounts payable/GL accountant on the finance team. Kinney, MBA, PE, CEM, CBCP, has extensive experience auditing and analyzing steam and chilled water systems. He developed a complete system renewal on the state Capitol Campus, as well as projects with Western Washington University and Enwave Seattle. Ballweber is responsible for procuring industrial mechanical construction projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. She specializes in managing estimates with real-time cost and keeping projects on schedule. Foster is working with field teams, vendors and clients to deliver efficient HVAC and plumbing systems throughout the Pacific Northwest. He previously worked for Habitat for Humanity in King County, and built luxury custom homes in Kirkland. UMC says Griffiths will play a pivotal role in advancing the company's financial forecasting, reporting and operational efficiency. Pelayo is helping ensure the accuracy and efficiency of the company's financial operations.

AGC of Washington

Schiantarelli

The Associated General Contractors of Washington last month presented Vicky Schiantarelli with the Skill, Integrity & Responsibility Award. The AGC says the SIR Award is its highest individual honor. Award recipients exemplify values embraced by AGC and have consistently demonstrated outstanding service, industry leadership and involvement in the community during their careers. The first SIR Award was given to President Dwight D. Eisenhauer; the award's statuette is a depiction of Norman Rockwell's Spirit of Construction. Schiantarelli, a native of Peru, is principal and owner of Schiantarelli & Associates, a management-consulting firm committed to establishing and expanding relationships that build diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. She also is a co-founder of Northwest Minority Builders Alliance, and has been an advocate for business diversity and civil rights for 42 years.