Jan 30, 2024

Greater Seattle Partners

Pedlow

Payne

Greater Seattle Partners (GSP) announced the appointment of Robert Payne to vice president, economic development, and the promotion of Jack Pedlow to economic development project manager. Both will report to GSP's CEDO and SVP Josh Davis and focus on generating opportunities for business attraction, global engagement, international trade, and economic development efforts to grow jobs and investment in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. For almost four years, Payne has led GSP's marketing and communications activities, from work in creating a framework for equitably shared prosperity as part of the Forward Together initiative, to the brand development, design and launch of the “Uncommon Thinkers Welcome” regional marketing campaign. Prior to his role at GSP, Payne served as the global account manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development for more than seven years. Payne has an MBA with a specialization in marketing from the University of Nevada, and a bachelor's degree from Clemson University. Pedlow has served as GSP's Research Analyst since July of 2021. Over the last year, he has partnered with economic developers across the region to create an inventory of regional assets, has engaged partners in site visit coaching, and has elevated site selection presentations. Pedlow received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Michigan. GSP is currently recruiting for the positions of marketing director and research manager. GSP is a public-private partnership that leads regional economic development through global business attraction, site selection and investment and trade opportunities in the Greater Seattle region.

Washington Wine Industry Foundation

Monique Ortiz was selected to receive the $5,000 Bill Powers Sabbatical by the Washington Wine Industry Foundation Board of Directors. Ortiz serves as a viticulturist and assistant vineyard manager at North Slope Management in Walla Walla, where her work includes assessing disease and pest pressures, studying historical phenology data, monitoring leafcutter bees, improving biodiversity, managing crews, planting, and shipping harvest fruit. She holds a bachelor's degree in viticulture and enology from Washington State University. Ortiz will travel to Spain in April 2024 to connect with winegrowers and winemakers facing threats to the country's wine industry similar to those faced in Washington state. The Bill Powers Sabbatical is a collaborative effort between Badger Mountain Vineyard and Powers Winery, who started and continue to fund the sabbatical award to honor the legacy of their former owner. Each year, one Washington state wine industry applicant is selected for the award, which allows them to travel to an established wine-producing region of the world. The sabbatical fund and selection process are managed by the Washington Wine Industry Foundation. Beginning March 1, individuals may request an application for 2024 at washingtonwinefoundation.org/sabbatical/.

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer James Yoichi Moore has announced that after a 20-year career with the company, he is retiring at the end of PNB's 2023-24 season. Moore joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2004 and was promoted to soloist in 2008 and principal in 2013. His two decades with the company will be celebrated at the Season Encore Performance June 9 at McCaw Hall. Moore and his wife Kristen recently opened two Tutu Schools in Renton and Tacoma. Tutu School is a boutique-style ballet school that caters specifically to children 18 months to eight years old. Early seed money for Moore's Tutu Schools was provided, in part, by Second Stage, PNB's career transition program for its company dancers. Conceived in 1999, Second Stage supports PNB dancers and PNB School Professional Division students in achieving their goals following a career in dance. Moore is from San Francisco, and trained at San Francisco Ballet School and the School of American Ballet. He danced with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre before joining Pacific Northwest Ballet. In 2019, Moore co-founded Seattle Dance Collective with Noelani Pantastico.

Trico Companies

Spahman

Burlington-based Trico Companies hired Connor Spahman as a project engineer. Spahman recently graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor's degree in construction management and a minor in business administration. Following the completion of two internships in the commercial construction industry, Spahman gained experience in multifamily, student housing, and large-scale commercial projects with a focus on preconstruction and project management.

Rock Project Management Services

Bayan

The city of Renton elected Josephine Bayan of Rock Project Management Services as chair of the Planning Commission. Bayan, PMP, has served on the Planning Commission for four years and previously held the role of vice chair. She also serves as treasurer of the Filipino American Engineers Association of Washington, and vice president of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering. She holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning-transportation from the University of the Philippines, and has over 30 years of experience in planning, design and construction. At RPM, she leads the firm's transportation and public infrastructure projects.

Ash Grove Cement Co.

Vaughn

Ash Grove Cement Co. hired Kevin Vaughn as senior sales representative. Vaughn will work from Ash Grove's Bellevue sales office and his assigned territory will cover western and central Washington, along with Alaska. He comes from GCP Applied Technologies, where he was a technical sales representative selling concrete waterproofing and concrete-related products.

Jan 26, 2024

Binaytara Foundation

Marquart

The Binaytara Foundation named Justin Marquart as its new chief development officer. With a background in philanthropy and development, Marquart transitions to the Binaytara Foundation from Ruffalo Noel Levitz, where he served as vice president and senior consultant. His career also includes significant roles at Sightlife and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. At Sightlife, Marquart served as vice president of philanthropy and business development. He was deputy director for individual giving at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where he was responsible for managing fundraising teams and enhancing development strategies. In his new role at the Binaytara Foundation, Marquart will be working with the founders and board of directors to augment fundraising initiatives both domestically and internationally. His primary focus will be on evaluating and enhancing current fundraising efforts, as well as formulating and implementing strategic plans to identify new revenue streams. The Binaytara Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to improving access to cancer care by developing and implementing innovative projects in underserved areas. The foundation's major projects include hematology/oncology conferences and the establishment of a 200-bed cancer hospital in Nepal.

Department of Ecology

Bowen

Washington Department of Ecology Director Laura Watson selected David Bowen as director of the agency's Central Region Office. Bowen has worked for Ecology since 2016, most recently serving as manager of the agency's nuclear waste program, which oversees cleanup at the Hanford nuclear site. His previous experience also includes private and public sector roles in forestry, planning, renewable energy and economic development. He is a former Kittitas County commissioner and lifelong central Washington resident. Ecology's Central Region Office stretches the length of Washington, encompassing Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan and Yakima counties. As Central Region director, Bowen will oversee the state's regional environmental projects and partnerships with stakeholders, Tribes, and local, state and federal agencies. The office focuses on critical issues affecting the health, economy and development of the region's communities and environment. These include meeting water supply needs, reducing wildfire smoke impacts and addressing legacy pesticide contamination. Ecology staff are also supporting efforts to clean up PFAS contamination at the Yakima Regional Training Center and promote ongoing habitat restoration in watersheds throughout central Washington.