Jul 10, 2024

Barghausen Consulting Engineers

Guardado

Sem

Casillas

Hazlett

Oehler

Padilla

Sroka

Perry

Barghausen Consulting Engineers has hired 26 employees across its five offices between January and May 2024.

The firm has three offices in Washington, in Kent, Puyallup and Richland, and two California offices in Long Beach and Roseville.

In Washington, Aidan Oehler has joined the Puyallup office and Daniela Zavala and Joshua Hazlett have joined Barghausen in Richland. The DJC ran the new Kent employees on June 19.

Oehler joined in March 2024 as a design engineer. He studied Civil Engineering at Washington State University and graduated with a B.S. in May of 2023. He recently interned for GeoResources, LLC. in Fife.

Zavala started as a civil CAD technician in May. Zavala graduated with an A.A. degree in Arts and Sciences in June of 2021, and an A.S. degree in Engineering and Technology in 2024 from Columbia Basin College. Zavala's skills include AutoCAD, OS X, and Civil 3D.

Hazlett, a design engineer, started in May of 2024. He graduated from Washington State University with a B.S. degree in Psychology and a Minor in Criminal Justice in 2012. Hazlett then graduated with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Washington State University in May of 2021. He previously worked as a traffic engineering Tech II for the city of Kennewick, Public Works Department. Hazlett is skilled in AutoCAD, AutoTURN, GIS, SAP2000 and Civil3D.

New employees at the Long Beach office are Gary Casillas, Jenny Sem and Rene Guardado.

Casillas, project designer for energy, joined Barghausen's in February 2024. Casillas graduated from Cerritos College with an A.A. degree in Engineering Design and Production Technology, and a Certification in Mechanical Design in 2016. He previously worked as a lead mechanical designer for spec services where he designed piping systems in oil, water, and gas industries using Plant 3D, Aveva, and AutoCAD.

Sem started as an electrical designer for energy in March. She graduated from the University of Pacific with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Minor in Mathematics in December of 2016. She recently worked as an electrical designer at Breen Design Group. She showcases a deep understanding of tools such as AutoCAD, AGi32, C, C++, Python, MATLAB, and AutoCAD LISP.

Guardado, a project designer – energy, started in May. Guardado previously worked for Barghausen from 2011-2018. He graduated from ITT Technical Institute with a B.S. degree in Digital Entertainment and Game Design and an A.S. degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design in 2008. He has experience modeling and drafting in several positions.

New employees in Roseville are Alberto Esquivel, Ekaterina Perry, Michelle Sroka and Raul Padilla.

Esquivel, a senior planner, joined Barghausen in April. He received a Master of Business Administration at Northwestern University and a B.S. in Business Administration at Sacramento State University. Esquivel recently worked as the executive vice president for SKK Developments in Sacramento, CA. He has proven his skills in project management, implementing land use approval strategies, and providing professional, written, and verbal communication.

Perry joined in April. She graduated from Sierra College in May of 2024 with an A.A. degree in Architecture. Perry previously worked for Monarch Engineers as an architectural designer and has shown skills in Revit, AutoCAD, and Building Systems like MEP and Structural.

Sroka started at Barghausen in January. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2002. She previously worked for CBG, Inc. as a senior project manager. Sroka is a civil engineer with over 20 years of office/field engineering experience specializing in residential and commercial site design, roadway design, transit facility design, construction management and inspection services, and local agency plan reviews.

Padilla started as a design engineer in April. He graduated from the University of California, Davis with a B.A. in Civil Engineering in June of 2024. His skills include AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bluebeam, MaStan2, MATLAB, and RStudio. Padilla previously worked as a civil engineering intern at Cartwright NorCal.

Graphite Design Group

Hovingh

Thoman

Seattle-based architecture firm Graphite Design Group recently promoted two associates. Jay Thoman has been promoted to associate principal and Savannah Hovingh to senior associate.

Thoman is a seasoned project architect whose experience spans projects of diverse scale and use. Thoman's portfolio of work includes high-profile projects for Amazon, Clise Properties, and Mary's Place. Recently he was one of the senior project architects on Vulcan's three-tower West Main project in Bellevue.

Hovingh is a designer with an educational background in both architecture and industrial design. Her ongoing work includes supporting the Starbucks team as they continue to grow and deliver new projects in the Pacific Northwest and nationwide.

The Standard

Wacker

Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) promoted Smita Wacker to second vice president and actuary, Individual Disability Insurance. Wacker has worked at The Standard since 2018, most recently as a senior director and actuary in Retirement Plans. In her new role, she will lead all actuarial functions for the individual disability insurance business including governance and risk management, financial reporting and product pricing. Wacker earned Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and economics from the University of Wisconsin ­– Madison. She is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. In business since 1906, The Standard provides financial protection products and services for employers and individuals. The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, and its subsidiaries.

Heron's Key

In the last seven years, residents at Heron's Key, a continuing care retirement community in Gig Harbor, have raised $97,500 in scholarships for Gig Harbor graduating high school seniors. The Heron's Key Scholarship Group started in 2018 to support the next generation of higher education students by providing funds to help them complete a four-year program, 2-year program, or attend trade school. Every year since the group's inception, they have been able to award a greater number of scholarships at a higher value. In the first year, a small group of residents provided eight scholarships at $375. This year, 69 resident households awarded 14 scholarships at $2,000 each. They are also providing one student with her fourth scholarship through the Heron's Key Scholarship Group as she nears the completion of her program. Heron's Key residents work with Gig Harbor High School, Peninsula High School and Henderson Bay High School to select students most deserving of the scholarships. In order to be considered, students must submit a portfolio that includes their academic record, extracurricular activities, work experience, community service, and financial need. For the second year, residents in the Scholarship Group have also awarded scholarships to high school students who are employed by Heron's Key. Heron's Key, sponsored by Emerald Communities, is a Washington state-based, not-for-profit senior housing and service organization.

Jul 09, 2024

TRICO Companies

Berglin

Josh Berglin joined TRICO Companies as project engineer for the Food & Manufacturing Business Unit. Berglin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Eastern Washington University. Prior to joining TRICO, he gained hands-on experience through various projects in residential construction, general carpentry, auto repair and furniture making. Berglin is particularly drawn to the complexities of food and manufacturing facilities. In his new role, he will leverage his skills and collaborate with TRICO's team to contribute to the success of current and future projects. TRICO Companies is a design-build general contractor headquartered in Burlington.

Rock Project Management Services

Enninga

Renton-based Rock Project Management Services hired Todd Enninga as a project director leading major capital programs. RPM provides owner's representative services to public and private clients throughout Washington that have education, technology, health care, transportation, and municipal projects. Enninga has over 40 years of construction experience providing direction, planning and coordination to owners, designers and contractors. His project history includes airports, transportation hubs/bridgework, oil and gas, mixed-use resorts/hotels, universities, hospitals, office buildings, maritime/offshore, restaurants, parking structures, deep underground utilities, commercial retail and custom residential work.

Jul 05, 2024

FORMA Construction

Michel

After nearly 25 years with the company, FORMA Construction promoted Keith Michel to the role of vice president. In his new capacity, he will oversee several areas critical to FORMA Construction's operations. He will lead FORMA's senior project managers, safety program, and outreach & inclusion efforts, enhancing organizational processes and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Michel is a LEED Accredited Professional, Associate DBIA, and is a current member of the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board. Established in 1985, FORMA Construction maintains offices in Olympia and Seattle and delivers a wide range of project types and sizes, serving public agencies and private businesses in the healthcare, education, and commercial sectors.

Earth Engineers

RMA Companies announced the acquisition of Earth Engineers, a firm specializing in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, and special inspection services. Based in Camas, with additional offices in Springfield, Oregon, and Aiea, Hawaii, Earth Engineers broadens RMA's footprint in the Pacific Northwest and adds additional expertise in engineering and materials testing, supporting RMA's strategy to build a national platform for technology-driven testing, inspection, and certification services. Earth Engineers is RMA's second acquisition in the Portland market following Northwest Geotech. RMA now operates six professional offices and laboratories in the Pacific Northwest in Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Portland and Eugene. Womble Bond Dickinson acted as legal adviser to RMA, and Tonkon Torp served as legal advisors to Earth Engineers. RMA provides professional services in materials testing, inspection, certification, environmental and geotechnical consulting, and related services for public and private infrastructure across government and commercial markets. Founded in 1962, RMA is headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and is a portfolio company of OceanSound Partners. Earth Engineers was founded in 2006 by Troy Hull.