Sep 06, 2024

Department of Commerce

Yoo

Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong announced that Grace Yoo will join the agency as assistant director. Yoo comes to Commerce from the Washington State Women's Commission, where she has served as executive director since her appointment by Gov. Jay Inslee in May 2023. Before joining the governor's cabinet, Yoo worked for Starbucks, where she led the company's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its retail stores. Prior to joining Starbucks, Yoo served as a diplomat with the U.S. Foreign Service, where she covered topics such as human rights and labor issues at American embassies in China, Korea and Germany. She also served in several roles at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., including as an advisor to the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Yoo has a bachelor's degree in East Asian studies from UCLA and a master's degree in international and intercultural communications from American University. Yoo will lead the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness teams at Commerce, including industry sector development, circular economy, rural and marketing services, small business export assistance, small business finance and community support, finance and grant services, and contracts and procurement. She will serve on the agency's Executive Leadership Team. Yoo will be based in the department's Seattle office.

Pacific Northwest Ballet School

The Pacific Northwest Ballet School has hired Kurt Froman to lead the school's men's division. Froman will teach, support and mentor students, and serve as a liaison with students' families. As a performer, teacher, choreographer, coach and mentor, Froman has worked in nearly every facet of the dance world. His professional dance career started in New York after he was awarded the first Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship which allowed him to study at the School of American Ballet. He later joined the New York City Ballet, where he danced from 1995 to 2002. His Broadway career started when he was cast in the lead role of the Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel show, “Movin' Out”. His additional Broadway credits include the revival of Pal Joey at Studio 54, City Center Encores! (“Juno” and “On Your Toes”), and Christopher Wheeldon's “An American in Paris”. Froman has been on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, Steps Conservatory and The School at Steps, as well as guest faculty at Barnard College and the University of Michigan. He has headlined the Friday night audition class for the New York City Dance Alliance and teaches company class on a weekly basis for New York City Ballet.

Seattle 770 KTTH

Bonneville Seattle Media Group, Washington State University Athletics and Learfield's Cougar Sports Radio Network announced a multi-year contract extension that will keep 770 KTTH as the home for Cougar football and men's basketball games. The extended agreement will ensure that Cougar fans continue to receive comprehensive game-day coverage, including live broadcasts, pre-game shows, and post-game analysis. With this extension, 770 KTTH will further expand its coverage, bringing WSU's athletic events to an even wider audience. Fans can also follow the action on the Seattle Sports App, which will provide live streaming of Cougar games, along with real-time updates and exclusive content. Cougar gameday broadcasts will include a two-hour pregame and one-hour postgame football show and a 30-minute pre and postgame show for men's basketball. Additionally, 770 KTTH will be broadcasting the weekly Coaches Show for both sports. The relationship with 770 KTTH is managed by WSU Athletics' exclusive multimedia rights holder, Washington State Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield. KTTH is owned and operated by Bonneville International. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Bonneville is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corp.

Sep 05, 2024

Department of Ecology

Benjamin

The Department of Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) named Rebecca Benjamin as its new director. She joins Ecology after a long career serving in leadership positions for environmental nonprofit entities. Most recently, Benjamin served as the executive director for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition where she helped build the grassroots organization into a leader for salmon habitat restoration on the north Olympic Peninsula. Benjamin earned her bachelor's degree in environmental conservation with a minor in outdoor education from the University of New Hampshire. She also has led executive leadership training and outdoor group facilitation for companies such as Boeing, Eddie Bauer, Microsoft, and Seattle University. She also has decades of experience working in partnership with WCC programs and was a WCC individual placement member in the 1990s where she supported salmon habitat restoration activities with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. WCC is an AmeriCorps program housed in Ecology that provides hands-on career training opportunities for young adults and military veterans. AmeriCorps members in the WCC support critical environmental projects, including invasive species removal, native plant installation, wetland restoration, wildland fire mitigation, and trail and campground improvements. WCC also supports local and national disaster relief efforts as an AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team. WCC is currently recruiting AmeriCorps members for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Additional information is available at WCCActivities@ecy.wa.gov.

Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts

Duerr

The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD) presented its annual Outstanding Legislator Award to Rep. Davina Duerr (D-District 1). Duerr was awarded for supporting and defending special purpose sewer and water districts, most recently in supporting House Bill 1621 that gives greater flexibility for districts to self-perform work. Duerr serves as chair for the House Local Government Committee, which is instrumental in most of the legislation affecting district operations and elections. Duerr represents the 1st Legislative District, which includes parts of the communities of Bothell, Woodinville, Kenmore and Alderwood and is served by five water and sewer districts: Alderwood Water & Wastewater District, Cross Valley Water District, Northshore Utility District, Woodinville Water District, and Lake Forest Park Water District. The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts exists to provide education, advocacy and collaboration opportunities for water and sewer special purpose districts located around the state.

Sep 04, 2024

Barghausen Consulting Engineers

Poach

Bodily

Machalata

Vaughn

Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc. recently hired four new employees at its Kent location and one employee at its Klamath Falls, Oregon, location.

Weston Vaughn, design engineer, started in the Kent office on July 8. He graduated from Gonzaga University in May of 2024 with a B.S. degree in civil engineering. He has previous work experience as a survey crew member and construction inspector at AKS Engineering & Forestry.

Tanner Machala started as an assistant planner in the Kent office also on July 8. He graduated with a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Washington in 2024. Machala previously worked as a land use planner at Atwell, LLC. His skills include land use permitting, project management, and narrative writing.

Parker Bodily started as a project planner working remotely based out of Barghausen's Kent office on July 10. He holds a Master of Science in Bioregional Planning & Community Design from the University of Idaho. Parker recently worked as a senior planner for the city of Nampa, Idaho. He has knowledge of planning theories from urban to rural areas, and experience working with small towns in Idaho to create working planning documents.

Kena Poach started as an assistant planner working remotely based out of Barghausen's Kent office on July 29. She received a Building Inspector – Associate of Applied Sciences degree from Chemeketa Community College. Poach previously worked as an associate planner for the city of Nampa, Idaho. She has expertise in land development and construction.

Erik Nobel started as a senior planner in the Klamath Falls office on July 1. He graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. degree in Rangeland Resources. Nobel previously worked as a planning manager for the city of Klamath Falls and as a 7th-grade math teacher at Klamath County School District.

Ferguson Architecture

Nordquist

Sandberg

Ferguson Architecture (FA) has promoted Jamie Sandberg to principal and director of operations. Since joining FA as the firm's second employee in 2015, Sandberg has been instrumental in shaping the firm's workplace culture and building Ferguson's hospitality, workplace, and multifamily portfolio.

In her elevated role, Sandberg will provide design oversight and leadership on all FA projects.

FA has also hired Melissa Nordquist as a senior project designer. Nordquist has over 24 years of high-end custom residential design experience, including project features in Dwell Magazine and Luxe Interiors + Design.

Parametrix

Alezir

Cupler

Parametrix has named Carrie Cupler vice president of accounting and finance. She previously served as director of accounting and finance and has over 30 years of experience. As vice president, Cupler will lead the firm's commercial, accounting, and finance teams and serve on the firm's Functional Integration Team.

Cupler joined Parametrix in 2009 as a staff accountant and in 2013 was promoted to controller. She holds a finance degree from Gonzaga University and an accounting degree from the University of Washington.

Muhannad Alzeir has joined Parametrix as a senior intelligent transportation systems (ITS) engineer. He has nearly a decade of experience specializing in signals, illumination, and ITS design.

Alzeir comes to Parametrix from HNTB where he worked on projects for municipalities, counties, and departments of transportation.

At Parametrix, Alzeir joins the firm's Smart & Livable Communities practice, which helps clients plan, design, and implement emerging technology solutions that enhance livability, sustainability, safety, and equity within their communities. He will lead the design and implementation of several connected vehicle and infrastructure projects using C-V2X technologies.

PLS Engineering

French

PLS Engineering in Vancouver has added an intern to the team. Joining PLS is Alexander (Zander) French from Kennewick. Recently graduated in June, his career path includes the possible goal of becoming a civil engineer.

TRICO Companies

Olsen

TRICO Companies hired Troy Olsen as project manager for its service team. Olsen brings over 25 years of commercial tenant improvement experience from Presidio Construction, and has expertise in client collaboration, project planning and time management. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from Washington State University. TRICO is a design-build general contractor based in Burlington.

Tech Soft 3D

Parisse

Tech Soft 3D, a provider of engineering software development toolkits and end-user solutions for CAD/CAE data conversion, visualization, and data publishing, appointed Antonio Parisse as president of the Industrial Applications Group. Parisse will join the leadership team and report directly to Tech Soft 3D CEO Ron Fritz. Parisse has over 20 years of software leadership experience. He has successfully developed strategic accounts, led regional sales teams, and expanded global reseller networks. Parisse began his career as a mechanical designer with Schindler Lift in 1998, before moving into CAD/CAM customization and process automation with ABBAX. He then joined Concepta's sales team. Since 1999, Parisse has led software sales teams in the mold & die industry across Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Most recently, he served as president of Cimatron, where he was responsible for strategic growth strategies across the business. Established in 1996 and headquartered in Bend, Oregon, Tech Soft 3D has additional offices in the USA, France, England, Japan, Germany and Norway. Tech Soft 3D is backed by investment firm Battery Ventures.

Vouched

Vouched, an AI-powered identity verification solution for healthcare, banking and financial services, named startup veteran Peter Horadan as its new chief executive officer. Horadan joins Vouched with a track record in fundraising and driving growth and innovation in SaaS, having created over $20 billion in market cap as chief executive or technology leader in his prior roles. He founded Lockstep in 2019, creating a connected accounting platform. Upon growing the company's digital network to connect more than 26,000 companies, Horadan sold the company to The Sage Group. Prior to that, Horadan built the technology at transactional tax frim Avalara. His career has also included leadership roles at Concur Technologies, Scout Analytics, Microsoft, Corillian, and BEA Systems. Vouched founder John Baird will become the company's chairman of the board and chief strategy officer. In this role, he will continue to provide strategic oversight and contribute to the company's vision and long-term goals. Based in Seattle, Vouched is privately held and backed by Madrona Venture Labs, Ascend Ventures, Flying Fish VC, BHG VC, SpringRock Ventures, and SeaChange Ventures.