Oct 08, 2024

Skagit County Board of Commissioners

Negrila

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners appointed Monica Negrila as director of strategic initiatives. A new role within the Skagit County Commissioner's office, the director of strategic initiatives is responsible for shaping and executing the strategic direction and growth of Skagit County initiatives, starting with a focus on North Star. North Star is a public-private partnership between Skagit County, local cities, housing and healthcare providers, first responders, and other community leaders. Using a collaborative approach to pool resources, coordinate action, and streamline essential community services in housing and behavioral health, North Star is working to address chronic homelessness. Negrila brings extensive experience in behavioral health and human services, with a focus on strategic planning, program development, and community engagement in both the public and non-profit sectors. She joins Skagit County from the city of Issaquah, where she spent the last six years creating and implementing various programs to address systemic needs in human services, behavioral health, homelessness, equity and social justice. Among the initiatives she led were the creation of the city's Behavioral Health and Homeless Outreach Program, the Emergency Housing Program, and the development of the Equity Board. Before her role in Issaquah, Negrila served as the executive director of IKRON of Greater Seattle, an outpatient behavioral health organization in King County. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Bucharest, Romania, and a master's degree in mental health counseling from the University of Cincinnati. She is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Substance Use Disorder Professional.

Alaska Airlines

Taiwan-based luxury carrier STARLUX Airlines has launched a codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines. The codeshare is STARLUX's first, and initially covers eight domestic routes including Salt Lake City, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver, and Austin, Texas, — all to Seattle, operated by Alaska Airlines. Customers are now able to book from the eight cities and the connecting flights from Seattle to Taipei operated by STARLUX on a single ticket. STARLUX Airlines operates a total of 31 routes, covering a network across Asia, as well as three major cities on the U.S. West Coast: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. The Los Angeles route is set to increase from daily service to 10 flights per week starting Dec. 22, while the Seattle route will expand from three weekly to daily flights from March 1 of next year.

Oct 04, 2024

Lamb Weston

Prestage

Lamb Weston Holdings has appointed Norman Prestage to its board of directors. Prestage served as a partner at Ernst & Young until his retirement in June 2024. Prestage will also serve on the board's audit and finance committee. Prestage joined Ernst & Young in 1987, and during his career served as the global client service partner for large global public companies in the consumer products, foodservice, retail and risk management industries. He was a member of the Ernst & Young Americas Global Accounts Partner Group and served on the Ernst & Young Global Consumer Products Advisory Board. Prestage is a certified public accountant and has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Lamb Weston is a supplier of frozen potato, appetizer and vegetable products to restaurants and retailers around the world, and is based in Eagle, Idaho.

Lucent Law

Goodnow

Stromberg

Sullivan

Phoenix-based law firm Fennemore announced the launch of Project BlueWave, a technology initiative designed to revolutionize legal services through the integration of artificial intelligence, automation, and flat- and alternative-fee pricing. To accelerate this initiative, Fennemore is combining with Lucent Law, a technology-driven boutique law firm in Spokane. Lucent Law utilizes AI and automation to deliver flat-rate service offerings to clients. As part of its strategy, Fennemore has partnered with OpenAI, a global provider of generative AI. Fennemore plans to harness Lucent's knowledge to jumpstart many facets of its Project BlueWave, including its OpenAI infrastructure and a proprietary automation platform. Brett Sullivan and Spencer Stromberg are the co-founders of Lucent Law. Sullivan is also the managing partner of Fennemore's new Spokane office. Fennemore's combination with Lucent Law is its fifth in 2024. Its other four combinations have been in Seattle, San Diego, Sacramento, and Denver. In July, Fennemore announced Forward, a model that combines the firm's now 20 brick-and- mortar offices with a platform for a distributed workforce. Forward already supports legal professionals working in 44 cities across the United States. James Goodnow is the CEO of Fennemore.

WiSA Technologies

WiSA Technologies hired Stanley Mbugua as vice president of finance. In a planned transition, he will also assume the role of chief accounting officer, effective November 30, 2024. Mbugua was previously the chief accounting officer at Presto Automation, a California-based company which provides artificial intelligence and other automation solutions to restaurants. Prior that he was the chief accounting officer at Skillz, a mobile video game competition platform. Mbugua also served as chief accounting officer at Rimini Street, and as senior director and corporate controller at various other companies, including Lattice Semiconductor and Silicon Image. Mbugua is a certified public accountant and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Nairobi. WiSA Technologies is a provider of immersive, wireless sound technology for intelligent devices and next-generation home entertainment systems. The company is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, with sales teams in Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, and California.

Oct 03, 2024

TRICO Companies

Allison

TRICO Companies, a design-build general contractor based in Burlington, hired Alan Allison as superintendent. Allison has over a decade of experience in the construction industry, specializing in structural-based concrete, earthwork, steel erection, and civil works, He has overseen complex interior and exterior buildouts, collaborating with subcontractors, architects, and engineers to ensure project success. Allison's expertise extends to contract buyout, formwork design, logistics, inspections, testing, and financial budgeting, with a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible practices. He is an advocate for environmentally conscious building, and incorporates LEED compliance and EHS standards into every project. Allison has certifications in Erosion & Sediment Control through the state Department of Ecology and OSHA 30, and has also attended Carpenters International Training Center in Las Vegas. TRICO Companies was founded in 1979, and has a national footprint, with licenses across Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, Mississippi, Tennessee and California. TRICO offers services spanning various industries and a wide range of projects and industries.

Maul Foster & Alongi

Maul Foster & Alongi, a Pacific Northwest multidisciplinary firm, has acquired Peak Sustainability Group, a Bellingham-based firm specializing in climate change and sustainability services. This partnership enables MFA to expand its services, offering enhanced capabilities and more integrated services for clients across all sectors MFA serves. Founded in 2011, Peak Sustainability Group helps public agencies and businesses with climate change planning, clean energy adoption, ecosystem protection, and organizational sustainability. Peak represents a diverse range of clients in local and state governments, tribes, ports, transportation authorities, educational entities, businesses, and the nonprofit sector. Peak, founded by David Roberts, will continue to serve clients across the Pacific Northwest. Maul Foster & Alongi provides environmental, planning, engineering, GIS and data analysis, communications, and health and safety services. Founded in 1996, MFA is 100% employee-owned and has expanded to include a staff of 140 across nine Pacific Northwest offices. MFA works with a variety of industries, including public agencies, forest products, solid waste, food processing, and heavy industry, offering tailored solutions to environmental and community challenges. Steve Taylor is the president of MFA.

Oct 02, 2024

Mackenzie

Tatkowski

Mackenzie has promoted Andy Tatkowski to structural engineering assistant department head. A licensed structural engineer with over 12 years of industry experience, Tatkowski brings insight on strategies in approaching systemic challenges, from code interpretations to design team workflow. In this role he will continue Mackenzie's tradition of structural engineering excellence, and assist the department director in leading the more technical aspects of the department.

Ware Malcomb

Jensen

International design firm Ware Malcomb welcomes Marit Jensen as the firm's new studio manager, interior architecture and design in its Seattle office. In her role, Jensen will lead business development, operations oversight, and staff management while driving the growth and advancement of the interior design studio.

Jensen has been involved in the industry since 2006, with a deep resume including project experience in hospitality, multifamily, casino, retail, restaurant, and entertainment environments. Her career has included working with boutique as well as large global design firms in the Seattle and Denver regions.

In addition to her professional roles, Jensen has been involved with the Hospitality Industry Network (NEWH), serving as the 2023 northwest president for the local NEWH chapter. Under her leadership, the chapter provided scholarships, education, leadership development, and recognition of excellence.

Jensen attended Montana State University, earning a Bachelor in Environmental Studies and a Master of Science in Architecture. She subsequently earned a Master of Architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

FORMA Construction

FORMA Construction is celebrating the 25th anniversaries of principals Keith Michel and Brian Rich. Michel joined FORMA in 1999 as a project engineer, serving in various roles including estimator, project manager, senior project manager, and recently vice president and principal. His experience in the K-12 market has been a cornerstone of his career. He has managed and led multiple single bond programs for school districts, including major projects for Anacortes School District, Centralia School District, and Yelm Community Schools. Michel has also worked on sustainability-driven projects, such as the Cedar River Watershed and Mercer Slough Environmental Education Centers. Rich, who also joined FORMA in 1999, became director of preconstruction and principal in 2019. He began his career in accounting but quickly transitioned into project management and estimating. Over the years, Rich has taken on a range of key roles, leading major projects at Sea-Tac Airport and the Capitol Campus while pioneering technology integration at FORMA. His leadership also extended to the successful launch of several key JOC contracts for the city of Seattle and the city of Bellevue. Michel serves as the vice chair of the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board, and is involved in community nonprofits like Friends of Capitol Forest. Rich also dedicates his time to local nonprofits, such as the Hands on Children's Museum and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County.

Davis Wright Tremaine

Drozd

Davis Wright Tremaine elected Jaime Drozd, co-chair of the firm's litigation practice and a longtime industry leader, as firmwide managing partner. After a six month-long process, Drozd was selected unanimously by an internal search committee and the firm's executive committee and confirmed with a vote by the partnership. Since joining the firm a decade ago, Drozd has served in a number of key leadership positions, including most recently as vice chair of the firm's executive committee and co-chair of the litigation practice since 2022. Pete Johnson has served as Davis Wright Tremaine's interim managing partner for the past six months. Drozd, who is based in Seattle, takes over as managing partner effective immediately and will be the first woman to serve in that role. Johnson, also in Seattle, is returning full-time to his technology transactions practice. Drozd began her legal career at Goodwin Procter in Boston and later spent a decade at Seattle firm Ogden Murphy Wallace before joining DWT in 2014. Davis Wright Tremaine is an AmLaw 100 law firm with more than 600 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world.