Jan 28, 2026

ALSC Architects

Stoicheff

Halstead

Gogoleva

Kershner

ALSC Architects has hired John Kershner as a project designer. Kershner has more than 15 years of experience spanning historic preservation, multifamily residential, and affordable housing in Chicago, Maryland, and now Washington state. At ALSC, he contributes to design development and production within the sports and recreation and K-12 education studios. Kershner has earned awards for preservation excellence on historic projects in Chicago, and design recognitions for projects completed in Maryland. Kershner has a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree from Andrews University in Michigan.

Ksenia Gogoleva was hired as an interior designer to bring her international experience to custom residential work and design-build projects. Gogoleva will be guiding the function and aesthetics of interior spaces, including the selection and coordination of materials, finishes, and fixtures, and the development of construction documentation. Gogoleva hails from Russia and launched her U.S. career with California Closets before joining a custom design-build firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. She worked with Uptic Studios in Spokane, specializing in high-end residential projects and interior solutions. Gogoleva earned a bachelor's degree in industrial design from Izhevsk State Technical University (Russia).

ALSC Architects also hired Matthew Halstead as part of its technical staff. Halstead brings experience with historic preservation and renovation, single- and multifamily housing, and commercial architecture, along with design and documentation. Halstead's past work includes contributing to Team Massachusetts' 4D Home for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon (2011), and participating on Hampshire College's R.W. Kern Center student union, which was designed to align with Living Building principles. Halstead earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts with a minor in architecture, and a Masters of Architecture from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Rob Stoicheff was also hired by ALSC, bringing 30 years of experience designing, coordinating and detailing projects across the Inland Northwest. During his career, Stoicheff has contributed to a wide range of residential, commercial, and public work, including car dealerships, lake homes, the Gozzer Ranch Clubhouse, and the Coeur d'Alene Public Library. He has focused on educational projects, planning and designing many of the regional schools serving Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Spokane and the Tri-Cities. Stoicheff earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Idaho.

Parametrix

Burn-Roy

Caputo

Parametrix recently hired Christy Caputo as the firm's first safety manager, a role on the corporate management team. She joins as senior safety manager, bringing 17 years of experience in safety management to the firm. She will be responsible for leading workplace safety initiatives, developing and implementing safety programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and promoting a culture of safety. Her previous experience includes CORT Business Services, where she served as safety director. In this role, she developed safety protocols and initiatives, managed the firm's safety manual, and kept up to date on state and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and department of transportation regulations.

Kelli Burn-Roy has joined the Parametrix Board of Directors. Burn-Roy is a senior executive, consultant and board member with over 40 years of experience across the transportation, water and climate sectors. She currently serves as a board member and a senior consultant at Wade Trim. Burn-Roy has held leadership roles at CDM Smith, including public sector president of the West and Central U.S., president of technical services, board member, and national chief strategy officer. She has also served as a board member at the University of Southern California Center for Sustainable Cities and Advancing Women in Transportation.

G3 builders

Downing

G3 builders named Bret Downing as its new president. With more than three decades of construction industry experience, Downing specializes in partnering with owners during preconstruction to develop efficient and goal-oriented solutions. His career includes notable projects for The Museum of Flight, Seattle Preparatory School and Northwest University, as well as large-scale commercial projects for Amazon and Microsoft, In his new role, Downing will continue to strengthen client relationships and expand the G3 team. Founded in 2017, G3 builders is a commercial general contractor specializing in complex and challenging projects and tenant improvements in the greater Seattle area.

Ballard Spahr

Anderson

Kimberly M. Anderson, a tax attorney who worked for the state Department of Revenue for over a decade, has joined Ballard Spahr's Business and Transactions Department and Tax Group as counsel in the firm's Seattle office. Anderson joins a national tax practice of more than 30 attorneys. Members of the Tax Group help clients plan to minimize their tax burden and to maximize the benefits of tax credits, deductions and exemptions. In her capacity as a member of the State and Local Tax Team, Anderson will work alongside team co-leaders Brett Durbin and Aaron C. Johnson, both also based in Seattle. In January 2025, Ballard Spahr combined with Lane Powell, adding more than 150 new attorneys to the firm, as well as offices in Anchorage, Portland and Seattle.

Dept. of Commerce

Clifthorne

Gov. Bob Ferguson has appointed Sarah Clifthorne as interim director of the state Department of Commerce following the departure of Director Joe Nguyen. Nguyen was one of Gov. Ferguson's first appointments to his executive cabinet, and served as director for one year. Prior to joining the department, Nguyen was elected to two terms as a state senator, and worked in the finance and tech sectors. He departs the agency to join the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce as president and chief executive officer.

Clifthorne has served as deputy director at Commerce since February 2025. Over the past year, she provided strategic leadership across more than 400 programs within the department. In her new role, Clifthorne will work closely with the agency's chief operating officer, chief of staff and the executive leadership team to help with the transition process. Clifthorne comes with nearly two decades of public service experience, including a staff leadership role in the Washington state Senate.

Jan 27, 2026

Andersen Construction

Knudsen

Sherman

Gengler

Horton

Burkett

Kowalewski

Andersen Construction recently announced several promotions. Ike Burkett has moved into the role of president of the Seattle office. Burkett has over 18 years of construction experience in the Seattle market. Mark Horton was named president of the Portland office. He has been a leader at Andersen for nearly 20 years. Ben Gengler was promoted to vice president of operations at the Portland office. He brings deep operational knowledge to his role, gained from small and large scale projects, spanning nearly 30 years of construction experience. Matt Sherman was named vice president of the Mid-Willamette Valley office. Sherman has been with Andersen for over 17 years. Brian Knudsen was named senior vice president of preconstruction. With over 35 years of industry experience, Knudsen has served as president of the Portland office for the last eight years. Jerrod Kowalewski was named vice president of healthcare construction, focusing on the healthcare market. This represents a culmination of his 25 years of building in healthcare campuses across the Pacific Northwest. Andersen Construction began three generations ago with H.A. “Andy” Andersen’s first project, and has become an employee-owned multi-state enterprise responsible for hundreds of projects built every year across the Pacific Northwest.

Jan 23, 2026

UMC

Owen

Underwood

Hoggatt

Eppler

Damitio

UMC has promoted Pat Damitio, Bryan Eppler, Ryan Hoggatt, Ryan Underwood and Tim Owen.

Damitio has been promoted to chief operations officer. He will continue to lead UMC's Safety, Special Projects, Major Projects, and Industrial groups, focusing on operational excellence, leadership development, and reinforcing UMC's philosophy of sustained success.

Eppler has been promoted to vice president, owner direct services. Eppler, who has been with UMC since 1997, will continue his leadership of UMC's owner-direct services, including Energy & Environment, Facility Service, Building Performance Services, and Building Automation.

Hoggatt has been promoted to vice president, construction operations, overseeing UMC's field operations. Known for developing UMC's fabrication program and expanding the company's manufacturing capabilities, Hoggatt has introduced systems and processes that reduce waste, increase productivity, and enhance project outcomes.

Underwood has been promoted to manufacturing director. With six years of experience at UMC, he will lead UMC's integrated manufacturing operations, including Virtual Construction Services, Reality Capture, Fabrication and Offsite Manufacturing, as well as the operations of the 95,000-square-foot Everett fabrication facility.

Owen has been promoted to industrial group director. With more than 12 years as a senior project manager in UMC's Major Projects group, he has been a key member of the management team on several high-profile projects, including multiple towers in the Amazon Denny Regrade, 450 Alaskan Way, the Overlake NET Project, and additional office and lab projects for tech companies.

UMC is a mechanical contractor founded in 1920 to serve the Pacific Northwest, offering comprehensive, integrated services in facility performance and maintenance, energy and environment, building automation, and manufacturing.

Grant County Superior Court

Richardson

Gov .Bob Ferguson has appointed Jennifer Richardson to the Grant County Superior Court. Richardson's appointment fills the position vacated by Judge Tyson Hill, who Ferguson recently appointed to the Court of Appeals, Division III. Richardson is a career litigator with more than two decades of legal experience. She has served four years in her current role as a managing assistant attorney general at the state Office of the Attorney General, where she advises and represents state agencies in Grant, Douglas, Chelan and Okanogan counties. She has been with the Attorney General's Office for 12 years in total. Richardson previously worked as a public defender at the Law Offices of Scot D. Stuart, where she represented criminal defendants in a variety of proceedings. Richardson earned her bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University and her law degree from Syracuse University.