Apr 21, 2015

Port of Seattle

Julie Collins has joined the Port of Seattle's executive team as senior director of public affairs handling government relations, community outreach, strategic communications and airport public relations. She was chief external affairs officer at the Port of Tacoma and serves on the executive Due Diligence team to develop the Seaport Alliance.

Sakuma Family Businesses

Sakuma Family Businesses said Danny R. Weeden is the new president and CEO for the company, which includes Sakuma Bros. Farms, Sakuma Bros. Processing and Norcal Nursery. He succeeds Steven Sakuma, who will continue as chairman of the board. Weeden most recently with Oregon Cherry Growers and also worked at Olympic Foods in Spokane. Sakuma Bros. Farms said it will now will pay harvest pickers an hourly rate of $10/hour plus a production bonus.

Apr 17, 2015

StoveTop Restaurant Group

StoveTop Restaurant Group has signed an agreement to open eight Twin Peaks restaurants in Washington and Oregon. StoveTop is led by CEO Eric Houseman and Brad Clawson, who both worked for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers; and Craig and Michael Colby of The Colby Restaurant Group, which owns several restaurants. Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 near Dallas. The restaurants offer food and beer served in a “mountain sports lodge setting.” The chain has 68 locations in 24 states.

Perkins Coie

Perkins Coie said Thomas Hillier has joined its Commercial Litigation practice as senior counsel to focus on indigent defense pro bono matters, and support the white collar and investigations practice. He was federal public defender for the Western District of Washington for 32 years. Hillier won the Federal Bar Association Outstanding Service Award, the William O. Douglas Award from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Angelo Petruss Award from the Washington Bar Association.

Apr 16, 2015

University of Oregon

Schill

Michael Schill, dean of the law school at University of Chicago, was named president of the University of Oregon. Schill was law school dean at the University of California, Los Angeles, and taught at New York University and the University of Pennsylvania. He has a law degree from Yale University. Shill will be the fifth leader in six years, replacing Interim President Scott Coltrane, who took over when Michael Gottfredson resigned after two years. UO is now led by an independent governing board.

City of Kirkland

Kirkland City Council has extended the contract for City Manager Kurt Triplett through 2020. Triplett was hired in 2010 as city manager. He oversees 10 departments and directs the City Manager's Office programs including neighborhood services, legislative advocacy, council relations, economic development, communications, tourism and volunteers. His annual salary is $184,468.

Apr 15, 2015

King County Housing Authority

Welch

John Welch has been confirmed to serve as a commissioner for King County Housing Authority. Welch is superintendent of Puget Sound Educational Service District and was superintendent of Highline School District. He has also worked at South Seattle College and Federal Way Public Schools.

Kymeta

Kymeta Corp., a Seattle-based developer of antenna technology, named Dr. Nathan Kundtz CEO and Marc Stolzman chief financial officer. Kundtz was president and chief technology officer at Kymeta, and Stolzman was CFO at Zulily. Kundtz led development of metamaterials technology used in Kymeta's satellite antennas, and was a member of the founding team in 2012. Stolzman has more than 20 years of experience at Zumiez, Blue Nile and Imperium Renewables. Kymeta makes ultra-thin antennas for maritime, automotive and aviation uses.