Governor's Space Council

The new Governor's Space Council will advise Gov. Bob Ferguson on how to keep Washington competitive in the industry and identify ways the state can improve its standing as a global leader in the space economy. Ferguson signed an executive order creating the council at the Museum of Flight last week, as the DJC then reported.

Members include representatives from the commercial space industry, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, higher education institutions, labor and more. The Governor's Space Council members include: Andy Lapsa, Stoke Space; Rob Meyerson, Interlune; Jeff Thornburg, Portal Space Systems; Austin Link, Starfish Space; Colin Doughan, Gravitics; Michael Edmonds, Blue Origin; Lisa Scalpone, Amazon LEO; Cornelia Rosu, SpaceX; Kelly Maloney, Space Northwest; Kent Mayor Dana Ralph; Redmond Mayor Angela Birney; Claudia Kauffman, D-47th District; Alex Ybarra, R-13th District; Brendan Wales, FUSE; Jason Chan, IAM 751; Ray Goforth, SPEEA; Bill Pike, PNNL; Mehran Mesbahi, University of Washington; Washington State University President Betsy Cantwell; Lynn Strickland, Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee; Trevor Devaney, Hi-Rel Laboratories; Scott Keeney, nLIGHT; and Philip Johnston, Starcloud.

Washington is home to more than 90 space companies employing more than 13,000 workers, generating approximately $4.6 billion in annual economic activity and $1.6 billion in annual payroll. Approximately two-thirds of the world's operational satellites are built in Washington. Washington's premiere universities play a critical role in research, development and growing the industry's future workforce.

Seattle Opera

General and Artistic Director James Robinson announced last week that Huang Ruo, an internationally renowned composer whose opera “The Monkey King” became a sensation when it premiered in San Francisco last year, will serve as Seattle Opera's first composer-in-residence beginning in 2027.

“Huang Ruo is one of the foremost composers of opera in the United States, and I couldn't be prouder to announce his residency with Seattle Opera,” said Robinson, who has directed several of Huang Ruo's operas, beginning with the North American premiere of “Dr. Sun Yat-sen” at Santa Fe Opera in 2014. “Beyond his accomplished record as a composer, Huang Ruo is also a compelling advocate for opera who believes deeply in the art form's power to bring people together. He's one of the most engaging and enthusiastic people I know, and I think Seattle Opera audiences will be fascinated by his perspectives.”

Huang Ruo's residency, which will last for three years, will begin at the start of the 2027/28 season with the Seattle premiere of his opera “M. Butterfly.” Based on the Tony Award-winning play by David Henry Hwang, the opera tells the true story of a fateful relationship between a French diplomat and a Chinese opera singer.

Evergreen Goodwill

Sparks

Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington has promoted Derieontay Sparks to chief revenue officer. The expanded role brings the organization's primary revenue-generating functions and key operational teams under a unified leadership. The title change also recognizes his impact on Evergreen Goodwill in a time of major transformation of the organization's operations, systems, and tuition-free adult education programs.

Sparks previously served as senior vice president of Retail, Growth Operations and Customer Experience. Since joining Evergreen Goodwill in 2017, he has held increasingly senior leadership roles across the organization. His expertise also extends beyond Evergreen Goodwill through his participation on the National Retail Federation's Sustainability Council, where he contributes to conversations about sustainability, circularity and the future of retail.

In his new role, Sparks oversees Thrift Retail, E-Commerce, Transportation, Salvage, Outlet, Zero Waste and Donor Services, with responsibility for strengthening performance across the organization's revenue and operational ecosystem. The expanded scope reflects Evergreen Goodwill's focus on creating greater value from donated goods and building a stronger, more sustainable business model.

Flyhomes

Tieu

Nirmal

Moynihan

Flyhomes has announced three new senior hires.

Tyler Moynihan joins Flyhomes as vice president of Business Development, bringing more than 20 years of experience driving growth and building strategic partnerships across real estate and technology. Most recently, Moynihan held a leadership role at Opendoor, following 12 years at Zillow, where he served as vice president of Partnerships & Corporate Development. During his tenure, he helped lead some of Zillow's largest acquisitions, including the $500 million acquisition of ShowingTime, and spearheaded the strategic partnership between Zillow and Opendoor.

At Flyhomes, Moynihan will focus on expanding strategic distribution partnerships with mortgage lenders, homebuilders, brokerages, and technology platforms to bring innovative home financing solutions to more consumers. He holds a BS and MBA from Georgetown University and is an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, where he teaches courses in negotiation and leadership.

Nihit Nirmal is a fintech product leader and AI founder with nearly two decades of fintech product experience. His career follows the rise of Asian fintech. He built payments products at PayU (backed by Prosus), moved into digital lending as SVP of Product and Growth at Lendingkart (backed by Fullerton Financial), and went on to lead product as group chief product officer at Funding Societies (backed by SoftBank Vision Fund and Peak XV), one of Southeast Asia's largest SME lenders. He joins Flyhomes as VP Product to help bring AI speed to home lending.

Wendy Tieu is director of Partner Enablement at Flyhomes, bringing a decade of experience across sales, strategy, enablement and operations. She began her technology career at Flyhomes, growing alongside the business and taking on roles that gave her a broad understanding of how sales teams, operational processes and customer needs connect.

Over the past two years, Tieu has helped scale revenue operations at startups in SaaS and e-commerce, with a particular focus on building and supporting sales teams. She returns to Flyhomes with that experience to drive partner and sales enablement as the company expands its Buy Before You Sell platform. Her focus is on making it simpler for Flyhomes' extensive loan officer network to understand its products, explain their value to clients and move transactions forward.

Based in Bellevue, Flyhomes is a real estate and financial technology company established in 2016.

Parametrix

Vinish

Kirk Vinish has joined Parametrix as a senior business advisor with the firm's advisory practice, serving tribal clients supporting collaborative infrastructure and transportation projects, as well as government affairs.

Vinish has over 35 years of experience in planning and infrastructure leadership across tribal governments, municipalities, higher education and the private sector. He joins Parametrix from the University of Washington, where he served as assistant director of the Northwest Tribal Technical Assistance Program Center, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium and the Workforce Development Institute.

In those roles, he supported the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and portions of Alaska and Utah. In addition, he worked to advance transportation research, technology transfer, workforce development, and technical assistance initiatives serving state departments of transportation, local governments, and transportation agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Prior to joining UW, he served as the Lummi Nation planning and public works director.

FSi Engineers

Luzius

Connell

Giamalis

Larson

FSi Engineers has hired Tyler Larson as an electrical designer. Larson is a graduate of Washington State University and brings 11 years of experience in the field. His projects include WSU's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, and energy upgrades for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's CapWay building in Olympia.

The firm has also hired David Giamalis as director of electrical engineering. Giamalis brings 17 years of experience and is a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Giamalis has worked extensively with Lake Washington and Mukilteo School Districts, WSU, Meta, and Google. Giamalis is leading electrical engineering for construction administration for a new weld shop at Washington State Ferries' Eagle Harbor maintenance facility, and Seattle South Transfer Station Phase II.

FSi Engineers has hired David Connell as a mechanical engineer. Connell is a graduate of Gonzaga University and brings five years of experience in the field. Connell is working on projects with the Port of Seattle, city of Bellevue, and Community Transit.

The firm has also hired Dan Luzius as principal engineering leader. Luzius brings 25 years of experience and is a graduate of Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Luzius has worked extensively with Meta, Google, the state of Washington, and regional school districts. His current projects include the new parks operations facility for the city of Bellevue, and modernization of the Kent civic campus.

McGee Air Services

Reed

McGee Air Services has elected Ben Reed as president, effective Oct. 1, after he served in the role on an interim basis for the past six months.

Reed, a 17-year Alaska Air Group veteran, oversees more than 3,200 employees at the Alaska Airlines subsidiary, which provides ground services at six airports. He is responsible for the company's strategy, growth and financial performance.

Reed was one of McGee's founding leaders, helping launch the company in 2016. He has twice served as managing director of safety and compliance and has also led McGee's Seattle station as managing director of operations. He was named interim president in March. Before joining McGee, Reed held several leadership positions at Alaska Airlines in auditing, airport quality assurance, aviation security, regulatory compliance and station operations support.

“McGee is an important part of how we deliver on Alaska Accelerate safely, reliably and with care for our guests and employees every day,” said Jason Berry, Alaska Airlines chief operating officer and chair of the McGee board. “Ben brings deep operational experience, strong relationships across Alaska Air Group and a clear commitment to McGee's people, making him the right leader for this next chapter.”

Star Surveying

Star Surveying Inc., a provider of land surveying, mapping, and land planning services in the Pacific Northwest, has officially expanded its operations by opening a third location in Freeland.

Locatec at 1638 E. Main St., Suite 200B, the new branch positions the company to better support subdivisions, boundary surveys, and construction builds across the Whidbey Island region with increased efficiency.

The Freeland office joins Star Surveying's existing locations in Anacortes and Friday Harbor, strengthening the company's coverage across Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties. The firm is led by owner Robert M. Anderson, a professional land surveyor licensed since 1981.

First Interstate Bank

Rafuse

First Interstate Bank announced that Greg Rafuse has joined the organization as commercial market president. In this role, Rafuse will focus on expanding commercial banking relationships, supporting local businesses, and helping drive First Interstate's continued growth across Western Washington.

Rafuse brings more than 20 years of banking experience to First Interstate, with a career focused on commercial lending, relationship management, business development, and market leadership.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Rafuse studied Business at Bellevue College and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. He has extensive expertise in commercial credit and risk analysis and is committed to bridging the gap between bank credit administration and commercial client needs, always keeping client success at the center of his work.

First Interstate is a community bank headquartered in Billings, Montana, delivering banking and wealth management services across Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.

FSi Engineers

Luzius

Connell

Giamalis

Larson

FSi Engineers has hired Tyler Larson as an electrical designer. Larson is a graduate of Washington State University and brings 11 years of experience in the field. His projects include WSU's Tree Fruit Research Facility in Wenatchee, and energy upgrades for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's CapWay Building in Olympia.

The firm has also hired David Giamalis as director of electrical engineering. Giamalis brings 17 years of experience and is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Giamalis has worked extensively with Lake Washington and Mukilteo School Districts, Washington State University, Meta and Google. Giamalis is currently leading electrical engineering for construction administration for a new weld shop at Washington State Ferries' Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, and Seattle South Transfer Station Phase 2.

David Connell joins the firm as a mechanical engineer. Connell is a graduate of Gonzaga University and brings five years of experience in the field. Connell is working on projects with the Port of Seattle, city of Bellevue, and Community Transit.

The firm has also hired Dan Luzius as principal engineering leader. Luzius brings 25 years of experience and is a graduate of Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Luzius has worked extensively with Meta, Google, the state of Washington, and regional school districts. His current projects include the new Parks Operations Facility for the city of Bellevue, and modernization of the Kent Civic Campus.

Starbucks

Starbucks is building a global technology hub in Chennai, in southern India, according to a letter sent earlier this year to employees from Starbucks technology chief Anand Varadarajan, and shared Monday on the company blog.

“This is an important milestone in how we continue to build a more flexible and globally connected Technology organization,” Varadarajan said in the letter. “Our teams already work closely with technology vendors in India and other countries. Establishing a Starbucks Technology hub in India gives us the opportunity to build a more partner-centric organization which will be created by bringing capability inside Starbucks over time and creating stronger connections to the work, priorities and culture of our business,” he said in the letter.

Varadarajan said Chennai was selected because of its access to and retention of strong talent retention, its ability to support the company's long-term business needs, and alignment with the ways Starbucks teams work across Seattle, Nashville, London and Hong Kong.

The hub is expected to be operational in fiscal year 2027, and could employ as many as 800 tech workers. Chennai, once known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal.

Mutual of Enumclaw

Mutual of Enumclaw has unveiled a new brand identity aimed at strengthening its market position and supporting long-term growth as it builds on 128 years of service across the Pacific Northwest.

The Washington-based mutual insurance company said the refreshed brand shows its evolution into a modern regional insurer while maintaining its longstanding commitment to members, agents and communities.

“Our new brand reflects the strength of the company we have built and our growth plans for the future,” said CEO Bob Otis. “We are proud to show up as the powerful, modern insurance brand we have become.” Otis added that the rebranding effort is intended to create a clearer expression of the company's strategy while reinforcing its position as a trusted insurer with deep roots in the Northwest.

Mutual of Enumclaw continues to invest in new capabilities and expand partnerships with independent agents. Company officials said the brand refresh supports key priorities that include strengthening its presence across the Pacific Northwest, growing agent relationships and enhancing the experience it delivers to policyholders.

“Our history gives us a strong foundation, but our focus is on what comes next,” Otis said. “We have the financial strength, relationships, people, and ambition to grow. This brand represents our confidence in Mutual of Enumclaw and the opportunity ahead.”

Founded in Enumclaw in 1898, Mutual of Enumclaw has spent more than a century providing personal, business, farm and ranch insurance coverage. The new branding began appearing across the company's digital channels, communications, workplaces and community presence on Sept. 21.

Costco

(AP) — Costco said it's partnering with DoorDash to offer delivery from its U.S. warehouse stores.

DoorDash already offers Costco delivery in a few markets, including Australia, Sweden and Puerto Rico. But the nationwide partnership is a first for the San Francisco-based delivery company, which said Costco was among the most-searched retailers not yet on its U.S. platform.

DoorDash said it will deliver groceries, household items and electronics from all of Costco's U.S. stores. Delivery will only be available to Costco members, who can link their membership information to their DoorDash account.

Issaquah-based Costco has 81 million members worldwide. Most are in the U.S., where the company has 639 stores in 47 states.

Costco has offered delivery through Instacart for nearly a decade. In 2024, it announced a partnership with San Francisco-based Uber Eats, but under that agreement, Uber Eats only provided delivery in 17 states.

On Tuesday, Uber Eats said it was expanding Costco delivery nationwide. Like DoorDash, Uber Eats already provides delivery from Costco in other countries, including Japan, France, Spain, Canada and Mexico.

DoorDash and Uber Eats have been expanding their U.S. grocery offerings in recent years. Last fall, both companies announced partnerships with Kroger, the nation's largest supermarket chain.

SEI

Beherndt

SEI, an employee-owned management consulting firm, has appointed Joel Beherndt as managing director of its Seattle office.

Beherndt succeeds Bonnie Cote, who has led the Seattle market since its launch in 2023 and will remain with SEI as a principal consultant following parental leave.

“Building this market over the past three years has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career, and I couldn't be more confident in Joel as the person to lead us forward,” said Cote, in a news release. “Joel has already made a tremendous impact on our team and our business. He cares deeply about our people, builds genuine relationships with clients, and has the ownership mentality and ambition to continue expanding what we've built. I'm incredibly excited to see him take the helm and lead SEI Seattle through its next stage of growth.”

Beherndt brings extensive consulting and business development experience, with particular depth in large-scale strategy, technology, and operations transformations. He will focus on expanding SEI's presence across the West while preserving the entrepreneurial culture and client-first model that have shaped the Seattle business from the beginning.

“I'm excited to lead SEI's continued growth in the Puget Sound and across the West,” said Beherndt. “There's a real opportunity here to build something distinctive: a consulting business where experienced people stay close to the work, relationships are built on trust rather than transactions, and everyone thinks like an owner because we are owners. We want to bring that model to more clients across the region by helping leaders tackle their hardest problems with teams that are pragmatic, accountable, and focused on outcomes that last.”

Since launching three years ago, SEI Seattle has established a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest while increasingly serving clients across the broader West. The Seattle team works with organizations spanning healthcare, aerospace, retail and consumer goods, financial services, life sciences, and transportation.

Swenson Say Fagét

Wagner

Dalas

Kang

Swenson Say Fagét Structural Engineers (SSF) recently hired in its Seattle office Tammy Kang, Demetri Dalas and Samantha Wagner.

Kang joined the firm in April as a staff engineer. She holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Washington. After over two years with another Seattle firm, she is now working with SSF's residential team on new and renovated residences in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Woodway, Olympia, and Pacific Palisades, California.

Dalas joined in June as a project engineer. Dalas earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Washington. After two years with an international multidisciplinary firm in Bellevue, Dalas joined the SSF commercial projects team. He is currently working on several tenant improvement projects for a prominent Northwest technology company.

Wagner joined in July as a project manager. She attended Northeastern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a Master of Science in structural engineering. After nine years working in Boston, she returned to her home state to join SSF's retrofit team. Current projects include renovating the Sea View Theater in Eastsound (Orcas Island), the Park at Bothell Landing revitalization, and a seismic analysis for Assumption School for the Seattle Archdiocese.

REI Co-op

This National Public Lands Day on Sept. 26, REI Co-op is donating $1 million to support the trails that connect America. Until Oct. 2, members, customers and employees can vote online or in REI stores to help decide how a portion of the donation is directed to eligible nonprofit organizations that care for America's National Scenic and Historic Trails.

Every participating trail organization will receive funding, with a portion of the funding guided by the vote. Together, these organizations support projects and partners across more than 60,600 miles of National Scenic and Historic Trails, from iconic routes like the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail to local trail segments that connect communities to the outdoors.

“Our national trails give us room to breathe and help us feel connected to nature, to one another and to ourselves, so on National Public Lands Day, we're giving back to them,” said Mary Beth Laughton, president and CEO of REI Co-op. “Through this effort, the co-op is turning appreciation into care, and we're inviting our members, customers and employees to join us. Together, we can help protect and support these trails and strengthen the organizations that steward them.”

The effort is being launched with the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS), whose network includes organizations working across America's National Scenic and Historic Trails. Funding will support trail stewardship, volunteer engagement, youth leadership development, conservation advocacy and other efforts that help trails remain accessible, welcoming and maintained for future generations.

Throughout September, more than 130 REI stores will host local trail organizations and community groups, helping people discover places to explore, connect with partners in their communities and find new opportunities to volunteer, advocate and care for public lands close to home.

PNTS partner organizations will host hikes, stewardship projects, rides and outdoor events around the country, giving people opportunities to get outside and experience firsthand the trails and public lands they are helping support.

Panther Life Sciences

Hanana

Mounir Hanana, who most recently served as CFO of Amazon Business in Seattle, has been named CEO of New York's Panther Life Sciences, a company building a needle-free alternative to injections.

Panther Life Sciences founder Carlos Bhola will continue as executive chairman, partnering closely with Hanana as Panther commercializes its SmartPatch platform across high-growth health, wellness and therapeutic markets, including dermatology and aesthetic applications.

“We were intentional in our search for a partner with a track record of deploying global technology platforms, scaling manufacturing, and commercializing innovation — and we found that in Mounir,” said Bhola in a release. “I am excited by what Panther will accomplish under Mounir's direction and am looking forward to closely partnering with him.”

Hanana brings 25 years of global leadership experience across Procter & Gamble and Amazon. During his career, he has led initiatives ranging from several hundred million dollars in revenue to large global multibillion-dollar businesses, combining expertise in manufacturing, commercialization, technology platforms and operational scale.

At Procter & Gamble, he helped bring consumer products from development to market through world-class manufacturing, supply chains and commercial organizations. At Amazon, he led large global technology businesses. Together, these experiences span consumer products, advanced manufacturing, global technology platforms and operational excellence—capabilities critical for Panther's next phase of commercialization.

“Having spent much of my career building and scaling global businesses, I know a category-defining opportunity when I see one,” said Hanana. “That is why I joined Panther. Our team has built a unique, powerful technology capable of transforming both consumer and medical markets.”

Yakima County Superior Court

Black Horse

Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Bree Black Horse to the position of Yakima County Superior Court Judge. Black Horse's appointment fills the new position created by a law signed by Ferguson earlier this year. This is the first new position added to the Yakima County Superior Court since 1998.

Black Horse is a career litigator with more than 12 years of experience handling criminal and civil cases in federal, state and Tribal courts. She currently practices at the law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, where she represents Tribal governments and enterprises in complex civil litigation and governmental matters. She also serves as director and adjunct professor of law for the Seattle University School of Law Central Washington Hybrid Hub and leads its Pipeline Initiative, a regional partnership between Seattle University School of Law, Heritage University in Toppenish and the AccessLex Institute focused on expanding access to legal education and addressing the shortage of attorneys in Central Washington.

Black Horse previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, where she became the first regional prosecutor in the Northwest dedicated to addressing cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Based in Yakima, she served the U.S. Justice Department's Northwest Region, covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California.

Black Horse also served as a public defender and legal aid attorney for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, where she represented Tribal members in criminal proceedings and a broad range of civil matters, including family law, probate, housing and public benefits. Earlier in her career, Black Horse served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Chief Judge Brian Morris in the District of Montana.

Black Horse earned her bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific University and received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law, where she co-founded and served as editor-in-chief of the American Indian Law Journal.

Sterling Realty Organization

Campbell

Sterling Realty Organization recently named a new VP for land strategy: industry veteran Andy Campbell, who makes the move from Greystar. SRO’s Matt Skager said in a statement, “His deep understanding of land strategy, capital markets and long-term investment — along with his strong reputation for building trusted partnerships — will be instrumental to the team as we continue to evolve and expand SRO’s growing portfolio.”

Aegis Living

Aegis Living has announced a planned leadership succession that will unfold over the coming year.

Dwayne J. Clark, founder and chief executive officer of Aegis Living, has led the company since its founding in 1997. On July 27, 2027, the 30th anniversary of the company's founding, Clark will transition out of the CEO role, handing the current President Dirk Burghartz the dual role of president and chief executive officer.

Additionally, Derek Doke, the current chief financial officer, will assume the expanded role of chief financial officer and chief investment officer. Clark will become the executive chairman, remaining actively engaged in the company's vision, culture, and long-term strategy.

Burghartz joined Aegis Living in 2025 as president, after a career in hospitality and operations with companies like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and has spent the past year partnering closely with Clark on strategy, community operations and growth.

Under Clark, Aegis Living has operated over 60 communities over the past 29 years and pioneered a hospitality-driven model of senior living, assisted living, and memory care that has redefined the category nationally.

Aegis Living has been recognized across every dimension of its operation: architecture, sustainability, and design honors for its communities; continued recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in America; and culinary awards for its restaurant-quality dining program.

Clark has received numerous lifetime achievement awards in the senior living industry. He is also a nationally bestselling author, an executive producer of film and documentary projects, and a keynote speaker on the future of aging. He is also the founder and host of the annual EPIC conference, Aegis Living's invitation-only leadership and longevity summit.

Clark will remain CEO while transferring day-to-day executive responsibilities to Burghartz and Doke into Q2 of 2027.

Founded in 1997, Aegis Living is a national leader in luxury assisted living, memory care and lifestyle communities for older adults, operating 37 communities across Washington, California, and Nevada, with additional communities in development.