Oct 05, 2022

BCRA

Hull

McElroy

Isaiah McElroy has joined BCRA from BLRB Architects and brings nearly five years of construction administration and architectural design experience to the firm. He is a Washington State University graduate where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture Studies. He previously worked in the education market and will be supporting BCRA's multifamily residential and retail markets at the firm's Tacoma office.

Jessica Hull also joined BCRA, from Thomas Architecture Studios, where she primarily worked on multifamily residential projects following the completion of a Master of Architecture program at Washington State University. She is a current member of the Olympia Heritage Commission. Though her previous experience is in architectural design, she is interested in exploring interior design concepts and will have the opportunity to support the interiors department through BCRA's retail market. She is also based in the Tacoma office.

DLR Group

Vander Ploeg

DLR Group has promoted Michael Vander Ploeg to regional workplace leader, focusing on the Northwest region. In his new role, Vander Ploeg will advance the growth of DLR Group's workplace market sector across Oregon and Washington, guiding a team of integrated design and engineering professionals. He will continue innovating the future of the workplace with existing client partners while sparking new partnerships in DLR Group's focus areas, including science+technology, mass timber, and sustainable design and development.

Vander Ploeg is currently researching new ways to collect sensor data from built environments to make them more sustainable, enjoyable, and healthier. In addition to this research, he is working on methods for fabricating new prototype spaces and interactive design installations that engage technology clients with the communities in which they live and work.

FSi

Kelly

FSi announced the addition of Rex Kelly to its engineering office in Spokane. Kelly brings an EIT and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Boise State University. Kelly will focus on energy modeling and supporting Inland Northwest client projects with plumbing and HVAC design.

MG2

Unzelman

MG2 recently announced the promotion of Wendy Unzelman to chief financial officer. Unzelman has more than 35 years in finance and accounting, serving most recently as the firm's vice president of finance. In her new role, she will be responsible for the financial strategies that support the firm's short and long-term business growth.

In her fourteen years at MG2, she has strengthened accounting processes to improve the quality of data and reporting her team provides. Unzelman joined MG2 in 2008 as controller, taking on greater and greater responsibility, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and succession planning. She was promoted to vice president of finance in 2018. Earlier in her career, she was a CPA in the public accounting firm Yergen & Meyer (now Moss Adams) with a specialty in audits. Unzelman is a graduate of Southern Oregon University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is a past president of the Seattle/Bellevue area chapter of the Washington State CPA Society and is Lean certified.

In addition to elevating Unzelman, MG2 promoted eighteen employees in the firm's Seattle office. Tracy Schneider was promoted to associate director, public relations, Dallas Dyer, was promoted to program manager, Bonnie James is now BIM account manager, Emily Walker is now marketing manager, Katie Bartman is now HR generalist, Lauren Muller has been promoted to marketing coordinator, Colleen Hannah has been promoted to studio administrator 2 and Angelique Brown to contract specialist.

Brittany Hazzard has also been promoted to contract specialist. Sarah Simchuk, in now associate 5, Crystal Fairley is associate 4, Alina Pinchuk is associate 4, Elise Braun is associate 3, Savannah Moller is associate 3, Tehilla Ben Gershom is associate 2, Jessica Bone is associate 2, Katie Fenn is associate 2 and Sruthi Sundaresan is associate 2.

Parametrix

Baker

John Baker has joined Parametrix as a senior construction manager based in Puyallup. He has over 30 years of experience in construction management working with government, petroleum, aerospace, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical clients.

Baker comes to Parametrix from Akana. He specializes in field project supervision, project management, regulatory compliance, and quality control for construction, environmental, and health and safety projects. His project experience includes serving as construction inspector for Metro's Central Waste Transfer Facility Stormwater Treatment System project.

The Riley Group

Angel

Chou

Charlie Chou has joined The Riley Group's geotechnical engineering department as a licensed project geologist. He began his career in 2016 working in the environmental and storm water pollution sectors after earning his Bachelor of Science in Geology from California State University, Fullerton. Chou later expanded his hands-on field experience by working on a variety of complex geology projects which included exploration and collection of data for tidal and infiltration studies.

During this time, he also performed site-specific historical research for Phase I ESAs and aided in environmental report preparation and documentation. In 2020, he received a Master's in Applied Geosciences from the University of Washington, after which he dedicated himself to the geotechnical engineering sector.

Currently his work includes performing geotechnical construction monitoring services on large scale residential plats and infill projects. This work generally consists of performing compaction testing, monitoring of pile installation soil nails/tiebacks, and completing foundation/footing observations. Chou is a certified erosion and sediment control lead. In this role and generally during construction activities, he directs temporary erosion control measures and best management practicesto retain sediment and water onsite. He works directly with the site owner, contractor, and subcontractors to coordinate these efforts. Lastly, he is adept in performing sieve, moisture, proctor, and Atterberg Limit tests in the RGI soil laboratory.

Sam Angel has also joined RGI, as a senior staff geologist, within the company's geotechnical department. He has over three years of experience providing geotechnical, environmental, and hydrogeologic consulting services in the Pacific Northwest and is actively pursuing professional licensure. Originally from Missoula, Montana, Angel began his career working on Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments in his hometown. Currently, his expertise is in construction, involving exploration geology during design phases and construction monitoring. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Geosciences while attending Pacific Lutheran University, and his Master's in Applied Geosciences from the University of Washington.

During his graduate program, Angel focused in slope stability and drafted a landslide inventory and shallow/deep landslide susceptibility models for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe. He uses his strong academic background in exploration work and in making recommendations during construction earthwork.

Sep 28, 2022

Cushing Terrell

Pelowitz

Hersel

Cushing Terrell has promoted Josh Hersel and Shawn Pelowitz to associate principal. An architect and director of the firm's residential design studio, Hersel is based in Boise, Idaho. Hersel's primary focus is leading transformative multifamily and mixed-use projects. He has been with Cushing Terrell for 17 years, and in addition to residential projects, has expertise in commercial and hospitality design work, melding best practices from across these markets into his current work.

An architect and director of the firm's government design studio, Pelowitz is based in Minneapolis. Pelowitz has 30 years of experience working for the U.S. military and government agencies across the globe, including the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. General Services Administration. Through this experience as an architect, he has gained in-depth and intuitive knowledge of how government agencies operate and how to best support them through design.

Pelowitz has been with Cushing Terrell for seven years, during which time he co-led the government group and also established the firm's office in Minneapolis.

GeoEngineers

Baum

GeoEngineers has hired James Baum as CFO. Baum is an accomplished CFO with more than 35 years of experience in financial management for engineering and construction firms, where he has helped to improve processes, grow business and increase profits. Baum launched his career working for small and mid-sized engineering firms in Southern California. His leadership and strategic skills soon propelled him into a position as controller and then CFO. He spent the next three decades learning the finer points of financial reporting, strategic planning, cash management, budgeting, market development and executive leadership.

Baum has specialized in employee-owned companies, so an employee-owned consulting firm like GeoEngineers is a natural fit. He understands the broader consulting industry, and knows how to pursue mergers when appropriate, develop new markets and encourage collaboration.

Helix Design Group

Kreem

Bassim Kreem has joined Helix Design Group in a project manager role. Kreem earned his bachelor's degree in architectural engineering at Cairo University and then went on to Washington State University to complete his master's in architecture. He has over 10 years' experience working on a multitude of project types, varying from single-family and multifamily residential facilities to commercial and mixed-use projects.

Kreem is an active member in multiple design forums, and in the community. He serves as a member on the city of Olympia Design Review Board and is heavily involved with multiple organizations including AIA and Habitat for Humanity.

HOK

Rippy

Levi J. Rippy has been promoted from senior project architect to technical principal for HOK's San Francisco and Seattle studios. Based in San Francisco, he leads the technical direction and development of projects across HOK's markets.

Rippy is an architect with more than 20 years of experience with aviation and transportation, health care, science and technology, justice, corporate, commercial and hospitality projects. His recent projects include the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Concourse D Annex and Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center.

Rippy is a member of HOK's firm-wide technical board working to improve project delivery and design processes. He also sits on the firm's mentoring task force and has served as chairperson for the AIA Seattle Chapter's Urban Design Forum.

McGranahan Architects

Benjamin Fields and Dion Serra have joined the ownership group at McGranahan Architects. Fields is passionate about creating engaging learning environments and continuing the firm's work around sustainability and diversity and inclusion.

Serra values creating positive environments for the community and fostering rewarding relationships with clients and consultants. Fields and Serra join McGranahan's four current owners.

The Watershed Company

Rogers

Foster

The Watershed Company has hired Drew Foster, arborist, Jesse Rogers, arborist, and Justin Kay, ecologist. An ISA-certified arborist, Foster comes with a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Washington and has 14 years of working experience in arboriculture, forestry, and natural resource conservation. Foster will play an integral role in Watershed's arborist services, as well as joining multidisciplinary teams to support project permitting and management.

At the company, Rogers will assist with procuring, scoping, and budgeting small and large arborist consulting jobs for public and private clients, and will coordinate arborist tasks and project elements with Watershed's project managers. Kay will assist with environmental field work such as wetland and stream delineations, plant and tree identification, along with the preparation of environmental reports and studies.