Jan 22, 1997

ZGF

Zimmer Gunsul Frasca partnership (ZGF) has promoted Sergei Bischak, Mahlon Clements, Brad Hinthorne, David MacLean, Marnie Nelson, Robin Randall and Sandy Tobkin to the position of associate. Bischak, a graduate of Rice University in Houston, joined the firm in 1991 and has played primary roles in projects such as Microsoft's Redmond West Campus and Pebble Beach project, the Kirkland and Bothell Libraries for King Country Library Systems; Science Facility Two-Biology for Western Washington University, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Airway Heights Corrections Center near Spokane. Clements has focused on urban design since joining the firm in 1991, and has worked on the Metro High Capacity Transit Alternatives Analysis, the Chelan-Douglas Intermodal Transportation Center in Wenatchee, the Bellevue Pedestrian corridor and the master plan for the Capitol of the State of Washington. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Brad Hinthorne has been involved in a number of master planning, programming, and design efforts at various medical and educational facilities, including the Tacoma Medical Center for Group Health, the Providence St. Vincent obstetrics remodel and expansion in Portland, and the Stevens Memorial Hospital addition and renovation. MacLean is project architect and technical designer with ZGF, and is currently project architect for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Phase II. Since joining the firm in 1992, he has also worked on the Olympia Medical Center for Group Health and the Mary Baker Russell Music Center for Pacific Lutheran University. Nelson, who has been with the firm for over 10 years, is ZGF's office manager in Seattle. Randall is a project architect who joined the firm in 1991. Since then, her project experience includes the renovation of the University Village shopping center, the International District Village Square, the Bothell Library for King County, and the Mallory parking structure in Portland. She is a graduate of Ball State University. Tobkin serves as marketing coordinator for ZGF's Seattle office. For the last 14 years she has been responsible for supporting all business development and public relations activities.

Otak

Tom Drugan has joined Otak as a planner and urban designer. Previously with Harvard and Associates, he has 10 years of professional experience in landscape architecture, planning, architecture and urban design. Drugan is currently working on a planned unit development in Bothell.

Weber + Thompson

John W. Lee has joined the design and CAD production department of Weber + Thompson. He has several years of experience in financial facilities, retail and residential projects.

Landscape architects honored

J. Douglas Macy of Walker & Macy and Carol Mayer-Reed of Mayer/Reed in Portland have been inducted as Fellows of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Macy, a founding partner in Walker & Macy, was recognized for his work on Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Vietnam Veterans of Region Memorial and the revitalization of the South and North Park Blocks. Mayer-Reed is known for multi-disciplinary teams and for her design work on the Portland Place Memorial, the Museum at Warm Springs, the Tropical Africa Exhibit and the Hewlett-Packard Vancouver executive courtyard.

MWW/Savitt

The Seattle strategic marketing firm of MWW/Savitt hired John Smith as senior art director in its creative services department. Smith will develop visual concepts and design elements for such clients as The Ackerley Group, Bally Total Fitness, Delta Airlines and Trillium Corporation.

Jan 21, 1997

Ultima Systems

John Kehoe has been named chief financial officer for Ultima Systems, one of the Northwest's largest travel clubs. His responsibilities include investment development and overall financial management. Kehoe joins Ultima from TRA, an architecture and engineering firm, where he was vice president of finance and administration. Before joining TRA, he was vice president, controller and treasurer for Horizon Airlines. Ultima Systems has sold over 10,500 memberships and company revenues for 1996 will exceed $20 million.

New head of Fish and Wildlife Commission

OLYMPIA -- On Friday the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously elected Commissioner Lisa Pelly as chairwoman. Pelly is the first woman to lead the commission. Commissioner Roger Contor was elected vice-chairman. Both Pelly and Contor will serve two-year terms. Pelly is assuming leadership of the commission from Mitch Johnson. She is a noted fly fisher and founder of the Northwest Women Flyfishers. A landscape designer, Pelly lives in Battle Ground. Contor was appointed to the commission two years ago after a 34-year career with the National Park Service. His last position was director of parks and natural preserves in Alaska, where he managed sport hunting on 20 million acres of preserves. He lives in Ellensburg. In other Fish and Wildlife news, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited purchased a Columbia River island last week that is an important nesting site for waterfowl and other birds. Located near Longview opposite Willow Grove, Fisher Island offers approximately 257 acres of wildlife habitat for great blue heron, bald eagles, ducks and geese. The department and Ducks Unlimited bought the island for $230,000 from Lloyd Ewing, who lived there in the 1940s. Ewing said he rejected several previous offers to purchase the land because he wanted to preserve its wildlife habitat. The $230,000 came from Ducks Unlimited and the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition. The department will manage the island as part of the Shillapoo/Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area.

Study will determine if Keiko can go free

PORTLAND (AP) -- Scientists are ready to begin a one-year study of Keiko, the killer whale that starred in "Free Willy," to determine if he can survive in the wild. The orca came to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport a year ago from a much smaller facility in Mexico. "We will be announcing the findings in the form of a release date or with the conclusion that he is a happier animal but not suitable for release," said Beverlee Hughes, president of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation. "We believe his chances for survival are going to be good. Right now that's just been based on the progress he's made. It needs to be based on science." The foundation has enlisted researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts and the University of California at Santa Cruz to examine the 8,700-pound whale. Keiko has been in captivity for 17 years. He was 2 years old when captured in the waters off Iceland. Researchers will test his eyesight, hearing, ability to community and use of echolocation. Orcas and other toothed whales use echo location, sending out sounds and listening to echoes, to find both their food and their way. Hughes said the scientists will gather information about what kinds of sounds Keiko makes and whether they are the sounds emitted by any of the six pods of orcas that migrate through Icelandic waters. "Keiko has been in three different countries and has been around other animals, and he's a mimic," Hughes said. "Sometimes the noises he makes are dolphin clickings; sometimes they're fire engines from Mexico City. So we need to identify any Icelandic whale sounds he may make and compare them to a database of Icelandic whale sounds. That will allow us to better identify the migrating pod he may belong to." William N. Lange of Woods Hole has designed a six-part research program that will also document the whale's swimming speeds, his heart rate and respiration rates. The 21-foot-long whale has gained more than 1,000 pounds in 12 months in Oregon. He previously lived in an amusement park in Mexico City. "The past year has been focused on getting him healthy," Hughes said. "Now this is going to be the year of pure research and science for Keiko."