Oct 31, 1997

Cascade Designs

Cascade Designs Inc. of Seattle has signed an agreement to purchase the outdoor filter business assets of SweetWater in Longmont, Colorado. It is anticipated that the manufacture of SweetWater filters and water treatment products will remain in Colorado until the fall of 1998, at which time the manufacturing operation may be moved to Cascade Designs' facilities in Seattle.

Oct 29, 1997

Berger/ABAM

Abdul Chahim was promoted to Grade IV project engineer at Berger/ABAM in Federal Way. He has 24 years of structural engineering experience including design, design review, condition survey, seismic upgrades and failure investigation. Brian Garrett was also promoted to Grade IV project engineer. He has 22 years of experience, 15 of those at Berger/ABAM. His background has been in design, analysis, inspection, cost estimating and field engineering with transportation and waterfront facilities. Lee Marsh is a new Grade IV project engineer. Marsh has 12 years experience in seismic assessments and design engineering. He also has a background in building, public works, special structures, transportation and waterfront projects.

Baylis Brand Wagner

Michael David Chaplin has joined Baylis Brand Wagner Architects, Bellevue. He is a graduate of Washington State University. His focus as a project architect will be in design and construction of retail projects with an emphasis on Barnes & Noble bookstores.

Reid Middleton

Brenda O'Neill recently joined Lynnwood-based Reid Middleton as an engineer. She served an internship with the Port of Seattle on the Southwest Harbor Project and will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Seattle University this fall. She is currently working on the Canyon Road widening project in Ellensburg. Frank Lemos is a new technical drafter with the firm. He has more than eight years experience and will be responsible for drafting support for civil and structural engineering projects. Karla Kendall is a new engineer in the airport division. She is working on the Safety Area Extension Project at Paine Field and site selection for Bowerman Airport in Grays Harbor. David Mach joined the firm as an engineer in support of the transportation engineering division. He is now working on the Cedar Way improvement project in Mountlake Terrace. Linda Frukska is new in the firm as a designer, offering graphic support on planning and engineering projects. She is currently working on Riverside Industrial Park for the Port of Everett and Olympic View Industrial Park for the Port of Bremerton.

DLR John Graham

Bob Gabbert has joined DLR John Graham, Seattle, as a professional engineer to lead the mechanical and electrical engineering departments. He has experience on the King County Regional Justice Center and Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Sarah Kontny is a new project architect. She is currently working on the Salters Point Elementary School addition in Steilacoom. Linda Hodges has joined the firm as a project administrator, providing administrative assistance to project teams. Leann Mercer is also a new project administrator and will take on assignments with the Boeing project teams. Sarah Ward has been hired as an accountant. She will be in charge of accounts receivable and project accounting.

Lauchlin R. Bethune

Justin Nguyen has joined Kent-based Lauchlin R. Bethune Associates Landscape Architects & Environmental Planners as landscape designer and CAD technician. He is currently working on the Grant County Air Terminal Building, Extended Stay America Hotels in Kent and Tacoma, The Roosevelt mixed-use complex in Seattle and the 5.4-acre Lind Corporate Park in Renton.

Oct 28, 1997

GLY Construction

GLY has hired three new employees to meet growing demands. Project manager Gavin O'Brien is currently managing multiple projects at Nintendo of America's corporate campus. He is also providing preconstruction services for an Eastside office and manufacturing facility. Project engineer Bill DeJarlais is providing engineering services to TRF Pacific's 42-acre Woodinville Retail Center. Sitework should be done by the end of the year. Human resource manager Forbes McCreery has joined the firm to assist in building and retaining staff. His duties include recruiting, employee relations, training and organizational development. GLY is celebrating its 30th year providing construction services in the greater Seattle area. Annual sales for fiscal year 1997 total $85 million.

Watershed money available to communities

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology announced yesterday that it will issue $2.5 million in grants to help local communities start or continue the watershed-planning process. Earlier this year, the state Legislature set aside a total of $5 million for watershed planning at the local level. The watershed-planning grants are designed to help local governments collect and evaluate watershed information, then use that information to make decisions on how to manage water resources and water quality in the future. Washington state is divided into 62 separate "water resource inventory areas" that are eligible for grant money. Each area may apply for a grant of up to $50,000 to develop a budget and timetable for the watershed-planning process. Once that is accomplished, each area may apply for an additional grant of up to $200,000. Ecology and legislative leaders are now establishing the eligibility criteria for the $200,000 grants. To receive a grant application, contact: Ann Shipley, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, (360) 407-6624. Additional information and grant application forms also may be accessed on Ecology's Internet home page.

R.W. Beck hires two environmental engineers

SEATTLE -- Jessica Guerrette and Lisa Theriault have joined R.W. Beck's Seattle office as environmental engineers. Both Guerrette and Theriault initially will work on municipal water supply and surface water projects. Guerrette has a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering and a background in water and wastewater analysis, consulting and design. Theriault has a bachelor's degree in urban systems engineering, as well as an environmental management certificate. Her experience includes design, analysis and consulting related to fish passage, sediment transport and stormwater facilities. Founded in 1942, R.W. Beck is a consulting and engineering firm that serves both the public and private sectors. The company provides engineering-based management, consulting and design in the following areas: solid waste management; environmental services; electric, thermal plant and electrified transit facilities; water, wastewater and surface water; and construction management.

PEMA luncheon to focus on Tacoma utilities

SEATTLE -- Karen J. Larkin, assistant public works director for the city of Tacoma, will be the featured speaker at the next Professional Environmental Marketing Association (PEMA) luncheon. Larkin has been with the Tacoma Public Works Department since 1977, when she graduated from Seattle University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. She is now responsible for utility services that include solid waste, sanitary sewer and storm drainage. She supervises 428 employees and oversees a combined annual operating budget of $103 million. The city of Tacoma has been named a potentially-responsible party (PRP) for five federal Superfund sites, so Larkin has extensive experience dealing with environmental cleanups. One of those five sites is the Tacoma Landfill, which falls under the auspices of the city's solid waste utility. Tacoma's sanitary sewer utility provides about 70,000 customers with secondary wastewater treatment and transmission services at two wastewater treatment plants. The city's storm drain utility provides 50,000 customers with flood and erosion control services and a variety of water quality programs, including design and remediation of several Superfund sites within Commencement Bay. At the PEMA luncheon, Larkin will give Tacoma's perspective on the reauthorization of Superfund and the Clean Water Act. She also will discuss sanitary sewer overflows. The PEMA luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Latitude 47 restaurant at 1232 Westlake in Seattle. Cost is $20 for PEMA members and $30 for non-members. To make reservations, call (206) 455-3680.

Conference on state environmental laws

SEATAC -- "The Fundamentals of Washington Environmental Law Compliance," a conference sponsored by Government Institutes of Rockville, Md., is scheduled for Nov. 24-25 at the Holiday Inn SeaTac, 17338 International Blvd. Topics to be covered at the conference include: State Environmental Policy Act; Model Toxics Control Act; brownfields initiatives; Endangered Species Act requirements; water pollution control and compliance; water quality issues; Shoreline & Coastal Zone Management Act; current developments in air pollution control; dangerous waste regulations; the Growth Management Act; and environmental considerations in business transactions. Speakers include: Janet A. Thompson of the Department of Ecology; R. Paul Beveridge and John W. Phillips of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe; Chuck Wolfe and J. Tayloe Washburn of Foster Pepper & Shefelman; Douglas S. Morrison and Leonard H. Sorrin of Bogle & Gates; Charles W. Lean of Perkins Coie; and Kay Gabriel of Sen. Slade Gorton's office. To register, call (301) 921-2345.

Applying geophysics to engineering problems

CHICAGO -- The Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Environmental and Engineering Problems (SAGEEP) is scheduled for March 22-26, 1998 at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago. SAGEEP is the national meeting of the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society. SAGEEP '98 will present three days of technical sessions and poster presentations on infrastructure, transportation, engineering hazards, environmental assessments, groundwater, remedial monitoring, surface waters, expedited site characterization and borehole geophysics. New technologies and methods of imaging also will be explored. A keynote address will be given by Steve Colentino, brownfields development lead for the EPA in Illinois. To register or receive more information, visit the SAGEEP Web site or contact Jayne Sturges at (303) 771-2000, e-mail: jsturges@compuserve.com.