Feb 17, 1998

GA Design

GA Design, an Eastside graphic design firm, has added a new suite to their studio at the Campus Office Park in Bellevue. American Corporate Identity has recognized GA Design with four identity projects which include the Microsoft Brain Share Logo, the Oldani Group identity, GA Design's identity system and Washington Mutual's 'Building a Legacy' logo.

Wetlandsbank: they came, they saw, they left

MOUNT VERNON -- Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Wetlandsbank Inc. came to Western Washington recently with the goal of setting up a state-certified, federally-permitted wetlands mitigation bank here. But, after the visit, Wetlandsbank President Lew Lautin decided not to go to the trouble. "We just don't see a market for the type of mitigation banking we do just yet," Lautin said in a telephone interview. "There may be a market there in the future, but it could take some time to develop." Lautin had tapped wetlands expert Kathy Combs to spearhead the wetlands mitigation bank effort in Washington. Combs is founder of Washington Wetlands & Mitigation Co. in Mount Vernon. The mitigation bank would have allowed public- and private-sector developers to buy credits to replace the wetlands they destroy when they build. The credits shift responsibility for wetlands impact from the property owner's site to a large, off-site mitigation bank. This arrangement ultimately results in no net loss of wetlands. Lautin, who has successfully established mitigation banks in Florida, said he perceived a lack of demand for such a service in Washington. "In your state there seems to be an incredible mindset on avoidance," he said. "With almost every large project we encountered, they managed to avoid wetlands. ... We just have not found the type of market out there where the demand for credits could pay for the type of bank we want to create." He also said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit costs would be formidable here. "To be the first to permit a bank in your state, we think it would cost between $300,000 and $600,000," Lautin said. Meanwhile, Combs says she's determined to establish a mitigation bank here, with or without the support of Wetlandsbank Inc. "I think we do need it here," Combs said. "I am moving ahead with it, even if we end up doing smaller banks." Combs says she's in the process of pursuing funding so she can start a mitigation bank somewhere in Western Washington.

Pentec Environmental hires new staff

EDMONDS -- Pentec Environmental Inc., an Edmonds environmental consulting firm that specializes in port and waterfront development and natural resources management, recently announced the following additions and promotions:

• Greg Mazer has joined Pentec as a wetland ecologist. Mazer will conduct field work for wetland delineation and mitigation projects. He has technical expertise in plant ecology, plant taxonomy, wetland function and stormwater filtration.
• Kathy Sitchin has joined Pentec as a technical editor. With more than 10 years of editing experience, Sitchin has worked on Environmental Protection Agency reports and manuals, books, journal articles and reports on wetlands delineation and baseline marine surveys.
• Amy Armstrong has been promoted from receptionist to marketing assistant. Her new responsibilities include submitting proposals and statements of qualifications to clients.

Emcon announces promotions, additions

BOTHELL -- Environmental consulting firm Emcon recently announced the following staff promotions and additions:

• Tonya "Toni" Hardesty has been promoted to manager of facility services in Emcon's Bothell office.
• Marty Orchard has joined the Bothell office as marketing coordinator.
• Robert Lindsay has been promoted to branch manager of Emcon's Spokane office.

Pacific Modular reuses carpet

SEATTLE -- Pacific Modular, a Seattle-based provider of floor covering materials, has started an environmental division that specializes in cleaning and reusing carpet. The new division offers a dry-cleaning system and a program for cleaning, retexturing and redesigning old carpet so businesses can reuse it rather than replace it. The reused carpet costs about half the price of new carpet. The company's "MilliCare" dry-cleaning system removes chemical vapors, dirt and allergens from the carpet in order to protect indoor air quality, and the "Earthwise Ennovations" program helps prevent tons of old carpet from being landfilled. "We're striving to help businesses turn carpet, one of their biggest liabilities, into an asset," said Pacific Modular President Bill Bucy. Bucy recently was elected president of the Seattle chapter of International Facility Managers Association's (IFMA). His company's environmental programs have received numerous awards. Has your environmental firm hired someone new or started working on an interesting project in the Northwest or overseas? Do you have news to share that would be of interest to people who work in the environmental industry? If so, send press releases and story ideas to: Laura T. Coffey, Environmental Editor, Daily Journal of Commerce, 83 Columbia St., Seattle, WA 98104; e-mail: laura@djc.com; phone: (206) 622-8272; fax: (206) 622-8416.

Feb 12, 1998

Ellis Paguirigan Designs

Natalia Erdahl, a senior account executive at Olympia-based Ellis Paguirigan Designs, has been elected to the 1998 Board of Directors of the Lacey Thurston County Chamber of Commerce. Erdahl chaired the Chamber's 1997 Business and Food Expo.

Oridigm

Oridigm Corp., a Seattle-based biotechnology firm, is relocating to a new expanded research and development facility. Oridigm develops drugs for the treatment of certain cancers and other diseases associated with aging. The drugs being developed are based on compounds the company designed using its proprietary drug discovery technology. For more information, contact Michael A. Lorenz at Oridigm, telephone (206) 675-8880; fax (206) 675-8881.

Feb 11, 1998

Olson Sundberg

Scott Allen and Tom Kundig have assumed ownership positions in Olson Sundberg Architects. Both have served for six years as principals with Jim Olson and Rick Sundberg. Allen is currently project manager for Seattle University's School of Law building, scheduled to open in 1999, and has been project manager for other large institutional projects, including the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. He is the firm's managing principal. Kundig is a designer of award-winning residences and was recently associate architect for the Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University. He is currently working on a winery in British Columbia and on the Newman Center at the University of Washington.

W&H Pacific

Scott A. Sherrow has joined W&H Pacific as a senior project manager in the development services group. A civil engineer, he has coordinated large design teams on multiple-discipline projects, including Willows Creek Corporate Center, Quadrant Willows Corporate Center and Eddie Bauer corporate headquarters in Redmond. Denise Rubin has joined the firm as director of human resources. She has worked as an employment manager for Group Health for the seven years. Matt Galdo of W&H Pacific was recently selected first place winner in the miscellaneous maps category of a national surveying competition for his map of the "Texaco Cup at Seafair 1997 & U.S. West Airshow."

McGowan Broz

Stuart Reynolds has joined McGowan Broz Engineers as a mechanical designer, and brings eight years of experience on a variety of commercial and institutional projects to the firm.

Otak

Bill Miele has joined Otak, Inc. of Kirkland as a graphic designer. He was recently with Pacific Trading Cards in Lynnwood. Matt Hough has joined the firm as a civil engineering designer. He was previously with Harding Lawson of Bellevue. Vanaja Rajah and David Wilson have also joined the staff as civil engineering designers. Rajah was recently with Aziz Engineering Northwest of Redmond, and Wilson was an engineering assistant with the City of Kirkland.

FFA

Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA) of Portland has added three new members to the staff. Gene Brockmeyer is a project manager specializing in higher education and high technology projects. Paul Falsetto, who is in the process of completing a master of science degree in historic preservation from the University of Oregon, will work as a historic architecture intern at FFA. Eric Hoffman recently joined FFA's interior design department, and is currently working on space needs assessment for the City of Camas and for the City of Portland.