Dec 20, 2004

Riddell Williams

Real estate and commercial litigator Scott A. Smith joined Seattle's Riddell Williams. Smith was chair of the litigation department at the law firm Short Cressman. Smith was also a law clerk for Jerome Farris of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Dendreon

Dendreon Corp. appointed three vice presidents: Richard P. Rieger will lead business development; Julie M. Eastland heads strategic planning; and Suleman S. Verjee will work on biometrics. Rieger held licensing and business development positions at Abbott Laboratories and TAP Pharmaceutical Products. Eastland was senior director of finance at Dendreon. She has 20 years' experience in strategic planning, including work for Encore Media Group. Verjee worked in clinical development, and directed biostatistics and research data systems for Lorex Pharmaceuticals. Dendreon is a biotechnology company based in Seattle that works on treatments for cancer.

Washington Newspaper Publishers

George S. Smith of Cabot, Ark., was named executive director of Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. Smith was a publisher and editor in Arkansas, Alabama and Texas. Frank Garred, past publisher of The Port Townsend-Jefferson County Leader, will be interim executive director until Smith begins in January. Smith succeeds Diana Kramer, who resigned after more than a decade as the association's executive director and is now associate publisher of the South County Business Report. Kramer started the Report recently with Denis Law under Law's company, Puget Sound Publishing.

Taco Del Mar

Taco Del Mar appointed David Huether president. Huether will work on expanding the company from 115 to 1,000 locations nationwide and in British Columbia in the next five years. Huether was president of Vista Health Corp. and founded Eagle Rehab Corp.

Seattle Executives Association

Seattle Executives Association's new officers will be installed at a January meeting at the Washington Athletic Club. The president for the upcoming term is Tom Hill, president of Metropolitan Building Maintenance. First vice president is Kevin Shoemaker, chief operating officer of Consolidated Restaurants. Second vice president is Greg Perry, president of American Drapery Blind and Carpet. Treasurer is Ed Rosen, president of Reibman and Rosen Jewelers. David Fox, senior vice president of Wachovia Securities in Bellevue, will be president of the organization's associate group.

Dec 17, 2004

The Frause Group

Seattle public relations and marketing firm The Frause Group hired Annie Schultz as an account executive. Schultz was an account director in the New York office of Brunswick Group, a financial communications firm. Schultz will work on public relations and marketing support and developing new business.

Lane Powell Spears Lubersky

Ada Ko, a partner with the Seattle law firm of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, was appointed chair of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association tax committee. Ko has more than 21 years of experience in international business transactions, with a focus on tax for cross-border operations and investments. The Inter-Pacific Bar Association focuses on the Asia-Pacific region and has 2,000 lawyers from 67 global jurisdictions.

Williams, Kastner & Gibbs

Leona Colegrove joined the Seattle office of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs as an associate. She specializes in Indian law and was legal counsel for the governing body of the Quinault Indian Nation and the Tulalip Tribes. Gabe Galanda, an associate practicing Indian law in Seattle, was recently given the Native Justice Award by the Northwest Indian Bar Association. Williams, Kastner & Gibbs has 90 lawyers in Seattle, Tacoma and Portland.

Action Engine

Action Engine appointed Ted Wugofski chief technology officer. Wugofski will lead the technology strategy for a mobile application platform. He has 14 patents and directed technical and business strategy for device products for Boingo Wireless. Action Engine is privately held, with headquarters in Redmond.