Nov 30, 2007

Hacker Group

Bellevue-based Hacker Group hired Jürgen Stephan as executive director. Stephan has 25 years experience and last worked for Captaris software. Hacker Group is a full-service direct marketing agency.

Center for Dispute Resolution

Beginning Dec. 3, the Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution will provide services from its new offices at 738 Broadway, Suite 400, in Tacoma. The center was founded in response to community and court initiative to provide affordable mediation services in Pierce County. It was incorporated in 1994.

Nov 29, 2007

Ignition Partners

Bellevue-based Ignition Partners promoted Richard Fade, Michelle Goldberg and Adrian Smith to investing partners in Ignition Venture Partners IV. Fade has been with Ignition for four years as a venture partner and worked for Microsoft for 16 years. Goldberg has been with Ignition for eight years as a principal. Smith has been with Ignition for eight years as a principal. Ignition Venture Partners IV is Ignition's fourth early stage fund. Ignition has offices in the Pacific Northwest and China.

Dorsey & Whitney

The Seattle office of law firm Dorsey & Whitney promoted James Howard to partner. He was a member of the Trial Group. Dorsey & Whitney employs 650 lawyers on three continents.

PowerTech Group

Kent-based PowerTech Group promoted Brendan Patterson to vice president of marketing. Patterson was director of product management and marketing. The PowerTech Group is an automated computer security solutions company.

Nov 28, 2007

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Virginia Mason Medical Center hired five new physicians. Farideh Eskandari joined the endocrinology section. Patricia Auerbach, Ellen Frechette and Jeff Knight joined the general internal medicine section. Auerbach will practice at the Lewis and John Dare Center at Virginia Mason's Bellevue clinic. Knight completed his internal medical residency at Virginia Mason where he was internal medicine chief resident. Adel Assaad will work in the pathology section.

PRR

PRR, a Seattle-based public affairs and communications firm, hired Andrea Wedderburn, Susan Hoffman and Miles Pomeroy. Wedderburn is media relations account director. She has eight years experience and worked at a private consulting firm. Hoffman is senior associate. She has nine years of public policy experience and worked at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Pomeroy is IT manager. He last worked in California.

Nov 27, 2007

Abramson Pendergast & Co.

LeMaster Daniels, a Spokane-based CPA firm, has purchased Bellevue-based Abramson Pendergast & Co., which LeMaster says makes it the second largest CPA firm based in Washington. LeMaster Daniels plans to expand in the Puget Sound area. John Fisher, a LeMaster Daniels owner, is chief operating officer in Bellevue. Rob Abramson will lead the business generation effort. Abramson Pendergast has 40 employees and six shareholders. LeMaster Daniels has 13 offices in  Washington and Idaho.

Vertafore

Bothell-based Vertafore, a provider of software for the insurance industry, named Darryl Lemecha senior vice president and chief information officer. Lemecha served as CIO for ChoicePoint, a provider of decision-making technology and information.

Seattle University

Peter Brous, finance professor at the Albers School of Business and Economics, will be installed as the inaugural holder of the Dr. Khalil Dibee Endowed Chair in Finance at Seattle University. Established by a $3.5 million gift from Gary Brinson and his wife, Suzann, the chair honors a faculty member for teaching, scholarship and mentoring students. Brous will serve a four-year term and will work to advance his research, particularly his knowledge of international capital budgeting and real options.