Jul 12, 2024

King County Library System

Gallagher

The King County Library System (KCLS) named Chase Gallagher as the new communications and marketing director. Gallagher reports to KCLS Executive Director Heidi Daniel. Gallagher brings more than 15 years of strategic communications experience across the public and private sectors. He most recently served as the communications director for King County, the largest local government in Washington state, where he led communications efforts on public health, chronic homelessness and policy initiatives for King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Previous roles include working in executive communications at Alaska Airlines, as the media manager for Gov. Jay Inslee and as a communications manager at the Department of Ecology. He also works with the White House on presidential events. Gallagher holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Washington. Founded in 1942, the King County Library System supports the communities of King County (outside the city of Seattle), has 50 libraries and serves approximately 1.6 million people.

Orca Security

Portland-based Orca Security appointed John Tavares as senior vice president of worldwide partner and alliances sales. In this role, Tavares will be responsible for advancing Orca Security's 100% channel-led go-to-market strategy. Key priorities include evaluating partner enablement opportunities, evolving the channel program to be even more beneficial and profitable for partners, and scaling the company's market ecosystem. Tavares joins Orca Security from Zscaler where he was instrumental in revamping strategy for increased partner profitability. Prior to Zscaler, Tavares implemented a new global partner-first strategy at Commvault with a key focus on the company's SaaS transformation business, Metallic. He also played a prominent role in building Dell Technologies' partner-first IT Transformation business.

Jul 11, 2024

Port of Everett

Liard

The Port of Everett has hired Monique Liard as its new chief administrative & financial officer. This role manages the port's $83 million operating and capital budget, while also overseeing all financial, risk management, purchasing, and information technology functions of the port. Liard will also advance port priorities across all business lines and direct staff implementation of services, policies, procedures and programs. She will also serve as the Port Commission-appointed auditor and treasurer. Liard brings 18 years of experience as a chief financial officer. Prior to joining the port, she served as the CFO for the Spokane Transit Authority. She also held the CFO role for NxEdge, Shape Technologies Group, Caterpillar's Energy Solutions Group, as well as a consulting CFO for CFO Selections. Throughout her tenure, Liard has overseen local and global teams. Liard earned her bachelor's degree in business administration with concentrations in finance and accounting from the University of Wisconsin. She is a certified public accountant in Washington state. Liard replaces the port's former CFO Eric Russell, who retired in March. Other recent Port leadership hires tied to retirements and transitions include Cassidy Follins, the port's new grants compliance manager and Barb Hackmann, the port's new human resources manager. Follins ensures the port's compliance with grant and loan requirements and reviews construction-in-progress for various projects. Before joining the port, Follins worked for the Seattle-based National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children, and the Pacific Science Center. Hackmann develops and administers the port's human resources and employee benefits programs to recruit, hire and retain employees. She previously worked at the Seattle Mariners and the Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett.

Qumulo

Seattle-based data storage company Qumulo appointed Douglas Gourlay as president and chief executive officer. Gourlay will also join Qumulo's Board of Directors. A 25-year industry veteran, Gourlay previously served as vice president and general manager of software at Arista Networks. Joining Arista in 2009, Gourlay held various executive leadership roles across product, systems engineering, marketing, and sales. Prior to Arista, he held executive leadership positions at Cisco Systems, where he developed several multi-billion-dollar product lines. Earlier in his career, Gourlay served as an infantry officer in the United States Army. Gourlay has filed or holds over 70 patents in systems and networking technologies. Gourlay replaces retiring CEO Bill Richter, who will transition to the role of board and executive advisor.

Jul 10, 2024

The Standard

Wacker

Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) promoted Smita Wacker to second vice president and actuary, Individual Disability Insurance. Wacker has worked at The Standard since 2018, most recently as a senior director and actuary in Retirement Plans. In her new role, she will lead all actuarial functions for the individual disability insurance business including governance and risk management, financial reporting and product pricing. Wacker earned Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and economics from the University of Wisconsin ­– Madison. She is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. In business since 1906, The Standard provides financial protection products and services for employers and individuals. The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, and its subsidiaries.

Heron's Key

In the last seven years, residents at Heron's Key, a continuing care retirement community in Gig Harbor, have raised $97,500 in scholarships for Gig Harbor graduating high school seniors. The Heron's Key Scholarship Group started in 2018 to support the next generation of higher education students by providing funds to help them complete a four-year program, 2-year program, or attend trade school. Every year since the group's inception, they have been able to award a greater number of scholarships at a higher value. In the first year, a small group of residents provided eight scholarships at $375. This year, 69 resident households awarded 14 scholarships at $2,000 each. They are also providing one student with her fourth scholarship through the Heron's Key Scholarship Group as she nears the completion of her program. Heron's Key residents work with Gig Harbor High School, Peninsula High School and Henderson Bay High School to select students most deserving of the scholarships. In order to be considered, students must submit a portfolio that includes their academic record, extracurricular activities, work experience, community service, and financial need. For the second year, residents in the Scholarship Group have also awarded scholarships to high school students who are employed by Heron's Key. Heron's Key, sponsored by Emerald Communities, is a Washington state-based, not-for-profit senior housing and service organization.

Jul 09, 2024

TRICO Companies

Berglin

Josh Berglin joined TRICO Companies as project engineer for the Food & Manufacturing Business Unit. Berglin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Eastern Washington University. Prior to joining TRICO, he gained hands-on experience through various projects in residential construction, general carpentry, auto repair and furniture making. Berglin is particularly drawn to the complexities of food and manufacturing facilities. In his new role, he will leverage his skills and collaborate with TRICO's team to contribute to the success of current and future projects. TRICO Companies is a design-build general contractor headquartered in Burlington.

Rock Project Management Services

Enninga

Renton-based Rock Project Management Services hired Todd Enninga as a project director leading major capital programs. RPM provides owner's representative services to public and private clients throughout Washington that have education, technology, health care, transportation, and municipal projects. Enninga has over 40 years of construction experience providing direction, planning and coordination to owners, designers and contractors. His project history includes airports, transportation hubs/bridgework, oil and gas, mixed-use resorts/hotels, universities, hospitals, office buildings, maritime/offshore, restaurants, parking structures, deep underground utilities, commercial retail and custom residential work.