Jul 28, 2003

PRR

PRR, a Seattle-based marketing and communications firm, appointed Colleen Gants as senior associate in its public affairs department. Gants was previously with Parametrix, where she served in marketing management roles. At PRR, Gants will manage a series of public improvement and infrastructure projects, currently assigned as public information officer of the I-405 Corridor Improvement Program.

Paguirigan Branding & Design

Megan Leyrer has assumed the position of account executive at Paguirigan Branding & Design. Leyrer will head the new business development side of the Olympia firm. Previously, Leyrer worked as a consultant to several small businesses in the region in sales and project management, and held positions in Australia in business management.

Garvey Schubert Barer

Russell Murphy joined Garvey Schubert Barer as of counsel in the firm's international practice group. Murphy will split his time between the firm's Seattle office and travel in Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei. Murphy will focus his practice on corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on representing Chinese clients in the U.S. and U.S. businesses with interests in the China. He was previously with Murphy, Shrenger & Weiss in Southern California. For the past five years he has served as an instructor with the University of Washington's Education Outreach program, presenting courses in international commercial law and e-commerce strategy.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line named Charlie Mandigo director of fleet security. Mandigo has recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Seattle office after 27 years of service, focusing on anti-terrorism, intelligence and criminal matters. Mandigo will be part of the team responsible for Holland's security programs and for compliance with all security directives by governments and other regulatory agencies. Holland America currently operates a fleet of 12 five-star, vessels offering 447 cruises annually.

Artifex

Artifex, a Tacoma-based Web development and graphic design firm, added Lam Tran to its Internet development team. Lam is a graduate of the Washington State University computer science program. He specializes in database-driven Web sites using ASP, JSP, PHP and Flash.

Superior Court

Al Nielson has been appointed by the governor to the Superior Court bench that serves Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties. Nielson succeeds retiring Judge Larry Kristianson, who has served since 1982. Nielson previously served as Ferry County prosecutor and has been the Stevens County chief criminal deputy prosecutor since 1998. Nielson will stand for election in the fall.

Jul 25, 2003

Microsoft

Microsoft appointed Patricia Ryan general manager of its PacWest district. She will manage company sales and support teams in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Ryan joined Microsoft in June, previously serving as vice president of worldwide sales for Seattle-based WRQ. Ryan replaces Marc Wolfram who is now general manager of venture integration. The company also named Ralph Young vice president of its West region. Young will be responsible for 13 Western states. Most recently, Young was vice president of Microsoft's Enterprise Sales Strategy Group. He joined Microsoft in 1998. Both Ryan and Young will be based in Seattle.

City of Seattle

Michael Mann, who has served as Mayor Nickels' director of council relations for the past 18 months, has been named deputy director of Seattle's Office of Policy and Management. Previously, he was district director for U.S. Representative Jay Inslee and a member of the Seattle City Council staff. Mann's replacement in the mayor's office will be Sung Yang. Yang is currently the deputy director of the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development and is an associate attorney with Bogle & Gates.

Excellence in Hip Hop Award

Jonathan Moore, cofounder and chief executive of Jasiri Media Group, was selected as the recipient of the second annual Mayor's Award for Excellence in Hip Hop. The award honors community service and entrepreneurial achievement by a Seattle-based hip hop label or artist. In addition to his role at Jasiri, Moore serves on the boards of JAMPAC, KEXP and Youth Speaks and is a creative writing instructor at Franklin High School and a founding member and lead vocalist for the hip hop group, Source of Labor. Jasiri Media Group, founded in 1992, works on educational programs and concert events.

West Coast Bank

West Coast Bank will open a 3,000-square-foot branch in the Orchards Plaza Shopping Center in Vancouver. The branch will be its third in Vancouver and will increase the company's franchise to 47 branches, with 18 in the Vancouver and greater Portland area.

Purple Cafe & Wine Bar

A second location for Purple Cafe & Wine Bar has been opened, this one in Kirkland at 323 Park Place Center. The 3,760-square-foot restaurant features inside and outside dining. The original Purple Cafe & Wine Bar is located in Woodinville.