Sep 11, 2024

NW Natural Holdings

Fellon

NW Natural Holdings, comprised of NW Natural Gas Company, NW Natural Water, and NW Natural Renewables, named Brian Fellon as its new vice president, chief information officer/chief information security officer. Fellon will begin his new role with the company on September 23. Fellon joins NW Natural after spending the last eight years as an executive at Puget Sound Energy in Bellevue, where he served as director of applications services, AI and data. Prior to that, Fellon held IT positions at Eddie Bauer, Recreational Equipment, Inc., and Boeing. Fellon received degrees from the University of Washington and Seattle University. NW Natural Holdings is headquartered in Portland, and has been doing business for over 165 years in the Pacific Northwest.

Frazier Healthcare Partners

Frazier Healthcare Partners promoted Clarissa Berman to principal on the Growth Buyout Investment Professional (IP) team. Berman joined Frazier in 2019. Prior to Frazier, she worked at McKinsey and Company, Credit Suisse, and Morgan Stanley, in addition to Bauscher Brasil, a start-up she co-founded. The firm also announced three additional promotions on the IP team: Michael Machak to vice president and Volo Gulidov and Eric Yang to senior associate. Founded in 1991, Frazier Healthcare Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. Frazier is headquartered in Seattle, and invests broadly across the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Sep 10, 2024

WASWD

The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD) awarded over $13,000 in scholarships to support Washington state residents who are developing their careers in the clean water industry. This year's scholarships represent the largest ever contribution to students and underscore the ongoing Clean Water Careers outreach program. The eight scholarship recipients are: Janet Essig, Port Orchard – awarded $2,000; Maya Giddings, Sammamish Plateau – awarded $2,000; Kelly Nesbitt, Bothell / Kenmore / Lake Forest Park – awarded $2,000; Chrystal Pointer, Vancouver – awarded $948; Austin Popoff, Wenatchee – awarded $2,000; Michael Ramsdell, Kitsap Peninsula – awarded $2,000; Gabriella Rebutiaco, Auburn – awarded $2,000; and Nate Swyers, Vancouver – awarded $500. WASWD's Walt Canter Scholarship Fund reflects its commitment to educational advancement within the industry. Named after Walt Canter, an industry advocate and commissioner of the Cedar River Water and Sewer District for nearly 50 years, WASWD's Scholarship Fund facilitates and encourages entrance, advancement and retention of employees in the water and wastewater industry. Since the year 2000, the program has awarded over $145,000. Scholarship applicants must live in the state or have a relationship to a WASWD district or associate member. Applications are reviewed by a group of local utility district members. Scholarship recipients and amounts are selected based on academic achievements and relevant career goals.

CalmWave

CalmWave added George Savage to its board of advisors. Savage brings a wealth of experience in medical innovation and digital health technologies, and has a track record of bringing first-in-category medical products from concept through commercialization and exit. Among his achievements is the pioneering of catheter-based minimally invasive heart surgery. As co-founder and chief medical officer of Proteus Digital Health from 2003 to 2020, Savage led the development of digital health technologies, including the first FDA-approved drug-device combination integrating silicon and software. He was named one of PharmaVoice's 100 Most Inspiring People in 2014, and was elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering in 2016. CalmWave's mission is to eliminate non-actionable clinical alarms through data science and Transparent AI. CalmWave progressed from inception to funding at the AI2 Incubator, a startup incubator at the Allen Institute for AI. Headquartered in Seattle, CalmWave investors include Bonfire Ventures, Tau Ventures, AI2 Incubator, SeaChange Ventures, Hike Ventures, and the co-founders of PagerDuty.

Sep 06, 2024

Department of Commerce

Yoo

Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong announced that Grace Yoo will join the agency as assistant director. Yoo comes to Commerce from the Washington State Women's Commission, where she has served as executive director since her appointment by Gov. Jay Inslee in May 2023. Before joining the governor's cabinet, Yoo worked for Starbucks, where she led the company's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its retail stores. Prior to joining Starbucks, Yoo served as a diplomat with the U.S. Foreign Service, where she covered topics such as human rights and labor issues at American embassies in China, Korea and Germany. She also served in several roles at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., including as an advisor to the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Yoo has a bachelor's degree in East Asian studies from UCLA and a master's degree in international and intercultural communications from American University. Yoo will lead the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness teams at Commerce, including industry sector development, circular economy, rural and marketing services, small business export assistance, small business finance and community support, finance and grant services, and contracts and procurement. She will serve on the agency's Executive Leadership Team. Yoo will be based in the department's Seattle office.

Pacific Northwest Ballet School

The Pacific Northwest Ballet School has hired Kurt Froman to lead the school's men's division. Froman will teach, support and mentor students, and serve as a liaison with students' families. As a performer, teacher, choreographer, coach and mentor, Froman has worked in nearly every facet of the dance world. His professional dance career started in New York after he was awarded the first Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship which allowed him to study at the School of American Ballet. He later joined the New York City Ballet, where he danced from 1995 to 2002. His Broadway career started when he was cast in the lead role of the Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel show, “Movin' Out”. His additional Broadway credits include the revival of Pal Joey at Studio 54, City Center Encores! (“Juno” and “On Your Toes”), and Christopher Wheeldon's “An American in Paris”. Froman has been on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, Steps Conservatory and The School at Steps, as well as guest faculty at Barnard College and the University of Michigan. He has headlined the Friday night audition class for the New York City Dance Alliance and teaches company class on a weekly basis for New York City Ballet.

Seattle 770 KTTH

Bonneville Seattle Media Group, Washington State University Athletics and Learfield's Cougar Sports Radio Network announced a multi-year contract extension that will keep 770 KTTH as the home for Cougar football and men's basketball games. The extended agreement will ensure that Cougar fans continue to receive comprehensive game-day coverage, including live broadcasts, pre-game shows, and post-game analysis. With this extension, 770 KTTH will further expand its coverage, bringing WSU's athletic events to an even wider audience. Fans can also follow the action on the Seattle Sports App, which will provide live streaming of Cougar games, along with real-time updates and exclusive content. Cougar gameday broadcasts will include a two-hour pregame and one-hour postgame football show and a 30-minute pre and postgame show for men's basketball. Additionally, 770 KTTH will be broadcasting the weekly Coaches Show for both sports. The relationship with 770 KTTH is managed by WSU Athletics' exclusive multimedia rights holder, Washington State Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield. KTTH is owned and operated by Bonneville International. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Bonneville is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corp.

Sep 05, 2024

Department of Ecology

Benjamin

The Department of Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) named Rebecca Benjamin as its new director. She joins Ecology after a long career serving in leadership positions for environmental nonprofit entities. Most recently, Benjamin served as the executive director for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition where she helped build the grassroots organization into a leader for salmon habitat restoration on the north Olympic Peninsula. Benjamin earned her bachelor's degree in environmental conservation with a minor in outdoor education from the University of New Hampshire. She also has led executive leadership training and outdoor group facilitation for companies such as Boeing, Eddie Bauer, Microsoft, and Seattle University. She also has decades of experience working in partnership with WCC programs and was a WCC individual placement member in the 1990s where she supported salmon habitat restoration activities with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. WCC is an AmeriCorps program housed in Ecology that provides hands-on career training opportunities for young adults and military veterans. AmeriCorps members in the WCC support critical environmental projects, including invasive species removal, native plant installation, wetland restoration, wildland fire mitigation, and trail and campground improvements. WCC also supports local and national disaster relief efforts as an AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team. WCC is currently recruiting AmeriCorps members for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Additional information is available at WCCActivities@ecy.wa.gov.

Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts

Duerr

The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD) presented its annual Outstanding Legislator Award to Rep. Davina Duerr (D-District 1). Duerr was awarded for supporting and defending special purpose sewer and water districts, most recently in supporting House Bill 1621 that gives greater flexibility for districts to self-perform work. Duerr serves as chair for the House Local Government Committee, which is instrumental in most of the legislation affecting district operations and elections. Duerr represents the 1st Legislative District, which includes parts of the communities of Bothell, Woodinville, Kenmore and Alderwood and is served by five water and sewer districts: Alderwood Water & Wastewater District, Cross Valley Water District, Northshore Utility District, Woodinville Water District, and Lake Forest Park Water District. The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts exists to provide education, advocacy and collaboration opportunities for water and sewer special purpose districts located around the state.