May 13, 2026

City of Tacoma

The city of Tacoma's Equity in Contracting (EIC) Program is holding a workshop and Q&A session with the state Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) on the business certification process. The virtual event will be held from 9-10 a.m. on May 18.

Topics include: an overview of the city's EIC Program; federal and state certification; tips on how to successfully complete an application; what documentation is required; what to bring for the follow-up OMWBE Certification 201 workshop; and guidance on becoming a certified business and unlocking new contracting opportunities.

This workshop is the first in a two-part series. The OMWBE Certification 201 workshop will be offered in a hybrid format on May 28, from 9-11 a.m. Event details are available at http://makeittacoma.com/events, or contact Linda Cerna at lcerna@tacoma.gov or (253) 453-9488 for more information.

May 12, 2026

County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

McBroom

Taylor

King County Exec. Girmay Zahilay announced that John Taylor, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP), has accepted an appointment as the new CEO of the Cascade Water Alliance, a partner organization that contributes to safe, clean, reliable water supply in the Central Puget Sound region. Taylor will begin his new role May 29.

Mo McBroom — who has served as deputy director for DNRP since 2020 — has been appointed interim director.

The department completed major projects during Taylor's tenure, including King County's largest-ever floodplain restoration project, a unique onsite battery system that provides reliable power to West Point Treatment Plant, and the renewal of the King County Parks Levy.

Taylor was appointed DNRP director in February 2024 after serving as the first director of the King County Department of Local Services. He previously served as a member of the department's leadership team, and was one of the architects of the Land Conservation Initiative, a partnership protecting urban greenspace, forestland, farmland, river corridors and natural areas while increasing access to the outdoors.

The next director will lead a workforce of 2,300-plus employees. DNRP restores habitat, reduces flood risks, builds and operates major infrastructure that protects Puget Sound, transforms waste management to cut carbon emissions, and expands and enhances regional parks and trails.

May 08, 2026

City of Lynnwood

Harrell

The Lynnwood City Council has confirmed Monisha Harrell as the city's next assistant city administrator. The confirmation comes after a nationwide search to fill the position within the City's Executive Department.

Harrell is a senior leader with extensive experience in nonprofit governance, public policy, and organizational management. She has held executive roles in local government, including serving as director of the Office of Equity and Racial and Social Justice for King County and as senior deputy mayor for the city of Seattle.

Harrell has also led complex organizations and initiatives focused on civil rights, education and community impact, including serving as board chair of Equal Rights Washington and in national leadership roles advancing LGBTQ equality.

She holds an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business and a bachelor's degree in film studies from Columbia University.

May 07, 2026

Lorenz Private Trustees

Bitterman

Lorenz Private Trustees has appointed Heidi Bitterman, J.D., C.T.F.A., as a private trustee, serving clients across Washington, Oregon and California. Bitterman, a licensed California attorney who maintains her bar status, brings nearly two decades of experience in trusts and estates, fiduciary administration and multigenerational wealth advising.

Bitterman's background spans leadership roles in both legal and financial institutions. As vice president and client advisor at The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada, she advised ultra-high-net-worth families and provided strategic guidance in estate planning, trust administration, philanthropy, investment management, and complex family governance. She previously served as Estate Settlement Market Director for Bank of America. Earlier in her legal career, she established a trusts and estates practice within a family law firm, managing comprehensive estate planning, probate and trust administration matters.

Bitterman serves on the board of directors for the East King County Estate Planning Council; co-chairs the University of Southern California's Seattle Regional Alumni Network; and is a trustee of Path 2 Healthy, a nonprofit dedicated to holistic health and wellness.

Lorenz Private Trustees provides professional fiduciary services, including trust administration, estate settlement and related support for individuals and families across the country.

Puget Sound Partnership

Puget Sound Partnership is holding an Adaptive Management Forum for Salmon Recovery, May 19-20. Titled “Swimming Upriver: Learning from Our Setbacks to Adapt and Move Forward,” the two-day virtual forum will bring together practitioners, planners, decision-makers, scientists, and implementers from across Puget Sound watersheds to connect, share lessons learned, and explore how adaptive management can strengthen implementation efforts across the region. Through case studies, emerging science and facilitated discussion, the forum is designed to create space for peer learning, reflection and practical takeaways that participants can apply in their own work. Sessions are from 8:30 a.m .to 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register online here: https://tinyurl.com/ye6h3khc

May 06, 2026

Ballard Spahr

Beth Ann Lennon has joined Ballard Spahr's Litigation Department and Labor and Employment Group as partner. An accomplished labor and employment law attorney with 15 years of experience, Lennon is resident in the firm's Denver and Portland offices.

Lennon divides her practice between employment counseling and litigation. She regularly assists clients with the complex legal questions they face as employers, drafts policies and contracts, assists with internal investigations and M&A due diligence, and provides guidance and representation in agency actions and litigation throughout the country. Lennon represents clients across industries, including construction, hospitality, manufacturing, media, sports and technology.

As a member of the Labor and Employment Group, Lennon joins a coast-to-coast team of more than 50 attorneys. The group is noted for its thought leadership, including the Best Practices for Best Employers Labor and Employment Seminar, which has for over four decades been an indispensable resource for employers in the Pacific Northwest.

Ballard Spahr LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm founded in 1885, headquartered in Philadelphia, with over 700 attorneys across the U.S. In 2025, Ballard Spahr combined with Lane Powell, adding offices in Anchorage, Portland and Seattle.

May 05, 2026

American Bankers Association Foundation

The American Bankers Association Foundation is now accepting submissions for its 14th annual Community Commitment Awards, the organization's highest recognition for banks demonstrating exceptional community engagement.

Banks of all sizes are invited to submit nominations for innovative programs that strengthen communities and improve quality of life.

The entry deadline is July 6.

The awards recognize bank initiatives across seven categories, including affordable housing, financial education, volunteerism and financial inclusion. In addition, the George Bailey Distinguished Service Award honors a non-CEO bank employee who shows extraordinary commitment to their bank and community. Winners will be selected by nationally recognized experts and honored at the ABA Annual Convention in October in Salt Lake City.

Banks interested in applying can find entry forms and a list of past winners at http://www.aba.com/awards. For more information, contact Melissa Murray at awards@aba.com or call (202) 663-5440.

May 01, 2026

Evergreen Goodwill

Brown

Hurd

Nordstrom

Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors, further strengthening the organization's leadership in tuition-free adult education and the reuse of clothing and other products through its popular thrift stores. The additions underscore the organization's role as a nonprofit social enterprise advancing workforce development, reuse, and long-term community investment across the Puget Sound region.

New board members include:

Erik Nordstrom, co-CEO, Nordstrom, Inc., a fourth-generation member of his family business, is part of the ownership group that took the company private in 2025.

A-P Hurd, president of SkipStone, is a civic leader whose 25-year career spans real estate, finance and technology.

Julie L. Brown, MBA, MFA, is senior associate vice president, COO, and chief budget officer for Advancement at the University of Washington.

SanMar and Beat the Bridge

SanMar, a supplier of wholesale accessories and apparel, will serve for the second year as the presenting sponsor of Seattle's Beat the Bridge for Breakthrough T1D, a charity race now in its 44th year. The event benefits Breakthrough T1D, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, formerly known as JDRF.

This year's event will take place at Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus on May 9.

SanMar, headquartered in nearby Issaquah, also operates a distribution center in the Seattle area.

Beat the Bridge, founded by Nordstrom in 1983, is now the largest Breakthrough T1D Walk event in the U.S.