Aug 17, 2021

ABC of Western Washington

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington added Blue Trident and A/D & Sons Transportation Group as new members. Blue Trident is an architecture/engineering and construction services firm primarily working on federal projects. It has a local office, as well as offices in California and Florida. A/D & Sons is a Vancouver-based transportation and logistical services company.

Ritchie Bros.

Vancouver, B.C.-based heavy-equipment auctioneer Ritchie Bros. announced earlier this month that it will acquire Euro Auctions for about $1.08 billion in cash. Founded in 1998, Euro Auctions conducts unreserved heavy-equipment auctions with on-site and online bidding under the brands Euro Auctions and Yoder & Frey. It has over 200 employees in 14 countries. Ritchie says Euro Auctions has considerable presence across Europe and the Middle East, particularly in the U.K. and Germany, and will serve as a platform to accelerate international growth. Ritchie will finance the acquisition through existing cash and new debt. The deal is expected to close later this year or in early 2022.

MN Custom Homes

MN Custom Homes is donating the proceeds from the recent sale of a Bellevue home to the nonprofit Jubilee Reach for its in-school and community outreach programs. The homebuilder says 34 subcontractors and vendors contributed discounts and donations. MN Custom Homes staff and many of its subcontractors also volunteer during Jubilee's annual Service Days to refurbish homes for the elderly or disabled. Privately owned MN Custom Homes specializes in single-family, infill home sites on the Eastside. It was founded in Bellevue in 2011 by Shaun McFadden and Joe Naeseth.

Port of Seattle

The Port of Seattle is giving $2 million to organizations involved in the port's Opportunity Youth Initiative: Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Seattle Goodwill Industries, Seattle Parks Foundation, and Partner in Employment. The port's initiative provides underserved youth with jobs and skills training, with a focus on South Seattle and south King County. Urban League's Construction Trades Program provides youth with hands-on pre-apprenticeship construction training in building tiny homes. Seattle Goodwill and partners operate the Youth Aerospace Program, which helps youth build aviation-related workplace skills and then connects them with aviation jobs. Seattle Goodwill also works with Seattle Central College to provide the Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training program for youth looking for construction careers. Seattle Parks Foundation partners with others to focus on green jobs and maritime careers for youth. Partner in Employment works with Mid Puget Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group to conduct habitat restoration training for youths. Partner in Employment also works with Machinists Institute Youth Academy to provide training in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

Aug 10, 2021

Skanska

Prendergast

Skanska promoted Patrick Prendergast to operations vice president of its Civil division in Washington state. Prendergast has 19 years of experience in heavy-civil construction, including nearly 11 years with Skanska. He has been a project executive at Skanska for the past eight years, most recently as project director leading the company's work on the Lynnwood Link Extension light rail project. Skanska says Prendergast has vast expertise in highway, transit, industrial and civil municipal infrastructure project delivery, and a strong background in engineering design and survey.

Wayne's Roofing

Richmond

In Sumner, Wayne's Roofing promoted Chuck Richmond to assistant operations manager. Richmond started at Wayne's in 1987 as an apprentice, advancing to journeyman, foreman, superintendent and senior superintendent. As assistant operations manager, he is overseeing all roofing and yard operations.

Wenaha Group

Krebs

Tacoma-based Wenaha Group hired Taylor Krebs as a project manager in its Portland office. Krebs started her career at Seattle Public Schools, where she spent several years in project management, working across 63 of the district's properties. She then transitioned to an architecture firm, where she continued her work in K-12 and commercial architecture and completed her professional internship. She holds bachelor's degrees in architecture and art history from the University of San Diego. Wenaha Group is a Native-owned construction management consultant with five offices in Washington, Oregon and Arizona.

ABC Western Washington

Two firms recently joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington: Drake Electric of Fall City and T&T Traffic Control of Seattle. Drake works on tenant improvement, commercial, service and underground projects. It is led by Shawn Drake. T&T provides flaggers and traffic laborers, as well as traffic control setup/takedown of signs, cones and arrow boards. It is led by Tracey Freeman.

Transblue

Seattle-based Transblue plans to open 30-35 new franchise locations by year-end. Transblue is a national construction, sales and project management concept for franchisees. It has 16 locations open and two more in development. Last year, it launched 13 franchise locations throughout California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia and Washington state. The company was founded in 2004 and began franchising in 2019. It specializes in residential, commercial and multifamily exterior design. Clients include Wells Fargo, Starbucks and Walmart.

AGC of America

The Associated General Contractors of America launched an initiative to address climate change by pushing for construction of less carbon-intensive projects while also making the process of building projects more efficient. The association says construction activity accounts for less than 2% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., yet the built environment accounts for about one-third of those emissions. As a result, while the new initiative includes steps construction firms can take to operate more efficiently, most of the effort focuses on pushing public and private project owners to build more efficient projects and having the construction industry support that. Included are strategies to modernize federal buildings to make them more efficient, invest in infrastructure, and expedite permitting for projects that improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases.