July 20, 2005

Design Detailings: New R.W. Beck president/CEO

Stepp

R.W. Beck picked Russell J. Stepp of Seattle to be president and chief executive officer. He will replace Nicholas P. Guarriello, who will remain a senior consultant role before retiring in late 2006.

Stepp was the national director of the water and waste resources practice, and has 30 years of experience in water-related contract negotiations, and resolving disputes.

R.W. Beck is a management consulting and engineering firm.

Planning award winners announced

Two planning associations recently announced the winners of their joint awards.

Seven projects submitted were picked for top awards in the competition, which was sponsored by the Washington chapter of the American Planning Association and the Planning Association of Washington.

Awards went to OTAK for a plan to manage Whidbey Island Scenic Isle Way, the city of Lynnwood for its city center plan, the city of Gig Harbor for a design manual it produced, the city of Bellingham for looking at adaptable space, Thurston Regional Planning Council for its visioning task force, the city of Enumclaw for its downtown streetscape plan, and AHBL for a sustainability plan it created.

Also recognized with honor awards were EDAW, Seattle Parks and Recreation and King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

Rusten new CEO at Berger/Abam

Rusten

Berger/Abam Engineers board of directors picked Arnfinn (Arnie) Rusten as president and chief executive officer. He will succeed Robert L. Wallace, who recently retired.

Rusten joined Berger/Abam Engineers in 1977. The Norway native started as a junior design engineer, and has worked on facilities for the U.S. Navy Carrier Battle Group in Everett, the U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle, and Washington State Ferries. He headed the company's domestic waterfront department for six years.

Elmer Ozolin was promoted to vice president and will lead the waterfront department. David Brown was promoted to vice president and will remain Portland branch manager.

Berger/Abam has offices in Federal Way, Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas, and is an affiliate of the global company Berger Group Holdings.

Landmarks commission openings in Tacoma

Applications are being accepted to fill five positions on the Pierce County Landmarks Commission.

The commission makes recommendations on historic preservation matters such as nominations to historic registers, and applications for historic road names.

History, architecture, and archaeology professionals or residents with interests in architectural history are encouraged to apply. Positions are unpaid.

For more information, contact the Department of Planning and Land Services at (253) 798-2783.

Art Anderson hires Titan for Navy study

Bremerton naval architecture and engineering company Art Anderson Associates has hired San Diego-based Titan Corp. to help with a new study for the U.S. Navy. Titan has simulation software Art Anderson can use to design and engineer a Navy vessel. Navy officials will set parameters.

This project is a new phase of work Art Anderson is doing through a series of Small Business Innovative Research contracts with the U.S. Navy. The federal government set up this research program in 1982 to help small businesses get involved with federal government research and development.

Art Anderson Associates focuses on naval architecture and engineering and has local offices in Bremerton and Seattle.