July 2, 2025

PCS Structural Solutions

Shaffer

After 31 years managing the multitude of details it takes to run a busy and successful structural engineering firm, Debbie Shaffer has retired from her role as office manager at PCS Structural Solutions.

The firm has offices in Tacoma, Seattle, and Portland. Shaffer was based in the Tacoma office.

Shaffer first joined the company as a secretary in 1981 when it was known as Chalker Engineers. She left the firm for a while, first to embrace motherhood and later to seek a job opportunity with Puyallup developer, Gienger Development, before returning in 2009 as office manager.

During her time with PCS Structural Solutions, Shaffer has supported projects including the Tacoma Dome, which was the first and largest post-tensioned wood dome in the world and has seen the firm through three company name changes, a staff grown from 12 to sixty-one members, and massive changes in technology from mylar to AI. Weber Thompson

Weber Thompson has promoted three team members to associate: Alyssa M. Mitchell, Melissa Miranda, and Peter Tallar.

Mitchell joined Weber Thompson in 2022 after earning her degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Now a licensed architect in Washington, she focuses on affordable housing and cultural architecture that supports equity and uplifts communities. She participated in the first cohort of LeaderFlow, a nonprofit established to address the leadership gap in the AEC industry for mid-career professionals and currently serves as co-chair of the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable. She is also active with NOMA NW's Project Pipeline and contributes internally to Weber Thompson's EDI group and Affordable Housing marketing team.

Miranda is a senior project architect with extensive experience in high-rise residential and hospitality towers. She brings a strong design sensibility and a detail-oriented, collaborative approach to every project. With a deep interest in both the conceptual and technical aspects of tower design, Miranda is known for proactively identifying challenges and guiding teams toward coordinated, efficient solutions. She is a Steering Committee Member for CTBUH's Future Leaders Committee and leads Weber Thompson's annual Food Lifeline volunteer day as part of the firm's broader involvement in the Food Frenzy campaign.

Since joining Weber Thompson two years ago, Tallar has shown strong leadership and adaptability across a variety of project types and jurisdictions. As a core member of the firm's Quality Management group, Tallar is known for his technical rigor, sharp redlining, and attention to detail. He recently completed the UW Commercial Real Estate Certificate, expanding his understanding of development and strengthening his value to clients and teams.