Dec 01, 2021

Hewitt

Woland

Snider

Seattle-based design firm Hewitt announced that Kris Snider, senior principal and director of design – landscape architecture, will retire at the end of 2021 after 33 years with the company. In addition, Hewitt named Principal Jake Woland its next director of design – landscape architecture, effective upon Snider's retirement.

Snider's career has encompassed hundreds of projects in a broad range of environments including: civic — Bell Street Pier, Bell Street Park; office — Arbor Blocks, Amazon's Bigfoot/Nessie, SLU Lakefront Blocks; mixed-use residential — Via6, Center Steps, 8th and Republican, Harbor Steps Towers; retail — University Village, Redmond Town Center; and transportation — Tukwila Station.

Snider became Hewitt's first landscape architect in 1988 when he joined the Urban Design group, working primarily on larger scale urban planning projects. His desire to see projects through to construction led to him shifting to more site and urban open space design as part of the in-house architectural teams. Snider began working with many developers and growing his staff, leading to the creation of the landscape architecture studio. The studio's work with in-house architects resulted in an intimate knowledge of the building process. Snider and his team began working with outside partners, resulting in the first, and only at the time, multi-disciplinary firm in Seattle where the landscape architecture studio supported both in-house work as well as out-of-house projects with other architects.

Prior to Hewitt, Snider began his career as a landscape architect at EDAW in Seattle. He received his Master Of Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia. “Kris has made an indelible imprint across the region's landscape, which will be felt for decades to come. His design approach and ingenuity provided the solid foundation upon which our studio was built,” said Matthew Porteous, principal and director of practice – landscape architecture of Hewitt.

Woland has been with HEWITT for 13 years and has over 20 years of experience as a design leader. He specializes in conceptualizing the space between buildings. Woland received his Master Of Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington and his bachelor of science, geological sciences, from Tufts University.

Edifecs

Edifecs, a Bellevue-based global health information technology solutions company, announced its new Highly Productive Edifecs (HPE) work model. The work model will allow Edifecs associates to work from wherever they think they are the most productive. Except for a small segment of the Edifecs team whose role requires them to be onsite daily, associates are can choose where they work (home, office, or a combination). The key tenants of HPE are to ensure Edifecs associates feel safe, supported, and productive. To support its associates, the Edifecs operations team has implemented best practices for working from home including: collaboration tools, a microsite offering resources and advice for working remotely successfully. To facilitate productivity, Edifecs offers both onsite and virtual training and continues to assess and update its infrastructure to ensure teams are using the latest tools and technology at the core of HPE. Additionally, Edifecs recently signed leases for new office spaces in Atlanta and San Francisco that will enable the organization to offer its associates a similar collaborative work experience that parallels its Bellevue and Mohali, India offices. As a strategic part of HPE, Edifecs will continue to offer facilities globally and Wellbeing Centers at Bellevue and Mohali for those that opt to work onsite. Edifecs will also continue to offer virtual wellbeing and training sessions for remote associates.

Element 1

Element 1 announced that it has entered into a global agreement with NEXA Capital Partners to accelerate the adoption of its methanol-to-hydrogen generators for fuel cell applications in aerospace and particularly electric vertical aircraft. Element 1 and NEXA are combining their expertise, along with NEXA's capital market access, to hasten the introduction and commercialization of fuel cells for hydrogen powered flight. Element 1 possesses the world's only scalable methanol-to-hydrogen generator and is a global leader in small-scale to medium-scale solutions for both fuel cell stationary power and fuel cell HD mobility. NEXA and Element 1 will begin moving this technology into the aerospace manufacturing supply chain immediately, and through their newly formed partnership are expected to tap policies and funding from the recently enacted $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR 3684). The legislation calls for the development of a sector-by-sector national strategy and roadmap to facilitate a clean hydrogen economy. HR 3684 explicitly mentions methanol as a practical hydrogen-carrier. Element 1 is headquartered in Bend, Oregon. NEXA Capital Partners, based in Washington, D.C., provides corporate and strategic financial advisory services and capital investment to the aerospace, transportation, and logistics sectors.

ALSC Architects

McQuesten

Thompson

ALSC Architects of Spokane welcomed David Thompson and Rick McQuesten. Thompson joins as a BIM Manager, with more than 26 years of experience in the design and construction industry. His role at ALSC includes creating, maintaining and implementing BIM standards and guidelines. McQuesten joins as a Revit specialist. McQuesten brings more than 20 years of experience to the ALSC team. He is proficient with BIM as well as Enscape, SketchUp, AutoCAD and Bluebeam.

BCRA

Rydman

Wolch

Doty

Hocklander

Dort

Robbin

Goroch

BCRA has promoted seven new principals to its leadership team: Ben Dort, Heather Hocklander, Jeremy Doty, Jim Wolch, Joe Rydman, Justin Goroch, and Lori Robbin. Dort, a civil engineer, leads BCRA's Public Works market and serves parks and recreation clients. In his 14 years at BCRA, he has worked to grow the firm's civil engineering capabilities. Staff development within the engineering group has also been part of his focus. As principal, Dort will continue leading projects and cultivating relationships with local agencies. In addition, he will lead operational initiatives that create efficiencies, transparency and value. Dort is an active member of the APWA Washington Chapter.

A BCRA veteran for 21 years, Hocklander, architect, leads the education and recreation markets. She brings expertise in effective project management and alternative project delivery, working closely with school districts. She serves as the membership committee chair for Design-Build Institute of America's Western Washington Chapter.

Doty is an architect with 21 years of experience, with a focus in the education, healthcare and community markets. He is BCRA's most experienced design-build architect, and recently helped Tacoma Public Schools deliver their first two progressive design-build schools. Internally, he leads staff development opportunities and sustainability initiatives. Doty is a member of Design Build Institute of America.

In his 17 years at BCRA, Wolch has delivered dozens of healthcare and education projects for local clients. As BCRA's healthcare market lead, his recent focus has been on behavioral healthcare spaces that break societal stigmas and offer true places for healing. Jim's strategic vision has been a significant factor in the growth of BCRA's healthcare market.

Rydman, a registered architect, has been with BCRA for 16 years. He is the multifamily residential market lead and has delivered many successful multifamily residential projects in the Puget Sound, with an emphasis on end-user experience and community building. Rydman also supports architecture discipline recruiting and growth.

Goroch, is a civil engineer who serves clients across markets and has been with BCRA for 15 years. He also is a co-vice chairperson of the Permit Advisory Task Force for the city of Tacoma which works to improve policies, codes and procedures for issuing residential and commercial permits. Goroch also serves as a co-lead for the civil engineering discipline and supports BCRA's business development and operations efforts.

Robbin, leads the interior design group and works across multiple markets. Lori also serves on BCRA's board. She has been with BCRA for 18 years and specializes in projects that impact the community, such as schools and YMCAs. She will continue to work with clients and mentor staff in this new role.

Nov 30, 2021

Leafly Holdings

Warner

Leafly Holdings, a cannabis discovery marketplace, announced that Rebecca Warner will join the company as senior vice president of sales. The addition of Warner to the executive team follows several key leadership hires since announcing the company's intent to combine with Merida Merger Corp I earlier this year. Warner has over 14 years of experience designing and executing sales growth strategies at online marketplaces. Most recently, she was director of rental sales at Zillow. Prior to that, Warner held director-level roles at Domain, a real estate marketplace in Australia.

Outstanding Legislator Awards

State Sens. Lynda Wilson, David Frockt, Derek Stanford and Mark Mullet were given Outstanding Legislator Awards for their service during the 2021 session by the Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts. The award honors significant actions that contributed to the ongoing success of special purpose water and sewer districts. Wilson and Stanford worked together on a bill that made the cost of liens and lien releases more equitable for all water and sewer customers. Mullet has been a consistent supporter of the state's Public Works Assistance Account — a program that provides local governments with affordable, low-interest financing for critical infrastructure projects. Both Frockt and Mullet negotiated to preserve the PWAA as a loan fund that would replenish itself through diverted tax revenue streams. The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts advances the work of about 180 water and sewer special purpose districts that provide services throughout Washington through education, advocacy and collaboration.

Strong Tower Consulting

Strong Tower Consulting, a Bellevue-based management consulting firm, has been named one of Washington's “100 Best Companies To Work For” by Seattle Business magazine. The firm was recognized for its recruitment and employee support programs focused on diversity and inclusion. Strong Tower also provides a diversity recruitment and retention service for clients, enabling the hiring and nurturing of employees and contractors composed of personnel more aligned with the diversity of society and the consumer base. Seattle Magazine's list is based on employee satisfaction scores.

ProDims

Christopherson

Dragseth

In Kirkland, ProDims hired George Dragseth as project manager/construction manager and Tammy Christopherson as document control manager. Dragseth is a licensed civil engineer with over 20 years of experience providing construction management services such as inspection, preconstruction and site meetings, schedule evaluation, and comments and change orders. Christopherson has provided document control services for 18 years on large and complex transportation projects. ProDims is a construction management company.

Modern Building Systems

Modern Building Systems next week will commemorate its 50th anniversary. The company was founded by Don Rasmussen in a small Portland shop and is now based in Aumsville, Oregon, with a Seattle-area office in Pacific and another office in West Sacramento, California. Now a third-generation family-owned business led by CEO and President Jim Rasmussen, Modern is one of the few factory-direct manufacturers of prefabricated commercial buildings. It also designs and engineers its products.

ABC of Western Washington

Holbeck Construction & Design of Camano Island and Northern Environmental of Tacoma joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington. Holbeck specializes in custom waterfront homes. Northern Environmental provides storm drain and oil/water separator cleaning, as well as waste disposal with vacuum trucks.