Mar 13, 2024

LMN Architects

Chen

LMN Architects announced the addition of Jenn Chen to the firm partnership. Chen is the first interior designer to join the firm's partnership and brings a decade of design experience with a focus on experiential and sustainable interior design.

Chen has been with the firm for eight years. Her projects include the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business at Clemson University, Hines Seattle Headquarters, and a 700,000-square-foot technology company campus, which is one of the firm's largest workplace projects to date.

Chen is a co-creator of LMN's Path to Zero Carbon series, which is focused on sharing research, summarizing, and prioritizing actions to reach carbon neutrality. She is also a leading member of the firm's Materials & Health Applied Research Team. She has shared the firm's research at conferences including Greenbuild, CarbonPositive, as well as other venues across the country.

Chen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Bellevue College.

Säzän Group

Marseille

Säzän Group has promoted Tom Marseille to managing principal of the Washington offices. Marseille joined Säzän Group in 2021 to help drive growth, increase firm focus on sustainability and contribute to strategic leadership.

In his new role, he will apply his 30 years of leadership experience in taking on an increased oversight role, driving company performance and operational objectives.

Marseille is a recognized pioneer in the design and advocacy of zero net energy buildings and building decarbonization. He is also an author of numerous published papers, a frequent speaker, and winner of national and international awards.

He has served in leadership roles for global engineering organizations over the course of his career, has served on multiple boards for industry non-profits, and currently serves on the Membership Advancement Committee for AIA in Seattle.

Tres West Engineers

Chong

Tres West Engineers, Inc. has promoted James Chong to electrical principal, joining fellow principals Sean Roy, David Moore, and Jenifer Moore. Chong joined Tres West Engineers in April of 2018 as a senior electrical engineer/project manager and will now lead the electrical department.

Chong holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, and PE licenses in both Washington and Oregon.

Sound Credit Union and Washington Business Bank

Sound Credit Union, a not-for-profit financial institution serving Washington State, and Washington Business Bank, a commercial bank headquartered in Olympia, have entered into a definitive agreement in which Sound Credit Union will acquire Washington Business Bank. The transaction is structured as a purchase agreement with Sound Credit Union purchasing substantially all assets and assuming substantially all liabilities of Washington Business Bank. Washington Business Bank customers will become members of Sound Credit Union with full access to all Sound Credit Union's products and services. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both institutions. Following the completion of the transaction, Washington Business Bank will liquidate and dissolve and distribute its remaining assets to its shareholders. When finalized, the combined institution will have approximately $3.0 billion in assets, $2.3 billion in loans, $2.5 billion in deposits, serve more than 170,000 members, and will have 27 branches throughout King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston Counties. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to receiving all regulatory approvals, Washington Business Bank shareholder approval, and other customary closing conditions. Once complete, Sound Credit Union will continue to operate Washington Business Bank's current location in downtown Olympia at 5th Avenue and Franklin Street. Sound Credit Union was advised in the transaction by ALM First as exclusive financial advisor and Honigman, LLP as legal counsel. Washington Business Bank was advised by D.A. Davidson & Co. as exclusive financial advisor and Lane Powell as legal counsel.

Symetra

Symetra Financial Corporation received a 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award from the Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA), which annually recognizes the successful diversity efforts of organizations from the financial services industry. The BISA award recognizes member firms that demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and results in diversity management. It aims to promote the sharing of effective diversity strategies and tactics that create an impact within the industry as well as encourage and promote active participation by senior management in diversity efforts across the industry. BISA is a financial services industry association dedicated to serving those responsible for the marketing, sales and distribution of securities, insurance, and other financial products and advisory services. Symetra is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, providing employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent financial professionals and insurance producers.

Mar 12, 2024

Idea Decanter

Idea Decanter, a video marketing agency based in the Seattle area that helps financial advisors write, record, produce, and market custom-created videos, announced a partnership with FMG to bring custom videos to the website platform. FMG powers an all-in-one marketing technology platform designed for financial advisors and insurance agents, and recently launched a new offering that provides enhanced customization options and design support. Through the partnership, Idea Decanter will now enable FMG's customers to record videos in the comfort of their office. The package includes help planning, shooting, and producing video that will integrate with all new FMG Premium Websites. For both existing FMG website customers and advisors who are new to the platform, Idea Decanter will ship out a pop-up studio and direct a remote shoot to record custom video. Idea Decanter was established in 2014 by Laura Garfield and Sharon Gottula. Garfield is a former broadcast journalist, and Gottula has over 20 years of professional photography and multimedia videography experience.

Absolute Software

Absolute Software, a global provider of enterprise cyber resilience, appointed Saul Gates as chief financial officer. As a financial leadership veteran, Gates has guided technology organizations through all phases of growth, from startup to successful acquisitions and IPOs. Prior to Absolute, he was CFO of Level Access, where he oversaw the company's financial operations from its beginning through an acquisition by global investment firm KKR. Before Level Access Gates was CFO at Telarix and INRIX, and held senior roles at Coinstar, Microsoft, and PWC. He is a graduate of the University of Washington Michal G. Foster School of Business. He holds a bachelor's of business administration in accounting. Absolute Software is headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., with offices in the United States, including Seattle.

Kymeta

Flat panel satellite antenna company Kymeta announced leadership and board changes. Effective April 1, Rick Bergman will become the president and CEO of Kymeta. His most recent role was executive vice president, computing and graphics at AMD. Bergman also served as president and CEO of Synaptics (SYNA) during their high growth phase from 2011 to 2019. Nicole Piasecki will be appointed chairperson of the board, succeeding Doug Hutcheson. Piasecki, who joined the board in May 2022, brings an extensive background from the aerospace and defense sector. Additionally, effective March 31, Doug Hutcheson and Walter Berger are retiring from Kymeta. Kymeta recently completed its Series D financing round. These additional funds will be used for ramping up production of the recently announced Osprey u8 Hybrid-GEO-LEO and future product generations. Kymeta is a privately held company based in Redmond.

Compass Construction

Heppenstall

Marks

Bennett

Kirkland-based Compass Construction promoted Steve Bennett to vice president and general superintendent, Daniel Marks to vice president, and Nate Heppenstall to superintendent. Bennett was a senior superintendent. He joined Compass 2016 as a superintendent and has seamlessly transitioned into his new role of overseeing all superintendents and assistant superintendents. Marks was a project director. He started with Compass in 2013 as a project manager. The company says Marks has been instrumental in expanding its presence in the affordable housing market and securing new clients. Heppenstall joined Compass in 2016, and has climbed the ranks through labor foreman, field superintendent and assistant superintendent. The company says he not only excels in guiding projects to completion, but has also contributed to enhancing its safety culture and processes.

Exxel Pacific

Stodola

Geoff Stodola is the new CEO of Exxel Pacific. He replaces company founder Kevin DeVries, who continues as board chair. Stodola has been president for the past 12 years and retains that role. He began working for Exxel in 1992 as a carpenter, then progressing through the roles of estimator, project engineer, project manager, superintendent and vice president. His appointment as CEO is part of a leadership succession plan developed nearly 10 years ago. Exxel is based in Bellingham with an additional office in Bellevue.

Skanska

Caplan

Clem

Skanska has restructured its sustainability team, which is now co-led by vice presidents Steve Clem and Myrrh Caplan. Clem joined Skanska as a project engineer in 1997 and over the years established himself as one of Skanska's staunchest sustainability leaders. His efforts to reduce the industry's embodied carbon began over 15 years ago, and he has been influencing procurement with the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3 tool) since Skanska co-created and launched it in 2019. Caplan has helped shape Skanska's national approach to sustainable building, establishing the company's first national green construction program and chairing its first National Green Council. In 2023, she co-created the Associated General Contractors of America Task Force on Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting to address the challenges around reporting and reducing carbon emissions within construction. Clem works in Skanska's Portland office while Caplan is based out of the East Coast. Caplan started at Skanska's Portland office in 2005 as a project manager. The company says the new leaders will help it meet ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 in its own operations and across its entire value chain.

Harts Services

Inc. Media named Tacoma-based Harts Services to its fourth annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Pacific list. This list represents the most successful companies within the Pacific economy's most dynamic segment — its independent small businesses. It includes fast-growing private companies based in California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska. Harts provides residential plumbing and electrical services.