Jul 08, 2026

HBB Landscape Architecture

Parker

Stone

Nowaczyk

HBB Landscape Architecture has expanded its ownership team, adding Steve Nowaczyk, Emma Stone and Aaron Parker.

Nowaczyk joins the HBB team as principal and brings a wide-ranging background including residential design, private development, public parks and plazas, and transportation infrastructure. He focuses on longevity, sustainable design, and adaptability of use. Nowaczyk is also a certified disc golf course designer.

Stone is an associate with professional experience spanning public and private realms of Washington, including parks, campuses, and multi-modal transportation projects. Stone also serves on the city of Everett's Board of Park Commissioners.

Parker is a new associate with project work ranging from park master planning to trails and multi-modal transit corridors, and on large-scale public transportation networks in the greater Seattle area.

American Public Works Association

Huling

Donald Huling has been appointed as American Public Works Association (APWA) Region IX Director for the 2026-2027 term. Huling served as the APWA Washington chapter president 2020-2021 and more recently as the chapter's delegate to APWA National. In 2023, Huling received the chapter's outstanding service award. Huling is the director of engineering for HWA GeoSciences where he provides geotechnical engineering expertise on transportation, building, and utility infrastructure projects.

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates

Al-Sharah

Anvari

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) Seattle recently added Ataollah Anvari and Mohammed Al-Sharah to their team.

Anvari transferred from the Northbrook, Illinois headquarters, where he supported structural investigations, condition assessments, and analytical evaluations of buildings and infrastructure systems. Before joining WJE, Anvari conducted experimental and computational research in structural fire engineering and contributed to national design practices that were incorporated into standards, including AISC 360. Anvari holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from Purdue University.

Mohammed Al-Sharah joins the team as a 2026 intern. Recently selected as a 2026–2027 ACI Foundation Fellow, Al-Sharah is a graduate research student at Clarkson University conducting experiments on alternative cements and durability testing. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Washington. His previous internship experience includes positions with both Magnusson Klemencic Associates and AHBL.

Thurston County Superior Court

Wood

Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Kelly Wood to the position of Thurston County Superior Court Judge.

Wood's appointment, effective July 2, fills the position that Judge Carol Murphy's resignation will vacate. Judge Murphy retires after 34 years of public service, including 17 years on the Thurston County bench.

Wood is a career litigator with more than two decades of legal experience in all levels of both state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. In his current role as a Senior Counsel and managing assistant attorney general, he advises and represents the Washington State Department of Ecology. Wood has also represented the state of Washington more broadly in various litigation matters, including Washington's lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy for worker health issues at the Hanford Nuclear Site.

He also supervises six attorneys who represent Ecology's Air, Climate, Nuclear Waste and Solid Waste programs and the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. Wood is also recognized nationwide for federal Clean Water Act litigation. He has been with the Attorney General's Office for 18 years in total.

Wood earned his bachelor's and master's degrees with honors from University of North Texas and his law degree with high honors from Seattle University School of Law.

Jul 07, 2026

Seattle Art Museum

Feltens

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) announced the appointment of Frank Feltens as its new Susan Brotman Chief Curator. An internationally respected curator, scholar and museum leader, Feltens joins SAM from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, where he most recently served as Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs and Curator of Japanese Art. He will begin his new role at SAM Aug. 17.

As chief curator, Feltens will lead SAM's Curatorial division, shaping the museum's collections, exhibitions, publications and long-term artistic vision across its three sites: the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum and Olympic Sculpture Park. Working closely with Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director and CEO Scott Stulen and museum leadership, he will oversee exhibition planning, collection strategy, acquisitions, scholarly initiatives, and a team of curators representing SAM's globally recognized collections.

Feltens joins SAM after a decade at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, where he helped guide the museum's curatorial strategy and organizational transformation while continuing to build an internationally recognized scholarly career in Japanese art. As associate director for Curatorial Affairs, he co-led one of the world's premier Asian art museums, overseeing curatorial teams, strategic planning, and major collection initiatives as the institution entered its second century.

Jul 02, 2026

Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator

The Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator (CSAA) has appointed Jake Gentry as its executive director. Gentry, who helped form the organization three years ago, will lead CSAA's efforts to make the Pacific Northwest the global center of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

CSAA was formally launched in January 2026 with backing from a Washington state appropriation and more than $10 million in private philanthropic investment. It has assembled a broad coalition of aviation industry leaders, research institutions, Tribal representatives, policymakers, and sustainability advocates united around a single goal: scaling locally produced, low-carbon SAF to one billion gallons annually by 2035.

Gentry will oversee CSAA's full portfolio of initiatives, including feedstock and supply chain development, offtake strategy, shared research and development infrastructure, clean energy integration, and policy advocacy. He builds on a coalition that includes Alaska Airlines, Amazon, Boeing, Washington State University, Snohomish County, Earth Finance, Microsoft, the Port of Seattle and the Washington State Department of Commerce, among others.

He will also oversee the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Institute, an innovative research and development facility at Paine Field in Snohomish County. The institute will house researchers from Washington State University and other academic institutions to test and analyze SAF, scaling the scientific advancement and speeding adoption timelines. The institute will open in a temporary facility this summer.

Jul 01, 2026

Hensel Phelps

Hickernell

Lehrman-Schmid

Franssen

Hensel Phelps recently announced promotions of three employees in the Pacific Northwest Region.

Richard Franssen has been promoted to operations manager. Franssen has been with Hensel Phelps for over 20 years and has supported a diverse portfolio totaling more than $4.6 billion across a wide range of markets, including aviation, transportation, healthcare and hospitality. He has also contributed to correctional and civic facilities. Most recently, Franssen played a key leadership role on Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)'s SEA Gateway project, helping guide the team through execution and delivery. The Alaska Airlines-led project reached substantial completion just in time to support increased travel demand during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kabri Lehrman-Schmid has been promoted to general superintendent. In addition to co-founding Build with Pride Seattle, she has received numerous honors throughout her career, including: 2023 BD+C 40 Under 40; 2023 ENR Top 20 Under 40; 2023 ENR Northwest Top Young Professional; 2022 AGC Washington Rising Star; 2019 Top 20 Outstanding Women in Construction by Construction Business Owner and the 2019 Washington Women in Trades Award. During her 19-year career with Hensel Phelps, she has worked across multiple markets, including aviation, higher education, research/laboratories, federal, civic and correctional facilities.

Jim Hickernell has been promoted to general superintendent. Hickernell has been with Hensel Phelps for 18 years and has contributed to projects totaling more than $3.5 billion in value. His experience spans data centers, aviation, research/laboratories, healthcare and civic and correctional facilities. Hickernell also played an integral role in the successful delivery of the SEA Gateway/North Main Terminal Redevelopment project, contributing to field leadership and project execution. The project was successfully delivered using a progressive design-build approach and was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, with zero claims or litigation. Hickernell supported field execution efforts that helped minimize impacts to ongoing operations and contributed to a strong safety record, including zero serious lost-time injuries.

Hensel Phelps is a 100% employee-owned general contracting company founded in 1937. The firm delivers planning, building and management services across a wide range of markets nationwide.

Dykeman Architects

Crochet

Dominguez Rojo

Somani

McCabe

Opoku

The following people have recently joined the Dykeman team.

Nke Opoku brings a background in design and interest in community-centered spaces. With experience gained through academic work and internships, she joins Dykeman in support of K-12 education projects.

Crystal McCabe brings experience in talent acquisition, human resources, and business operations. At Dykeman, she contributes to the firm's operations and helps support its people and continued growth.

Fenil Somani joins Dykeman in support of K-12 education work, bringing experience across residential and community-focused projects, along with a strong foundation in design development and project coordination.

Sofia Dominguez Rojo brings a strong interest in sustainable, community-based design and a thoughtful approach shaped by her academic background which she will use in K-12 education projects.

Sarah Crochet brings a broad range of architectural experience and a strong commitment to sustainable, accessible, and community-focused design. She too comes to Dykeman to support K-12 education projects.