Oct 28, 2026

Mackenzie

Filipowicz

Mackenzie has hired Genie Filipowicz as senior laboratory planner to lead a new Laboratory Planning and Design practice.

The practice expands the firm's ability to support clients with specialized lab programming, planning, and design services across a wide range of research, education, healthcare, public safety, and advanced technology environments. Projects range from renovations and facility modernization efforts to new research, teaching, and testing facilities.

With nearly four decades of experience in the lab planning field, Filipowicz has designed laboratories across industry and market types, including private, public, and federal clients. Working closely with scientists, architects, engineers, and faculty, she translates big-picture research goals into highly functional laboratory spaces that support scientific discovery, innovation, and operational excellence.

Filipowicz began her career under the mentorship of Earl Walls, a pioneer of the laboratory planning profession. Her expertise spans the full project lifecycle, from visioning and programming through design and implementation.

Filipowicz's experience will bolster Mackenzie's capabilities in life sciences, physical sciences, healthcare, forensic disciplines, and advanced technology sectors.

Olson Kundig

McLaughlin

Marshall

Goodner

Fritz

Druse

Savage

Olson Kundig has promoted the following to senior associate: Eric Druse, Alex Fritz, Scott Goodner, Megan Marshall, Kelsey McLaughlin and Chris Savage.

Rainier Partners

Rainier Partners, a Seattle-based private equity firm investing in lower middle-market services businesses, has been named to Inc. Magazine's 2026 list of Founder-Friendly Investors. The recognition marks Rainier's first inclusion on the list, reflecting the firm's continued growth and commitment to being a trusted partner to business owners.

Inc.'s annual Founder-Friendly Investors list recognizes private equity firms, venture capital firms, and lenders with a track record of successfully backing founder-led companies. To compile the list, Inc. speaks with entrepreneurs who have partnered with investment firms and evaluates data on company growth over the course of those partnerships.

“Being named a Founder-Friendly Investor for the first time is a meaningful milestone for Rainier, and the accomplishment is aligned with what we set out to build from day one of the firm,” said Rainier Co-Founder and Managing Partner Jon Altman. “Founders put years into building their businesses, and when they choose to partner with us, we take that trust seriously. We're very proud of the team we've built at Rainier, and the recognition is a strong signal that our approach is resonating as we grow.”

Rainier's founder-focused investment philosophy is rooted in long-term partnerships with business owners and management teams who share the firm's commitment to growth. Rainier seeks opportunities where its industry experience, operational expertise, and financial resources can build on what founders have already established. The firm works closely with founders to identify growth opportunities, maximize value, and position their businesses for the future.

Rainier reports over $400 million in assets under management.

Oct 27, 2026

UMC

Giffin

UMC Inc. announced that Jeff Giffin has been named district energy manager. He will focus on helping campuses, healthcare systems, communities, utilities and large facility owners address their most pressing infrastructure challenges.

Giffen has nearly two decades of experience in high-performance building systems, energy efficiency, decarbonization, and sustainable energy infrastructure. He began his career at the University of British Columbia in progressively senior roles, ultimately serving as energy conservation manager and leading major energy efficiency and decarbonization initiatives, including a campus-wide steam-to-hot-water conversion and the development of a bioenergy cogeneration facility.

He went on to serve as a project engineer with Enwave Energy before joining Corix as regional manager for the Pacific Northwest, where he led the development and operation of low-carbon district energy systems, including the Bellingham District Energy Utility.

His relationship with UMC began as a client, working alongside the company on several successful design-build projects over the past five years, an experience that ultimately influenced his decision to join the organization.

One of the most significant projects of Giffin's career was UBC's $88 million steam-to-hot-water conversion project, which replaced a century-old campus steam system with a modern, medium-temperature hot water network.

UMC started in 1920 as a mechanical contracting company in the Pacific Northwest and has grown into a firm that supports every stage of the building lifecycle, from planning and construction to optimization, maintenance, and long-term performance.

Oct 23, 2026

APWA

The Washington chapter of the American Public Works Association has announced its newest board members, who officially begin their duties this week. Board members will serve the membership and help address goals and challenges facing public works professionals across the state.

Newly elected board members for the 2027-2028 term are Tricia Juhnke, public works director for the city of Shoreline; Travis Rakeshaw, stormwater maintenance lead for the city of Walla Walla; Sonia Palma, operations manager for the Seattle Department of Transportation; and Dustin DeKoekkoek, Seattle office director at Toole Design.

Mary Heather Ames, deputy public works director for the city of Pasco, has been elected secretary for 2027.

The chapter encouraged members to connect with board leaders to share priorities and challenges affecting the public works profession.

Tideworks

Following the recent acquisition by Diversis Capital, Seattle-based terminal operating system provider Tideworks Technology has announced the appointments of Mark Traynor as chief product and technology officer and Guenter Schmidmeir as chief revenue officer.

Traynor brings more than 20 years of experience across terminal technology, operations and automation. He will lead Tideworks' product and engineering organizations, with a focus on advancing the company's product architecture, strengthening integration capabilities and building extensible solutions that can evolve with customers' operational and technology needs.

Schmidmeir brings more than 25 years of experience across the maritime, terminal and logistics sectors. He will lead Tideworks' commercial and revenue strategy, with a focus on expanding into new markets, strengthening customer relationships and translating his terminal-industry experience into new growth opportunities.

“Mark and Guenter bring complementary strengths to Tideworks,” said Subbu Bhat, president of Tideworks Technology. “Mark's experience in terminal technology, integration and product architecture will help us build more connected and extensible solutions. Guenter's industry and commercial experience will help us enter new markets and build relationships with a broader set of terminal operators. Together, they strengthen our ability to turn deep industry knowledge into better technology and greater value for our customers.”

With the support of Diversis, Tideworks will continue investing in its products, people and customer relationships while delivering the technology and service terminal operators around the world rely on.

Oct 22, 2026

JLL

Miller

To be based here in Seattle, Patrick Miller has joined JLL, that firm recently announced. He makes the move from Snap, and was previously with Amazon's real estate division. His new role is global president for JLL's technology group. JLL says he now “oversees strategic account management and the delivery of customized real estate management solutions that help technology companies worldwide navigate evolving business and workplace needs through data-driven insights.” JLL's Sanjay Rishi said in the press release, “Patrick possesses a powerful combination of industry expertise, strategic vision and deep understanding of how technology can drive better business outcomes.”

Greystar

Byrne

This week, Greystar announced its hiring of multifamily veteran Jason Byrne, who becomes senior director of development with the builder/developer. He makes the move from Willow Bridge, which was related to Lincoln Property Co. Greystar's Aaron Keeler said in the announcement, “Jason knows this region and the people in it. As we deepen our investment in the Pacific Northwest, that experience will help us continue to identify and execute the right opportunities.”

MacDonald-Miller

Lambert

MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, a Pacific Northwest provider of design-build mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, has appointed Matt Lambert as vice president of construction services.

In the newly created role, Lambert will oversee construction development, pre-construction services and project delivery. The company said the appointment is intended to strengthen project execution and deepen collaboration with general contractors across its construction portfolio.

Lambert brings more than two decades of construction industry experience. He spent 18 years with Howard S. Wright, where he worked on major projects including City Center Plaza, Microsoft B87 and the Microsoft Redmond Campus Modernization program in partnership with MacDonald-Miller. Most recently, he served as a vice president at Dycom Industries, leading development and operations across multiple company divisions.

The leadership transition comes as longtime construction executive Bret Lovely prepares to retire at the end of 2026 after 38 years with MacDonald-Miller.

Founded in 1965, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions employs more than 1,600 workers in Washington and Oregon and is among the largest design-build mechanical firms in the United States. The company serves customers across construction, healthcare, biotech, commercial office, marine, mission-critical and technology sectors and is a signatory of the Climate Pledge.

BERK Consulting

Lobel

BERK Consulting has announced that Bryan Lobel has joined the firm as a senior associate.

Lobel is an urban planner with over 17 years of experience. His work spans economic development strategy, industrial land and market analysis, GMA subarea and housing planning, and land capacity analysis. He has a particular focus on information design to support complex analysis and decision making.

Prior to joining BERK, Lobel worked at urban planning firms in multiple cities in California and Philadelphia before returning to the Pacfic Northwest to lead economic strategy for a decade at a local firm.