Nov 06, 2026

City of Bellevue

Whipple

Hesselgesser

The city of Bellevue has named Jake Hesselgesser as its new development services director following a competitive hiring process. Hesselgesser, who has worked for the city for more than a decade in a variety of leadership roles, will oversee a department responsible for permitting, inspections, land use and development review, code enforcement, and small business consulting.

City Manager Diane Carlson said Hesselgesser has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to public service, collaboration and innovation. He previously served as Bellevue's building supervisor and business services director before taking on the role of acting department director.

Hesselgesser brings more than 25 years of local government and construction-related experience to the position and holds multiple professional certifications through the International Code Council. Before joining Bellevue, he worked as a senior inspector and plans examiner for Brown & Associates Certified Inspection Service and as a designer for civil engineering firm Willdan.

The city also announced that Nick Whipple will become deputy director later this month. Whipple has 14 years of planning and development experience, including 12 years with Bellevue in roles ranging from planner to assistant director. City officials said the leadership team's combined expertise in development services, planning, permitting and policy will help support Bellevue's continued growth and improve service delivery.

Cascadia Capital

Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank focused on middle-market companies, has appointed Rhett Thurman as chief financial officer. Thurman brings more than 40 years of financial services experience and will lead the firm's finance, strategic planning and operations functions.

In his new role, Thurman will work with Cascadia's senior leadership team to advance strategic priorities and strengthen the firm's organizational infrastructure as it continues to grow. The firm said his background includes helping investment banking and financial services companies scale operations, expand capabilities and execute long-term initiatives.

Thurman spent 16 years at healthcare-focused investment bank Cain Brothers, where he served as managing director, chief financial officer, chief administrative officer and a member of the board of directors. During his tenure, the firm grew into one of Wall Street's largest middle-market healthcare M&A advisory firms and was acquired by KeyBanc Capital Markets in 2017.

Most recently, Thurman served as chief financial officer of Angle Health, an AI-native health insurance company. Cascadia said his experience in financial management, corporate development and strategic planning will help support the firm's continued growth and client-service objectives.

Nov 05, 2026

Rainier Partners

Seattle-based private equity firm Rainier Partners has invested in Apex Insurance Services, a Texas managing general agency platform that specializes in the non-standard auto insurance market, the companies announced.

Apex, headquartered in Richardson, Texas, operates five insurance brands and distributes products through more than 1,000 independent agent contracts covering roughly 2,500 retail locations across the state. The company said it has built one of Texas' largest non-standard auto insurance distribution networks since its founding in 2014.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Apex CEO Bryan Ward said the partnership will support the company's next phase of growth, including continued expansion in Texas, potential entry into new states, strategic acquisitions and exploration of related insurance products.

Rainier Partners manages more than $400 million in assets and focuses on lower middle-market businesses in sectors including financial services. Apex said Sherman & Company served as its sell-side advisor on the transaction.

Nov 04, 2026

Olson Kundig

Uribe

Meucci

Dennis

Dean

Chambers

The following members of the Olson Kundig team have been promoted to associate: Niamh Chambers, Hanna Dean, Justin Dennis, Joe Meucci and Julian Uribe.

Herrera Environmental Consultants

Johnson

Shanks

Wright

Herrera announced three leadership promotions in its sustainable development practice.

Tyson Wright has been promoted to director of the practice. In his new role, Wright joins Alice Lancaster and Christina Merten as the leader of one of Herrera's three core practice areas, advancing integrated solutions that support sustainable infrastructure, resource management and community resilience.

Mary Shanks was promoted to sustainable development business development director. Bringing a successful history of longstanding client relationships from her concurrent work as associate practice director, in this role she will continue to connect clients with multidisciplinary solutions that address complex environmental and infrastructure challenges.

Kyle Johnson was promoted to sustainable development associate practice director. He will support strategic leadership within the practice while continuing to deliver technical expertise and collaborative project solutions for clients throughout the region.

Together, Wright, Shanks and Johnson bring deep experience in solid waste design and planning, hazardous materials, and mine reclamation, services that comprise Herrera's sustainable development practice.

Systems West Engineers

Kelel

Amber Kelel has been promoted to vice president and chief strategy officer at Systems West Engineers (SWE). She is the first woman to hold the vice president role in the firm's history. In this new role, Kelel will guide the firm's strategic direction, identifying where SWE can grow and how it can best serve its clients and communities in the years ahead.

Kelel joined the firm in 2017 to lead marketing and recruitment. She became an associate in 2020, and in 2022 became an associate principal and joined the board of directors. She led the firm's rebrand and website relaunch, built its internal training and career development programs, and reshaped its recruiting approach.

Kelel graduated University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a B.S. in economics and business administration, and Leadership Eugene-Springfield civic program. She has served on the boards of directors of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Willamalane Park Foundation. She co-chaired the Lane Transit District Community Steering Council and has mentored emerging professionals through SMPS Oregon.

Systems West provides MEP engineering, commissioning, and energy services throughout the Pacific Northwest. Kele is based in the Springfield, OR office.

Mayer/Reed

Morishita

Mayer/Reed has promoted Senior Visual Communications Designer Emily Morishita to associate. Morishita joined Mayer/Reed in 2021 as their first Seattle employee, bringing more than 25 years of experience designing and managing public projects.

She applies her strong interest in designing for the public realm to urban and transportation placemaking and wayfinding systems. Her recent work includes the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, the C Concourse Expansion at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Portland's West End Street Plazas, including Pride Plaza and the Darcelle XV Promenade.

Mayer/Reed, Inc. is a design studio based in Portland, providing landscape architecture, urban design, visual communications and experiential graphics.

Liberty Bank

Morris

Rhonda Morris, the former executive vice president and chief risk officer of Liberty Bank, has joined the Poulsbo-based community bank's board of directors.

Morris recently retired after 13 years with Liberty Bank, and brings 44 years of banking experience to the board. During her career, she held leadership roles spanning internal audit, compliance, information technology, operations, security, human resources and risk management.

Liberty Bank said Morris' appointment allows the organization to retain her institutional knowledge and community banking expertise while continuing her long-standing involvement with the bank and the industry.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Poulsbo, Liberty Bank serves individuals, families and businesses.

Gesa Credit Union

Don Miller, president and CEO of Gesa Credit Union, has received the 2026 Summit Icon Award from the GoWest Credit Union Association, the organization's highest individual honor.

The award recognizes long-term leadership, advocacy, community impact and commitment to the credit union movement. Miller has spent his entire career at Richland-based Gesa, helping guide its growth from a $100 million institution to one with $6.8 billion in assets and more than 326,000 members.

Miller joined Gesa in a series of executive roles, including chief financial officer, chief operations officer and chief retail officer, before becoming president and CEO in 2013. Under his leadership, the credit union has completed four mergers and acquisitions, including the acquisition of Security State Bank in 2025.

The Summit Icon Award was presented Oct. 9 during the GoWest Credit Union Association's MAXX 2026 conference in Aurora, Colorado. Since 2020, Gesa has invested $22.9 million in Northwest communities, including $5.8 million in 2025.