Jun 20, 1996

Formost Packaging Machines

Formost Packaging Machines has appointed Dennis Gunnell as sales manager. He will be responsible for both domestic and Latin American sales. Formost Packaging Machines, headquartered in Woodinville, designs and manufacturers bagging and wrapping machines for a wide range of industries.

US Bank

Robin Amrine has been named vice president and manager of US Bank's Metro Tacoma/Peninsula District. As manager, Amrine will oversee the sales and service activities of the bank's downtown Tacoma, Lincoln, Pacific Avenue, Proctor, South Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Bremerton Branches. Steve Wilcox has been named manager of US Bank's South King County District. Wilcox will be responsible for the sales and service activities of the bank's Auburn, Kent, Federal Way, Twin Lakes, Benson Center and Covington branches. Both Amrine and Wilcox join US Bank as a result of its merger with West One Bancorp. Ron Castelda has joined US Bank as vice president and sales and marketing officer in Tacoma. He will be responsible for sales and marketing of the office's trust and investment management services. Previously, Castelda was a vice president and manager of trust and investments for Union Bank of California.

The Seattle Times Company

The Seattle Times Company, publisher of the Seattle Times and representing the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, has made the following executive changes. Marji Ruiz, former vice president for advertising, has been appointed vice president for strategic marketing. Ruiz will be responsible for three Seattle Times subsidiary companies: Rotary Offset Press, Direct Marketing of Puget Sound and Times Distribution, Inc. Reporting to Ruiz will be Michael Lemke, who was promoted to vice president of advertising. Lemke served as the company's classified advertising manager since 1986. Roy Schaefer, former national advertising manager, has been promoted to classified advertising manager

Jun 19, 1996

AESI

John J. McNulty has joined Associated Earth Sciences (AESI) of Kirkland as a senior environmental scientist in charge of site assessments including field exploration, site characterization and state and federal records. Thomas S. McFarlane, a geotechnical engineer, has also joined AESI. His wide range of technical expertise has been used in the design of port and industrial facilities, office buildings, shopping centers, residential developments, communication towers, landfills, and transfer stations. Robert N. Miyahira has joined the firm as a hydrogeologist and will participate in evaluation and development of ground water resources, ground water computer modeling, environmental site assessments, and remedial investigations involving soil and water contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents or metals.

Parametrix

Senior transportation engineer Mel Sears has joined Parametrix, Inc. as Portland office regional manager and member of the corporate executive committee. Sears is responsible for all facets of the firm's environmental and engineering consulting services in Oregon and southern Washington. His most recent experience was with Tri-Met, where he managed the design of a five-mile segment of the Hillsboro light rail extension project. Prior to joining Tri-Met, he spent nine years with CH2M Hill in Portland and also worked with Wilsey & Ham and with the California Department of Transportation. Wetland ecologist Daniel Kelly has also joined the firm, expanding local environmental service capabilities. Formerly with Ogden Environmental Energy Services in San Diego, Kelly has specialized in wetland assessment and the use of geographic information systems for environmental assessment and resource management planning. Transportation engineer and planner Gary Obery has also joined the staff. Previously employed by Taylor Engineering, Inc. of Spokane, Obery's most recent accomplishment is the traffic analysis report for the proposed million-square-foot Spokane Valley Mall, expected to open in 1997.

Integrus

Alexandra Hofgaertner has joined the staff of Integrus Architecture and is working on Bellingham School District's new $23 million Squalicum High School. She holds a master's degree from Karlsruhe Technical University in Germany and a bachelors degree from the University of Washington. David Maughan, an architect with specialties in education and office facilities, has joined the firm and is now at work on an interim classroom project that is part of a $28 million modernization of Meadowdale High School in Edmonds. Paul Whitehill, who was previously an intern with Integrus' Spokane office, is now providing design support for the Meadowdale High School modernization team. Jim Hillier, an architect with 19 years experience, is now also at work on the Meadowdale High School project. His expertise includes research and development labs, energy management services and ADA surveys. Michael Troyer, who holds a degree in marketing and management as well as architecture and environmental design, is now serving as project manager for Kitsap County Youth Service Center in Port Orchard.

Hacker

Scott Thayer has joined Thomas Hacker & Associates of Portland and is working as project architect for the Yellowstone Art Center in Billings and the U. S. Port of Entry in Blaine. Thayer, whose 17 years of experience includes museums, offices, housing, medical, industrial and historic preservation projects, has worked in England, Oregon, Iowa and Massachusetts. David Shelman and Steve Simpson have returned to the firm. Shelman, who has 16 years of experience in libraries, schools, historic renovation and planning projects, is now project architect for the Beaverton City Library. Simpson, who has spent two years with an Alaska firm and two years practicing architecture in Spain, is currently assisting in the design of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, the Wasco County Historical Museum in the Dalles and the Visual Arts Center at Southern Oregon State College in Ashland.

Jun 18, 1996

The Skansonia Ferry

Alexa Palmer has joined the staff aboard the Skansonia Ferry as sales and catering manager. She will be responsible for the sales, promotion and organization of corporate and private events. The Skansonia Ferry is a retired Washington State Vessel originally built in 1928. The boat is now chartered as a private and corporate event facility. The Skansonia is located on the North Shore of Lake Union at 2505 North Northlake Way. For more information call (206) 547-7201.

Fast Signs

Fast Signs of Southcenter was recently honored with two major awards from the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce. The company received awards as Manufacturing Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year. Fast Signs is a supplier of signs for advertising, trade shows, windows and vehicles. Under the direction of key principal Sam Spiller, the company has earned contracts with the Seattle Mariners, Schneider Homes, Conley & Associates and Oh'Boy Oberto.

Northwest Nexus, Inc.

Mark Chestnut has been hired as vice president of sales and marketing at Northwest Nexus, Inc. In his new position, Chestnut will develop and manage sales channels and lead the company's marketing program. Previously, Chestnut served as vice president of sales and marketing at Pinnacle Publishing. Nexus Northwest, Inc. is the largest independent Internet service provider (ISP) in the Pacific Northwest, providing a broad range of dial-up and dedicated Internet access services to businesses and individuals.

Sellers & Company

Francine Ott has joined Sellers & Company as an account coordinator. Ott works with clients in a variety of industries, including real estate development, health care, high tech, manufacturing and professional services. She is responsible for media pitches, newsletters, brochures, special event planning and market research. Sellers & Company, formerly Linda Sellers Communications, is a public relations and advertising agency that develops smart marketing communications strategies.

Seattle Public Schools

Ava Green Davenport, employee relations administrator, will serve as acting executive director of Human Resources for the Seattle Public Schools, effective June 17. She will succeed Ricardo Cruz, who has been appointed personnel director of King County. In her role as employee relations administrator, Davenport's responsibilities included developing personnel policies and procedures, advising and assisting management on the interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, and directing employee discipline and performance evaluation procedures. Prior to joining the district, Davenport was an attorney specializing in litigation and employment law with Reed, Smith, Shaw and McClay.

DBM/CM

Charlie DeGasparis and Robert Downey have joined the staff of Donald B. Murphy Contractors Inc. and Cooney McHugh Division. DeGasparis is serving as a project manager and has five years of experience as an estimator, project engineer and project manager. He holds a civil engineering degree from Santa Clara University. Downey has two years of experience as a field manager and estimator. He holds a civil engineering degree from San Jose State University.

SSCC

South Seattle Community College's Small Business Programs has named Mary Brown-Mason as program manager of the Washington State Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Support Services. In her new position, Brown-Mason will manage two programs which provide technical assistance to DBE contractors specializing in heavy highway construction. Brown-Mason's experience includes over 14 years in the banking industry. She holds a business administration degree from Western Washington University.

MBA

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has awarded 10 scholarships to students enrolled in construction management programs at universities across the state. From Central Washington University, the students are Kory Kirkevold and Rusty Laird; from the University of Washington are Chris McDonald, David Dohman and Lars Carlson; and from Washington State University are Jeffrey Jurgensen, Danny Belcher, Paula Johnson, Kenneth Schmidt Jr. and Shawna Fortune. The students are members of National Association of Homebuilders chapters at their universities. The scholarships were given based on academic requirements, community involvement, areas of study and financial need.