Jan 09, 2002

Berger/ABAM

Kenneth Bartenhagen has joined Berger/ABAM Engineers in Federal Way. Bartenhagen’s background includes design and document preparation for development of stormwater, site grading and utilities for commercial, residential and educational facilities.

Sonia Bradley has joined the headquarters office as marketing coordinator.

Robin Hake has joined Berger/ABAM as human resources administrator at the Federal Way headquarters. Hake has 10 years experience in human resources management and payroll administration. Her background focuses on recruitment, performance appraisal programs and benefits administration.

Harris Group

The Seattle-based consulting engineering firm Harris Group has promoted Edward M. Portaro and William E. Ward to vice presidents. Members of the energy business unit, Portaro and Ward lead services to the power and oil and gas industries, respectively.

Portaro, vice president, power, leads a team supplying engineering, design and construction management on natural gas- and coal-fired power plants. He has 24 years of experience, including project management, project engineering and equipment evaluation.

Ward, vice president, oil and gas, leads a team providing consulting engineering for natural gas collection, storage and transportation, including design of compressor stations and storage facilities. He has 25 years experience in the gas processing and compression industry.

HTNB

HTNB Architects Engineers Planners recently promoted Barton A. Drake to associate vice president. He remains director of aviation facilities and architecture. In this role, he will develop a marketing program and ensure the quality of work to provide for existing and future clients. Additionally, he will handle more of the office operations and operation budgets, while maintaining his involvement in management of aviation facilities.

Drake is involved in the design and construction phase of the Sea-Tac Airport concourse C & D expansion. He has worked on projects at Portland International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport and numerous other international, military and municipal airfields.

Interface

Interface Engineering named Jerry Yudelson corporate marketing director. Yudelson had been director of green building services for Portland General Electric for the past two years.

Yudelson serves on the board of the U.S. Green Building Council, a 1,000-member national trade association. He is also a trainer in the LEED green building rating system for the USGBC. Interface was the engineering consultant for the Ecotrust Natural Capital Center in Portland.

ASCE

H.G. "Gerry" Schwartz Jr., chair of Sverdrup Civil of Maryland Heights, Mo., recently took the office of president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Schwarz has been with Sverdrup his entire career, beginning as a design engineer in 1966, moving to president in 1993, and to his current position as chairman in 2000. He was been a member of ASCE for more than 40 years, serving as vice president from Zone III and director from District 16.

In 1995, he chaired the committee that prepared the society's strategic plan, "ASCE 2000: Working Drawings for the 21st Century." The plan has reshaped the society, according to Schwartz. "ASCE exists to meet the needs of its 123,000 members," he said. "It's a great time to be an engineer, especially a civil engineer."

Schwartz believes civil engineers, the leaders of industry and government a few short decades ago, are today considered "technologists." When asked how to restore engineers to a position of leadership, he replied, "By placing emphasis on the importance and value of the engineer as manager, ASCE can lead this charge.

Washington Roundtable

Kelly

Washington Roundtable named John F. Kelly, chairman and CEO of Alaska Airlines, as its new chairman. Kelly was a member of Governor Locke's blue ribbon commission on transportation and serves on the Washington Competitiveness Council. He is also a board member for Avista and a member of the Northwestern University Transportation Center Business Advisory Committee. The Washington Roundtable studies and makes recommendations on public policy issues to the governor and legislature.

Davis Wright Tremaine

Amar

Kavita Amar is a new litigation associate in the Seattle office of Davis Wright Tremaine. Amar was previously with the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers.

Federal Bar Association

Swan

Preston Gates & Ellis attorney Kevin Swan has been elected vice president of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington. The association assists the U.S. District Court in Western Washington with its alternative dispute resolution program and maintains a screening panel for potential pro bono cases. Swan's term is for one year.

L.L. Brown International

Kent-based L.L. Brown International, Inc. has been retained by the Seminole Tribe of Florida to provide training and consulting services. The training for staff and tribal members will help the tribe improve customer service, enhance productivity and improve the effectiveness of tribal programs on all six of its reservations in Florida. The Seminole Tribe employs more than 2,000 non-Indians and purchases more than $24 million in goods and services from more than 850 vendors each year.

OVP Venture Partners

Pen Goodale has joined OVP Venture Partners as a research analyst. Goodale was most recently a research consultant with the Ascent Group and she worked with OVP as a freelance consultant for the past year. OVP Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm located in Kirkland.