Dec 18, 2002

Site Workshop

Site Workshop LLC announced these additions to the firm: Mike Koski-Harja, Marly Khoury-Haddad, Chigusa Kitai, Jack Johnson and Rebecca Handshew.

Koski-Harja is a site planner and designer, with computer and technical management skills. As project manager, he is currently focusing on management and documentation of the Washington State Veteran’s Home in Retsil, Conibear Shellhouse and the BioEngineering Building at the University of Washington.

Khoury-Haddad has a multi-disciplinary background in landscape architecture, interior design and architecture. She has been involved in various community-based projects in the U.S., England and Lebanon. Her responsibilities include design and technical support on projects for the UW, Snohomish County and Harborview.

Kitai combines horticulture with a civil engineering background in her landscape architectural work. She has worked on various scales of projects in both the U.S. and Japan. Kitai is currently working on projects for Beer Sheva Park, Highline Schools and Harrison Hospital.

Johnson has experience in all facets of landscape architecture including master planning, construction documentation and public involvement. He is currently managing the landscape architectural effort for Kitsap County Administration Building, and the new UW Genomic Sciences Building.

Handshew joins as a landscape planner and project assistant. A U.K. native, Handshew has experience in site planning and design, community involvement, and historic landscape restoration in both the U.S. and U.K. Her responsibilities include project team support in design, marketing and office management.

Site Workshop specializes in landscape architecture, land planning and site planning for commercial, institutional, residential and civic projects throughout the Puget Sound region and western United States.

Hydro-Geosciences

Hydro-Geosciences hired two employees. Don Lance joined the firm as a senior environmental geologist, with 20 years experience as a geologist and project manager. His recent experience emphasizes management and technical support of diverse environmental investigations, civil construction, regulatory compliance and remediation activities, including projects for Sound Transit, Seattle Public Utilities, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Don Wyll, a project environmental scientist, has nine years experience conducting both small and large scale environmental projects for the public and private sectors, that includes work for such clients as the Air National Guard, Puget Sound Energy, Unocal and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hydro-Geosciences has offices in Redmond and Portland, working on water resources, transportation, wastewater, heavy civil and mining projects, as well as geotechnical and environmental construction monitoring services.

Berger/ABAM Engineers

Derek Pack has joined Berger/ABAM Engineers’ headquarters in Federal Way as a computer-aided drafting operator. Pack has seven years experience in computer-aided design and drafting. His background includes residential and commercial design and drafting, manual drafting and construction management and estimating.

Jeffrey McGuire has joined the Seattle office. McGuire has nine years experience in structural design and seismic engineering on projects involving building, transportation, offshore and industrial structures.

Daniel Johnston recently joined the Portland office. Johnston has five years of civil engineering experience with design/build projects, plant facilities and environmental restorations. He has worked on water and sewer system upgrades to new facility constructions.

Lynette Rice also joined the Portland office as a CAD operator. Rice has three years of civil CAD experience. She has prepared surveys and pre-construction, construction and as-built drawings for public works and land development projects. Her projects have included water, sewer, and storm systems, as well as pavement designs.

Washington State

Washington state officials gave provisional approval to ICMA Retirement Corp. to manage its new college savings plan. The approval is for a 10-year contract to administer the tax-exempt savings program, known as a "529" college savings plan. The plan is expected to start taking applications next summer. Washington state's prepaid tuition plan is limited to $26,000. The new plan will have higher limits and can also be used to cover room and board, books, and other educational expenses. ICMA manages $2.6 billion in retirement plans for Washington state teachers and some state workers.

Preston Gates & Ellis

Preston Gates & Ellis named Mark G. Jackson a partner in its Seattle office. He will practice in the construction, design and public contracting group, and the government contracts law and procurement policy group. Prior to joining Preston Gates, Jackson was a partner in a Seattle firm that focused exclusively on construction and public contracting law. He is also a former trial attorney with the Air Force Contract Litigation Team.

City Bank

City Bank and its employees have donated more than $20,000 to Everett's Christmas House. City Bank branches have also participated in a clothing drive to collect coats, sweaters, gloves and blankets for children from low-income families living throughout Snohomish County. City Bank's donation to Christmas House will fund the Wheels for Kids program. Christmas House expects to serve 2,000 families this year and is still accepting donations. They can be reached at (425) 338-2273.

Electro Scientific Industries

Electro Scientific Industries of Portland named James Dooley chief executive officer, president and director. Dooley, who joined the company in 1992, has been chief financial officer, senior vice president and acting chief operating officer since April. Dooley replaces David Bolender, who had been acting chief executive and will continue as board chairman. Bolender had filled in for the company's chief executive and president Donald R. VanLuvanee who has retired. The company makes products used to build electronic equipment for the automotive electronics, semiconductor and wireless telecommunications industries.

Parkplace Books

Parkplace Books has completed a renovation at its Kirkland Parkplace location. The store expanded into an adjacent retail space and now covers 7,300 square feet. The renovation includes new lighting, fixtures, flooring, seating areas and a gas fireplace. Kirkland Parkplace is located at Sixth and Central in downtown Kirkland.