Jan 14, 2003

Safeco Life & Investments

Jeffrey Hardwick has been named managing director of Safeco Life & Investments' broker-dealer distribution. He will oversee sales of life insurance, annuities, retirement plans and mutual fund products through broker-dealers. Hardwick was previously regional director for Jackson National Life's Northwest division.

Seattle University

Craig Chatburn was recently hired as the operations and grounds manager at Seattle University. Chatburn previously worked at the Port of Seattle as the landscape and parks manager.

Summit Law Group

Denise Ashbaugh, Jessica Goldman and Scott Sawyer have joined the Summit Law Group. Ashbaugh will focus on litigation for the firm, Goldman is a former clerk for Federal Circuit Judge Daniel Friedman and Sawyer practices complex litigation in product liability, construction defects and environmental claims.

Northwest Venture Associates

Northwest Venture Associates named Robert G. Wolfe as a general partner in its Seattle office. Wolfe has been serving as an advisory board member and entrepreneur in residence for the firm. He currently serves on the board of jaalaM Technologies and is a managing member of Phillips Real Estate Services. He previously served as president and chief operating officer of Toronto-based GT Group Telecom and has held positions with Trillium Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group.

Davis Wright Tremaine

Benjamin G. Wolff, a partner with Davis Wright Tremaine in both its Seattle and Portland offices, has been selected as one of the 45 leading lawyers under the age of 45 by The American Lawyer, a national legal industry publication. Wolff is the only lawyer from the Northwest to make the list and was the youngest lawyer to become a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine.

Veca Electric & Communications

Seattle's Veca Electric & Communications has hired Mark Thynes as a project manager in its Communications Division. Before joining Veca, Thynes served as a project manager for Holmes Electric. He has 12 years of experience and holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Pepperdine University. He also is certified as a Registered Communications Distribution Designer.

Unimark Construction Group

John Olson has been named project manager at Unimark Construction Group in Seattle. Olson’s responsibilities include new business development, estimating projects, project management and client retention. He holds bachelors' degrees in construction management and architecture from the University of Washington.

Servicemark

Servicemark, a subsidiary of Unimark Construction Group, has named Karen Laurie customer service agent. Laurie’s responsibilities include marketing, business development, quality assurance, troubleshooting and customer satisfaction. She has over seven years of experience in facilities management and holds a bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific University.

Construction Industry Training Council

The Construction Industry Training Council has elected Shawn Rhode, partner and chief operating officer of Rafn Co., as president of its 2003 board of directors. The independent construction training group also announced its officers and directors for the new year. Officers include: Adam Pinsky of SME Inc., vice-president; Jim Stack of Stack Plumbing, secretary; Joe Ratto of J.A. Ratto/Builder, treasurer; and Tim Hoover of W.G. Clark Construction Co., past president. Directors include: Gilberto Avelenda of Luxus Painting, Russ Brenner of Rawhide Electric, Darylene Dennon of Solid Energy, Steve Leverett of Modular Electric, Kreg Oveson of Grade Inc., Mike Pastore of Lightpoint Learning Solutions, Kelcie Sheriff of Wilder Construction, Jack Tenhulzen of Tenhulzen Remodeling, Rod Thaut of At Your Service Plumbing, and Gary Van Loo of Andgar Corp.

Foushee & Associates

Eric Jones has become a stockholder at Bellevue's Foushee & Associates. Jones, a project manager, has been a key manager at the company for the past 10 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in construction management from the University of Washington. He also teaches the university's certificate program in commercial real estate.

Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire

Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire has renewed its lease with Unico Properties at Rainier Tower in Seattle. The engineering firm is retaining its 28,149 square feet under a 10-year lease. It has been a Unico customer on the Metropolitan Tract for the past 40 years, 25 of those at Rainier Tower.

Cascade Masonry Supplies

Redmond's Cascade Masonry Supplies has bought Country Stone and Brick of Auburn. Country Stone will become the Auburn branch of Cascade, supervised by Gary Little. The former owner of Country Stone, Ron Berg, will serve as branch supervisor/technical sales representative for the new store. Andy and Jonathan Anderson will continue to work at the Auburn location. Cascade Masonry is part of the I-XL Group of companies.