Nov 04, 2003

The Hotel Group

The Hotel Group, an Edmonds-based company that specializes in the investment, ownership and management of hotels, opened the Radisson San Antonio Airport Hotel in San Antonio. The property, which is currently being renovated, was formerly operated as the San Antonio Airport Doubletree Club.

FOX Sports Grill

FOX Sports Grill, founded by FOX Sports and B&B Ventures in 2002, opened a new location in downtown Seattle at 1522 Sixth Ave. The management includes Kerry White, executive chef; Justin Evans, general manager; and Jennifer Wilson, sales and marketing manager.

Washington Competitiveness Council

Everett Community College President Charlie Earl was appointed to serve on the Washington Competitiveness Council. Earl will co-chair the Workforce Training for High Demand Fields committee with Sally Jewel, chief operating officer of REI. The council convened in 2001 in order to examine education, research capacity and entrepreneurship in Washington.

SkyTaxi

SkyTaxi, an airline based in Salem, Ore., restarted its operations. SkyTaxi named Dennis Whitesell interim director of operations and Roger Callahan chief pilot. Whitesell will be appointed assistant chief pilot when the company hires a permanent director of operations.

Simply Low Carb

Simply Low Carb, a low carbohydrate grocery store, opened in Burien at 105 S. 152nd Ave. Simply Low Carb is owned by Dan Langdon, Linda Langdon and Rod Bristol, who opened the first location in Vancouver in 2001.

Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year

Bob Falkner and Lynette Falkner, husband and wife, were named National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. The Falkners, who operate the Custer Creek Tree Farm, are the second Washington tree farmers in 60 years to be nationally recognized by the American Tree Farm System, a program of the American Forest Foundation.

J.R. Abbott Construction

Klein

McAlister

J.R. Abbott Construction has hired Doug Klein as a senior project manager and promoted Ryan McAlister to project manager. Klein has over 20 years of commercial construction experience and holds a bachelor's degree in building construction from the University of Washington. McAlister has been with the company for two years and has experience with health care, retail and education projects. He holds a bachelor's degree in construction engineering management from Oregon State University.

Paras Concrete Contractors

Leonard

Crawford

Paras Concrete Contractors, a division of Paras General Contractors, has promoted Zac Leonard to concrete superintendent. Leonard has been with the company since 1994 and has worked as a laborer, carpenter, cement finisher and foreman. The Spokane contractor also has hired Cody Crawford as a project engineer. Crawford recently earned a bachelor's degree in facilities management and technology from the University of Colorado at Pueblo.

Valley Electric

Valley Electric is consolidating to a 34,000-square-foot building under construction near Merrill Creek in Everett. The move, expected next spring, will bring together its Mount Vernon corporate headquarters and its Bothell branch operations. The 21-year-old company says the move will streamline its operations. It will keep an office open to serve Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Swinerton Builders Northwest

Don Sundgren has been hired as president of the Seattle Division of Swinerton Builders Northwest. Sundgren is also the new Northwest regional manager, in charge of the company's Seattle, Portland and Hawaii divisions. Swinerton opened its Seattle office in 2001 and is combining it with the Portland office to create Swinerton Builders Northwest.

Brightwater profile

King County Executive Ron Sims and Christie True, manager of the Major Capital Improvement Section of the county's Wastewater Treatment Division, will talk about the Brightwater wastewater treatment project at the Nov. 12 meeting of the Utility Contractors Association of Washington. The meeting, to be held at the Southcenter Doubletree Hotel, will also include a recap of the upcoming elections. A 6 p.m. social hour will kick off the evening, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the program at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $40 for members until Nov. 5 and $45 after that. Non-members are $50 and $55. For more information, contact the association at (425) 646-8345 or visit http://www.ucaw.org.