Sep 27, 2005

Exponent

Exponent announced several promotions in the Bellevue office: Gary Brugger, P.E. to senior managing engineer; Rhonda Kaetzel, Ph.D. to senior scientist; Eileen McAuliffe to publications supervisor; Randy O'Boyle to senior scientist; Walter Shields, Ph.D. to director of the environmental sciences practice; Scott S. Shock, P.E. to managing engineer; Taryn Sparacio, R.G. to senior scientist. Other new hires are: Russ Jones, Ph.D., senior managing engineer, Mechanics & Materials practice; Claudia LaRose, contracts manager; and Michael Carlson, IT system support specialist. Exponent is an engineering and scientific consulting firm with expertise in over 70 technical disciplines. Exponent is based in Menlo Park, Calif., and has 18 U.S. and three international offices. The firm provides product design analysis, development, and testing; analyzes failures and accidents; and evaluates environmental and health concerns.

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market plans to open three new stores in Oregon and Washington next year. New stores will be in Tualatin, Ore., Redmond and Seattle. The 52,000-square-foot Redmond store will open in May on Redmond Way and 108th Avenue Northeast. The 2200 Westlake store will open in September. The Oregon store is located at Bridgeport and Hazlefern streets.

UBmatrix

UBmatrix, a Kirkland-based provider of software and services to help organizations use on the global XBRL standard for financial reporting, has a new management team. Darren Peterson has been named director of marketing. He was at E-Z Data, a financial services CRM provider.

University Mechanical Contractors

Vega	Rosas	Kappus
Coffman	Welling	Droz
Bueler	Drinkwater	Hollowed
Barnhart

Several new employees have joined Mukilteo-based University Mechanical Contractors: Ted Vega and Mark Rosas as detailers; Brandon Kappus as HVAC detailer; Kevin Coffman, Owen Welling and Mitch Droz as project engineers; Steve Bueler as design engineer; James Drinkwater as contract administrator; Bob Hollowed as operations manager; and Linda Barnhart as executive assistant. Vega graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, Philippines, and has 10 years of plumbing and piping design experience. Rosas graduated from ITT Tech in CAD design. Kappus has 12 years of sheetmetal installation experience. Coffman holds a bachelor's degree from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Welling previously worked for Bechtel Construction as a piping field engineer and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Montana State University. Droz previously was a project engineer at Foushee & Associates and hold a bachelor's degree in construction management from Central Washington University. Bueler has a background in welding and fabrication, and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Henry Cogswell College. Drinkwater holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from Central Washington University. Hollowed previously worked as a senior project manager at Marelich Mechanical. Barnhart previously worked for Sasco Electric as an executive assistant. She is working on a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.

Pioneer Contracting Services

Pioneer Contracting Services, formerly Pioneer Construction Services, has promoted Keith Livingstone to general manager. Livingstone is overseeing the entire 44-person company. He joined the company in 2003 and has more than 30 years of experience. Seattle-based Pioneer specializes in commercial and residential renovations and maintenance.

Cochran Technologies

Cochran Technologies, a division of Cochran Inc., is a recipient of the 6th Annual Vision Award from Constructech Magazine. Seattle-based Cochran won the award for its development and implementation of a project executive software application.

Sep 26, 2005

Benchmade Knife Co.

Mooney

Benchmade Knife Co. promoted Greg Mooney to senior vice president of operations. Mooney was vice president of sales and marketing, and has also directed brands for sporting equipment at Blount, a company in Lewiston, Idaho. Benchmade is based in Oregon City, Ore., and designs and manufactures cutlery.

Washington State University

Cindy Stewart Kaag is interim director of the libraries at Washington State University in Pullman. Former director Virginia Steel accepted a position at University of California, Santa Cruz. Kaag was interim assistant director for public services and outreach.

The Container Store

The Dallas-based chain The Container Store will open a Washington location on Oct. 29 at Lincoln Square in Bellevue. The company sells materials for storage and organization. Sales in 2005 are expected to reach $440 million. Executives include CEO/President Kip Tindell and Chairman Garrett Boone.