Jan 03, 2006

King County Office of the Public Defender

King County Executive Ron Sims announced the selection of V. David Hocraffer as King County's Public Defender and director of the Office of the Public Defender effective February 1, 2006. Hocraffer will be responsible for overseeing operations, including screening individuals for eligibility for publicly funded legal representation, assigning cases to an attorney or agency, administering contracts with contract public defense agencies, and monitoring caseloads and the quality of representation.

Port of Kalama

Randy Sweet is the newest Port of Kalama Commissioner. Sweet was officially sworn in Nov. 29 and will assume the seat recently vacated by Milford Westin who resigned in May after 28 years of service. Sweet founded an environmental consulting business which merged with Emcon in 1986.

Dec 30, 2005

Qwest Field

Qwest Field and Qwest Field Event Center hired Paul Schieck as assistant general manager. He will oversee the facility's security department and emergency planning. Schieck brings 32 years of experience as a law enforcement, security and facility operations professional. He has worked in several types of venues, including the Las Vegas and Washington State Convention Centers. He comes to the organization after serving as the Director of Security and Parking at neighboring Safeco Field since its inaugural season in 1999.

Seattle Executives Association

Seattle Executives Association has elected officers for its Business Development Group through 2006. The president for the upcoming term is Larry Madison, branch manager of NYK -- Logistics (America). First VP is Cheryl Thompson, president of Seattle Office Furniture, LLC. Second VP is Dean Altaras, senior vice president of Morris Piha Real Estate Services, Inc. Treasurer for 2006 is Don Roberts, general manager of Allied Fire & Security. Beth Harwood, sales manager of the Crowne Plaza is the newly appointed president for the organizations' Associate Group.

Work Force Development Center

Stephanie Pennix Berntsen, an attorney with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in Seattle, was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Work Force Development Center (WFDC). The WFDC is a non-profit vocational training center. The organization is located in Mukilteo and serves students from school districts throughout Snohomish, Island, and North King Counties.

Dec 29, 2005

Pacific Crest Savings Bank

John Fairchild, CEO of Lynnwood-based Pacific Crest Savings Bank, thinks the Puget Sound region's robust housing market will slow down in 2006. He says builders are telling him they're having trouble finding affordable lots in convenient locations. Then there are rising interest rates and governmental regulatory pressure on lenders to tighten the way interest-only and option-arms are underwritten. These factors will eliminate many buyers from the market. In recent months a high percentage of new home loans were in the interest-only and option-arms category. Fairchild says this will greatly affect first-time home buyers who have been driving the housing market. Add up the factors, and it appears the housing market will slow down in 2006 without much price relief for home buyers, he says.

Hendricks & Partners

Equity Residential sold the 198-unit Highland Creste, 10823 S.E. 240th Place, in Kent to a partnership that Eduardo Cerna of San Jose, Calif., set up. The sales price was nearly $18.1 million. Kenny Dudunakis of Hendricks & Partners' Seattle office negotiated the sale.

Orion Residential LLC

Orion Residential LLC, a national multifamily investment company with an office in Bellevue, acquired two Phoenix properties: the 336-unit Posada Vallarta for $23.55 million and the 224-unit Aviana at the Biltmore for $42.5 million. The latter is a joint investment with Montecito Property Co. Orion Principal Scott Knauer led the acquisition of both properties. Posada Vallarta is near the Pointe Tapatio Resort and is one of the few apartments that adjoin the Mountain Preserve. Bernard Allison will manage Posada Vallarta, and Commercial Services Building Inc. will provide construction management. Aviana at the Biltmore is near the Camelback Corridor. The new owners plan to spend more than $1.5 million improving the property, which Montecito will market. Orion officials say they plan to aggressively build its apartment portfolio in Phoenix. The market's increase in single-family and condominium prices combined with a booming population and high job growth will generate strong returns. Orion President and CEO Brian Ward adds his company wants to pursue its strategy of buying high-end apartments in other key markets, including the Puget Sound region. This is in addition to the company's core strategy of buying value-add apartment properties. Orion, which also targets select condo conversion opportunities, owns and operates more than 4,000 apartment units around the nation.

NAIOP

The NAIOP Forecast Breakfast is 7:30 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, 2100 Alaskan Way. Panelists are Tom Abbott of Trammell Crow Co.; Jim Kinerk of the Broderick Group; Lisa Stewart of Urbis Partners; Leslie Williams of Williams Marketing; and Matt Wood of GVA Kidder Mathews. CB Richard Ellis' Jim Bowles will moderate. It's $30 for National Association of Industrial and Office Properties members and $45 for others. Register by Jan. 9 at naiopwa.org or phone (206) 382-9121.

CREW

Commercial Real Estate Women's 11:30 a.m. Jan. 12 lunch at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Ave., will feature a panel discussion about mixed-use development and what it means for downtown Seattle. Panelists are Kate Joncas, president of the Downtown Seattle Association, architect and developer Jim Mueller, Mike Scott of Callison Architecture and lawyer Jack McCullough of McCullough Hill. Cost is $35 for CREW members and $50 for others. Register by noon Jan. 9 at crewseattle.org or (206) 417-5580.

SuperMall

Supermall, Auburn, has hired Veronica Kovacev as marketing and guest services coordinator. Kovacev's core responsibilities will be to manage the guest services desk, coordinate gift card sales and assist with the marketing programs.

MSNBC.com

Jennifer Sizemore has been named managing editor of MSNBC .com, Redmond, and executive producer of NBC News, effective immediately. Sizemore, 37 joined MSNBC.com in July 2005 as deputy editor of news. Sizemore was the deputy managing editor for news at Houston Chronicle and an assistant managing editor at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The Mac Store

Oregon-based retailer Computer Stores NW, owners of the regional chain called The Mac Store, will open a new retail outlet just 3 miles from the world headquarters of Microsoft Corporation in Redmond. The new Mac Store is in Redmond Town Center, 7501 166th Ave. NE. Redmond Way.

Progressive Animal Welfare Society

Dana Culbertson, a CPA with Clark Nuber, was recently elected Treasurer after joining the Board of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society in July 2005. Progressive Animal Welfare Society offers and education programs, legislative work, and wildlife rehabilitation and companion animal services.

AIDS Housing of Washington

Foster Pepper & Shefelman announced that attorney Greg Guedel, a member of the firm's Litigation and Construction practice groups, has been named to the Board of Directors for AIDS Housing of Washington. Founded in 1988, AIDS Housing of Washington strives to increase the quality and quantity of housing resources for people living with HIV/AIDS.