Jul 20, 2007

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in Seattle hired Curtis R. Smelser and Aaron M. Laing as land use attorneys. Smelser served six years as executive director of the Puget Sound Council of Governments and two years as executive director of the Associated General Contractors of Washington. Laing was named a 2005 Rising Star by Washington Law & Politics.

Foster Pepper

The Seattle office of law firm Foster Pepper hired Ron Whitener as of counsel in the Native American Industry Group. Whitener is an assistant professor of law and the assistant director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington. Foster Pepper has offices in Seattle, Spokane and Portland.

Washington State Treasurer's Office

Washington State Treasurer Michael J. Murphy announced that Richard A. Patrick will become deputy state treasurer for debt management. Patrick has been the finance director for the city of Burlington since 1988. He takes over the position vacated by Allan J. Martin who was appointed assistant state treasurer in May.

Jul 19, 2007

Koehler & Co.

Commercial real estate agent Chris Koehler has joined Koehler & Co., a Seattle-based developer, owner and manager of commercial real estate. He has joined his father, Steve Koehler, a Northwest native who founded Koehler & Co. 31 years ago. Chris Koehler will lead the firm’s marketing efforts and be responsible for new business development. Previously he spent five years in the Seattle offices of Colliers International and CB Richard Ellis.

Opus Northwest

Opus Northwest, an affiliate of Minneapolis-based Opus Group companies, has named Jim Alexander director of retail leasing for the Seattle and Portland offices, and appointed Len Psyk as the new real estate director in retail. Alexander will focus on the conceptual planning and leasing of upcoming retail developments, including High Streets at Issaquah Highlands mixed-use project. He has more than 20 years experience in commercial real estate, most recently with Madison Marquette Retail Services for the Seattle region. Psyk will focus on Seattle and Portland projects. His immediate emphasis will be on The Landing, an upcoming mixed-use project with a 340,000-square-foot retail component in Vancouver, and retail developments planned for Gig Harbor and Lacey. He has more than 35 years of real estate experience, most recently overseeing portfolio development and leasing for Microsoft.

Network Mortgage Services

David Lane, of Lynnwood, has joined Network Mortgage Services as a senior loan consultant heading the newly formed builder services unit. Lane began his mortgage career with Lane Mortgage Co. in 1988, under the direction of his uncle, Robert Lane, after three years in real estate sales. Network Mortgage Services, founded in 1987 and privately held, and is an independently owned mortgage banking company headquartered in Lynnwood.

Banner Bank

Banner Bank's Alderwood Commercial Lending Center in Lynnwood hired Elgin Olrogg as vice president/commercial lender. Olrogg has worked with Viking Bank, Bank of America and Seafirst Bank. Banner Bank is a commercial bank headquartered in Walla Walla.

Short Cressman & Burgess

Tom Kilbane joined the Environmental Law Practice Section of the Seattle law firm of Short Cressman & Burgess as a partner and shareholder. Kilbane has practiced law in Seattle since 1980.

WatchGuard

Seattle-based WatchGuard Technologies, a provider of security appliances and unified threat management solutions, hired Thom Linden as vice president of engineering. Linden has 25 years experience and was vice president of engineering and CTO of Command Audio.