Nov 25, 2009

Triad Associates

Triad Associates' board of directors promoted David Hilgers to director of landscape architecture. The position became available when Jeff Cox became Triad's president. Hilgers has more than 14 years of experience in landscape architecture with an emphasis on campus design, urban parks, recreational facilities, low impact development and streetscape design. He is working on Glendale Golf and Country Club, Talus and the Zero Energy Idea House.

BergerABAM

BergerABAM hired Ben Auseth in its Federal Way office as a construction office field technician. Auseth has three years of experience on construction sites as an office technician and inspector, including providing roadway, bridge, and earthwork inspections, documenting field operations and overseeing quality control. He is working on the Lincoln Avenue grade separation for the Port of Tacoma. Ben Fisher also joined the Federal Way office as a senior engineer. He is working on the Bridge for Kids project, which involves a proposed pedestrian overpass at state Route 162 in Orting, as well as an evacuation bridge spanning more than 500 feet across the Carbon River to serve as an emergency evacuation route from the local middle and high schools in the event of volcanic mudflows or flooding from Mount Rainier.

CH2M Hill

CH2M HILL hired Trevor C. Curtis as the public-private partnerships and management consulting services manager for its transportation business group. Curtis is responsible for leading and growing the group's global P3 and consulting services strategy. He has 35 years of experience in the construction and development industry, and has worked the past 13 years developing P3 and private finance initiatives in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. He also has experience in business development, bid strategy and new markets.

Federal Way

Federal Way has earned a “regional center” designation for its city center area from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. The designation is also held by six other Washington cities. It allows foreign investors to apply for an EB-5 visa and ultimately qualify for legal permanent residency, also known as “green card” status. Qualifying investors must commit up to $1 million in businesses or developments that will create at least 10 jobs per investor.

Kibble & Prentice

Kibble & Prentice, an insurance and financial services company, has promoted Dave Ross to president. Since joining the company in 2004, Ross has held a number of executive positions, including running the Employee Benefits Division and most recently as executive vice president. He has 25 years of experience.

El Gaucho Portland

El Gaucho Portland hired Quinne Salameh as pastry chef. Salameh is expanding the restaurant's dessert program to complement classics as Bananas Foster, prepared tableside. She was recently assistant pastry chef and cook at Veritable Quandary.

Nov 24, 2009

Definitive Insights

Definitive Insights, a new research and consulting company, recently opened its doors in Portland and Seattle. The company offers advanced quantitative and qualitative research and consulting services.

The Resort at The Mountain

The Resort at The Mountain hired Debra Scholl as director of sales and Lisa Harley as director of catering and conference planning. Scholl was director of sales of Hotel Jerome, A RockResorts Property in Aspen, Colo. Harley was wedding manager of the Four Seasons Resort Maui and director of weddings at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa on Hawaii. The golf and meeting resort is at the base of Oregon's Mount Hood.

Miller Nash

Miller Nash, a Pacific Northwest law firm, hired Danielle Cross and Tyler Rogers as associates in the Seattle office. Both participated in Miller Nash's 2008 summer clerk program. Cross joins the business practice team. Rogers joins the litigation practice team. Both went to Seattle University School of Law.

Wade Perrow Construction

Jason Sousie of Wade Perrow Construction in Gig Harbor passed the Design-Build Institute of America Designated Design-Build Professional exam. Individuals holding the certification have demonstrated through education, experience and examination their in-depth understanding and knowledge of design-build project delivery.

Materials Testing & Consulting

Materials Testing & Consulting added a mobile laboratory, allowing it to expand its service territory to the entire Pacific Northwest. The company also said its Burlington lab gained approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform tests and inspections on corps' construction projects. MTC has labs in Burlington, Bellingham and Olympia. It offers geotechnical engineering, materials testing, special inspections and nondestructive testing services.

D Square Energy Systems

North Bend-based D Square Energy Systems has become a Generac Industrial Power dealer. D Square staff has completed the required level of sales and service training and factory certification on all Generac power generators rated at 9,000 kilowatts and below. The company has been a Generac dealer of residential and commercial products for 20 years. It now can offer other Generac products, such as Modular Power Systems, Gemini and Bi-Fuel generators. Generac is based in Waukesha, Wis.

Handy Electrical Service

Berkwitt Enterprises, owner and operator of Mr. Handyman of Seattle, launched Handy Electrical Services, an electrical contracting firm for residential and commercial buildings. The new business operates independently of Mr. Handyman and focuses on small-scale projects ranging from a few hours to a few days in length. A press release said Handy Electrical plans to hire an electrician each month through the next three quarters.

PCL Construction Services

The Seattle office of PCL Construction Services donated $10,000 to Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline and another $10,000 to the Food Bank of Alaska. Local PCL employees also chipped in $454 and 384 pounds of food. The donations are part of PCL's national plan to donate $140,000 to food banks in 14 U.S. cities.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Burnaby, B.C.-based Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is buying Martella Auction Co. of Tipton, Calif. Martella is an auctioneer of agricultural and industrial equipment. A Ritchie press release said it also intends to lease the 65-acre Martella auction site. Jeremy Martella, principal owner and operator, will join the Ritchie team as the area manager of the new auction site. The deal is expected to close on or about Dec. 21. Ritchie plans to hold an auction at the new site on Feb. 12, 2010.

Skanska USA Building

Skanska USA Building last Friday handed out free turkeys to its 400 construction crew members working at the Puyallup MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital expansion project. The contractor also gave turkeys to some local residents affected by construction. This is the second year that Skanska project executive Raul Rosales has given turkeys to his crew. Workers had an option to donate their turkeys to the Puyallup Valley Food Bank.