Oct 21, 2010

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt

Benjamin Nivison, an associate in the Seattle office of the law firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, was recently appointed chair-elect of the Public Service/Pro Bono Committee of the Washington State Bar Association's Young Lawyer Division. Nivison will serve until Sept. 20, 2011. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation and maritime law.

FiberCloud

Seattle-based FiberCloud, a provider of cloud-hosted software applications, hired Andrew Vort as sales manager. Vort has 15 years of experience in data communications and will lead nationwide sales and market expansion.

Point B

Seattle-based Point B, an employee-owned management consulting firm specializing in strategic execution, appointed two senior directors in its Seattle practice. They are Angie Bruemmer and Monica Croy. Bruemmer has been with the company for seven years. Croy has been with Point B for four years.

Seattle Works

Nonprofit Seattle Works named Tara Smith executive director. Smith has been with the organization for six years and was formerly interim director and associate director. Seattle Works connects volunteers, develops emerging leaders and inspires dialogue.

Pacific Real Estate Partners

Pacific Real Estate Partners promoted Andrew Stark to vice president in the Bellevue office. Among the tenants and landlords he represents are Alcoa, Stoneway Electric Supply, Metzler North America and Schnitzer West.

Orion Commercial Partners

Dan Foster and Matthew Hinrichs, formerly of Pacific Real Estate Partners, launched Orion Commercial Partners, an integrated real estate firm. Genni Reilly of Reilly & Associates will share office space with Orion at Merrill Place in Pioneer Square and collaborate with Orion full time. Reilly has worked for Vulcan, Quadrant, Port Blakely Cos. and Koll Co. The three will work on all services, with Foster as general manager and leading investment sales and acquisitions. Hinrichs and Reilly will lead property management and leasing. Orion said it will focus on clients long term rather than on transaction volume and fees. The company also will explore co-investing, joint ventures and other ways of investing with clients.

REI

Mark K. Comstock is the new vice president of real estate and store development for REI, the Kent-based national co-op that sells outdoor gear and clothing. This is a new position for the company. REI CFO Ivar Chhina said REI is making an investment in strategic growth. Comstock was vice president of real estate and facilities for T-Mobile USA, and has worked at Eddie Bauer and Egghead Software.

Cairncross & Hempelmann

Real estate attorney Staci Snyder Jones rejoined the Seattle law firm of Cairncross & Hempelmann as a principal. She focuses on leases. The firm hired Samantha Bushaw, who recently graduated from Seattle University School of Law.

NorthMarq Capital

Stuart Oswald, senior vice president in NorthMarq Capital's Bellevue office, arranged first mortgage financing of $18 million for the Quail Park Retirement Village in Visalia, Calif. He said it was a “cash out” refinance on a stabilized property. The deal arranged through Freddie Mac is a 10-year fixed rate at below 5 percent.

Escala tour

Commercial Real Estate Women will host a tour of the Escala condo tower in downtown Seattle at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 2. The tour begins at Hotel Andra, 2000 Fourth Ave. Register at crewseattle.org.

Development incentives conference

The Seminar Group will host a conference about real estate development incentives Nov. 4-5 at the Grand Hyatt Seattle. Experts will give presentations on programs available in Washington, from low-income housing and new market tax credits to conservation easements. Continuing education credits are available. Register at theseminargroup.net or by calling (206) 463-4400 or 1 (800) 574-4852.