Jul 08, 2014

Columbia Bank

Weisel

Tacoma-based Columbia Bank hired Robert R. Weisel in the Commercial Banking Division as senior vice president and director of specialty lending. He was an executive vice president for Umpqua Bank in Western and Central Washington, and also worked for Sterling Bank, U.S. Bank, Security Pacific and Bank of America. Columbia Banking System has 139 branches in Washington and Oregon.

Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation

The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation in Seattle named Colleen Oliver executive director to lead grantmaking for K-12 public education, supportive care, theatre enrichment and career training. She is chief academic officer for Partnership for Los Angeles Schools and was a senior officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, working on school programs in Chicago and Memphis. Sarah Lyding was executive director and now will be director of K-12 education and theatre arts programs.

Kirtley-Cole Associates

Merk

Graafstra

Sullivan

Everett-based Kirtley-Cole Associates hired Nicole Sullivan as project administrator, Trevor Graafstra as senior project manager and Jenny Merk as human resources/payroll manager. Sullivan has seven years of industry experience and holds an associate's degree from Edmonds Community College and a certificate in construction management from the University of Washington. Graafstra has 17 years of industry experience and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He holds a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Oregon. Merk has 20 years of industry experience.

Walsh Construction Co.

Morey

Lillybridge

Graham

Walsh Construction Co. promoted B.J. Graham to assistant superintendent, Brian Lillybridge to superintendent and Shannon Morey to assistant superintendent. Graham joined Walsh in 2005 as a carpenter. He holds a certificate in construction management from the University of Washington. Lillybridge joined the company in 2013 as a carpenter with 30 years of experience. Morey joined Walsh in 1999 as a laborer and soon after started the carpenter apprentice program. He later became carpenter foreman of the finish crew.

Sequoyah Electric

Russell

Electrical contractor Sequoyah Electric hired Kyle Russell as an estimator. Russell interned with Sequoyah in 2013 while obtaining his bachelor's degree in construction management from Washington State University. He is spending the next year in the Estimating Department as part of Sequoyah's training program for project engineers.

Jul 03, 2014

UW Office of News and Information

Victor Balta, a news planning editor at Aljazeera.com in New York, is the new director of the University of Washington Office of News and Information. Balta was a news reporter at The Herald in Everett, and worked at Comcast.net and Current TV. He will head an office with six public information officers and replaces Bob Roseth, who retired in December.

KCTS 9

KCTS 9 has added three people to the board of directors: John Schoettler, director global real estate and facilities at Amazon.com; Bonnie Towne, philanthropist and community activist; and Blair Westlake, principal at MediaSquareup.

Seattle Southside Visitor Services

Seattle Southside Visitor Services, the tourism organization for Tukwila, SeaTac and Des Moines, said Executive Director Katherine Kertzman has been recognized as a Certified Destination Management Executive by Destination Marketing Association International.

Joseph Abreu joins LIHI board

Abreu

Joseph Abreu, store manager of Home Depot in Bellevue, has joined the Low Income Housing Institute board. Abreu is this region's “community captain” for Home Depot Foundation, which focuses on housing for veterans. LIHI owns and manages more than 50 complexes with 1,700 apartments in six counties.

Frachiseur named Envoy Mortgage VP

Frachiseur

Envoy Mortgage, a Houston-based mortgage bank, hired Keith Frachiseur to the new position of Pacific Northwest regional vice president. Frachiseur has more than 25 years of experience, and was president of Bellevue-based mortgage bank Axia Financial. He was also on the Washington State Mortgage Brokerage Commission and president of the Washington Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Seattle Public Theater's new office

Seattle Public Theater moved its offices to the historic University Christian Church at 4759 15th Ave. N.E. The theater has two offices on the second floor and shares 1,750 square feet of rehearsal space with Seattle Choral Company. Matthew Richter, cultural space liaison at Seattle's Office of Arts and Culture, brokered the deal for Seattle Public Theater.

Snohomish County housing committee

Snohomish County is looking for two members to serve on its housing and community development technical advisory committee. The committee wants one person to represent minority groups and one to represent low-income groups. The committee reviews applications for affordable housing, public facilities and public service projects that benefit low-income and homeless people. For more information, or to apply, visit: http://bit.ly/1mkTAsD