Dec 30, 2020

Mutuus Studio

Galdamez

Silvia Galdamez joined Mutuus Studio in Seattle as an architectural designer after having interned for it the past two summers. Galdamez holds a bachelor of architecture degree from Cornell University with a dual concentration in the history of architecture and visual representation. Mutuus offers architecture, interiors and product design services.

Rice Fergus Miller

Quist-Therson

Bremerton-based Rice Fergus Miller hired Patricia Quist-Therson as a project manager. Quist-Therson has experience in commercial, residential and government environments with projects ranging from $500,000 to $20 million. She joins the fire and emergency services studio of the architecture, interior design, planning and visualization firm.

Metrix Engineers

Prehoda

Renton-based mechanical and electrical design and consulting firm Metrix Engineers hired Ben Prehoda as a principal. Prehoda will lead the electrical engineering studio. He has nine years of design engineering experience, most notably supporting K-12 facility design and construction administration. He recently completed design of the Puesta del Sol Elementary School in Bellevue, which will be the first net zero energy K-12 facility and the largest net zero commercial project in the state.

Balfour Beatty

Balfour Beatty, who operates in the Northwest as Howard S Wright, announced the promotion of Portland-based executive, Troy Dickson, to president in the Northwest. Dickson will replace former Northwest president, Dan Peyovich, and will provide strategic oversight for the Oregon and Washington offices. During his tenure at the company, Dickson has held positions including vice president of operations for the West Region of Balfour Beatty, and most recently, serving as senior vice president and Oregon manager. Balfour Beatty is a provider of general contracting, at-risk construction management and design-build services for public and private sector clients across the United States.

HKP Architects

HKP Architects, a full-service architectural firm in Mount Vernon, has re­ceived three of the six Merit Awards given out in this year's AIA North­west Sec­tion De­sign Awards. Ju­rors in­cluded ac­ces­si­bil­ity ex­pert Karen Brait­mayer, con­struc­tion rep­re­sen­ta­tive Su­san Mc­Cants, and artist rep­re­sen­ta­tive Linda Smeins. The three HKP pro­jects that were awarded at the vir­tual event in­clude the Lake Cavanaugh residence addition, the Orcas Island Public Library expansion, and the Swinomish Indian tribal community dental clinic expansion.

Yakima County Solid Waste

The Washington State Chapter of the American Public Works Association has awarded Yakima County Solid Waste with its Night of Excellence Chapter Hero's Award. This award recognizes outstanding service to the community in public works by front line workers. In four months, Yakima County Solid Waste had 9,000 more customers and 8,000 additional tons of garbage over the prior year, and had to operate with conditions including COVID-19, wildfires, unhealthy smoke and high winds. They operate two landfills, three transfer stations, a moderate risk waste facility, satellite used oil locations and a recycling education program.

Dec 29, 2020

Pinnacle Surety

Alliant Insurance Services, headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, has announced the acquisition of Pinnacle Surety and Allied Bonding, a professional surety bond agency based in Costa Mesa, CA and Boise, ID. Founded in 1994 Pinnacle is led by Eric Lowey and Mark Richardson. The firm provides contract, license and permit, subdivision and court bonds. Pinnacle/Allied employees will continue to work from their Costa Mesa and Boise office locations. Alliant provides property and casualty, workers' compensation, employee benefits, underwriting, surety, and financial products and services to clients nationwide.

Kymeta

Redmond-based Kymeta announced that Hanwha Systems, a global solutions company that provides differentiated smart technologies in defense electronics and information infrastructure, has signed an agreement to invest $30 million to back the development of Kymeta's global mobile satellite-cellular connectivity solutions. The investment is anticipated to further Kymeta's global market reach, accelerate production of Kymeta products, and improve the overall growth trajectory of the company. Upon regulatory approvals, Hanwha, headquartered in South Korea, will also receive a seat on the Kymeta Board of Directors. PJT Partners served as financial advisor and placement agent to Kymeta.

Tacoma Arts Commission

The Tacoma Arts Commission is accepting applications for the ninth annual Tacoma Poet Laureate program. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2021. Applicants should be literary artists who are emerging, professional, or established artists producing poetry in any form, genre, or style, or writers who work in additional genres whose work intersects with poetry. The individual selected as Tacoma Poet Laureate will hold the title for two years, from May 2021 to April 2023, and receive a stipend of $4,000. Eligibility extends to literary artists who live in Pierce County and are actively engaged in Tacoma's creative community. The application and information about the Tacoma Poet Laureate program, which was founded in 2008 by Urban Grace Church and transitioned to the City of Tacoma's Arts Program in 2011, are available at cityoftacoma.org/poet.