May 06, 2021

Carvana

Carvana, an e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, has debuted in Washington, and is now offering as-soon-as-next-day touchless home delivery to Longview area residents. Customers can shop more than 30,000 used cars for sale, secure financing or use the car loan calculator, purchase, trade in, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery in as little as five minutes. Customers can also sell their current vehicle to Carvana and receive a real offer just as quickly, even without purchasing a vehicle. Founded in 2012 and based in Phoenix, Carvana offers vehicle delivery to customers in 281 cities across the U.S.

Seattle Public Schools

Brent Jones, Ph.D., was sworn in as superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, marking the start of a 14-month term he will serve while leading the state of Washington's largest school district. Jones replaces Denise Juneau, who served as superintendent from July 2018 to April 2021. The board search for a permanent superintendent will begin this fall and board directors will make a final selection in spring 2022. Serving as superintendent is a return to SPS for Jones. Up until early 2019, he served as the district's chief of equity, partnerships and engagement and helped lead the creation and adoption of the SPS strategic plan, Seattle Excellence. Prior to that role, Jones served as the district's chief of human resources. He has also served in executive roles with King County Metro, Kent School District, Seattle Colleges, and Green River College.

UBS Wealth Management

UBS Private Wealth Management announced that Michael Matthews, a financial advisor and senior portfolio manager in the firm's Bellevue office, has been ranked the No. 1 advisor in Washington on the Forbes/SHOOK Research Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list for 2021. This is the fourth year that Matthews has been named to the list, and the second that he's been ranked No. 1 for the state of Washington. With over 30 years of experience, Matthews provides comprehensive advice for individuals, business owners, entrepreneurs, multi-generational families, and retirees. This year's Forbes/SHOOK Research Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list is comprised of over 5,000 advisors across the country. Each advisor is chosen based on measures including phone and in-person interviews, compliance records, and revenue generated for their firms.

Standard Insurance

Standard Insurance Company has promoted Lara Robertson to second vice president of talent management. In her expanded role, Robertson will assume responsibility for the company's Change Management Office. Robertson joined The Standard in 2010 as a human resources business partner. In 2014, she was selected as director of talent management and was promoted to senior director in 2015. Prior to joining The Standard, Robertson held roles in human resources and business operations at Jacobs (formerly CH2M Hill), a global engineering and consulting firm. Additionally, Standard Insurance has promoted Melissa Oliver-Janiak to second vice president of total rewards. Oliver-Janiak will lead the company's total rewards strategy along with leading the benefits, compensation and human resources direct teams. Oliver-Janiak joined The Standard in 2014, initially serving as in-house employment counsel, and 2017 she joined the human resources department to lead the benefits team.

May 05, 2021

Jones & Jones

Hegstad

Megan Nielsen Hegstad joined Seattle-based Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects as a senior associate. She has led over two dozen national and international projects and is now managing construction for three Native American nonprofit projects, including the Chief Seattle Club ?al?al “Home” mixed-use building in Seattle. Hegstad has practiced architecture for over 18 years. She is experienced in zoological, natural, cultural, residential and renewable energy projects. She has worked at The Portico Group and Studio Hanson|Roberts as well as her collaborative consulting firm Maristella Studio.

SABArchitects

Sainte-Starbuck

Seattle-based SABArchitects hired Michele Sainte-Starbuck as a senior lab planner. Sainte-Starbuck has over 37 years of experience and a background in fine art and graphic and spatial design. She is a laboratory planner and architect who has focused on laboratory projects on the East and West coasts of the U.S. At SABA, she will provide mentorship and project leadership to the life science team working on projects in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The firm provides predesign, architecture and interior design.

Berger Partnership

Salerno

Blondell

Laney

Brucart

Zlotoff

Wang

Michael

Seattle-based Berger Partnership promoted Jordan Zlotoff to associate and hired Steph Brucart, Laura Laney and Evan Blondell as project managers and Ann Salerno, Spencer Michael and Yujue Wang as landscape designers. Zlotoff joined the firm as a project manager in 2015. His work includes Eastern Washington University Interdisciplinary Science Center in Cheney and the S commercial campus and Cedar Crossing mixed-use development, both in Seattle. Brucart is working on Bitter Lake Playground, Microsoft Washington Terraces in Redmond and several residential projects. She has five years of national and local experience in landscape architecture with projects that include schools, parks and trails. Laney is working on the Microsoft Campus modernization in Redmond and Kennydale Gateway multifamily project in Renton. She has five years of experience in landscape architecture with projects that include watersheds, parks, recreation centers and universities. Blondell is working on Pipers Creek for Seattle Public Utilities and Eastrail Wilburton for the city of Bellevue. He brings eight years of experience in landscape architecture with projects that include urban parks, framework plans, greenways and stream restorations. Salerno is working on Green Lake Community Center and Microsoft Washington Terraces. She has three years of local experience in landscape architecture with projects that include master plans and commercial and educational campuses in the Northwest. Michael is working on Microsoft Washington Terraces and a Chelan County PUD maintenance facility. He has five years of experience in landscape architecture with projects that include commercial and university campuses, medical centers and parks. Wang is doing work under an on-call contract for Seattle Public Utilities and is working on the Microsoft Campus modernization and residential projects. She has a master in landscape architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Berger Partnership is a landscape architectural and urban design firm.

Architects West

Champagne

Fischer

Architects West has a new board of directors. Scott Fischer, board member and past president, stepped down as part of his transition toward retirement. He has been with the firm for 40 years and plans to continue working part-time supporting staff members on their projects until he retires. The new board includes Keith Dixon, Kevin Cole, Marcus Valentine, Steve Roth and Ed Champagne, who now serves as president. Employee-owned Architects West provides architectural and landscape architectural/land planning services, with offices in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

City of Kenmore

Palaña

The city of Kenmore hired Leonora Palaña in the newly created role of human resources manager, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Palaña, a Kenmore resident, brings over 20 years of experience in the field of human resources, including 13 years of government agency experience working as a senior talent acquisition representative for the Port of Seattle. Prior to the Port of Seattle, Palaña was the human resources manager in New York City for W Times Square hotel and W Seattle. In addition to managing employee recruitment, training, and personnel policies, Palaña will support the city of Kenmore’s DEI initiatives, a Kenmore City Council priority for 2021-2022. Palaña will serve as the lead on community outreach, administering a DEI advisory committee, and implementing DEI policies and programs.

Russell Investments

Russell Investments announced that Kate El-Hillow has joined the firm as global chief investment officer, and Kevin Klingert has been hired as president. El-Hillow, who held several senior investment leadership roles at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, brings expertise in portfolio management, trading, and outsourced CIO and multi-asset investment solutions. Klingert comes to Russell Investments with industry experience in managing global operations and distribution. He has held leadership roles at Morgan Stanley Investment Management and BlackRock. Klingert will focus on day-to-day business execution, and work alongside Russell Investments' leadership team, overseeing the firm's sales and support functions. Both El-Hillow and Klingert will serve on Russell Investments' executive committee and report to chairman and CEO Michelle Seitz. In addition, chief operating officer Rick Smirl has accepted a position at another asset management firm, and Klingert will oversee the firm's operations functions. Pete Gunning, Russell Investments' CIO since 2018 and a 25-year veteran of the firm, will take on a new role as vice chairman and strategic relationships officer. Headquartered in Seattle, Russell Investments has offices in 19 cities around the world.

PeopleReady

Staffing company PeopleReady was named the winner of gold, silver and bronze Stevie Awards in the 19th annual American Business Awards for innovation and creativity in connecting people and work. The American Business Awards received a record number of nominations this year in a wide range of categories. PeopleReady's JobStack app was recognized for its role in helping job seekers connect to opportunities amid the pandemic and aiding businesses in navigating an unpredictable climate, winning both a gold award in the business and government services category and a bronze award for best user experience. The company's branding refresh, which focuses on its new Work Within Reach brand and commitment to providing solutions that meet candidates where they are and enable companies to connect with the quality workforce they need, was awarded a silver award for brand renovation of the year. PeopleReady specializes in quick and reliable on-demand labor and highly skilled workers, and supports a wide range of blue-collar industries.