Jun 01, 2022

Blueline Group

Kuzaro

Zwaagstra

Strittmatter

Sasaki

Mulheran

Ralston

Nautsch

Blueline recently hired three engineers. Nicole Mulheran has been hired as an engineer to work on public works projects as well as construction inspection. Mulheran is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and has experience as an engineer intern for NIES Engineering. Kylyn Sasaki has also been hired as an engineer to work on public works projects. Sasaki is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering and has experience as a specifications engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District in Hawaii. Matthew Strittmatter joins the team as an engineer specialized in residential development. Strittmatter is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering and an Associate's in Biology. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he relocated to Seattle in 2020.

Blueline also recently hired Sarah Zwaagstra as the office coordinator. Zwaagstra attended the University of Washington and received her Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies. Prior to Blueline, she worked at Nordstrom on the Corporate Social Responsibility team leading on sustainability data analysis and insights. Dené Kuzaro PE has been rehired as a senior project engineer to work on residential and commercial projects. Kuzaro is a graduate of Seattle University with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. She has over a decade of experience as an engineer assisting builders with residential and commercial development throughout the Greater Puget Sound Region.

Anne Nautsch joins Blueline as a planner. Nautsch is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Master's Degree in Urban Planning. She has experience in federal land use planning, public engagement, and project management.

Blueline has also hired Peter Ralston as an engineer to work on commercial projects. Ralston is a graduate of the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. He has experience as a project engineer with BKF Engineers in California.

Cast

Craddock

Cast architecture has added Emilio Craddock to their team. Craddock received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia and earned a dual Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington. Craddock will focus on Cast's residential and community projects.

Coffman Engineers Inc.

Walkenhauer

Coffman Engineers Inc. announced that Brian Walkenhauer, PE, SE has been promoted to principal, and is now a shareholder in the company. Walkenhauer is a structural engineer and the Burlington office operations manager. His structural design background includes commercial, industrial, military, and complex seismic retrofit projects. Walkenhauer leads a growing multi-discipline team and drives business development through the development client relationships and a high-functioning team. He has designed over 1-million-square-feet of post-tensioned concrete slabs and has significant experience with the seismic retrofit of existing structures. His retrofit experience includes earthquake repairs to structures damaged in the 2014 South Napa earthquake as well as seismic retrofit of a fully operational hospital emergency department building using friction dampers.

Dykeman Architects

Otto

Dykeman Architects announced that Miranda Otto has been promoted to associate. Otto graduated from Norwich University with a Bachelor's of Science in Architectural Studies in 2014 and a Master's of Architecture in 2015. She worked at one other firm previously before being hired by Dykeman in 2016. Her previous role was as a job captain. As an associate Otto will be taking a more active role in Dykeman's leadership and workplace dynamics.

Absher Construction Co.

Family owned for 82 years, Absher Construction Co. has transitioned to an employee-owned company through an employee stock ownership plan. CEO Dan Absher said in a news release: “Trusting and believing in the talent and commitment of our employees is part of our DNA at Absher. When he reached the end of his career, my grandfather — company founder Barney Absher — passed the company to his son Tom and his top employee at the time, Clark Helle Sr. For more than five decades, the company was owned by our two families, the Abshers and the Helles. As we engaged in succession planning over the past several years, deciding to transition to an employee-owned company aligned with our company culture and values, and deepens our commitment to our team members who are responsible for the success of our projects throughout the region.” The current executive team will stay in place, with Dan Absher as CEO, Jeff Richards as president, James Christianson as vice president of operations, Curt Gimmestad as vice president, and Billie Otto as chief strategy and risk officer. Absher has offices in Puyallup and Bellevue.

Concrete Strategies

Zabel

St. Louis-based Concrete Strategies, which announced last week it opened a local office in Marysville, said it is looking to expand its staff in the area under the leadership of Johnnie Zabel, a 20-year industry veteran. Zabel is vice president of operations for the Northwest region, and has been with Concrete Strategies since last August, according to his Linkedin profile. Zabel has worked as an estimator and project manager for LangCo Northwest, and as a project manager for Salinas Construction and Mowat Construction. Concrete Strategies is a design-build concrete contractor.

APA — The Engineered Wood Association

In Tacoma, APA — The Engineered Wood Association added two members to its board of trustees: Jimmy Mason, executive vice president of OSB for LP; and Matt Tobin, vice president of sales and marketing for West Fraser. Mason has over 20 years of manufacturing operations and leadership experience. He was elected to the seat vacated by Jason Ringblom's changed role with LP. Tobin has 16 years of progressive experience, predominantly in West Fraser's Canadian lumber business. He was elected to the seat vacated by Mark Dubois-Phillips' departure. APA represents about 175 plywood, oriented strand board, glulam timber, wood I-joist, Rim Board, cross-laminated timber and structural composite lumber mills throughout North America.

Build Group

As part of a long-planned executive transition, San Francisco-based Build Group promoted Nathan Rundel to chief executive officer. Rundel succeeds longtime CEO Ross Edwards, who has served in the role since Build Group's inception 15 years ago. Rundel joined Build Group in its first year of operations and has served as president for the past six years. Build Group primarily operates in the Bay Area but has a Seattle office. It builds multifamily, office, high-end retail, restaurant, hotel, student and senior housing, health care, life science, seismic upgrade, and parking garage projects.