Aug 24, 2022

Blueline

Manning

Schouten

Weatbrook

Luer

Vogt

Powell

Rimando

Couch

Mingus

Elsawi

Evans

Blueline Group recently hired nine new team-members. Skylynn Powell was hired as a human resources manager to lead the firm's HR and recruiting efforts. Powell is a graduate of Colorado State University with a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a Master's in Science and Organizational Leadership. She comes to Blueline most recently from Five Rivers Cattle Feeding in Colorado, where she has experience in managing talent acquisition. Rose Vogt was hired as an engineer to work on public works projects. Vogt is a graduate from Washington State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She has experience in construction inspection, civil, and environmental engineering.

Blueline hired Hannah Luer as an engineer to work on commercial projects. Luer graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and has experience as a senior project engineer at Howard S. Wright.

Alex Wheatbrook was re-hired as a part-time engineer, supporting commercial projects. Wheatbrook attended the University of Washington, where he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. He has experience designing drainage infrastructure. James Schouten joined the team as an engineer, who specializes in residential projects. Schouten attended the University of Houston where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. He has experience contributing to larger developments, ensuring stormwater and drainage analysis meet jurisdiction requirements.

Grace Manning was hired as a landscape designer. Manning graduated from Temple University's Ambler Arboretum Campus with a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture and has experience working for a small landscape architecture firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. Scott Evans was hired as a senior landscape architect. Evans graduated from Washington State University with a BS in Landscape Architecture and has more than 30 years of experience working on a wide variety of project types and scales all around the Pacific Northwest and Seattle.

Mohamed Elsawi has joined the firm as a construction inspector/EIT. Elsawi graduated from the University of Science & Technology in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan with a BS in Civil Engineering. He has experience with construction inspection and civil engineering in Sudan. Faith Mingus was hired as an engineer, supporting residential projects. Mingus recently graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and has experience being a professor's assistant for CAD classes, and completed multiple civil engineering internships throughout her college career.

Cody Couch was hired as an engineer to work on residential projects. Couch graduated from Arizona State University with his Bachelor's in Civil Engineering and recently received his Master's in Structural Engineering. Glenn Rimando has joined Blueline as a CAD manager to support all civil engineering projects. He received his degree in Geography- GIS from the University of Washington and has 20 years of experience in residential, commercial, and public works civil engineering, as well as WSDOT design-build, GIS, and CAD. Blueline provides civil engineering, land use planning, and landscape architecture services to land developers and public agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Blueline provides civil engineering, land use planning, and landscape architecture services to land developers and public agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Dark Light Design

Littleton

Gilbert

Gordon

After launching a St. Louis office in April of last year, Seattle-based lighting design firm, Dark Light Design, announced three new hires to support their continued growth and expanding national presence. Julia Gordon joins the firm as senior lighting designer to support Midwest and nationwide expansion. Gordon has more than 25 years experience in lighting which encompasses a wide variety of project types including casinos, convention center, airports, residential, commercial, retail, financial institutions, houses of worship, and theaters. Gordon is a professional member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Prior to joining Dark Light, she worked on award-winning projects including the Minnesota State Capitol Interior Restoration, Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, LA, and W Hotel-Foshay in Minneapolis, MN.

Erin Gilbert has joined Dark Light as project manager. Gilbert has over 15 years of experience designing large healthcare projects, corporate headquarters, and higher education projects across the Midwest. Gilbert is LEED AP certified and earned her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Ohio Northern University. She is currently pursuing her LC Certification.

Also joining Dark Light as lighting designer is Oliver Littleton. Littleton has 8 years of professional lighting experience in architectural and theatre lighting design, and event lighting. Littleton received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Technology and Lighting Design from Adelphi University and a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from the University of Cincinnati.

Herrera

This summer, Herrera welcomed five interns to its Seattle and Portland offices. The interns are: Jamie Elrod, Katie Parker, Stephen Rockroth, Josh Steger and Xiaoyu (Shawree) Zhang.

Elrod is an engineering intern based out of Herrera's Seattle office. She will be a senior at Seattle University this fall, studying civil engineering and mathematics. Parker is an engineering intern based out of Herrera's Seattle office. She is an incoming sophomore at University of Washington studying chemical engineering with a minor in statistics. Rockroth is an environmental science intern based out of Herrera's Seattle office. He is an incoming senior at University of Southern California majoring in environmental studies. Steger is a landscape design intern based out of Herrera's Portland office and is currently pursuing a master's degree in environmental conservation from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Zhang, a science intern based out of Herrera's Seattle office, is a recent University of Washington graduate with a major in environmental science and resource management–wildlife conservation.

Salvation Army, Old Navy dress up kids

More than 500 vulnerable kids will receive new clothing as part of The Salvation Army's back-to-school program. Thanks to generous Salvation Army donors, students from across western Washington from Bellingham to Vancouver will each receive $150 worth of new clothes for the school year.

The participating students were selected by The Salvation Army, using State and Federal guidelines to assess need. All students are in grades K – 12.

“It's been so exciting and rewarding to see the partnership between The Salvation Army Northwest Division and Old Navy continue to grow over the last few years, says Eric Larsen, Regional Director for Old Navy. What started in one location has grown to impact over 500 children this year. Old Navy is proud to help outfit these children across the northwest and send them back to school in style!”

“The right clothes and supplies can make all the difference for how kids feel about their return to school, noted Lt. Colonel Cindy Foley, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Northwest.

Aug 23, 2022

Auction of Washington Wine

With the generosity from wineries, donors, and sponsors, Auction of Washington Wine raised more than $4 million this past weekend, bringing the 35-year total to $59 million, and enabling the auction to grow its efforts to support healthy communities and healthy lands in Washington state.

Seattle Children's has been a philanthropic partner since the auction's inception and this year funds raised support for three health-care areas: Uncompensated Care, Homelessness Protection Fund, and the Tri-Cities Clinic, each helping children and families in need of support and healthcare services across the state.

Auction of Washington Wines continues to fund important wine industry research through the Washington State University's Viticulture & Enology program. Projects are prioritized on topics most important to Washington growers and winemakers including sustainability, optimal vine and soil health, and best practices to reduce the impact of climate variability on viticulture health.

Stratus Surfaces

Stratus Surfaces, a wholesale importer and distributor of natural stone, opened a new location at 19014 64th Ave. S. in Kent. The company has four product categories: quartz, porcelain, natural stone and Enigma Surfaces. It is owned by Peter Pental and Luke Spiller, and has other locations in Seattle, Texas and Oklahoma. An open house and barbecue will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Kent location.

ABC of Western Washington

Three firms joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington: TCE Electric of Lakewood; B&B Structures of Sunnyside; and Pinchiff Mechanical of Tukwila. TCE is an electrical contractor working on commercial, light-industrial and some residential jobs, from new construction to tenant improvements. B&B is a general contractor specializing in concrete work, including bridges, irrigation structures, retaining walls, loading docks and slabs. It also builds public roadways and bridges. Pinchiff is a mechanical contractor focusing on commercial HVAC and plumbing.

Rebuilding Together South Sound

This month, Rebuilding Together South Sound received a $14,000 grant from Wells Fargo to provide essential repairs to a homeowner in Puyallup. Crews will complete internal and external repairs and enhancements at the home, including: rebuilding the chimney; repairing vinyl siding; replumbing the bathroom sink; building 90 feet of wood fence; and other miscellaneous repairs. The homeowner is a single mother who became disabled due to an autoimmune disease.