Feb 21, 2025

Foster Garvey

Darrias Sime has joined Foster Garvey as an associate in the firm's Seattle-based Investment Management group. Sime has significant experience both in business transactions and corporate finance, having advised a diverse range of clients on complex financial transactions, corporate governance and regulatory compliance. He joins Foster Garvey from Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt where he supported their Business and Corporate Finance group, facilitating mergers and acquisitions, assisting with the formation and dissolution of entities and guiding clients through corporate and investment strategies. “We're excited to welcome Darrias to the team,” said Bob Perez, Investment Management co-chair. “His experience in both business transactions and corporate finance will be invaluable to our clients as we continue to expand and grow the Investment Management practice.” Simes holds a law degree from Seattle University School of Law and a bachelor's degree from Williams College. Foster Garvey has offices in Seattle, Portland, Washington, D.C., New York, Spokane and Tulsa.

Sound Cities Association

The Sound Cities Association (SCA) named Robert Feldstein as its new executive director. Feldstein has experience in public policy, strategic planning and community engagement, and has worked extensively with local governments, nonprofits, and national coalitions. Feldstein's career spans over two decades. His previously served as partner and principal at Cedar River Group, director of the Office of Policy & Innovation for the Seattle Mayor's Office, and chief of Staff for the Office of Policy and Strategic Planning under New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. His work has focused on issues including affordable housing, public safety, economic development, and immigration reform. SCA is an association of King County cities and was founded in the 1970s to help cities create vital, livable communities through advocacy, education, leadership, mutual support and networking.

Expeditors International of Washington

Expeditors International of Washington announced that Jeffrey S. Musser, president and chief executive officer, plans to retire, effective March 31. The company also announced that the board of directors has unanimously elected Daniel R. Wall, current president — global geographies, as its next president and chief executive officer. Upon his retirement, Musser will step down from the board of directors, and Wall will be appointed to the board and stand for election at the company's upcoming annual meeting of shareholders. Wall joined Expeditors in March 1987 and has held numerous positions within the company, culminating in being named president, global geographies and operations in October 2023. Expeditors is a global logistics company headquartered in Bellevue. Services include the consolidation or forwarding of air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, vendor consolidation, cargo insurance, time-definite transportation, order management, warehousing and distribution and customized logistics solutions.

Feb 20, 2025

Sound Transit

Sound Transit has announced that Victoria Baecher Wassmer and Hughey Newsome have joined the agency to lead the Finance and Business Administration (FBA) Department. Wassmer assumes the role of deputy CEO — Finance and Business Administration, and Newsome takes on the position of chief financial officer, reporting to Wassmer. Wassmer most recently worked as assistant secretary/chief financial officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where she led the budget, finance, risk, evaluation and performance administration through the implementation of the largest infrastructure program in U.S. history. Wassmer holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard’s John F Kennedy School of Government and is also a graduate of Bryn Mawr College. Newsome comes to Sound Transit from Piston Group, an automotive manufacturer focused on electrification, where he was CFO. Newsome also served as CFO for both county and city governments, where he led successful bond financing initiatives and credit rating improvements. Newsome graduated from Harvard’s Business School with a Master of Business Administration and has a Master of Electrical Engineering degree from Stanford University. He graduated from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Sound Transit’s next Link light rail extension is slated to open to Downtown Redmond on May 10, followed by connections across Lake Washington later this year and to Federal Way in 2026.

Feb 19, 2025

LMN Architects

Asher

LMN Architects announced the addition of Cristian Asher to its principal group and leadership team.

Asher has joined LMN Architects in the role of director of business development. He brings nearly 18 years in the architecture industry to LMN, seven of those in executive positions leading marketing, communications, and BD teams in California, Oregon, and now Washington. At LMN, he will spearhead efforts to secure new projects within the firm's five core market sectors and to consider new opportunities, geographies, and markets as they align with LMN's values and portfolio.

Asher has held leadership roles at notable architecture firms, including SERA Architects in Portland and Gensler at their headquarters office, with earlier experience at Perkins&Will and SMWM Architects in San Francisco. He has led winning pursuits worth over $1.5 billion in revenue across multiple sectors, including aviation, higher education, civic, and workplace.

Reid Middleton

High

Garcia

R. Adwer

K. Adwer

Hippler

In Anchorage, Reid Middleton hired Aaron Hippler as a designer I. Hippler is finishing his degree from the University of Alaska-Anchorage and will provide structural engineering design.

In San Diego, Reid Middleton hired Klara Adwer as a designer I, Rwzan Adwer as a designer I, Pablo Garcia III as a designer I, and Nas High as an office administrator. Klara and Rwzan Adwer started at Reid Middleton as civil interns and recently graduated from San Diego State University. Both will focus on civil engineering projects.

Garcia joined the firm as a designer for structural engineering projects. High brings 13 years of experience, including six with the U.S. Army. She will support office operations for the San Diego office.

Swenson Say Fagét

Kiers

Kuzubov

Borseth

Witthun

Ashford

Swenson Say Fagét Structural Engineers announced four promotions and one new hire.

Holly Ashford and Tyler Witthuhn were promoted to project manager. Ashford joined SSF's Seattle office in March of 2019. She holds a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Ashford's projects include various new construction and renovation projects for single-family homes throughout the greater Seattle area, including three float homes. Other recent projects include the Bishop Blanchett High School Seismic Retrofit, a seismic retrofit of To the Moon Childcare in Seattle, a new office building in Carnation, and a tenant improvement project for Seattle Pizza Bar.

Witthuhn joined SSF's Ellensburg office in February of 2022. He holds an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Witthuhn is currently working on a new dentistry building for Pacific Northwest University in Yakima, the Old Wenatchee Jail Adaptive Reuse for a speakeasy and retail spaces, the Pangborn Airport Hangar Analysis in Douglas County, a new Franz Bakery Warehouse in Yakima, and many single-family projects throughout Central Washington.

Mitchell Borseth and Dennis Kuzubov were promoted to project engineer.

Borseth joined SSF's Seattle office three years ago. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University. The majority of Borseth's time is spent with the SSF multifamily team. He is currently working on the St. Luke's Affordable Housing Apartments and the St. Luke's Market-rate Apartments in Ballard, the Bryant Manor Affordable Housing project in Seattle, the second phase of the Pepsi Blocks Apartments in Portland, and the Dawson Wilson Townhomes in Seattle. He is also working on two high-end single-family residences in Medina and Seattle.

Kuzubov joined SSF's Tacoma office in March of 2022. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington. Kuzubov's current projects include a new 50-unit Muckleshoot Supportive Housing project, two new Gateway North retail buildings in Bend, a new Treehouse project in Medina, the new A Street Townhomes in Tacoma, and the new Seabrook Pacific Landing mixed-use project. He is also involved with numerous single-family home renovations and new projects throughout the state, from Lopez Island to Ellensburg.

Alan Kiers joined SSF as a staff engineer.

Kiers joined SSF's Tacoma office in September 2024. Kiers holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering with a civil/environmental engineering concentration from Calvin University in Michigan. With four years of experience, Kiers is working on a variety of projects, including the new 8839 Pacific Avenue Townhomes in Tacoma, the new 16th and State Apartments in Boise, and single-family home projects in Gig Harbor, Seattle, and Lake Stevens.

Foster Garvey

Foster Garvey announced the addition of principals Susan Johnson and Claire Mitchell, associate Max Fujii and paralegal Nealy Evans, who join the firm's Commercial & IP practice from Stoel Rives. The former Stoel Rives team joins forces with Foster Garvey's liquor and cannabis team, led by Emily Harris Gant.

Johnson has spent more than two decades supporting breweries, wineries, distilleries, restaurant and hotel chains and other industry stakeholders on licensing structures, distribution agreements and policy matters. She represents clients in regulatory proceedings and works closely with government agencies on legislative initiatives affecting alcohol laws. She is licensed to practice in Washington and is nationally ranked in Chambers USA.

Mitchell represents a diverse range of clients, including national grocery chains, e-commerce retailers, alcohol brand owners and entertainment venues. Her work centers on complex state and federal liquor licensing matters, promotional advertising regulations, tied house issues, sponsorship agreements and other alcohol industry transactional matters. She also to collaborates with regulators on securing mission critical and often time sensitive regulatory approvals. Mitchell serves on the board of directors of the Washington Wine Industry Foundation where she works in concert with other industry professionals to support the continued success of winemakers and vineyards in the state. She is licensed to practice in Washington, Oregon and New York and is nationally ranked in Chambers USA.

Fujii advises breweries, wineries, distilleries and retailers on federal and state liquor licensing, compliance and corporate transactions. He assists clients with permitting, tied house compliance, direct-to-consumer shipping and distributor franchise matters, and supports retail expansions, winery acquisitions and operational plans for sports and entertainment venues. He is licensed to practice in California.

Evans has more than 20 years of experience supporting attorneys and clients in the beverage and hospitality industries, and is experienced with managing multistate license portfolios for alcohol suppliers and hospitality businesses, including restaurants, hotels, cruise lines, resorts and entertainment venues.

Foster Garvey has offices in Seattle, Portland, Washington, D.C., New York, Spokane and Tulsa.