Jul 22, 2025

Rafn Company

Ambrey

Bellevue-based general contractor Rafn Company promoted Ben Ambrey to assistant superintendent. Ambrey joined Rafn during the summers while attending Washington State University and came on full-time after graduation in the spring of 2014. He has worked as a project engineer on renovations at Mount Baker Village and Byrd Barr Place, and as a senior project engineer on the construction of the new Nook at Northaven Apartments. As an assistant superintendent, Ambrey is currently helping multiple small projects start construction.

City of Lynnwood

Wolters

The city of Lynnwood named Ben Wolters director of the Development and Business Services Department. He is taking over this role from David Kleitsch, who will retired after nearly 25 years of service to the city of Lynnwood this fall. Wolters has served in executive and managerial roles with the cities of Lynnwood, Kent, Renton and Seattle. He currently serves as the Economic Development manager for the city of Lynnwood and was instrumental in the formation of Lynnwood's Development and Business Services Department and the Economic Development division, leading the redevelopment of Lynnwood City Center, renewing the city's tourism and business marketing, and building a small business support program through partnerships. Wolters has also served as a volunteer in the region with the Housing Development Consortium, Seattle Jobs Initiative, Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound, and the Urban Land Institute's Technical Assistance Panel program. He is a graduate of Oregon State University and holds a master's degree in international economics from the University of Denver. He is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Jul 18, 2025

Seattle Animal Shelter

Harrington

The city of Seattle has selected Ashley Harrington to serve as the new executive director of the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) following a comprehensive and competitive national search. Her first day will be July 30. Harrington brings nearly 10 years of animal welfare experience to the role and most recently served as director of Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control. While there, Harrington led a multifaceted team across shelter operations, customer service, veterinary services and field services. Harrington was instrumental in developing programs to improve adoption outcomes, expand community outreach, and ensure regulatory compliance. She previously held positions with MAB Community Services in Massachusetts and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee. Harrington also brings a strong foundation in public communication, having served as a spokesperson for media and public inquiries. She studied sociology at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell. SAS is the city's only open-admission shelter, meaning it cares for every animal, every time, regardless of age, species, behavior, or medical condition. Each year, SAS supports over 6,500 animals through its adoption and foster programs. It also operates spay/neuter services, free and low-cost vaccination and exams, crisis surgery, foodbank services, shelter options for unhoused pet guardians, pet training and behavior management, and other critical services.

State of Washington

Jones

Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed Matt Jones as Washington's new director of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). Jones has served as acting director since Jan. 15. During his 18-year public service career at DES, Jones also served as the assistant director of capitol security and visitor services, supporting stewardship on the capitol campus. Prior to state service, Jones worked in the information technology sector for the Olympia School District and several Fortune 100 companies, including Nike, IBM Global Services and Russell Investments. He attended Pacific Lutheran University.

Pacific Crest Savings Bank

Pacific Crest Savings Bank named Melody Arunga to the position of senior credit analyst. Arunga brings more than 20 years of retail and commercial lending experience to the role, previously serving in various lending positions with other Michigan and Northwest financial institutions and credit unions In her role, Arunga will work closely with the bank's commercial lending team to analyze borrowers' creditworthiness, with the goal of helping clients secure favorable terms that help their business grow. Prior to joining Pacific Crest, Arunga worked in retail lending, transitioning to the commercial side after 10 years. Originally from Kenya, Arunga moved to Michigan for college and later settled in Washington. Founded in 1984, Pacific Crest Savings Bank is a local and independently owned community bank headquartered in Lynnwood.

Jul 17, 2025

Bowman benefits from $62M refi

Photo by J. Mark Griffith Photography [enlarge]

Developer Legacy Partners opened the 278-unit Bowman, in Fremont, in the summer of 2016. AEW Capital Management owns the building, and jointly announced a new $62 million refinancing package with the lender, PGIM Real Estate. The deal replaces the prior loan, also from PGIM. The new money is part of a two-property deal with AEW, worth $107.2 million, also covering a multifamily building in Charlotte, North Carolina. PGIM's Tom Goodsite said in a statement, “We're proud to provide financing to support these well-located multifamily communities in Charlotte and Seattle, which are two dynamic markets with growing populations and a strong demand for high-quality housing.” AEW's Al Della Porta added, “We look forward to executing our vision and enhancing these communities for residents and investors alike.”

Kidder Mathews

Johnston

The multifamily gang at Kidder Mathews has a new member: Matt Johnston. He makes the move from Northmarq. He said in a statement, “I'm excited to bring my energy, experience and commitment to a team that values deep market expertise, entrepreneurial thinking and best-in-class service. Seattle's multifamily market is dynamic and full of opportunity.” At Kidder, he'll be working primarily with Jerrid Anderson, who added, “As investor activity accelerates across the region, we're scaling our team with trusted professionals who know how to get deals done. Matt's track record of success, deep local knowledge and client-first mindset make him an excellent addition.” The group is also led by Dylan Simon.

Compass Construction

Do

Aguilar

Jeske

McGraw

Landis

Kirkland-based Compass Construction recently promoted Justin Landis, Chris McGraw, Jacob Jeske, Jerman Aguilar and David Do. Landis has been promoted from field superintendent to superintendent and is currently on the Bryant Manor affordable housing project in Seattle. Landis was hired at Compass in 2015 as a punch lead, was promoted to assistant superintendent in 2016, and later promoted to field superintendent in 2024. McGraw has been promoted from labor foreman to assistant superintendent. He was hired with Compass as a laborer in 2017 and promoted to a labor foreman in 2019. He joins Landis on the Bryant Manor project. Jeske has been promoted from estimating engineer to estimator. He joined Compass in 2014 as a project engineer and transitioned into estimating in 2020. He holds a bachelor's degree in construction management and minors in structural engineering and business administration from Washington State University. Do has been promoted from controller to finance director. He joined Compass in 2016 as a staff accountant and payroll manager and was later promoted to assistant controller and then controller in 2019. Do holds a bachelors' degree in accounting from the University of Maryland.

PCL Construction Services

Fernandez

PCL Construction Services has promoted Andrew Fernandez to district manager of its Seattle office. Fernandez has more than 17 years of experience at PCL. As district manager, he will lead PCL's Northwest-based projects, including the newly announced shared-use lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A Washington State University graduate, Fernandez comes back to the region after serving as operations manager for Nordic PCL Construction in Hawaii. Additionally, after several years leading the Seattle office, Tyler Kautz has been appointed vice president, data centers, and will lead PCL's national Mission Critical Center of Excellence from Seattle. PCL's Mission Critical division has delivered more than 120 data center and infrastructure projects valued at over $3 billion. PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia, serving clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. (Photo by Devon Potts, Ventrai)