Oct 07, 2025

Foster Garvey

Sinan

Cris Sinan has joined Foster Garvey's Seattle office as counsel in the Tax & Benefits practice group. Sinan's legal career has spanned more than 14 years with a focus on employee benefits and executive compensation. He joins Foster Garvey after serving as counsel at a boutique tax and benefits law firm, where he counseled trustees and plan sponsors on the administration and termination of union and private employer benefit plans, as well as compliance with ERISA and federal tax requirements. Previously, Sinan was an associate in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice of an AMLaw 100 law firm, where he negotiated employee benefits and executive compensation terms in merger, acquisition and financial transaction documents and advised employers on compliance with a range of compensation plans, including tax-qualified and non-qualified retirement plans. He has also served as benefits counsel to a Fortune 50 financial services company, as a law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice and as a legal extern for the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Before he became an attorney, Sinan was a Child Protective Services social worker for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families. Sinan obtained a LL.M. (taxation) from Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, M.S.W. from the University of Washington and B.A from the University of North Texas. Foster Garvey has offices in Seattle, Spokane, Portland, New York, Tulsa and Washington, D.C.

Rock Project Management Services

LaVigne

Céline LaVigne has joined Rock Project Management Services as a project manager. She brings nine years of experience leading construction and capital projects in both the public and private sectors. Prior to Rock, she managed multimillion-dollar commercial, tenant improvement, and capital projects at CBRE, delivering work for financial services, technology, and other real estate clients across multiple markets. Her background also includes permitting with locally owned Waterfront Construction, and research consulting for the city of Seattle's Office of Planning and Community Development. At Rock, LaVigne will manage facility upgrades, capital improvement, and public works projects for local cities and government agencies. She holds a Project Management Certificate and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Washington.

Oct 03, 2025

Plainsight

Seattle-based Plainsight named Jonathan Simkins as its president and CFO. In this role, Simkins will help scale Plainsight's business operations and advance its mission to provide highly scaleable, enterprise-ready infrastructure software for computer vision. Simkins brings expertise across machine learning, infrastructure software, open source, cybersecurity and investment banking. He was most recently the founder and CEO of Kosai, an open-source supply chain security company acquired by Root.io in August 2025. Prior to Kosai, he held mostly CFO positions at Canonical, Appgate, CyberGRX and a number of other technology companies. Plainsight's computer vision AI software transforms images and video into structured, intelligible data.

Alaska Power & Telephone

Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T) appointed Ryan Wopschall president and member of the board of directors of Sealink Networks (SNI), a majority-owned subsidiary co-founded by AP&T and Wopschall in 2024. Sealink Networks was established to expand digital infrastructure across North America, focusing on subsea fiber optic cable landing site infrastructure and dark fiber services. SNI is well along in completing a capital raise and the acquisition of permits for SNI's first diverse cable landing site in Westport, Washington. Wopschall will lead the company in the construction of this infrastructure and its next phase of growth. As part of this appointment, Sealink has also acquired Wopschall Consulting, bringing its specialized advisory services into the SNI portfolio. Wopschall brings more than 18 years of experience in the global subsea cable industry. Over the last nine years, he has provided consulting and advisory services worldwide, specializing in the siting, design, and implementation of subsea fiber optic cable projects. In partnership with AP&T, Wopschall led the development of a new 500-kilometer subsea and terrestrial fiber network in Southeast Alaska, creating six new landing sites and transforming regional connectivity. Since 2020, he has served as general manager of the International Cable Protection Committee, a global trade organization for the subsea cable industry. As President of SNI, Wopschall will guide the company's development of new subsea cable landing sites. AP&T is an employee-owned, community-minded telecom and power utility delivering advanced broadband, communications, and energy solutions across more than 40 rural and remote Alaskan communities. Sealink Networks provides critical connectivity between subsea and terrestrial fiber systems, enabling scalable, resilient data transport across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Oct 02, 2025

NAIOPWA looks ahead

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Mark Oct. 15 in your calendars as the next NAIOP Washington monthly breakfast event. The Westin Seattle is the venue, and the coffee starts pouring at eight o'clock. The foggy topic is “predictions” for commercial real estate, which could mean anything. The all-broker panel of experts is to include Dylan Simon of Kidder Mathews, CBRE's Mark Washington, JLL's Buzz Ellis and Reid Rader from Eastdil Secured. Details and registration: naiopwa.org. Wear your speculation hats.

Clise Properties

Hill

Two years after joining Clise Properties, that firm announced that Lori Hill will become its new CEO this month. She'll replace Dave Cuthill, who is retiring. A.M. Clise said in a statement, “Lori has demonstrated that she is the best person to lead Clise Properties into the future. I am confident she will grow our already robust portfolio, and there is no question she is prepared to take the helm as we begin a new chapter of our story.” Hill added, “We are all building on an incredible 136-year legacy of visionary leadership in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm certain that we're heading in a strong direction.”

Kidder Mathews

Frame

Over at Kidder Mathews, veteran broker Will Frame has been promoted to regional president for the Pacific Northwest. That's the post previously occupied Brian Hatcher, who retired this summer after three decades with the firm. Frame will oversee around 170 brokers in our state and Oregon. He's spent a decade with Kidder, whose Eric Paulsen said in a statement, “Will is one of the sharpest and most generous brokers I know. He has a natural ability to lead, always taking initiative, and lifting up the people around him. It's exciting to see him bring those qualities into this leadership role.” Said Frame, “I look forward to continuing to serve the company and broader CRE community — opening doors for others and expanding our business.”

Marcus & Millichap sells Seward Park retail

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A prominent little corner commercial complex changed hands last month. At 5100 S. Dawson St. in the Seward Park area, two old buildings are home to 11 various small tenants, according to Marcus & Millichap, which represented the family seller. A local party paid nearly $1.5 million for the complex, which hadn't traded since the 1990s. Brokers John Marks and RJ Vara got the full asking price. Marks said in a statement, “The new owner-operator will be introducing an exciting new restaurant concept, which aligns with the property's near-term value-add opportunity and high-demand executive space components.” The new restaurant looks to be replacing Bent Burgers, which closed earlier this year. The building sits on the corner of Wilson Avenue South, with its commercial strip anchored by Third Place Books.

Liberty Bank

Carrier

Liberty Bank has promoted Jennifer Carrier to senior vice president and bank operations manager. Carrier first joined Liberty Bank in January 2010 as a branch manager, a role she held for several years. After a brief departure in 2015, she returned in September 2016 to lead the bank's Central Operations Department. In her new role, Carrier will continue to drive operational excellence and support Liberty Bank's mission of delivering exceptional service to its customers and communities. Founded in 2009, Liberty Bank is the only locally headquartered community bank in Kitsap County.

Port Blakely

Ancinas

Warjone

The Board of Directors of Port Blakely announced its intention to appoint Mike Warjone as the company's next chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Warjone will succeed Rene Ancinas, who will continue serving as board chair, ensuring continuity for the family-owned, renewable forest products company's 160-year legacy in the Pacific Northwest. Warjone, a fourth-generation family descendant, has served as president of the company's U.S. forestry operations since 2020. He is a recognized leader in the forestry industry and a champion of responsible forest management. During his tenure, he has supported the company's growth while advancing strategic priorities centered on sustainable forestry practices and environmental stewardship. A fourth-generation family member, Ancinas joined Port Blakely in 2005 and has served as CEO since 2010. Warjone joined Port Blakely in 1997 and has held various roles, including forester, silviculture manager, director of strategy, and VP of operations. He led significant timberland acquisitions and played a key role in advancing policy efforts that enabled Port Blakely to enter the voluntary carbon market. He holds an MBA from the University of Washington and serves on the boards of the Washington Forest Protection Association and Sustainable Northwest. He also chairs the Operating Committee for the National Alliance of Forest Owners. Gareth Waugh has been named U.S. forestry president, succeeding Warjone. With 25 years of experience at Port Blakely, Waugh has held key leadership roles in both the U.S. and his native New Zealand. Port Blakely grows and markets renewable forest products worldwide, owning and managing sustainable working forests in Washington, Oregon and New Zealand.