Oct 28, 2025

F5

F5 appointed Michael Montoya as chief technology operations officer. Montoya has transitioned from his position on the F5 Board of Directors, where he has served since 2021. In this new role, he will lead the enterprise-wide strategy and execution to further embed security into every aspect of how F5 operates. He brings deep experience as an information security executive, having led substantial security programs across multiple industries and geographies. As chief information security officer for large multinationals, he has overseen incident response, regulatory engagements, and major risk mitigation programs. Before joining F5's executive team, Montoya served as chief operating officer at BlueVoyant. Previously, he held CISO roles at Equinix and Digital Realty, leading enterprise security, product security, physical/OT security, and compliance. He has held senior leadership positions at Microsoft, FireEye/Mandiant, and EMC.

Symetra Life Insurance Co.

Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work have recognized Symetra on the 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women List. This is Symetra's fourth consecutive appearance on the list, coming in at No. 32 among the top 100 organizations in the large workplace category. To determine the Best Workplaces for Women, Great Place to Work analyzed the survey responses of nearly 605,000 women who work for Great Place to Work Certified companies that were eligible for the list. To be considered, a company must employ at least 50 women, have at least 20 percent of non-executive managers who are women, and at least one female C-suite executive. Company rankings are derived from 60 employee experience questions within the Great Place to Work Trust Index Survey. Survey responses reflect a comprehensive picture of the workplace experience. Honorees were selected based on their ability to offer positive outcomes for women regardless of job role, race, sexual orientation, work status, or other demographic identifier. Symetra Life Insurance Co. is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corp., a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue.

Oct 24, 2025

NuScale Power

NuScale Power, a provider of proprietary advanced small modular reactor nuclear technology, appointed James D. Canafax as chief legal officer and corporate secretary. Canafax brings to NuScale decades of legal experience, including within the nuclear industry as well as the broader energy and manufacturing sectors. He most recently served as general counsel and chief compliance officer at Maritime Partners, where he established the company's legal department and supported strategic growth, regulatory compliance and financing initiatives. Before joining Maritime Partners, Canafax served as senior vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer, and corporate secretary at BWX Technologies, a supplier of nuclear components and services to the U.S. government and the commercial nuclear industry. In that role, he oversaw legal, compliance and corporate governance matters, managed complex mergers and acquisitions, high-profile litigation and regulatory interactions, and advised the board and senior executives on corporate strategy. Canafax holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Science in International Trade and Finance from Louisiana State University. NuScale Power was founded in 2007, and is headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon.

Impinj

Seattle-based Impinj has added Arthur L. Valdez, Jr. to its board of directors. Valdez has over 30 years of experience in leading global supply chain and logistics operations for major e-commerce, retail and consumer enterprises. Most recently, he served as EVP global supply chain and customer solutions at Starbucks. Prior to that, he built supply chain and fulfillment networks across Asia, Europe and North and South America, for Amazon and later at Target. Valdez has served on the boards of Advance Auto Parts and Shipt. He has a bachelor's degree in business-operations management from Colorado State University. The Impinj platform uses RAIN RFID to deliver timely data about everyday things for business and consumer applications.

Nissen & Meyer

Capstone Accounting and Tax has expanded its presence in Central Oregon with the addition Redmond, Oregon-based Nissen & Meyer. Founded in 1983 when Rick Nissen purchased the firm, Nissen & Meyer has served generations of clients with a personalized approach to tax planning, preparation, and advisory services. Chuck Meyer joined Nissen in 1986. The Nissen & Meyer team will continue to operate from their Redmond office at 325 S.W. Seveth St. Clients will continue working with their advisors while gaining access to Capstone's broader network of professionals and expanded services. Founded in 2004, Capstone Accounting and Tax is a full-service accounting firm providing tax, accounting, and advisory services to businesses and individuals across the Pacific Northwest.

Oct 23, 2025

Get ready for Emerging Trends!

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If you haven't already registered, here's a reminder. The annual Emerging Trends confab, hosted by ULI Northwest, takes place on Nov. 19. Among the speakers will be Mike Wilkerson of ECONorthwest, Mark Katz from JLL and Jaime Zadra of PGIM Real Estate. This year's venue is the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, with the start time at 2:30 p.m. Details and registration: northwest.uli.org

Avatar Financial Group

Tarte

Commercial real estate lender Avatar Financial Group has added to its ranks with the recent hiring of Jim Tarte, that firm announced this week. The CPA and industry veteran makes the move from the SaaS platform. Avatar's TR Hazelrigg IV said in a statement, “Jim's financial leadership is grounded in both precision and perspective. He brings a proven ability to navigate complex capital environments, support strategic growth, and build the kind of financial infrastructure that inspires investor confidence.”

Broderick Group

Cantrell

Broderick Group recently announced its hiring of Tim Cantrell as an associate broker, to be based in Bellevue. He's a recent UW grad, and Broderick says of the fresh talent, “Tim completed two commercial real estate internships, gaining hands-on experience in market analysis and transaction management. His background has equipped him with a strong foundation in navigating complex leasing scenarios and delivering data-driven insights.”

Lifelong

Lifelong has named James Shackelford as its new chief executive officer. Shackelford has more than 25 years of leadership experience in global health, advocacy, and nonprofit management. Shackelford previously held senior roles with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and Aon, where he led international strategy initiatives. He also founded a consulting firm advising Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits on fundraising, brand development, and awareness campaigns. He is a current member of the Food is Medicine Coalition Advisory Board and the Seattle Pride Advisory Board. Founded in 1983 during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Lifelong began as the Chicken Soup Brigade — a grassroots volunteer effort delivering meals and support to people living with HIV. Over the decades, the organization expanded its mission to address the broader needs of individuals facing complex and chronic illness, aging, and disability. Today, Lifelong provides an integrated continuum of care that includes food and nutrition services, housing support, health navigation, and advocacy. With programs serving thousands across Washington state each year, Lifelong remains a cornerstone of Seattle's public health and social support network. Under Shackelford's leadership, the organization aims to strengthen its roots in community partnerships while pursuing new pathways for innovation and impact.

Department of Revenue

After nearly 37 years of public service, Department of Revenue Director Drew Shirk announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31. Shirk was appointed as director in 2023 by Gov. Jay Inslee and reappointed to the position by Gov. Bob Ferguson in 2025. Shirk accepted the appointment in 2025 with the intention of retiring in one year. “Drew leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, always seeking to adapt our tax system to meet the needs of today's world while pushing for solutions that make our state more equitable for all,” said Ferguson. “I'm grateful he gave us an extra year of service. I sincerely thank Drew for his leadership of the Department of Revenue and wish him the best in his retirement.” An advocate for sound tax policy, Shirk has worked his entire career to ensure Washington's tax system is fair and equitable. During his tenure, the agency made great strides in realizing that goal while also growing the state's Working Families Tax Credit and Unclaimed Property programs. As director, he oversaw the collection and distribution of nearly $40 billion annually that funds vital public services for Washingtonians. Before his appointment, Shirk served as executive director of legislative affairs for Inslee, where he helped shape and advance the governor's legislative agenda. His appointment at Revenue was a homecoming, having spent nearly 30 years at the agency, rising from a tax collector in the Wenatchee field office to senior assistant director of tax policy.