Dec 03, 2025

PCS Structural Solutions

Legé

Parke

PCS Structural Solutions has entered its fifth generation of leadership with the promotion of Todd Parke to chief executive officer and Alex Legé to president.

Parke has been with PCS for 19 years and has served as the firm's president since 2024, as managing principal of the Tacoma office since 2022, and is the firm's healthcare market team leader.

“PCS is where my career started and I am equally grateful and thrilled to help lead a firm of such prestige into the next chapter of success,” Parke said. “We will continue a pattern of healthy growth while maintaining the core values that make PCS uniquely impactful to design and construction.”

Parke assumes the role of CEO from Brian Phair, who is passing the torch after 16 years of leadership and will be staying on as an executive principal.

Phair noted, “This is a legacy firm with smart transitions from true partners. Just like Putnam helped me transition to CEO 16 years ago, I look forward to helping Todd springboard PCS's vision into the next chapter. Alex and Todd are incredible.”

Legé, who has been with PCS for 18 years, has been a principal in the Seattle office since 2017 and leads the firm's education and public projects market team. Legé champions innovation in mass timber and sustainable design.

“I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity to help lead the dynamic and talented team at PCS and eagerly look forward to continued success with our partners across the built environment,” Legé said.

The 60-year structural engineering firm based in Seattle, Tacoma and Portland has served the Northwest with structural design for healthcare, education, civic, commercial and residential buildings since its founding in 1965.

PLS

Stumpf

PLS has expanded its service offerings with the creation of a dedicated Transportation Engineering Department, and named Daniel Stumpf as department manager.

Stumpf is a civil and transportation engineer with more than 11 years of professional experience serving clients throughout Washington and Oregon. He has a background in transportation and traffic engineering, having produced a wide range of studies and technical analyses for public- and private-sector clients.

His previous work includes preparation of transportation and traffic impact studies; supporting master plan, zone changes, annexation, and general land use development; planning infrastructure and operations for local colleges, schools, and religious institutions; producing studies regarding parking, queuing, circulation, sight distance, and trip generation; as well as peer review and agency consulting services.

Downtown Seattle Association

The Downtown Seattle Association added three senior leaders who it says will guide key areas of the organization's work to create a healthy, vibrant downtown: Matt Gurney, chief operating officer; Chris Copacino, vice president of communications and marketing; and Dennis Sills, vice president of advocacy and economic development. Gurney, Copacino and Sills join John Scholes, president and CEO; Jennifer Casillas, VP, public realm and ambassador operations; Emily Bailor, chief of staff; and Alex Hudson, executive director of Commute Seattle, on the executive team. Gurney, who joined DSA in May as COO, oversees financial, human resources, regulatory and administrative functions for the organization. He spent much of his career in the social enterprise and nonprofit space, serving for more than 20 years in senior leadership roles with FareStart in downtown Seattle. Most recently, he served as CEO of Fort Worden Hospitality. Copacino, who took over as VP of communications and marketing in September, leads DSA's external communications, brand strategy and marketing efforts. He most recently served as executive director of business development for ad agency Copacino Fujikado, where he spent more than 21 years. He has worked with some of the region's most recognizable brands, including REI, the Seattle Mariners, Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Sills, who joined DSA earlier this month, brings two decades of experience in government relations and public policy, most recently serving as director of external affairs at Plymouth Housing. Sills also worked for Congresswoman Suzan DelBene after spending 10 years in Washington, D.C., serving as legislative director for Congressman G.K. Butterfield. Established in 1958, the Downtown Seattle Association is a nonprofit membership organization that also manages the Metropolitan Improvement District, a business-improvement area spanning 300 square blocks downtown.

Ascendent Demolition

Ascendent Demolition has expanded into the Mountain Region — bringing its experience, equipment, and culture to Idaho, Utah, Montana and Oregon. With this expansion, Ascendent has brought on Nick Tidwell as demolition manager for the new region. Ascendent will continue its commitment to provide reliable demolition and site preparation services throughout the Northwest and beyond.

Dec 02, 2025

Starfire Sports

Starfire Sports, a Pacific Northwest hub for youth soccer and education, announced that veteran Seattle University head coach and Seattle Sounders FC broadcaster Peter Fewing has joined its board of directors. A member of the Pacific Northwest soccer community for more than four decades, Fewing brings experience as a coach, mentor, and champion for youth development. His career spans professional play with FC Seattle Storm; 29 seasons as head coach of the Seattle University Redhawks, where he guided the program to two national championships; a USL/PDL national title with the Kitsap Pumas in 2011; running Pete Fewing Soccer Camps since 1981 serving over 83,000 young athletes; and numerous leadership roles supporting youth and community soccer initiatives across the region. Fewing has also served as executive director of America SCORES Seattle, a nonprofit blending soccer and poetry to empower underserved youth. Since 2009, he has also been a voice in the broadcast booth for Seattle Sounders FC. Starfire Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and families through soccer and educational programs. Located in Tukwila, Starfire's 54-acre campus attracts over 1.1 million visits annually, hosting a range of events and activities including youth soccer leagues, tournaments, team training, and professional matches. The Starfire STEM Academy serves students from Pre-K through sixth grade, while the campus also supports professional teams like the Seattle Reign, Tacoma Defiance, and Seattle Seawolves.

Alaska Communications

Alaska Communications has appointed John Sims, president of ENSTAR Natural Gas Co., to its board of directors. Born and raised in Eagle River, Sims brings deep Alaska roots and a lifelong commitment to serving the needs of Alaskans. Under his nearly two-decade leadership, ENSTAR has strengthened its role as an energy provider, emphasizing collaboration and resilience. Sims holds an MBA from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Alaska Communications, an affiliate of ATN International, provides mission and life-critical communications infrastructure in Alaska. The company operates a statewide fiber network and a undersea fiber optic system that connects Alaska to the contiguous U.S.

Nov 28, 2025

State Supreme Court

Melody

Gov. Bob Ferguson made his first appointment to the Washington State Supreme Court on Monday, announcing that civil rights attorney Colleen Melody will replace retiring Justice Mary Yu. Melody will succeed Justice Yu following her retirement at the end of the year. “I have had the good fortune of knowing Justice Yu very well for a long time,” Ferguson said. “Justice Yu is a historic figure in our state and a trailblazer in many ways. She leaves an impressive legacy and very big shoes to fill on this Court.” Melody attended the University of Washington and the UW School of Law, where she graduated first in her class. Melody spent four years with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., investigating and litigating federal civil rights cases. Her work earned her the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding New Employee and the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights’ Special Commendation for Outstanding Service. In 2015, then Attorney General Ferguson hired her to lead the Washington State Attorney General’s Wing Luke Civil Rights Division. Melody presided over the division’s growth to 35 lawyers, investigators and professional staff, while also leading some of its most significant cases. Melody has also practiced before the Washington State Supreme Court. She was awarded the Legal Foundation of Washington’s Charles A. Goldmark Distinguished Service Award in 2018, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association Jack Wasserman Memorial Award in 2017. She received the Steward of Justice Award, the Attorney General’s highest honor, in 2018.

Nov 26, 2025

Maul Foster & Alongi

Hackett

Maul Foster & Alongi has promoted Audrey Hackett to principal environmental scientist in its Seattle office. Hackett has nearly 20 years of experience in environmental consulting, specializing in investigation and cleanup of contaminated properties throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her work includes managing Phase I and II environmental site assessments, developing cleanup strategies for complex upland and sediment sites under CERCLA and Washington's Model Toxics Control Act, and overseeing feasibility studies. Hackett also provides technical and strategic support for cleanup allocation and cost recovery litigation. She leads MFA's business development efforts for the ports sector and manages environmental support services for port clients, including an on-call contract with the Port of Tacoma. Originally from the Southwest, Hackett has lived in Seattle for more than 20 years.

Rolluda Architects

Queen

Rolluda Architects hired Gabrielle Queen as marketing & communications support. Recently graduated from the University of Washington's Industrial Design program, Queen joins Rolluda having earned baccalaureate honors for her academic achievements. She has a background in user-centered thinking, and blending technology and design. She has a passion for storytelling, visual communication, and sharing the narratives behind the firm's initiatives, mission, and values; showcasing the firm's projects and the people who bring them to life.

SEL

Balasu-
bramanian

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) has appointed Ashok Balasubramanian as vice president of engineering services. He will lead SEL engineering services teams in the U.S. and Canada, managing the development and implementation of new technologies while overseeing service quality for utility, industrial, commercial and government customers. Balasubramanian joined SEL in 2010 as a project engineer and has since held positions of increasing responsibility, including engineering services manager, director of Engineering Services and, most recently, senior engineering director of Technology & Development. Balasubramanian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Madras, India, in 2004 and a master's degree in power systems engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2006. SEL is headquartered in Pullman, and Balasubramanian is based in the Houston, Texas office.

Department of Commerce

Chartock

Washington State Department of Commerce Director Joe Nguyen appointed Andrea Chartock to lead the state's Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, a division of the state agency. Chartock was previously with the international development company DAI and has more than 25 years of experience in global economic development, spanning more than 30 countries. Chartock's experience includes supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to increase sales, jobs, exports, and attract investments. In her previous role, she implemented projects with U.S. Agency for International Development funding, and has led teams completing assessments to understand market opportunities and constraints to design and adaptively manage inclusive economic development programming. Chartock will lead the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness teams at Commerce, including industry sector development, circular economy, rural and marketing services, small business export assistance, small business finance and community support, finance and grant services, and contracts and procurement. She will serve on the agency's Executive Leadership Team. Chartock has a master's degree in international policy studies and an undergraduate degree from Stanford University.

Perkins Coie

Perkins Coie has promoted eight lawyers to partner or senior counsel in its Seattle office, effective Jan. 1. Kevin Zeck was promoted to senior counsel in the Patent Litigation practice. Eric Ashcroft, Ruben Tyler Kendrick, Michelle Maley, Christian Marcelo, Nisha Nariya, Geoffrey Palachuk and Christopher Wassman were appointed to partner. Ashcroft is a member of the Federal Tax practice. He counsels clients on federal income tax matters related to complex business transactions, advising strategic acquirers, private equity sponsors, venture capital funds, emerging growth companies, public and private issuers of debt and equity, and high net-worth individuals. Kendrick is a member of the IP practice. He focuses on patent litigation in federal courts, post-grant proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and investigations at the International Trade Commission. Kendrick also maintains an active pro bono immigration practice. Maley is a member of the Product Liability Litigation practice. She represents manufacturers, retailers, and clients in contract and product liability disputes, and has experience in alternative dispute resolution and pro bono advocacy. Marcelo is a member of the Trademark, Copyright, Internet & Advertising practice, and litigates business disputes focusing on contracts, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyright litigation, and manages large-scale enforcement programs protecting his client's IP rights. Nariya is a member of the Private Client Services practice. She advises high net-worth individuals and families on estate planning, tax strategies, fiduciary matters and family office structures. Palachuk is a member of the Construction practice. He represents public owners and private developers in all phases of commercial construction projects, managing disputes and developing risk mitigation strategies for large, complex developments. Wassman is a member of the Corporate practice. He counsels publicly traded and privately held companies on capital markets transactions, securities law compliance and corporate governance matters.