Feb 20, 2026

Conner Homes

Nelson

Conner Homes announced that Dustin Nelson is the company's new assistant controller.

Nelson will manage the daily operations of the Conner Homes accounting department, including financial statement preparation and review, managing internal controls, and month-end closings. He will also support audits and tax reporting and is the functional lead for an ERP implementation.

Nelson holds a finance degree from Western Washington University.

The company, which has been designing and building homes for over 65 years, builds townhomes and single-family homes, and currently has five open communities, with additional communities opening in the future.

Port of Vancouver USA

Alex Strogen, chief commercial officer, Port of Vancouver USA, will serve on WCIT's Advisory Board. The Port of Vancouver USA generates $2.9 billion in annual economic impact and is the second-largest source of employment in Clark County, with more than 3,800 direct jobs and 20,000 total jobs. It is the third-largest grain export gateway in the U.S. and the top importer of Subarus to North America.

The port is a hub for producers and markets throughout the western and mid-west United States via the Columbia-Snake River System and is the farthest inland deepwater port on the Columbia River.

WCIT is the Northwest's premier organization advocating for trade and investment policies that increase the competitiveness of Northwest workers, farmers, and businesses. The membership includes small and medium-sized companies, Fortune 500 businesses, and agricultural producers, collectively representing industries ranging from manufacturing, food, and retail to technology and science.

Feb 19, 2026

Alaska Airlines

Brookman

There's more to aviation-related real estate than runways. Alaska Airlines also has to manage its offices, logistics and airport leases. To that end, it recently announced that Ben Brookman has been promoted to VP of real estate and airport affairs. The airline's Shane Jones said in a statement, “This is a transformational moment for our airline, as we add new international destinations to our route map that our guests want, and elevate the experience at every step of their journey.” Alaska says it's investing more than $3 billion in hub airports. With subsidiaries including Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air, the Alaska network now serves over 140 destinations, including 29 international markets.

Guardian Real Estate Services

Nagy

Based in Portland, Guardian Real Estate Services operates all around the West Coast. It's an occasional buyer and seller in our market. (One example? The 284-unit Royal Hills in Renton.) Active in mixed-use, multifamily and senior housing, Guardian recently announced that multifamily specialist Michael Nagy has joined the firm as senior VP of development. He makes the move from Wood Partners; before that, he was with Holland Partner Group. Guardian's Tom Brenneke said of the new hire, “As our acquisition and preservation activity continues to grow, it is important that our development capabilities evolve in step. Michael's leadership positions us well for the next phase of the platform.”

Seniors Helping Seniors

Garcia

Seniors Helping Seniors, a national franchisor of in-home care services, has announced a new expansion into Everett. This new location, led by local resident Peter Garcia, will also serve the surrounding Snohomish and Island county communities.

This marks the fourth location for the franchise in Washington, joining a network of over 200 franchise owners and 400 territories nationwide.

Garcia brings over 30 years of leadership experience to this role, having previously held multiple operations management roles at HSBC. His career in financial services supported U.S.-based credit card operations and international banking teams. After a successful tenure in the corporate world, Garcia felt a strong calling to transition into work rooted in community service and human connection.

At Seniors Helping Seniors, the organization distinguishes itself in the elder care industry through a peer-to-peer caregiving model. The company hires active seniors to provide care for their peers. Seniors Helping Seniors franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom.

Whatcom Community College

Tuininga

Whatcom Community College announced that Brad Tuininga has stepped into the role of executive director for the WCC Foundation. Tuininga comes to Whatcom Community College with experience in organizational leadership, advancement, fundraising and relationship building. He most recently served as the vice president of philanthropy at the Whatcom Community Foundation, where he led philanthropic services and community engagement. Much of his career has been spent within Washington's Community and Technical College System. Most recently, he served for eight and a half years as executive director of the Skagit Valley College Foundation, where he helped lead three major campaigns and significantly expanded donor engagement and philanthropic support. He also held leadership roles at Whatcom Community College Foundation and Bellingham Technical College Foundation, as well as the North Cascades Institute.

Feb 18, 2026

UMC

Carroll

David (DC) Carroll II has joined UMC's project executive team. He brings field experience, engineering expertise, and leadership across the full life cycle of complex projects. Carroll has experience in industrial, pharmaceutical, life sciences, and high-purity systems, including executing design-build pharmaceutical projects and unique projects such as flare systems for large ammonia storage facilities and high-purity systems for space exploration manufacturing. Carroll holds one of the few office-based welding certifications at UMC. His responsibilities include developing sales leads, managing budgets, overseeing estimating and design phases, and leading projects from construction through commissioning and sustained operations.

HKS

Nakatani

HKS has promoted Mark Nakatani to partner. As global practice director, Nakatani focuses on business strategy and market growth, as well as leading complex and technology-driven projects. Based in Seattle, Nakatani has worked on advanced facilities and mission critical projects worldwide and has partnered with industry-leading technology companies, governments and institutions.

Parametrix

Lebo

Jon Lebo has joined Parametrix as a senior consultant bringing nearly four decades of experience in design and construction management. Before joining Parametrix, Lebo served as deputy executive project director for Sound Transit's East Link Extension project. There, he led three design firms and seven construction management teams, including track, structural, and forensic engineers delivering seven miles of new light-rail service in 2024. His work continued with the completion of the civil and systems work for light rail across Lake Washington. Previously, Lebo founded Sheridan Development & Consulting LLC. Prior to that, he spent 29 years at the University of Washington as director of major capital projects. He is a licensed architect in the state of Washington, an associate member of the Design-Build Institute of America and holds a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accreditation.

Dark Light Design

Gilbert

Dark Light Design promoted Erin Gilbert to senior lighting designer in recognition of her technical leadership and support of high-quality project delivery. In this role, Gilbert will provide firmwide leadership to strengthen delivery consistency and technical execution as the firm's workload and project complexity grows.

RMC Architects

Wright

Costic

RMC Architects (RMC) recently promoted Lexie Costic and Robert Wright from associates to principals.

Costic joined RMC in 2016. She focuses on RMC's ‘Front Porch Factor' — a design philosophy that prioritizes human interaction and the cultivation of vibrant public life, as well as connections to the larger community. Costic intends to grow RMC's design-build portfolio and expand the firm's historic rehabilitation projects. Some of her current projects include SWIFT Center Assembly Hall revitalization; a new therapeutic center in north Bellingham; Skagit Valley College, Whatcom Community College, and Bellingham Technical College; and renovation projects at Western Washington University.

Wright joined RMC in 2014. He has centered his practice on designing buildings that elevate people and strengthen communities by prioritizing the user experience in his multifamily housing work. Wright focuses on missing middle multifamily housing that is inclusive and resilient. He is currently working on the Unity Street Redevelopment project with Bellingham Housing Authority, Millworks Phase II for the Whatcom Community Foundation, and several small renovation projects with the Port of Anacortes.

Boise Cascade

Forrey

Broesch

Boise Cascade has announced that Angella Broesch was promoted to senior vice president of Human Resources, and Chris Forrey was promoted to senior vice president of Finance & Investor Relations.

Broesch joined Boise Cascade in 2013 and was promoted to director of internal audit shortly after that. In late 2020, she moved to human resources and accepted the newly created role of director of total rewards. She continued progressing in other leadership roles in human resources before becoming vice president of human resources in February 2024. Broesch earned a bachelor's degree in business with an accounting emphasis from the University of Idaho. She currently serves on two boards, the University of Idaho Foundation and the Learning Lab.

Forrey joined Boise Cascade in 2005 and has held a series of progressive leadership roles on the finance team. Prior to being named vice president in May 2024, he was the senior director of finance. Forrey earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's degree in taxation, both from Boise State University. He is a certified public accountant and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Treasure Valley.

Boise Cascade is a wholesale distributor of building materials and manufacturer of engineered wood products and plywood. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the company operates more than 60 distribution and manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada.

DPR Construction

Pratt

DPR Construction has appointed veteran technical builder Kelly Pratt to lead its Pacific Northwest Business Unit. Under Pratt's leadership, DPR Construction is bringing a sharper focus on collaboration, transparency, and innovative delivery strategies — helping clients advance healthcare, research and manufacturing projects while protecting value and delivering greater certainty in an evolving market. Pratt brings deep experience and a track record of delivering certainty on complex life sciences, healthcare and commercial projects across the Puget Sound, including the Lyell Manufacturing Facility and the eleven50 Eastlake tower which included eight concurrent tenant improvements. Pratt has been with DPR since 2006 and based in Seattle since 2017.