Jul 21, 1997

WRQ

WRQ, an international software company based in Seattle, has been voted the No. 1 medium-sized Washington company to work for, according to the Washington CEO Magazine's annual survey. In the five years the award has been presented, WRQ has won twice.

Jul 17, 1997

Sonus Pharmaceuticals

Sonus Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Bothell, a leader in research and development of ultrasound contrast agents, announced Steven C. Quay, MD, PhD, president and CEO, has been selected as the 1997 Northwest High Technology Entrepreneur of the Year.

Jul 16, 1997

Reid Middleton

Robert O. Galteland has been promoted to senior engineer at Reid Middleton, Inc. Since joining the firm six years ago, he has developed the firm's services to federal clients. Recent projects include the munitions trans-shipment facility at Bangor, the ship model engineering and support facility in Bayview, Idaho, and infrastructure improvements at the Air National Guard's base in Klamath Falls, Ore. He is project manager for the University of Washington Southwest Campus demolition effort, which will accommodate the new Fisheries Building and major road realignments. Karen J. Miles has been promoted to senior engineer at Reid Middleton. During her 13 years with the firm she has specialized in airport transportation engineering. One of her recent projects, the runway and taxiway rehabilitation at Snohomish County Airport, was selected as the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement for 1997 by the Seattle Section, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The ASCE announcement cited the innovative application of existing highway construction technologies and "sonic rubblization" to recycle existing surface material in the project.

Strategic Alliance Group

Strategic Alliance Group, a national consulting firm providing corporate communications counsel, public affairs, public relations and marketing services, announced the opening of new offices in Seattle. Heading the firm's high-tech and small business consulting division will be John Coake IV, previously manager of Microsoft's small business group.

Jul 15, 1997

Sierra Systems Consultants

Sierra Systems Consultants Inc., a leading international information technology consulting firm, announced the additions of Andrew Shell, Larry Iwafuchi, Cullen Hower, and Stacy Kuchta.

Composting plant to be fined for odors

MAPLE VALLEY -- Cedar Grove Composting Inc. is about to be hit with heavy fines because of odor problems at its Maple Valley composting plant. Neal J. Shulman, manager of inspections for the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency (PSAPCA), said the penalties to be meted out next Monday "will be substantial in nature." He declined to reveal the amount of the fines. Officials with Cedar Grove Composting say the penalties could result in a crisis in residential yard-waste recycling in King and Snohomish counties, where Cedar Grove recycles yard wastes for more than 400,000 homes. Cedar Grove began operating in Maple Valley in 1989. In the past two years, the company has invested $4 million in new technologies to control odors. However, the composting plant became plagued with odor problems while recycling grass clippings in May and June. PSAPCA received numerous complaints from residents during that time, Shulman said. Shulman acknowledged that Cedar Grove officials have worked cooperatively with PSAPCA and have invested a great deal of money in technology improvements. "Unfortunately, they have not been successful," he said. PSAPCA wrote a letter to the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health last week, informing the health department about the odor violations. The health department also may issue penalties to Cedar Grove. Health department officials could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. Cedar Grove President Steve Banchero said he believes the odor problems at his composting plant can be solved without drastic action by regulators. "It would be tragic if we were not given the opportunity to solve this problem in the short-term because local regulators feel hard-pressed to take punitive action," Banchero said. "The possibility exists that we could be forced to shut down."

Jul 09, 1997

D3 Technologies

D3 Technologies, a nationwide design engineering and consulting company headquartered in San Diego, and with division in both Mukilteo, Wash. and Philadelphia, has been awarded two five year sub-contracts to support the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. The first sub-contract is to provide Electrical and Avionics Systems Engineering Support for C-130 and C-141 aircraft and the second is to provide technical support for the Air Force Special Operations Forces' fleet of fixed and rotary wind aircraft.

ABKJ

Herbert Rozendaal has joined Andersen Bjornstad Kane Jacobs, Inc. (ABKJ) as manager of the Manila office. He is overseeing structural design of three tower projects in Manila as well as several other large projects there. Terry Stewart has joined the firm as a new CAD manager. He was most recently with Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas. Martin Tayler has joined the firm as a CAD technician. He comes to ABKJ from Puget Sound Energy. Bill Tibbits is a new construction inspector at ABKJ. He was most recently with Alpha Engineering.

HOK

Jeff Smith has joined HOK has an associate and senior designer. He has extensive experience in the design of convention and conference centers, corporate headquarters buildings and research and manufacturing facilities. He has served as project designer for the Eddie Bauer Corporate Headquarters in Redmond, the Hewlett Packard manufacturing and office expansion in San Diego and the Sacramento Convention Center Expansion. Jim Beley has joined the firm as an architectural technician, and is currently providing architectural design services for the MAC (move and change) project for the Microsoft Corporation. Monique Laksana has joined HOK as an architectural intern. Her responsibilities will include construction documentation, site models, shop drawing documentation, and site surveys.

SERA

SERA of Portland recently completed a contract with Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to evaluate 213 depression-era facilities located in 23 parks across the state. The study provides a cultural context evaluation, a condition analysis of each facility and a scope cost estimate for administrative options. Also, SERA has completed a feasibility study in Tanasbourne, Oregon for ADC Telecommunications, and is now beginning work on master planning for a 27-acre site accommodating facilities for two local divisions. Interior design work is now underway for the office of public relations firm Conkling, Fiskum & McCormick.