Dec 03, 1997

Swenson Say Faget

Dave Farrell has joined Swenson Say Faget as a CAD Technician. He studied mechanical engineering at Seattle University before receiving his degree in construction engineering and drafting technology from North Seattle Community College. Michael Wiswell has joined the firm as a CAD Technician. He has worked for AHBL and Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire, and previous projects include the Gateway AT&T (Keybank) Tower and Pacific First City Centre. Kevin Brink has joined Swenson Say Faget as a structural engineer. A graduate of Iowa State University, his work experience structural design with Black & Veatch. Michael McIntire is also a new structural engineer at Swenson Say Faget. Also a graduate of Iowa State University, he previously worked for Charles Saul Engineering in Des Moines. He is presently working on the Kitsap Federal Credit Union as well as several single family and multi-family projects. Aaron Pambianco, a recent graduate from Washington State University, has joined the firm as a structural engineer. In his education, he has focused on structural analysis and hazardous waste reduction.

Berger/ABAM

Structural engineer Will Bohlen and civil engineer Sieu Quan have been promoted to "grade III" engineer at Berger/ABAM Engineers Inc. Civil engineer Jerry Waldron has been promoted to "grade II" engineer. They are at work on public works, transportation, waterfront and marine projects. Elise Dornseif, Yuling Teo and Frank Yang have all bee promoted to the level of senior engineer. Dornseif's background is in the civil and structural engineering of highways, bridges, and building structures. Teo has specialized in roadway and bridge design, and is currently on assignment in Bangkok, where she is performing structural design checks for a major elevated expressway system. Frank Yang was has seven years of experience in analysis and design engineering for waterfront and public works projects, and specializes in the use of computer application systems.

Dec 02, 1997

Future of composting is in doubt in NW

TACOMA (AP) -- Pacific Northwest residents seem to love recycling yard waste -- as long as they don't have to smell it. The stink has put the future of composting -- the process of converting grass clippings, brambles and limbs into garden-rich humus -- in doubt. A major composting facility south of Puyallup was shut down earlier this year after hundreds of neighbors complained about a rotten stench that made them nauseous. Environmental regulators levied a record $490,000 nuisance odor fine recently against the state's largest composter in Maple Valley. Neighbors there filed a lawsuit over the fetid air. A state legislator is proposing a bill that would make it easier to close foul-smelling compost plants. At the same time, more yard waste is going into recycling programs in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. Thanks to a wet spring, total tonnage jumped by 30 percent to 40 percent to more than 600 million pounds this year across the three-county region. "The whole point of these programs is that composting is a better option, both financially and environmentally, than putting this stuff in the landfill," said Dave Frutiger, who supervises Tacoma's recycling programs. "But it's frustrating, because now they're in question." Composting is the decomposition of organic matter -- primarily vegetation. Mountains of decomposing vegetation can be vastly more putrid than small piles. The huge influx of grass clippings, in particular, added to the overload and aggravated odor problems. "If you've ever bagged up grass and looked at it after a few days, you know it's black and slimy and smells extremely vile," said Jeff Gage of Land Recovery Inc., which operates Pierce County's landfill and composting facility. Much of the odor problem at Cedar Grove Composting of Maple Valley can be traced back to an overload of wet grass. Encroaching development has also transformed the areas around many compost plants from farm land to suburbia -- making odor harder to ignore. "Large-scale yard waste composting is a fairly new industry," said Bill Reed, an analyst for King County's recycling programs. "No one knew what the problems would be, and the industry still hasn't completely worked them out." To make composting more community-friendly, some companies are turning to high technology. Land Recovery's modern Pierce County compost center draws few odor complaints and was selected by an industry group as the nation's outstanding composting facility. The company hopes to build another large compost factory at the company's Hidden Valley Landfill south of Puyallup that would be completely enclosed. Exhaust will be filtered through mounds of earth, where microbes will strip out the bad-smelling compounds. The facility's permit will require a quick solution -- including the possibility of a shutdown -- if odors escape and disturb neighbors. But if residents want convenient ways to recycle their yard waste -- and be able to buy locally produced compost for their yards and gardens -- they may need to accept occasional odors, said Laird Harris, a spokesman for Cedar Grove. State Rep. Brian Thomas, who lives near Cedar Grove's composting plant, says it's the composters' duty to be good neighbors. Thomas, R-Renton, has written a bill that would force plants to shut down if enough neighbors complain, and the odors aren't quickly eliminated. If the bill passes, Harris predicts that not only will Cedar Grove be closed, but no new compost plants would be built anywhere in the state. Also looming is a class action filed on behalf of nearly 3,000 of Cedar Grove's neighbors, who say the stench has reduced their property values and created a long-term nuisance. Cedar Grove plans to spend up to $450,000 on enclosed sheds and modified aeration systems over the next few months to try to eliminate its aroma. Regulators say they'll probably also limit the amount of waste the plant can accept. Over the long term, many heavily populated westside communities may be forced to ship their yard waste to more remote spots east of the Cascades, some observers predict.

Nov 27, 1997

Booth Creek

Booth Creek Ski Holdings, owner of eight ski resorts across the United States, has a new Internet website. The site's address is http://www.boothcreek.com. Booth Creek has also announced an agreement with First Tracks, Inc., a Eugene, Ore.-based automated ticketing and information company. First Tracks will provide all of Booth Creek's eight resorts with complete information and ticketing systems.

Nov 26, 1997

Technical Solutions

Phil Christofferson has been named business manager for Technical Solutions, a Bainbridge Island-based professional technology provider. Christofferson was previously assistant director of quality for Paccar. Doug Barnes has been named senior systems analyst, specializing in enterprise networks, Internet/intranet communications and information management databases. Barnes previously worked as manager of information services for NetManage, an international networking company.

Nov 20, 1997

Digital Kitchen

Barrie Lynn Krich has joined the Seattle-based broadcast design firm Digital Kitchen as director of marketing. Krich will lead new development efforts, while also managing client services. Krich formerly worked for advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi/Pacific Inc.

MaGraw

Keith Lashley has been named vice president of operations at the MaGraw Division of GM Nameplate, based in Seattle. MaGraw is a supplier of fleet graphics and large-format digital printing. Lashley was formerly director of marketing at Holland America Line.

Bogle & Gates

The Seattle law firm of Bogle & Gates has added Stephen C. Sieberson as a member of the commercial finance practice group. Sieberson has more than 20 years experience in international finance and business transactions, commercial real estate and maritime law. Robert M. Foley joined the firm as of counsel of the immigration law practice group. Glenn P. Rickards has joined the firm as of counsel in the technology and intellectual property practice group.

Metapath Software

Metapath Software, a Bellevue-based provider of network and customer information products, announced that five venture capital firms have invested $11.75 million dollars in the company. Previous investors Northwest Venture Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners and US Partners participated with Robertson Stephens & Co. and Technology Crossover Ventures to bring the company's total venture capital backing to $19 million dollars.

Design Intelligence

The Seattle company Design Intelligence has won the 1997 "Most Valuable Product" award at Comdex for its desktop publishing program, i publish 2.0. The award, sponsored by PC Computing, is for the Personal Desktop Publisher category.