Sep 05, 2024

Department of Ecology

Benjamin

The Department of Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) named Rebecca Benjamin as its new director. She joins Ecology after a long career serving in leadership positions for environmental nonprofit entities. Most recently, Benjamin served as the executive director for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition where she helped build the grassroots organization into a leader for salmon habitat restoration on the north Olympic Peninsula. Benjamin earned her bachelor's degree in environmental conservation with a minor in outdoor education from the University of New Hampshire. She also has led executive leadership training and outdoor group facilitation for companies such as Boeing, Eddie Bauer, Microsoft, and Seattle University. She also has decades of experience working in partnership with WCC programs and was a WCC individual placement member in the 1990s where she supported salmon habitat restoration activities with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. WCC is an AmeriCorps program housed in Ecology that provides hands-on career training opportunities for young adults and military veterans. AmeriCorps members in the WCC support critical environmental projects, including invasive species removal, native plant installation, wetland restoration, wildland fire mitigation, and trail and campground improvements. WCC also supports local and national disaster relief efforts as an AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team. WCC is currently recruiting AmeriCorps members for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Additional information is available at WCCActivities@ecy.wa.gov.

Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts

Duerr

The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD) presented its annual Outstanding Legislator Award to Rep. Davina Duerr (D-District 1). Duerr was awarded for supporting and defending special purpose sewer and water districts, most recently in supporting House Bill 1621 that gives greater flexibility for districts to self-perform work. Duerr serves as chair for the House Local Government Committee, which is instrumental in most of the legislation affecting district operations and elections. Duerr represents the 1st Legislative District, which includes parts of the communities of Bothell, Woodinville, Kenmore and Alderwood and is served by five water and sewer districts: Alderwood Water & Wastewater District, Cross Valley Water District, Northshore Utility District, Woodinville Water District, and Lake Forest Park Water District. The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts exists to provide education, advocacy and collaboration opportunities for water and sewer special purpose districts located around the state.

Sep 04, 2024

TRICO Companies

Olsen

TRICO Companies hired Troy Olsen as project manager for its service team. Olsen brings over 25 years of commercial tenant improvement experience from Presidio Construction, and has expertise in client collaboration, project planning and time management. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from Washington State University. TRICO is a design-build general contractor based in Burlington.

Tech Soft 3D

Parisse

Tech Soft 3D, a provider of engineering software development toolkits and end-user solutions for CAD/CAE data conversion, visualization, and data publishing, appointed Antonio Parisse as president of the Industrial Applications Group. Parisse will join the leadership team and report directly to Tech Soft 3D CEO Ron Fritz. Parisse has over 20 years of software leadership experience. He has successfully developed strategic accounts, led regional sales teams, and expanded global reseller networks. Parisse began his career as a mechanical designer with Schindler Lift in 1998, before moving into CAD/CAM customization and process automation with ABBAX. He then joined Concepta's sales team. Since 1999, Parisse has led software sales teams in the mold & die industry across Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Most recently, he served as president of Cimatron, where he was responsible for strategic growth strategies across the business. Established in 1996 and headquartered in Bend, Oregon, Tech Soft 3D has additional offices in the USA, France, England, Japan, Germany and Norway. Tech Soft 3D is backed by investment firm Battery Ventures.

Vouched

Vouched, an AI-powered identity verification solution for healthcare, banking and financial services, named startup veteran Peter Horadan as its new chief executive officer. Horadan joins Vouched with a track record in fundraising and driving growth and innovation in SaaS, having created over $20 billion in market cap as chief executive or technology leader in his prior roles. He founded Lockstep in 2019, creating a connected accounting platform. Upon growing the company's digital network to connect more than 26,000 companies, Horadan sold the company to The Sage Group. Prior to that, Horadan built the technology at transactional tax frim Avalara. His career has also included leadership roles at Concur Technologies, Scout Analytics, Microsoft, Corillian, and BEA Systems. Vouched founder John Baird will become the company's chairman of the board and chief strategy officer. In this role, he will continue to provide strategic oversight and contribute to the company's vision and long-term goals. Based in Seattle, Vouched is privately held and backed by Madrona Venture Labs, Ascend Ventures, Flying Fish VC, BHG VC, SpringRock Ventures, and SeaChange Ventures.

Aug 29, 2024

Zillow Group

Tulloss

Zillow Group hired Soumya Tulloss as senior vice president of agent sales. Tulloss will work to integrate and scale Zillow's sales organization to offer a more seamless experience for the real estate agent community. Tulloss has a track record of building and scaling successful sales teams and growing revenues at business-to-business software companies across multiple industries. Tulloss most recently served as the chief revenue officer of Deliverr, a platform that connects e-commerce businesses with logistics solutions to streamline shipping and accelerate business growth. Tulloss led the sales, marketing, customer support and revenue operations at Deliverr. Before that, she served as vice president and head of global messaging sales at Twilio, a customer engagement software company. Tulloss has previously worked at PayPal, Deutsche Bank Securities and Google. Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences.

Red Dot

Thurnau

Puyallup-based Red Dot Corp. named Todd Thurnau as its new director of operations support. Thurnau will play an integral role in overseeing the efficiency, efficacy and safety of Red Dot facilities. He is also responsible for leading Red Dot's ongoing commitment to adopting LEAN practices and realizing operational synergies across the company's U.S. manufacturing facilities based in Puyallup, and Memphis, Tennessee. Thurnau joined Red Dot as a design engineer in 2007. Since then, he has led major initiatives to move and open new manufacturing facilities, implement computer management systems, and drive operational excellence. Red Dot produces mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. With facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Red Dot ships to hundreds of aftermarket distributors and OE customers around the globe, spanning the construction, agriculture, defense and trucking industries. Employee-owned Red Dot was founded in 1965.

NW Natural Holdings

NW Natural Holdings elected Mary E. Ludford to its board of directors. From 2018 until her retirement in 2020, Ludford served as deputy chief security officer for utility services provider Exelon Corp. She previously served as vice president, corporate operation, from 2016 to 2018 and as chief audit executive from 2010 until 2016 at Exelon. Additionally, Ludford served from 2009 to 2010 as vice president of smart grid and smart meters, as vice president of customer operations from 2007 to 2009, and as vice president finance from 2006 to 2007 at PECO Energy (an Exelon company). She also served as vice president of customer financial operations at Commonwealth Edison and PECO Energy from 2005 to 2006. Northwest Natural Holdings is headquartered in Portland, and has been doing business for over 165 years in the Pacific Northwest.