Nov 13, 2024

AHBL

Kelly

Patrick Kelly, an experienced planner with over 26 years' experience, has joined AHBL's Planning Team as a senior project manager.

Kelly has a background in urban planning for both public and private sectors. Prior to joining AHBL, he served as the supervising planner for the city of San Jose, CA. While there, he oversaw the development review process for projects in a variety of market sectors including mid- and high-rise residential, commercial office, hospitality projects, and land development projects requiring land use permits and entitlements. He has also provided on-call planning services for counties and municipalities on a contract basis.

Kelly will be based out of AHBL Corporate Headquarters in Tacoma but will work throughout the greater Puget Sound region.

Lamb Weston

Eagle, Idaho-based Lamb Weston, a global supplier of potato products, recently opened its new production facility in Kruiningen, The Netherlands. This investment increases Lamb Weston's annual production capacity by 195 million kilos and is intended to support the growing global demand for high-quality frozen potato products. With this expansion, the Kruiningen site employs approximately 650 people, including the 120 new hires dedicated to this new plant. Lamb Weston committed to this expansion more than five years ago as part of the company's vision for long-term, sustainable growth. With the completion of Lamb Weston's second facility for frozen potato products in Kruiningen, this site has significantly expanded its production capabilities, while integrating sustainable technologies to advance potato processing and product packaging. The new production plant is designed to ensure efficient use of raw materials, while also optimizing water and heat reuse to reduce emissions. Process water from the plant undergoes purification for reuse, minimizing the environmental impact.

Sound Growth Partners

Sound Growth Partners (SGP) has acquired LPi Digital. SGP, along with its co-investors Everside Capital Partners and Caumsett Capital, provided all the capital required to complete the transaction via SGP's One-Stop Buyout structure. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, LPi is provides advertising-supported, print and digital bulletins and newsletters to faith-based, community, and membership organizations across the United States. Founded in 2023, SGP is a Seattle-based private equity firm investing in clear market leaders within the lower middle market. SGP provides all the capital necessary to close a transaction. The firm invests in companies with $2 million to $10 million of EBITDA in niches within the consumer products, business services, distribution and light manufacturing industries.

Nov 08, 2024

Rafn Company

Victor

Gregory

Bunn

Rhode

Bellevue-based Rafn Company announced the upcoming retirement of Shawn Rhode and Heather Bunn, who will officially step down from their roles on Dec. 31. Rhode and Bunn have over 70 years at Rafn between them. Rhode, CEO, started his career at Rafn as a construction laborer. Bunn, vice president of business development, began her career at Rafn as a project manager. Her focus on creating a consistent client experience led Rafn to develop its own proprietary Project Management system. The duo helped to navigate Rafn through the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. Memorable projects for both Rhode and Bunn include building affordable housing in the region, preserving historic buildings and landmarks, and iconic revitalizations, and include the IMAX Theaters at Seattle Center, IslandWood, Colman School & the NW African American History Museum, HomeStreet Bank Corporate Office, and Canlis Restaurant. Rhode and Bunn will remain on the Rafn Board of Directors. Chip Gregory will take on the role of president and CEO and Marc Victor will continue as vice president and CFO. With decades of experience at Rafn Company, both Victor and Gregory have had a hand in many areas, with Victor having started in accounting and Gregory as an assistant project manager. Established in 1978, Rafn is a general contractor specializing in commercial, multifamily residential, and renovation projects.

Emerald Heights

Leung

Emerald Heights named Cindy Leung as its marketing and sales director. Leung has an extensive background in hospitality and senior living. Most recently, she spent six years as the marketing director at Aegis Living, where she contributed to five communities, including the recent opening of their Ballard location. As marketing and sales director, Leung will be responsible for the day-to-day marketing, public relations and sales programming at Emerald Heights. Emerald Heights is a resort style senior living community in Redmond, with an on-site healthcare center providing assisted living, memory support and Medicare-certified skilled nursing care.

Nov 07, 2024

Hecla Mining

Krcmarov

The Hecla Mining Board of Directors appointed Rob Krcmarov as the company's new president and CEO. Krcmarov will also join the board. He succeeds Catherine Boggs, who has served as interim president and CEO since May 2024, and will remain as chair of the board of directors. A seasoned geologist and mining executive, Krcmarov brings over three decades of industry expertise. Prior to joining Hecla, he served for 13 years on the executive leadership team at Barrick Gold, including his most recent role as executive vice president of exploration and growth. Krcmarov's international experience spans many countries on five continents. Additionally, the company announced the promotion of Carlos Aguiar from vice president — operations to senior vice president and chief operating officer. Aguiar, who joined Hecla in 1996, has over 25 years of engineering and management experience in mining, and has held various leadership roles across Hecla's operations. Founded in 1891, Hecla is based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and operates mines in Alaska, Idaho, and Quebec, Canada.

L'Ecole No. 41

Carroll

L'Ecole No. 41, one of the founding wineries of Washington's Walla Walla Valley, has appointed Matthew Carroll as national sales manager — Northeast. In this new role, Carroll will be responsible for sales in 21 markets, and will report directly to Ryan Pennington, chief operating officer. Carroll joins Matt Rice, national sales manager – Midwest & Southeast; and Annie Wallace Cox, national Sales Manager — West, in filling out the national sales team. Prior to joining L'Ecole No. 41, Carroll spent more than three years with Skurnik Wines & Spirits, where he managed sales across nine states in the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Prior to that, he spent nearly seven years with European Cellars and Eric Solomon Selections, where he had escalating responsibilities across several sales and portfolio management roles. Carroll began his wine career in the fine dining and hospitality trade, first as sommelier and cellarmaster at The Inn at Little Washington, a Michelin-starred property in suburban Virginia, and then as beverage director at the Lorien Hotel & Spa, a Kimpton Hotels property in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

Valant

Seattle-based Valant named Rick Katz as its new CFO. Katz will oversee Valant's financial operations and will lead key corporate initiatives including M&A and other investment opportunities. He has more than 25 years of finance and corporate development experience. Before joining Valant, Katz served as CFO at Opensignal. Katz has a track record of leading and executing successful acquisitions and divestitures. His experience spans treasury, accounting operations, international operations, and business and financial analysis in the telecom and technology sectors, working with companies from seed-stage startups to publicly traded Fortune 500 firms. Katz holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Physics from Tufts University and a Master of Science in Physical Chemistry from SUNY Stony Brook. Valant is a cloud-based integrated EHR software suite that supports the administrative operations of behavioral healthcare practitioners, agencies and clinicians.