Dec 18, 2025

BECU

BECU, Washington's largest credit union, is donating $450,000 to nonprofit organizations as part of its annual People Helping People Awards. Each year, BECU invites its members to nominate nonprofits that are improving access to education and economic opportunities, promoting health and wellness, providing basic needs, strengthening local communities or caring for the environment. In 2025, the credit union received over 750 nominations.

This year's People Helping People Awards come as BECU is celebrating its 90th anniversary. The People Helping People Awards is a way for members to help direct philanthropic funding in their communities. Since the program began in 2013, the People Helping People Awards have provided over $5 million to nonprofit organizations. This year's award recipients include:

Denis Maronga of Kicheko Project, Member Volunteer of the Year ($50,000). The Member Volunteer of the Year award is given to a nonprofit on behalf of a member who exemplifies exceptional community service. Funds will support Kicheko Project as they build inclusive futures by connecting culture, education, and innovation in support of BIPOC youth and families.

InvestED, People's Choice Award ($40,000). Given to the organization that receives the most votes from the community, this funding will support InvestED's efforts to provide students with immediate, barrier-free access to essentials like food, clothing and school participation costs. This year, BECU received 12,000 votes from the community.

Washington Association of Child Advocate Programs, Employees' Choice Award ($30,000). Receiving the most votes by BECU employees, Washington Association of Child Advocate Programs will be granted funding in support of the Snohomish County Court Appointed Special Advocates as they equip local advocates with tools, training, and resources to serve children in court and community settings.

Refugee & Immigrant Connections Spokane, Past Recipients' Choice Award ($30,000). Selected by popular vote from past People Helping People Award recipients, Refugee & Immigrant Connections Spokane will receive funding in support of their efforts to connect refugee and immigrant families to vital services, fostering belonging and advocating for their rights.

Community Benefit Awards ($210,000 to 14 organizations).

All other 2025 People Helping People Awards finalists will receive $15,000. Additionally, the People Helping People Awards provides two years of supplemental grant funding to ensure recipients can sustain their impact. This year, BECU is providing $90,000 to support past award recipients. The People Helping People Awards are part of BECU's broader philanthropic efforts. In 2024, the credit union contributed $9.2 million to hundreds of nonprofits focused on improving financial health in the communities it serves.

Dec 17, 2025

Hensel Phelps

Rundquist

Hensel Phelps has announced the retirement of Chief Estimator Brad Rundquist, following 29 years of service. Throughout his tenure, Rundquist has worked in five Hensel Phelps regions, during which he has procured $6.6 billion worth of projects across the country; led and won major design-build federal projects; and successfully implemented target value design during conceptual planning and supported GMP development for major projects like the SEA Gateway Project.

His contributions have had a lasting impact on the estimating team and the entire organization, and he is noted for his patience, positive attitude and ability to understand the bigger picture. As Chief Estimator/Preconstruction Director Sarah Forrest summed it up, “No matter which region or role he is working in, Brad is a positive, optimistic, curious and levelheaded colleague.”

After retirement, Rundquist will continue to share his expertise by teaching the Construction Estimating I course at the University of Washington as an affiliate assistant professor.

Dec 16, 2025

Truebeck Construction

Rohrs

Nielsen

Truebeck Construction has opened in new office in Seattle. Building on its Pacific Northwest foundation, this expansion strengthens Truebeck's long-term commitment to delivering projects across the West Coast. Two construction industry veterans, Jeff Nielsen and Joel Rohrs, will co-lead the Seattle office. Nielsen, with more than 30 years of construction leadership experience across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, brings specialized expertise in life science, data center, health care and education sectors. He has founded several successful general contracting firms, including BNBuilders in 2000, Nielsen Commercial in 2018, and the company that later became Truebeck with Sean Truesdale and David Becker in 2007. Rohrs, a Seattle-native, brings over three decades of construction and leadership experience, serving most recently as chief operations officer and executive vice president for notable Pacific Northwest Contractors. He excels in construction project team building, client development and relationships and operations management. Nielsen and Rohrs join Betsy Bice and George Ehara, co-leaders for Portland, in guiding Truebeck's Pacific Northwest strategy. Together, this leadership team will oversee growth across both the Portland and Seattle offices. Truebeck Construction is a full-service general contractor specializing in technical building, complex projects, and interiors. The company has five offices in California, Oregon and Washington.

Low Income Housing Institute

For the first time since the pandemic, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) hosted a live gala and auction at the Four Seasons Hotel, Seattle. The event raised a record $645,000 to support LIHI's Tiny House Villages, Urban Rest Stops, and Support Service programs. Highlights of the night included: a silent auction featuring dozens of items; a dessert dash with a high bidder of $5,000; a heads or tails game where the winner got half the $2,450 pot; and a golden ticket raffle where $100 per raffle ticket gave bidders a chance at many items. The winner chose a four night stay in a Methow Valley cabin. The live auction was lead by auctioneer Kevin Joyce and co-host Tan Macaraeg, and featured items including Seahawks and Kraken tickets; a week in Tuscany; an African safari; and vacation retreats in Suncadia; Washington, D.C.; Whistler, B.C.; and Ocean Shores. The gala featured a tribute to LIHI co-founder and longtime Washington Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, who passed away on March 22 of this year. The event's co-presenting sponsors were Walsh Construction, Seattle Jaycees, Lucky Seven Foundation, Jabooda Homes, Broadview United Church of Christ, John & Shari Behnke Family, and Brown & Brown.

Dec 12, 2025

OCMI

Salewski-Smith

OCMI Inc. named Heike Salewski-Smith as Seattle regional manager. Heike, a cost manager with over 20 years of experience, has been key to OCMI's growth across the Pacific Northwest. In her new role, Salewski-Smith will lead and expand OCMI's cost estimating, scheduling, and construction management services in the region, enhancing the company's ability to serve public agencies, higher education institutions, federal partners, and private sector clients. Salewski-Smith will work with Pacific Northwest and corporate leaders to strengthen OCMI's regional footprint. Established in 1982 as a cost consultancy serving owners and design professionals, OCMI has evolved over the past 43 years to offer comprehensive services covering every aspect of program, project, and construction management. OCMI is a veteran-owned and operated business with 12 offices nationwide.

Alaska Air Group

Schneider

Berry

Alaska Air Group has announced several leadership transitions. After nearly 15 years of service to Alaska Airlines, Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen will retire. Von Muehlen joined Alaska in 2011 and became COO in 2021, where she led the airline through a period of significant growth and transformation. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing safety, reliability and innovation across the airline's operations. Succeeding von Muehlen as chief operating officer will be Jason Berry, a 30-year industry veteran who currently serves as president of Horizon Air and executive vice president of cargo for Alaska Air Group. Berry's experience spans cargo, ground services, and regional operations, including leadership roles at Air Canada, Cargolux and McGee Air Services. Muehlen will stay on until February 2026 in an advisory capacity to support a transition. Andy Schneider will be named CEO and president of Horizon Air. Schneider currently serves as senior vice president of people at Alaska Airlines and has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's culture and talent strategy. Over her more than 35 years with Air Group, Schneider has held various operations roles, including as Alaska's vice president of inflight and call center services and senior vice president of people and customer services at Horizon. Her leadership will guide Horizon Air into its next chapter, continuing its legacy of regional service. Over the last year, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines teams have worked together to build and execute the plan to become a single mainline operating carrier under a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is anticipated later this fall.

Deacon Construction

Connell

Deacon Construction has promoted Kurth Connell to operations manager in its Seattle office. Connell joined Deacon in April 2021 as a senior project manager and has successfully completed several affordable housing projects in the region. His leadership, ability to build trust with teams and partners, and his commitment to delivering high quality work have all had an impact on Deacon's projects and on the people who work with him in the field and in the office.

Dec 11, 2025

Skagit County Superior Court

Skagit County Superior Court Judge Thomas L. Verge will retire on Dec. 31st, culminating a 37-year legal career. Verge served a total of 21 years on the bench in three different court systems throughout his legal career. He first spent 10 years in private practice in Mount Vernon focusing on criminal defense, civil law, and family law. He was elected as the Skagit County Prosecutor in 1998 for a four-year term ending in 2002. He then spent two years as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Whatcom County before serving as a Whatcom County Superior Court Commissioner for 11 years. In 2016 Verge was appointed and then elected as a Skagit County District Court Judge, serving a total of five years. He was elected as a Superior Court Judge in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. Verge earned his bachelor's degree from Western Washington University and J.D. from University of Puget Sound School of Law. A retirement celebration will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Skagit County Courthouse in Courtroom 2. In November, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Skagit County Superior Court Commissioner Mary Crandall to Skagit County Superior Court Judge. Crandall will fill the vacant seat left by Verge after his retirement.

Milliman

Seattle-based Milliman Inc., a global consulting and actuarial firm, has acquired MorVest Capital, a provider of mortgage servicing rights (MSR) analytics, risk management, and advisory services. This move reinforces Milliman's commitment to delivering comprehensive analytical solutions to the mortgage sector and expands its capabilities with MSR valuation, financing, hedging, and brokering. MorVest Capital, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Dallas, is recognized for its industry insights and client-centered approach to MSR strategy. The acquisition brings together Milliman's analytic and consulting capabilities with MorVest's MSR expertise, creating a comprehensive offering for lenders, servicers, and investors. MorVest's platform will be enhanced with Milliman's expertise in mortgage behavior models, hedging strategies, data analytics, and software development. With the addition of MorVest, Milliman now provides a full set of risk management solutions to mortgage originators, servicers, and capital providers. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe.