Jun 12, 2026

Pacific Northwest Building Resilience Coalition

Lemay

The Pacific Northwest Building Resilience Coalition (PNBRC) has appointed Lionel Lemay as chairperson. A leader in engineering, sustainability, and industry advocacy, Lemay is known for building high performing teams and programs that advance innovation and growth across the building materials sector.

Lemay is the founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to strengthening resiliency, innovation, and sustainability in the concrete industry through education, certification, and building codes and standards advocacy.

Prior to founding ConcreteNexus, Lemay served in several senior leadership roles, including executive vice president at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) for 21 years, managing director at the Portland Cement Association (PCA) for 10 years, and director of engineering at Hansen Lind Meyer for seven years.

He is a registered professional engineer and structural engineer in Illinois, a LEED accredited professional, and an active member of ACI, ASTM, and ASCE committees. Lemay holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering and applied mechanics from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Lemay succeeds Bill Larson, who is retiring after 10 years as Chairperson.

PNBRC’s mission is to unite the resources of the cement, concrete, masonry, and reinforcing steel industries to position concrete, through education and advocacy, as the material of choice for low-, mid-, and high-rise construction across the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.

Highline College

George

Des Moines City Attorney Tim George has been named Highline College’s 2026 Distinguished Alumnus for his impact in creating public spaces and services for the community he grew up in.

With all city projects requiring his legal sign-off before moving forward, the South King County native views his role as a problem solver. If issues arise, he fixes them to keep the project on track and on time. Some of the projects George has approved include the Link light-rail extension, marina improvements, a fishing pier replacement, new parks and forested areas.

Starting as a Running Start student, George graduated from Highline with an associate degree in 2002, and said that having grown up in the area, it’s especially rewarding to give back to the community that gave him so much.

Harking back to his years at Highline, George’s interest in law was sparked by a few criminal justice classes. He also took writing classes and discovered an interest and a talent for writing that was ignited by his professor.

After graduating from Highline, George pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Washington and a Juris Doctor degree at California Western School of Law.

Jun 10, 2026

Patrick Hardwoods

Gray

Patrick Lumber Company, a century-old lumber wholesaler and specialty wood supplier, promoted Mark Gray to president of Patrick Hardwoods, a new premium hardwoods business the company launched last year. After more than a decade spent shaping the strategic direction of the Patrick Lumber family of companies, Gray is well-equipped to lead and support Patrick Hardwoods' growing reputation in the Pacific Northwest hardwood market, the company said.

“Mark has spent more than a decade across our trading and manufacturing operations,” said Natalie Heacock, president of Patrick Lumber. “He knows where specialty wood creates value, and he'll put that knowledge to work building Patrick Hardwoods' position in the Pacific Northwest.”

A graduate of Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Finance, Gray joined Patrick Lumber in 2013 and has held a range of leadership positions across the company's trading and manufacturing operations. Most recently, he served as the vice president of Patrick Lumber Manufacturing. When PLC established Patrick Hardwoods in 2025, expanding into premium local hardwoods, Gray was central to its formation and early direction. Today, he brings the same tenacity and drive to his latest role as president of Patrick Hardwoods.

Patrick Hardwoods operates out of a dedicated hardwood mill at the company's Philomath, Oregon campus, manufacturing a range of Pacific Northwest hardwood species, including an unconventional longer-length alder that exceeds the industry's typical 12-foot standard.