The Oregon-Columbia Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association recently elected two members to its board of directors.

The members re-elected Ryan Landon of McCoy Electric and elected Todd Grasle of Oregon Electric to the board. They rejoin current board members Karl Jensen (president) of West Side Electric, Randy Wagner, Dynalectric, Jim Ferris of Red's Electric and Brian Christopher, Christenson Electric (National NECA Board of Governors).

Mark Thynes was recently hired as a project manager at Veca Electric and Communications (Seattle) in the firm's communications division. Thynes' educational background includes a BA in Communications from Pepperdine University and 12 years of professional experience.

Quantum Consulting Engineers recently announced that John Riley has joined the Seattle-based structural engineering firm as a principal. Riley has more than 16 years of structural engineering expertise, including designs, renovations and seismic upgrades for mixed-use, commercial, educational, community and high-tech facilities. His recent work includes the SeaTac International Airport Passenger Terminal Seismic Upgrade in Sea-Tac, Wash., and Six Flag's Wild Waves and Enchanted Village Renovation in Federal Way, Wash. He is currently working on structural designs for Harbor Heights Assisted Living Center, Snoqualmie Retail Complex, Del Mar Mixed-Use Transit Station and Issaquah Middle School.

George Osborne has been promoted to principal of Lorig Associates (Seattle), joining Bruce Lorig, Harris Hoffman and Hal Ferris in leading the company. Over his career he has served in a number of capacities, most recently overseeing the technical aspects of development projects during design and construction. In addition, he oversees building maintenance for 1,800 apartments and 350,000 sq. ft. of commercial space to ensure retention of long-term value for all properties owned or managed by Lorig Management Services.

Notable projects during his 17-year career include Uwajimaya Village, the Queen Anne High School Apartments, renovation of the Seattle Tennis Club, the Victoria Townhomes and Condominiums, and the Thurston County Courthouse in Olympia.

Lease Crutcher Lewis' Portland, Ore., office recently added John Short as project superintendent. Short's 16 years of construction industry experience and extensive medical facility construction resume bolsters the firm's core health care construction group.

In former job positions, Short has overseen projects varying in size and complexity, including construction and renovation of surgical centers, clinical space, medical laboratories, radiology suites, oncology departments and emergency rooms. He is experienced in occupied renovations and tenant improvements, as many of his projects have occurred amidst operational hospitals, clinics and treatment centers.

Two professionals - Tyler McCormick and Leslie Donley - have joined the Kirkland, Wash., office of engineering firm AMEC. Additionally geologist Keith Schembs, a 13-year employee, has been named manager of AMEC's office in Tacoma, Wash.

McCormick is the firm's new materials testing manager and Donley is its marketing coordinator.
Schembs joined AMEC after receiving a bachelor's degree in geology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. in 1989. His geotechnical expertise includes commercial structures, roads, bridges, pipelines, municipal waste disposal projects and geologic hazards. He is a registered professional geologist and a member of the Association of Engineering Geologists and the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

McCormick recently relocated from Farmington, New Mexico where he had managed AMEC's materials testing since 1998. McCormick has worked for AMEC since 1989, and has held leadership positions in several offices. He is experienced in laboratory and field testing of soils, concrete and asphalt and with field logging of test holes and monitoring-well installation for geotechnical and environmental projects.

Donley has more than 12 years experience - including the past seven years in Washington - as a marketing coordinator for architectural and engineering firms. She has a bachelor's degrees from California State University in Fresno and a public relations program certificate from the University of Washington. Donley is a member of the Seattle chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services and a former member of the American Marketing Association in Reno, Nevada.

Alan Foreman has joined Pacific Fire and Security (Seattle) as division manager for the fire alarm and security contractor. He brings more than 10 years of experience in sales, design and installation supervision to his position. He will be responsible for daily operations, sales and management of the company.

Foreman is currently vice-president of the Washington Burglar and Fire Alarm Association and chairman of its South Sound chapter.

The Pacific Northwest Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (Tigard, Ore.) recently announced that John Killin has joined its staff as the new director of government affairs.

Before joining ABC, Killin worked as a lobbyist with Western Advocated Inc., where he represented a variety of interests before the state legislature, state agencies, regional authorities ad other local governments. He also worked as the legislative aid to Oregon's state representative Max Williams.

In his new position, Killin will be working with ABC members and staff to develop and advance relationships, policies and activities with state, local and regional elected officials and regulatory staff.

Pierre Kwan, an engineer-in-training in HDR's Bellevue, Wash., office specializing in advanced water treatment, has been named one of 20 New Faces of Civil Engineering by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The New Faces of Engineering Program strives to promote the accomplishments of young engineers by highlighting their engineering contributions and the resulting impact on society.

Kwan was selected based on his experience analyzing and helping design wastewater and drinking water facilities throughout the U.S. His work includes examining how the construction and operation of a wastewater treatment plant and conveyance system could affect the habitat in Puget Sound and King County, Wash., lakes and streams. He has also conducted bench and pilot studies on arsenic-removal system performance for the American Water Works Association and Research Foundation, and has co-authored more than 12 technical papers and presentations on arsenic removal.

The Signatory Painting Contractors Organization (Portland, Ore.) announced the recent election of its 2003 officers.

Jim Ferguson of Ferguson Commercial Coatings is the association's new president, and Robert Puzas of Rainbow Painting is the executive vice-president. Tamera Yocum of W.W. Given Contracting will serve as vice-president and Dan Thomas of F.D. Thomas was elected to a third term as secretary-treasurer. David Lay of Lay's Construction Co. is the former SPCO president and remains on the board as the immediate past president.

The SPCO is a regional organization that represents union commercial, architectural and industrial painting contractors throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.