Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc. named Alan Osborne principal, John Sargent, senior associate, and Michelle Fickeisen, associate.

Sargent has practiced architecture for over 23 years, designing and managing projects in California and Oregon before joining Hennebery Eddy Architects in 1999 and being named an Associate of the firm in 2001.

Sargent recently completed the new ballistics testing facility at the Oregon State Police Crime Lab and new office, computer training and exercise facilities at Multnomah County's Multnomah Building. Through a career of work in the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, Sargent's expertise includes the design and documentation of higher education buildings, high-density urban housing, commercial/retail projects, K-12 schools and medical facilities.

Fickeisen joined the firm in 2003 as a project architect. A licensed architect in Oregon and California and a LEED® Accredited Professional, Fickeisen has become an important part of the creative environment of the firm. As an Associate, Fickeisen is serving as a Project Architect and Manager for long-range master planning for The International School in Portland and the design of the adaptive re-use of an existing building for classroom space for the school. She is responsible for public park buildings in Sherwood and Wilsonville, Oregon and the expansion of the USFS Ranger Station in Dufur, Oregon.

Fickeisen's comprehensive abilities and big picture perspective have enabled her to develop strong working relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, and construction managers. During her time with Hennebery Eddy Architects she has completed projects for the Port of Portland and contributed to work at the City of Portland Fire Logistics Facility and St. Stephens School in Beaverton, Oregon. Her background includes extensive master planning and design work in the K-12 educational sector in Southern California. Fickeisen was the architect for the Shepard Brothers Building in La Habra, California which was awarded Design Awards from both the Los Angeles and Pasadena Chapters of the American Institute of Architects in 2000.

HDR, a national architecture, engineering and consulting firm, named Jim Wright the northwest regional business development director. Wright, based in HDR's Beaverton, Ore. office, will focus on Northwest architectural opportunities. Prior to joining HDR, Wright was a senior project and business development manager with Harris Group, Inc. in Portland. He has more than 30 years of broad-based experience in the industry, including business development, corporate strategic planning, project management, program management, operations, marketing, and design engineering.

Dave Gildersleeve has been named operations manager in the commercial general contracting firm of Gray Purcell, Inc. Gildersleeve's track record in the Pacific Northwest construction industry spans 26 years. Most recently he has focused on design/build and negotiated projects in the commercial/industrial arena. Gildersleeve is currently providing operational support for the Friendsview Assisted Living, Belmont Street Lofts, Lovejoy Office Building, 310 Oak Mixed Use, Andria Condominium, and Channel Warehouse projects.

Abacus Engineered Systems, Inc. recently added Pawan Kumar, CEM as a senior development engineer, Jim Low, RCDD as a senior communications designer, Cori McLeod as the office coordinator and Carol McLaughlin as a CAD technician to its Seattle headquarters; Gary Heikkinen, P.E. as a project executive to its Portland office; Barry Wilhelm, CEM, CEP as an account executive to its Richmond, Va. office; and Larry Myers, P.E., CEM as an account executive and Drew Kohler, Steve Mango, and Brad Zeamer as systems technicians to its Harrisburg, Penn. office. Recent promotions include Char Kaufer to vice president of human resources, Bruce Poulin, P.E. to senior project manager, and Peter Eberle to mechanical designer, all from the Seattle headquarters.

Liberty Northwest's executive vice president and chief operating officer Matt Nickerson was named Industry Person of the Year at the 2004 Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington (IIABW) annual conference. Founded in 1910, IIABW is an organization that is committed to positioning independent insurance agents and brokers for success. Members benefit from the association's work to foster a favorable business environment and a healthy insurance industry to better serve individuals and their communities.

The Industry Person of the Year award was founded in 2002 and is presented to the person associated with the industry (non-agent/broker) that has made outstanding contributions to the Independent Agency System and IIABW.

Veca Electric announced today that Brian Westerlund has been promoted to president for the company's electric and communications divisions. Thomas Fairbanks, owner of Veca, will remain active within the company as chairman and CEO. Westerlund has been with Veca for the past two years, most recently serving as director of business development. In that role, his responsibilities included developing, coordinating and tracking all marketing efforts and activities. Westerlund will still be responsible for Veca's marketing initiatives, as well as managing the company's approximately 215-person staff that includes electricians, administrative support staff and professionals in the company's communications group.

Kenneth M. Wightman, P.E., P.L.S., will become chief executive officer (CEO) of David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA). As the second CEO in DEA's history, Wightman follows in the footsteps of founder Dave Evans. Wightman joined DEA in 1984 to lead the firm's survey discipline. In 1989, he was promoted to manage DEA's flagship office in Portland, Ore., leading the office from $8.9 million in fees to $17.8 million in fees seven years later. In 1998, Wightman was named president. Under his leadership, DEA grew from $72 million in fees in 1998 to more than $94 million in fees in 2003. During that time, DEA's primary market focus shifted from telecommunications to transportation. DEA is now among the top 50 A&E firms in transportation market in the nation as ranked by Engineering News Record.

Wightman was inducted into OSU's Engineering Hall of Fame in 2004.

The firm also announced the following people have been hired:

Jeffrey Thomas, with over seven years of progressive planning experience in the areas of capital project permitting, environmental review, long-range planning, and development planning.

Justin Rygel, experienced in the structural analysis of beams and trusses and computer structural system analysis.

Michael Beintum with structural engineering experience with building and waterfront/marine facilities projects.

Portland-based Scott | Edwards Architecture, an award-winning regional planning and design firm continues to increase its professional staff in response to increased demand for architectural services. New hires include Joan Jasper, project architect, Benjamin White, project manager and Nicholas Ropp, architectural intern.

Jasper brings to the firm over two decades of architectural, interiors and planning experience. Previous to joining Scott | Edwards, she spent eight years as an associate at Boora Architects in Portland. Additionally, her work has earned six American Institute of Architects design awards from chapters in several different U.S. cities.

White recently relocated to Portland, after several years with a San Diego, CA, based architectural firm where his roles included design, project coordination, document development, presentation graphics and model making. His professional experience ranges from residential additions to large-scale commercial facilities & interiors, including projects for Nokia Communications and the County of San Diego.

Ropp joined the firm after earning his B.S. in Architecture from Portland State University in 2003. Besides his architectural duties, Ropp will be involved in the firm's marketing and business development efforts and preparing presentation boards and related graphics for new and existing clients.

Jon Havelock, health and safety consultant for Med-Tox Northwest and owner of H2 Environmental, has been elected as the 2004-2005 chairman of the board of directors of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Western Washington. Joining Havelock as officers are: Nick Cooper, Cooper Johnson Enterprises, chairman-elect; Karen Say, Saybr Contractors, Inc., vice chair of professional development; Dan McTaggart, Ledcor Construction, Inc., vice chairman of membership; Judy Jewell, Olympian Precast Inc., vice chair of advocacy; Doug Ostergaard, North Star Electric, Inc., secretary/ treasurer; and David Howell, Tradesmen International, immediate past chair.

The directors for 2004-2005 are: Shelton Burr, Adept Mechanical Services; Steve Cofchin, Custom Electrical Services & Controls; John Hennessy, Nuprecon, Inc.; Dan Keithly, Keithly Electric; Grant Larsen, Express Construction Co., Inc.; Steve Lyman, High Country Contractors, Inc.; Karl Pauly, Bird Construction; Ed Plikaytis, American Environmental Construction; and Jim Sweeney, Corporate Strategies & Development.