Berger Abam/Hatton Godat Pantier/Lease Crutcher Lewis

The BERGER/ABAM Engineers Inc. board of directors, announced that Arnfinn (Arnie) Rusten has been elected president and chief executive officer. He will succeed Robert L. Wallace, who retired recently. Rusten, a native of Norway, joined BERGER/ABAM in 1977, serving as junior design engineer, then advanced over a 10-year period through a series of increasingly responsible project management posts. He has managed major projects, including the homeport facility for the U.S. Navy Carrier Battle Group in Everett, Wash.

Dale Pellow has been named chief operating officer of Howard S. Wright Construction Co. For the immediate term, he will also continue in his current position as president of the Portland region. Pellow has worked his way through the construction ranks - from project engineer to president since he joined the company in 1995.

The Washington State Transportation Commission elected Dan O'Neal (Mason County) to a one-year term as commission chair, effective July 1. O'Neal was first appointed to the Transportation Commission in 2003. O'Neal is currently vice-chair of the Commission. His replacement will be announced at a later date.

Jocelyne Gray has become licensed as a professional engineer. She has been with Hatton Godat Pantier since 2003. As a project engineer at Hatton Godat Pantier, her primary duties include work on residential and commercial development with a focus on stormwater drainage.

Tim Smith, a recent addition at SERA specializes in Urban Design and Planning. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his work in Smart Growth, and design and planning for sustainable communities. Currently he is Urban Design Advisor to the Portland Development Commission on the South Waterfront development and is creating a sustainable watershed plan for the Yellowhawk Corridor for the Walla Walla region in Eastern, Washington. He is also directing the Master Plan for the Red Soils Campus in Clackamas County.

Lease Crutcher Lewis, has promoted one and hired three in Seattle. Joe Paar has been promoted to project manager in the special projects division. Eric Hylen has rejoined Lewis as superintendent in the commercial division, after working for the firm in the 1970s and 80s. Carol Rhodes, PE, and Tom Holzer have been hired as project managers in the commercial division. Rhodes is managing multiple projects for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Holzer is currently providing preconstruction services for Garfield High School.

Sequoyah Electric, LLC, a regional electrical and data/communications contractor, announced the addition of Michael Snyder as senior estimator. Michael Snyder has worked in the construction industry since 1981, holding positions as an estimator, project manager and purchasing agent. He has 24 years of experience and has joined Sequoyah's Estimating Department.

Schiller & Vroman Inc., recently announced the addition of Matt Clinkscales as project manager. In his new position Clinkscales will manage commercial painting projects from estimating through project completion.