Jul 24, 2026

Gesa Credit Union

Gesa Credit Union and Willamette Valley Bank, together with the bank's parent company, Oregon Bancorp Inc., have announced a definitive agreement for Gesa to acquire the Salem-based community bank, bringing two community-first institutions.

Under the agreement, Gesa would acquire substantially all of Willamette Valley Bank's assets and assume substantially all of its liabilities, in an all-cash transaction. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Gesa Credit Union, Willamette Valley Bank, and Oregon Bancorp.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and approval of the Oregon Bancorp shareholders. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027. Following the completion of the transaction, Willamette Valley Bank and Oregon Bancorp will dissolve and the remaining assets will be distributed to the stockholders of Oregon Bancorp.

Willamette Valley Bank opened in Salem in 2000. Gesa has operated since 1953.

The most immediate change for customers after closing would be the name on the door. Willamette Valley Bank's four branches in Linn and Marion counties and its loan office in Washington County, in the Portland metro area, will stay open and staffed by the same teams. At that point, the people who bank there would become member-owners of Gesa.

Jul 23, 2026

Truebeck Construction

Sunde

Truebeck Construction announced that Aileen Sunde has joined the company in Client Development and Community Partnerships at its Seattle office. With 20+ years of experience in the AEC industry, Sunde brings a strong track record in community engagement, industry partnerships, and communications.

She has extensive experience leading outreach programs and developing apprenticeship pathways and was recognized with ANEW's Agent of Change award, which recognizes individuals who champion equity, cultural heritage, and inclusion in the construction industry. She works closely with local schools, nonprofits, and trade organizations to expand access to careers and growth opportunities in construction.

Sunde holds a B.S. in Interior Design from Bellevue College and is actively involved in several regional advisory boards and workforce development programs.

Truebeck Construction is an industry-leading full-service general contractor specializing in technical building, complex projects, and interiors.

Jul 22, 2026

Maul Foster & Alongi

Hoffman

Maul Foster & Alongi has promoted Matt Hoffman to principal planner in its Seattle office. For more than 20 years, Hoffman has helped communities, public agencies, and private organizations transform underutilized properties into productive assets through a blend of land use planning, development economics, and real estate strategy.

Throughout his career, Hoffman has guided projects that advance affordable housing, economic revitalization, workforce development, infrastructure planning and brownfield redevelopment across Washington. His work focuses on helping communities evaluate development opportunities, secure funding, and create actionable implementation strategies for projects that generate long-term community benefits.

Hoffman's expertise also extends to economic development and land use policy. He regularly advises ports, local governments, economic development organizations, and industries on business planning, market analysis, and grant-funded initiatives.

Jul 21, 2026

Economic Alliance Snohomish County

Duffy

Knoll

Pitre

Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) announced that Dr. Paul Pitre is stepping down as EASC board chair. Current EASC Board Vice Chair Robert Knoll, from Puget Sound Energy, will serve out the current term as board chair and Mark Duffy of Mountain Pacific Bank will fill out the term as EASC board vice chair.

EASC would like to thank Pitre for his service to the EASC and his commitment to Washington State University Everett, the city of Everett and the larger Snohomish County community.

Pitre was a founding dean of the Everett branch of WSU — including 10 years as Chancellor. Pitre will be returning to faculty and teaching at WSU's main campus in Pullman.

Pitre was instrumental in growing WSU Everett's footprint including launching 11 new academic programs and developing the county's first LEED Gold academic building while overseeing construction of the college's new campus in 2017.

Knoll will begin his tenure as EASC board chair effective immediately. He works in Government Affairs at Puget Sound Energy, where he partners with local governments, community stakeholders and policymakers on energy policy and infrastructure issues across Washington state. He brings more than a decade of experience in government relations, public policy and community engagement.

Duffy is the president, CEO and founder of Mountain Pacific Bank and brings more than four decades of experience in the banking industry. He will replace Robert Knoll as EASC vice chair, effective immediately.

Jul 17, 2026

Wells Fargo & Company

Teichman

Wells Fargo & Company named Jim Teichman market executive for Commercial Banking in Washington and Alaska.

Based in Seattle, he reports to Eric Houser, Commercial Banking Northwest Division executive.

Teichman brings more than 25 years of commercial banking experience to the role. Most recently, he served as a managing director and Mid-Corporate Banking relationship manager. Since joining Wells Fargo in 2012, he has held leadership positions supporting middle market and commercial banking clients across Washington and Western Canada. He became Seattle Commercial Banking leader in 2019.

Before joining Wells Fargo, Teichman held commercial banking and credit leadership roles at Bank of America and KeyBank. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Seattle Sports

Washington State University Athletics and the Bonneville Seattle Media Group have announced a new multi-year partnership, allowing Cougar Athletics to expand its reach in the Puget Sound region. Seattle Sports (710-AM) will once again serve as the Seattle flagship station for Washington State Football and Men's Basketball broadcasts.

Seattle Sports also serves as the radio flagship station of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners.

The Cougar Sports Network is the official radio and digital broadcasting network for Washington State Athletics, managed by Playfly Sports.

Cougar Football and Men's Basketball radio broadcasts, along with pregame and postgame coverage, will primarily air on 710 KIRO-AM (Seattle Sports). In the event of scheduling conflicts with Seattle Mariners or Seattle Seahawks broadcasts, WSU game coverage will shift to 770 KTTH-AM. All games will air live on the Seattle Sports app.

The partnership also expands Cougar Football's presence across Seattle Sports digital platforms. Throughout the football season, Washington State Head Coach Kirby Moore will join former Cougar standout and Seattle Sports host Michael Bumpus for a weekly video interview on Bump & Stacy. The segment will air each Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and will also be available across Seattle Sports' digital and social media channels.

For the first time, Cougar Women's Basketball game broadcasts will be available for streaming through the Seattle Sports app. And one Washington State Baseball game broadcast each season will air on Seattle Sports.

Jul 16, 2026

Ogletree Deakins

Bigos

Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, welcomed Brad Bigos to the firm's Seattle office as a shareholder. Bigos joins the firm from another firm in Seattle, where he was a partner.

Bigos has practiced employment litigation in private practice for nearly 10 years, defending companies against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, and related claims. He works closely with employers to investigate claims and identify priorities that align with business goals.

Bigos has jury trial experience and has handled matters ranging from single-plaintiff claims through class actions under Washington and federal law, guiding employers through every stage of litigation from prelitigation strategy to trial.

Bigos holds an LL.M. with highest honors from The George Washington University Law School, a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Seattle University.

Ogletree Deakins' Seattle office has doubled in size since early 2025, with further growth expected in the coming months.

Jul 15, 2026

Foushée & Associates

Green

Shull

Foushée & Associates has added two professionals to its construction team. Cooper Shull joins the company as project engineer, bringing a background in corporate logistics and experience coordinating complex operations. Sean Green has rejoined Foushée as superintendent. Green brings more than 20 years of construction experience leading projects in the field.

Since 1977, Foushée has built a reputation for tackling complex projects, building lasting relationships, and bringing together the right people to deliver exceptional results.

Ballard Spahr

Picone

Ballard Spahr has elevated Ethan Picone to Counsel in the Seattle office effective July 1, firm Chair Peter Michaud announced.

Picone advises employers in a wide range of industries on both traditional labor relations as well as employment matters. On the labor side, he has extensive experience handling unionization, collective bargaining and labor arbitrations. On the employment side, he counsels employers on regulatory and wage-and-hour compliance, including class action litigation. He also has extensive experience counseling employers on preventive labor law training, and designing overall strategy and compliance programs. Picone is a regular contributor to the firm's Best Practices for Best Employers Labor & Employment Seminar, which is now in its 44th year.

Ballard Spahr has more than 750 lawyers in 19 U.S. offices, serving clients across industries in litigation, transactions and regulatory compliance.