May 15, 2026

Sate Insurance Commissioner

Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer is visiting Eastern Washington communities in May as part of her Community Connect outreach events, focusing on meeting residents of wildfire-threatened areas and discussing their issues with home insurance.

“Large-scale wildfires are becoming more commonplace, and wildfire risk is an increasingly important aspect of home insurance,” Kuderer said, in a news release Monday.

The first of two events is set for May 16 in Deer Park at the Wildfire & Forestry Safety Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Deer Park Fire Station 41, at 315 Crawford St. The second is on May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Medical Lake City Hall, at 124 S. Lefevre St.

State insurance officials say home insurance nonrenewals and cancellations have more than doubled since 2021, largely in response to increased wildfire risk in parts of the state.

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recently added Washington to its list of states in which its Wildfire Prepared Home designation is available. The Wildfire Prepared program is a set of research-based mitigation actions that help homeowners and builders in high-risk areas better protect their homes and neighborhoods from wildfire. These home-hardening standards drive insurer confidence and market stability by directly reducing the likelihood of a home igniting.

More can be found at https://www.insurance.wa.gov/.

May 14, 2026

Sterling Realty Organization

Skager

Gilchrist

Schooler

Over in Bellevue, where Sterling Realty Organization is a major owner and manager of various properties, David Schooler will retire after 47 years (!) with the company. Sterling announced the news last week, along with a reshuffle of its executive suite. Schooler has been executive chairman of the board for the past dozen years. Sterling calls him “an essential contributor to SRO's success and a well-known leader in downtown Bellevue.” Then, with only 40 years at the firm, Tom Gilchrist will become the new executive chair. Then, further divvying up the C Suite responsibilities, Matt Skager becomes president of Sterling, taking Gilchrist's old role. Skager joined the firm in 2014. Founded by John Danz in 1911, during the silent movie era, the growing SRO movie chain later diversified into real estate. It's now in its fifth generation of family ownership. And a sad footnote: Onni Group is preparing to demolish the former John Danz Theatre complex, including the former Barnes & Noble (aka the former Belle Lanes Bowl). Sterling sold the property to the Canadian developer in 2019 for $116 million.

Kidder Mathews

Maturi

Industry veteran Craig Maturi has joined Kidder Mathews, that firm announced this week. He makes the move from Urban Renaissance Group, and will now be based in Kidder's Bellevue office. There, he'll lead asset services on the Eastside, and continue advising institutional, private and governmental clients. Kidder's Erin French said in a statement, “We've built tremendous momentum on the Eastside, and Craig is the right leader to help us continue to expand our presence and raise the bar for our clients. His track record across complex portfolios and diverse markets makes him an excellent addition to an already strong team.”

Kitsap County Superior Court

McKeeman

Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed Maureen McKeeman to the position of Kitsap County Superior Court Judge. Effective Aug. 2, the appointment fills the position that Judge Kevin Hull's resignation will vacate.

McKeeman is a career litigator with over 15 years of experience in civil, criminal and family law. She currently practices estate planning, probate, real property and criminal law as a partner at the law firm of Tolman, Hinson & McKeeman in Poulsbo. She also serves as a judge pro tempore in Bremerton Municipal Court, Bainbridge Island Municipal Court and Kitsap County District Court, and she previously served as a municipal court judge for the City of Poulsbo.

Earlier in her career, McKeeman spent three years handling a range of misdemeanor cases and traffic infraction matters as a prosecuting attorney in Bremerton. She spent two years at the law firm of LaCross & Murphy in Port Orchard, where she represented clients in criminal proceedings in Kitsap County Superior, District and Municipal Courts. She also practiced criminal law as a partner at McKeeman & Miller in Silverdale.

Outside the courtroom, McKeeman volunteers at the Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance and teaches estate planning classes with Poulsbo Parks and Recreation. She also served for five years on the board of trustees at West Sound Academy.

McKeeman earned her bachelor's degree from Willamette University and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law.

ShareBuilder

ShareBuilder 401k has announced a 50% off setup promotion on all 401(k) retirement plans to help small business owners establish tax-advantaged savings to help owners and employees alike build for a secure retirement.

With the multifaceted issues of AI implementations, difficultly attracting skilled talent, and managing complex tax burdens in today's business climate, small businesses are actively seeking effective strategies to build their business, reduce taxes and be in position to retire down the road. Recognizing that many small business employers decide to establish a 401(k) immediately after their spring tax strategy meetings with their accountants, ShareBuilder 401k is offering half-off plan setup costs to make this critical financial step more accessible.

Now through May 26, eligible U.S. businesses establishing a new ShareBuilder 401k plan can receive 50% off the setup of any new plan. The promotion provides up to $375 in initial savings for businesses with more than one employee 401(k) plan and up to $75 in savings for Solo 401(k) plans.

Companies with employees starting their first 401(k) plan can also qualify for tax credits that help offset other 401(k) administration charges and employer matching contributions for the first three years of the plan. For more information on the May promotion, visit http://www.sharebuilder401k.com.

May 13, 2026

Reid Middleton

Bishop

Stapleton

Matsumoto

Crocker

Hammer

Reid Middleton has appointed Corbin Hammer as president, Paul Crocker as chief operating officer, Brian Matsumoto as group director of structural engineering, and Seth Stapleton and Erik Bishop as principals working in the firm's Everett headquarters.

Hammer joined Reid Middleton in 2002 as a structural engineering intern before advancing to structural group co-director. His experience includes leading fire station design across the Pacific Northwest, seismic evaluations and consulting, and federal/military work across the U.S. and internationally.

Crocker joined in 2004. His leadership, supported by strong organizational and technical skills, contributed to him becoming structural group co-director with Hammer in 2018.

Matsumoto has been with the firm since 2014. He's a client-focused leader who excels at building enduring relationships.

Stapleton has 20 years of structural engineering and project management experience and joined the firm in 2017. He has expanded the firm's structural projects for King County, federal agencies, school districts, and housing and mixed-use developments.

Bishop has been with the firm for 15 years and continues to champion its seismic resiliency efforts, leading numerous seismic evaluation, upgrade, and response plan projects for federal/military, private and healthcare clients.

Architects West

Valentine

Marcus Valentine, a principal with Architects West, has successfully completed the Design-Build Institute of America's comprehensive education and certification testing program to become a nationally certified Design-Build Professional.

Over his 16 years with Architects West, Valentine has focused on serving municipal clients, leading projects ranging from city halls to fire station facilities. His work emphasizes functionality, community impact, and long-term value for public-sector clients.

In addition to municipal work, Valentine has partnered with several Native American Tribes throughout the Northwest, contributing to a wide range of project types that support cultural, civic and community needs.

City of Tacoma

The city of Tacoma's Equity in Contracting (EIC) Program is holding a workshop and Q&A session with the state Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) on the business certification process. The virtual event will be held from 9-10 a.m. on May 18.

Topics include: an overview of the city's EIC Program; federal and state certification; tips on how to successfully complete an application; what documentation is required; what to bring for the follow-up OMWBE Certification 201 workshop; and guidance on becoming a certified business and unlocking new contracting opportunities.

This workshop is the first in a two-part series. The OMWBE Certification 201 workshop will be offered in a hybrid format on May 28, from 9-11 a.m. Event details are available at http://makeittacoma.com/events, or contact Linda Cerna at lcerna@tacoma.gov or (253) 453-9488 for more information.