Last update: 07/22/2008
Capital Projects Advisory Review Board - Member Bios
The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) will review alternative public works contracting procedures and provide guidance to state policymakers on ways to further enhance the quality, efficiency, and accountability of public works contacting methods.
“State and local governments engage in hundreds of critical public works design and construction projects each year, creating thousands of private sector family-wage jobs in our communities,” said Gov. Gregoire. “I look forward to the careful deliberations and recommendations of the Review Board.”
General Contractor Representative:
Dan Absher of Puyallup has been appointed to a term effective July 29, 2005, ending July 28, 2009. Absher is the President of Absher Construction Company and a member of the Washington State Bar Association.
General Contractor Representative:
Vince Campanella of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective December 5, 2007, ending June 30, 2011. Campanella is a Senior Project Manager for Lydig Construction, Inc., a member of the Inland Northwest AGC Board of Directors, and a member of the AGC of Washington State Facilities Committee.
Architects Representative:
Norman Strong, FAIA of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 10, 2008, ending July 28, 2011. Strong is a partner at the Miller/Hull Partnership.
Architects Representative:
Gerald “Butch” Reifert, AIA of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective August 8, 2005, ending July 29, 2007. Reifert is the Principal and Treasurer at Mahlum Architects.
Specialty Contractor Representatives:
Rocky Sharp of Olympia has been appointed to a term effective July 29, 2005, ending July 28, 2009. Sharp is the President of Carl Madsen Inc and current President of the National Electrical Contractors Association.
Ed Kommers of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective August 9, 2005, ending July 28, 2007. Kommers has worked on many public works projects including Benaroya Concert Hall and the University of Washington Suzzallo Library Renovation. Kommers is the Director of Technical Services for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Washington.
Construction Trades Labor Representative:
David Johnson of Bonney Lake has been appointed to a term effective July 29, 2005, ending July 28, 2008. Johnson is the Executive Secretary for the Washington State Building and Constructions Trade Council.
Lawrence (Pete) Crow has been appointed to a term effective November 26, 2007, ending June 30, 2011. Crow is the Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, Vice President of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council and Chairman of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. Graduate of the Inland Empire Plumbers and Steam Fitters Apprenticeship. Past Union Officer and Representative for the Plumbers and Steam Fitters Local 44. Past member of the Spokane area Workforce Development Council. Past President of the North Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Building and Construction Trades Council. Married and has two sons, currently resides in the Olympia area.
Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises Representative:
Cynthia Cooper of Olympia has been appointed to a term effective July 29, 2005, ending July 28, 2008. Cooper is the Director of the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Cynthia Cooper has been a consultant and diversity trainer at the Sable Group in Connecticut, where she provided workforce diversity training for Lockheed Martin. She was the executive director at the New England Minority Purchasing Council in Boston, where she was hired to lead the regional affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. She was the director of contract compliance at the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the owner and managing director of her own consulting business, specializing in supplier diversity.
Private Industry Representative:
John Ahlers has been appointed as a private industry representative for a term effective November 26, 2007, ending June 2011. John is a founding member of the law firm of Ahlers & Cressman PLLC. Mr. Ahlers’ practice has focused on the resolution of construction disputes since 1983. He represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, and construction industry associations. John has experience in both government and private contracts. Mr. Ahlers has served as Chair of the Construction Section of the Washington State Bar Association and is licensed in the states of Washington, Oregon and Alaska.
Private Industry Representative:
Christopher Hirst is a partner in the law firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP in Seattle. He practices in the area of education law. He represents a variety of public school districts and a major school district risk retention pool. He performs work directly for school districts and indirectly through the risk retention pool by representing public educators in student-related disputes, public owners in construction-related disputes, and public employers in employment-related disputes. In addition, he provided general counsel work for public entities.
Higher Education Representative:
Olivia Yang of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 28, 2005, ending July 28, 2009. Yang is the Director of Special Projects Group, Capital Projects Office at the University of Washington.
General Administration Representative:
John Lynch of Olympia has been appointed to a term effective July 30, 2005, ending July 28, 2008. Lynch is the Assistant Director for engineering and architectural services in the Department of the General Administration.
Insurance/Surety Industry Representative:
Larry Byers of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective September 15, 2005, ending July 28, 2009. Byers is the Senior Vice President for Contractors Bonding and Insurance (CBIC). It is a property and casualty insurance company that specializes in bond and insurance products for contractors.
Cities Representative:
Rodney Eng of Seattle has been appointed on a rotational basis to fill one of the two positions representing Washington’s cities, counties, and ports. Eng is the Director of Contracts for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office and a member of the Washington State Bar Association.
Ports Representative
Robert Maruska of Seattle has been appointed on a rotational basis to fill one of the two positions representing Washington cities, counties and ports. Maruska is the Assistant Director, Engineering, Design Services for the Port of Seattle Engineering Department. His responsibilities include oversight of capital project scope of services, budgets and schedules. Maruska promotes efficiency and promotes quality of constructed facilities. He will the representative for the Ports on the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board. Maruska has many years experience with public works contracts.
Hospital Districts Representative
Richard Goldsmith of Seattle is the director of legal services and public policy for the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts. As a member of CPARB's Expansion Subcommittee, he was actively involved in the development of the 2007 amendments to the alternative contracting statutes.
School Districts Representative
The Washington State School Directors’ Association selected Dan Vaught, of Bothell, as the School Districts CPARB representative. Mr. Vaught has served on CPARB since its creation in 2005 representing the School Districts Project Review Board and was instrumental in improving alternative public works laws through 2SHB 1506. He also was involved in the development of the Project Review Committee procedures and applications. Mr. Vaught is Executive Director of Support Services, North Shore School District.
House of Representatives (D):
Representative Kathy Haigh has been appointed to represent the democratic caucus of the House of Representatives. Rep. Haigh, from the 35th Legislative District - Mason and portions of Grays Harbor, Kitsap, and Thurston Counties, is a member of the following committees: State Government Operations & Accountability (Chair), Appropriations, Education, and the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee.
House of Representatives (R):
Representative Dan Kristiansen has been appointed to represent the republican caucus of the House of Representatives. Rep. Kristiansen, from the 39th Legislative District – Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King Counties, is a member of the following committees: Economic Development Agriculture and Trade and Ranking Minority Member of the Capital Budget committee.
Senate (D):
Senator Rodney Tom has been appointed to represent the democratic caucus of the Senate. Senator Tom, from the 48th Legislative District – Bellevue, is a member of the following committees: Early Learning and K-12 Education (Vice Chair), Judiciary (Vice Chair) and Consumer Protection and Housing Ways and Means.
Senate (R):
Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen has appointed Senator Dale Brandland to the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board. He represents the Senate Republican Caucus and replaces Senator Schmidt. Senator Brandland, from the 42nd Legislative District – Whatcom County, is a member of the following committees: Early Learning and K – 12 Education, Human Services and Corrections, and Ways and Means. He brings experience and expertise that will contribute to the Board’s effectiveness. Be sure to greet him at upcoming meetings.
For more information, please contact:
- Nancy Deakins, P.E.
- Deputy Assistant Director
Engineering & Architectural Services - Dept. of General Administration
GA/DSHS Team
deakink@dshs.wa.gov
(360) 902-8161
Searetha Kelly
Administrative Support
kellysj@dshs.wa.gov
(360) 902-7941
