Board Member Contact List

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 contracting methods.

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General Contractor Representative (2 positions):

Keith Michel of Olympia has been appointed as a General Contractor representative effective May 3, 2022 for a term ending July 28, 2025. His 23 years of work at FORMA Construction include direct experience with multiple delivery methods and markets. Design–Bid–Build, Design-Build, GC/CM, JOC, and Small Works contracting. Private, public, and federal projects ranging in size from several thousand dollars to those over $100M. The bulk of his professional experience has been within the K12 school market, and he gets tremendous satisfaction contributing to the planning, design, and execution of high-quality educational facilities throughout our region. Keith lives in Olympia with his wife Happy and son Xander. He enjoys spending time with family and exploring our beautiful state cycling and skiing.

Robin Strom has over 16 years of industry experience specializing in federal diversity compliance programs. She is dedicated to incorporating diversity and racial equality objectives into the approach of various construction projects with different delivery methods, creating effective strategies and workforce opportunities. Robin has effectively managed diversity compliance programs for high-profile projects up to $2.5 billion, ensuring alignment with Federal DBE, SBA, Supplier Diversity, and OFCCP goals.

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Architects Representative:

Bruce Hayashi with Miller Hayashi Architects PLLC of Seattle was appointed as CPARB's Architects representative effective April 5, 2022.

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Engineers Representative:

Santosh Kuruvilla of Olympia is the CPARB Engineers representative, and his term has been extended until June 30, 2024. He is active on many of CPARB’s committees. Santosh's company, Exeltech Consulting, is a multidisciplinary consulting company providing: planning, permitting, design, and construction management. His experience with project delivery methods includes: Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build and GC/CM methods. In 2008, he received the Small Business Administration's National Businessman of the Year Award for the NW Region.

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Specialty Subcontractor Representatives:

John Salinas II of Seattle, representing Specialty Contractors, has been reappointed to a term effective July 1, 2021 ending June 30, 2025. He is the owner and President of Salinas Construction, Inc. and does 95% of its business on Public Works projects in Washington.

Steven Russo with UMC, has been appointed by the Governor’s Office to represent Specialty Contractors effective February 8, 2024. He is the Major Projects Director and a Shareholder at UMC, a mechanical contracting firm, for which he has worked since 2000. Steve has experience in varied construction delivery methods with primary focus in Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build and MC/CM contracting in industrial and commercial sectors. He is a licensed Civil Engineer in the states of Washington and Michigan.

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Construction Trades Labor Representative (2 positions):

Joshua Swanson of Olympia was appointed by the Governor's Office on September 1, 2022.

Erin Frazier, Assistant Executive Secretary of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, was appointed by the Governor's Office on November 18, 2024.

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Office of Minority Women’s Business Enterprises Representative (OMWBE):

Lekha Fernandes was appointed by the Governor's Office to CPARB on October 7, 2022. She is the Director of the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises overseeing statewide certification of minority and women-owned business enterprises, small business support services, and supplier diversity initiatives that work with the Governor’s Subcabinet on Business Diversity, state agencies, and institutions of higher education to instill equitable and inclusive purchasing practices. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Willamette University and a Juris Doctorate from Lewis and Clark Law School.

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Private Industry Representative (2 positions):

Irene Reyes of Fife is one of CPARB’s Private Industry representatives and her appointment has been extended to June 30, 2024. Irene is the CEO and founder of Excel Supply Company since 1993. Excel is a WA State DBE Certified Woman and Minority company that provides safety, medical, janitorial and office supplies to government, industries, and service providers in construction, food, science and medicine. She brings to CPARB her extensive experience in safety products, safety regulations and government procurement in addition to contracting with small, women-owned, and minority business.

Robynne Thaxton JD, FDBIA of Woodinville was reappointed to represent Private Industry effective March 28, 2024 ending June 30, 2027. She is an attorney and consultant with both Thaxton Parkinson PLLC and Progressive Design-Build Consulting, LLC of Woodinville. Both Thaxton Parkinson and PDBC are certified by OMWBE as both a WBE and DBE. Robynne assists public owners in developing the procurement and contract documents for alternative delivery projects, primarily design-build. She is a frequent instructor for the Design-Build Institute of America and former member of the DBIA National and Northwest Regional Boards. She has also chaired many national DBIA committees and is active on many CPARB committees.

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Counties Representative:

Robert Blain from Benton County, was appointed on November 25, 2024 by the Washington State Association of Counties. Robert has over 23 years of experience in public sector design and construction. In 2019, he was promoted to the Director of Operations and Capital Programs at Benton County and manages the Purchasing Department, Fleet Department, and the Capital Programs Department. Robert is leading the County in adopting alternate delivery methods and is using progressive Design-Build on several projects.

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Higher Education Representative:

Olivia Yang has been appointed to represent Higher Educaton to a term effective May 7, 2021 and expires June 30, 2025. Olivia was appointed as Co-Chair of the Business Equity/Diverse Business Inclusion Committee in May 2021. She is the Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, at Washington State University, overseeing campus planning, capital design, and construction projects for all WSU campuses, as well as maintenance and operations on the Pullman campus. She serves as the University Architect. She holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Washington. Her professional associations include the Design Build Institute of America and the American Institute of Architects. She has served on the State of Washington’s Capital Project Advisory Review Board advising the State legislature on public works procurement and has been an active member on many CPARB Committees.

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Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Representative:

Bill Frare, Assistant Director of Facility Professional Services, was reappointed as the DES Representative in May 2024.

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Insurance/Surety Industry Representative:

Kara Skinner of Integrity Surety LLC, has been appointed by the Governor's Office effective September 16, 2021. Kara is a third-generation surety professional and has over 30 years of specialty surety experience. Kara is the owner of Integrity Surety; a surety-only broker and agent, assisting insurance agents, contractors, attorneys, and obligees with surety credit. She is the past President of the Surety Association of Washington, a member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers and is an active member and board member of several other Insurance and construction organizations. Kara advocates for education in the surety and construction industries; teaching classes to many different associations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders. She offers education material as well as authored surety books available to the public.

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Public Hospital Districts:

Garett Buckingham of EvergreenHealth was appointed by the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts to fill this position on October 18, 2024.

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Cities Representative:

Mark Nakagawara with the City of Seattle has been appointed by the Governor's office to represent Cities effective November 9, 2021. He is the Deputy Division Director of Purchasing and Contracting for the City of Seattle, overseeing contracting policies and processes for the city’s public works contracts. He has worked over 11 years as a landscape architecture design consultant and worked over 14 years managing City of Seattle public works projects and public works contracts. He holds both a bachelors of landscape architecture and juris doctor degrees. He has been licensed as a landscape architect in the State of Washington and has been admitted to the Washington State Bar Association.

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School Districts Representative:

Karen Mooseker of Mukilteo is the Executive Director of District Support Services for the Mukilteo School District, has been appointed for an indefinite term. She replaces Steven Crawford as the School District's Representative and is effective September 3, 2019.

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Ports Representative:

Janice Zahn of the Port of Seattle, has been appointed for an indefinite term by the Ports Authority as the CPARB Ports Representative effective September 3, 2019. Janice was reelected as the CPARB Chair in May 2023. Ms. Zahn is a licensed Civil Engineer with over 30 years of experience in project management and various leadership responsibilities. She is currently employed by the Port of Seattle as the Assistant Director of the Engineering, Construction Services.

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Transit Representative:

Linneth Riley-Hall of Sound Transit, has been appointed for an indefinite term by the Washington State Transit Association in April 2021 as the CPARB Transit Representative. Ms. Riley-Hall is the Executive Project Director for the Sound Transit's Federal Way Link Extension. She was a member of CPARB's Project Review Committee from 2008 to 2024, and has actively participated on many other CPARB Committees over the years. Her extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations governing capital public works projects is easily demonstrated by a long list of achievements and awards. She regularly presents at regional training events related to public works contracting and alternative public works, serves as an instructor for the AGC's GC/CM Workshop and presented at the 2020 DBIA National Conference.

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Disadvantaged Businesses Representative:

Bobby Forch Jr. has been appointed by the Governor's Office to represent Disadvantaged Businesses effective September 16, 2021.

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House of Representatives (D):

Representative Steve Tharinger was appointed to represent the Democratic caucus of the House of Representatives. Rep. Tharinger, from the 24th Legislative District - encompassing most of the Olympic Peninsula, is a member of the following committees: Capital Budget (Chair), Appropriations, and Health Care and Wellness. View Rep. Tharinger's website.

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House of Representatives (R):

Representative Mike Steele was appointed to represent the Republican caucus of the House of Representatives. Rep. Steele, from the 12th Legislative District - encompassing north central Washington, and is a member of the following committees: Education, Capital Budget, and Appropriations and is the Ranking member on the House Capital Budget Committee. View Rep. Steele's website.

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Senate (D):

Senator Bob Hasegawa was appointed to represent Senate Democrats on CPARB. Senator Hasegawa is from the 11th District and is the elected Chair of the Senate Democratic Majority Caucus. His Senate standing committees are: Business, Financial Services & Trade (Vice Chair); Rules Committee; State Government & Elections, and Ways & Means. Other Legislative assignments are: Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR), Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee (Chair, JARRC), Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC), Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), Council of State Governments-West Executive Committee. View Senator Hasegawa's website.

Senate (R):

Senator Judy Warnick was appointed to represent Republicans in the Senate. Senator Warnick is from the 13th District and is a member of the following committees: Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks; Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care; Housing Stability & Local Government; and Ways & Means Committee. View Senator Warnick's website.

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