WRIGHT RUNSTAD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Managing Director - Development
Andy Bench was named Managing Director, Development in 2023. Bench came on board with Wright Runstad & Company in 2017 to manage the 1.2 million square foot mixed-use Rainier Square redevelopment project and project management for the 400 University project, which started construction in 2020 and attained occupancy in 2022.
Prior to joining Wright Runstad & Company, Andy worked for Pine Street Group as a project manager for the 1.4 million square foot Washington State Convention Center Addition. A Seattle native, Andy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy from Georgetown University before becoming an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He later earned a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA and certificate in commercial real estate from the University of Washington.
Job Titles:
- Chief Engineer, the Spring District
Greg Johnson is the Co-CEO of Wright Runstad & Company.
Job Titles:
- Property Manager, 1201 Third Avenue
Job Titles:
- Chief Engineer, Rainier Block
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Director of Engineering
Jeff Kasowski is responsible for all engineering activities throughout the managed portfolio. He is also an important team member for each new development project. Under Jeff's leadership, four of the company's managed properties achieved LEED-EB certification, including the three-decade old 1201 Third Avenue building, which achieved LEED-EB Platinum certification in December 2010. Jeff oversees all of the managed properties' energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction efforts, including participating in BOMA initiatives such as Kilowatt Crackdown and the Sustainability Committee.
Jeff has been with Wright Runstad & Company for over 30 years. Early in his career with the company, he aided in the commissioning and opening of One Bellevue Center, a 20-story, Class A high-rise in downtown Bellevue, WA, and managed the construction, commissioning and opening of Rainier Plaza (now Symetra Financial Center), a 22-story, Class A high-rise also in downtown Bellevue. Jeff has established keying systems, preventative maintenance systems, central stores, and Fire and Life Safety Programs for all managed properties.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, General Manager - Director of Property Management
Jeff Myrter is responsible for the company's property management portfolio with over 3.5 million square feet of space in seven properties. He oversees and mentors six different property staffs consisting of chief engineers, building engineers, property managers, assistant property managers, property accountants and property administrators. Jeff also leads the company's Energy & Environmental Stewardship effort, with over 2 million square feet of LEED certified managed space in the portfolio.
Prior to joining Wright Runstad & Company, Jeff was Manager of Facilities Services at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for almost nine years. He developed long-range master space plans for over one million square feet of urban campus properties housing clinical, inpatient, administrative, support and research facilities.
Jeff is a board member of the Building Owners and Managers Association as well as a member of the 5th Avenue Theatre Corporate Council.
Jeff received a Bachelor of Science, Corporate Communications, from Point Park University in 2000.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director of Wright Runstad and Company
Judy Runstad is a Director of Wright Runstad and Company. She recently retired from Foster Garvey PC (formerly Foster Pepper PLLC) after 45 years of practice in real estate development and land use and environmental law. In 2016 she retired from the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo & Company after eighteen years of service. She is former Chairman of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and formerly served on the Board of Directors of Potlach Corporation and SAFECO Corporation.
Ms. Runstad was very active in civic matters throughout her career and continues this involvement in retirement. She serves on the Advisory Boards of Year Up Puget Sound, the Runstad Department of Real Estate at the University of Washington, the University of Washington School of Law, and the Foster School of Business. She works tirelessly on development campaigns for the University of Washington and Seattle Symphony. She is on the Emeritus Boards of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Seattle Association, and the Alliance for Education, having served as Chair of each of these organizations, as well as Chair of the King County United Way Campaign. She is a former Advisory Board member for Stand for Children.
Ms. Runstad served on five gubernatorial commissions. She is the 2010 recipient of the UW School of Law Women's Caucus Distinguished Alumnae Award and a University of Washington Legend. She and Jon received the E. Donnell Thomas Award in 2000, and Judy was named one of Puget Sound Business Journal's Women of Influence in 2010.
Ms. Runstad holds a BA and a Masters in Political Science from the University of Idaho and a J.D. in Law from the University of Washington. She also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Idaho.
Job Titles:
- General Manager, the Spring District
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Senior Vice President
Lisa Bergeron is responsible for oversight of the accounting, financial reporting and tax strategy for multiple operating and development entities. She works closely with our largest equity partner and manages key aspects of our debt and tenant credit functions. Lisa's previous role with the company was as Treasurer and Director of Tax.
Before joining Wright Runstad & Company in 1995, Lisa was a CPA-Tax Supervisor with Moss Adams in Seattle, a CPA-Tax Senior with Clark Nuber in Bellevue, and a CPA-Tax Supervisor with KPMG Peat Marwick in New York. Her various responsibilities included tax planning, client relations, preparation and review of complex corporate and individual tax returns, and special projects involving financial projections, comparative analyses with industry information, and models of financial alternatives.
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Executive Vice President
Mary Richards is responsible for the accounting and financial reporting for multiple operating and development entities. She oversees cash management, budgets, escalations and company audits. Mary also assists in the general accounting for Wright Runstad & Company and provides leadership to the accounting group.
Mary was an auditor with Ernst & Whinney in Seattle prior to joining Wright Runstad & Company in 1988. Her responsibilities included performing audit procedures, documenting accounting systems, reviewing internal controls, supervising and training staff and preparing financial statements.
Mary received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Gonzaga University in 1986 and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Job Titles:
- Senior Development Manager
Job Titles:
- Property Manager, Rainier Tower, Rainier Square, 400 University
Job Titles:
- Chief Engineer, 1500 Jefferson ( Olympia ), Edna Lucille Goodrich Building ( Tumwater )
Job Titles:
- Co - CEO, Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the University of Washington 's Michael G. Foster School of Business Advisory Board
Walt Ingram is Co-CEO, and as Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the financing, capitalization, and reporting of multiple operating and development properties. Other duties include oversight of cash management, budgeting, valuation, taxation, information systems, and financial analysis.
Before joining Wright Runstad & Company over 30 years ago, Walt was a Senior Auditor at Touche Ross and Co. in Seattle. There he was responsible for audits of companies in various industries including real estate development and aerospace.
Walt is a member of the University of Washington's Michael G. Foster School of Business Advisory Board, a mentor for its MBA program and Treasurer for the University's Foundation Board. He is also a member of the University's Tyee Athletic Board and an associate member of the Urban Land Institute.
Walt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting at the University of Washington and graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.