Metro Parks Tacoma has named Mary Krauszer park ranger at Point Defiance Park. Krauszer is the first uniformed ranger at the park since it was established in 1888.

The Alaska native graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2012,  and previously held a seasonal job as a Point Defiance Park Visitors Center ambassador in 2014.

The Port of Seattle has promoted Elizabeth Leavitt to Senior Director for Environment and Sustainability. The newly created position leading a center of expertise that consolidates environmental, sustainability, and planning functions Leavitt has worked for the Port for more than 26 years, most recently as director of aviation planning and environmental programs.

The Rev. Jen Rude will join Pacific Lutheran University as university pastor on August 1. Rude comes to PLU from Chicago, where she most recently served as program director for Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, and as a colleague in ministry at Grace Lutheran Church in Evanston, Ill.

Sound Community Bank has hired Laurie Szczepczynski as Vice President and Port Angeles Branch Manager. Szczepczynski has a 32-year tenure in the banking industry, starting her banking career as a teller, and subsequently serving in many roles in branch banking including Personal Banker, Teller Supervisor, Branch Manager, and Business Development Officer.

Bates Technical College appointed Josh Clearman campus dean of the Advanced Technology Center at Central/Mohler Campus. A Tacoma resident, Clearman’s most recent post was dean of trades and technology at Green River College, where he led workforce development, supervised and provided leadership to 65 employees for two academic divisions and two programs.

Madalain Merton has been named Vice president for business retention and expansion for the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County.