Dwight Hansch
Superintendent
Melanie Cochrun
Director of Marketing+Communications
CPSM
A healthy dose of serendipity led Melanie from the Peace Corps third world to the A/E/C integrated world, where she discovered a love for working with the people behind the concrete. Nearly 20 years later, she is contributing and receiving ideas and inspiration for marketing, communicating, and developing business as the Director of Marketing + Communications at GLY! A self-described thinker, linker, and obstacle shrinker, Melanie likes to approach her work with these three questions: Who is our audience? What do they need? How can we reach them and develop trust?
Jackson Reid
Senior Project Engineer
LEED Green Associate
Jackson is a Senior Project Engineer best known for his natural sociability and ability to boost jobsite morale. He remains positive and resilient when faced with challenges and believes that division of labor does not mean a relief of responsibility. With a strong team–first mindset, he understands the collective effort required to deliver successful projects, which is why he enjoys starting his days early on the jobsite and staying engaged with his team throughout the day. Outside of work, Jackson is an energetic outdoorsman who spends his time in the mountains or on the water. He enjoys biking, hiking, surfing, snowboarding, skiing, running, and fishing, and is a former student–athlete who played lacrosse at the University of Washington and with Seattle–area teams. He is also an FAA–certified Unmanned Aircraft Pilot and enjoys flying his drone to capture aerial jobsite photos.
Joaquin Aburto
General Foreman
Joaquin approaches each day on the jobsite with a people-first attitude, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative team culture in finding efficient solutions and creating a learning environment for everyone. One of his favorite aspects of construction is that he leaves each workday having learned something new from his teammates. When he’s not out in the field, you can find Joaquin adventuring in the PNW with his 5 kids.
Amanda Smith
Yard Coordinator
As a young girl Amanda lived in Hawaii, where a large portion of her family is Native Hawaiian. After moving to Monroe, Washington she spent her high school years in Mansfield, a small town in eastern Washington. She worked for local trucking company before joining GLY, driving HM350 Haul Trucks around jobsites to load onto lowboy trailers, or she calls them, giant Tonka trucks! As part of GLY’s tool and equipment team, she enjoys supporting Jobs from the ground up and watching as the build happens. Amanda and her husband originally met in middle school and later reconnected. Now you’ll find them riding dirt bikes with their kids and spending time exploring the PNW in their Jeep.
Laura Ovsak
Project Manager
RA, AIA, LEED Green Associate
Laura joined the GLY team in 2017 after spending five years with architecture and engineering design teams. Her varied design experience provides a deep understanding of the design process, and a fluency in the design language. Having worn many hats at GLY, she has developed a diverse skillset, carrying many projects through their phases. Laura recently completed the process of becoming a licensed architect!
Israel Bolechala
General Foreman
Israel brings over 20 years of experience in commercial construction, tenant improvements, and healthcare environments, managing complex projects from bid through closeout. A proud member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America, Local 360, Israel values craftsmanship, accountability, and teamwork on every jobsite. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, camping, traveling to support his children’s club lacrosse, and has a lifelong connection to the trades, with all of his brothers also working in construction. He also played collegiate football at California Lutheran University and later for the Pierce County Bengals.
Tess Wakasugi-Don
Principal
LEED AP
Tess has built her career at GLY, from humble beginnings as an intern, advancing steadily to a promotion in 2019 to firm principal. She is a dedicated, selfless leader who pays careful attention to every project’s specific vision, technical complexities, and goals. Tess is very effective at coordinating the efforts of design professionals, construction teams, corporate stakeholders, and owners while integrating various service providers into project delivery. She chairs GLY’s internal DEI committee, which focuses on social equity education, employee engagement, and strategies to improve diversity and inclusion on GLY’s projects. Her three young sons inspire her daily to feel empowered, to work hard, and to make time for fun.
Danny Skwarski
Senior Project Manager
Danny thrives in the fast-paced world of construction, where no two days are the same and every project brings a new challenge to solve. He enjoys tackling the technical complexities of each job and finding solutions that keep projects moving forward. He channels the focus and drive that project management brings into his hobbies as well, as he has spent 20+ years in combat sports, motorcycling, and golfing. A proud father of twin daughters, Danny has become an expert in negotiation, multitasking, and conflict resolution, and spends much of his free time supporting their many hobbies + interests.