FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Caia Caldwell
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.460.8213

Master Builders Association Hires Jeremy Hall as Its New Chief Operating Officer

In addition to having more than a dozen years of business leadership experience, Hall is a graduate of Harvard Business School and holds a Master of Business Administration.

Previously, Hall was principal at Brightspeed Consulting, COO of California Medical Evaluators, and COO of Medical Consultants Network. During his time as the COO of Medical Consultants Network, Hall reduced operational expenses, expanded the number of the company’s call centers, and oversaw the growth of a regional company into a national presence. Early in his career, Hall worked for Arthur Andersen where he focused on business consulting specifically within the healthcare, construction, and telecommunications industries.

“I’m delighted to announce that Jerry will be joining the team,” said Kat Sims, executive director of MBAKS. “Jerry’s extensive COO experience and wealth of financial and operational knowledge will help elevate all aspects of our planning and operations, opening up possibilities and improving our performance in the coming years.”

“It is a privilege to join MBAKS,” said Jerry Hall. “Keeping the Puget Sound region as one of the top places in the world to live is something I am passionate about. I’m excited to be part of the vital work MBAKS does for its members and the Pacific Northwest.”

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With nearly 3,000 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, housing advocacy, community service, and financial stewardship throughout the Puget Sound region.

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Contact: data@mbaks.com

June 2026 Builders Bulletin: Construction Leads Private-Sector Job Losses in April

Washington’s unemployment rate increased to 5.2% in April. According to the Employment Security Department’s Monthly Employment Report, the state’s economy lost 4,500 jobs between March and April. This includes 1,300 in construction—the largest drop in the private sector. These job losses were concentrated in construction of buildings and heavy and civil engineering.

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The Seattle City Council on Monday, October 2, approved an upzone to allow taller buildings in the Uptown neighborhood of Seattle, known to most as lower Queen Anne. It’s the latest area in a series of upzoning approvals, following the University District, downtown and South Lake Union, Chinatown International District, and certain spots in the Central District.

For those not in the know, upzoning is the ability for builders to create taller buildings to facilitate more homes or businesses. The lower Queen Anne upzone approval, which passed with a vote of 7-0, at its maximum will see an increase of building heights from 85 to 160 feet near South Lake Union, and from 40 to 85 feet for most of lower Queen Anne—which is twice as tall as existing buildings near Seattle Center. Much of the approved surrounding land, however, will see more modest changes.

Residents have already weighed in on the approval, some worried about an eventual "lack of daylight" or new views dominated by steel and glass. Others, however, see a sunnier side, noting that the greater Seattle area needs new, affordable housing where it can get it.

Speaking on affordability, another factor in the approval is the inclusion of Seattle’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) program, a "multi-pronged strategy," according to seattle.gov, that will in this case require developers to include rent-restricted apartments in their project plans or face fees. Fees paid will go toward nonprofit efforts to build rent-restricted apartments in the lower Queen Anne area or elsewhere. The rent-restricted homes are aimed at those who make no more than 60 percent of the area’s median income—currently just over $40,000 in the City of Seattle for a single occupant, or $57,000 for a family of four.

Developers are required to dedicate 5 to 10 percent of each commercial development and 7 to 10 percent of residential projects to affordable housing or shell over $8 to $29.75 per square foot, depending on the project.

The HALA program goal, led by Councilmember Rob Johnson, is to create 50,000 new housing units in the next 10 years, including 20,000 units dedicated to lower income households. The goal for 2018 is to focus on a citywide rezone package, which will include a proposal to increase building heights and affordable housing requirements to areas that will likely include Rainier Beach, Othello, upper Queen Anne, Crown Hill, and Wallingford.