Rice Fergus Miller Celebrates Four New Associates and Welcomes Six New Staff to the Team

Bremerton, Washington – Rice Fergus Miller (RFM), a leading architecture, interior design, planning, and visualization firm based in Bremerton, Washington, is proud to announce the promotion of four exceptional individuals to the position of Associate, and six new hires. These individuals reflect the firm’s values and commitment to great design, teamwork, supporting community, and using business as a force for good.

The newly promoted Associates bring a wealth of expertise and diverse backgrounds to Rice Fergus Miller. Their combined experience will undoubtedly contribute to the firm’s continued success and commitment to delivering exceptional design solutions to its clients.

Without further ado, Rice Fergus Miller congratulates the following individuals:

Elizabeth Salas, CSI CDT has been promoted to Associate. She began her career over ten years ago as a permit expediter in Chicago and then as a project coordinator, giving her a solid foundation in the basic fundamentals of project delivery and client care. She’s the ultimate team player, always willing to go above and beyond to ensure project success. Liz has been active in the firm’s marketing efforts and has attended several fire industry conferences. Additionally, Liz is active in the Kitsap community and volunteers at Bremerton High School as a mentor, as well as through the firm’s Charitable Contributions Committee and JEDI Committee.

Hope Zorrozua, CSI CDT, CCCA, Senior Project Coordinator has been promoted to Associate for her ongoing contributions to project excellence and firm operations including accounting and invoicing. She is responsible for executing project contracts and accounting activities and has helped onboard the firm’s new Virtual CFO over the last year. She holds her Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) and Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA) credentials from the Construction Specifications Institute. Additionally, Hope is a member of the Charitable Contributions Committee and the Culture Committee, helping to ensure that new and existing staff are celebrated and appreciated throughout the year.

Sam Tomlinson has been promoted to Associate for his contributions to the firm and to project design excellence including the award-winning Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Healing Clinic. Sam is an Architectural Designer with a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Arts and Architecture from Montana State University. For a time, Sam lived in Kitsap County but has since returned to Montana to be near family, and continues to work remotely for the firm. As a member of RFM’s Civic Studio, Sam lends his design skills to fire stations and other civic and community projects. He attends conferences and supports business development activities, and is always willing to jump in to ensure project and firm success.

Taylor Vigilia has been promoted to Associate. An Interior Designer at RFM for nearly three years, Taylor has been instrumental in ensuring the firm’s interior design team stays apprised of the latest in material and product innovations. She has organized regular product fairs, vendor meetings, and lunch and learns in the RFM office and virtually. She serves on the JEDI Committee, and works primarily on hospitality projects in the firm’s H3 Studio (Housing, Hospitality, and Healthcare). She is a member of NEWH, and is currently the Northwest Chapter’s Graphics Chair.

Rice Fergus Miller firmly believes that investing in its employees’ growth and professional development is crucial to the success of the firm and its clients. These promotions not only recognize the achievements of these exceptional individuals but also signify the firm’s confidence in their ability to contribute to the continued success of the firm.

Additionally, RFM would like to announce six new employees hired in 2023: 

In January, RFM welcomed Richard Carlos, Daniel Stewart, Fenil Somani, and Victoria Nizzoli to the team. Luke Grimsrud joined in May, and Hana Kaneko joined in June.

Based in Boise, Idaho, Richard Carlos, Assoc AIA is an Architectural Designer who has been working on RFM’s projects through a partnership with Pivot North Architecture for years, so his transition to the RFM team has been seamless. Richard is currently wrapping up work on the Design-Build project Nampa Station 6, in Nampa, Idaho, and two fire stations in Meridian, Idaho.

Daniel Stewart, RA, NCARB is a Project Architect at RFM who lives in Poulsbo, WA with his family. He has a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Portland State University. He has over seventeen years of experience and works primarily on multifamily housing and tribal projects in the firm’s H3 Studio. 

Fenil Somani, Assoc. AIA is an Architectural Designer with a focus on housing projects in the firm’s H3 Studio. She has a Master of Architecture with a focus on Sustainable Systems from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Architecture from Gujarat University in India. She is currently working on a variety of multifamily housing projects throughout the Kitsap Peninsula.

Victoria Nizzoli, RA, NCARB, WELL AP, LEED Green Assoc. is an Architect with over eight years of experience in a range of project types including healthcare, education, and senior living. She has a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and loves the puzzle that design presents. She is focused on serving clients in the H3 studio, in particular housing and healthcare and the intersection of the two.

Luke Grimsrud, AIA, joined RFM in Mayas a Project Manager andLicensed Architect. He is based in Spokane, WA, and works in the firm’s H3 Studio. He brings a strong background in residential and commercial design and construction and solid relationships with building and planning agencies in and around the Spokane area. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and International Code Council, and serves on the AIA Spokane Chapter’s Board of Directors.

Hana Kaneko joined the firm in June as a Marketing & Proposal Coordinator. She has a background in marketing, administration, and customer service. Hana brings a highly organized and detail-oriented approach to marketing proposals, and helps craft messaging around the firm’s unique value to clients. She is a member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services’ Seattle Chapter, serving on both the Marketing and DEI Committees. Hana has a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is fluent in Japanese. 

About Rice Fergus Miller

Rice Fergus Miller, Inc.—a B Corp., is an architecture, interior design, planning, and vizlab firm based in Bremerton, Washington. Established in 1987, it is the only architecture firm in Washington State with Certified B Corporation status. The firm is committed to performing meaningful work that builds and strengthens communities, and is housed in one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the United States.  Rice Fergus Miller blends the personal aspirations of its more than 55 team members with a vision for sustainable design. In 2022, the firm celebrate 35 years in business.
Learn more at www.rfmarch.com