Geoff Proehl, professor of theatre arts at University of Puget Sound, has been selected by his North American theater arts peers to receive the G. E. Lessing Award for Career Achievement.

This is the most prestigious award given by the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA), which represents theater professionals across the United States and Canada, and Proehl is only the seventh recipient of the award in LMDA’s 31-year history.

The award for lifetime achievement in the field of dramaturgy was made at a July 9 ceremony at the LMDA’s annual conference at Portland State University.

Rhonda Marie Carter has been named Sound Transit’s new chief of staff. Carter, who is currently deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation, is a Federal Way native who earlier served as White House liaison for the U.S. Department of Energy and special assistant to the White House counsel. She previously worked at the Center for American Progress and the University of Washington.

Former Assistant Fire Chief Pat Dale is serving as Fire Service Instructional Program Manager at Bates Technical College. Prior to retiring in 2015, Dale worked for the Olympia Fire Department as the assistant fire chief and director of training. He brings more than 30 years of experience as a career fire officer, first serving as a volunteer with the Tumwater Fire Department, then working through the ranks to Battalion Chief at the Kent Fire Department.

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland has joined the board of directors of Friends of 88.5 FM. The Board is chaired by Stephen Tan, a partner at Cascadia Law Group and former president of KPLU’s Community Advisory Council.

Zachary Thomas has joined the Northwest Seaport Alliance to lead the Operations Service Center (OSC), and Bob Meyer has been promoted to lead port operations and manage safety. Thomas brings more than 23 years of experience in the maritime industry, most recently as general manager with Ports America in Tacoma since 2014. Meyer joined the Port of Tacoma in 2014 to manage non-container facilities.

Louisa Garbo has been named director of the Department of Community Development for Kitsap County, replacing Larry Keeton who retired in December 2015.