2016 40 Under 40: Jeff Yirak, PE, CPMP, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, 37

Associate Principal, Commissioning; Wood Harbinger, Bellevue, Wash. BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington

By Jack Smith, Content Manager, and Amara Rozgus, Editor-in-Chief May 16, 2016

Jeff Yirak, PE, CPMP, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, 37

Associate Principal, Commissioning; Wood Harbinger, Bellevue, Wash.

BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington

Yirak has 14 years of experience in design, consulting, and management, marked by progressive promotions. Prior to his current career path in commissioning consulting at Wood Harbinger, he grew from a pharmaceutical design engineer and validation specialist to a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility’s engineering manager. In his 8 years at Wood Harbinger, he has worked his way up from commissioning engineer to commissioning team leader and now is an associate principal of the firm. Yirak loves the "high-wire act" of diagnosing and solving complex, unique problems. His expertise includes investigation, assessment, design, review, and construction administration for a wide range of facility types including aviation manufacturing facilities, central energy/utility plants, K-12 and university campuses, and health care facilities. Yirak has volunteered with the ACE Mentor Program since 2010, working with high school students in the King County Eastside area of Washington State. He participates in the Seattle Eastside group and mentors more than a dozen high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors each year. He loves hitting the blacktop with his wife and kids and only a vague idea of a destination, enjoying the journey along the way, which is often in a blur. He owns enough tents to shelter 22 people. He likes to camp during the Washington winters on the west (wet) side of the mountains. In the spring and summer, he takes the camp to the east side of the Cascades, where warm days and cool nights permit a variety of activities, such as hiking, swimming, and boating. Yirak combines cooking with chemistry when he brews beer. He brews and bottles his own beer, amending recipes from microbrewers like Diamond Knot. He designs his own labels using only pictures to describe the variety.