The new hire is Kirsten Cowden, a project manager who has been an independent contractor here for the past eight years, first for John Carroll, working on condo conversions in the Pearl District, and more recently for the Portland Development Commission, overseeing the Creative Services Center and Holman Building developments. Cowden, who has held her Oregon real estate license wince 1994, also managed development of the corporate offices for Tripwire Inc.

In her new position, Cowden will supervise and manage all property redevelopment projects, including the remodeling of the struggling Downtown Galleria mall and several of the Made In Oregon stores. She could not immediately be reached for comment on why she's making the move.

Naito Corp., founded in 1921, employs more than 400 people in Portland, Eugene, Salem, and other Oregon communities.