Microsoft President Brad Smith: ‘Never Take Your Strengths For Granted’
Washington state’s tech industry needs nurturing, support
Brad Smith is tired of politicians and others who take the state’s tech industry for granted. Smith, Microsoft’s president and vice chair, was the main attraction at the Tech Alliance State of Technology Luncheon May 20. He did not disappoint. During a wide-ranging 40-minute keynote conversation with Seattle magazine Publisher and CEO Jonathan Sposato, Smith…
SponsoredSeattle’s Security Industry Gets a New Approach
Not just a guy in a polo shirt — this trauma-informed team brings a new kind of safety to the city
HEARTH Protection is the Seattle region’s premier provider of trauma-informed, community-oriented protective services. We are a unique private security company. Our revolutionary approach combines evidence-based security practices with deep community engagement, creating safety solutions that address root causes rather than symptoms. Founded by women and LGBTQ+ leaders, HEARTH operates as a worker-owned cooperative where our…
The Art Behind the Frame
For 20 years, one Seattle agency has shaped the look of the city’s biggest film event
Each spring, SIFF sweeps through the city like a season of its own. Seattleites know the rhythm by now: the trailer drops, the posters go up, and the festival’s distinct look starts showing up everywhere. And while the films change from year to year, the team behind that visual identity has stayed the same. WongDoody,…
Done Deal: Nordstrom Is Officially A Private Company
The deal with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool is worth $6.25 billion
Nordstrom is now a private company. The iconic Seattle-based retailer has closed its $6.25 billion deal to go private with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool in an all-cash transaction. Brothers Erik and Pete Nordstrom — great grandsons of company founder John W. Nordstrom — will lead the company as co-CEOs. Nordstrom common stock will…
Costco Limits Gold Bar Buys
Issaquah warehouse retailer began selling the bars two years ago
If you’re thinking of adding gold to your financial portfolio during a time of economic uncertainty, don’t plan on making a big buy at Costco. The popular Issaquah-based warehouse retailer just put a limit on gold bar purchases. Costco began selling gold bars in 2023. It’s estimated that the company sells more than $100 million…
BECU Scores Naming Rights For Storm Performance Center
The $64 million practice facility will be known as the BECU Center for Basketball Performance
Credit union BECU has secured the naming rights for the Seattle Storm’s basketball facility. The $64 million facility in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood will now be known as the BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance. The center opened in April 2024. The Storm says the deal is the first for an independently owned WNBA team. The…
The Art Behind the Frame
For 20 years, one Seattle agency has shaped the look of the city’s biggest film event
Each spring, SIFF sweeps through the city like a season of its own. Seattleites know the rhythm by now: the trailer drops, the posters go up, and the festival’s distinct look starts showing up everywhere. And while the films change from year to year, the team behind that visual identity has stayed the same. WongDoody,…
Microsoft President Brad Smith: ‘Never Take Your Strengths For Granted’
Washington state’s tech industry needs nurturing, support
Brad Smith is tired of politicians and others who take the state’s tech industry for granted. Smith, Microsoft’s president and vice chair, was the main attraction at the Tech Alliance State of Technology Luncheon May 20. He did not disappoint. During a wide-ranging 40-minute keynote conversation with Seattle magazine Publisher and CEO Jonathan Sposato, Smith…
Done Deal: Nordstrom Is Officially A Private Company
The deal with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool is worth $6.25 billion
Nordstrom is now a private company. The iconic Seattle-based retailer has closed its $6.25 billion deal to go private with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool in an all-cash transaction. Brothers Erik and Pete Nordstrom — great grandsons of company founder John W. Nordstrom — will lead the company as co-CEOs. Nordstrom common stock will…
Costco Limits Gold Bar Buys
Issaquah warehouse retailer began selling the bars two years ago
If you’re thinking of adding gold to your financial portfolio during a time of economic uncertainty, don’t plan on making a big buy at Costco. The popular Issaquah-based warehouse retailer just put a limit on gold bar purchases. Costco began selling gold bars in 2023. It’s estimated that the company sells more than $100 million…
The Space Arranger
Kyle Gaffney and SkB take a holistic approach to building design
To say that Kyle Gaffney backed into a career in architecture may be a bit exaggerated, but he did get a late start. Gaffney, a cofounder and principal at Seattle architecture firm SkB, suffered a devastating knee injury and lost a soccer scholarship to the University of Puget Sound. Instead of college he went to…
A Camel, a Desert, and Some Quick Thinking
How an accident led to a $4 million company
Jensen Brehm just wanted to protect his eyes from the blazing heat of the sun. Brehm, then a student at the University of Redlands in California, was a top of a camel in a remote desert in India when his party stopped for lunch and a much-needed break from the 100-degree heat. Brehm sat down…
The Wonderpreneur
Aegis founder Dwayne Clark is an author, philanthropist, filmmaker, and a highly successful business executive
Dwayne Clark was standing on a crate washing dishes at the tender age of 7 in an airport restaurant where his Mother, Colleen, was a cook. He grew up without a father. He was, he says, “at the bottom rung of the economic cycle.” The biggest influences in his life were all women: his grandmother,…
A Medical Journey
Jody Elsom has spent a career designing health care facilities. She never expected to become a patient in one of them.
Jody Elsom never imagined she’d wind up a patient in a health care center she had designed. But there she was at the recently opened True Family Women’s Cancer Center on the Swedish Hospital First Hill campus shortly after an unexpected diagnosis for breast cancer. “It wasn’t what I expected, but it was actually an…
Daring Women: It’s Never Just About One Person
Perkins&Will’s Marie Henson calls collaboration ‘critical’ to effective leadership
Architecture captivated Marie Henson at an early age. By the time she was 10, Henson had accompanied her history-buff father on visits to all eight Virginia presidents’ homes. It left a lasting impression: She decided on a career in architecture before she graduated from elementary school. Today, the Seattle-based Henson is the firmwide health practice…
The Corporate Rocket
Mortenson Market Lead Cori Palmer rose through the ranks at lightning speed
Talk about a rapid rise. In 2009, Cori Palmer was a freshly minted graduate from the University of Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. It didn’t take her long to land a job as a business development associate at Mortenson, a Minneapolis-based construction company with a sizable Seattle presence. Five promotions later, Palmer…
She Never Gave Up
Some of Alissa Leinonen’s biggest mistakes turned into her greatest successes
Alissa Leinonen launched her catering and box-lunched company, Gourmondo, as a simple, four-table lunch café in the Pike Place Market almost 30 years ago. Today, Gourmondo has become a turnkey catering company, offering full services for social and events catering, a successful corporate café division, a retail line of gourmet grab-and-go products, and an in-house…
A New Life in the Sea Suite
Kristi Schooley left a long career in hospitality to follow her passion
As a lifelong Seattleite, Kristi Schooley always loved being surrounded by water. She bought her first boat in her 20s. “After that, being on the water became a part of my life and a true passion,” says Schooley, who launched a second career as a senior captain at Argosy Cruises 20 years ago after spending…
Puget Powerhouses
Washington ranks No. 1 for women-owned businesses
Washington has a higher percentage of women-owned businesses than any other state. Forty-two percent of all businesses here are female owned. At 34%, the state also ranks No. 1 for its percentage of women-owned businesses that earn more than $1 million in annual revenue. The employment rate of all women across the state is 59%,…
Agrivillage Adventure
Ambitious co-housing project preserves Snohomish County farmland
Dave Boehnlein’s motivation was aspirational, practical and novel at the same time. The co-founder and project manager at nonprofit Rooted Northwest spearheaded a plan to prevent the former 240-acre Tillman Dairy Farm in Arlington from being split for development. Rooted purchased the property and worked with county officials to preserve the farmland while also providing…
Little Hands, Big Brands
Small ad agency lands major clients
Michael Boychuk likes the critically acclaimed TV show Mad Men as much as anyone. It’s not inaccurate, he says, just romanticized. He should know. Boychuk, who cut his teeth at venerable Seattle ad agency WongDoody, now runs Little Hands of Stone, an independent creative agency with a modest office in the Fremont neighborhood, with partner…
Gym Journey
Chris Travis launched SSP to help others in the same situation he once found himself in
Chris travis remembers working 80 hours a week after starting a new job at Amazon’s Kindle division back in 2010. Not surprisingly, it took a toll on his health. He was eating poorly. He had developed a bad back, and wasn’t exercising…
Full Court Focus
Valuable insights from two leaders on culture building and priorities
At its best, organizational culture goes beyond creating a pleasant working environment. It drives engagement, fosters innovation, attracts and retains top talent, and supports long-term success. A strong culture nurtures employees, emphasizing values that promote well-being, belonging, and growth. But what defines an effective culture? What makes a culture problematic? Ultimately, “good” culture is unique…
The Pros and Cons of March Madness
Lost productivity costs the economy billions. That's right. Billions.
I haven’t filled out my March Madness bracket yet. When I do, I’ll be sure to do it after work. A report from betting site Action Network estimates that March Madness costs the U.S. economy a staggering $20.89 billion in lost productivity. Fully 40% of fans say they’ve called in sick to watch games in…
The DEI Backlash: Staying the Course
DEI and merit are not contradictory
The backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has gained momentum in recent months, fueled by political and cultural divisiveness. Some critics have linked DEI policies to high-profile incidents, such as the mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., Jan. 29. However, there is no credible…
Unity in Diversity
Tips for inclusive company parties this holiday season
Employers focused on diversity, equity and inclusion should know that along with festivities and cheer in the coming months comes ample opportunity to practice inclusivity and continue to foster a welcoming environment for all. Celebrating employees and co-workers via gatherings and goodies during the holiday season can boost morale, increase team bonding and provide additional…