Retail
Planning for Succession
The Federal Gift and Estate Tax Statute lapsed Dec. 31, 2009, andbecause Congress hasn’t passed new legislation, for 2010 there is nofederal estate tax or federal generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax.These taxes return in 2011, but at much lower 2001 exemption levels andhigher tax rates. This approach will make it difficult for businessowners to transfer the…
Of Boards and Bike Races
For most startups, the path to success is much like the Tourde France: a lengthy race where endurance is critical, interspersed withmoments at a frenzied pace. Slow down and you lose the race. Push yourself toohard at any one stage, however, and you run the risk of injury or accident. To better their chances, cyclists…
The Lesson of South Carolina
The Boeing Co.s decision last year to locate its second 787production line in South Carolina was disappointing news; however, it broughtattention to a critically important topic: Washingtons business climate. Washington is the most trade-dependent state in the nation.We are the home to global leaders in aerospace, software, telecommunications,retail and agriculture, but increasingly, some wonder aloud…
Floating Cities
As a major portal to the Pacific and gateway to Alaska, Seattle hasrecently emerged as a leading West Coast port of call for the luxurypassenger cruise ship industry. Over the past decade, the number ofcruise ships calling in Seattle has burgeoned from six vessels carrying6,615 passengers in 1999 to 218 vessels carrying 875,433 passengers in2009….
Tourism 2.0
When the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Toursent out an invitation via Twitter for its Aviation Geekfest at noon one daylast December, it figured the 50 open slots would be grabbed up by the end ofthe day. Elapsed time to claim them all: 52 seconds. And it wasnt just locals who were clamoring…
David Giuliani
David Giuliani has been earning his successes ever since hestudied graduate-level electrical engineering and business at StanfordUniversity. He didnt have to go too far from college to get his firstopportunity. But after 12 years working with light-emitting diodes,semiconductors and high-volume production at Hewlett-Packard, Giuliani moved tothe Northwest to try something new. Initially he was not…
Neal Keny-Guyer
Mercy Corps moves past politics and crosses geographicalboundaries to provide humanitarian aid and bring sustainable development tocountries stricken by war, poverty or natural disasters. With more than 3,700 employees, Mercy Corps now reachesnearly 16.7 million people in more than 40 countries, providing them withmicrofinance services, disaster response, trauma relief and agriculturaldevelopment. CEO Neal Keny-Guyer credits…
Cheeses is the Answer
Kurt Beecher Dammeier,shown in the Pike Place Market creamery and retail store of Beechers HandmadeCheese, is counting on the appeal of artisan cheese making to carry Beechersinto its next market: New York City. Weve been turning milk into a variety of products foryears, but recently artisan cheese makers around Washington are churning it toa higher…
Talking Points: Stein Kruse
Since Stein Kruse joined HollandAmerica Line in 1999, the company has undergone an aggressive expansion, addingnine ships to create a fleet of 15, including the $650 million New Amsterdam delivered in July. He has also presided over a new$525 million program to upgrade older ships. A World Class City: I was born inOslo, Norway. Twenty…
Taking the Nuclear Tour
A control panel for the BReactor at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland. The reactor was thefirst fully functioning nuclear plant in the U.S. and was declared a NationalHistoric Landmark in 2008. This summer, the hottest ticket inthe Northwest just might be tours of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. In recentyears, the federal government has been…
Grape Spirit
Related: Dry Tasting Back to Still Life Wine isnt the only elixir blessedby the grape in our state. Distilled grape liquor comes in many styles, such asgrape brandy, made from distilled wine, and pomace brandy, or marc, made fromgrape skins and seeds. Soft Tail Spirits is makinggrappa, an Italian-style pomace brandy, which is rapidly gaining…
Still Life
Dennis Robertson, co-founder ofSoft Tail Spirits in Woodinville, discovered grappa in Italy; now he makes itin Washington. Already a mecca for craft beer andvarietal wines, Washington has opened its doors to craft distilleries andinvited a host of midnight moonshiners to step up and vie with big nationaldistilleries for precious liquor store shelf space. Dry Fly…
Trouble With the Jones
It appears that Jones Soda Co., a former high-flying independent manufacturer whose attempts to go national have fizzled (ahem), has more change on the horizon: specificially, its fourth CEO in three years. The Seattle Times reports that former CEO Joth Ricci stpped down last week after less than a year on the job, and shortly…