Downtown Seattle Foot Traffic is Up, Thanks to Amazon
Still lags pre-pandemic numbers
Amazon’s return-to-office mandate resulted in a measurable increase among downtown Seattle office workers in January, but the numbers still aren’t anywhere near where they were six years ago. The Downtown Seattle Association’s Revitalization Dashboard shows foot traffic in neighborhoods where Amazon’s offices are located (South Lake Union and Denny Regrade) at 74% of that of…
How Seattle Is Preparing For The World Cup
A bigger impact than Taylor Swift’s two concerts in 2023
Though the 2026 FIFA World Cup is still more than a year away, Seattle is actively preparing for the coming economic rush. The city will host six matches of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup at Lumen Field in June and July next year. Four of the games are in the group stage, one is…
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…
At Starbucks, Ceramic Mugs and Handwritten Notes
Seattle chain moves quickly to change its image
Starbucks is out to change the perception of itself and a world accustomed to grab-and-go culture. How? Ceramic mugs, handwritten notes and condiment bars. Company CEO Brian Niccol talked about the company’s reintroduction of ceramic mugs several times during an earnings call with analysts yesterday. It’s a decisive shift from the signature paper cups prevalent…
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…
Seattle Restaurants Capture 16 James Beard Award Semifinalist Nods
Winners will be announced in June
The Seattle area’s critically acclaimed food scene is once again receiving national recognition, this time from the James Beard Awards. Sixteen individuals and restaurants are on the prestigious 2025 semifinalist list. The restaurants represent numerous different cuisines, reflecting the city’s diverse fusion of cultures. Finalists will be announced April 2. Winners will be named June…
These Two Seattle Companies Make Global Innovators List
One is Amazon. The other is a company you may be unfamiliar with.
A Seattle company often referred to as “the Amazon of South Korea” has been named one of LexisNexis’ “Top 100 Global Innovators for 2025” based on its intellectual property. Coupang has 912 active patent families, and has increased the size of its patent portfolio by more than 15 times the past five years. Amazon, with…
Built on Trust
Company leaders reveal secrets to a buzzing, productive workplace. Hint: It’s more than perks.
At Pot O’ Gold Coffee Service, company leaders were pleasantly surprised when employees told them they enjoyed after-hours events with colleagues. At Fully Integrated Team HR — which has a remote workforce — employees often schedule in-person working sessions, sometimes with their children in tow. Salespeople who close a big deal ring a loud gong…
The Most Influential People
Meet 25 extraordinary individuals and one transformative company building community and advocating for equity
Seattle magazine’s annual list of Most Influential people includes those who inspire, guide and uplift others through their actions, leadership and dedication. Their far-reaching influence stems from their achievements, but equally important, their ability to foster connections across the community, advocate for positive change, and empower others to make a difference. We’re rolling out brief…
SponsoredIt Takes a Five-Star Team to Deliver Five-Star Service at Davis Law Group
Davis Law Group’s commitment to excellence starts with a genuine and transparent office culture
Success in business can be hard to come by, especially in the legal industry. It takes buy-in across the board to achieve — let alone sustain — consistent results in the way that Davis Law Group has. A reputable litigation firm that has represented victims of serious accidents in Washington for more than 30 years,…
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…
Lori Hill: The Seattleite
The commercial real estate veteran is upbeat about the future of Seattle
Lori Hill has seemingly worked at just about every job in commercial real estate. Last September, she pivoted to the leasing side at Clise Properties, where she serves as executive vice president. Her resume includes stops at Unico Properties as senior vice president of investment management, and as managing director of capital markets at JLL….
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…
Play’s the Thing
Kimberly Bartlett uses play therapy to help children deal with their problems
You can call it trauma therapy. Child mental health. Or even the more straightforward family or child therapy. Kimberly Bartlett prefers a more lighthearted term to tackle a serious subject: integrative play therapy. Bartlett launched Evergreen Play Therapy in Seattle two years ago to help children and families heal through play. She combines various therapeutic…
Left to Her Own Device
Monica Plath couldn't find a suitable tracker for her young kids, so she invented her own
Monica Plath wants her two young children to be safe. She feels the same way about yours. Plath created Seattle-based Littlebird Connected Care after a concerning care experience for her child. The wearable tracking device, called the Littlebird Toddler Care- Tracker, is a wristband for kids that helps parents ensure that their children are safe….
Statshot: Fitspiration
It’s resolution time. Here’s where Seattle ranks on a list of healthy cities
It’s a New Year. Time to hit the gym, improve the diet, become more mindful. Turns out that Seattle-area residents are already doing many of those things. An analysis by Forbes Advisor found that Seattle is the third-healthiest city in the United States, behind only San Jose, Calif., and Austin, Texas. Here’s the breakdown. 11.49…
Statshot: Columbia Crush
The grapenomics of Washington wine
Washington is the second-largest wine producing state in the nation, behind only California. Want to impress your guests this holiday season? Hit them with these Washington wine facts. 6-8 inches of annual rainfall in the Columbia Valley 17 average hours of summer sunlight 20 number of American Viticultural Areas, a specific region where grapes are…
Seattle Strong is on a Cold Streak
Cold coffee business was created in a college classroom
In 2017, Evan Oeflein wasn’t thinking about launching a cold brew coffee company. Like many students in the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, he was just trying to complete a class assignment. But the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship’s “Create a Company” program wasn’t your typical lecture — it pushed students to turn an…
On Reflection: Jockeying for Jobs
Competition in Seattle is intense
Having trouble finding a job? Know someone who is? It’s becoming a lot harder. Seattle boasts the dubious distinction of having the toughest labor market in the world. Career website Resume.io found that the city had the world’s largest percentage increase in job competition the past year, with the number of applicants for every open…
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…
Saving for the Sunset
Six strategies for retirement, no matter your age or income
Planning for your retirement can feel overwhelming, even intimidating. As a Seattleite who has spent more than 35 years guiding clients in achieving their retirement goals, I’ve worked with people of all ages and incomes. Throughout the years, I’ve guided them through fears, implemented new approaches, and helped them shift their mindset and habits. The…
Political Ping-Pong
How to manage sensitive discussions in the workplace
With the 2024 u.s. presidential election around the corner, talk of politics is a constant on our televisions, in our social media feeds, and around our dinner tables. What happens when those discussions enter the workplace? Surveys consistently show that political discussions at work increase anxiety and decrease productivity. This is not a new issue;…
Editor’s Note: So Common, Yet So Underappreciated
Most of us have been, are, or will be caregivers in our lifetimes
My mother’s voice was calm, even more measured than usual. “Your father’s breathing tube came off last night while he was sleeping,” she said over the phone from Portland. “I had to take him to the hospital. He’s doing fine.”
This was almost three decades ago, and I still vividly recall not being surprised that something had happened.