Downtown Seattle Again Draws More Workers, Visitors
The number of visitors approaches pre-pandemic levels
Downtown foot traffic hit yet another milestone last month. The Downtown Seattle Association says March averaged 101,000 daily workers, the highest average since March 2020. The figure is still only 60% of foot traffic in March 2019 as employees continue working remotely, but is a 12% increase from a year ago. More than 2.5 million…
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 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…
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…
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,…
Statshot: Creative At The Core
The most popular events at Seattle Center
Seattle Center is the most visited cultural attraction in Washington state and the 18th most popular in the United States. Nearly 10 million people visited “the city’s living room” in 2023. Here’s a quick glance at attendance at select events: Source: Seattle Center (2023) Big Number 4,196,993 Paid attendance at arts and cultural programs and…
Downtown Seattle Again Draws More Workers, Visitors
The number of visitors approaches pre-pandemic levels
Downtown foot traffic hit yet another milestone last month. The Downtown Seattle Association says March averaged 101,000 daily workers, the highest average since March 2020. The figure is still only 60% of foot traffic in March 2019 as employees continue working remotely, but is a 12% increase from a year ago. More than 2.5 million…
The Changing Face of First and Pike
Beautification effort aims to create a welcoming and safe environment
Sure, it’s only a few pieces of furniture, some new lighting, a bunch of colorful planter boxes, and some twirly chairs. But the latest downtown makeover — this time on Pike Street between First and Second avenues, with the iconic Pike Place Market sign in the background — is an important milestone in contributing to…
STG To Assume Management of 5th Avenue Theatre Space
The alliance is not an acquisition or merger
Seattle Theatre Group (STG) will assume management of the iconic 5th Avenue Theatre venue in downtown Seattle. STG already manages and presents performances at several of the city’s most iconic venues, including the Paramount, Moore and Neptune theatres. The 5th Avenue Theatre Co. will remain a separate, nonprofit organization. STG becomes the new leaseholder of…
Seattle Shoppers Worry About Retail Theft
Almost 60% say they prefer online shopping due to retail crime
Retail crime is clearly influencing shopping preferences in Seattle. State legislators, in fact, are considering lengthening sentences for organized retail theft (the bill is currently in a House committee), and the National Retail Federation has made retail crime a priority, both here and elsewhere. Technology firm Flock Safety finds that Seattle consumers are significantly more…
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…
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…
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…
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…