Lots of Questions About Nordstrom Merger Proposal

Lots of Questions About Nordstrom Merger Proposal

Deal calls for merger with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool

You’ve probably heard the news that the Nordstrom family, led by Erik and Pete Nordstrom, wants to enter into an agreement with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool to sell all outstanding shares of the company for $23 per share in cash, or $380 billion…

Women’s Commission Leader Leaves For New Post

Women’s Commission Leader Leaves For New Post

Grace Yoo shifts to economic development

Grace Yoo, who has led the Washington Women’s Commission’s quest to improve pay equity, will become head of the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness at the state Department of Commerce…

Analyst: ‘Nothing Should Really Change’ If Nordstrom Goes Private

Analyst: ‘Nothing Should Really Change’ If Nordstrom Goes Private

Move could help company cut costs, become more nimble

Nordstrom’s quest to become a private company took a step forward this week…

Bellevue Arts Museum Shuts Down

Bellevue Arts Museum Shuts Down

Aggressive fundraising campaign falls short

The struggling Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) has closed to the public. Its last day was Sept. 4. “Unfortunately, the financial model in the new building has never been sustainable and it has relied too heavily on ‘one-time’ big donors,” says Kate Casprowiak Scher, who was appointed permanent executive director early this year. “We are caught…

Bartell Owner Rite-Aid Exits Bankruptcy

Bartell Owner Rite-Aid Exits Bankruptcy

Rite-Aid vows to become a ‘more efficient’ company

The owner of Seattle’s Bartell Drugs has exited bankruptcy with a plan to “rightsize” its store footprint. Rite-Aid, which purchased the 134-year-old Seattle institution for $95 million almost four years ago, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last October after struggling for years. It has since closed about two dozen Bartell Drugs locations across the state. Philadelphia-based…

Town & Country Cooks Up More In-House Restaurants

Town & Country Cooks Up More In-House Restaurants

Popular Field House opens next in Lakemont, Poulsbo

Town & Country CEO Ryan Ritter and Executive Brand Development Director Susan Allen knew the grocery’s chain’s collaboration with iconic Seattle chef Ethan Stowell would resonate with guests. It has, however, far exceeded expectations. In July, the independent, family operated upscale grocer opened Field House in its Mill Creek location. The market-to-table restaurant uses only…

Lots of Questions About Nordstrom Merger Proposal

Lots of Questions About Nordstrom Merger Proposal

Deal calls for merger with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool

You’ve probably heard the news that the Nordstrom family, led by Erik and Pete Nordstrom, wants to enter into an agreement with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool to sell all outstanding shares of the company for $23 per share in cash, or $380 billion…

Pumpkin Spice is Back, Earlier Than Ever

Pumpkin Spice is Back, Earlier Than Ever

Starbucks looks to boost sagging sales

Summer doesn’t end for a month, but Starbucks is launching its fall menu and highly anticipated Pumpkin Spice Latte earlier than ever…

Starbucks Names Chipotle Boss as New CEO

Starbucks Names Chipotle Boss as New CEO

Brian Niccol replaces Laxman Narasimhan

Starbucks Corp. hopes Brian Niccol can do for the coffee giant what he did for Chipotle’s Mexican Grill…

Seafair Names New CEO

Seafair Names New CEO

Emily Cantrell will begin in September

Emily Cantrell has been a huge fan of Seafair since moving to the Seattle area from Germany when she was 12. Now she’ll get to run it. Cantrell, interim CEO at Seattle nonprofit Provail, is the new president and chief executive officer of the Seafair Charitable Foundation, the entity responsible for Seattle’s annual summer festival…

A Medical Journey

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

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….

Jon Jones: The Mindful CEO

Jon Jones: The Mindful CEO

Jon Jones isn’t your ordinary boss, and Brighton Jones isn’t your ordinary company

Jon Jones is a business executive by trade and a guiding light by nature. The culture at the wealth management firm he co-founded with Charles Brighton 25 years ago, Brighton Jones, is a mix of spiritual, practical and, when appropriate, lighthearted. Acronyms such as “MESI” and “RLP” spill from his tongue like a free-flowing river….

Downtown's 'It' Man

Downtown’s ‘It’ Man

Jon Scholes is leading the effort to bring downtown Seattle back. It’s working

For Jon Scholes, the state of downtown Seattle is deeply personal. As a longtime resident, he’s keenly invested in downtown’s post-pandemic recovery. As president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, he’s inarguably the neighborhood’s most fervent advocate. He keeps close tabs on store openings, crime rates, transportation issues, and public policy decisions. And he’s…

Play's the Thing

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

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….

Lots of Joy, People and Pie

Lots of Joy, People and Pie

Lorrie Baldevia: 'If you can't change the environment, change the game & how you play'

As Lorrie Baldevia says, “It’s not who you know. It’s who remembers you.” Baldevia, a native of Guam, was recently promoted to platform president at insurance brokerage AssuredPartners, where she oversees Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. The company is closing in on $100 million in annual revenue, and the region includes about 350 employees. Baldevia,…

The Fixer: Alicia Crank

The Fixer: Alicia Crank

Seattle CityClub executive director Alicia Crank wants to inject respect into civic discourse, one conversation at a time

Alicia Crank wants you to know this: She’s on a mission to elevate civic discussion in Seattle and beyond. Crank, a long time fundraising executive who has worked at AtWork!, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, and CityYear Seattle, took the executive director role at Seattle CityClub 18 months ago. The nonprofit seeks to improve…

Statshot: Life Science on the Rise in Washington

Statshot: Life Science on the Rise in Washington

Advancing scientific knowledge, improving public health

Washington state’s life science industry bucked the pandemic downturn, with impressive job growth, especially among women. The industry added $21.7 billion to the state’s GDP in 2022, and contributed $1.6 billion in local and state tax revenue. “Washington has solidified its standing as a top 10 life science hub in the country,” Life Science Washington…

Cultural Revolution

Cultural Revolution

Revolution tops ‘Best Companies’ list by emphasizing teamwork and open communication

Revolution Custom/Civil Builders employees and their families very much anticipate the Issaquah-based builder’s annual company retreat to Chelan. Pizza is served on Friday night, followed by an elegant dinner the next day at a winery. Last year, one disappointed worker was unable to attend the company-paid bash. You’d never know it by looking at a…

Whale Wins

Whale Wins

A new study pinpoints massive economic impact

Most people look at Puget Sound and think of its natural beauty. They notice nearby islands, or Washington state’s fleet of 21 ferry vessels. Add whales to that mix. A study for the Pacific Whale Watch Association by Martin Associates finds that whale watching expeditions in Washington state create $119.1 million in economic value and…

Statshot: Maritime Punch

Statshot: Maritime Punch

A hub of innovation

Working waterfronts across Washington state boast significant economic benefits. The state maritime industry creates more than 174,000 direct and indirect jobs and $14.4 billion in labor income. A study commissioned by the Washington Maritime Federation found that the average annual salary for maritime-related jobs is $112,000, including benefits. The study notes that, while the majority…

Why Working from Home Doesn’t Work

Why Working from Home Doesn’t Work

Trend hurts cities, culture, and personal growth

While the benefits of remote work are evident, including broader access to talent, enhanced family flexibility, and reduced commuting, it is crucial to confront the drawbacks…

AI is here to stay. Its design shouldn’t leave kids behind

AI is here to stay. Its design shouldn’t leave kids behind

Seattle Children’s Research Institute weighs the implications of AI in pediatric care

Seattle is at the forefront of the AI revolution, and while we don’t work in the technology industry, we see the promise for our field of pediatrics. AI is already shaping a new era in medical breakthroughs and…

Erasing The Pay Gap

Erasing The Pay Gap

The essential connection between pay equity and DEIB best practices

Pay equity is a hot topic right now. For many employers, it’s a complicated and challenging issue to solve. Opportunity gaps and unclear decision-making are just a few issues employers across the region can face when tackling these complex topics. Compensation adjustments and sticking with proven diversity, equity and inclusion principles can help. The first…

Every Body is Different

Every Body is Different

How to build awareness around body and size diversity

Conversations around body-size inclusion are becoming more prevalent in the workplace, allowing us all to examine both professional and personal biases that can be deeply embedded into our workplace culture. Learning genuine ways to discuss body size to establish inclusivity, increase representation internally and externally, and refrain from harmful practices can ensure that your organization’s…