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…
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
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
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
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…
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
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….
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
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
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….
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
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
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
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
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
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…
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
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
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…