Opening Bell
Statshot: Washington wineries, restaurants pack economic punch
It’s probably the last thing on your mind when dining at your favorite restaurant or enjoying a Pinot at your go-to winery, but you’re providing a big boost to Washington’s economy. 2: National rank as wine producer in U.S. 80: Varieties produced 90: Percent of wineries making fewer than 5,000 cases per year 400: Wine…
Parametrix: All for One
As an employee-owned company Parametrix has its perks, but staffers also embrace the work
It sounds counterintuitive: Seattle engineering company Parametrix thinks “beyond the dollars.” So says Jeff Peacock, who recently vacated his position as CEO to become chairman of the board of directors. It’s why Parametrix moved to become employee-owned more than 30 years ago. And it’s a key reason why employees voted the firm onto the Best…
Having a (Basket) Ball
Professional men's basketball finally returns to Seattle
Fifteen years after NBA legend Kevin Durant hit the last basket in Seattle SuperSonics history, the wife-husband team of Jacqueline Yang and Pierre Cockrell Sr. are bringing men’s professional basketball back to the hoops-starved city. They are the owners of the expansion Seattle Super Hawks, a men’s minor league basketball club that will begin play…
On Reflection: Living the Dream
Washington ranks high for prosperity in annual study
Amazon and Microsoft are slashing jobs. Housing prices and rents in the Seattle area remain among the highest in the United States. Recession fears grip the country. Washington state, however, is enjoying a run of prosperity. So says the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in its annual American Dream Prosperity Index, which ranks…
Statshot: Getting High
A building planned in Seattle could become among the tallest in the United States
Seattle could soon have the 10th-tallest building in the United States. If the project comes to fruition, the 701 Fourth Avenue Tower at Fourth Avenue and Columbia Street would become the tallest in the city, surpassing nearby Columbia Tower. The developer is Crescent Heights Inc., a real estate development company based in Miami. The 1,184-foot-tall…
The Long Game
Barghausen Consulting Engineers sets itself up for a future once its founder retires
Tom Barghausen isn’t quite ready to retire. The 71-year old, however, knows that day is coming. A transition plan has been in place since 2017. Barghausen serves as president of the eponymous company he founded in 1982, Barghausen Consulting Engineers Inc. The professional services firm offers civil engineering, land surveying, land-use planning, and architecture. This…
Statshot: Hot LEED
Environmental efficiency in Seattle's sites
Columbia Tower. 999 Third. Puget Sound Plaza. 2 Union Square. Met Tower. Seattle boasts numerous LEED-certified buildings, or structures that meet rigorous certifications in five categories: energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials, water savings and site selection. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Seattle ranks No. 7 in the United States for…
Talent Scout
SkillShow shines the light on athletes, teams and events
As a high school catcher and infielder recruited by major universities, Tom Koerick had no idea how to market himself. With help from his father, the Philadelphia-area native ended up making a VHS videotape of his highlights to send to college coaches. On a recruiting trip to Duke University, Koerick noticed stacks of tapes in…
Statshot: Climate Change Charge
State takes the lead with ambitious goals
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s strategic climate agenda, released last December, positions the state as a national leader in reducing climate pollution and pursuing climate-mitigation policies. The state’s ambitious goals include reducing climate pollution by 45% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 95% by 2050. Here’s a snapshot of the state’s changing climate. NOTE: Here is…
He Does it His Way
Sean Northrop takes a practical approach to environmental stewardship
Sean Northrop knows there’s more than one way to create innovative, sustainable developments respectful of the environment. Northrop, who in 2011 founded Seattle-based custom-home builder Trailside Homes, prefers the term “placemaker” to developer. His firm’s latest project is Ederra, a master-planned community in Cle Elum that emphasizes preserving open spaces and trail systems while connecting…
‘The Speed of Thought’
Despite pleas from his staff, Pivotal Commware CEO Brian Deutsch says he’ll never do a TED Talk. That’s a shame because Deutsch has a fully-formed management and leadership philosophy based around intense vetting during the hiring process and delegating key tasks to his management team. It’s working. Pivotal, a Kirkland-based 5G high-speed wireless coverage business,…
Main Engines of Growth
Seattle and Walla Walla rank among top performing cities
Jobs are plentiful. Wages are increasing. The high-tech community is thriving. More households have access to broadband than ever before. For primarily those reasons, the Seattle region and the city of Walla Walla have earned top-10 rankings in the prestigious Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities of 2022. Seattle jumped seven spots from last year, now ranking…
Company Eats its Own Dog Food
If you wouldn't eat it, don't feed it to your dog
Johnni Rodgers doesn’t actually advise you to eat her company’s dog food. She does want you to know, however, that her Wet Noses Natural Dog Treat Co.’s food is 100% human grade, and is manufactured in a facility equipped to produce human food. The company’s motto? “If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t feed it to…