Aug 09, 2022

DexCare

Seattle-based DexCare, a data-driven intelligence company focused on healthcare access, was named to the 2022 Best Small Workplaces list by Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine. This is DexCare's first time being named to this list, coming in at 63rd place. Great Place to Work analyzed the survey responses of over 30,000 employees from Great Place to Work-Certified companies with 10 to 99 U.S. employees. In that survey, 96% of DexCare's employees said DexCare is a great place to work. Additionally, 100% of respondents said new employees are made to feel welcome when joining the DexCare team. DexCare has been on the market for a year and a half following its March 2021 spinout from the Providence Health System. DexCare was also named a Startup Of The Year finalist by GeekWire.

Spaceflight

Spaceflight, a global launch services provider, has signed an agreement with SAB Launch Services to fly its Sherpa orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) on Arianespace Vega missions. The agreement extends Spaceflight launch capacity on European missions managed by Arianespace for Spaceflight's OTV-based services on launches starting as soon as next year. The companies are also partnering to offer access to shared integration and storage facilities across the U.S. and Europe. Italy-based SAB is part of SAB Group and provides launch services on European launchers, including Vega and Vega C multi-payload missions. Spaceflight's first mission aboard the Vega launch vehicle was on VV16, Arianespace's first dedicated rideshare mission which successfully lifted off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana in September 2020. Most recently, Spaceflight successfully launched Sherpa-AC onboard SpaceX's Transporter 5 in May 2022 and plans to launch its chemical propulsive OTV, Sherpa LTC, later in the year. The next Vega C missions are planned before the end of 2022. Based in Seattle, Spaceflight has successfully launched more than 550 spacecraft since it was founded in 2011. It is a part of the Mitsui & Co. portfolio, operating as an independent, U.S.-based company.

Avalara

Avalara, a provider of tax compliance automation, has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Vista Equity Partners, a global investment firm focused exclusively on enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses, in partnership with institutional co-investors. Under the terms of the agreement, Vista will acquire all outstanding shares of Avalara common stock for $93.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $8.4 billion, inclusive of Avalara's net debt. The transaction, which was unanimously approved by the Avalara Board of Directors, is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. Closing of the transaction is not subject to a financing condition. Upon completion of the transaction, Avalara's shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange, and Avalara will become a private company. The company will continue to operate under the Avalara name. Goldman Sachs & Co. is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Avalara, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Perkins Coie are acting as legal counsel. Kirkland & Ellis is acting as legal counsel for Vista. Founded in 2004, Avalara is headquartered in Seattle, and has offices across the U.S. and around the world.

Aug 05, 2022

Somalytics

Nanotechnology start-up Somalytics announced it has signed a lease for new office space at 2525 152nd Ave. NE, Redmond, which will be its global headquarters and manufacturing facility for producing its nano-based capacitive sensor. Since spinning out of CoMotion, the University of Washington's collaborative innovation hub, in November 2021, with support from a hard science investment firm IP Group, Somalytics has gained national recognition for its technology. The company was recently featured in the Summer 2022 issue of Fast Company as one of 13 finalists On the Rise. Also, in January at CES 2022, Somalytics was named as a Best in Show from Android Central and was covered by Wired, ZDNet, Printed Electronics World and Innovation in Textiles. Somalytics is commercializing a patent-pending carbon-nanotube paper composite capacitive sensor, which is a new technology developed by University of Washington researchers in collaboration with CoMotion. Barbara Barclay is the CEO of Somalytics.

CoreStack

CoreStack, a global multi-cloud governance provider, has opened a new state-of-the-art office located in Chennai, India, expanding its India business operations and the company's global R&D footprint. With over 300 employees, the new facility gives the company space to continue to grow and support its increasing customer base. CoreStack is headquartered in Bellevue, and has additional offices in the United States, United Arab Emirates and India. CoreStack works with many large global customers across multiple industries including financial services, healthcare, retail, education, telecommunications, technology and government. CoreStack is backed by strategic advisors, including the ex-CEO of Wipro and ex-CIO of Microsoft. The company is a Microsoft Azure Gold Partner, Amazon AWS Advanced Technology Competency Partner, and Google Cloud Build Partner.

HomeStreet Bank

HomeStreet, Inc., the parent company of HomeStreet Bank, announced the completion of the previously announced sale of five retail deposit branches in eastern Washington, including the branches' lending businesses and employees, for an estimated gain of $4 million. The balance of deposits, loans and other assets sold were $185 million, $42 million and $2 million, respectively. HomeStreet, Inc. is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Seattle, serving consumers and businesses in the Western United States and Hawaii. Its principal subsidiaries are HomeStreet Bank and HomeStreet Capital Corporation.

Aug 04, 2022

Departpment of Corrections

Holbrook

Obenland

Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Cheryl Strange announced the retirement of Mike Obenland as the assistant secretary of the men's prisons division. Obenland has been with DOC for 33 years. He started his career in 1989 as a correctional officer at Clallam Bay Corrections Center. He served in a variety of leadership roles across the department including superintendent of Clallam Bay Corrections Center and superintendent of Monroe Correctional Complex. Strange also announced the appointment of Donald Holbrook to the position of assistant secretary of the men's prisons division. Holbrook began his career as a correctional officer at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla in 1989. During his 32-year career, he has been promoted through the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and in 2014, was appointed superintendent for the Washington State Penitentiary. Most recently, Holbrook served as the interim deputy assistant secretary for the men's prison division with a primary focus on managing DOC's emergency COVID response across the 12 prisons.

Bordeaux Wealth Advisors

Bordeaux Wealth Advisors hired several new team members, encompassing a variety of areas including client service, wealth advisory and business development. Bordeaux is expanding its team to support the firm's growth in new clients. New team members include associate wealth advisors Miles Amodeo, Justin Dime, and Yanxiao “Chloe” Li, as well as client service associate John Tashjian and business development officer Sean van der Wal. These new employees are based in the firm's Seattle and Silicon Valley offices. Bordeaux Wealth Advisors provides custom and comprehensive financial and investment advisory services to ultra-high net worth clients across the U.S.

Sound Transit

Sound Transit appointed Eric Beckman as Portfolio Services Office executive director. The Portfolio Services Office is focused on maintaining key project delivery functions and standards in efficiently building, activating and operating a safe, high-quality transit system, with emphasis on transparency and consistency. Beckman reports to Sound Transit Deputy CEO Kimberly Farley. Beckman joined Sound Transit in 2003 as a project manager supporting ST Express and Sounder services before he became a Sounder project director. He recently served as the deputy executive director in the agency's Department of Design, Engineering and Construction Management, overseeing the Business and Construction Services Division. Earlier in his career Beckman worked as an independent design and construction management consultant, as a senior civil engineer for Carter and Burgess, and as a project manager for the King County Department of Transportation. He is a registered professional civil engineer and earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Washington.