Aug 26, 2022

Yesler

Yesler announced it recently closed on $5m in new investment led by San Francisco Bay Area-based Crosslink Capital. The round also includes current investors PSL Ventures (Seattle), Tech Square Ventures (Atlanta), and Ascend (Seattle). As part of its investment, Phil Boyer, partner at Crosslink Capital, will join the Yesler Board of Directors. Yesler is a single platform of software tools built specifically for managing and optimizing buying and selling of lumber and building materials. Using the Yesler platform, buyers and sellers initiate, negotiate and execute transactions with existing and new trading partners they discover on Yesler. Yesler is headquartered in Seattle.

Port Angeles Waterfront Center

The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $1 million grant to the Port Angeles Waterfront Center to support the Field Hall Media Lab, a planned facility that will train media technicians and stagehands. This EDA grant will be matched with $698,037 in local funds and is expected to create 175 jobs, retain 22 jobs, and generate $7.7 million in private investment, according to estimates from the Port Angeles Waterfront Center. Field Hall is expected to open in March 2023. In December, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Derek Kilmer submitted a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in support of Field Hall's grant application. This project is funded under the EDA's $240 million competitive American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program. The funds are designed to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors.

Port of Bremerton

The Port of Bremerton has introduced a new recycling program at the Bremerton Marina. New recycling bins have been dispersed throughout the marina, with the option to expand the program if initial demand is strong. With this addition, tenants and marina users alike will have the opportunity to reduce their footprint by utilizing the multiple vessels now available. The Port Orchard Marina has had a recycling program in place for some time.

Symetra

Symetra has once again been recognized by Forbes as a top employer. The Bellevue-based life insurer was named to Forbes' 2022 America's Best-in-State Employers list as one of the top 60 employers in Washington state. The designation is Symetra's second workplace award for 2022 following its Great Place to Work Certification earlier this month. Presented by Forbes and market research company Statista, America's Best-in-State Employers 2022 were identified in an independent survey based on a sample of approximately 70,000 Americans working for companies with more than 500 employees in the United States. Across 25 industry sectors, 1,382 employer brands were ranked among the top employers. Symetra Life Insurance is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation, a diversified financial services company that has been in business since 1957.

Aug 25, 2022

Kymeta

Kymeta announced today the addition of retired Boeing executive Nicole Piasecki to its board of directors. The news follows Steve Spengler's retirement from the board after serving for five years. Piasecki has over 35 years of experience in both rotary and fixed wing aircraft at Boeing and United Technologies. She has held positions including head of marketing for the Boeing Commercial Division and president for Boeing Japan. In addition to Kymeta, she also served as chairman of the board at Seattle University and a board member of Weyerhaeuser, Howmet Aerospace and BAE Systems. Piasecki has previously served on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Federal Aviation Authority Management Advisory Board, and the US Department of Transportation Future of Aviation Advisory Committee. Additionally, Kymeta has added Lt. General (retired) Fran Beaudette to the company's board of advisors. Beaudette spent 32 years in the US Army, most recently as the head of USASOC, a thirty-six thousand soldier command responsible to man, train, organize and equip the US Army's Special Operations. Kymeta is a satellite communications company based in Redmond.

Seattle Sports 710

Seattle Sports 710 AM announced the return of the “Brock & Salk” show. On Sept. 6, “Brock & Salk” will return to the weekday morning lineup from 6-10 a.m. The show previously aired on Seattle Sports from April 2009 – September 2019, and then transitioned to a weekly podcast. The show features Brock Huard and Mike Salk. Huard, a Puyallup native, is a former quarterback for the University of Washington and Seattle Seahawks. He is also a national college football broadcaster for FOX. Salk has over a decade of experience with the station, and has served as both a morning show host and then program director for Seattle Sports. Seattle Sports serves as the radio flagship station of the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks. Seattle Sports programming can also be heard in Spokane, Tri Cities, and Yakima, Moses Lake and Wenatchee as part of the Seattle Sports Radio Network.

Aug 24, 2022

Salvation Army, Old Navy dress up kids

More than 500 vulnerable kids will receive new clothing as part of The Salvation Army's back-to-school program. Thanks to generous Salvation Army donors, students from across western Washington from Bellingham to Vancouver will each receive $150 worth of new clothes for the school year.

The participating students were selected by The Salvation Army, using State and Federal guidelines to assess need. All students are in grades K – 12.

“It's been so exciting and rewarding to see the partnership between The Salvation Army Northwest Division and Old Navy continue to grow over the last few years, says Eric Larsen, Regional Director for Old Navy. What started in one location has grown to impact over 500 children this year. Old Navy is proud to help outfit these children across the northwest and send them back to school in style!”

“The right clothes and supplies can make all the difference for how kids feel about their return to school, noted Lt. Colonel Cindy Foley, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Northwest.

Aug 23, 2022

Auction of Washington Wine

With the generosity from wineries, donors, and sponsors, Auction of Washington Wine raised more than $4 million this past weekend, bringing the 35-year total to $59 million, and enabling the auction to grow its efforts to support healthy communities and healthy lands in Washington state.

Seattle Children's has been a philanthropic partner since the auction's inception and this year funds raised support for three health-care areas: Uncompensated Care, Homelessness Protection Fund, and the Tri-Cities Clinic, each helping children and families in need of support and healthcare services across the state.

Auction of Washington Wines continues to fund important wine industry research through the Washington State University's Viticulture & Enology program. Projects are prioritized on topics most important to Washington growers and winemakers including sustainability, optimal vine and soil health, and best practices to reduce the impact of climate variability on viticulture health.