May 29, 2025

Tulalip Resort Casino

Tulalip Resort Casino has been awarded AAA Travel’s 2025 “Inspector’s Best of Inspected Clean” designation, placing it in the top 25% of all AAA-inspected properties in North America for cleanliness and the overall high level of condition of the property for the past two or more years.

AAA standards for cleanliness and condition have long been a foundation for the Diamond Program and Tulalip Resort Casino has earned the coveted AAA Four Diamond Rating for the past 17 consecutive years.

AAA research shows that travelers trust hotels with a high cleanliness score based on an independent, third-party inspection. Those passing the AAA Diamond inspection are “Inspected Clean,” which increases the relevance of the property’s Diamond designation.

AAA’s housekeeping evaluations include objective, scientific validation of the cleanliness of common surfaces throughout hotels. Hotels that meet AAA’s standards for cleanliness and condition with Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) surface testing are recognized as “Inspected Clean” and then assigned a Diamond designation.

May 28, 2025

Downtown Issaquah Association

The Downtown Issaquah Association (DIA) has been designated as an Affiliate Main Street America program for making “meaningful downtown improvements using preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.”

The association was among 351 programs nationwide getting Main Street's affiliate designation this year. To quality for affiliate status — Main Street America's second designation tier — is for programs or organizations that are “on the pathway to achieving meaningful economic, social, physical and organizational improvements in their downtown or commercial districts,” according to Main Street America.

The organization's top tier of recognition, or accredited status, is for programs with “a proven track record of planning, implementing and measuring results that align with the Main Street Approach.”

Langley, Sumner and Centralia's downtowns also have affiliate designation. Everett, Port Townsend, Gig Harbor and Olympia have Main Street's accredited designation. DIA's performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization's personnel and board of directors, and Washington Main Street, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs meeting the organization's national community evaluation standards.

May 23, 2025

Hecla Mining Co.

Gehring

Hecla Mining Co. appointed Dean Gehring to its board of directors. Gehring currently serves as a board advisor at Allonnia, a bioengineering company innovating recovery, tailings and environmental solutions for the mining industry. Over his 34-year career, he has held executive roles at leading mining companies, including chief technology officer for Newmont and president and CEO of Rio Tinto Minerals. Gehring holds a B.S. in Mining Engineering from the University of Idaho and an M.S. in Project Management from the University of Aberdeen. He has contributed to university advisory boards, co-chaired the SME Foundation Corporate Giving Committee, and received both the SME Ben F Dickerson Award and SME Fellow Award for his contributions to the mining industry. Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Co. is the largest silver producer in the United States and Canada. In addition to operating mines in Alaska, Idaho, and Quebec, Canada, the company is developing a mine in the Yukon, Canada, and owns a number of exploration and pre-development projects in world-class silver and gold mining districts throughout North America. Hecla is headquartered in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.

Washington State Department of Ecology

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) presented its 2025 Best of Show Silver Anvil Award to the Washington State Department of Ecology and PRR, a communications, marketing, research and digital agency, for “Use Food Well.” This comprehensive behavior-change campaign raises awareness about the impacts of food waste and encourages the adoption of small steps to inspire change. PRSA selected the Use Food Well campaign as the best from among the 158 public relations programs listed as finalists for a Silver Anvil Award. The campaign generated more than 11 million impressions and reached people across the state of Washington. Post-campaign research conducted in June 2024 found that 31 percent of respondents adopted new food waste behaviors following the Use Food Well campaign launch. Ecology launched Washington’s Use Food Well campaign in 2024 during National Food Waste Prevention Week, an initiative that helps build partnerships across the state, The campaign focused on bringing food waste prevention, education, and inspiration to thousands of Washingtonians. Use Food Well signage and information connecting people to UseFoodWell.org were displayed and available in Washington Safeway and Albertson Stores. Established in 1981, PRR is a certified women-owned business, bringing multi-disciplinary expertise in communications and outreach for the environment, healthcare, and transportation industries, prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all work the agency does.

Fox Rothschild

Attorneys and staff from Fox Rothschild's Seattle office gathered at Food Lifeline, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding people experiencing hunger, to help sort and pack meals for those in need across Seattle. The volunteering event took place during the American Bar Association's Well-Being Week in Law, and went hand-in-hand with Fox's firmwide initiative, Generation Fox, which puts youth front and center in the firm's charitable giving and community involvement.

May 22, 2025

Port of Everett

Photo via the Port of Everett [enlarge]

The Port of Everett's free seasonal waterfront shuttle service, serving Waterfront Place visitors, will return Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The all-electric shuttle service takes visitors around the 100-acre waterfront, from Thursday to Sunday, from 4-9 p.m.

The service was piloted last summer and will now be a permanent seasonal offering.

The port is expanding service in 2025, adding a second shuttle and additional pick-up zones.

The shuttles will run a standard route with nine pick-up zones spanning Waterfront Place restaurants, parks and plazas.

To learn more, visit http://www.portofeverett.com/seasonalshuttle

May 20, 2025

HUB International NW

Schmidt

Global insurance brokerage HUB International Northwest named Tim Schmidt as senior vice president, commercial lines. He will play a key role in supporting HUB's clients, particularly in the construction sector, with tailored, strategic risk management solutions. Schmidt will collaborate closely with the HUB team to craft customized programs in key areas such as general and auto liability, worker's compensation, contractor's professional and environmental liability, builder's risk and inland marine, OCIPs and CCIPs, captives and loss sensitive programs.

Skagit County

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners appointed Jill Boudreau to the vacant Housing Authority of Skagit County (HASC) board seat. The search for a new board member comes in response to the resignation of board member Daniel Valdez. Boudreau currently works in the Whatcom County Executive's Office as a senior policy and project manager and previously served as mayor for the city of Mount Vernon for 12 years before stepping down in 2023. Boudreau also has a background working on board organizations such as the Association of Washington Cities, Skagit Transit, Skagit Council of Governments Transportation Policy Board, and North Star. Skagit County works with local housing authorities to maximize housing resources such as housing choice vouchers for vulnerable communities, which is also part of the mission of North Star, of which Boudreau was a founding member. North Star aims to ensure safe and stable housing for everyone by building a pipeline of affordable housing and ensuring pathways to housing are faster and predictable. Skagit County formed HASC in 1979 to bring housing choice vouchers to the community. These vouchers are fully funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. By law, HASC is governed by a board whose members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. HASC expanded its programs several years ago to include housing development and preservation. Boudreau's term will expire on Dec. 9, 2028.

Harts Plumbers, Electricians and HVAC

Harts Plumbers, Electricians and HVAC Technicians has raised nearly $13,000 for Seattle Children's Hospital Uncompensated Care Fund through a collaboration with the Seattle Kraken, a professional National Hockey League team, and iHeartRadio, a division of iHeartMedia. “We are honored that we can provide this donation to ensure that families whose children need the hospital's services can focus on caring for their loved ones instead of worrying about the costs of care,” said Dan Hartsough, co-owner of Harts. “At Harts, it's our priority to give back to the community. By spotlighting a popular sports team in our donation efforts, we are also able to increase awareness about the Uncompensated Care Fund and its goal to care for this area's children regardless of their families' ability to pay.” As part of the collaboration, Harts donates $50 for every goal scored by the Kraken. During the 2024-25 season, the Kraken scored 253 goals, resulting in a total donation of $12,650. In 2024, Seattle Children's Hospital provided $310.6 million in uncompensated care. The Uncompensated Care Fund allows the hospital to recover some of those costs through private donations. In addition to its fundraising efforts with the Kraken, Harts has also developed an independent $50/$50 offer to encourage its customers to join them in supporting Seattle Children's Hospital. Harts Plumbers, Electricians & HVAC Technicians was founded in Tacoma in 2013 by co-owners Richard Hart and Dan Hartsough.