Business Briefs

Fluke donates digital meters to EvCC lab

EVERETT — Twelve new handheld digital multimeters donated by the Fluke Corp. to the Everett Community College Foundation in June are transforming the way EvCC students are learning about electrical engineering.

Students can use the multimeters in engineering design projects, mechanical engineering, chemistry and more. The multimeters can measure voltage, current, temperature, resistance, capacitance and frequency.

“It’s more important than your pencil in an electrical engineering lab setting,” EvCC engineering instructor Matthew Parsons said.

Everett-based Fluke donated multimeters for a lab of 24 students working in pairs. Students construct circuits and then use multimeters to measure these parameters at various locations.

“Hands-on lab time with test tools contributes to a student’s readiness to work, and Everett Community College is leading the pack with its efforts to align teaching and training practices with workforce requirements. Fluke Corp. is pleased to support EvCC and proud of its graduates,” said Leah Friberg, Fluke’s senior marketing service coordinator.

The EvCC Foundation accepts donations of equipment, technology, scholarships and program support.

Dentist’s discount aids community food drive

EVERETT — Dr. Colleen Tracy of All Family Dental Care offered a significant discount on dental services in order to assist jobless people while also replenishing a community food pantry.

Tracy wanted to help people who lost dental coverage due to unemployment by offering dental services at a fraction of her normal rate. For $39, patients received oral examinations, X-rays and dental cleanings. Tracy matched the proceeds from the special and all money went to the Volunteers of America Food Bank.

“It was a great turnout and we collected $1,560,” Tracy said.

She was inspired to help the community after reading a report in the New York Times about how increasing numbers of Americans are going hungry. Many of these people have also lost their dental coverage and were going without preventative dental care, which puts them in danger of tooth decay and gum disease that contributes to diabetes, liver and heart problems.

Learn more about Tracy’s community efforts at dentisteverettwa.com.

Curb the Congestion gets Vision 2040 Award

EVERETT — Community Transit and Snohomish County’s novel Curb the Congestion transportation demand management program has received a 2012 Vision 2040 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council. The awards recognize innovative projects and programs that help ensure a sustainable future as the region grows.

“The Curb the Congestion program is an excellent example of how partnerships are making a difference in the region,” said Snohomish County Councilmember Stephanie Wright, who is also chair of the PSRC Vision 2040 Awards Selection Committee. “This program has been producing results since 2008 and is one that can be built on and expanded to keep reducing congestion in key Snohomish County corridors.”

Curb the Congestion started in 2008 after Snohomish County declared 164th Street SW at “ultimate capacity,” meaning there was no opportunity to continue building out the road to increase traffic capacity. A development moratorium was imposed and a plan created to invest in transportation demand management and safety improvements.

The county turned to Community Transit, which developed the Curb the Congestion program. The county funds the program through development mitigation fees and federal grants. Community Transit implements the program with community fairs, promoting the program to businesses and residents along the corridor.

The county’s goal in its first year was to take 100 vehicle trips off the road each day. That was easily surpassed, and the next year the county added two more congested roads — 128th Street south of Everett and 20th Street SE southwest of Lake Stevens — to the program.

UW-Bothell Beta Alpha Psi team gets first place

BOTHELL — The University of Washington-Bothell chapter of Beta Alpha Psi placed first in the national competition at the Beta Alpha Psi annual meeting in Baltimore on Aug. 3. The national conference hosts approximately 1,000 students from universities across the U.S. to engage in community service, attend professional sessions and compete in a variety of projects.

The UW-Bothell team presented a consulting project on modernizing accounting systems and internal account controls for the Snohomish American Legion Post. The team’s presentation won the National Best Practices event under the category “Strategies for Dealing with Change.”

“This team put in countless hours of hard work on the project itself, and then spent several hours every day leading up to the conference preparing their presentation,” said Ron Tilden, faculty adviser.

Students on the winning team were J.C. Hauchecorne, Chris Harbert, James Forinash and Caroline Boktour.

Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for financial information students and professionals founded in 1919. Beta Alpha Psi’s work includes promoting the study and practice of accounting, finance and information systems and encouraging a sense of ethical, social and public responsibility.

Announcements

EVERETT — The Port of Everett recently received a clean bill of financial health from the Washington State Auditor’s Office, the port’s 15th consecutive year with no findings reported. “This impressive, clean audit track record brings the Port Commission a great deal of certainty and confidence that our organization is working diligently to be good stewards of public funds,” Port Commission President Troy McClelland said. Auditors visited the port in mid-2012 to review financial documents from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011. The scope of the audit included the evaluation of financial statements, documentation related to the accountability of public resources and compliance with laws and regulations. Accountability areas examined included conflict of interest, cash receipting, credit cards, open public meeting minutes, travel, leases and overall financial condition.

LYNNWOOD — Zumiez Inc., retailer of action sports-related apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories, has named Christopher Work as chief financial officer. Work, 33, will replace Marc Stolzman, who gave notice on Aug. 20 of his decision to leave Zumiez. Stolzman will leave the company by Sept. 14 to pursue other opportunities, according to a regulatory filing on Aug. 23. Work has been with Zumiez since October 2007, having last served as the company’s vice president and controller.

EVERETT — The producers of “Viewpoints with Terry Bradshaw,” a CNN program, will feature Trinity Lutheran College of Everett in an upcoming segment on innovative, faith-based college programs preparing students for success as part of the show’s American Education series. Filming for the program will occur Sept. 12 on campus. The program will air later.

EVERETT — Western Washington Medical Group’s new nationally accredited diabetes and nutrition education center is seeing patients at the Woodlands Multi-Specialty Center in Canyon Park and Silver Lake Medical Center in Everett. The Diabetes Education Program will be directed by Jennifer Okemah and will offer one-on-one consultations including nutrition counseling, injection therapies, insulin pump monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring. It will also offer group classes led by Sarah Rosenbloom, RN. Lyn Woods will provide medical nutrition therapy for weight management, lipid management, hypertension, kidney disease, digestive issues and food allergies.

MONROE — Canyon Creek Cabinet Co. designed and donated two wood display shadow boxes to honor corrections officer Jayme Biendl, who died last year on the job at the Washington State Reformatory. On Aug. 17, the Monroe Correctional Complex held a dedication ceremony that honored five former corrections officers from the facility. One of the shadow boxes containing memorabilia from state law enforcement agencies was given to Biendl’s family.

EVERETT — The former state liquor store on Evergreen Way has reopened as Evergreen Liquor &Wine. The state store closed due to the passage of Initiative 1183. Kitimat Inc. of Shoreline purchased the business at auction and rehired many of its former employees.

EVERETT — Office Depot has redesigned its Evergreen Way store to improve the shopping experience for customers. The newly remodeled store now features a significantly smaller format to make it more convenient. All technology products are now located on the right side of the store and supplies are showcased on the left side. New signage and other enhancements designed specifically to respond to customer feedback have also been added.

EDMONDS — Commercial real estate brokerage and property management firm Ironwood Commercial Real Estate now counts locally owned and operated Edmonds Liquor &Wine among its tenants at Westgate Center, 22824 100th Ave. W. The new liquor store opened its doors for business in June.

BOTHELL — BioLife Solutions, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary clinical grade hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media for cells and tissues and contract media manufacturer, has announced that it has completed the expansion of its corporate office and operations workspace. The build-out of its second Good Manufacturing Practice clean room suite was also completed.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Ironwood Commercial Real Estate represented Galvin Realty Law Group PS in its new 3,548-square-foot lease at Redstone Corporate Center II in Mountlake Terrace. The leasing agreement keeps Galvin Realty Law Group in the five-story, Class-A office building. Tyler Abbott and Michelle Abbott represented Galvin Realty Law Group in the transaction.

OLYMPIA — New funding will allow more small forest landowners in Washington to participate in a state program that pays for removing fish passage barriers and replacing them with structures that allow fish to migrate upstream to feeding and spawning areas. Additional information about the Family Forest Fish Passage Program can be found at bit.ly/FFFPP.

UnitedHealthcare is offering a suite of wellness programs for Washington small-business owners. The new wellness benefits, which are now available to all Washington businesses with two to 99 employees enrolled in UnitedHealthcare plans, are designed to help employees live healthier lives while helping employers manage their health care costs. For more information, go to www.UHC.com.

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Revenue reported property tax revenue increased 1.6 percent to $9.3 billion in 2012, with $37 million of the $143 million increase over 2011 stemming from new construction added to the tax rolls. About 40 percent of property taxes result from voter-approved local levies and bonds and levy lid lifts for local taxing jurisdictions.

LYNNWOOD — HomeStreet Bank announced the opening of a new retail bank branch in Lynnwood at 19405 44th Ave. W. The branch will be managed by Allison Gilham, a 20-year banking veteran who comes to HomeStreet from Umpqua Bank.

EDMONDS — The Hotel Group has moved its headquarters to the Old Milltown complex in downtown Edmonds. This is the fourth Edmonds location for the company in its 28-year history. The office will serve as headquarters for most of the company’s principals, as well as all information technology, human resources, accounting, and project management members.

Amtrak recently launched its eTicket program to all trains within its national network, including Amtrak Cascades. Passengers can skip the ticket window and go straight to the gate by printing tickets themselves or by using a smartphone to present the eTicket to the conductor. It also allows passengers increased flexibility to make or change reservations.

OLYMPIA — Washington employers could reduce their 2012 federal taxes by up to $9,600 for each eligible military veteran they hire before the end of this year. To claim the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, employers must submit an application to the state Employment Security Department within 28 days after hiring a veteran. More information is available at esd.wa.gov (enter WOTC in the search box) or by calling 800-669-9271.

DARRINGTON — Mountain Loop Books and Coffee in Darrington held its grand opening on Aug. 18. The bookstore had been open for some time but the coffee shop is new. The event featured music and an appearance from author Heidi Thomas.

BOTHELL — CMC Biologics, a leading contract manufacturing organization known for its technical excellence in process development and cGMP manufacture, has announced the acquisition of XOMA Corp.’s large-scale manufacturing operations and affiliated assets located in Berkeley, Calif. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

WASHINGTON — More than $4.8 million in federal grants for affordable housing and economic development is coming to Snohomish County. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development grants will fund housing projects, emergency homeless shelters and other efforts to expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. The City of Everett’s Community Development Block Grant is worth $770,643. Snohomish County will have a $2.4 million Community Development Block Grant, a $241,799 Emergency Shelter Grant and a $1.5 million HOME Grant.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — FS Bancorp Inc., the holding company for 1st Security Bank of Washington, announced that its employee stock ownership plan has purchased 259,210 shares of the company’s common stock, representing eight percent of the number of shares sold in the mutual-to-stock offering. Shares were purchased in open market transactions at an average price per share of $10.17.

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Attorney General’s Office and the state departments of Veterans Affairs and Revenue warn consumers about phone solicitors posing as state agents for a senior property tax relief program. The Department of Revenue was alerted that callers have been contacting seniors and trying to sell reverse mortgages while falsely claiming to work for the state. All seniors who receive these calls are advised to refrain from giving out personal information over the phone to someone they do not know.

LYNNWOOD — The city has launched Lynnwood eNews, an electronic newsletter service that delivers important news updates to subscribers by email. The service is free to anyone interested in receiving the city’s updates. To sign up, go to www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/eNews. For more information, contact Julie Moore at 425-670-5023 or jmoore@ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council on Aging is recruiting new members for terms beginning in January. The council meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Interested persons must complete and file an application form by Sept. 14. To receive an application, email j.frasu@snoco.org or call 425-388-7377 or apply directly from the Snohomish County Council on Aging website at bit.ly/r0he0q.

EVERETT — Seas the Day Cafe, a subsidiary of the family-owned business Pacific Coast Bakery Cafe in Redmond, opened last month at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Center. It is located just across the lobby from Scuttlebutt’s restaurant. Seas the Day Cafe offers full catering services for businesses including prepared boxed lunches that include a sandwich, bag of chips or grapes and a cookie.

EVERETT — According to a periodic review by the Department of Ecology, the 1997 cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater at the Weyerhaeuser Everett East site along the Snohomish River continues to protect public health and the environment. The cleanup included removal or containment of contaminated soil. Deed restrictions protect containment areas from disturbance and protect people from contaminants.

EVERETT — Snohomish County PUD will haul away old refrigerators and freezers for free and recycle them. If a new refrigerator or freezer is purchased at Sears’ Alderwood or Everett Mall locations, a free same-day as delivery pick-up of an old unit can be arranged. The program is for Snohomish County PUD customers only. The units need to be in working condition and customers must own the units being recycled.

BOTHELL — OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has initiated patient enrollment in its second Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating custirsen in patients with advanced prostate cancer. The AFFINITY trial will evaluate if custirsen when combined with second-line chemotherapy has the potential to improve survival outcomes for prostate cancer patients compared to second-line chemotherapy alone. For information on the trial, go to www.prostatecancerstudy.com.

OLYMPIA — Bond refunding saved Washington State $74 million, according to Treasurer James McIntire. Washington State debt of $703 million was refinanced to produce the $74 million savings, including $4.6 million that apply to the current biennial budget.

OLYMPIA —The Value Added Producer Grant program is designed to help America’s farmers, ranchers and rural business owners to find ways to expand their product offerings, revenue streams and create more economic opportunity by bringing additional value to what they already produce. Applicants have until Oct. 15 to apply. For local information, call 360-428-4322, ext. 159, or email sharon.exley@wa.usda.gov

SNOHOMISH — The City of Snohomish is accepting applications from nonprofit agencies for projects that assist tourism development and promotion in the city. The program is funded through the taxes on lodging room rentals in the city. Detailed instructions and application can be found at www.ci.snohomish.wa.us. Completed applications are due by 4 p.m. on Sept. 14.

MONROE — YouthBuild Snohomish County is a 10-month construction training program for youth ages 18 to 24 without a GED. The program from Workforce Development Council Snohomish County will offer construction training, paid work in housing construction and an opportunity to complete a GED at no cost. The 2012 session will be located in Monroe. Call Travis Green at 425-418-4540 for information.

EVERETT — Albertsons at 6727 Evergreen Way celebrated its grand reopening on Aug. 15. Everett store director Joe Sewell and his team offered an Oreo cookie stacking contest, a cake walk and giveaway opportunities. Store hours are 6 a.m. to midnight.

BOTHELL — BioLife Solutions announced record results for the second quarter that ended June 30. The company recorded its eighth sequential record revenue quarter, with revenue surpassing $1 million for the first time. Total revenue for the second quarter of 2012 was $1.1 million, compared to $623,000 in the same period of 2011.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The city is recruiting one citizen to volunteer to serve on its planning commission. The seven-member planning commission makes recommendations to the City Council about community development issues. Contact Virginia Olsen at 425-744-6206 or volsen@ci.mlt.wa.us for information.

BOTHELL — A monument to honor student veterans is in development on the University of Washington-Bothell campus. Anticipated cost of the Veterans Archway is just under $60,000. To contribute, go to www.washington.edu/giving/make-a-gift and enter “Veterans Archway” in the key word search. All donations go towards construction.

EVERETT — The Everett Fire Department is offering a fall Community Emergency Response Team class on Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 13. Everett residents and business owners are encouraged to participate or send employees. Applications are available at the Everett Office of Emergency Management at 2801 Oakes Ave. Class size is limited. For more information, call 425 257-7965.

LYNNWOOD — Massage Envy opened its new location in Lynnwood Aug. 21. This marks the 25th location in the state for the national franchise dedicated to providing professional, convenient and affordable therapeutic massage. All new members received free aromatherapy upgrades in honor of the occasion. The clinic is located across from Target and Alderwood Mall.

OLYMPIA — September enrollments at WGU Washington is more than double that of last year. This dramatic increase runs counters to many other online universities where new enrollments have declined for the past two years. WGU Washington, a nonprofit, fully online university that enrolls new students every month, currently has more than 3,000 students.

SEATTLE — Ex-Im Bank has announced the opening of a new office in Seattle. Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The move should bring more financing to Washington and help serve small- and medium-sized businesses.

Kudos

MUKILTEO — The Future of Flight Aviation Center &Boeing Tour numbers have hit an all-time high. In July, 39,085 people visited the center. Year-to-date, there have been over 120,000 visitors to the Future of Flight &Boeing Tour, which is up 12 percent over 2011. Admission revenues are 33 percent ahead of last year. Top overseas visitors this year are from Japan, China, Australia and Germany.

EVERETT — Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest has been selected for awards by the U.S. Department of Energy 2012 Federal Energy and Water Management award program. Contracting officer Chuck Benson was selected in the contracts category. NAVFAC Northwest’s Public Works Department Naval Station Everett Energy Team was selected for their on-base sustainability program.

The Industrial Designers Society of America has honored Everett’s Fluke Corp. with a Gold Award in its International Design Excellence Awards program. The Fluke industrial design team was recognized in the Commercial and Industrial Products category for new Fluke 37X/38X clamp meters with iFlexT. The new models differ in touch points and ergonomic details.

Good deeds

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Windermere Foundation held its 18th annual golf tournament to benefit Housing Hope on July 17. Between sponsorships, golfer fees and mulligan sales, $11,500 net was raised to go directly to provide shelter and services for homeless and low-income families in Snohomish County. Title sponsor was Union Bank. Other sponsors included Alaska USA Mortgage, American Brewing Co., Axia Home Loans, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Cobalt Mortgage, Completely Floored, Harsmen &Associates, J. Lee Floors, Marysville Paint, Mortgage Advisory Group, Network Home Loans, Pillar to Post Inspections, Rainier Title, Sign Pros, Sterling Bank, Stewart Title, The Herald, Whidbey Island Bank, Windermere Mortgage and Windermere Real Estate Edmonds.

Shipping schedule

Port of Everett shipping schedule as of Aug. 27. The schedule is tentative and subject to change. Long term includes regularly scheduled vessels only.

Sept. 1: Bright Stream, ECL

Sept. 5: Westwood Cascade, Westwood

Sept. 6: Pelicana, Westfal-Larsen

Sept. 10: Tancred, EUKOR/FESCO

Sept. 11: Westwood Columbia, Westwood

Sept. 16: Selenga, SASCO

Sept. 18: Westwood Olympia, Westwood

Sept. 25: Westwood Discovery, Westwood; CSCC Shanghai, EUKOR/FESCO

Sept. 29: Millennium Falcon, ECL

Ship port calls 2012 YTD: 58

Barge port calls 2012 YTD: 41

Total ship port calls 2011: 100