Nov 24, 1995

Seattle's Lighthouse for the Blind

Seattle's Lighthouse for the Blind Inc., employing over 200 people, of which 75 percent are blind, deaf-blind, and blind with multiple disabilities, has been recognized as the "NIB Contractor of the Year" by the Defense Personnel Support Center, a Philadelphia-headquartered facility which buys food, clothing, textiles, medicines and medical supplies for the United States armed forces and its other non-Defense Department customers. The Lighthouse won the award for making canteens custom designed for safe use during chemical warfare using innovative business initiatives adopted by the Defense Department. In addition to making canteens, the Lighthouse makes traffic safety vests, plastic utensils, and sponge mops for the military. They also make aerospace parts, aluminium stepladders, and dry erase easels for sale to many branches of the federal government as well as private companies and retailers. The Seattle Lighthouse is governed by contracts made possible by the Javits-Wagner O'Day Act. An Open house and news conference is scheduled at the Lighthouse For the Blind Inc. on Tuesday, December 5 at 10 a.m. For more information, call Bea Wallace at (206) 322-4200.

Nov 21, 1995

Graphic Associates

Lauren Dully Hubbard has been hired as marketing coordinator for Graphic Associates, a Bellevue-based graphic design firm providing marketing communications for business. Hubbard was most recently office manager and marketing assistant for Seattle's Ken Shafer Design. Prior to that, she developed public relations experience with One Reel, a special events company in Seattle.

Construction Associates

Heidi Brewer-Peters has joined Construction Associates Inc. of Lynnwood as a project engineer. Her current projects include the Mill Creek Shopping Center, a warehouse in Woodinville and a mini-storage in Seattle. She has over 12 years of experience in commercial construction and holds a degree in building construction from the University of Washington.

School construction workshop

A Dec. 1 workshop for school construction professionals is being held at the Embassy Suites (3225 158th Ave. S.E.) in Bellevue. Topics to be addressed will include change order pricing, scheduling, delays and time extensions, project completion and close-out, and unforeseen conditions. The program is jointly sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of Washington, the American Institute of Architects, the Council of Education Facility Planners and Washington State School Construction Alliance. The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $75. The deadline for registration is Nov. 28. For further information, contact workshop registrar Diane Stengle of Perkins Coie at (206) 583-8888, ext. 8233.

Construction Safety Council

The Seattle Vicinity Construction Safety Council is holding its monthly meeting Nov. 28 at Ivar's Salmon House (401 N.E. Northlake Way) in Seattle. The topic of the meeting will be OSHA's Region X training facility, which was recently designated for the University of Washington. Meeting facilitators will be Brad Prezant and Rick Gleason of Prezant Associates Inc. The evening kicks off with a 5 p.m. social hour, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. RSVP to Gracia Macy at the AGC by calling (206) 284-0061 or (800) 562-2868 no later than noon Nov. 27.

Jack Miller seminars

Jack Miller will be on a national seminar tour beginning next month. Total quality management (Dec. 4-5) and marketing (Dec. 7-8) will be presented in Philadelphia; TQM (Jan. 15-16), marketing (Jan. 18-19) and design/build/lease/financing (Jan. 22-23) will be offered in Orlando, Fla.; TQM (Feb. 26-27) and marketing (Feb. 29-March 1) will be offered in Kansas City; TQM (March 18-19), marketing (March 21-22) and design/build/lease/financing (March 25-26) will be offered in Indianapolis; TQM (May 6-7), marketing (May 9-10) and design/build/lease/financing (May 13-14) will be presented in Atlanta; and TQM (June 10-11), marketing (June 13-14) and design/build/lease/finance (June 17-18) will be offered in Las Vegas. For further information, call (800) 231-3353.

Financial survey of environmental firms

Management consultants and publishers Zweig White & Associates has released its 1995 "Financial Performance Survey of Environmental Consulting Firms," giving companies a way to see how they stack up against a cross-section of peers from across the country at a time when a maturing market and increased competition are taking a toll on many. The 275-page report (July 1995, $225) is based on a confidential survey of 92 U.S. environmental consulting firms and provides benchmarks for virtually every relevant financial statistic. Each participant provided its most recent fiscal year-end balance sheet and income statement data, revenue and profit histories and projections, as well as information on contracts, liability insurance and more. Markets represented include: hazardous waste consulting, water resource/groundwater, water and wastewater treatment, air quality and pollution control, solid waste management, industrial hygiene, health & safety, laboratory analysis and testing, environmental remediation, and asbestos abatement. To order, call Zweig White & Associates Inc., Natick, MA, (508) 651-1559.

Fund-raising effort to preserve Tukwila Pond

The Tukwila Pond Park Committee on Tuesday kicked off a $2 million fund-raising effort to preserve a 25-acre site -- 19 of which are designated wetlands -- near Southcenter and convert it into a park. Plans for the site involve developing a 3-acre area on the west edge of the pond in order to build a central plaza with fountains, gardens and an interpretive center. Boardwalks and viewing platforms also would +be built to enjoy the pond without disturbing wildlife such as migratory waterfowl, fish and frogs that have called it home for years. The pond, formerly open pasture engulfed by dairy farms, was formed by increased runoff, rainfall and moisture squeezed from adjoining soil as the city began developing on surrounding properties. It was purchased by the city in 1993 for $1.2 million using a mix of grants from King County and Metro. The committee was formed last year to oversee development of the site and raise funds for construction, which could begin as early as next spring. Upon completion, Tukwila Pond would be the city's largest park, as well as its first in the Southcenter area.