Apr 07, 1998

EVS forms new subsidiary

SEATTLE -- EVS Environment Consultants Inc. (EVS) has announced the formation of EVS Solutions Inc. (ESi), a wholly-owned subsidiary that will provide environmental consulting services to the private sector. EVS will continue to do environmental work for a wide spectrum of clients, including local, state and federal government agencies. "We see this as an opportunity to better tailor our services to our clients' needs as our company grows," said Dr. Robert N. Dexter, president of both companies. Dr. D. Michael Johns has been named director of operations of ESi. Ann Corcoran is CEO of EVS. Both EVS and ESi provide environmental management and technical services in evaluating water and sediment quality, ecological and human health risks, and natural resource damages. Both companies specialize in the research and development of environmental policy, resource-management strategies, and biological-effects testing. Established in 1979, EVS has more than 100 employees in offices in Seattle, New York City, Oakland, Calif., Vancouver, B.C., Indonesia and Thailand.

NEBC offers marketing seminar in Oregon

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Northwest Environmental Business Council--Oregon is offering a two-part marketing seminar on Wednesday, April 15 in Beaverton, Ore. The first part of the seminar, "Maximizing Your Marketing Efforts," is set for 9 to 11 a.m. Speakers include: Randi Freidig of The Freidig Group, who will speak on "Building Lasting Business Relationships"; Fred S. Fox of Global Exhibit Marketing, who will speak on "Trade Show Tactics for Success"; and David Welsh, NEBC executive director, who will encourage NEBC members to "Give Your Association a Workout." The second part of the seminar, "Marketing to Industry," is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Panelists include: Carla Yetter, environmental manager of SEH America Inc.; Jim Krahn, program director of the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association; and Susan Aha, environmental engineer with Freightliner Corp. (invited). The moderator will be Andrew Franklin of Century West Engineering. The "Marketing to Industry" panel discussion will reveal the future environmental needs of SEH, the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and Freightliner. This segment of the seminar will include lunch. The cost of both parts of the seminar and lunch is $50 for NEBC members and $60 for non-members. The cost is less for people who attend only one portion of the seminar. The seminar will meet at the Greenwood Inn, 10700 S.W. Allen Blvd., Beaverton. To register or receive more information, call Kristin or Juliet at (503) 227-6361.

Apr 02, 1998

Westport Shipyard

Westport Shipbuilding of Westport has received a contract to build a passenger vessel to carry employees and commuters between the Kennecott Greens Creek Mining Co. site on Admiralty Island and Juneau, Alaska. Westport expects to deliver the 100-foot, 149-passenger fiberglass boat in the fall. Designed by Jack Sarin, a Bainbridge Island naval architect, the vessel will be operated by the TMT Corp.

Apr 01, 1998

Mahlum/CEFPI Conference

Mahlum Architects will host a roundtable discussion of the Council of Education Facility Planners International (CEFPI) Conference on April 2 at the Quay Conference Center, Vancouver, Washington. Mahlum's Mike Smith and high school principal Phil Barnekoff will present a case study detailing the planning, design and implementation of award-winning Century High School in Hillsboro, Oregon. The design reflects a focus on "communities of learning." Each wing contains shared teacher offices, computer rooms, science labs and related elective spaces. An enclosed courtyard connects the separate functional departments within the school. For more information about the CEFPI Washington/Oregon Conference, or to register for the session, contact Judy Ivey at (360) 604-4077.

Mar 31, 1998

Light Green Co. is go

BELLEVUE -- A small startup company in Bellevue is trying to help big corporations and utilities listen to their conscience. Established in November, Light Green Co. is a consulting firm that helps businesses incorporate "social responsibility" in their domestic and overseas operations. The firm is planning to spearhead a research project called "The Evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility in the 21st Century." "Companies and industries are becoming more and more self-regulating," said Mark Sten of Bellevue, a founding partner of Light Green Co. "They're being asked to take up social leadership as part of their responsibility as government becomes more budget-constrained and less relevant as trading barriers disappear." Light Green Co. already has attracted many high-profile clients, including Levi Strauss, Mattel, The Foot Zone, pharmaceutical company Allergan Inc., Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County Public Utility District, BC Hydro and TransAlta, a private, investor-owned utility in Canada. "The real issue for utilities is green power marketing, or marketing of renewable resources," Sten said. "We're helping them with that." In addition to Sten, the other three founding partners of the Light Green Co. are Jonathan Naimon of Seattle, Lynn Auch of Portland, and Gary Lewis of Los Angeles. Sten most recently was a principal at Seattle environmental consulting firm Shapiro & Associates. Before that, he was a founding partner of the Hartman Group, an environmental marketing and business strategy firm that was purchased in 1994 by DDB Needham. Naimon formerly ran his own company, Eco Efficiency Associates. Before that, he did research with the Investor Responsibility Research Center in Washington, D.C. So where did the name "Light Green Co." come from? "We've done consumer research and we've seen that there are different shades of green," Sten said. "'Light green' represents the fact that mainstream consumers want environmental improvements without having to pay for them or make lifestyle sacrifices."

Seattle to issue RFP for garbage contracts

SEATTLE -- The city of Seattle will issue a request for proposals (RFP) this fall for new contracts for the collection of residential garbage, yard waste and recyclables. The city also may request proposals for the collection of food waste. The new contracts will begin April 1, 2000. These coveted municipal contracts promises to have many suitors, including Rabanco Companies Ltd., General Disposal Corp., Waste Management of Seattle, Northwest Waste Industries Inc. and possibly others. Under the current contracts, local companies Rabanco and General Disposal handle most of the city's garbage, yard waste and recycling. Waste Management of Seattle does curbside recycling under the name Recycle America in the city north of the Ship Canal. Rabanco has had contracts with the city since the 1930s, and General Disposal has worked for the city since 1967. The last time a new company won a city contract was in 1988, when Waste Management came on the scene. Ed Steyh, contracts manager for Seattle Public Utilities, predicts that competition for the upcoming contracts should be intense. "This time, we're going to combine all the services in a couple of contracts, so the value of each contract is bigger and the scope of the contracts is bigger," Steyh said. "That will increase the competition, and you could see some other companies come in." Seattle Public Utilities is compiling a mailing list of firms interested in bidding on these contracts. In May or June, interested people will be invited to tour the current system, attend an informational meeting and provide input on the design of the RFP. Anyone interested in these contracts should send their request to be on the mailing list to: Ed Steyh, Contracts Manager, Seattle Public Utilities, Community Services Division, 710 Second Ave., Room 505, Seattle, WA 98104. For more information, call Ed Steyh at (206) 684-7645.

Town of Twisp to improve sewage plant

TWISP, Okanogan County -- A loan recently awarded by the state Department of Ecology will allow sewage treatment plant improvements to move forward in the town of Twisp. The loan for $222,500 will pay for some immediate upgrades at the treatment plant, as well as preparation of plans and specifications for long-term improvements. "The engineering report is complete, and now they have the money to do the design work to improve plant capacity," said Jim Milton, a water-quality environmental engineer with Ecology. "After the design work is complete, they can begin construction." Improvements will bring the plant into compliance with current federal requirements and increase reliability, Milton said. Design plans call for providing treatment capacity to meet the town's needs for the next 20 years. Ultimately, the improvements will protect the water quality of the Methow River. Part of a $2.6 million project, the loan is authorized under the federal Clean Water Act and issued through Washington's Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund.

Mar 30, 1998

White Shield, Inc.

White Shield, Inc., a surveying and engineering firm with offices located in Bellevue and Grandview, Washington, has recently hired Kerrel Bell. Bell, a professional surveyor, will be managing the firm's Grandview Survey Department.

Pacific Studio

Pacific Studio of Seattle has named Norm Scrivner art director. Scrivner will spearhead the design of all in-house projects and coordinate services for outside clients. Dianna Friedman has been hired as sales and marketing manager. Friedman will help expand the company's client base, as well as develop and implement marketing strategies. Pacific Studio makes creative exhibits and fixtures.