Mar 20, 2014

Perkins Coie

Schindler

Perkins Coie announced that Lee Schindler has joined the firm's Seattle office as partner in the firm's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. He was most recently counsel with WilmerHale in Boston.

Schindler serves as corporate counsel to high growth technology and life science companies and the venture capitalists that invest in such companies. Schindler has counseled companies through more than 100 preferred stock financings, 25 M&A transactions and three IPOs. Among the many technology and life sciences companies he has worked with are several startups emanating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

Schindler received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology and was a two-time recipient of the John M. Olin Fellowship in Law and Economics. He received his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas.

Mar 19, 2014

Washington State Ferries

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington State Ferries Director David Moseley has announced his resignation, effective April 15.

Moseley made the announcement Tuesday in a weekly report on ferry activities. He said when he took the position in 2008, the agency was in crisis in part because it had recently lost the motor vehicle excise tax as its main source of funding.

He said improvements to the ferry system during his tenure included adding new ferries, doing better maintenance and preservation of existing ferries, building a stronger financial base and communicating better with customers.

Moseley said in the statement he's pleased with the progress made but that it's time for the next person to build on the successes, correct mistakes and continue to move the system forward.

State of Oregon

Gov. John Kitzhaber has selected two officials to work on bringing more employers and jobs to Oregon.

The governor's office announced Tuesday that Kitzhaber has appointed Sean Robbins to lead the Oregon Business Development Department, the state's economic development agency, known as Business Oregon. Robbins is the president and chief executive of Greater Portland Inc., which works on economic development in the state's largest metro area. He replaces Tim McCabe, who is retiring after six years at the helm.

Robbins must still be confirmed by the Senate.

Kitzhaber also announced that he's hired Vince Porter to be his policy adviser for jobs and the economy. Porter is the director of the Governor's Office of Film and Television and was previously the vice president of production at Showtime Networks.

WSU political scientist alumnus honored

Retired political scientist Daniel M. Ogden, Jr., of Vancouver, recently was honored with the Washington State University Alumni Association (WSUAA) Alumni Achievement Award for a 50-year career of service to academia, the federal government and the local community.

The award is the highest honor bestowed by the WSUAA. Since 1970, fewer than 515 alumni have received it.

Ogden was one of a select group in 1960 that managed U.S. presidential campaign advances for Sen. Jack Kennedy, culminating in the final event in Philadelphia. The experience was co-authored by Ogden in the 1964 book, “Electing the President.”

He taught at Washington State University after earning his bachelor's degree in political science at WSU in 1944. He served as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Colorado State University and distinguished visiting professor of public administration at Lewis and Clark College and Portland State University.

In government, he served on the staff of U.S. Secretary of the Department of the Interior Stewart Udall for seven years and as budget director for the department. He was director of power marketing coordination for the U.S. Energy Department and director of the Public Power Council in Portland.

Mar 18, 2014

State of Oregon

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has hired two people to focus on regional priorities in the mid-Willamette Valley and a portion of the Columbia River Gorge. The governor's office announced the hires on Friday. Kitzhaber's regional solutions team works with local governments and community groups to get what they need from the state.

Kate Sinner, a federal lobbyist for Oregon State University, will work in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties. Greg Ellis, the city administrator in Canby, will be responsible for the mid-Willamette Valley.

Both start their new jobs later this month.

City of Milton

Mark Langford has accepted the Interim City Administrator position with the City of Milton.

Langford joined the City of Milton in December of 2013 as its Interim Police Chief after former Police Chief William Rhoads announced his retirement. Langford will serve the City of Milton in both capacities for an indeterminate period of time.

Milton Mayor Debra Perry said Langford brings a depth of management experience from his 32 years on the Tacoma Police Department.

Mar 14, 2014

Capitol Hill Housing

Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) announced new grant support from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

This funding includes a $60,000 grant to expand Capitol Hill Housing's work of creating more affordable housing in rapidly gentrifying communities. In February 2013, Capitol Hill Housing broke ground on 12th Avenue Arts, which includes 88 affordable apartments, and recently completed funding to renovate Capitol Hill's Haines Apartments. The Haines has 30 very low-income apartments, which serve senior and disabled residents.

Chase funding will also support CHH's larger work of building vibrant and engaged communities in the central crescent neighborhoods around downtown Seattle (Pioneer Square, International District, Central District and Capitol Hill). “The

In addition, JPMorgan Chase will be a presenting sponsor at Top of the Town, CHH's signature spring event, on April 9 at the Sorrento Hotel. The special guest speaker will be Alan Berube, senior fellow and deputy director at the Brookings Institution.

Kohler Signature Store

This weekend marks opening of the Kohler Signature Store by Keller Supply in Bellevue. Only the third of its kind in the country, the showroom offers professional designers and consumers the opportunity to get hands-on with hundreds of Kohler's renowned products, including sinks, faucets, toilets, tubs, showers, and tile. Plus, fully designed bath suites in a range of styles allow visitors to immerse themselves in the products and begin to envision design elements in their homes. Designers and remodelers can send their clients to the showroom to select products, or homeowners can work with Keller Supply's in-house designers on everything from simple product selection to full bathroom renovations. The store is located at 1018 116th Ave. NE,

Founded in 1945, Keller Supply Company is a wholesaler of plumbing, HVAC, and pool and spa products. Keller Supply operates more than 70 branches and 25 product showrooms in eight western states, with inventory from hundreds of manufacturers.