Jun 23, 2021

University of Washington — Bothell

Liu

Yajuan (Susan) Liu, certified public accountant and principal of Hongxin Wealth & Tax Planning Group, was appointed to a 3-year term on the University of Washington — Bothell’s Accounting Advisory Board. The board provides strategic thought leadership and community connections to the school’s accounting program, leaders and faculty. Liu is an expert in international tax planning and tax compliance services to U.S. citizens, green card holders and Chinese investors. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in economics from Nankai University, ranked one of the 10 best universities in China. Before starting Hongxin Wealth & Tax Planning Group in Bellevue in 2015, she worked for eight years as a financial analyst at Microsoft and spent two years at Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor to high-net-worth clients.

Jun 22, 2021

Superfeet

Pacific Northwest-based insole maker Superfeet agreed to a partnership with private equity firm Westward Partners. Effective June 15, Westward assumed majority ownership of the company. Westward and the Superfeet teams will leverage each other's strengths to expand the availability of the Superfeet shape and personalization technology to more people via current and new distribution channels. The acquisition price was not disclosed. As Superfeet transitions from being 100% employee owned, the company will change structure from an S corporation to an LLC. For more than 11 years, Seattle-based Westward Partners has been investing in privately held businesses based in the Northwest.

F5 Networks

F5 Networks appointed Michael Montoya, chief information security officer at Equinix, to its board of directors. Montoya has a background in leading comprehensive cybersecurity programs for large global organizations. In his current role, Montoya leads Equinix's global cybersecurity risk program. His responsibilities include evolving the company's information security program and defining Equinix's future cybersecurity roadmap, enterprise risk management and compliance programs. Prior to Equinix, Montoya was senior vice president and chief information security officer at Digital Realty, and previously served in numerous leadership roles at Microsoft, including as chief cybersecurity officer, Asia. Montoya also held leadership positions at FireEye, EMC and Avanade. With Montoya's appointment, F5's board expands to 10 members, nine of whom are independent.

University of Washington

University of Washington's Urban Freight Lab launched one of the nation's first zero operating emissions, last-mile delivery pilots in the Uptown neighborhood of Seattle, in collaboration with the Seattle Department of Transportation and tech and delivery companies including AxleHire, Coaster Cycles, BrightDrop and REEF. Using zero operating emissions technologies, the pilot, called Seattle Neighborhood Delivery Hub, allows last-mile solutions providers to more quickly and efficiently test new vehicles, delivery models and technologies. These technologies are an important part of the city of Seattle's strategy to reduce climate emissions outlined in its Transportation Electrification Blueprint, including the goal of transitioning 30% of goods delivery to zero emissions by 2030. The neighborhood delivery hub houses a kitchen, common-carrier parcel locker and cargo-bike delivery service. The hub and associated transport modes are equipped with sensors that track activity. This data will be analyzed by the Urban Freight Lab to evaluate energy reductions and provide feedback for all participants as they work to improve their products and operating models.

Jun 18, 2021

Laird Norton Wealth Management

Albahary

Seattle-based Laird Norton Wealth Management named financial industry veteran Ron Albahary as the firm's new chief investment officer. In the role, Albahary will serve on LNWM's executive leadership team, lead all aspects of the firm's investment strategy and research function, and manage its investment platform. Albahary takes over from Gino Perrina, who has served as CIO since 2015. Albahary has held leadership positions at Merrill Lynch and Northern Trust Private Bank, as well CIO and/or CEO positions at boutique firms focused on ultra-high-net-worth families and foundations such as Threshold Group, Legacy Advisors and Convergent Wealth Advisors.

Trupanion

Trupanion, a provider of medical insurance for cats and dogs, hired Simon Wheeler as executive vice president of international business. A 30-year veteran of the animal health industry, Wheeler will be responsible for the development of Trupanion's international growth across existing markets such as Australia and driving entry and growth into new international markets including Japan, U.K., Brazil and Western Europe. Wheeler will join Trupanion in October. He is currently managing director at Sweden-based Agria Pet Insurance. Wheeler also played key roles at Allianz Animal Health and Pinnacle Pet Health Care in the U.K. Trupanion was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle. Its policies are issued in the U.S. by its wholly owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance.

Seattle Thunderbirds

The Seattle Thunderbirds will welcome hockey fans back to ShoWare Center on Oct. 9 for the season home opener against the Portland Winterhawks. T-Birds fans who purchase a 20-Flex ticket package before June 30 will receive two free tickets to the home opener. The full 2021-22 regular season schedule will be released on Wednesday. Season tickets can be purchased by calling (253) 239-7825.

ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo, a provider of market intelligence solutions, announced a partnership with Beyond Codes, a B2B demand generation company serving customers globally. This strategic partnership provides companies in India, as well as other countries in Asia, with direct access to ZoomInfo's intelligence platform. Beyond Codes is ZoomInfo's first international Solution Partner under the new ZoomInfo Partner Program, which debuted in March. The program helps companies build custom engagements with the ZoomInfo platform to help them grow their businesses. Solution Partners help other businesses increase their network by connecting them with other customers, industry influencers, integrators, sales and marketing consultants, and other organizations. ZoomInfo is headquartered in Vancouver.