Dec 01, 2021

Edifecs

Edifecs, a Bellevue-based global health information technology solutions company, announced its new Highly Productive Edifecs (HPE) work model. The work model will allow Edifecs associates to work from wherever they think they are the most productive. Except for a small segment of the Edifecs team whose role requires them to be onsite daily, associates are can choose where they work (home, office, or a combination). The key tenants of HPE are to ensure Edifecs associates feel safe, supported, and productive. To support its associates, the Edifecs operations team has implemented best practices for working from home including: collaboration tools, a microsite offering resources and advice for working remotely successfully. To facilitate productivity, Edifecs offers both onsite and virtual training and continues to assess and update its infrastructure to ensure teams are using the latest tools and technology at the core of HPE. Additionally, Edifecs recently signed leases for new office spaces in Atlanta and San Francisco that will enable the organization to offer its associates a similar collaborative work experience that parallels its Bellevue and Mohali, India offices. As a strategic part of HPE, Edifecs will continue to offer facilities globally and Wellbeing Centers at Bellevue and Mohali for those that opt to work onsite. Edifecs will also continue to offer virtual wellbeing and training sessions for remote associates.

Element 1

Element 1 announced that it has entered into a global agreement with NEXA Capital Partners to accelerate the adoption of its methanol-to-hydrogen generators for fuel cell applications in aerospace and particularly electric vertical aircraft. Element 1 and NEXA are combining their expertise, along with NEXA's capital market access, to hasten the introduction and commercialization of fuel cells for hydrogen powered flight. Element 1 possesses the world's only scalable methanol-to-hydrogen generator and is a global leader in small-scale to medium-scale solutions for both fuel cell stationary power and fuel cell HD mobility. NEXA and Element 1 will begin moving this technology into the aerospace manufacturing supply chain immediately, and through their newly formed partnership are expected to tap policies and funding from the recently enacted $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR 3684). The legislation calls for the development of a sector-by-sector national strategy and roadmap to facilitate a clean hydrogen economy. HR 3684 explicitly mentions methanol as a practical hydrogen-carrier. Element 1 is headquartered in Bend, Oregon. NEXA Capital Partners, based in Washington, D.C., provides corporate and strategic financial advisory services and capital investment to the aerospace, transportation, and logistics sectors.

Nov 30, 2021

Leafly Holdings

Warner

Leafly Holdings, a cannabis discovery marketplace, announced that Rebecca Warner will join the company as senior vice president of sales. The addition of Warner to the executive team follows several key leadership hires since announcing the company's intent to combine with Merida Merger Corp I earlier this year. Warner has over 14 years of experience designing and executing sales growth strategies at online marketplaces. Most recently, she was director of rental sales at Zillow. Prior to that, Warner held director-level roles at Domain, a real estate marketplace in Australia.

Outstanding Legislator Awards

State Sens. Lynda Wilson, David Frockt, Derek Stanford and Mark Mullet were given Outstanding Legislator Awards for their service during the 2021 session by the Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts. The award honors significant actions that contributed to the ongoing success of special purpose water and sewer districts. Wilson and Stanford worked together on a bill that made the cost of liens and lien releases more equitable for all water and sewer customers. Mullet has been a consistent supporter of the state's Public Works Assistance Account — a program that provides local governments with affordable, low-interest financing for critical infrastructure projects. Both Frockt and Mullet negotiated to preserve the PWAA as a loan fund that would replenish itself through diverted tax revenue streams. The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts advances the work of about 180 water and sewer special purpose districts that provide services throughout Washington through education, advocacy and collaboration.

Strong Tower Consulting

Strong Tower Consulting, a Bellevue-based management consulting firm, has been named one of Washington's “100 Best Companies To Work For” by Seattle Business magazine. The firm was recognized for its recruitment and employee support programs focused on diversity and inclusion. Strong Tower also provides a diversity recruitment and retention service for clients, enabling the hiring and nurturing of employees and contractors composed of personnel more aligned with the diversity of society and the consumer base. Seattle Magazine's list is based on employee satisfaction scores.

Nov 26, 2021

King County

SEATTLE (AP) — King County has named a new interim sheriff as the department moves under the authority of the county executive.

County Executive Dow Constantine announced that Patti Cole-Tindall, currently second in command at the sheriff's department, will be appointed interim sheriff and will start Jan. 1.

The Seattle Times reports that Cole-Tindall, 57, will be the first person of color to serve as sheriff in Washington's largest county.

King County voters authorized the switch atop the county's law enforcement department when they voted last year to make sheriff an appointed, rather than elected, position.

That change goes into effect in 2022, when the term of current Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht, who was elected in 2017, ends.

Cole-Tindall lives in Kent and has been with the sheriff's department for about six years after a long career in public service. She has served as undersheriff, the department's No. 2, for the last year and a half, after serving as the department's chief of technical services for almost five years.

“Patti has both the experience and the temperament to be able to lead her employees forward in a productive way,” Constantine said.

Nov 23, 2021

Vacasa

Messing

Vacasa, a vacation rental management platform headquartered in Portland, announced that Barbara Messing is expected to join the company's board as an independent director upon the successful completion of its business combination with TPG Pace Solutions, a special purpose acquisition company. Messing currently serves as the chief marketing & people experience officer at Roblox and as a board member of Overstock, where she's helped guide both tech-enabled platforms through various stages of growth. Formerly, she was SVP & chief marketing officer at Walmart U.S. and SVP & chief marketing officer at Tripadvisor. In Summer 2021, Vacasa entered into an agreement to become a publicly traded company through a business combination with TPG Pace Solutions. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Knack

Knack, a custom gifting firm, has raised $3.5M in Series A equity investment to support the company's growth in the personal and corporate gifting space. The latest fundraising round was led by Seattle-based Second Avenue Partners. As part of the equity investment agreement, Second Avenue's partner and co-founder, Nick Hanauer will join the Knack board of directors. Founded in Seattle by Laura Jennings in 2015, Knack is a gift-giving e-commerce platform for personal, professional, and corporate gifting. For corporate customers, Knack also helps create gifts and programs that help with client appreciation and employee engagement. Each gift is delivered to the recipient's door, and includes a custom-printed card and optional video message personalized for the recipient. The Second Avenue equity investment closely follows a $6.5M senior debt package from Stonegate Capital which closed in July. Second Avenue Partners provides management, strategy, and capital for early stage companies in the Greater Puget Sound area.

Cloud Security Alliance

The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), a global organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, announced that its Security Trust Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry, a publicly accessible listing which documents the security and privacy controls provided by popular cloud computing offerings, has reached another significant milestone wherein 1,500 cloud services have been evaluated according to the principles of CSA's STAR Program and the requirements of the Cloud Control Matrix. STAR encompasses the key principles of transparency, rigorous auditing, and harmonization of standards outlined in the Cloud Controls Matrix. Publishing to the registry allows organizations to show current and potential customers their security and compliance posture, including the regulations, standards, and frameworks they adhere to. The Cloud Security Alliance has offices in Seattle, Bellingham and around the world.