Sep 27, 1995

Montage

Montage, a Northwest multimedia agency launched by MacTemps, has appointed An Webster to the position of market manager and Tom Linde to account manager. Webster will supervise the Seattle-based firm as well as MacTemps and Enterprise business activity in the Puget Sound Region. She is an active member of the Women's Business Exchange, the Washington Software Association, the National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services, and the International Interactive Communications Society. Linde will manage Montage operations. He previously served as Seattle office manager of Custom Courseware Development at Wicat Systems. MacTemps, the Boston-based national computer staffing agency, launched Montage in June as a prototype regional multimedia venture. The new staffing service assembles teams who manage, design and produce multimedia communications on a temporary or permanent basis.

Microsoft

Microsoft Corp. has appointed product group leaders John Ludwig, Bob Muglia and Jon De Vaan to the position of vice president. Ludwig, 35, has been named vice president, Windows, in the personal systems division. In his previous position as general manager, he was responsible for the design and development of network-connectivity features of the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system. Previously, he was a key contributor to Microsoft's entry-level networking product, Windows for Workgroups. He is currently responsible for future releases of Windows and Microsoft's interactive personal computer project, the next step in the evolution of Windows for home and consumer users. Ludwig joined Microsoft in 1988. Muglia, 36, becomes vice president, Windows NT program management and Microsoft BackOffice, in the business systems division. Formerly a director, he contributed to the development of the Windows NT operating system and associated server applications. He is currently working on future releases of Windows NT and the Microsoft BackOffice family of products. Muglia has been at Microsoft since 1988, when he began as a key player on Microsoft projects for SQL Server, OS/2 and Windows NT. De Vaan, 35, was promoted to vice president, development, in the desktop applications division. Previously, he was a director in that division and led the formation of the Office development group. He was instrumental in helping build the desktop applications division into a $3 billion business. De Vaan joined Microsoft in 1984 and was one of the main contributors to the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and Office for Windows 95. In his new position, Jon will focus on finding ways to share code-building consistency between office components.

Sep 25, 1995

TeamDesign

TeamDesign, a graphic design firm with offices in Seattle and New York, has hired Jeff Barker in the area of business development. A 10-year veteran of marketing and corporate communications, Barker comes from the Paragon Group, a company he had been with since its inception. Team Design specializes in the design of corporate identities, collateral graphic systems, annual reports, multimedia, Website development, and sales and marketing materials. The company's client list includes major players such as Microsoft, Immunex, Fluke Corp., AT&T Wireless Communications, U.S. Bank and U.S. West.

Willamette Industries

Doug Leland has been promoted to division general manager for Willamette Industries, a Portland-headquartered forest products company. Leland will be responsible for the company's four bag plants. He previously served as general manager of Willamette's Beaverton, Ore., and Buena Park, Calif., bag plants. Leland joined Willamette in 1973 as a sales trainee. During his 22-year career with the company, he has served as Northwest sales representative, district sales manager and assistant general manager. His involvement in industry groups include Washington Food Dealers, Oregon Food Industry, California Grocers Association and Western Association of Food Chains. Willamette Industries owns 91 plants and mills and controls 1.24 million acres of forest land.

Seattle Mortgage

Don Delzell, vice president in charge of loan administration for Seattle Mortgage Co., has passed the Certified Mortgage Bankers accreditation exam. The CMB designation is awarded to mortgage banking professionals who have both experience and demonstrated knowledge in residential and commercial real estate finance. Delzell has been with Seattle Mortgage since 1984. Previously, he worked in real estate lending and banking. Delzell currently sits on several state and national committees and industry panels, and has assisted in writing an MBA textbook titled "Handbook of Loan Administration."

Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange

London-based Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange has opened four new branches at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in response to escalating levels of international passenger travel and trade in the region. The new Sea-Tac outlets will offer services for business and leisure travelers, including currency exchange, travelers checks in U.S. and foreign currencies, foreign drafts and wine transfers. The company also sells precious metal bullion coins and bars throughout its branch network in more than 100 countries.

Sep 22, 1995

Seattle Art Museum Cafe

Steve Johansson has been appointed cafe and sales manager for the Seattle Art Museum Cafe. He previously served as banquet manager at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers. During his 13 years with Sheraton Seattle, Johansson has been involved in non-profit fundraising events with PONCHO and Juvenile Diabetes. The Seattle Art Museum is exclusively catered by the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers.

Northwest Cable Advertising

Northwest Cable Advertising has hired Kathi Ainsworth-Jones in the new position of research director. Previously, Ainsworth-Jones operated Star Communications, a Northend marketing consulting firm. She also managed a total quality management program while at ABC affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle. Before that, she had many years of retail experience with The Gap/Banana Republic.

Tully's Coffee

Seattle-based gourmet coffee retailer Tully's Coffee announced that in August the company surpassed the minimum level of investment -- $1.5 million -- set for its public offering. In response to strong investor interest, Tully's has moved the offering's closing date from Dec. 31 to Sept. 29. The stock offering began in early June, allowing the coffee company to sell up to 2.8 million shares of common stock at $1.50 per share with a minimum purchase of 600 shares. Tully's also announced plans for two new stores slated for fall openings. The first is a 966-square-foot store in the 425 Pike Building, just southwest of the new Nike Town; and the second, a 1,600-square-foot shop, is located at the new One Pacific Tower at First and Virginia, directly adjacent to the entrance of the Pike Place Market. The company expects to open 30 stores within the next two years, expanding its presence in Seattle and debuting in two other markets nationally.

WWP/Sierra Pacific Resources

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved a merger between the Washington Water Power Co. and Sierra Pacific Resources. The merger will allow the two companies to market power off-system more effectively, reduce generation reserves, and better position themselves in an increasingly competitive industry, an IPUC press release indicates. Under the terms of the agreement, base electric and natural rates for Idaho customers will be frozen at present levels through the year 2000. Utility earnings in excess of a 12 percent return on equity will be split between customers and shareholders. Once the merger is completed, the new corporation will serve 533,000 electric, 292,000 natural gas and 66,000 water customers in six states. Combined 1994 revenues for WWP and Sierra Pacific totaled about $1.3 billion, with net income of $121 million and assets in excess of $3.6 billion. Public utilities commissions in Oregon and Montana also have approved the merger, as have shareholders of both companies. Decisions from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Nevada Public Service Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission are expected in the next few weeks, followed by a decision from the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission.