Oct 09, 1995

Working Woman Magazine

Kirkland resident and business owner Joanne Calkin has been named Western region finalist for Working Woman Magazine's annual "Big Idea" contest, a competition to encourage entrepreneurial spirit in women across America. Four regional finalists have been chosen to compete for a $50,000 grant to help build and promote their businesses. The magazine's October issue will profile the four finalists for 1995 and announce the winner. Calkin recently started her new own company, The Extended Family, which coordinates elder care services. The business assists seniors, their families and others professionals serving seniors in locating the resources and support services they need. The company researches professional services such as attorneys, accountants and financial planners, as well as household services such as housekeepers, yard maintenance and repair service.

Lee Hecht Harrison

Bruce Backer has been appointed senior vice president and general manager for Lee Hecht Harrison's Bellevue office. Backer has over 22 years of experience with high technology and manufacturing companies in a variety of industries, including senior management roles in corporate services, human resources, customer services and sales. He has served as an internal consultant and headed change in start-up and turn-around environments.

WSU Honors Program

Washington State University's nationally recognized Honors Program has received more than $2 million -- primarily for student scholarships -- from three private donors. Gifts from E. Pat Anderson of Seattle, Buzz and Maxine Johnson of Bigfork, Mont., and Robert and Bobbie Champagne of Castella, Calif., were acknowledged during a campus luncheon on Friday. Anderson, a social service professional from Seattle, made a bequest to honor her late husband, Eddie Bornander, a World War II pilot killed in action shortly after he and Anderson married. Several years ago, she established scholarships in Bornander's name and contributed to the V.N. Bhatia Lecture program. Her recent gift will create an endowed chair in the Honors Program. A 1941 graduate in speech, Anderson's gifts to WSU exceed $1 million. Buzz and Maxine Johnson made a testamentary pledge and a gift that will generate scholarship income beginning in 1996. Buzz founded a plumbing supply chain and an irrigation company. Maxine, an economist, directed the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Maxine's brother, Robert Champagne, and his wife, Bobbie, created a charitable remainder unitrust in Maxine's name to support scholarships. Robert is a retired entrepreneur in electrical engineering; Bobbie is a real estate broker and franchisee.

Monaco Coach

JUNCTION CITY, Ore. (PRN) -- Monaco Coach Corp. has appointed Page Robertson as president. Robertson, who joined the company in 1988, was previously vice president of sales and marketing. The company also announced also said that Ed Kinney, formerly marketing manager will assume the role of National Sales Manager and be responsible for all sales company wide. Headquartered in Junction City, Ore., with additional manufacturing facilities in Elkhart, Indiana, Monaco Coach is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of motor coaches.

Oct 06, 1995

Cucina! Cucina! Italian Cafe

Bellevue-based Cucina! Cucina! Inc. has announced the opening of its latest Cucina! Cucina! Italian Cafe restaurant at Portland's new Rose Quarter development located directly across from the Rose Garden Arena, home of the Portland Trail Blazers. The 9,940-square-foot restaurant will open for full dining service on Monday, Oct. 9. The Rose Quarter location also includes a retail venue. Cucina! Cucina! Italian Cafe is adjacent to the plaza area overlooking "Essential Forces," an outdoor sculpture featuring the elements of water and fire designed by Burbank-based Wet Design and donated by Blazers owner Paul Allen.

Port of Seattle

The Port of Seattle will hold a harbor open house on Saturday, October 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its headquarters, located on Pier 69, 2711 Alaskan Way. The open house will feature a free tour of the Seattle harbor aboard the Spirit of Seattle and performances of sea chanteys and songs from "Victory at Sea," a favorite of Northwest festivals. A picnic style lunch will also be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call the Port of Seattle at (206) 728-3895. An open house for the Seattle Tacoma International Airport has also been set, for October 28. Call (206) 248-7476 for details.

Steamship VIRGINIA V

The last Steamship VIRGINIA V Historical Lakes Tour of the season is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The tour will provide a narrative description of the maritime history of Lake Union and Lake Washington aboard the historic VIRIGINIA V, the only remaining operating passenger steamship of the legendary Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. Sites include Gasworks Park, Lake Union Dry Dock, University Bridge, Freeway Bridge, the Montlake cut, Portage Bay's floating homes, the Gates estate, and the "Sleepless in Seattle" house boat. For more information, call (206) 624-9119.

Oct 05, 1995

Washington State Legislature

SEATTLE (AP) -- State Rep. Pat Thibaudeau is now a state senator, being sworn in to fill the unexpired term of the late Cal Anderson. Thibaudeau, a 43rd District Democrat from Seattle, was appointed to the position Monday by the Metropolitan King County Council and was sworn in Tuesday by state Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge. She became the likely successor to Anderson's senate post after she won the Sept. 19 primary. There were no Republican opponents. Anderson, the state's only openly gay legislator, died in August of AIDS-related complications.

United Development Corp.

Yasuo Miyazawa has been named president of United Development Corp., formed in 1973 by the Tokyu family of companies of Japan to develop the master planned community Mill Creek near Seattle. He will manage the day-to-day operations of its residential development activities as well as the Mill Creek Country Club. Miyazawa comes to United Development and Mill Creek with an extensive background in real estate, development, management, finance and marketing. He has been employed by Tokyu and its subsidiaries for more than 24 years, including management positions with subsidiaries that operate Mauna Lani Resort on Hawaii, Pan Pacific Hotels and Tokyu's hotel and resort operations in North America. Located on 1,073 acres, Mill Creek is now an incorporated city, home to 10,500 people.

Washington State Labor Council

The executive board of the Washington State Labor Council has voted to support a state-financed solution for construction of a new baseball stadium in King County. The group said it wants to ensure continued economic vitality and that the jobs generated by a healthy sports-entertainment industry will continue to thrive. Any special session of the legislature should be limited to the stadium and should not involve other political issues and agendas, the council added. The King County Labor Council had supported the proposition on the King County ballot, but at that time, the state Labor Council did not have a position on the issue.

Public Relations Society of America

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) will hold its annual national conference in Seattle, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, on Oct. 28 through Nov. 1. Among numerous workshops, seminars and special events for public relations practitioners, highlights of this year's conference include keynote speakers Cokie Roberts, ABC News (Oct. 29); Nicholas Negroponte, MIT Media Lab and senior columnist for Wired magazine (Oct. 30); and Alvin Toffler, author of Future Shock and the Third Wave (Oct. 31). For more information and reservations, call PRSA at (206) 623-8632.