Jan 21, 1997

TCI

TCI Media Services, Seattle, has promoted Rich Strauss to manager of TV Mart, the company's 24-hour shopping and information network. He will oversee sales and programming for the network, which now serves 355,000 TCI homes in the Puget Sound region. Dan Whipple, a management information systems assistant and video editor at TCI, was named the company's 1996 "Most Valuable Player."

Ultima Systems

John Kehoe has been named chief financial officer for Ultima Systems, one of the Northwest's largest travel clubs. His responsibilities include investment development and overall financial management. Kehoe joins Ultima from TRA, an architecture and engineering firm, where he was vice president of finance and administration. Before joining TRA, he was vice president, controller and treasurer for Horizon Airlines. Ultima Systems has sold over 10,500 memberships and company revenues for 1996 will exceed $20 million.

Washington State Quality Awards

The VIOX Corporation, Seattle, has been chosen as the recipient of the 1996 Washington State Quality Award. The award is given to an organization that has achieved exceptional quality performance. VIOX is a small, private manufacturer of electronic glass materials. Annual sales total just over $5 million. VIOX has approximately 40 employees and supplies about 30 customers, including Motorola, Dupont, AVX and Kemet. Studio 904, a hair salon with locations in Pioneer Square and Mercer Island, received a certificate of merit for progress in quality management. The awards were established by the state legislature to publicize successful quality strategies.

Virginia Mason

The Sequim Family Practice Center intends to merge with Virginia Mason Medical Center effective Feb. 1. The Sequim center will join Virginia Mason Port Angeles in providing healthcare throughout Clallam County.

DyceFriend

DyceFriend, a Seattle-based public relations and promotions agency, has been awarded two new accounts: GameWorks, a business venture of Dream Works SKG, Universal and Sega; and the Wolfgang Puck Food Company which recently opened a new restaurant, ObaChine, in Seattle.

Western Washington Fair

Puyallup-area businessman, Paul Anderson, has been elected to the board of directors of the Western Washington Fair Association. Anderson takes the board position previously held by Walter Webber, who was elected director emeritus.

Kingdome

For the second consecutive year, the Kingdome has been honored as a Prime Site award winner. The award is sponsored by Facilities magazine, a New York-based monthly trade publication which covers the entertainment, convention and exposition facilities' marketplace. Award winners were chosen from nominations cast by meeting planners, trade show managers, concert/tour promoters and booking agents. Sites were rated on location, ease of set-up and breakdown, concessions and customer service.

Seattle's Best Coffee

Due to growing customer demand, Seattle's Best Coffee has added Oregon Chai as tea latte beverage in its national outlets. Oregon Chai is a tea beverage made with black tea, honey, vanilla bean, fresh ginger and spices.