May 20, 2002

Topia Ventures

Topia Ventures of Tacoma has been awarded a U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator's Award for Excellence. Topia was nominated by Boeing as a top small business subcontractor based, in part, on the growing level of business between the two companies and the emergence of agent software as a solution to technology opportunities. Topia is a cross-platform diagnostics company that uses mobile agents to diagnose and fix technical problems.

Family Services of King County

Family Services of King County raised over $185,000 at its annual spring benefit luncheon, which also honored the organization's 110th year. More than 600 people attended the event to support Family Services. All of the money raised will go directly to support family stabilization, violence prevention and counseling programs. The event was underwritten by more than 30 local companies, including premier sponsor Davis Wright Tremaine and benefactor sponsors Boeing, Starbucks and Washington Mutual.

Tacoma Rainiers

A nonprofit group called the Tacoma Baseball Foundation will buy the Tacoma Rainiers in a $9.5 million deal if approved by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues and the Pacific Coast League board of directors. The foundation's steering committee, under executive director A. Colby Parks, an attorney at the firm of Luce, Lombino & Riggio, consists of Herb Simon of Simon Johnson; Jack Connelly of Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, Malanca, Peterson and Daheim; Jeff Lyon of Insignia/Kidder Mathews; and Brad Cheney of Cheney Capital Investments. The current owner, George Foster, announced his intention to sell the team in August of 2000.

StraightThrough

Bellevue's StraightThrough has named John Wherry as chief executive officer. Wherry co-founded StraightThrough in 1999 and previously was chief technology officer. StraightThrough provides technology solutions for money managers.

Safeco

Safeco named Caryn Siebert vice president of claims and John Ammendola vice president of service for its property and casualty operation. Siebert was previously with General Electric's Employer's Reinsurance Corp. Ammendola is an 11-year veteran of Geico. Siebert and Ammendola will join Eleanor Barnard, who was recently named vice president of sales and distribution.

Epoch Biosciences

Dr. Cy Cabradilla has been appointed vice president, operations at Epoch Biosciences of Bothell. He was vice president of genomics for BioSource International. Epoch Biosciences develops proprietary products with commercial applications in the genomics and molecular diagnostics fields

May 17, 2002

Benaroya Research Institute

Brenda L. Handley has been named to the board of directors of the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason. Handley is the president and CEO of Northwest Suites. Handley will participate in fund-raising events, recruit sponsors and serve as an ambassador for the institute, which is dedicated to the study of diabetes and other auto-immune diseases.

Davis Wright Tremaine

Davis Wright Tremaine named Rick L. Leitner as an associate in its Seattle office. His practice is centered on commercial transactions involving intellectual property, with a particular focus on Asia. Leitner was previously an associate with Preston Gates Ellis.

Lisa Dupar Catering

Ben Rixe has been hired and Julie Brown has been promoted to serve as full-time event planners at Lisa Dupar Catering. They will join Samantha Barlow in coordinating events at the Redmond-based caterer.

Tully’s Coffee

Tully’s Coffee appointed Anthony Gioia president and CEO. Gioia was president, CEO and a board member of Southwest Supermarkets of Phoenix. Gioia also worked as an executive with Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts, and co-founded Wolfgang Puck Food Co., where he was chief operating officer. Tom T. O’Keefe, the founder of Tully’s, retains the title of head barista and chairman of the board of directors. Marc Evanger, acting president and CEO, will remain as a member of the board of directors.

CAMP

The Central Area Motivation Program announced Rick DuPree as interim executive director. DuPree is on loan to CAMP from the city of Seattle Human Services Department. CAMP has provided human services to low-income residents of the greater Seattle area for 37 years. The mission is to reduce the impact of poverty by providing services and promoting institutional and community change.

Washington State University

Barry E. Johnston, Washington State University's director of business services/controller, has been named to the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund's advisory council. Johnston will serve on the 15-person council for a two-year term. The council works to ensure the financial well being of the faculty and staff of America's education and research communities