May 22, 2003

Seattle Opera

Microsoft has been named a season sponsor of the Seattle Opera, with a gift of direct cash from its employees and a corporate match, totalling $125,000. The opera will open it's inaugural season in the new Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in August.

Northwest Food Processors Association

Dennis Conley has been named chairman of the Northwest Food Processors Association. The organization represents food processors in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Conley, who also serves on NFPA's executive, finance and government affairs committees, is vice president of Basic American Foods of Walnut Creek, Calif.

Minority Supplier Development Council

Vernell Jackson, vice president of supply chain services in the shared services group of Boeing, has been named to the board of directors of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. The council is a national organization of 3,500 corporate members that links minority-owned businesses to corporations in the United States for the purchase of goods and services. Boeing has been a corporate member of NMSDC since the group was founded more than 30 years ago.

Aventail

Aventail Corp. named Gavin McMurdo director of business development. McMurdo most recently served as director of strategic alliances and advanced technology at Array Networks and has held previous positions at Novell and Volera. Aventail's clientless VPN appliances and services provide employees and business partners with transparent access to Internet-enabled devices.

Lynden Air Freight

Seattle-based Lynden Air Freight appointed Duryel Thomas to its Chicago regional office, where he will serve as Midwest regional manager. Thomas will have fiscal and operational responsibility over Lynden's operations in Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Louisville, Minneapolis, Nashville, Omaha and St. Louis. Thomas previously served as business development director in Chicago for Con-Way AIR.

May 21, 2003

King County

King County Executive Ron Sims accepted the resignation of Bob Roegner, head of the Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division. Jim Buck, currently the administrative services officer of the county's Department of Executive Services, will serve as interim division director

until a permanent replacement is named. Roegner's resignation will be effective June 13.

Durham Upholstery

Durham Sunroof and Upholstery closed its doors after 47 years of operation and has reopened again with the help of the original owner, Earl "Willie" Williamson. He founded the company in 1956 and sold the business in 1999 to retire from the industry. He is now back at work with the new owners as a consultant to "bring back the quality of workmanship and standards that made Durham the leader in the industry for almost 50 years," according to sales manager Bret Langridge.

Northwest Capital Appreciation

Northwest Capital Appreciation is moving June 1 into a new office in One Union Square, 600 University St., Seattle. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same. Founded in 1992, Northwest Capital Appreciation is a private equity firm that partners with management teams to invest in middle market buyouts, strategic consolidations and capitalizations.

Washington Business Bank

Washington Business Bank has hired two people. Mandy Leastman will join as chief financial officer and vice president of the bank. Carrie Whisler will be acting as a commercial lender and business development officer. The Olympia-based bank provides loan and deposit services to businesses and individuals in western Washington.

Oregon Historical Society

The Oregon Historical Society has named John C. Pierce, author, political scientist and university administrator, as its director. Pierce, 59, replaces former Secretary of State Norma Paulus, who held the job on an interim basis since 2001. Pierce was vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Colorado and a research professor at Washington State University's Vancouver campus. The center, which employs 70 people, includes a library, museum and store.

Cascadia Restaurant

Nancy Neyhart was named manager of catering and private dining for Cascadia Restaurant in Seattle. She is responsible for organizing restaurant events, booking private dining parties, and increasing business in sales and catering. Neyhart worked for Famous Northwest Catering, Schwartz Brothers, Deluxe Motion Picture Catering and Lowell-Hunt Catering.