Mar 31, 2004

Fisher Communications

Seattle company Fisher Communications said Fisher Broadcasting Co. has hired Paul Anovick as vice president director of sales. Anovick will analyze markets and work on strategic sales plans. Anovick was president of Media Training Systems and also president of United Pathfinders. He has been a trainer and sales consultant for many companies, including several broadcast companies.

Essential Baking

A Seattle artisan bakery, Essential Baking Co., announced that its pastry chef and chocolatier, William Leaman, won a spot on the Bread Bakers Guild Team USA 2005. The three-member team will spend the next year preparing for the World Cup of Baking in Paris in April 2005. Teams from 12 countries compete. In 1999 the U.S. team took first place and in 2002 won the silver medal.

National Writers Workshop

The National Writers Workshop in Seattle will be held April 24 and 25 at the Seattle Center. Among the speakers will be Deborah Howell, editor of Newhouse News Service; Charles P. Pierce, writer for Boston Globe/Sunday Magazine; and Jacqui Banaszynski with The Seattle Times. Cost is $80 but discounts apply. For information call (206) 464-2991.

Ray's Boathouse Catering

Ray's Boathouse Catering, a division of Ray's Boathouse Restaurant in Seattle, was awarded a preferred vendor contract by Experience Music Project in Seattle. EMP will hire outside caterers for events in exhibit areas and performance venues.

Solution Beacon

Paul Cyphers joins the management team of Seattle company Solution Beacon, an Oracle applications consulting company. He will build end-to-end methodology for business development, project delivery and quality assurance. Cyphers has 20 years of industry experience. He worked on projects for J.D. Edwards, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Siebel and SAP. Cyphers has been a methodology director, senior consultant and has held materials management positions throughout Colorado.

Mar 30, 2004

Girl Scouts Totem Council

Leah Iraheta is the Girl Scouts Totem Council's new chief operating officer in Seattle. She will manage a budget of $7 million and work with nine United Way programs. Cynthia Cross has been named to the board of directors as president. Geoff Swanson, Jeff Watt and Posy Gering have been named vice presidents. Joseph Ward is secretary.

Grainger

Chicago-based company Grainger opened a store in Bremerton at 939 N. Callow Ave. The Bremerton facility will be a distribution point for HVAC, electrical, safety items and other supplies. Orders will be shuttled four times a day to Bremerton from Grainger's largest Seattle-area branch. Grainger's new branch is part of an initiative to expand in 24 metro markets nationwide.

(Note: This story has been updated to correct information.)

Starbucks

Starbucks Coffee Co. promoted Cosimo La Porta to vice president of operations for the Pacific Northwest. La Porta is responsible for operations in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. La Porta was regional director for western Canada and also worked for Mohawk Oil Co. as regional operations manager for British Columbia.

Heller Ehrman & McAuliffe

The law firm Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe opened a Beijing office in the Chaoyang District's China World Tower. The company has other offices in Hong Kong and Singapore. The firm's Asian offices practice corporate, banking and commercial law. Carson Wen is chair of the China practice.

The Entrepreneur's Source

A new office of The Entrepreneur's Source has opened in Redmond and is owned by Dennis Larsen. Larsen worked in medial products business management and development before starting the Redmond branch office.The company has a support center in Southbury, Conn., and 230 offices in the U.S. and Canada. It offers services to people interested in self-employment and business expansion.