May 20, 2005

Preston Gates

Gates

Ellis

Seattle lawyers and community leaders William Gates Sr. and James Ellis won American Lawyer magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes lawyers who have served as mentors and role models throughout their careers. Gates retired from his law practice and is co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Ellis is credited by the magazine as being the "driving force behind the transformation" of 1950s Seattle into a sophisticated, environmentally conscious city. He has been a civic activist and initiated the $40 million Forward Thrust capital program. Both men were with Preston Gates.

Ultimate Journeys

Ultimate Journeys, an executive-level travel and event management company, has added Esther Bak as sales manager. She has served in management positions for several travel companies including Thomas Travel, a Virtuoso Agency and Rodgers Travel.

APCO Worldwide

Laura Query has joined the Seattle office of APCO Worldwide, a global communications consultancy, as a manager. Query will assist clients with media relations, public relations, strategic planning and public affairs campaigns. She was with Group Health Cooperative as media relations coordinator.

May 19, 2005

Port of Everett

The Port of Everett hired Lisa Mandt as community relations representative for public and media relations. She was with The Snohomish County Tribune, where she covered Everett and Mukilteo for two years. Mandt will be responsible for coordinating public outreach programs for the North Marina redevelopment, rail/barge transfer facility, Mukilteo tank farm, redevelopment of the South Terminal and other Port projects.

Lane Powell

Fleming

Lesley J. Fleming has joined Lane Powell as an associate in the commercial litigation department. She received her J.D. from the Seattle University School of Law in 2002 and served as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court. Lane Powell has over 170 attorneys in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and London.

Wireless Services

Wireless Services Corp. of Bellevue hired Todd A. Larsen as vice president of sales. He was director of strategic accounts for Syniverse, and has worked for several wireless communications companies. Wireless Services has been developing and operating services for the wireless industry since 1996.

Avalara

Avalara, a provider of sales tax calculation services for small and medium businesses, named Chip Schooler business development manager for the Southeastern region, which includes South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The firm is based on Bainbridge Island.

May 18, 2005

Puget Sound Health Alliance

Stanley

The Puget Sound Health Alliance hired Margaret Stanley as its first executive director. During her 30-year health care career, Stanley has served as the administrator of the Washington State Health Care Authority, an administrator of the California Public Employees' Retirement System and as an executive at Regence BlueShield. The alliance is a new public/private organization committed to improving health care and decreasing its costs in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

Group Health Cooperative

Hood

Group Health Cooperative has appointed Ernie Hood as chief information officer. He has held a variety of positions with Group Health since 1991, most recently as director of Internet development and health plan systems. Hood will implement new technology solutions such as clinical information systems, online services and an enterprise resource planning system.

City of Seattle

The Seattle Department of Transportation is launching the Center City Construction Coordination Program as part of Mayor Nickels' Center City Strategy. Alinda Page, a consultant with 33 years of transportation experience, will manage the program, known as the ‘4C' Program. She reports directly to Grace Crunican, SDOT Director, and will serve as a liaison between agencies, contractors and the community.