Mar 18, 2021

Tarragon Property Services

Hoffman

Karli Hoffman has joined Tarragon Property Services as director of residential property management, the firm announced. She makes the move from Blanton Turner. TPS's Tina Pappas said in a statement, “Karli brings a wealth of knowledge to our growing property management team. She will lead the effort to ensure our TPS residential portfolio continues to operate at exceptional levels.” Said Hoffman, “I am thrilled to join the incredible team at TPS.”

CWU College of Business

The Central Washington University College of Business has received continuing accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB), joining about five percent of business schools globally that have earned the designation. CWU was among 73 business schools that received continuing accreditation this year by AACSB, a global nonprofit association that connects educational institutions and businesses in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. Following a virtual campus visit in November, the AASCB review team identified the College of Business Career Advising and Tutoring Center as a best practice, and further commended the college for its Industry Leadership Board, peer and alumni mentorship programs, and initiatives to support diversity and inclusivity. CWU first achieved AASCB accreditation in 2010. Schools undergo comprehensive “continuous-improvement” peer reviews every five years to reaffirm accreditation.

Tacoma Arts Commission

The Tacoma Arts Commission recently awarded $72,000 in Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funding to 24 Tacoma-based artists working in artistic disciplines including visual, literary, film, music, digital, and interdisciplinary arts. The 2021-2022 Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funded artists are: Curtis Ashby, Marit Berg, Katie Dean, Priscilla Dobler, Lance Griffith, Maria Jost, Kareem Kandi, Rian Kelly, Gene Kemper, Rico Lastrapes, David Long, Miriam McBride, Adrian Milanio, Mark Monlux, Gloria Muhammad, Tamiko Nimura, Chandler O'Leary, Gerardo Peña, Kellie Richardson, Mauricio Robalino, Suzanne Skaar, Cydney Stephens, Jacob Sunday and Chuck Taylor. The Tacoma Artists Initiative Program was established in 1999 to encourage the contributions made by individual artists within the city of Tacoma.

Zipwhip

Zipwhip and the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) announced a scholarship for Black students pursuing a college degree. The selected student will receive $2,000 from Zipwhip for college expenses and an annual NBMBAA student membership, which includes access to its career success network, entry-level professional development and local chapter virtual events. Zipwhip will announce the recipient, as well as publish the winner's writing submission, on the company's blog on July 19. For eligibility information and instructions on how to apply, visit Zipwhip.com/scholarship. The deadline is June 14. Seattle-based Zipwhip is a business-texting platform helping organizations engage their customers and drive growth through texting. NBMBAA is a member-based professional organization which leads in the creation of educational, wealth building and growth opportunities for Black students, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

IRG to preserve more of former Weyerhaeuser HQ

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Since paying about $70 million five years ago for the former Weyerhaeuser campus in Federal Way, Industrial Realty Group has run into challenges in repurposing the wooded, 400-acre campus. Local conservation groups have objected to new industrial buildings alongside the famous 1971 “sidescraper” office building, with its 337,000 square feet. (Colliers is brokering the space.) For what's dubbed Woodbridge Corporate Park, IRG recently announced some environmental compromises including a view-conservation easement, to keep the building visible from the freeway; preservation easements for the building facade; and preservation of a forested buffer so that potential new buildings would be hidden. IRG's Dana Ostenson said in a statement, “The revenue generated from the development of the property pays for the preservation of the campus. We are recreating at Woodbridge the critical jobs and tax base lost after an exit by a large company.” IRG anticipates that the campus, once filled and redeveloped, could generate over 3,000 new jobs and contribute $6.8 million in annual tax revenue to the city of Federal Way. New logistics and warehouse space is particularly valuable in that area.

JetClosing

Collins

Local title and escrow startup JetClosing announced that it has secured $11 million in Series B financing. The fresh cash came from sources including PSL Ventures, Trilogy Equity Partners and funds advised by T. Rowe Price Associates. At the same time, the five-year-old digital platform named Anna Collins as president and CEO, replacing founder Dan Greenshields. PSL's Geoff Entress said in a statement, “Anna brings a deep understanding of customers, how to scale teams and deliver innovative technology products to the market, which is critical as JetClosing continues to be an industry disruptor.” (PSL is part of Pioneer Square Labs, where JetClosing originated.) Collins brings prior executive experience from Amazon, Microsoft and various startups. She added, “JetClosing is changing the way customers have experienced titleand escrow for the past 150 years. We are on a mission I believe in — to make eClosings the norm for everyone from anywhere, any time.” In the first half of last year, the firm said, its eMortgage volume hit $38.8 billion, as compared to the full-year volume in 2018 of $2.7 billion. JetClosing is now licensed in seven states, and is affiliated with over 2,000 real estate agents.

WEDA announces award winners

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South Landing in Spokane

Earlier this month, the Washington Economic Development Association announced its annual economic development awards from a virtual event hosted from Olympia. The emerging professional award went to Tamsin Bell, of the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County. The Washington Small Business Development Center was named advocate of the year. Project of the year honors went to the city of Olympia's Crown Beverage Packaging effort to retain that business. For recruitment efforts, the city of Arlington was honored for its success in attracting Eviation to Snohomish County. And over in Spokane, the 5-acre South Landing project was honored for innovation in economic development. That's where Katerra and McKinstry built the mass timber Catalyst building, among other projects.

MLS names new leadership

Following its most recent election, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service has shuffled its executive leadership deck. Randy Fischer of Coldwell Banker Koetje Real Estate (in Oak Harbor) is the new board chair. The new vice chairman is Stuart Heath, of Bellmark Real Estate and Elliott Bay Asset Solutions, both on the Eastside. The new treasurer is Chris Millsap, of RE/MAX Advantage – Lake Chelan. And the new board secretary is Jeff Pust, Van Dorm Realty in Olympia. Reelected to the board were Keith C. Bruce, Mike Larson and David Maider.