May 23, 1996

XactLabs

XactLabs, Inc., the Seattle-based developers of on-line, off-site data backup technologies, announced that they have recently expanded their management team. Ona Karasa has been named Vice President of Product Development, Jon Brown as Product Manager, and Bill McEwen as Program Manager. Karasa will be leading the Software and System Engineering, Quality Assurance, Product Management and Customer Service teams to develop techniques that improve the engineering and quality assurance processes for XactLabs. Brown's responsibilities will include meeting product schedule deadlines for future products. As Program Manager, McEwen will be executing user interface, usability and design of XactLabs products.

Voice-Tel

Cathy Corrao, who has been with Voice-Tel Customer Service for almost 18 months, has been promoted to Account Manager. Cathy is responsible for maintaining contact with existing accounts on a proactive basis and transitioning newly acquired accounts from the sales stage to the customer stage. Michael Cairns has joined Voice-Tel as an Account Executive in the Puget Sound Sales Department. Cairns recently graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Business.

Puget Sound Maritime Award

Peter Zuanich, recently retired Port of Bellingham commissioner, has received the 1996 "Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award." The award was presented to Zuanich at the May 21st Seattle Maritime Week Luncheon. Zuanich was first elected to the Bellingham Port Board of Commissioners in 1952 and served continuously until 1995. His 43 years on the commission represent the longest term of board service known to the American Association of Port Authorities. During his tenure the port grew to become one of the leading Washington ports in terms of size and diversity.

AD GUY Creative Services

AD GUY Creative Services has been awarded a gold ADDY in the 1996 American Advertising Awards for its print ad for West & Associates Law Partners. AD GUY, a new "virtual agency," is the only Seattle-area firm to win gold in this year's competition.

Sandusky Radio

Sandusky Radio has hired Bob Kaake to oversee the programming during the ownership transition of KWJZ-FM and KEZX-AM from Park Communications. Kaake will also assist in hiring a program director to program both stations. Kaake has more than 19 years of experience in the radio industry and is the president of Bob Kaake Radio Strategies Inc., an Issaquah based consulting firm that assists radio stations with conceptualization, implementation and execution of strategic marketing and programming plans.

Image Ink

Image Ink Studio, a full-service graphic design firm, has expanded its creative team by adding designer Jeannine Axelson. Previously, Axelson served as senior art director for Wordwise, Inc. of Winter Park, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in studio art and graphic design from Florida State University.

Cinnabon

Dennis Waldron has been named chief executive officer and president of Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls. Waldron, who has served as Cinnabon's president for 8 years and directed the company's national expansion, assumes the responsibilities of chief executive officer and will lead Cinnabon's rapid expansion. The company currently opens a new bakery every week.

Northwest Research Group, Inc.

Northwest Research Group, Inc., a Seattle-based full-service market research and marketing firm, has opened offices in Chicago and hired Debra Alexander as Senior Associate, VP Chicago Division. Alexander has over ten years experience in public transportation, leading marketing teams in three systems, including Ann Arbor Transit Authority, Capital Area Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Commission. In addition, the company has announced its opening of a new world office at http://www.nwrg.com.

Rainier Investment Management

The City of Seattle has selected Rainier Investment Management to manage a $30 million small mid-cap portfolio that is part of the city's Employees' Retirement System. The city selected Rainier Investment Management for the small mid-cap portfolio after conducting a national search led by William W. Wurts of Wurts, Johnson & Company. Rainier Investment Management was selected in January and the portfolio was funded in late March.

NOAA

Marine scientist, businesswoman and conservationist Stephanie Revesz Thornton has been named head of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves announced the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Thorton has a bachelor's degree in fisheries biology from Humbolt State University and a master's in business administration from Golden Gate University. She began her career as a fisheries biologist with the California Fish and Game Dept. and later worked for NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service as an onboard fisheries observer. For the past eight years, she has served as the executive director of the California Coastal Resources Center.