Feb 01, 2001

Real Vision Research

Denise Thoresonjoined Real Vision Research as director of research and marketing, a new position at the Bothell-based residential real estate consultancy headed by Suzanne Britsch. Thoreson worked nine years as marketing director for Centex Homes' Washington division before moving to Real Vision. At Real Vision, she'll help clients market the projects they build.

BOMA offers conservation tips

Why there's a sudden energy crisis and what to do about it will get a serious look at a half-day forum on Wednesday, Feb. 7, organized by the Building Owners and Managers Association.

Speakers will include:

•City Councilwoman Heidi Wills, chair of the Energy and Environmental Policy Committee;

•Seattle City Light Superintendent Gary Zarker;

•Puget Sound Energy External Affairs Vice President Tim Hogan;

•Unico Properties Senior Vice President Don Wise, chair of BOMA's Utility Committee.

The event, which BOMA labels a "commercial real estate energy conservation summit," will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the downtown Seattle Sheraton Hotel. It will address "practical methods and suggestions for reducing energy use for tenants and building operations personnel," BOMA said.

The first hour will address the need for immediate conservation efforts, including a presentation on the long-term energy picture. The utilities and BOMA will distribute information about how to convince tenants to conserve and how building owners can conserve.

For more information, call (206) 622-8924.

IDRC will hold Seattle congress

The International Development Research Council will hold one of its world congresses in Seattle this year. The Pacific Northwest World Congress will run from May 12 to 16, spread over various locations, focusing on utilizing technology in real estate.

The group holds three or four congresses a year, two in the United States and one or two abroad, said Gordon Buchan, executive vice president for Kidder Mathews & Segner and one of the Seattle event's organizers. Generally 2,000 to 3,000 people from around the world attend the events to talk real estate and development.

The last one held in Seattle was more than 15 years ago.

One twist to the Seattle event is normally the host state's economic development department pays for a lot of the organizing, but Washington "puts less emphasis on economic development than most states so it has no money to devote to IDRC host activities," Buchan said.

Local organizers thus invited other Northwest states, British Columbia and Alberta to assume that sponsorship role. Idaho, Oregon and the two Canadian provinces ponied up, hence the name: Pacific Northwest World Congress.

Washington state is contributing, too. Peter McMillin, business development director for the state Department of Trade and Economic Development is chair of the host coordinating committee.

Windermere Real Estate

Louis Kaufman became a sales associate in Windermere Real Estate's Commercial/Metro office. Kaufman came from Cornell & Associates. Ann O'Neil and Laura Smith, meanwhile, joined Windermere's Wedgwood office as sales associates. O'Neil previously worked in promotional sales for Bravo. Smith worked as a sales associate for eHome Realty in Kirkland.

JAMS

JAMS, a Seattle-based legal resolution provider, announced that Patricia Aitken, a former King County Superior Court judge, will join its Seattle office as part of the company's family law panel. Aitken joins the company's already extensive panel of family law specialists. JAMS plans to expand the family law panel even further over the next year.

EvergreenBank

Wendy Whitcomb and MonaLisa Oaks were named assistant vice presidents and Keri Garber was named real estate lending officer for EvergreenBank. Whitcomb manages the bank's loan services area and is developing several new product lines. Oaks will serve as operations officer for all current and future bank locations. Garber now oversees the bank's residential real estate lending program.

Services Group of America

Seattle-based Services Group of America, parent company for western U.S. distributor, Food Services of America, completed its acquisition of McCabe's Quality Foods. The acquisition is expected to add approximately $151 million to Service Group of America's current $1.3 billion annual revenue. Founded in 1967 in Portland, McCabe's is a provisioner for quick service restaurants throughout the western U.S.

University of Washington

Sharon Nelson, director of the University of Washington Law School's Center for Law, Commerce and Technology, has taken on an additional leadership post as chair of the board of the Consumers Union. Nelson will lead the 18-member board that governs Consumer Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. She is a former legislative counsel to the Consumers Union and has served on the group's board since 1984.

State Investment Board

Gary Bruebaker has joined the Washington State Investment Board as chief investment officer, with responsibility for 31 funds, totaling $56.9 billion under management. Bruebaker comes to the board from Oregon, where he was Oregon's deputy state treasurer. His experience spans 22 years and includes asset allocation, manager/consultant evaluations and strategic and tactical investment strategy implementation.

Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland

Timothy Warzecha has joined the Seattle law firm of Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland as an associate. Warzecha will work in the firm’s litigation group, and will focus his practice on commercial litigation and collection matters