Jan 30, 2004

VPI Media

Michel Hansmire purchased VPI Media, a Seattle-based video production company, from long-time owners Velle and Nancy Wright. Hansmire has worked at VPI since 1992, most recently as executive producer. Previously, he taught video production for the Seattle School District and worked as an independent filmmaker.

Free help with taxes

United Way of King County and the King County Asset Building Coalition are offering free tax preparation services at various sites in King County to help eligible people get the Earned Income Tax Credit. The free service is available to all taxpayers regardless of income and will run through April 15. For more information call (206) 461-5050.

Legal Marketing Association

The Legal Marketing Association of Washington, a not-for-profit organization that provides professional support to individuals involved in marketing within the legal profession, elected new board members for 2004. They are Bill D. Kueser of Stoel Rives, president; Leslie F. Meagley of Meagley Strategic Marketing, vice president; Jane F. Ashe of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, immediate past president; Dana M. Luthy of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, treasurer; Leslie Larson of Williams Kastner & Gibbs, secretary; Barrie K. Handy of Davis Wright Tremaine, at large board member; and Gabe Tevrizian of Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness, at large board member.

Integra Telecom

Integra Telecom, a Beaverton, Ore.-based communications carrier, named Michael Daniel senior vice president and general manager for Oregon and Washington. Daniel was vice president of sales at Electric Lightwave.

Anvil Media

Anvil Media, a Portland-based marketing consulting agency that specializes in solving business problems via the Internet, hired two new executives to manage and support search engine marketing client services. Hallie Janssen, previously with Wave Rock Communications, was named director, account services. Leisa Hall, who recently earned a degree in marketing management and speech communication, was named account executive.

Jan 29, 2004

Port of Longview Commissioners

Port of Longview Commissioners elected Dan Buell president, Walt Barham vice president and Larry Larson secretary. Buell, from District Two, is serving his second term; Barham, from District Three, is serving his third term; and Larson, from District One, is serving his fifth term.

Burien Arts Commission

The city of Burien is recruiting applicants to serve on its Arts Commission, which supports the arts by advising the City Council on how to improve artistic and cultural activities in Burien. The application deadline is Feb. 20 and forms are available by calling (206) 248-5517.

Pacific Market International

Pacific Market International, a Seattle-based manufacturer of insulated food and beverage containers, named Stacy Able director of special markets. Able has 20 years of experience in merchandising, manufacturing, marketing and sales, with companies including Warner Brothers, REI and Mast Industries. PMI owns Stanley, Aladdin and MiGo brands.

Comcast Cable

Comcast Cable named Leonard Rozek senior vice president of cable operations in Washington. Previously, Rozek was regional senior vice president for the company's southern division, managing six groups of cable systems. Comcast is a Philadelphia-based developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks.

Loudeye

Loudeye Corp. named Michael A. Brochu, chairman and chief executive officer of Primus Knowledge Solutions, to its board of directors. Brochu is the former president of Sierra On-Line. Loudeye is based in Seattle and provides custom music and video encoding, hosting and music and video samples.

Counselors of Real Estate

Anthony Gibbons of Re-Solve has been elected the 2004 chairman of the Counselors of Real Estate's Northwest Chapter. Peter K. Shorett is vice chairman, and James R. Nowadnick is treasurer.

Quadrant Homes

Quadrant Homes reports it increased home sales by 11 percent in 2003, going from 967 in 2002 to 1,069 last year. President Peter Orser said 2003 was Quadrant's best in its 35-year history. Orser projects the company will sell 1,667 homes this year. Quadrant, the state's largest home builder, opened two new communities in Snohomish County this month. They are Shaunessy (262 homes) near Mill Creek and the second phase of Farm at Woods Creek (162 homes) in Monroe. Quadrant will open Northlake, whose first phase will total 97 homes, in Federal Way this month. Quadrant estimates it will contribute more than $240 million to the local economy in 2004. Quadrant officials say an average of 54 working days, or about 25 days less than the average, to build its homes. The company is selling homes at 10 communities in the Puget Sound region with prices ranging from the $150,000s to the $420,000s. The company has promoted Erin Fowler to director of marketing, Vaughn Wihongi to director of sales, Brent Howard to sales manager, Lindsay Waymire to New Home Showroom manager and BreAnn Kraetsch to senior sales and escrow assistant.

G&B Real Estate Services

David Peterson, vice president of G&B Real Estate Services, a division of WestCoast Hospitality Corp., says Sterling Savings Bank will lease 45,000 square feet of office space in WestCoast's Crescent Building, 707 W. Main, in Spokane. Sterling is expanding as a result of a merger with Klamath First Bancorp. The Crescent is adjacent to Sterling's headquarters.

Trilogy at Redmond Ridge

The Sales & Marketing Council of the National Association of Home Builders gave a Gold Award to R Group Communications, DesignLines Inc. and Williams & Paddon Architects for a 7,000-foot sales pavilion at Trilogy at Redmond Ridge, a community that Shea Homes developed. R Group President Diana Robertson said the pavilion is unique because it emphasizes the community's "lifestyle experience," not floor plans. This year there were 1,200 entries.

John L. Scott

John L. Scott Real Estate has nine new agents. They are Sharon Silva, Sandy Flynn and Dona Brunette at the Bellevue office; Tammy Gvelesiani, Bellevue Place; Sheila Minkin, Bellevue South; Cass Richardson, Roger Carrillo and Becky Smith, Kirkland; Donny Reece, Silverdale; Ann Wood, Poulsbo; Merilee Madsen, Port Orchard; Erin Ewing, Mercer Island; Shalimar Backman, Sammamish; and April Huizenga, Magnolia; Barrett Matheny and Lynn McKinney, Mukilteo; and Marty Nelson and Judith Amland, Issaquah.

CREW meeting

Douglas Howe, president of Touchstone, will speak at CREW's noon meeting Feb. 12 at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Ave., Seattle. His topic is "Moving Forward into the Next Phase of the Real Estate Cycle." Cost is $29.50 for members with reservations and $45 for others. Reservations are due at noon Feb. 9 and can be made by calling Commercial Real Estate Women at (206) 361-6859.

2004 Market Forum

The Spokane-Kootenai Real Estate Research Committee's 2004 Market Forum is 8 a.m. Feb. 26. Joel Singer, executive VP of the California Association of Realtors, is the featured lunch speaker at the forum that will address commercial and residential sectors. Among the topics are apartments, single-family waterfront and downtown Spokane mixed-use. Continuing education credits for appraisers and real estate licensees are available. The forum, which lasts six hours, will be at the Spokane Convention Center. The cost is $40 before Feb. 20 and $50 after. To register, telephone (509) 326-9222.