Nov 18, 2005

DDB

The Seattle office of DDB announced three new hires: Nicole Thompson is a new account coordinator. Tracy McDannel is a new account director and Jarom Reid is a new account executive. The 152-employee agency is a unit of DDB Worldwide and Omnicom Group.

Temporary Financial Services

Spokane-based Temporary Financial Services has acquired Command Staffing and Harborview Software, and has entered into an asset purchase agreement for Command Center staffing offices in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Glenn Welstad has been elected chief executive officer of Temporary Financial Services. He was a founder and former executive at Labor Ready. Following the acquisitions, Temporary Financial Services will do business as Command Center, and plans to expand nationally.

Washington Restaurant Association

The Washington Restaurant Association recently held its Hospitality Awards Gala. The Burtenshaw Lifetime Achievement Award went to Marc Zanner of Great Western Dining, which owns 13 Red Robin and 32 Papa John's Pizza locations. The Humanitarian of the Year award went to Diane Symms of Lombardi's Neighborhood Italian Restaurants. The Full Service Host of the Year award was given to Michael Carr, senior vice president of administration of Schwartz Brothers Restaurants. Lisa Hooke of Senor Froggy Restaurants in Spokane received the Quick Service Host of the Year award. Tom Buckley of Caffe Vita received the Supplier of the Year award.

Nov 17, 2005

America's Foundation for Chess

Kristen McHenry has joined the Western Washington Chapter of America's Foundation for Chess as the office manager.

Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks named Jinlong Wang to the new position of senior vice president of Starbucks Coffee Co. and president of Starbucks Greater China. He will be based in Shanghai and report to Christine Day, Starbucks president, Asia Pacific. The company also named Eden Woon vice president Greater China, effective in early 2006. Wang was with Shanghai Buddies CVS Co. Ltd, a convenience store chain operator and franchiser.

Morton Creative

The 16-year-old Bellevue graphic design and brand strategy firm Morton Creative is changing its name to Copperfin following a number of significant changes within the company over the past 12 months. The company was purchased in 2004 by Mirko and Julie Freguia.

Williams, Kastner & Gibbs

Robin A. Warren has joined the Seattle office of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs as an associate. Warren's practice will focus on litigation. Williams, Kastner & Gibbs is a Northwest law firm.

Lucy

Lucy, a Portland-based women's apparel company, will open its first store in Redmond today at Redmond Town Center. The 2,200-square-foot store is one of 23 Lucy stores in the western United States, as well as Chicago, Texas and Washington D.C.

Milliken Development Group

2200, the mixed-use project under construction in Seattle, won 17 awards in The Nationals, a home sales and marketing competition. Seattle-based Milliken Development was 2200's developing partner and Vulcan Inc. was the financial partner before it bought Milliken's interest earlier this year. The project won 10 regional awards and seven silver awards, for marketing, landscaping, urban sales office and attached-home plan. Milliken also announced its latest project: a $180 million mixed-use project in downtown Minneapolis modeled after 2200. President Don Milliken said he has bought property for the project, but did not give the sales price. The project will have a 76,000-square-foot Whole Foods, 250 luxury condos and 6,500 square feet of retail. Groundbreaking is set for the spring of 2007. Milliken has selected RSP Architects to design the structure, but has not announced a contractor.

Continental Properties

Bellevue-based Continental Properties has sold more than 100 residences at Canal Station, a mixed-use condo project in Ballard. The $80 million first phase will have 169 condos, retail and underground parking. The second phase will begin in the second half of 2006, with another 110 condos and more retail. Rennie Marketing Systems is marketing the project and John L. Scott is listing the residences.

Investor Resource Center of America

Investor Resource Center of America has started a Puget Sound chapter. IRC America is a new program by real estate expert Ron LeGrand. Gordon Sargent, executive director of the chapter, says the group will meet the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in SeaTac. An invitation is required to attend: call 1-888-500-4722. Sargent's number is (206) 774-9838.

The Seneca Real Estate Group

The Seneca Real Estate Group is moving Nov. 28 to Suite 1500 in the Second & Seneca Building, 1191 Second Ave. Phone and fax numbers remain unchanged.

Coldwell Banker Bain

Coldwell Banker Bain is working with the Forgotten Children's Fund, which provides gifts and food to 3,500 children and 850 families. Over the years, Coldwell Banker agents have donated more than $700,000 to non-profit organizations through the community partnership program.

John L. Scott Real Estate

New John L. Scott sales associates are David Field and Kellee Wallace, both of the Bellevue South office; Tyler Oppenheim, Bellevue Main; Dawn Apacible, Bellevue Downtown; Dan Wood, Geraldine Aselin, Mary Kienholz-Brown, Ron Puhlman and Sandi Wandler, Kent; Monique Stringer, Kirkland; Ed Aro, Gig Harbor; Daniela Dombrowski, Laurelhurst; Kerri Sheehan, Highlands; Jennifer Saez, Bainbridge Island; Richard Cardwell and Gina Marie Clemen, Seattle Center; and Julie Downs, Lynnwood.

Windermere Real Estate

Sales associates and staff members from 11 Seattle area Windermere offices teamed up with the Windermere Foundation this fall and donated nearly $25,000 to the Seattle/King County Coalition for the Homeless Project Cool for Back-to-School program. It provides supplies and shoes for homeless children.

Institute of Real Estate Management

The Western Washington Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management will host its 20th-annual Forecast Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue. Lynn Michaelis of Weyerhaeuser will give the keynote. Other speakers are Mike Scott of Dupre + Scott Apartment Advisors, Vanessa Herzog of GVA Kidder Mathews, Lisa Rowe of Bentall and Richard Muhlebach of Kennedy Wilson. Cost is $55 for advance tickets and $65 at the door. Pre-register by writing irem@commercialmls.com.

Bellevue Downtown Association

Downtown Bellevue's first high-rise apartment project, 989elements, and trends driving the luxury apartment market are the topics of the Bellevue Downtown Association's 7:30 a.m. Dec. 7 breakfast at The Bellevue Club, 11200 S.E. Sixth St. Cost is $25 for DBA members and $30 for others. Reservations are required by Dec. 1 through bellevuedowntown.org or by calling (425) 453-1223.