Feb 22, 2008

Ogden Murphy Wallace

Ogden Murphy Wallace, a law firm with offices in Seattle and Wenatchee, elected Angela S. Belbeck and Douglas K. Yoshida to membership in the firm.

Garvey Schubert Barer

Garvey Schubert Barer appointed members of the Seattle office to the firm-wide Executive Committee. They are attorneys Lucinda D. Fernald, John K. Hoerster, Anne F. Preston, Mark A. Rowley and Sara P. Sandford. Hoerster is chair of the committee and firm-wide managing director. Preston is managing director of the Seattle office. Fernald is firm-wide executive director.

Kent Events Center

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke said SMG will manage the Kent Events Center. The 6,025-seat center should open in January of 2009. Philadelphia-based SMG says it is the largest manager of arena and convention centers in the U.S. It manages 200 facilities worldwide including 76 arenas, nine stadiums and 62 convention centers.

Russell Investments

Russell Investments in Tacoma promoted Peter Gunning to global chief investment officer and managing director of multi-manager investments. Gunning had been CIO for the Asia-Pacific region. He succeeds Tom Hanly, who will move into the role of chief operating officer. Gunning has worked for Russell since 1996. Russell serves clients in 40 countries.

Feb 21, 2008

The Nationals

Vulcan Real Estate said its Veer Lofts, Enso and South Lake Union Discovery Center projects won three Gold Awards as well as 11 Silver and Regional Awards in The Nationals competition in the new-home sales and marketing industry. Escala, the 31-story, mixed-use condo tower now under construction in Seattle, won three Gold Awards, eight Silver National Awards, 12 Regional Awards and two Individual & Council Awards in The Nationals. The awards are given by the National Sales & Marketing Council, a division of the National Association of Home Builders. There were nearly 1,400 entries.

Real estate loan conference

“Documenting Commercial, Industrial & Real Estate Loans” will be held March 4 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle. The presenter is Michael Weissman of Holland & Knight. His practice covers financial and business transactions and includes structuring a variety of financing transactions. Topics include letters of intent, due diligence, loan agreements and insurance. The Seminar Group is the sponsor. It is approved for continuing education credits for lawyers and bankers and approval is pending for appraisers. For information and registration, call (206) 463-4400 or toll free (800) 574-4852.

REAPS looks at tax, accounting issues

REAPS (Real Estate Association of Puget Sound) will hold its monthly meeting Feb. 28 from 7 to 10 p.m. The topic is “Ask the Accounting & Tax Professionals” and the speakers will be a panel of CPAs, enrolled agents and tax professionals. The panelists can answer questions about acquiring, developing, holding and selling, and financial and tax implications. The event is in Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus. Cost is $15 and it is free to REAPS members. For more information and reservations see the Web site at http://www.reapsweb.com.

Trace

Trace, the residential and retail project under construction in the Pike/Pine neighborhood, will add another restaurant along 12th Avenue when Barrio opens this summer. Barrio will take “an innovative approach to regional Mexican cuisine,” according to a press release from Trace. It is a new concept from Larry and Tabitha Kurofsky, who are also behind the Purple Café and Wine Bar restaurants. Restaurants in the area include La Spiga, Lark, Crave and Boom! Noodle. Michael Klebeck is opening the Gun Club eatery and bar in the Trace Lofts building.

Forward Shoreline

Forward Shoreline, an organization that promotes investment in Shoreline, named Donald A. Sands as 2008 chair. Sands is an attorney and retired business executive. He succeeds Larry Steele, owner of Aurora Rents. Other new positions are Jim Abbott of SGA Corp. and Dom Amor of Puget Sound Energy as vice chairs, Michelle Cable as treasurer and finance chair, and Richard Matthews as secretary, general counsel and chair of the Enterprise Partnerships Committee.

GA Creative

Bellevue-based GA Creative, a graphic design and marketing firm, promoted Kate Race and Mark Notermann and hired Jody Braverman. Race is senior designer and has 20 years experience. Notermann was promoted to designer. Braverman is a marketing strategist and writer who has a background in journalism and Web communications.

John Howie Steak

John Howie, proprietor of Bellevue's Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar, will open a new concept steak house called John Howie Steak at The Bravern, according to Schnitzer West, developer of the 1.7 million-square-foot project in downtown Bellevue. Other tenants include Wild Ginger, Neiman Marcus and Jimmy Choo Shoes. The steak house will be 9,000 square feet. The Bravern should open in September of 2009.

Safeco

Safeco hired Thomas Newgarden as senior vice president of underwriting for Safeco Personal Insurance. Newgarden has 20 years experience and worked with AIG Private Client Group.