Jun 11, 2010

City of Seattle

Mayor Mike McGinn named Dannette Smith director of the Seattle Human Services Department. Smith is the director of Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services in Georgia. McGinn forwarded legislation to the city council to appoint Steven Johnson, acting director of the Office of Economic Development, and Jill Simmons, acting director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment, as permanent directors of their respective offices. McGinn also announced new staffers in the mayor's office. They are Timothy Killian and Lynda Peterson. Killian will serve as senior advisor to the mayor, focusing on city council relations. Petersen will be chief service officer, a position created through a grant awarded by the Rockefeller Foundation. She will coordinate efforts between the city, nonprofits and volunteer organizations to support the Youth and Families Initiative.

Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting applications for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant programs, which will allow some organizations to apply for annual funding for up to three years. Applications will be accepted June 1 through July 9. Previous grant recipients will have the option to apply for up to three years of annual funding. The programs provide tax services to elderly and underserved communities.

Jun 10, 2010

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo named Trevor LaRowe district manager for the North Seattle District. LaRowe leads about 85 team members and eight Seattle branches including Aurora, Laurelhurst, Roosevelt Square and Wallingford. He has been at Wells Fargo for seven years and worked previously as a sales development consultant.

Pierce County

Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has selected Dr. Thomas B. Clark III as chief medical examiner. Clark has 23 years of experience with North Carolina's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where he served as deputy chief medical examiner for the last eight years, and had been associate chief since his arrival there in 1987. The medical examiner's office investigates deaths that are of concern to public health, safety and welfare.

The Pink Door

On June 27 The Pink Door is throwing a Festa per la Salute or Party for Health fundraiser to help fund multiple sclerosis research. The party runs from 5 to 9 p.m. and the suggested donation is $100 per person. Seventy percent of the proceeds will go to MS research at The University at Buffalo. The Pink Door owner, Jacqueline Roberts, was recently diagnosed with MS. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (206) 443-3241 or in person at The Pink Door by Friday, June 25.

BRE Properties

BRE Properties named Dan J. Messinger vice president, learning and development. He is based in San Francisco and oversees training and development of BRE employees. Previously, he was Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' senior director of training and diversity. BRE develops, acquires and manages apartments in the West, including 13 in the Seattle area.

GVA Kidder Mathews

Multi-family and investment sales veteran Jim Nichols joined GVA Kidder Mathews' Bellevue office as an associate vice president. He has completed sales worth more than $750 million. Previously he worked with Grubb & Ellis and CB Richard Ellis. GVA Senior Property Manager Earl Wayman will speak at the West Coast Energy Management Congress in Seattle on Tuesday. The title of his presentation is “Starting Down the Road to Energy Efficient Operations.”

Windermere Real Estate

Windermere's new sales associates are Dave Evans, Bellevue East, Lynn Kern, Edmonds; Darby James and Sheryl Williams, Graham, Maryann Huffman, Seattle International District, Jill Yvonne, Kent, Christine Uselman, Lake Stevens, Bill Amman, Kariann Bowles, Bronn Journey, Kristine Niemi, Tarek Moghrabi and Trevor Thirsk, Monroe, Doug Vogel, Seattle/Queen Anne, and Ron Concard, Benis Dawkins, Colt Fairley, Russell Harris and Carrie Sater, Tacoma Metropolitan.

TDY Lodging

Washington, D.C.-based TDY Lodging acquired its first military housing contracts in the Puget Sound area. Matthew Foster, company founder, said TDY acquired the contracts as part of a larger purchase of two companies: BizLodging.com and CorporateHouseRentals.com. Foster declined to provide terms of the deals. The housing contracts are at eight motels in Bremerton, Everett, Marysville, Mukilteo, Oak Harbor and Poulsbo.

Marcus & Millichap

National home sales activity will retreat in the coming months due to the expiration of federal tax credits, according to Marcus & Millichap's new national report. Housing demand has bottomed out and entered a “choppy” recovery brought on by improving employment trends, low mortgage rates and lower prices. Weighing against recovery is the likelihood that pent-up demand was released in recent months, and foreclosures will continue to drive down prices. Demand for rental housing will rise as mortgage standards tighten. Apartment absorption will strengthen over the next 18 months, the report states. Apartment vacancy will dip 30 basis points this year to 7.7 percent before improving nearly 100 basis points in 2011.

Appraisers Research Foundation

The Appraisers Research Foundation is offering grants of $15,000 or more for research projects that benefit the appraisal industry and the public. The Houston-based nonprofit facilitates research and testing of new appraisal methods. Information is at appraiserresearch.org.

Appraisers Research Foundation

The Appraisers Research Foundation is offering grants of $15,000 or more for research projects that benefit the appraisal industry and the public. The Houston-based nonprofit facilitates research and testing of new appraisal methods. Information is at appraiserresearch.org.