Jan 21, 2011

Urban Enoteca

Urban Enoteca in Sodo hired Christopher Opsata as chef de cuisine of its destination wine tasting venue, restaurant and private event space. Opsata was recently executive chef at Bellevue's Tam O'Shanter Golf & Country Club.

Evergreen Pacific Partners

Evergreen Pacific Partners, which operates Washington's largest private equity fund, promoted Ty Schultz to senior vice president and Blair Holert to senior associate. Schultz was an executive-in-residence for a Southern California growth equity investment fund. Holert was an associate in the Automotive and Transportation Group at the Carlyle Group in Washington, D.C. Evergreen manages two private equity funds totaling $700 million.

NW Natural Gas Storage

NW Natural in Portland said Rick Daniel, president of its wholly owned subsidiary NW Natural Gas Storage, will be leaving at the end of January. Daniel will return to his home in Canmore, Canada, and resume his practice in natural gas storage consulting. He began consulting with NW Natural in 2007 and became president of NWNGS in October of 2009 to help build the storage organization. He will be replaced by Dave Weber, who will serve as interim president. Weber has been NW Natural's chief information officer since 2001. NW Natural provides natural gas service to 667,000 customers.

Jan 20, 2011

Ogden Murphy Wallace

Ogden Murphy Wallace, a law firm with offices in Seattle and Wenatchee, announced Emily Harris Gant and E. Ross Farr have been elected to membership. Gant is a member in the Litigation Department. Farr is a member in the Litigation Department and the Employment and Labor Law Practice Group.

Betts Patterson Mines

The Seattle law firm Betts, Patterson & Mines said three attorneys have been elected directors: Marissa Alkhazov, Troy Biddle and Laura Kruse. Alkhazov focuses on complex litigation and insurance defense. Biddle counsels and represents insurers, policyholders and businesses. Kruse concentrates on defending product liability claims.

barre3

Exercise studio barre3 is opening two new studios in the Puget Sound region: in Bellevue at 1020 108th Ave. N.E. and in Seattle on Capitol Hill at 1404 12th Ave. The company says its 60-minute workout combines elements of barre, yoga and pilates. An open house will be held at the Seattle location Jan. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. with raffles, demos, food and discounts. Heather Kass and Anna McEvers own the studios.

Coast Sperry Van Ness

Josh Jansen of Coast Sperry Van Ness last year achieved the highest sales volume in the firm's 25-year history. Jansen, who joined the Everett commercial real estate company in 2006, heads a group that specializes in apartment sales. He also leads a team that specializes in office, retail and industrial properties. Sperry Van Ness officials said Jansen was one of the top 10 producers for the nationally affiliated group, which has about 1,000 commercial real estate advisers.

Holliday Fenoglio Fowler

Holliday Fenoglio Fowler arranged $205 million in first mortgage financing for the nearly 750,000-square-foot Bravern Office Commons in Bellevue. HFF's Michael Tepedino, Bruce Ganong and Jody Thornton worked on behalf of the borrower, Principal Global Investors, to secure a 10-year, fixed-rate loan through Pacific Life Insurance Co. Proceeds were used in acquiring the office space and garage. The property also includes two apartment towers and nearly 310,000 square feet of retail. Microsoft leases all the office space.

Berkadia Commercial Mortgage

Berkadia originated more than $23.7 million through its Freddie Mac program to buy the 266-unit Madison Sammamish apartments. The property has undergone significant renovations since it was built in 1988, according to Berkadia. The borrower is a new joint venture of Pacific Property Co. and Trecap Partners. The loan was originated by Berkadia's San Francisco office.

Talon Private Capital

Talon Private Capital moved from downtown Seattle to Carillon Point in Kirkland. Talon's offices had been with Metzler North America's, and Talon co-founder Jim Neal's commitment to serve as Metzler board chairman for two years ended last year. Bill Pollard, the other founder of Talon, said he and Neal wanted to move closer to their homes and be near Talon's first investment, Waterfront Place, an office property in Kirkland. Formed in 2009, Talon invests the capital of high net-worth families.

NAIOP South Sound forecast Feb. 2

Economist Lynn Michaelis of Strategic Economic Analysis, will be the guest speaker and moderator of NAIOP's 2011 forecast lunch on Feb. 2. The program starts at 11:30 a.m. Panelists include economist Dick Conway of Dick Conway & Associates, Marc Nemirow of Benaroya Capital Co. and John Swanson of Umpqua Bank. Advance registration is required and can be done at naiopwa.org.