Jan 10, 2020

Northwest Kidney Centers

Northwest Kidney Centers named Drs. Yoshio Hall and Matthew Rivara as medical directors of two dialysis clinics in Seattle. Hall is heading up the Scribner clinic at 2150 N. 107th St., near Northgate Mall. Rivara is in charge of the Elliott Bay clinic, at 600 Broadway, on First Hill. Both teach at the University of Washington and are investigators at the Kidney Research Institute, a collaboration between Northwest Kidney Centers and UW Medicine.

Harry's Fresh Foods

Blount Fine Foods bought the former Harry's Fresh Foods headquarters in Portland to use as a production facility for its prepared soups and side dishes. Blount will invest over $25 million in the 80,000-square-foot plant, adding new processing equipment, a “spiral hydro chiller” for quick-chilling soups and proprietary cooking kettles. The plant will reopen in July with about 50 workers, ramping up to 150 by 2021. Blount veteran Douglas Gregoire was named general manager of the plant. Blount is based in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Legalpad

Global venture capital firm Amplo helped raise $10 million to fund upstart Legalpad's operations. Legalpad offers guaranteed work visas in an easy process. It has 15 employees in Seattle, Spokane, Denver and Jackson, Wyoming. Funding partners were Global Founders Capital, 8VC, Liquid 2 Ventures, Tekton Ventures, Gaingels, Collate Capital and several angel investors. Amplo board partner Alec Ross joins Legalpad's board as part of the deal.

Alaska USA

Anchorage-based Alaska USA Federal Credit Union signed a deal to buy seven TCF National Bank branches in the Phoenix market. Alaska USA already operates eight branches in the Phoenix area, as well as a financial center, operations center and data center in nearby Glendale. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close this spring, were not disclosed. Alaska USA operates in Alaska, Arizona, California and Washington.

Jan 09, 2020

Fred Hutch

Lynch

In Seattle, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center named Dr. Thomas J. Lynch Jr. as president and director. Lynch most recently was chief scientific officer at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he led the company's research and development efforts in cancer, cardiovascular disease, fibrosis and immunoscience. He has over 30 years of experience in academic medicine. He starts next month at Fred Hutch.

Port of Seattle

The Port of Seattle Commission elected Peter Steinbrueck as its president for 2020. Steinbrueck's current term as a port commissioner runs through the end of 2021. Other new officers include Fred Felleman as vice president and Sam Cho as secretary. Cho is a newly elected commissioner and Felleman was recently reelected.

Jet Parts Engineering

Seattle-based Jet Parts Engineering bought Aero Parts Mart of Fort Worth, Texas. Terms of the deal were not announced. Jet Parts designs proprietary OEM-alternative parts and repair services for the commercial aerospace industry. It is a portfolio company of Vance Street Capital. Aero Parts designs and sells proprietary aftermarket replacement components for the regional jet market.

Vesta

Lake Oswego, Oregon-based Vesta hired Leo Khan as chief marketing officer. Khan was head of enterprise marketing at San Jose, California-based Signifyd. Prior to that, he was vice president of marketing and communications for Propy, a real estate transaction management platform. Vesta provides e-commerce payment and fraud detection services.

TrueBlue

Four leaders at Tacoma-based TrueBlue and its companies were named 2019 HR Superstars by HRO Today magazine. They are: Patrick Beharelle, CEO of TrueBlue; Taryn Owen, president of PeopleReady; Chip Holmes, interim president of PeopleScout; and Carl Schweihs, president of PeopleManagement. The awards recognize those leading transformation and innovation in human resources. TrueBlue provides specialized workforce staffing.

Thayer Manca active in New Mexico

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Local firm Thayer Manca Residential announced its December purchase of the 280-unit Mirabella Heights in Albuquerque. Terms weren't disclosed, but TMR is planning $4.7 million in renovations. The investment brings its New Mexico portfolio up to three multifamily properties with 763 units, which it values at $100 million. Bruce Thayer said in a statement, “This is our third transaction in Albuquerque in the last 16 months. The historical stability of this market, in concert with its more recent economic growth, furthers our confidence in our acquisitions strategy in New Mexico.”

ISRD board: 3 members added, seeking 1 more

Seattle's International Special Review District Board held an election in November, and announced three new members last month: Russ Williams, Matt Chan and Faye Hong. At the same time, one of the seven board positions is open to a non-elected member appointed by Mayor Jenny Durkan. Interested parties may apply to rebecca.frestedt@seattle.gov.

JLL secures $43M for Alki condo project

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Jones Lang LaSalle announced last month that it has secured a $43.5 million construction loan for a 40-unit condominium project in West Seattle. The project at 1250 Alki Ave. S.W., developed by Vibrant Cities, is now called Infinity Shore Club Residences. JLL's Brandon Roth and Zack Goodwin sourced the loan from Man Group and Urbanite Capital. Vibrant Cities acquired the site in 2015 for $5.7 million. The master use permit was issued last August, and the construction permit last month. Tiscareno Associates is the architect; no general contractor has been announced, though Walsh Group appears in city records. (Walsh is also building Vibrant Cities' Pivot on Capitol Hill.) Vibrant Cities hopes to complete the Alki project next year. The six-story luxury building will have amenities including an infinity pool. Prices haven't been announced.

KM's Karen Benoit named industry influencer

Benoit

The editors of GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum have named Kidder Mathews' Karen Benoit a top influencer in marketing. The Seattle-based executive recently managed the launch and rebranding of the firm's new website, which coincided with the firm's 50th anniversary last year. Over the past 20-plus years, she's helped KM grow from four to 22 offices, with over 800 employees.

In other KM news, the firm announced last month that it has acquired Wessex Service Co., of Scottsdale, Arizona. The property management firm oversees 535,000 square feet of commercial space and 14 owner associations.

South Sound Economic Forecast

NAIOP will take a deep dive into Tacoma and Pierce County with its annual South Sound Economic Forecast event. It'll be held at 11. a.m. Jan. 23 at Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Commerce St. Expert speakers will be Lynn Michaelis of Forest Economic Advisors, Travis Hale of Panattoni, Mike Raskin and Mike McClure of MJR Development, and Cathy Reines of Koz Development. Details and registration: naiopwa.org.