Apr 24, 2020

Gurobi Optimization

Achterberg

Beaverton, Oregon-based Gurobi Optimization promoted Dr. Tobias Achterberg to vice president of research and development. Achterberg was director of R&D and joined Gurobi in 2014 as a senior developer. He has been in the mathematical optimization software industry since 2006. Gurobi develops mathematical optimization software used by over 40 industries to rapidly solve their complex problems and make automated decisions that optimize their efficiency and profitability.

MediaPRO

Lisa Plaggemier, chief strategy officer at Bothell-based MediaPRO, is the newest board member of the National Cyber Security Alliance. Plaggemier has spent over 20 years building creative training initiatives that influence employees, partners and clients to change their online security behavior. NCSA is a public-private partnership keeping individuals and organizations safe online. MediaPRO provides security, privacy and compliance awareness training software.

Myosana Therapeutics

CureDuchenne Ventures raised up to $1 million in seed financing for Seattle startup biotech Myosana Therapeutics. Myosana will use the money to advance development of its technology for non-viral gene delivery targeting Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The company was founded in 2018 by University of Washington School of Medicine faculty members Nick Whitehead and Stan Froehner. As part of the seed funding deal, CureDuchenne CEO and founder Debra Miller will join Myosana's board. Newport Beach, California-based CureDuchenne focuses on research, patient care and innovation for improving and extending the lives of those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Ossia

Bellevue-based tech company Ossia is partnering with SAP National Security Services to offer Ossia's Cota wireless power system in SAP NS2's internet-of-things devices used by the commercial, aerospace and defense, and intelligence communities. Cota delivers targeted energy to devices at a distance without wires, cables or charging pads. This allows users to more broadly deploy smart devices and sensors without the constraints of wires and batteries. Herndon, Virginia-based SAP NS2 supports national security with computing, analytics and cloud solutions.

Dutch Bros Coffee

Grants Pass, Oregon-based Dutch Bros Coffee is donating all of its profits during April to medical first responders on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight. The money is going to #FirstRespondersFirst, which provides critical supplies, equipment and resources to those workers. Dutch Bros operates over 380 drive-thru coffee locations in seven western states.

Apr 23, 2020

Silverback Therapeutics

Dr. Laura Shawver is the new president and CEO of Silverback Therapeutics, a Seattle-based private biopharmaceutical company. Shawver has over 25 years of experience as a scientist, biotech leader and patient advocate. She was CEO and director of Synthorx from 2017 until its acquisition by Sanofi in January. She also was CEO and director of Cleave Biosciences, entrepreneur-in-residence for 5AM Ventures, CEO and director at Phenomix and president of Sugen. At Silverback, she also is on the board. Silverback is developing ways to eradicate solid tumors.

Amazon

As part of its plan to be net-zero carbon by 2040, Amazon is allocating $10 million to restore and conserve 4 million acres of forest in the Appalachians and other U.S. regions. The funding will initially support projects in Pennsylvania and Vermont that will help family forest owners sequester carbon, and support expansion across the Appalachians in a network of climate-resilient forests that scientists at The Nature Conservancy have identified as most able to thrive in the face of climate change. This is the first project from Amazon's $100 million Right Now Climate Fund, an initiative to remove carbon from the atmosphere through the restoration and conservation of forests, wetlands, grasslands and peatlands around the world.

Spaceflight

Seattle-based Spaceflight signed a launch agreement with Firefly Aerospace for a majority of the payload aboard a Firefly rocket scheduled to lift off in 2021 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Spaceflight provides launch capacity procurement, integration and mission management services. Cedar Park, Texas-based Firefly provides launch vehicles, spacecraft and in-space services.

IxDA Seattle

IxDA Seattle, the local chapter of the Interaction Design Association, is organizing creative volunteers to help local small businesses and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The volunteers can help with customer experience, communication strategies and implementation. Examples include updating websites, building simple websites for businesses without a web presence, graphic design, social media strategy/outreach and email campaigns. All projects should be short-term (about two weeks) and be COVID-19 related. More information is at https://ixdaseattle.org/action. IxDA is an international organization dedicated to interaction design.

DESC

The United Health Foundation committed $1 million to assist Seattle residents experiencing homelessness as they face additional hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation is working with the Downtown Emergency Service Center on the program. The donation will purchase personal protective equipment, hire relief workers and support ill employees, as well as help DESC provide food and temporary housing to many of the 8,000 homeless and formerly homeless individuals it serves.

Security Properties makes top 50 list

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Security Properties plans to build a 29-story tower with 212 units on the former Two Bells Tavern site in Belltown.

The National Multifamily Housing Council recently released its list of America's top 50 apartment owners. Local shop Security Properties came in 44th, with 25,120 units. The firm, founded in 1969, develops and manages apartment projects all over the West Coast. Its current portfolio now numbers around 123 properties, which it values at nearly $7.2 billion. In the Seattle market, its notable new plans include a redevelopment of the Magnolia Albertsons into a Safeway with 138 units on top; and a 29-story tower with 212 units on the former Two Bells Tavern site in Belltown. Also on the NMHC owners list is Weidner Apartment Homes of Kirkland, at No. 14., with 56,262 units. No. 1 is MAA of Tennessee, with 100,031 units. NMHC also released Top 50 lists for managers, builders, developers and syndicaters. See nmhc.org for the full rankings.

NBS adds Tye to team

Tye

NBS Real Estate Consulting, part of Norris, Beggs & Simpson Cos., announced three new hires in Seattle, San Antonio San Francisco. In Seattle, industry veteran David Tye has made the move from Equity Office, where he oversaw 18 million square feet on the West Coast.

ULI to hold webinar series

The Urban Land Institute, like NAIOP and other industry organizations, has gone entirely virtual with its meetings and conferences owing to the coronavirus pandemic. It has a whole series of upcoming webinars that are free to members and, in some cases, complimentary to non-members too. See spring.uli.org and americas.uli.org for full schedule and details.

Some of the notable presentations panels include Jonathan F.P. Rose of Jonathan Rose Cos., Mark Wilsmann of MetLife and Bradford H. Dockser of Green Generation speaking on “Resiliency in a New Normal” (April 28); Dan Doctoroff of Sidewalk Labs (May 11); “Edge City Density: Building Up the TOD Urban Region” (May 18); and “Breathing New Life into Old Bones: Toolkit for Building Repositioning” (June 19).