Mar 25, 2022

Sustainable Living Innovations

Sustainable Living Innovations announced that it has closed its accelerated growth fundraising round with approximately $53 million of corporate equity raised from existing and new investors. Investors in the company include Goldman Sachs, Equity Residential, Hunt Companies, strategic partners and developers, and many high-net-worth individuals and leading family offices. SLI's patent-protected technology platform is a new way to build, using wall and floor panels with pre-installed wiring, plumbing, mechanical, fire safety and network systems equipment. SLI employs over 80 people with offices in Seattle and Denver, and operates a showroom in Seattle and a manufacturing facility in Tacoma.

3form

Materials solution company 3form announced the creation of a new chief creative officer position, along with the promotion of Ryan Grey Smith into the role. Smith previously held leadership positions at LightArt, a Seattle-based lighting and acoustic fixtures company that he founded in 2005 and 3form acquired in 2008. As 3form's chief creative officer, Smith will lead 3form, 3form Elements, and LightArt's design approach and innovation. He will collaborate with teams across the 3form companies to apply his insight to long-term product planning and overall design decisions. He will also regularly contribute to the company's sustainability mission. Smith has been part of the design industry for more than 32 years as an architect and business owner, founding and selling two design-focused companies. He started his architectural career with DMJM in Los Angeles, and later became the architectural department leader for glass artist Dale Chihuly. 3form, a Hunter Douglas company, is a design-driven materials solutions company offering sustainable products.

Outgo

Outgo, a new all-in-one banking solution for freight carriers, announced it has emerged from stealth mode with $3.4 million in funding led by Neo and PSL Ventures, along with Bezos Expeditions, Dan Lewis (CEO, Convoy), Jason Droege (founder, Uber Eats), Jason Davis (CEO, Simon Data), and other angel investors. Outgo will use the new funding to continue its hiring efforts, scale its product offerings, and bolster its partnerships and growth goals. Outgo was founded by senior executives and technology leaders from transportation companies including Uber and Convoy. In founding the company last year, co-founders Marcus Womack, Ray Fortna and Mike Bohlander recognized an opportunity for a fresh approach to building a streamlined fintech product focused entirely on giving carriers a true end-to-end solution for managing their finances. Outgo is headquartered in Seattle.

Mar 24, 2022

Urban Renaissance Group

Schmidt

Urban Renaissance Group recently announced that Brad Schmidt has joined the firm as managing director, to help lead its efforts in Denver. He makes the move from Sterling Bay, of Chicago. In his new mile-high post, he’ll oversee four existing investments and look for new development opportunities. URG’s Pat Callahan said in a statement, “Denver is an important growth market for Urban Renaissance Group, and we feel that Brad is the perfect person to lead the charge in our expansion. His diverse experiences in development, acquisitions and operations are key to driving our expansion.” Schmidt has over two decades in the field. URG currently lists about 350,000 square feet in Denver, where it began investing in 2014. Its four current holdings are mixed-use office buildings, but URG now says it wants to expand into multifamily and even hotel development there. It also has two sites where future plans haven’t yet been announced. In Denver, Portland and here, URG sizes its current portfolio at 12 million square feet.

Berkadia secures $51M for Bozeman units

Over in its Denver office, Berkadia announced its recent role in securing a nearly $51 million loan for a new multifamily project in Bozeman, Montana. Managing director Jennifer Quigley provided the construction loan for the 2131 Graf apartments, which are expected to break ground soon. BlackRidge Companies is the borrower and developer. The project will have 195 units. BlackRidge’s Will Ralph said in a statement, “Bozeman is in significant need of rental housing and 2131 Graf will provide an additional high quality housing option for the residents of Bozeman.” Completion is expected by the fall of next year. Berkadia, based here, said the funding came via through HUD’s Green Program, with a 40-year term and a 3.03% interest rate.

Avatar loans $5.8M for out-of-town quartet

Local shop Avatar Financial Group announced its recent provision of bridge loans totaling $5.8 million for four out-of-town properties. The beneficiaries were two industrial buildings in Marietta, Georgia; a Days Inn by Wyndham hotel in Clinton, North Carolina; and the buyer of an industrial property near Chicago. Avatar’s T.R. Hazelrigg IV said in a statement, “Avatar provides responsive bridge funding to allow sponsors the ability to meet their obligations and close deals. Our direct lending capabilities enable investors to seize opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach.” The firm has over $100 million in funds to make hard-money bridge loans, in amounts generally ranging from $1 million to $35 million.

Suquamish Tribe

Suquamish Tribal citizens voted to fill two Tribal Council positions up for election this year at the Tribe’s annual General Council gathering. Josh Bagley was elected Tribal Council vice chair and Denita Holmes was elected treasurer. Bagley, a former geoduck diver, is president of the Suquamish Seafoods Board and vice chair of the Suquamish Tribal Gaming Commission. Holmes is a teacher at Chief Kitsap Academy, a former member of the Suquamish Museum Board and an artist. Outgoing vice chair Wayne George and treasurer Robin LW Sigo were thanked by fellow Council members, and their services acknowledged by Tribal members. Tribal Council is now comprised of Chairman Leonard Forsman, Vice Chair Josh Bagley, Secretary Windy Anderson, Treasurer Denita Holmes, and three at-large members, Sammy Mabe, Luther (Jay) Mills III, and Rich Purser. The Suquamish Tribal Council is the governing body of the Suquamish Tribe, elected by Tribal citizens during their annual General Council meeting. Candidates elected to Tribal Council serve for three-year staggered terms. With approximately 1,200 citizens, Suquamish Tribe is a federally recognized sovereign nation. The village of Suquamish and seat of the Suquamish Tribal Government are located on the Port Madison Indian Reservation, along the shores of the Puget Sound near Seattle.

POSaBIT

Seattle-based POSaBIT Systems, a provider of point of sale software and payments infrastructure in the cannabis industry, has launched their payments solution in two new markets: Texas and Georgia. These are the 17th and 18th states overall where a POSaBIT solution is active, with the aim to enter a handful of additional markets over the remainder of 2022 and beyond. POSaBIT’s technology provides a safe environment for cash-only merchants. Ryan Hamlin is the CEO and co-founder of the company.

Walker Sands

Walker Sands, a full-service marketing agency focused on accelerating the growth of B2B brands, has promoted Annie Gudorf to senior vice president, public relations. Gudorf has played a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of the agency’s public relations department since joining Walker Sands in 2013. Gudorf also serves as managing director of Walker Sands’ Seattle office, where she oversees operations, including growing and engaging the team and leading client work from B2B tech brands across the West Coast. In her new role as senior vice president, Gudorf will continue serving as strategic PR counsel for her clients, and focus on growing the agency’s PR department in Seattle through employee and client development. Walker Sands is one of the fastest-growing B2B marketing agencies in the world, with offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and Atlanta.