The Honorees
20 F 2020 Awards
THE 20 OF 2020 AWARDS ARE SPONSORED BY:
RECOGNIZING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 20 OF 2020 AWARDS FEBRUARY, 2021
Aspiri Enterprises ECONOMY
DEI
ENVIRONMENT
F
Celebration of Light
ulcrum Foundation’s 19th annual Celebration of Light was forced to go virtual this year. But we wish to thank those who joined the virtual evening on Jan. 29 and donated more than $1.5 million to keep the light for Catholic education shining across Western Washington and beyond! “Celebration of Light is our signature event, and the funds raised are pivotal in supporting our tuition assistance, school partnership and leadership programs,” said Vivian Shannon, Fulcrum’s executive director. This year, Fulcrum honored Tom and Jan O’Callahan with the Archbishop’s Award for their incredible work on the IT Network Modernization Program. “The IT modernization that Tom and Jan O’Callahan have focused on over the last five years set our students, teachers and schools up for success, both in the classroom and, more importantly, in today’s remote and hybridlearning models,” said Vivian. “We are so grateful for the contribution of their talent and time to ensure that all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle continue to fully operate in the middle of a pandemic.” Edith and I would like to thank each of you for all the support you have provided to the Catholic Fund and Fulcrum over the years. You have made a huge difference in the lives of many students, their families, our teachers and each of our schools.
Standing from left, major Fulcrum Foundation supporters Bridget Cooley, Ray Aspiri and Rosemary Zilmer. Seated, Archbishop Alex Brunett and Edith Aspiri.
—Ray Aspiri, co-founder of the Celebration of Light
For more information about the Fulcrum Foundation, visit the website at FulcrumFoundation.org. “In the course of launching or growing a dozen companies over a half century, first as an entrepreneur then as an investor in entrepreneurs, Ray Aspiri expresses more pleasure at the jobs he’s helped create than at the business success he’s achieved.
Aspiri Enterprises
“And he’s brought an unusual business philosophy, gained from his Basque roots, of avoiding what he refers to as the ‘perverse incentive’ of excessive CEO pay. “Born John Ramon Azpiri in Boise, he wears his Basque heritage like a badge of honor. And he is particularly proud of being referred to as ‘the Basque entrepreneur from Seattle’ when he is called upon to speak on entrepreneurism and his philosophy of leadership here and several times in Europe.” —Mike Flynn in Flynn’s Harp column
20 OF 2020 Awards Z The Honorees In these pages are the profiles of residents of Washington state who have risen to the challenge in innovative and resourceful ways to sustain their businesses and to support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much well-deserved attention has been given to medical personnel, first responders and other essential workers who continue to staff the frontlines of the pandemic. At the same time, keeping businesses alive and feeding those in need are critical components of coping with the new economic realities. Recognizing the latter is the purpose of the 20 OF 2020 Awards. These honorees were recognized individually in a virtual-awards program on Feb. 11, 2021, emceed by Pat Cashman. Each honoree received a plaque commemorating his or her selection to this esteemed and diverse group. They also will be feted at a reception in the Columbia Tower Club when the COVID restriction on in-person gatherings has been lifted.
Honoree • Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page Darcy Ann Anderson • Tinkertopia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Stacy Bennett • Buki Brand Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Eric Blakemore • Frederick’s Appliance Center . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Sharon Bloome • Rotary Environmental Committee. . . . . . . . . 3 Mark Canlis • Canlis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Laura Clise • Intentionalist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Kemper Freeman, Jr. • Kemper Development Co. . . . . . . . . . . 7 Robert J. Holmes • The Holmes Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Edouardo Jordan • Salare Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Tracy Klinkroth • The Power of She . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Gordon McHenry, Jr. • United Way of King County . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ian MacNeil • Glass Distillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Angela Mose • Best Western Plus Renton Inn. . . . . . . . . . . 10 Michael Nassirian • My Immunity Pass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Steve Paul • Northwest North Pole Adventures . . . . . . . . . . 11 Brian Radford • Tapped Camano Island. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Ryan Rasar • Leisure Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ken & Tim Robinson • Westside Seattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Rick Steves • Rick Steves’ Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Joan Wallace • Wallace Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 1
As 20 OF 2020 Committee Chair Mike Flynn said during the virtual-awards program, “We’re gratified to be able to recognize these many significant contributions, but we hope this will only be a one-year event.”
Z DARCY ANN ANDERSON Z
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 2
Tinkertopia
Z STACY BENNETT Z Buki Brand
Darcy Ann Anderson and her husband, RR Anderson, are the co-founders of Tinkertopia, a creative re-use center located in downtown Tacoma, across the street from the Museum of History.
Marketer Stacy Bennett and designer Joey Rodolfo co-founded Buki Brand with a vision, and belief, that wardrobes could be built with timeless essentials that are luxurious, classic and comfortable.
Tinkertopia promotes planetary-resource conservation, working with local industries to divert safe+clean remnants, seconds, scraps, off-cuts, discards, misprints and overstock from the waste stream, then redistributing these goods as low-cost arts and crafts supplies. It’s a product of the business-development work done by SpaceWorks Tacoma, a joint nonprofit of the City of Tacoma Arts Commission and the TacomaPierce County Chamber of Commerce. Spaceworks supports destination-quality artwork, art projects and arts-based businesses by taking over unused retail space and providing discounted rent to artists, slowly increasing their rent up to market rate as their venture prospers. This is how Tinkertopia got its start.
They began with the most innovative fabrics in the world—ones they invented themselves! They used state-of-the-art Japanese fiber technology to create the more luxurious fabrics and designed timeless silhouettes that are great for travel or everyday use.
At Tinkertopia, one person’s junk is another person’s bonanza of materials for early education art classes, learning games, science experiments, crafts, costuming and other expressions of creativity. You’ll see a variety of innovative uses for everything it collects on display throughout the store. Tinkertopia is designed for everyone, regardless of skill level. People of all ages can let their creativity flow in the inspiring studio/workspace suitable for fun. Some of the most popular activities at the facility are childrens’ tinker birthday parties and school field trips and eco-craft parties. When COVID-19 brought a shutdown to such gatherings, “Miss Darcy” had to pivot their party space and adapt some out-of-the-sandbox thinking. While ecocraft parties for kids and bulk-bag purchases had long been a standard in the shop, Darcy had to think of new ways to extend the education and inspire children beyond the Tinkertopia walls to an at-home experience.
At the beginning of the shutdown, when New York City was the epicenter for the COVID-19 virus, Stacy and Joey wanted to show gratitude for the first responders, who they believe deserve all the comfort in the world. One of their 10 technical fabrics is designed to keep one warm in Darcy’s creative mind came to the rescue. colder climates, and they donated coats Buki Brand is especially focused on Tinkertopia has created a variety of kits and shirts made with that fabric to the Goal #6—Clean Water and Sanitation. Stacy and Joey knows that apparel prothat engage, educate and create fun for WMC Health Network in New York. duction can be incredibly polluting to housebound children. The Do-It-Yourself Monster Sewing Laboratory Kit and Buki is headquartered in downtown our water supply, which is why they utiScribble-Bot Art Droid Kit are just a cou- Seattle and, due to the collapse of the lize BLUESIGN® certified production ple of creations that are a big hit with kids. business climate and physical damage processes. BLUESIGN is a system that Other kits are aimed at young and old to their retail store during the rioting, provides safer and more sustainable envialike, such as Grand Dad’s Junk Drawer they pivoted their business model to ronments for people to work and live in. As Starter Kit and the Tacoma Rocks Painting primarily online and direct sales. They an example, their BLUESIGN-certified facKit. And for the young hipster, there’s the wanted to help the local community, tory in Bangkok, Thailand, outputs water Tacomic Underground Cartooning Kit and too, so they connected with a nonprofit, used in production that is cleaner than Dignity for Divas, a program that sup- when it arrived. They believe we all can the LOL Cats in a Can Kit. ports homeless and low-income women make a difference, and they are humbled The encouragement and guidance that in Seattle. Buki donated coats to provide to be part of the solution. Buki’s mission was an in-shop experience is now a way to warmth and comfort for these women to is to make the world a more comfortable experience creativity at home. But these help them get back on their feet. Buki’s place—one outfit at a time. kits are just a jumping-off point for Darcy, clothes are thermo-regulating, but what as she works with educators and parents they’re doing is heartwarming. on new directions to pursue in actively ZZZ They also support a Facebook group encouraging creativity in all age groups. named Real Kindness, aimed at celebrat“Buki’s clothes are ing kindness in the face of the pandemic ZZZ by providing cash and physical prizes to thermo-regulating, but “‘Miss Darcy’ had to… people who are doing acts of kindness what they’re doing is in the community. The group grew outadapt some out-of-the- side of Washington state, and the acts of heartwarming.” kindness now extend into a platform that sandbox thinking” ZZZ spreads awareness of the United Nations Global Goals. ZZZ
Z ERIC BLAKEMORE Z Frederick’s Appliance Center
Eric Blakemore is the owner of Frederick’s Appliance Center in Redmond. Recently, the store was vandalized and a third of his delivery trucks were disabled, as the robbers ripped out the catalytic converters. Despite the financial costs and headaches—and the COVID-19 pandemic—Eric and his wife, Margaret, have not missed a beat.
Midland needed Blakemore to move to Washington to manage its two stores: Frederick’s Appliance in Redmond and Conklin’s in Lynnwood. So, Eric and Margaret packed their bags and moved south. In 1991, they bought Frederick’s, and Margaret calls it, “The best decision we ever made.” They began with three employees, a delivery truck and revenues of $800,000 a year. Now, they have 29 employees, nine delivery trucks and annual revenues of $13 million.
Sharon Bloome is well known for her work on behalf of the community and the environment since moving to the Northwest in 1984. She began by co-founding Heart of America Northwest, which became the leading citizens’ watchdog group for the cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. As chairman of the Rotary Club of Seattle’s Environmental Committee, she co-produced an environmental guide titled “Going Green: A Guide to Becoming An Environmentally Friendly Business Without Going Broke,” which was nominated for a United Nations Global 500 Award.
double-edge sword,” Eric said. “We have more customers than we’ve ever had, but we’re faced with some severe shortages of inventory. So, while it’s sometimes really difficult to fulfill orders—we’re doing it.” There was a big wave of orders to fill at the beginning of the shutdown, when people were confined to their homes, stocked up on food and baked and cooked more. “Now, with the cold weather closing in and people thinking about stocking up, we’re facing a surge again. As an example, we recently sold 16 freezers in a single day,” Eric said.
Although Eric’s business story is different than most during the pandemic, it reflects another dimension of dealing successfully They’ve watched changes not only in their with the uncommon circumstances posed business but in the whole region and, in by COVID-19—from serious vandalism to particular, the Eastside. Microsoft’s grow- uncommon levels of demand, at a time ing presence in Redmond brings significant when supply chains are taxed to the limit. business to Frederick’s “But this is anything but a big-box store,” Eric said. “It’s all ZZZ about service and relationships. Our motto “Our motto is, ‘It’s is, ‘It’s not just business. It’s personal.’ And we mean that with every transaction.” not just business. It’s Unlike the majority of businesses, Frederick’s has seen a 25% increase in business since COVID-19 hit. “But it’s a
Rotary Club Environmental Committee
personal.’” ZZZ
Sharon also spearheaded the mission of bringing computer skills to Seattle’s innercity children at the Rotary Boys & Girls Club, for which she received a King County Boys & Girls Clubs Service to Community Award. The Club’s Computer Learning Center is named the Sharon Gantz Bloome Computer Learning Center. Its dedication plaque reads—“Built by many, but delivered by the vision and tenacity of one.” As a national board member of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), Sharon was a major force behind the creation of its Seattle Chapter. She also was one of the founders of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), which is the Jewish Member of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, started by Sen. Al Gore and Carl Sagan. She also has received the B’nai B’rith International Outstanding Volunteer Award and the Anti-Defamation League Touch of Love Award for her founding involvement in their Children of the Dream program and a Washington state Jefferson Award, recognizing the highest ideals and achievements of individuals in public service in the United States. And she was named Washington state’s Environmental Woman in Action by the Tambrands Corporation and a Puget Sound Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year, both in 1993.
Says Sharon of her service to Holy Family Parish during the pandemic: “I first learned about Holy Family Parish through a personal connection, and it felt natural to contribute items like furniture and clothing and money. I am not Catholic (but) what matters is humanity and easing suffering in whatever way possible. Over time, I learned more about Holy Family—a community of lovely people many without a lot of advantages. I can’t fix COVID. I wish I could. But I can help ease suffering for a few families. The most elemental need is for people to eat. And so that’s where I went, making it possible for the church to offer grocery gift cards and boxed assorted groceries to distribute to families in need. I’m thrilled to be able to do it and, perhaps, be an example for others who might be inclined to help but don’t know how.”
ZZZ
“Built by many, but delivered by the vision and tenacity of one.” ZZZ
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 3
The Blakemores have owned Frederick’s for 30 years, and the store has deep roots in the Redmond community. It was founded there by Frederick Habenecht in 1971, almost a half-century ago. Today, it’s a full-fledged family business, with two of the four Blakemore children in key positions. Eric began as an appliance deliveryman in 1978 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, where he was born. He worked his way up the ladder for the next 12 years in managerial roles, becoming the general manager for Vancouver-based Midland Appliance, which had four stores in Vancouver and two in the Seattle area.
Z SHARON BLOOME Z
Z MARK CANLIS Z Canlis
Mark Canlis, co-owner of the iconic Canlis restaurant in Seattle, has been nationally acclaimed for his multiple and imaginative initiatives to keep the restaurant in business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 4
For those who didn’t want to get into their cars, Canlis also offered a dinner-delivery service, with a winnowed-down menu of one single meal option that changed on a daily basis. While a far cry from their former business, their new initiatives allowed Canlis to continue buying from their local farm suppliers and employ their 115-member team.” [The burger drive-thru, bagel shop and delivery are no longer running.] Current offerings on the canlis.com website include the Canlis Family Meal, a take-out dinner designed for the home and cooked to order and the Yurt Village at Canlis, set up in the Canlis parking lot.
Intentionalist
Laura Clise is the founder and CEO of Intentionalist, a Seattle-based social-purpose corporation focused on making it easy to support small businesses and more connected, inclusive communities through everyday decisions about where to eat, drink and shop. Prior to Intentionalist, Laura held a variety of executive roles, including leading corporate responsibility, supplier diversity and external communications at AREVA, Plum Creek and Weyerhaeuser.
In early 2020, Forbes magazine wrote: “For 70 years, Canlis in Seattle, Washington, has been a beacon of fine dining in the Pacific Northwest. Due to the pandemic, Canlis reinvented its business structure and narrowed down the menu. By morning, it sold bagels and breakfast sandwiches. By evening, the menu switched over to burgers, salads and ice-cream, all served via a drive-through operation. And so far, their ability to evolve is paying off. According to reporting from Esquire, one morning Canlis sold out of nearly 500 bagels in 90 minutes. The enthusiasm for a drive-through concept pairs up with the market research data. A recent survey found that most consumers would still consider getting food from the drive-thru, often viewing their car as an additional protective barrier from other people.
Z LAURA CLISE Z
while opening famed restaurateur Danny Meyer’s fifth restaurant, Blue Smoke, in Manhattan. Returning to Seattle, Mark spearheaded the generational transfer and brand modernization that has garnered the family business national acclaim as one of the finest restaurants in America. He now co-owns and operates Canlis restaurant with his brother, Brian Canlis. In the Our Story section on the Canlis website, Mark wrote: “Since 2007, when Brian and I officially took over the company, we’ve worked toward one goal: to live out and grow the idea that more often than not, it’s worth putting other people first. We’ve sought to understand what turning towards one another really looks like and, in so doing, see if our restaurant would stand the test of time.
“In truth, there’s not been enough time to know one way or the other. Food & Wine magazine once called Canlis ‘one of the 40 most important restaurants in the past 40 years.’ We’ve humbly received 22 consecutive Wine Spectator Mark grew up in the restaurant busi- Grand Awards. We’ve been nominated for ness launched by his grandfather in 15 James Beard Awards and we’ve won 1950. He joined Canlis in 2003, after three of them.” graduating from Cornell University and serving as a captain in Air Force Special Operations. He met his wife, Anne Marie,
Laura received an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA in International Relations from Carleton College. She is a 2013 Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow, the recipient of an Exceptional Individual Achievement Award from the Human Rights Campaign and serves on the Board of Directors of Athlete Ally, IslandWood and the Net Impact Corporate Advisory Council. in people looking up small businesses owned by the Asian-American commu2020 was an extraordinary year in many nity. Her idea was working, people were ways, including its impact across the trying to support and embrace the comsmall-business landscape. With record munity in the midst of racial tension. numbers of closures, which have dispro- Meanwhile, she created a take-out and portionately impacted businesses owned delivery directory right in the beginning by people of color, we’re reminded of the of COVID-19, when the stay-home order fragility of the Main Street businesses was issued and people were thrilled to that are the economic and cultural back- be able to not only select a restaurant bone of our communities. but also give back to a community they felt connected to or wanted to support. As a socially conscious consumer, she wanted to not just find out what she Intentionalist also created a Gift wanted to purchase but also who bene- Certificate Marketplace to enable small fited from her purchasing decisions. businesses without an existing online storefront to be able to sell their physical She felt like when we make everyday deci- gift certificates through Intentionalist. sions about where we eat, drink and shop, In June, as people were galvanized the dollars we spend are an opportunity by the Black Lives Matter movement, to connect with and support the diverse Intentionalist made it easy for tens of people behind the small businesses in thousands of people to find and support our communities. This want that she had local Black-owned businesses. for finding information became her “why,” and led her to create the Intentionalist, Intentionalist answers the call for a “a guide to supporting local businesses resource and community that makes it and the diverse people behind them...” easier to translate our good intentions into action. At the beginning of the pandemic, the first thing Laura noticed was an increase
Z KEMPER FREEMAN, JR. Z Kemper Development Co.
Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman, Jr. sought to cap a year of COVID-19 tragedy, and its accompanying economic devastation, with a memorable holiday-season event to set the stage for the 75th Anniversary of his Bellevue Square Mall. It was clear that Snowflake Lane, which annually has turned downtown Bellevue into a month-long enchanted scene, had to be reimagined in 2020—if it was to be held at all.
“And while we couldn’t do Santa,’ Freeman added, “we did have the best display of Christmas lights ever in our 14 years, stretching a mile all around Bellevue Square.” Freeman’s pleasure with the holiday display is clearly a way for him to close a disastrous year on a positive note—to counter the economic distress it caused —which also likely played a role in the social unrest that marked the year. The pandemic had a dramatic impact on Freeman’s business, as well as the City of Bellevue. Most notable was the severe damaged suffered by many of the Mall’s retailers at the hands of rioters, who embedded themselves into the ranks of peaceful protesters, then hurried away from the demonstrators to break into the Mall in late 2020. Freeman hasn’t yet fully calculated the costs of the rioting, but he has worked to restore the retail life of the 230 merchants and shops in the Mall, many of
The Holmes Group
Thanks to Bellevue business leader Robert J. Holmes and leaders of the Dean Witter Foundation, the survival of NatureBridge is one of the heroic stories of 2020. NatureBridge is a nonprofit organization that provides environmental-education programs in national park locations across the country: Yosemite, Olympic, Shenandoah, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Channel Islands and Prince William Forest.
whom suffered severe damage at the hands of the rioters embedded in the ranks of peaceful protesters who jammed the streets of downtown Bellevue. Now, Freeman is looking forward to the year of celebration for the Bellevue Square Mall, launched 75 years and two generations ago by Freeman’s grandfather, Miller Freeman and father Kemper, Sr. Plans for the 75th Anniversary celebration are just being finalized by his staff, Freeman said.
ZZZ
“While we couldn’t do Santa, we did have the best display of Christmas lights ever…” ZZZ
Throughout 2019, the campuses in those national parks were alive with activity, as students spent their days exploring, engaging in scientific inquiry and discovering their connection with nature. but he attracted the attention of the leaders of the Dean Witter Foundation, Then came the pandemic and, like so including Chairman Malcolm Witter. The many organizations and businesses, Dean Witter Foundation supports specific NatureBridge had to make the difficult wildlife conservation projects and semidecision to suspend in-person program- nal opportunities to improve and extend ming, threatening its ability to deliver on environmental education. its mission and even endangering its survival, after 49 years. Witter, a former Seattleite who now lives in the Coachella Valley in California, disHolmes is CEO of The Holmes Group (THG) cussed it with his fellow director, Seattle and a NatureBridge board member. The resident Allison Witter Frey, and they call of the wild has been a lifetime personal notified the remaining directors at The counterpoint to his role as a developer of Dean Witter Foundation of the opportuboth real estate and resort projects across nity to help NatureBridge and Holmes’ North America, and he saw the closure of two-for-one match. NatureBridge as a “crisis.” The result: More than 700 donors raised With THG, his projects have included $1.1 million for NatureBridge in just a developing Kemper Freeman’s Bellevue few months. And it recently launched Collection. Before that, he was president/ Distance Learning programs across the CEO of Intrawest USA and president/ country and is now well positioned to CEO of Harbor Properties in Seattle. His weather the pandemic. THG resort projects include the Village at Mammoth, Schweitzer Mountain Resort Holmes says NatureBridge will continue and the Village at Whistler. to grow its online offerings, both through district referrals from existing customers Buoyed by his confidence in NatureBridge’s and through potential partnerships with history of excellence and its strong lead- curriculum distributors. ership, Holmes called on his business colleagues to match his own contribu- “Of course, they’re anxiously awaiting the tion of up to $25,000. Not only did he day when they can welcome students get more than $25,000 in donations back into the parks,” he added.
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 7
“We thought about not doing it this year,” said Freeman, whose Bellevue Collection of retailers, restaurants and hotels forms the core of Downtown Bellevue. “But with all things that have fouled up people’s lives this year, we didn’t think it would be right to also take away something as symbolically important as Snowflake Lane. So, while we couldn’t have the parade and performances by dancers and drummers every night, we could provide twinkling lights and holiday music.”
Z ROBERT J. HOLMES Z
Z EDOUARDO JORDAN Z Salare Restaurant
Chef Edouardo Jordan is no stranger to receiving awards. In 2015, when he opened his Salare restaurant in Seattle, he earned the title of Chef of the Year from Eater Seattle, along with being named Star Chefs’ Rising Star. 2016 earned him the title of Best New Chefs by Food & Wine Magazine. In 2017, he opened his second restaurant, JuneBaby, just a couple of blocks away from Salare.
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 8
This restaurant was a way for him to focus on his passion of exploring southern flavors, the food from his roots—and JuneBaby’s mission. JuneBaby was named Eater’s Best New Restaurant and Pete Wells of The New York Times selected it as a Critic’s Pick, giving it a rare 3-star review. In 2018, JuneBaby made it on the Food & Wine’s list of restaurants of the year and Chef Jordan took home two James Beard Awards that year—one for for Best Chef: Northwest for Salare, and another Best New Restaurant for JuneBaby.
Program. The Lee Initiative was determined to have the kitchen open as long as restaurants and bars were closed for dine-in service. From March to August 2020, Salare served more than 26,000 He also was honored in 2018 in the Puget free meals to those in need. Sound Business Journal’s list of 40 under 40, was named one of Seattle’s Most While Chef Jordan worked with several Influential People by Seattle Magazine nonprofits, like Farestart, World Central and was even a finalist in People maga- Kitchen, The Lee Initiative, Byrd Barr zine for Sexiest Chef Alive. Place, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and Capitol Hill Housing to Chef Jordan is more than these acco- help feed the community during this lades though; he has a deep-rooted pandemic, this is just a portion of the desire to aid and support his community. generosity and support he gives to the In March of this year, when we all first community at all times. felt the effects of the lockdown, things were critical for people in the restaurant Having experienced homelessness as industry. More than 417,000 restaurant a child, Jordan continues to support workers lost their jobs—that’s nearly 60% nonprofits, like Northwest Harvest and of all job losses, as many restaurants Farestart, where he regularly donates and bars shut their doors due to govern- food, volunteers his time and teaches ment mandates. to continually support the underserved populations. Chef Jordan immediately pivoted his business model and converted Salare In 2019, he launched his annual fundinto a community kitchen to provide free raising event, The Soul of Seattle, which meals and toiletries to laid off or strug- supports local Black-owned restaurants gling restaurant workers, partnering with and businesses, as well as nonprofits celebrity chef, Ed Lee, founder of the Lee that empower youth of color in Seattle. Initiative’s Restaurant Workers Relief
Z TRACY KLINKROTH Z The Power of She
Tracy Klinkroth is a serial entrepreneur, social butterfly and founder of four different companies in Seattle: The Power of She (a community to promote women-owned businesses), Epiphany Research (a marketing-research consultancy), ChickChat (a female-forward insights and events firm) and Epiphany Events (an event-planning firm). Tracy is a born “connector,” who brings people together via the women’s networking and girls’-night-out events. She’s created and hosted dozens of eclectic parties for more than 15 years. The Venice is Sinking Masquerade Ball is her flagship event, created in 2006, that now attracts more than 600 guests annually. Tracy launched The Power of She in 2018 to educate and encourage consumers to buy more of what they use from women-owned businesses, as a way to shrink the gender wage gap. She is passionate about advancing the rights and equality of women and girls around the world and volunteers her time reading to kindergartners via Page Ahead. She’s also on the Board of Sahar Education (a nonprofit that builds schools and educates girls in Afghanistan). She sponsors the education of a Nepalese girl she met when she traveled to her village to build a school a decade ago, who is now in her second year of nursing school.
platform, encouraging others to do the same. She received messages from several friends who said she’d inspired them to bring along a bag on their walks and to pick up trash, too!
For the first time, Tracy was in a position of needing financial assistance when the COVID pandemic hit. The lion’s Tracy’s magic has always been her abil- share of her income came from her ity to influence people. In early 2020, event-planning company, and with the she partnered with the Ethnic Chamber COVID restrictions, she was in a difficult of Commerce Coalition and co-hosted situation. She posted on social media several online seminars to educate solo about having to apply for Food Stamps entrepreneurs and small businesses in and Medicaid and used her own chalWashington state about how to apply for lenges as an opportunity to educate and and receive PPP loans. She also served encourage others. She was open about as a liaison to help answer questions her struggles—both financially and about the PPP as well as Small Business emotionally—as a small-business owner. Association lending programs and grants And—most importantly—she assisted others in how to go about getting assisto support and save small businesses. tance, too. Nearly weekly, Tracy went out into her Wallingford neighborhood to pick up garbage and document it on her social-media
Z GORDON MCHENRY, JR. Z United Way of King County
UWKC created the Community Relief Fund, a program focused on rental assistance and food security. To date, UWKC has raised more than $17 million through the Fund. The Rental Assistance element of the program works with families, individuals and landlords to find immediate solutions that keep people in their homes and avoid the accumulation of debilitating debt. It directly helps King County residents who are late on their rent, have experienced a significant reduction in wages as a result of the public health crisis and whose income is at or below 50% of Area Median Income. To date, this program has helped more than 2,800 households, which represents 8,400plus people, with an average payment of $1,485. Some 72% of households who received rental assistance were headed by a Person of Color. The Community Relief Fund also focuses on food security. UWKC has stepped up its Summer-meals program, which typically serves 10,000 meals to students throughout King County on an average Summer day, to 30,000 meals per day at schools, community centers, parks, housing complexes and more. UWKC also is putting purchasing power into the hands of families by delivering more than 1,800 food vouchers, worth $400 each, to families and individuals in the region so they can buy culturally appropriate food that works for their individual needs. Before UWKC set up the Community Relief Fund, it pivoted its work on the ground
Glass Distillery
In 2012, Ian G. MacNeil launched Glass Distillery to introduce his flagship spirit, Glass Vodka, to the public. His goal was to create a vodka that was pure, smooth and artfully crafted, with a deep appreciation for the environment from which it was born. Never one to shy away from the spotlight or quietly accept convention, Ian wanted Glass Vodka to represent a taste for curious rebellion. Ian is a renaissance man, an entrepreneur, an artist, a pilot, a chef–a connoisseur of a variety of areas in life, from food to wine to spirits to travel– and a consummate student of science, art and life. He is committed to producing the highest quality vodka in a place he loves. His ties and support for the Northwest community extend beyond the sourcing of grapes from local vineyards. to help those in need. For example, fam- Glass Distillery is honored to support the ilies participating in the Parent Child+ talent of the region’s glassblowing artists, program, which typically focuses on early from which the name “Glass” is inspired. learning and educational needs, were quickly assisted with food access, infor- Much like the provenance of the prized mation on state and federal benefits, grapes curated for the distillery, Glass access to diapers and formula and more. Vodka’s operation is founded in the rich soils of the Pacific Northwest. Among McHenry’s ability to listen to the needs the flagship community of corporate of the community, act quickly to address residents, a special thread emerges, as those needs and lead his staff in finding emblematic of their intention and philoscreative approaches to affect change is ophy: it is a commitment to change the common experience to positively influwhy he is deserves this recognition. ence, and yes, disrupt convention, in the UWKC has been a leader in the commu- unending campaign to provide the most nity for decades, and under McHenry’s evolved and dominant product the cusleadership, the organization has contin- tomer can encounter. ued to be a collaborative partner in the region, connecting donors with agencies Glass distillery is located in the SODO and programs that are helping needy area of Seattle and is a stunning space, community members—especially during with its operational German stills fully on display. Employing both kettle and this pandemic. column stills, they produce an incredibly ZZZ elegant and silky smooth, 190-proof spirit that retains the subtle and unique char“UWKC has raised acter of the grapes from which the vodka more than $17 million is distilled.
through the Fund.” ZZZ
When COVID-19 first hit the Seattle area, Ian immediately noticed there was a shortage of hand sanitizer. Stores were
sold out and people were beginning to worry. Ian believes that sanitation is not a luxury, it is a necessity. He pivoted his business model and began immediately making hand sanitizer, with an offer to give anyone who needed some a free bottle. All someone had to do was to show up to the distillery and he or she would be handed a free bottle. He also donated the product to the King County Sheriff’s Department and the King County Emergency Services, as well as Virginia Mason Hospital and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. He continues to offer free bottles of the sanitizer and has larger bottles for sale, too. At this point, he has donated more than 7,000 bottles of hand sanitizer. He said that, by volume, he has produced as much hand sanitizer as four years’ worth of his signature Vodka.
ZZZ
“Ian immediately noticed there was a shortage of hand sanitizer.” ZZZ
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 9
Gordon McHenry, Jr., CEO of United Way of King County (UWKC), was on the job only a matter of months when COVID-19 hit our community. His dedication to the people of King County and his collaborative mindset allowed UWKC to act swiftly to help those affected by the economic and health impacts of the pandemic.
Z IAN G. MACNEIL Z
Z ANGELA MOSE Z Best Western Plus Renton Inn
Angela Mose, general manager of the Best Western Plus Renton Inn,, has been a pillar in the hotel & tourism Industry in the Northwest for nearly 30 years, working for several large chains, including Hilton, Provenance, and the Red Lion Hotels. Prior to her move to the Best Western Renton, Angela was the GM of the Red Lion Renton, when it was leased to King County to assist with housing the homeless. In addition to running hotels, Angela and her husband, Washington, also manage a home of organized chaos, filled with their 10 children, ranging in age from 11 months to 20 years old. With this responsibility, Angela could not afford to be unemployed after being furloughed from the Red Lion position. So, she immediately reached out to Virk Hospitality and asked about the opportunity to run its newly remodeled Best Western Plus in Renton, to which they thankfully agreed.
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 10
Her first order of business was to arrange for a semi-truck full of more than 1,000 farm-to-table boxes, provided by Badger Whole Farms and Frogger Farms. She then used her vast network of contacts to distribute the boxes, via “drive-through,” to families in the Renton community. On the job, she is overseeing Best Western’s WE CARE CLEAN program to protect to weary travelers as well as her essential workers during the pandemic and providing temporary “shelter-inplace” accommodations for needy families, working with local nonprofits. She also assisted Paul and Shantel Patu, founders of Urban Family, with delivering toys to kids in need during the holiday season and serves on a City of Renton committee that aids nonprofits in attracting tourism to Renton. Angela and her family are working with a Facebook group called Real Kindness in support of the United Nations Global
Z MICHAEL NASSIRIAN Z My Immunity Pass
When retired Micosoft executive Michael Nassirian emerged from a week-long battle with COVID-19 in March, two things spurred his recovery. One was his eagerness to launch a startup company he named My Immunity Pass, to help “keep people and businesses safe during the pandemic.” The second was to write a book about the post-pandemic business world he sees as likely to emerge and what the work-fromhome future will mean for businesses and the environments in which they operate.
Goals program. Angela attributes everything to God and her family. Her belief is—and always has been—the more you do to help others, the more bountiful your blessings in return. If you ask anyone in Angela’s vast network her favorite sayings, they will tell you they are: “Don’t worry about it, we’ll figure it out” and “I got you”—and she always does.
ZZZ
Angela’s belief—“the more you do to help others, the more bountiful your blessings in return.” ZZZ
Nassirian began writing the book soon after his recovery from the virus and finished it the last week of 2020. As he explains it: “This book is designed to help clear up confusion, explain the unexplainable and strategize for problem solving in this new post-COVID era. I want readers to hold the reins of their future, instead of being swayed by societal standards and corporate pressures. I believe it’s never been easier to create the career of your dreams.”
is the provide a buffer between workers and top management.
“COVID isn’t my first major crisis in America,” Nassirian said. “My world changed forever because of the Iranian revolution. In 1975. When my father sent Nassirian’s father sent him and his my brother and me to University of Texas, brother to the University of Texas in the it wasn’t planned as a permanent move late ’70s to get their education, away to America but rather as an opportunity from the growing unrest in their native for education, safety and experience. Iran. He later joined Microsoft and rose Dad envisioned us getting degrees, to key leadership levels there, before returning to Iran and heading corporaretiring in 2016. tions back home. In his book, he offers his view of how we, as business people. saw the arrival of COVID-19 change our world and how he sees a business world with a permanently altered future, rather than one waiting to return to the way it was before the pandemic. If many continue to work from home, the corporate world will need a lot fewer offices, so a diminished need for core cities and high-rise office buildings may result. And Nassirian, who has an ingrained understanding of corporate culture, suggests there may be less need for middle managers, whose primary role
“While I was earning my Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and my Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Iran became increasingly more dangerous. Access to my family became sparse and expensive, my international scholarships became null and void and my financial security went out the window.” The thoughts that have emerged from his cultural and business background, and his experience from COVID-19 make his book both interesting and valuable reading for those seeking new strategies to guide their businesses, as we emerge from the pandemic.
Z STEVE PAUL Z Northwest North Pole Adventures
But Steve Paul, the Spokane tech executive who has overseen all aspects of planning for the event for the past 20 years, put it this way: “Our 24th Spokane Fantasy Flight ‘took a long Winter’s nap’ this year! We plan to awaken in the New Year to celebrate our 25th event. A nap this year was the right thing to do.”
Camano Island residents and visitors absolutely love and admire the energy and effort that Brian Radford, the owner of Tapped Camano Island, has exhibited during his first year in business. The little taproom’s aim is to be engaged with and connected to the community and to be a local place to share moments together over great food and beverages. Their scratch kitchen is focused on using seasonal and local ingredients, as well as highlighting local breweries in their 20 taps and retail bottle shop.
Northwest North Pole Adventures
Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden agrees and said, “We’re looking forward to resuming this unique event next year.” Paul’s official title is president and CEO of Northwest North Pole Adventures (NNPA), the nonprofit he created that oversees the year-long details of planning the event. He said his board has agreed to provide an equal allocation of $2,500 to each of the four agencies that choose the children who will participate. He said the agencies opted to create their own events this year, rather than have NNPA create an event. The important thing was that, in easily his most challenging year yet, Paul made sure the orphans and foster kids in the Spokane area still had a special holiday season. “Normally, we host 60 to 65 children between the ages of 4-10 for a once-in-alifetime experience on the Fantasy Flight,” Paul said. “Per the agency feedback, our funds this year reached 150-200 children in the same age range, regardless of their past participation.” The four agencies involved with NNPA are St, Vincent de Paul of North Idaho and the Transition Living Center, the Catholic
Tapped Camano Island
Charities St. Margaret House and the Salvation Army Homeless Housing, all in Spokane.
Tapped is super supportive of the local community. Even in their first year of business, it backed multiple local causes and groups: Tapped gave away 100 meals to frontline workers at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett in the peak of the virus; donated to the Stanwood Food Bank and the Stanwood Camano Little League; gave on multiple occasions to the Josephine Caring Community, a local senior-care center hit extremely hard by the virus; and donated gift cards to various local causes. Above all else, they continued to keep their doors open, even while losing money, to give the community a glimpse of optimism and a level of commitment rarely seen these days.
“For 2021, we plan to resume ‘everything’ within the parameters of a post-pandemic ‘normal’! Our 2021 ‘I Believe Auction Gala’ is scheduled for September 25 at the Spokane Convention Center” Paul said. “And, most important of all, our Spokane Fantasy Flight will mark its 25th Being a new restaurant was hard enough, but Tapped not only rose to the challenge Anniversary!” during 2020, they managed to thrive and build an even stronger business through hard work and their authentic approach of wanting to be servants of the community. The Radfords moved their family from ZZZ Seattle to Camano Island in the true spirit being local owner/operators. They have “Most important of all, ofa small place but big plans to go along with their big hearts. If the stars align, our Spokane Fantasy they will successfully open their second Flight will mark its 25th location in Mukilteo in early 2021.
Anniversary!” ZZZ
They are truly fearless in their approach to making their dreams a reality. They also believe the reward of providing an awesome place in the community for people to gather is worth the risk. They are “all in.”
Tapped’s mission is to become a second-chance employer by providing a place for individuals coming out of hardship to learn a life skill, while earning a livable wage. Tapping into a human’s potential and providing him or her a platform for growth can help shatter current socio-economic barriers. But this can only happen if they can build a successful model and grow their business. If their beginning in 2020 is any indication, it will happen. More than ever, people now need to have human interaction and in-person moments with friends and loved ones. What better way to accomplish this than through great food and craft beer—and owners willing to support those who support them?
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 11
The Fantasy Flights that have brought 60-some Spokane-area needy kids and their elves to the North Pole each year to visit Santa has been Alaska Airlines’ annual holiday gift to those children, as well as employees who helped arrange or participated in the actual flights. Of course, the 24th annual event didn’t happen in 2020.
Z BRIAN RADFORD Z
CONGRATULATIONS, RYAN!
O
ur congratulations to Ryan Raser, chief operating officer of Leisure Care, for being selected as one of the 20 OF 2020, a special group of business people being honored for focusing on community during the year of COVID, while also staying focused on meeting the unique challenges the virus poses for business. In his 20 years with Leisure Care, Ryan has come to embody the values of Leisure Care, while helping to instill those values in employees who are responsible for more than 9,000 residents in the company’s 53 senior-living communities throughout the country. The foundation of the retirement industry is rooted, from its very inception, in taking care of people—and Ryan has always embraced that people-first philosophy as a business leader.
It’s an appropriate year for an executive of Leisure Care to be singled out for a special honor, since this is the 45th anniversary of the Seattle-based company, which was founded in 1976 by Charles (Chuck) Lytle with his wife, Karen, who joined management of the company in 1981. The Lytles built Leisure Care into one of the nation’s largest privately held retirement and assisted-living companies, managing, developing and consulting on all facets of the senior-living business. The Lytles also founded Lytle Enterprises as they founded Leisure Care and guided both companies from modest beginnings to two of the most successful and respected firms in the industry. In 2003, The couple sold Leisure Care to management, guided by CEO Dan Madsen. Today, Leisure Care continues to manage the Lytle-owned properties as one of the top five seniorliving companies in the country. The Lytles are particularly proud of how Leisure Care has been able, through great effort, to minimize the effect of COVID-19 on its residents and staff.
Z RYAN RASAR Z Leisure Care
Dan Madsen, chairman and CEO of Leisure Care, said, “Ryan has been a tenacious leader, and his attention to detail and passion for saving the lives of both residents and employees has been masterful.” Early in 2020, when COVID-19 hit the senior-living industry, Ryan developed these strategies: • Keep employees and residents safe and healthy. Guidelines changed rapidly, day-to-day, even hour-by-hour. With 53 senior-living communities spread throughout the United States, the company had to deal with changes that were specific to each city, county and state. • Put the right team together. He created a cross-functioning team with key leaders from operations, health and wellness, sales and marketing, food and beverage and more. The team met daily and quickly created new strategies, protocols and procedures that affected every aspect of Leisure Care operations throughout the country. • Take care of your team. Many Leisure Care employees were working 10-12 hour days, seven days a week to stay ahead of the crisis. But Ryan also stressed that employees needed to take care of themselves. He made sure team members took some time off and got enough sleep, food and exercise to avoid burnout. Keeping the team healthy allowed its members to keep residents healthy. • Innovate for today’s problems and tomorrow’s solutions. Ryan fast-tracked technology and other advancements
Westside Seattle
Ken and Tim Robinson of The Robinson Newspapers are being recognized for their innovative and sustained efforts to keep the family business alive, as well as help bolster the beleaguered community they serve. The brothers are co-publishers of the weekly Westside Seattle. That’s the umbrella name for the West Seattle Herald, Ballard News-Tribune and Highline Times/Des Moines News—all former individual weeklies owned by their late father, Jerry Robinson. The oldest of these newspapers dates back to 1893. Westside Seattle has helped supplement its revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic by appealing directly to its loyal reader base for contributions over that will make Leisure Care communities and above their annual subscriptions. In return, the paper has run lengthy lists of safer today and into the future. eating establishments that are open for • Communication is critical. Ryan quickly take-out during the pandemic and given realized that communication—both complimentary ads to struggling restauinternally and externally—would be an rants and neighborhood organizations. ongoing challenge. Early on, information about COVID-19 was literally chang- The paper also continues to devote extening every day, so the team made sure sive editorial space each week to the ongothat employees, residents and family ing efforts to solve the West Seattle Bridge members were always kept informed. closure, which is critical to the businesses They also developed new communica- and residents in the community it serves. tion strategies and templates so that information could be updated quickly In a house ad encouraging support of and easily for Leisure Care communities local news, they wrote: “We chose the throughout the country. name Westside Seattle a few years ago to reflect how the five communities on Today’s challenges make a better future. the Westside have grown together. And There’s no doubt that the last six months there was another reason: the cost of have been incredibly challenging for Leisure producing an individual paper for each Care. Ryan and his team were tested more of these communities, against the backthan they ever have been before in ways drop of declining revenues, made it prothey never imagined. They had to keep their hibitive—if we wanted to stay in business. residents and employees healthy, rethink As websites popped up like mushrooms nearly every aspect of their day-to-day oper- after a rain and everyone with a computer ations and work closely with dozens of local became a ‘publisher,’ we had to adapt. government and health agencies. There was no manual and no safety net. Despite all “We had to let some good people go when these challenges, the many changes they we no longer could afford their talent. This have made at Leisure Care will make the has made it tougher to put out a good company, better, safer and stronger in the product. But we are following the wisdom years to come. of our father, Jerry Robinson, whose motto
was ‘We never died a Winter yet.’ It means to keep going, even when the going gets tough. We have done that and will continue to do so. “Our commitment to keep going is strong. But we sure could use some help. You could subscribe to the print edition. You could simply donate a few bucks. Or you could advertise your business in the paper. Another option is to put your ad on our website.” Fortunately, the community has stepped forward on all of these fronts, in response to their appeal. In a business climate where 1,700 weekly newspapers have closed their doors in the past decade—many of those due to COVID-19—the Robinson brothers, as the leaders of Westside Seattle, indeed are worthy of this recognition.
ZZZ
“It means to keep going, even when the going gets tough.” ZZZ
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 13
Senior housing was the first industry hit by COVID-19, and it was hit hard. At Leisure Care, Chief Operating Office Ryan Rasar led the response to the pandemic. He successfully navigated the company through an unprecedented crisis that challenged and changed Leisure Care from top to bottom.
Z KEN AND TIM ROBINSON Z
Z RICK STEVES Z Rick Steves’ Europe
20 OF 2020 HONOREES • FEBRUARY 2021 • PAGE 14
Richard John Steves, Jr. is better known to those in his hometown of Edmonds—and the travel world—as Rick Steves, travel writer, author, activist, lecturer, philanthropist and TV personality. His Rick Steves Europe company has produced and hosted a travel series on public television since 2000 that encourages people to explore less-touristy destinations and become immersed in the locals’ way of life. He also has a public-radio travel show called Travels with Rick Steves (2005− present) and has authored numerous travel guides, the first of which was the popular Europe Through the Back Door. In 2006, he became a syndicated newspaper columnist, and in 2010, his company released a mobile-phone app called “Rick Steves’ Audio Europe,” containing • Closed the Rick Steves Europe Travel self-guided walking tours and geograph- Center on March 16; ical information. • Canceled the Rick Steves annual Travel Obviously, his company was hard hit by Festival, scheduled for April 4, and all the COVID-19 travel restrictions. In early other public travel talks; and August, Caroline Gerdes wrote on the KCTS website that Steves’ company had to can- • Canceled all other Rick Steves tours. cel thousands of trips and postpone filming for his TV series. And in a September Steves employs 100 people and felt a Zoom conference, he explained how he’s responsibility to retain them, despite his spending his time during the pandemic. business being on hold. He’s created the Rick Steves’ Volunteer Corps (RSVC). His “I’m doing my best to remain positive, vision is to have the flexibility within the keep busy, stay healthy, get my sleep and staff to accommodate personal needs be patient. This quarantine is kind of like and company needs, while offering a therapy for a workaholic. I’m addicted reliable and consistent workforce for to being really productive. And this is the many community projects RSVC is teaching me that there’s more to life than supporting. increasing in speed. So, I’m doing things you wouldn’t expect a travel writer to do. Said Steves. “We’d like to be sure the I’m learning how to cook. I’m cuddling people running those programs can with the dogs. I’m playing the piano. I’m count on steady, substantial and religetting to know the hummingbirds...” able help from us, rather than wonder if tomorrow’s shift will be covered.” Their In March, he told My Edmonds News, volunteer work includes cleaning local “Our top priority is keeping our staff, trails of trash and weeds, working with customers and the community safe and food banks and delivering food to seniors healthy.” To that end, his company took in Snohomish County. the following steps, until further notice: Rick Steves has been a driving force • Required all staffers who can do so to during the pandemic. May the force (conwork from home; tinue to) be with you, Rick!
Z JOAN WALLACE Z Wallace Properties
For Bellevue business leader Joan Wallace, giving and caring are what people should be expected to do in life. And, in her case, she’s pretty much made a life of doing just that— especially during the pandemic. Her involvements—accelerated by COVID19—begin with Jubilee REACH, a Bellevue nonprofit focused on “building a caring community in and around schools to meet the social and emotional needs of students and their families.” “Since last March, families all across the greater Eastside have been showing up at Jubilee REACH every single week with a couple bags of groceries that are immediately placed into the hands of waiting, needy people,” said Wallace, longtime president of Bellevue’s Wallace Properties. “There are 26 Eastside community enterprises he has underchurches involved in this effort in which taken is the building of a low-income one family feeds another every week.” apartment complex that houses a largely Muslim community,” Wallace explained. Then there’s Congregation for the Homeless, a shelter for homeless men “My conversations with Rev. Drake in downtown Bellevue, which had only revealed a need for baby diapers, wipes been open six months a year, until the and toilet tissue, so I put out an email pandemic made it clear that the need for request to my neighbors, as did our food and shelter would stretch through daughter, Kim. And in one week, our colthe Winter. lective neighbors donated enough to fill three large SUVs, and our entire famSo her son, Kevin, a former Bellevue City ily caravanned to the Rainier Valley to Council member, reached out to the com- deliver the goods. munity and raised the equivalent of $2 million in labor and supplies to get the Joan’s outreach and good works are not building up to code in time to get open limited to 2020. Her philanthropy and for the Winter. work in the Bellevue community over the years is well known. But it would be most Meanwhile, Joan and her husband, appropriate if she is remembered longBob, donated $5,000 and worked with term for her nearly two decades of involveMaggiano’s Restaurant and Costco to ment with the Yakima Valley community of fill food needs two nights a week when a Granger. The town is 85% Hispanic, with previous volunteer program was discon- most families below poverty level. It has tinued due to the pandemic. experienced the impacts of funds raised by her annual Thanksgiving email appeal But the Wallaces outreach hasn’t been for her 501c3, Friends of Granger. Those limited to the Eastside. “I have a friend, impacts include helping the Granger the Rev. Harvey Drake, who heads a school set the mark for best attendance largely African-American church in in the state and supplying needy families the Rainier Valley. Among the many with food and clothing.
Congratulations, Honorees! BRIGHT LIGHTS
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A Salute To Steve Paul! Powers Economics is pleased to congratulate Steve Paul for his selection as a 20 OF 2020 Award recipient. His contributions—not just in 2020 but for many years—have been laudable. For two decades, Steve has guided the Fantasy Flight to the North Pole that takes 60-plus orphans and foster children from the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area on a trip to Santa’s home, via an Alaska Airlines 737. As Paul put it in his profile on Page 11: “Our 24th Spokane Fantasy Flight took ‘a long Winter’s nap’ in 2020! But we plan to awaken in the New Year to celebrate our 25th event.” The dozens of volunteers who have helped Steve fulfill this unique annual event—thanks obviously to the generosity of Alaska Airlines— are an example of the Spokane Spirit on display. Thank you, Steve! —John Powers, Founder/CEO, Powers Economics Powers Economics is a business and economic development consultancy offering a myriad of advisory services to a multitude of clients in the private, public and NGO sectors. A virtual partnership of “best in business” professionals, Powers Economics is led by John Powers—with 40 years of experience in delivering exceptional professional service to clients and exemplary servant leadership to the organizations he has helped guide and grow. With broad experience in business and economic development matters, Powers Economics assists clients in understanding the essential need to incorporate the fundamental values of diversity, equity and inclusion in all of its policies and practices. Powers Economics has long been a leader in assisting clients in designing and deploying dynamic environmental sustainability objectives—“resiliency”—in all they do. Powers Economics was born out of John Powers’ years of focus on building economies, beginning with his time as mayor of Spokane and enhanced during his years guiding the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County and, then, in the private sector, as head of Colliers International of Washington and, finally, guiding the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. Contact: John Powers, john@powerseconomics.com, (360) 536-0996 ECONOMY
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