Published February 2002

Business Briefs

Business women begin
‘Lunch and Learn’ series
The Greater Port Gardner Bay Business and Professional Women chapter will kick off its “Lunch and Learn” series with Gail Rauch, Snohomish County Assessor, on Feb. 12 at The Flying Pig restaurant in downtown Everett.

At the event, which runs from noon to 12:50 p.m., Rauch will present the topic “Everything You Wanted to Know about Property Tax and Are Afraid to Ask.”

Cost of the event is $10, and reservations are required and due by Feb. 5.

For reservations or more information on the “Lunch and Learn” series, which will be held the second Tuesday of each month, call chapter President Samantha Hicks at 425-355-8805.

Intermec offers new version of computer
Everett’s Intermec Technologies Corp. recently launched the newest version of its industrial 5020 hand-held computer, now available with Microsoft Windows CE.NET software.

Intermec introduced it at the Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as part of Microsoft’s launch of Windows CE.NET, which is designed to be run on mobile devices.

The new Intermec 5020 is intended for use by workers in loading docks and warehouses so they can collect information there and then transfer it to their company’s main computer system.

AWB honors TERRA, Crown Distributing
Two Snohomish County-based companies have been recognized by the Association of Washington Business as “better workplaces.”

TERRA Resource Group of Everett won the AWB’s 2001 Better Workplace Award in the Job Training and Advancement Programs category, and Crown Distributing earned the award in the Innovative Benefit and Compensation Programs category.

Grand opening rescheduled
for Everett Station
Due to last-minute scheduling conflicts, the Everett Station grand opening, originally scheduled for Jan. 31, has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 4.

The postponement had nothing to do with the station’s construction, said Dale Preboski, Public Information Director for the city of Everett. It was more a matter of speakers’ availability.

The event, which is open to the public, is scheduled to include appearances by Washington state Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald, Federal Transportation Administration Regional Administrator Helen Knoll, Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel, Washington state Commissioner of Employment Security Sylvia Mundy, Publisher Emeritus of The Herald and Higher Education Coordinating board member Larry Hanson, and Everett Mayor Ed Hansen.

SonoSite products approved for Japan
Bothell’s SonoSite Inc. announced recently that it has received clearance from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to market and distribute the SonoSite 180PLUS and the SonoHeart PLUS hand-carried ultrasound devices in Japan.

“The clearance of the SonoSite PLUS platform in Japan signifies another major milestone for the company,” said Kevin Goodwin, President and CEO of SonoSite.

Earlier versions have been well received in Japan, he said.

Workshop to focus on long-term care
Edward Jones Investments will host a 90-minute workshop on the topic of long-term care Feb. 20.

Featured will be guest speaker Wendy Boglioli from GE Capital Assurance, a provider of long-term care insurance. Boglioli is an Olympic gold medalist and a top-notch expert on long-term care issues.

The workshop is being offered at two different times: an early session beginning at 3 p.m., and a later session at 6 p.m.

The event is free, but seating is limited. For reservations and directions, call Eric Cumley or Liza Douglas at 425-353-2322.

Occasio branch opens in Stanwood
Washington Mutual has opened one of its new Occasio branches inside the Haggen store at 26603 72nd Ave. NW in Stanwood. It is one of 48 involved in a nationwide pilot program that retrofits concepts from the new retail-oriented theme into existing branches.

It follows the bank’s south Everett branch inside the Fred Meyer store at 8530 Evergreen Way, which opened with the new features last March.

Beverage distributors
consolidate companies
Sound Beverage Distributing of Mount Vernon has purchased Clark Distributing Co. of Everett and is moving to consolidate the two companies in Everett under the Sound name.

Sound Beverage owner Ellis Tofte said he was approached by the former Clark owners, the Pitcher family, who wanted to sell out and retire.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The combined company will distribute Miller Brewing products and Gallo wines to retailers in Snohomish, Skagit, Island and northern King counties from Everett.

Sound Beverage’s offices are moving south to the former Clark plant at 2206 36th St. in Everett, and the company has added a couple of employees to handle the additional work.

The company also will maintain a Mount Vernon sales office. The current Sound Beverage warehouse and office is for sale.

Frontier Bank schedules
economic forecast
Frontier Bank will hold its annual economic forecast for Snohomish County from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Feb. 14 at the Everett Performing Arts Center.

Michael Parks, Editor and Publisher of Marple’s Business Newsletter will be the featured speaker.

The free program, which includes a continental breakfast, is open to all. For reservations, call Barbara McCarthy at 425-514-0714.

SBA launches BusinessLaw.gov
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently launched a Web site that gives small-business owners access to legal and regulatory business information.

The site, www.businesslaw.gov, is designed to help small businesses reduce the burden of complying with laws and regulations, according to a news release issued by the SBA.

Professional development classes
offered at EdCC
Edmonds Community College is offering a number of professional development classes Fridays throughout the winter, including:

• “Be the Leader Others Follow”: Enhancing leadership skills, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 1.
• “Dynamic Group Process”: Learning to lead effective meetings and retreats, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 8.
• “The Fish Philosophy”: Using the same techniques that attract visitors to the fish markets at Pike Place Market to bring energy and fun to the workplace, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 15.
• “Public Speaking: New Ideas That Work!”: Learning to prepare and present memorable speeches, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 1.

For more information, visit www.edcc.edu/cll/schedule on the Web. To register, call 425-640-1390.

Seattle businessman
buys Arlington company
Arlington-based Aerospace Machining Specialists recently was purchased by Seattle businessman Dave Kelly and will be operated as A.M. Specialists LLC, according to a news release.

Kelly, already an owner of four aerospace-related businesses, will keep the company, which specializes in supporting the aircraft overhaul and repair industry, at its current 7,500-square-foot machine shop, according to the release.

Mark Stobb, General Manager of Asko Industrial Repair, another of Kelly’s holdings, will run both companies, which together employ 21 people.

The acquisition enables parent company Asko Group to “offer a rapid response mobile machine-shop truck with its own power source for on-site precision field machining services, available 24/7, for aircraft-on-the-ground emergencies,” the Asko Group said.

Fluke moving California division to Everett
Fluke Corp. will move its accessories division to Everett from Pomona, Calif., the company recently announced. At the same time, it is eliminating 17 jobs in Everett, mostly administrative support personnel.

The moves are designed to cut costs in a “difficult economic environment,” the company said.

The Pomona unit now employs 100 people. All the work that group now does will be transferred to Fluke’s component assembly building on Evergreen Way in Everett by June 1, spokesman Larry Wilson said.

That doesn’t necessarily mean 100 new jobs will be created here, he said. Combining the operations will mean some Pomona jobs will become redundant. All current Pomona employees will be offered the chance to move to Everett.

New businesses
n Seton Tax Service has just opened at 15414 Smokey Point Blvd., Suite B, in the Cascade Storage Building in Marysville. The office phone number is 360-651-1481.

n Curves for Women, a fitness and weight-loss center designed for women, recently opened at the corner of 112th Street and Evergreen Way in Everett. It is managed by Bebs Magbag.

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