Published March 2001

Business Briefs

Women’s group sets March meeting
The Greater Port Gardner Bay Business and Professional Women will celebrate Women’s History Month at its meeting March 26.

The featured speaker will be Seattle University’s Chair of the theology and religious studies department, Dr. Jeaneatte Rodriguez-Holguin.

Dinner, networking and the business meeting are from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Flying Pig, 2929 Colby Ave. in Everett. Rodriguez-Holguin’s talk will follow at 7:15 p.m. The reservation deadline is March 23. Call Laurie McCormick at 425-355-3415.

Big Apple Casino opens
The Big Apple Casino opened last month at Club Broadway, on the ground floor of the historic Masonic Temple at the corner of Everett and Wetmore avenues.

The casino will replace Club Broadway’s country music dance club, which had become a money-loser, owner Allen Hemmat said.

County EDC to hold economic update luncheon
The Snohomish County Economic Development Council will hold an economic update luncheon March 28 at Embassy Suites in Lynnwood. The featured speaker will be Clifford G. Rudolph, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced TelCom Group Inc.

Also at the meeting, the Herald Business Journal will announce its Executive of the Year. To make reservations, call the EDC at 425-743-4567.

SonoSite lays off 10 in reaction to slow sales
Bothell-based SonoSite Inc., which makes hand-carried digital ultrasound devices, laid off 10 employees Feb. 12, about 6 percent of its work force of 180, company officials said.

Chief Financial Officer Michael Schuh said the move was made because slower-than-expected sales in the third and fourth quarters left SonoSite with more inventory than planned.

In its year-end financial statement released last month, SonoSite reported a net loss of $8.2 million on revenues of $6.7 million for the quarter and a loss of $19.0 million on revenues of $32 million for the year. In 1999, the first year it sold any products, the company lost $21.7 million on revenues of $10.2 million.

Northwest Region tops in Verizon network
The Northwest Region was named Verizon National Operations’ Region of the Year for its excellent balance of strong customer satisfaction results and financial performance, according to an announcement by Eileen O’Neill Odum, President-National Operations.

The Northwest Region is composed of Verizon’s operations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and northern California.

Networking groups to meet this month
The Everett Northend Networkers, a chapter of Business Network International, will hold a “Visitors Day” breakfast meeting from 7:15 to 8:45 a.m. March 8 at Mr. Bill’s Restaurant at the Everett Mall. For reservations, call Kathie Marr at 425-710-0855.

On March 14, Snohomish County BNI chapters will hold a quarterly, joint-chapter meeting from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Old Country Buffet, 4601 200th St. SW in Lynnwood. Cost of registration is $7 prepaid through March 8 and $10 thereafter or at the door. For more information or to register, call 800-286-0508.

Rite Aid closing Lynnwood, Everett Mall outlets
Two Snohomish County Rite Aid stores, including the one at the Everett Mall, are closing their doors.

The Everett Mall store closed Feb. 9, corporate spokeswoman Jody Cook said, though it remained open afterward for inventory liquidation.

The Lynnwood Center store’s pharmacy closed Feb. 24, and the general merchandise section of the store will close April 21, Cook said.

Arlington ends commercial-park impact fees
The Arlington City Council last month unanimously voted to eliminate park impact fees for commercial and industrial projects.

Cliff Strong, Arlington’s Planning Manager, said the city lacked a record of good reasons on how the impact fee rate was established. With a number of developers protesting the fees, city attorney Steve Peiffle recommended the council change the city’s development rules and repeal the fees.

Arlington adopted park mitigation fees for commercial and industrial projects in 1990.

United Way recognizes companies’ charitable giving
Community Transit, Royell Manufacturing and Eddie Bauer’s Customer Satisfaction Center were the top three Snohomish County companies recently honored by United Way of Snohomish County for their outstanding support of its 2000 fund-raising campaign.

Community Transit raised $19,256, according to a news release. Royell Manufacturing Inc. donated $9,215 to the campaign, and Eddie Bauer Customer Satisfaction Center raised $97,901, including a corporate match of $12,500.

Travel agency changes name
Doug Fox Travel of Everett has changed its name to First Travel and Cruise. For more information on First Travel and Cruise, call 425-339-1533 or visit the agency’s Web site, www.firsttravelandcruise.com.

Rotary clubs to hold student career fair
The Everett Rotary clubs are hosting the annual Career Fair for students in grades eight through 12 from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. March 28 at Everett Community College. The Career Fair is co-sponsored by the Downtown Everett, the Port Gardner and the South Everett/Mukilteo Rotary clubs in cooperation with the school districts throughout Snohomish County.

Back to the top/March 2001 Main Menu