Published November 2002

Business Briefs

HCI hosts industry workshop
HCI Steel Building Systems Inc. recently held a three-day workshop for members of the pre-engineered building industry at its headquarters in Arlington. Topics covered included computer pricing, engineering considerations for buildings with mezzanines and cranes.

Builders also toured HCI’s new computerized beam line, capable of producing clear-span buildings up to 600 feet wide.

Tye City Insurance
joins forces with PEMCO
Tye City Insurance of Monroe has become a PEMCO Insurance agency, offering PEMCO’s personal lines of auto, home, boat, life and umbrella coverage.

Cunningham, a Monroe resident for the past five years, opened Tye City Insurance in December 2000.

Two tech companies
make ‘fastest growing’ list
Epoch Biosciences Inc. ranks 107th among North America’s 500 fastest-growing technology firms, according to this year’s edition of Deloitte & Touche’s annual list. Eden Bioscience Corp. also made the list, ranking 225th.

The two Bothell companies are the only ones based in Snohomish County to make the Fast 500, which rates American and Canadian high-tech companies based on revenue growth over five years. Deloitte & Touche released the 2002 list in October.

Overall, 16 Washington companies are on the newest Fast 500 list, with Seattle-based Cray Inc. placing highest at No. 3.

Nastech buys back vitamin gel
Bothell-based Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. has bought back all the sales rights for the company’s lead product, a vitamin B12 nasal gel called Nascobal, from Schwarz Pharma AG for a reported $8.75 million.

After developing the synthetic form of B12, Nastech signed a marketing agreement with Schwarz in 1997. In July, the company terminated its agreement, saying Schwarz failed to promote the product sufficiently. But Schwarz still held exclusive U.S. sales and distribution rights to the drug.

Under the acquisition agreement, Nastech already has paid $1.5 million and will provide the rest of the $8.75 million plus interest to Schwarz over the next four years. In return, Schwarz gives up all rights to the product.

Sonus secures patent
Sonus Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received a U.S. patent to cover Tocosol paclitaxel, the Bothell company’s lead product for cancer therapy.

Tocosol is a vitamin-E-based formulation that incorporates paclitaxel, one of the world’s most widely used anti-cancer drugs. In clinical trial results released in September, the disease control rate of Tocosol, which has not yet received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ranged from 37 percent in ovarian cancer to 89 percent in bladder cancer.

U.S. Bank, EdCC Foundation
help low-income parents
U.S. Bank and the Edmonds Community College Foundation recently pledged thousands of dollars to help low-income parents get an education, according to the college.

U.S. Bank plans to give $3,000 to fund career assessments, GED testing fees, books and materials and monthly literacy events, and the foundation plans to give $7,000 to support child-care and transportation assistance to aid low-income parents at EdCC.

For more information about family literacy at EdCC, call 425-640-1255 or go to www.edcc.edu/ftw on the Web. For more information about the foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports programs at the college, call 425-640-1884 or go to http://foundation.edcc.edu on the Web.

Seattle Genetics announces partnership
Bothell-based Seattle Genetics Inc. recently announced that it has partnered with a New York company for the development and manufacture of drug components.

Albany Molecular Research Inc., which also has a research center in Bothell, will make drug-linker systems, which are important parts of Seattle Genetics’ antibody-based therapies. The company has three antibody-based drugs in clinical trials, including potential treatments for Hodgkin’s disease and a variety of cancers.

Prolinx links with distributor
Prolinx Inc., a Bothell maker of tools for research and drug discovery, has signed a distribution agreement with VWR International of West Chester, Pa. Financial terms of the agreement were not released.

VWR will distribute Prolinx systems used for DNA sequencing and related laboratory work.

Founded in 1995, privately held Prolinx is also developing instruments that analyze molecular interactions.

Everett Mall recognized
for response to Sept. 11
The Everett Mall recently was recognized for marketing excellence by the MAXI Awards program of the International Council of Shopping Centers, winning a merit award for its response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Following the attacks, the mall created a place for the community to gather and pay tribute to the heroes and victims of the attacks. Written messages, tokens of remembrance and works by local artists and schools were displayed there, with many of the items being stored in a time capsule to be opened on Sept. 11, 2026.

Recognition for the award was given to Kristi Keene, mall marketing director; Julie Tennyson, assistant marketing director; Linda Johannes, general manager; and Tara E. Monnig, director of marketing, Western region.

The mall is managed by Madison Marquette Retail Services.

Left-Tee Golf.com sponsors conference
Everett-based Left-Tee Golf.com LLC, an Internet portal for left-handed golfers, was a sponsor of the Executive Women’s Golf Association 2002 Annual Conference and Championship, which was held in Orlando, Fla., at the end of October.

“We’re excited to be a part of what we see as one of the key women’s golf events of the year,” said Beth Davis-Johnson, Left-Tee Golf.com’s managing general partner. “Our company focus towards women’s golf, combined with the EWGA’s advocacy for the game of golf, makes our relationship an excellent fit.”

Founded in April 2000, Left-Tee Golf.com has more than 800 registered members worldwide and a network of over 150 left-handed PGA Teaching Professionals. For more information visit www.left-teegolf.com.

CombiMatrix settles suit
CombiMatrix Corp.’s parent company, Acacia Research Inc. of Newport Beach, Calif., will give a California biotechnology firm $1 million, stock and royalty payments to settle a 2-year-old lawsuit over disputed technology and patent rights.

Nanogen Inc. of San Diego, which makes molecular testing products, filed its complaint in late 2000 against Mukilteo-based CombiMatrix and Donald Montgomery, the local company’s co-founder and chief technical officer. CombiMatrix is developing biochips for life sciences research.

The suit alleged that Montgomery, a former Nanogen employee, disclosed information about Nanogen’s technology and other trade secrets to CombiMatrix and then filed patent applications related to that information under his own name. Nanogen also alleged breach of contract and unfair competition. Under the settlement, Nanogen acknowledges that CombiMatrix owns all rights to the disputed patents.

Good Works nominees sought
The Pacific Northwest Good Works Awards program is seeking nominees who have demonstrated business efforts or partnerships that reflect creativity and commitment to public service.

Judges of the eighth annual awards competition will consider efforts begun or continuing in the period June 2001 through June 2002 in areas of innovation in corporate philanthropy, commitment to employee involvement in community service, creativity in public/private partnerships and positive values in everyday business.

Deadline for entries is Nov. 18. For more information, including complete guidelines and entry forms, call 206-443-6670 or go online to KCTS.org.

Fair Advisory Board nominees sought
Snohomish County government is seeking residents with experience and interest in the Evergreen State Fair for its Fair Advisory Board. Nomination forms are due by Nov. 15. Four new appointments will be made to four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2003.

The board meets monthly, normally on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds in Monroe.

For more information about the Fair Advisory Board or its duties, contact Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell at 360-805-6700. To request a nomination form, contact Connie Mennie at 425-388-3876 or send e-mail to connie.mennie@co.snohomish.wa.us.

The nomination form also is available online at www.co.snohomish.wa.us/Volunteers/Nomform.pdf.

Tourism Bureau rolls out
seasonal events calendar
The Snohomish County Tourism Bureau’s 2002-2003 Fall/Winter Calendar of Events, which features fairs, festivals, museums, markets and other attractions through March 2003, is now available.

Free copies of the calendar are available at local chambers of commerce, visitor information centers and public libraries. Call 425-348-5802 for a pick-up location or order online at the bureau’s Web site, www.snohomish.org.

Workforce Explorer
up and running on Web
Workforce Explorer, an interactive Web site aimed at job seekers, students and businesses, is now online at www.workforceexplorer.com to deliver information about jobs and the economy, the Washington State Employment Security Department announced in October.

Developed by employment agencies in 22 states, the site offers tips on starting a business, training opportunities, wage information and economic indicators.

SBA seeks award nominations
The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for Small Business Person of the Year awards given annually to outstanding small business persons and small business advocates.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Dec. 6. For information and forms, contact Michele Liebes in the SBA Seattle District Office at 206-553-7082, by e-mail to michele.liebes@sba.gov, or stop by the SBA’s Seattle office at 1200 Sixth Ave., Suite 1700.

New businesses, locations
n Ronald Dumont has opened Retro Ronnie’s Value Vintage gift and novelty store at 2625 Colby Ave. in Everett. Previously, Retro Ronnie’s had only been accessible via the Internet at www.RetroRonnie.com.

n Jeff Halligan has started 1st Successful Web Design, an Everett-based business offering Web-site design and marketing consultation services as well as Web-based applications. For more information, call 425-257-0441, send e-mail to sales@successfulwebdesign.net or visit the company’s Web site, www.successfulwebdesign.net.

n PJ Sound Pizza LLC recently opened a Papa John’s Pizza restaurant at 25 95th Ave. SE in Lake Stevens.

n Starbright Early Learning Center recently opened at 607 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 13, in Everett. The center is owned and operated by Kim Borgatta, a specialist in early-childhood and primary education. For more information, call 424-514-5972 or visit the center’s Web site, www.starbrightearlylearningcenter.com.

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