Business Briefs

  • HBJ staff
  • Tuesday, June 25, 2013 1:12pm

Everett Clinic rates as a best company again

EVERETT — For the third year in a row, The Everett Clinic has been named to the list of 100 Best Companies to Work For by Seattle Business Magazine. The Everett Clinic was recognized for its workplace environment, corporate culture and leadership. Its top score was for valuing employees.

It ranked 17th in the large company category, up one position from last year. The winners were chosen based on extensive surveys sent to nearly 10,000 employees. The top winners in each category were selected from among the top scorers by a panel of expert judges. See the list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For 2013, at seattlebusinessmag.com.

In 2013, The Everett Clinic was also named one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For; Becker’s Review’s 100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare; and a Puget Sound Business Journal Top 75 Corporate Philanthropist.

“The fact that we’ve received these honors multiple years in a row speaks to our culture of continuous improvement,” said Everett Clinic CEO Rick Cooper. “It shows we’re working to provide the best care for our patients and are committed to a supportive workplace to provide that care.”

McClain Insurance joins fireworks effort

EVERETT — While the City of Seattle scrambled to find funding for its annual July 4 fireworks show, Everett stood tall with plans for a spectacular Fourth of July experience. Local businesses, including independent insurance agency McClain Insurance Services, came together to ensure that Everett’s festivities would be a go.

“I’ve lived in Everett for over 30 years. The idea of not having a parade or fireworks was unthinkable,” said agency owner, Claudia McClain. “I know the memories that my family was able to make when our children were small, and I feel blessed to be able to pay it forward to our community.”

With a family fun run, parade, street festival and one grand fireworks show dubbed “Thunder on the Bay,” residents can look forward to celebrating our national holiday in style.

McClain Insurance’s long-standing summer event sponsorship also includes the popular Cinema Under the Stars outdoor movie series at Thornton A. Sullivan Park on Silver Lake in south Everett. This year’s series begins with “The Pirates, Band of Misfits — It’s a Plunderful Life” on July 19. Learn more about McClain’s summer festival sponsorships at www.autohomeboat.com/summerfun.

If you hire a minor worker, be prepared

OLYMPIA — Vigilant, an organization that helps employers navigate employment law pitfalls, recommends businesses review key employment laws regarding the hiring of teenagers. With the start of summer, hiring minors as part-time or seasonal workers may be necessary to match demand, but employers need to be familiar with employment laws and regulations that impact minor employees.

“Minors are protected by the same employment laws that protect adults, including minimum wage, overtime, deductions and anti-discrimination laws,” said Rick Laboda, employment attorney at Vigilant.

In addition to federal laws that impact minor employees, some requirements and restrictions come from state laws. In Washington, age 14 is generally the youngest age that a nonagricultural employer may employ a minor, although some exceptions apply. Washington employers must apply for and obtain a Minor Work Permit for each work location where minors will be employed from the Business Licensing Service or any Labor &Industries office annually, as well as obtain a signed parent-school authorization form and keep the employment records for at least three years after hiring. State law also restricts the hours of work per day and week, and days per week, teens under 18 are allowed to work, especially during the school year.

Additionally, Washington state law cites “prohibited duties” that restrict teens in both agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, including specific duties in restaurants, delis and grocery stores, construction-related activities or any potentially hazardous job situation.

Learn about other online resources for safety-related training and education for minors at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at www.cdc.gov/niosh and the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act at www.lni.wa.gov/Safety.

Announcements

EVERETT — U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., selected by Gov. Jay Inslee to lead the Washington state delegation to the 50th International Paris Air Show, joined Umbra Cuscinetti, Inc., to announce the company’s move into a newly-renovated, energy-efficient 68,000-square-foot facility in Everett. Umbra Cuscinetti is the U.S. entity of Italian-owned Umbra Group.

ARLINGTON — Turn-Key Repair and Maintenance has relocated from Everett to 16910 59th Ave. NE Suite 202 in Arlington. The family- and veteran-owned company provides a full spectrum of services for both commercial and residential customers including plumbing, electrical, painting, carpentry and repairs. Turn-Key also provides property management.

MARYSVILLE — WISE (Women Inspiring Successful Entrepreneurs) announced their new status as a non-profit. The organization is for women in business seeking personal and professional growth. WISE Women meet on the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Holiday Inn Express in Marysville. Register for the next Wise event at www.AreYouAWiseWoman.eventbrite.com.

MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Boys &Girls Club has been chosen to receive a grant from the Regal Entertainment group, which will allow members to see movies during the 2013 Regal Summer Movie Express. The Marysville Club will offer a shuttle to a movie each Tuesday for children who are interested in going. More information is available at the club.

OLYMPIA — The statewide WorkSource system has launched a new online calendar that makes it easier for job seekers to learn about job fairs or to register for job-search workshops anywhere in Washington. It is accessible 24 hours a day on any device with web access. Find more information online at www.Go2WorkSource.com.

EVERETT — Boeing celebrated the 50th delivery of a 747-8. Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the launch customer of the passenger version, took delivery of the milestone aircraft almost one year after the first revenue flight of the 747-8 Intercontinental. It is the airline’s seventh 747-8 and its 82nd 747.

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Ecology is offering $2 million in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants to eight Puget Sound communities to help curb the adverse effects storm water can pose to the region’s critical watersheds. Edmonds and Mukilteo are among those communities. Read project details at www.ecy.wa.gov/puget_sound/docs/grants/2013StormwaterRetrofitAwarded.pdf.

OAK HARBOR — Washington Banking Co., the holding company for Whidbey Island Bank, announced that its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 775,000 shares of the company’s outstanding shares or approximately 5 percent of current outstanding shares. The number, timing and price of shares repurchased will depend on business and market conditions and other factors.

OLYMPIA — An outbreak of hepatitis A linked to Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend frozen berries has sickened 30 people in five states, the Washington Department of Health reported. The berries were sold in Costco stores throughout the state. Return unused bags to any Costco store. If you consumed this product recently, contact your health care provider to see if you should receive treatment.

LYNNWOOD — In 2014, Clothes for Kids will celebrate 30 years of serving students in Snohomish County with a gala celebration and fundraiser. If you are interested in joining the gala planning committee, please contact CFK development director Joy Ingram at jingram@clothesforkids.org or call 425-741-6500.

EVERETT — Snohomish County PUD wants to help customers save energy and money with compact fluorescent light bulbs and LEDs in their homes. PUD lighting discounts are available at local retailers. For more details, including a list of lighting discount locations, go to www.snopud.com/efficientlighting or 425-783-1700.

EVERETT — Everett Community College will receive a $303,827 federal grant for to help students pursue training in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The National Science Foundation grant will support the college’s Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing program and will allow the program to promote training opportunities to high school students and their parents. It will also help keep at-risk college students enrolled.

MARYSVILLE — Marysville and Tulalip police recently partnered to roll out a new Business Watch Program. Business owners who are interested in starting a Business Watch group in the Marysville/Tulalip business community can contact Lt. Mark Thomas at 360-363-8321 or mthomas@marysvillewa.gov, Business Watch coordinator Bob Rise at 360-363-8325 or MVP@marysvillewa.gov or Tulalip Deputy Chief Carlos Echevarria at 360-716-4608 or CEchevarria@TulalipTribalPolice.org.

EVERETT — Everett Community College will be open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and closed on Fridays now through Aug. 30. The college will be closed for Labor Day Sept. 2 and return to eight-hour days starting Sept. 3. This is the college’s fifth year of switching to a four-day work week during the summer.

BOTHELL — Cellular Sales has announced the grand opening of a new store at 21129 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell. The new location, which is near Fred Meyer on Bothell-Everett Highway, shares its new building with a Sears Home Appliance store. The opening of the store is expected to create at least 10 jobs.

BOTHELL — TalentWise has secured $25 million in funding from a Seattle-based private equity investor to support its strategic plan for growth. TalentWise, which experienced revenue growth in excess of 50 percent in 2012, provides human resources, hiring managers, candidates and new hires with a single, cloud-based platform that automates the end-to-end hiring process.

OLYMPIA — Local sales and use tax rates will change July 1 in the city of Stanwood, which will see a sales and use tax rate increase of 0.2 percent. The tax will be used for transportation services, and increase the Stanwood sales tax rate to 8.8 percent. More information is available online at dor.wa.gov/LocalTaxRateChanges.

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee declared June as General Aviation Appreciation Month in Washington state. Washington is home to 135 public-use airports, more than 19,000 pilots and more than 6,660 general aviation aircraft. The state’s aviation system supports 248,500 jobs, $15.3 billion in wages and $50.9 billion in economic activity.

STANWOOD — Port Susan Farmers’ Market will open at 3 p.m. July 5 just off Highway 532 in the Viking Village. Vending opportunities are still available. The market is also recruiting volunteers. For information about how to become a vendor or to volunteer, call market manager Leslie Collings at 360-202-3932 or go to www.portsusan.org and download an application.

MUKILTEO — The Future of Flight Aviation Center now offers twice-daily guided tours of the center’s aviation gallery and its exhibits. The 60-minute detailed tours begin at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday through Sept. 20. Admission for the guided tours is included in the regular ticket price.

EVERETT — Fluke Corp. has launched the Energy Resource Center, an interactive knowledge base to help facility managers both identify and quantify energy waste. The Fluke Energy Resource Center features interactive diagrams that illustrate energy wastes and measurement steps for various building systems. To access the resource center or register for an energy workshop, go to www.fluke.com/fluke/usen/solutions/energy.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — City manager John Caulfield said the city has received a number of financial reporting awards, including the Standard and Poor’s AA bond rating, Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. The city’s 2013 first-quarter financial report and performance measures were presented at the City Council’s June 13 meeting.

EVERETT — Intermec has announced the release of two new scanning solutions: the SF61B, a compact wireless mobility scanner optimized for distribution center, transportation and logistics, field service and health-care operations, and the SR31T, a robust tethered scanner for general purpose and light industrial environments. Both scanners feature premium performance and dependable data collection.

MILL CREEK — Thanks to financing from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, 228 affordable apartments will soon be built in unincorporated Snohomish County — including four- and five-bedroom units for large families. Located just south of Mill Creek on the west side of the Bothell-Everett Highway, near shopping and Paine Field, the District Apartments will be completed in April 2014.

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Commerce announced nearly $8 million in grants to create jobs and to help seven higher-education institutions lower their energy costs. Projects for the third round of funding were selected from 10 grant applications requesting a total of more than $11 million. Edmonds Community College received $1,971,537.

OLYMPIA — Washington’s average annual wage grew by 3.4 percent in 2012, to $51,595, surpassing $50,000 for the first time, according to the state Employment Security Department. These figures include only those wages that are covered by unemployment insurance. Much of the increase was driven by a 6.1 percent increase in the number of insured workers earning more than $75,000.

OLYMPIA — Scammers are calling Washington residents claiming to represent various Washington courts and demanding residents wire money by 10 a.m. or face arrest. The scammer is spoofing court phone numbers, so it looks like a court is calling. The Attorney General’s Office stated that courts never call people to collect debts and consumers should be skeptical of any call demanding money.

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment is seeking nominations for employer awards for companies that provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities and for an individual with a disability who has enhanced the empowerment of people with disabilities. Nominations are due by Aug. 30. Learn more at tinyurl.com/2013-gov.

CHICAGO — Boeing made significant improvements in its environmental performance, even as total airplane deliveries increased by 50 percent from 2007 to 2012, according to the company’s annual environment report. Boeing’s manufacturing and office employees consumed less energy and water, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, generated less hazardous waste and sent less solid waste to landfills.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued four final rules in the Federal Register to increase size standards for firms in four North American Industry Classification System sectors and one subsector. Size standards define the maximum size a firm can be and still be considered a small business. More information is at www.sba.gov/wa.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Energy Department has launched eGallon, a quick and simple way for consumers to compare the costs of fueling electric vehicles vs. driving on gasoline. In Washington, the eGallon price is about $.84, meaning that a typical electric vehicle could travel as far on $.84 worth of electricity as a similar vehicle could travel on a gallon of gasoline.

Kudos

EVERETT — Aviation Technical Services recently received certification for Quality Management System standards AS9100 Rev. C for the scope of aircraft component, maintenance, alterations and rework. ATS senior quality manager Nick Heminger said AS9100 certification is a prestigious credential that required ATS to demonstrate its capability to meet the complex and unique requirements of the aerospace industry.

ARLINGTON — The National FFA Organization in partnership with John Deere awarded a $2,000 scholarship to Christina Rogers of Arlington High School-FFA. This scholarship is from Papé Machinery and John Deere Co. through a special project of the National FFA Foundation. Rogers plans to use the funds to pursue a degree at Western Washington University.

SEATTLE — Washington Aerospace Scholars, a competitive educational program based at Seattle’s Museum of Flight for high school juniors from across the state, has accepted five Snohomish County students for the summer residency sessions. They are Samuel Hopkins, Zachary Frohardt, Spencer Anderson, Joseph Guerrero and Mario Guerrero. These local scholars were among a total of 160 who qualified.

BOTHELL — Serious Eats online community recently released an article entitled, “Three Washington State Breweries You Should Know.” Foggy Noggin Brewing of Bothell was included on this list. The family-run nanobrewery owned by Jim Jamison is operated in a residential neighborhood in Bothell. Other breweries mentioned were Reuben’s Brews of Seattle and Sound Brewery of Poulsbo.

LYNNWOOD — The Embassy Suites Hotel Seattle North/Lynnwood has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award for the second year in a row. The accolade is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this award.

ARLINGTON — Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics has earned ISO 9000 certification from Det Norske Veritas, the organization’s national health-care accreditation body. There is only one other DNV ISO-certified hospital in Washington. DNV surveys health-care providers on all aspects of the care they provide to ensure they meet the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services conditions of participation.

ANACORTES — Swinomish Casino &Lodge has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this award.

BOTHELL — General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has announced that its Seattle operations in Bothell received a Capability Maturity Model Integration Maturity Level 3 rating by Technical Software Services. The company’s Seattle operation specializes in the design, development and production of precision pyrotechnic and inflation systems, low-cost precision munitions and solid-propellant manufacturing.

EVERETT — Snohomish County PUD was honored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Public Power Association with the 2013 Public Power Wind Award. The award recognizes a U.S. public utility each year for its leadership in wind energy. The PUD is known as a national leader in the development of renewable energy sources.

EVERETT — The Employees Community Foundation of Boeing Puget Sound was awarded the National Operation School Bell Award by Assistance League of Everett. The Employees Community Fund funded software, scanners and other equipment to support the development of a new bar code system for Operation School Bell, making the job of managing 200,000 plus clothing items each year more efficient.

Good deeds

SEATTLE — The Moss Adams Foundation has announced its pledge to donate $500,000 over the next five years to the College of Business and Economics at Western Washington University in Bellingham. As a part of the pledge, WWU plans to add the Moss Adams name to the soon-to-be-launched professional readiness center.

MUKILTEO — Windermere Real Estate’s Mukilteo office donated a day of service to benefit the Mukilteo Food Bank. Windermere Mukilteo Brokers collected food donations at the Mukilteo QFC and Albertsons store entrances on June 21.

EVERETT — Alaska USA credit union will support high school students in Washington state by providing five scholarships to Washington Business Week. Events are scheduled for June 23-29 at Western Washington University in Bellingham, July 7-13 at Gonzaga University in Spokane, July 21-27 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg and Aug. 4-10 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. The $5,000 sponsorship will provide five students the opportunity to experience a simulated career environment learning business, teambuilding, leadership and life skills in a general business setting. For more information, go to www.wbw.org.

EVERETT — Housing Hope hosted its 13th annual Stone Soup dinner in May at the Tulalip Resort Casino. The event, with highest attendance on record, raised more than $239,000 towards serving homeless and low-income families in Snohomish County. Event sponsors more than covered event costs, so all proceeds went to the non-profit. Premier sponsors included BECU, Boeing, The Everett Clinic and Kirtley-Cole Associates.

EVERETT — Advancement Via Individual Determination program students will head to college, thanks to the Everett Public School’s AVID program, volunteers, Rotary of Everett’s commitment of $200,000 and $50,000 from the Gates Foundation. Fred Meyer also provided students with $500 gift cards to use for college essentials. Most AVID students are the first in their families to attend college.

LYNDEN — People’s Bank has reached out to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to assist with relief efforts following tornadoes in that state. Customers and non-customers can contribute to the Oklahoma Relief Benefit Account at any People’s Bank office. All donations will be forwarded directly to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Shipping schedule

Port of Everett shipping schedule as of June 24. The schedule is tentative and subject to change. Long term includes regularly scheduled vessels only.

June 24: Westwood Olympia, Westwood

June 25: Glovis Pacific, Glovis

July 1: Bright Stream, ECL

July 2: Westwood Cascade, Westwood

July 6: Pelicana, Westfal-Larsen

July 9: Westwood Rainier, Westwood

July 13: Madame Butterfly, EUKOR

July 16: Westwood Discovery, Westwood

July 20: Glovis Prestige, Glovis

July 23: Westwood Victoria, Westwood

July 24: Ocean Seagull, ECL; Simushir, SASCO

Ship port calls 2013 YTD: 54

Barge port calls 2013 TYD: 27

Ship port calls 2012: 101

Barge port calls 2012: 66

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