Featured ZINOpreneur of the Week: Kelly Ogilvie of Blue Marble Biomaterials

Kelly Ogilvie, Blue Marble Biomaterials

Our ZINO Society featured ZINOpreneur Member this week is Kelly Ogilvie, CEO of Blue Marble Biomaterials. Kelly presented his company at the ZINO Society Investment Roundtable Meetings in May, 2011. We asked him to share the answers to a few questions about his company.


What is your one-sentence elevator pitch? . . . Blue Marble manufactures specialty chemicals from plant material that directly replace petrochemicals from oil.

How did you come up with the idea for your company? . . . We saw the need to solve the "other oil problem," petroleum chemicals in all consumer goods. 

The word that best describes your company culture is . . . innovative.

How are you different from your competition? . . . We produce chemicals from bacteria and plants, not from petroleum. 

What is the biggest challenge you face? . . . Scaling is the biggest problem we face and being able to produce large quantities to an industry thirsty for change and sustainable solutions.
How much money have you raised to date? . . . $4MM.

If someone gave your company $3 million tomorrow, how would you use the money? . . . We would use the funds to commercialize our operation, invest in capacity, and hire key personnel to grow our business.
What is the oddest or most unusual things about your company? . . .The founders met on Craigslist.

What is one thing missing from your business? . . . A Chief Operating Officer.

Why will your company be successful? . . . We have a proven technology, and customers who want our product. We have to deliver molecules to market.

Golf with Two Consul Generals

It was a beautiful day for eighteen holes of golf today at Overlake Golf and Country Club.  It was a special game since I had the opportunity to play golf with TWO Consul Generals; Bob Cremin, British Consul General and Lars Johnson, Swedish Consul General.

Our game resembled an Easter egg hunt since I played with yellow golf balls and both Bob and Lars played with "lucky" pink golf balls until the pink balls were both lost on hole number fourteen. My only par today was on the newly designed number twelve hole.  We finished the game with my optimistic and perpetual hope . . . maybe tomorrow I will play better!

Featured ZINOpreneur of the Week: Mark Owen of Puralytics

Mark Owen of Puralytics

Our ZINO Society featured ZINOpreneur Member this week is Mark Owen, Founder and CEO of Puralytics. Mark presented his company at the ZINO Society ZINO Green Investment Forum in April, 2011. We asked him to share the answers to a few questions about his company.

• What is your one-sentence elevator pitch? . . .  Puralytics has pioneered a new technology for water purification using LEDs and nanotechnology, which is able to destroy chemicals and microorganisms and remove heavy metals making it ideal for industrial processes and decentralized drinking water applications.
• How did you come up with the idea for your company? . . . While travelling in Tokyo, I saw a building with a sunlight activated nanotechnology “self-cleaning” coating that prevented algae growth and pollutant build up and I thought “ how could I get the light of the sun and the surface area of a building into a can?”  Over time we identified the exact wavelengths and intensities could be applied with LEDs, the surface area of a building could be achieved with a nanotechnology coated mesh, and have found other extensions that broaden the efficacy, efficiency, and breadth of contaminants that can be treated.
• The word that best describes your company culture is . . . focused.
• How are you different from your competition? . . .  Existing solutions merely move contaminants around into filters and waste streams, and are not effective with organic chemicals, whereas these are our strengths, and the contaminants are completely destroyed in our process.
• What is the biggest challenge you face? . . . Building the channel to market that supports the size of the opportunity.
• How much money have you raised to date? . . .  $940,000 through angel investors and the management team, and $516,000 through government research grants.
• If someone gave your company $3 million tomorrow, how would you use the money? . . .  To support our go-to-market plan, tool up our product for higher volume production, complete additional IP filings and certification tests, and add to our sales and engineering teams.
• Why will your company be successful? . . . We have a unique technology that is hitting the market at the same time that organic contaminants (pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds, petrochemicals, pesticides, etc.) are of growing interest, and have a team that is experienced at the process of starting a company and introducing new technologies to markets.

JJ's Cocktail Party to Introduce Tina Brown

Steve Goldfarb, Cathi, Eric Akines

Tonight I went to a small cocktail party as a guest of JJ McKay at the Bagley and Virginia Wright Foundation Gallery to meet special guests Tina Brown, Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek and the Daily Beast, Stephen Colvin, CEO of Newsweek, and Jeff Barrish, Associate Publisher at Newsweek and Daily Beast Vice President.

JJ McKay, Stephen Colvin, Tina Brown

JJ gathered an interesting cross section of the community to meet Tina and Jeff including hosts Virginia & Bagley Wright and guests, Charles & Lisa Simonyi, Kate Janeway & Howard Wright, Delphine & Charles Stevens, Pat Wallace, Laura Peterson, Stewart Parker, Jean Enersen & Bruce Carter, Fredda & Steve Goldfarb, Eric Akines, Elizabeth & Jonathan Roberts, Nancy Auer & Randy Houtz, Glen Johnson, Kathy Casey and Dale & Leslie Chihuly.

In her remarks to the group, Tina talked about her recent couple of weeks covering the royal wedding of William and Kate and then coming home exhausted to immediate news of the death of Osama bin Laden and the need to put together a special edition of Newsweek in one and a half days.  It sounded like she was definitely up to the challenge.

Stewart Parker, Laura Peterson

The Wright Gallery is a wonderful venue to showcase some of the over 200 art pieces that Ginny & Bagley have acquired over the years.  This particular show was focused on Color Field paintings, which at one point had been dismissed as "merely decorative" works.  Virginia shares in the catalog available at the show, "I have been pleased that the Color Field show of 2004 did help to retrieve the reputation of the artists on view.  It was so popular that we decided to repeat it.  This show is almost identical to the earlier one, but with a few changes we hope will intrigue viewers.  Our hope is that Color Field painting will come to be seen not as a dead end but as a stunning chapter in the development of abstract art, capable of inspiring other artists and above all, providing pleasure of the very highest order."

Cathi, JJ McKay, Fredda Goldfarb

I admired the paintings which were colorful and happy and enjoyed meeting special guest Tina Brown and visiting with the many other guests.  Thank you, JJ, for hosting another great party!

Happy Birthday Susan!

Birthday Girl, Susan Neumann

Jan, Diane, Susan , Londi, Cathi, Suzy

This past week, which has been very busy for me with Alicia's graduation, Shaking it Up for Science with the ARCS Gala, attending the Women Corporate Directors dinner, attending an all-day Pacific Continental Bank Board meeting, producing and attending two ZINO Society Roundtable Investment meetings, a Harbor Club Board of Governors meeting, a Tateuchi Center Nominating Committee meeting, serving as a finals judge for the Seattle University Business Plan Competition, attending the  Edward V. Fritzky Chair Dinner as a UW Foster School of Business CIE Board member, an Enroute investors meeting, and opening night of Guys and Dolls at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, I took a fun time out to help Susan Neumann celebrate her birthday at The Capital Grille with friends Suzy Krabbe, Londi Burnett, Diane Kuenster, and Jan Rogers.

We usually plan a brief luncheon three times per year to celebrate the birthdays of these friends and Monday was the day prior to the departure of several of the group on a Silversea Baltic Sea cruise.  Happy Birthday and Bon Voyage Susan!

An Amazing Achievement!

Alicia Hatch, Esquire

Last week, Alicia Hatch achieved a huge milestone.  She graduated from Seattle University with a law degree.  She has labored part-time on the degree over the space of the past few years while working full-time, having and being the mother of two very active young boys with another baby boy on the way, moving from a downtown condominium to a house in Washington Park and then later to another one in Broadmoor, switching jobs, teaching classes in church, and frequently traveling for business and pleasure in Asia, Europe,and the United States.  Whew!

Ken Hatch, Elizabeth Hatch

Michael, Jackson & Spencer

Following the commencement ceremony, husband, Michael Hatch, hosted a luncheon for family and close friends at The Ruins in Seattle in celebration of the big day.  Ken and I were there along with Katie & Kevin Laramore.  Alicia's mother-in-law, Marsha Ingham and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hatch, had both flown in for the celebration.  Also joining the celebrants were Cheryl & Kevin Cooney, Jeannette & Jim Stewart, Eliza & Chris Coburn, Andrea & James Roberts, and Dave Hanley.  Sons Jackson and Spencer, enjoyed roaming throughout The Ruins with a mob of children following them including Cutter Laramore (attempting to be one of the big boys) and Lauren Coburn, who is a mini-me replica of her mom, Eliza Flug-Coburn.

JM presents cake to Alicia

Katie, Cutter & Kevin Laramore

The luncheon concluded with a heartfelt toast from Michael and other guests and a celebration cake.  Congratulations, Alicia!

A Toast to Olivier Wevers!

Cathi Hatch & Olivier Wevers

Tonight, I went to a surprise party at Jolene & Bruce McCaw's beautiful Hunts Point home to share in the tribute and celebration of Olivier Wevers Pacific Northwest Ballet dance career.  It was a beautiful evening to tour Jolene & Bruce's impeccable gardens and I was certain that fellow guest, Steve Poole, brought the beautiful weather for the party with him.

Olivier, who has recently retired from PNB, was totally surprised when he arrived at the party and realized it was about him.  There were wonderful full life-size cut-outs of Olivier in costumes from various ballet roles strategically placed through the McCaw home along with dozens of photos of Olivier with friends nestled on tables.

Carrie Imler & Jonathan Porretta

In addition to Jolene's spot-on tribute remarks, Olivier was toasted by a number of PNB Board members, dance partners and supporters including Sherry Raisbeck, Deborah Cobain, Charles Newton, and PNB Principal Dancer Carrie Imler.  PNB Principal dancer, Lucien Postlewaite, talked about when he joined PNB, his role model was Olivier and that he learned so much about partnering just by watching how Olivier worked to make his partners feel respected and secure.  It was very special to be part of the celebration of Olivier's magical PNB career and also to be one of the well-wishers as he launches his new career as choregrapher and Artistic Director of Whim W'Him.  There was just the right balance of bittersweet nostalgia and anticipation of the future.

Lucien Postlewaite before his toast.

Other celebrants and friends that I talked with included Alexis & Stewart Phelps, Madeleine and Bert Valdman, Susan Brotman, Peter Horvitz, Betty Tong & Joe Miner, Kim Richter, Peter Boal, Linda & Toby Warson, James Raisbeck, Steve Jensen & Vincent Lipe, Margaret dell Osso, Glenn Kawasaki, and current and past PNB dancers Louise Nadeau, Ariana Lallone, Kaori Nakamura, Maria Chapman, and Jonathan Porretta to name just a few.

Cheers, Olivier!

Shaking it Up for Science in SoDo

Conga line with Nancy Mee & Seaglider?

Nancy Mee & Carmen Gayton help display Seaglider

On Sunday night, Ken and I attended the very successful fundraiser for ARCS, "Shaking it Up for Science in SoDo" at the Herban Feast in SoDo.  ARCS is the acronym for Achievement Rewards for College Scientists and our mission is to contribute to the worldwide advancement of science and technology by funding fellowships for academically outstanding graduate students in the fields of science, engineering and medicine at the University of Washington and Washington State University.   The Seattle Chapter of ARCS is the most successful fundraising chapter in the nation.

Chaired magnificently by friends Carmen Gayton and Nancy Mee, we arrived to bright, festive draping throughout with beautiful hanging lanterns.  To announce time for dinner, the UW Husky Cheerleaders and full Ballard High School Marching Band marched through the venue loudly playing fight songs and high energy music.

Centerpiece with test tubes and candles

There were 21 items in the Live Auction, but the raise the paddle to fund scholarships for graduate students in science and math was amazing with approximately $172,000 (by my count) raised by only 195 people in the room.  In fact there were six donors who raised their paddles to fund full three-year ARCS scholarships at $17,500 each, which was impressive!  Total proceeds were around $300,000.

Nancy Mee, famous artist herself, and her artist husband, Dennis Evans, donated a beautiful Dennis Evans mixed media encaustic piece entitled "The Alchemist" which was raffled off and won by lucky ARCS member, Alta Barer.

ARCS President, Jacque Doane

New ARCS President, Jacque Doane, introduced two of our ARCS Fellows and they impressed the crowd with their brilliance.  It was great to see so many friends and ARCS supporters at the event including Bev & Don Jefferson, Ted Wagner, Rick Doane, Kaycee Krysty, Walter Schoenfeld, Stacy & Doug King, Carol Wright, Carver Gayton, Lynn & Steve Mowe, Elizabeth & Jon Roberts, Linda & Toby Warson, Elizabeth Rudolf, Joanne & Bruce Montgomery, Michele & Dan Heidt, Ann McCutcheon, Micki & Bob Flowers, Lynn & Mikal Thomsen and dozens of others.

PONCHO Wine Auction at 20

Ken Hatch, Mark & Nancy Pellegrino, Cathi Hatch

Last night, the Sheraton Seattle was the site of the PONCHO 20th International Wine Auction for the Arts.  Almost every past Wine Auction Chairman was in attendance to celebrate the anniversary and to be introduced on stage in a similar parade as PONCHO past Presidents have been introduced in the past.  The parade of past Wine Auction Chairmen included Carl Behnke, founding Wine Auction Chairman, as well as Chris Kosmos, Bob Stevens, Bill Schallert, Ron Elgin, Bob Lucurell, Greg Lill, Jack Sowle, Jay Schiering, Mel Sturman, Dan Heidt, Tom Captain, Doug True, Bob Parks, Renee Behnke, Laurie Corliss, Stacy Lill, Kathleen Shoup and current chair, Tamara Wilson.

Paul Birkeland, Evelyn Zabo, Diane Birkeland

The Honorary Vintner was Dan Duckhorn and he donated wine and auction packages as well as purchased multiple items at the auction.  He spoke briefly and talked about Duckhorn Wine Company, which he founded in 1976 as being the 40th winery established in Napa Valley and that he was able to purchase an acre of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards for around $450 which today would sell for around $250,000.

We were seated with Ben Smith of Cadence Winery, who provided the barrel tasting and the wine that filled the commemorative magnums.  He shared a bottle of his current 2007 Bel Canto release at our table which was my favorite wine we tasted last evening.

Having served as PONCHO President in 1998-99 and having been on the PONCHO Board for 25 years, it was fun to see so many familiar faces volunteering and working the greeting line as well as many wine aficionados, PONCHO Board members and arts supporters attending as patrons including current PONCHO President, Evelyn Zabo, PONCHO Executive Director, Lorna Kneeland, Diane & Paul Birkeland, Nancy & Mark Pellegrino, Leslie & Dale Chihuly, Mitzi & John Morris, Connie Blumenthal, Joe Whinney, Robin du Brin & Douglas Howe, Janet True, Joan & Bob Hibbs, Annette Parks, Steve Kutz & Courtney Womack, Bonnie Elgin, Stacy & Doug King, Peggy Reddy & Christopher Chan, Jake Kosseff, Sheila Otter, Gary Roshak, plus several hundred others.

Family friend, Eliza Flug-Coburn purchased the Italian Wine Tasting Dinner at our home which was ably marketed by Mistress of Ceremonies Extraordinaire, Patti Payne.  The dinner is a Procurement Partner item for Pacific Northwest Ballet.  Ken and I are looking forward to the dinner along with co-donors, Michele & Dan Heidt, Jake Kosseff and Chef Philip Mihalski of Nell's Restaurant.

Now, on to the ARCS fundraiser tonight . . . Shaking it Up for Science in SoDo! 

Camp Korey - Laughter is the Best Medicine.

Dia Armenta, Ken Hatch, Jay Biagi, Cathi Hatch

 

Though I have been aware of Camp Korey, founded by Tim Rose in 2005 to honor the memory of his son, Korey, who lost his battle with cancer as a teenager, yesterday was my first visit.  Camp Korey's mission is to provide kids who battle life-threatening and serious illnesses, a safe, friendly, medically sound environment where they they can simply have fun and be kids.

My husband, Ken has agreed to go on the Camp Korey Board of Directors and yesterday was a field trip to be introduced to the camp.  Board member and friend, Jay Biagi, took us along with another incoming board member, Dia Armenta, to see the camp and meet the Executive Director, Lane Youngblood.

Jay Biagi & Ken Hatch on walkway to Ropes Course

Camp Korey is located at the historic 818-acre Carnation Farm and includes a full medical center (that doesn't feel like a medical center), sleeping lodges, the largest barn in King County which includes museums, a climbing wall and full-size basketball court, a huge Hippodrome for parties, a swimming pool, lakes, a rose garden, a Japanese garden and an organic garden, and a zip line and full-size ropes course to name just some of the amenities.

Lane Youngblood with Dia & Ken at Grey Gables Medical Ctr.

It was fascinating to hear Lane and Jay share the stories of, with a ratio of two adults to every camper, no matter how seriously medically-challenged, each camper can participate in every activity that the camp offers including boating, fishing, gardening, swimming, pet therapy, an equestrian program, arts and crafts, wall-climbing and the ropes course.  This includes kids who are in wheel chairs, on ventilators and with any number of other serious maladies.

Jay is absolutely passionate about his involvement and has spent one week during each of the last two summers as an adult mentor and assistant assigned to two children along with a camp counselor where he has spent 24/7 with the children sleeping in the bunk rooms, helping the campers participate in the many activities, including one sleepover each week in small teepees near the lake.

The Cow Statue

I was completely impressed with the camp and the force for good that it represents.  I can see why Jay is so passionate about his involvement in Camp Korey. 

Magical Magic Flute

Tonight, I went to the Seattle Opera production of "The Magic Flute" and it was enchanting.  The costumes were vibrant, colorful and whimsical with some of my favorites being the bird costume of Papageno and all of the "wild" animals that appeared on stage when Tamino first played his magic flute.  The sets were fascinating with references to Order of the Knights Templar, Egypt, pyramids, Isis and Osiris. The music by Mozart verges from powerful and stately to light-hearted and melodic.  The Gold Cast performers were all fantastic, and some of the most memorable arias were the ones sung by Queen of the Night, Emily Hindrichs, with amazingly high notes..

The story blends myth, magic, and an extraordinary variety of wonderful music to deliver the life-affirming message: love conquers all.  If you have a chance to go to "The Magic Flute" this week or next, I don't think you will be sorry.  Truly magical!

Celebrating good works and waiting . . . for good news.

Ken Hatch, Dr. Jim Bianco, Mike Kunath

Yesterday, celebrating the success of the recent Gilda's Club Seattle fundraiser at the Chihuly Boathouse, three of the steering committee members, Mike Kunath, Ken Hatch and Dr. Jim Bianco, got together for a drink at the Fairmont Olympic.  See my previous blog post about the event HERE. 

Jim Bianco with WSJ article.

The three also discussed the recent good news from The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of New Drugs to Cell Therapeutics Inc. regarding the company's cancer drug, pixantrone.  Mike and Ken presented to Jim a framed copy of a February 28, 2011 article from the Wall Street Journal entitled, "FDA and Slower Cures" which talked about the FDA being an agency that "cares more about its regulatory prerogatives than about the thousands of patients who might benefit and will die waiting".

And more from that WSJ article, "In May 2010, the FDA rejected pixantrone for treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a blood cancer that kills nearly 12,000 Americans a year. The agency's veto came not because pixantrone failed in a clinical trial—in fact, it was a qualified success. Instead, the FDA determined that the trial was not "flawlessly executed," as its regulations demand.

And continuing, "If perfection is the standard for new cancer drugs, then we may as well give up hope of ever getting another one. As destructive, the FDA went out of its way to railroad pixantrone and make an example of the drug's maker, Cell Therapeutics, in order to send another warning to the drug industry to jump through the right bureaucratic hoops."

Though the initial ruling from a lower division of the FDA in 2010 was negative, Jim said he thinks that the news from the higher divison of the FDA was unprecedented and said that the accelerated approval of pixantrone may not necessarily be out of reach based on a single controlled clinical trial, once two key matters can be satisfactorily resolved; both of which he believes could be resolved soon and the requested information is submitted.  Under the guidelines, the FDA must render a decision within six months from when the new drug application was resubmitted to FDA which could result in the drug’s approval early next year.

For the sake of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer sufferers, my fingers are crossed for a speedy approval this time.

bin on the Lake Master of Wine Monday

Chef Paul Hyman & Manager Darren Nicholas

On Monday evening, ZINO Society partnered with bin on the Lake to produce a Master of Wine Monday featuring a "Tour de France" tasting menu.  Chef Paul Hyman and Manager Darren Nicholas worked together to offer a six course menu featuring wines of France and a menu that combines the best of the Northwest with classic French cooking.

Brad Vancour, Brian Vowinkel

Eden & Hank Waggoner, Mary Holmes

Mike Vanderslice, Paul Hagen

Laura Hagen, Robin Carmichael

Attending the event were long-time ZINO Society Roundtable members, Melanie Correy-Ferrini, Brian Vowinkel and Brad Vancour along with new Roundtable members Heather Sullivan and Mike Vanderslice and ZINOpreneur members Anthony Grove and recent ZINO Life Investment Forum Fund winner, Paul Hagen and his wife, Laura.  Also attending were member Giuseppe Mascarella and brand-new members, Eden & Hank Waggoner and business sponsor members, David Sullivan of Pan Pacific Hotel and wife, Susan along with David Riley of Garvey, Schubert and Barer.  Guests included Irene Retel of Mont Blanc and Robin Carmichael.

Cathi Hatch, Heather Sullivan

Anthony Grove, David Riley

The menu was amazing and included the following courses:

Spring Onion Blini

Housemade Crème Fraiche, Columbia River Salmon Caviar

Antoine De Clairvoy Brut, Reims

Charcuterie

  Boudin Noir, Kurobuta Pork Rillette, Smoked Prosciutto, Duck Serrano

Cornichons, Moutarde Violette, Medjool Date Confiture 

2006 Francois Chidaine, Clos de Breuil, Montlouis-sur-loire

Steel Head Trout Amandine

Parsnip Mousseline, Haricots Verts, Marcona Almonds, Buerre Noisette

1998 Leroy Bourgogne Blanc

Lyonnaise Salad

Marble Potatoes, Pasture Raised Egg, Lardons, Frisee, Leek Vinaigrette

2005 Coudelet de Beaucastel, Rhone Valley

Dakota Organic Filet Au Poivre

 Black Truffle Pomme Gratin, Glace’ Asparagus, Ragout Forestiere 

Cognac Peppercorn Crème

2004 Chateau Bel-Air Royere, Bordeaux

Mignardises

Key Lime Tartlets, Apple Tart Tartin, Chocolate Torte

2007 Chateau De Cosse, Sauternes

Bellevue Rotary "Opening Doors to Brighter Futures"

Karen, Cathi, Chuck, Ken

Tonight we attended the Bellevue Rotary Club Gala and Auction at the Meydenbauer Center as guests of Rotarian Richard Herzberg and wife, Marilyn.  Richard is a Past President of the Bellevue Rotary and Marilyn is Director of Programming for Bellevue Lifespring.  Tonight's event was planned to raise funds to support the children and families served by Bellevue Lifespring as well as all the other children and families served by Bellevue Rotary in the local and international community.

Keri Stout on the Right

Bellevue Lifespring (formerly know as Overlake Service League) is a fixture in the community and is celebrating its 100th year in existence.  Its mission is to promote stability, self-sufficiency and independence for those in need in the Bellevue community through programs that feed, clothe, shelter and educate.

We arrived in time to talk with people during the cocktail hour and silent auction and enjoyed visiting with James & Julie Sun, Stephen Hilbert, Blaise Bouchand, Phyllis Campbell, Jan & Dennis Conrad and local YMCA Executive Director and Bellevue Rotarian, Keri Stout. Once we were seated for the dinner at the Herzberg table, in addition to Marilyn and Richard, we were pleased to be seated with Stan & Tere Foster and Brad & Valerie Berg along with good friends, Karen & Chuck Lytle.

Richard Herzberg with other past presidents on stage

There were 29 live auction items including a "Burgers, Bratwurst, Beer & Babes" item to be held in Keri Stout's backyard, a dinner to be prepared by past Bellevue Rotary presidents including Richard, and a private French dinner to be prepared by Maison de France owner, Blaise Bouchand.

Blaise Bouchard on stage

Brad & Valerie Berg

Since Ken wasn't ready to forsake his walking stick and stay for dancing after the auction, we departed just as the auction ended and he was home in his chair in front of the television with the dog cuddling on his lap by 10:00 pm.