Funding Post Panel

Last week I was part of an investor panel for FundingPost.com, a company that travels the country presenting pitch workshops, giving entrepreneurs the chance to make elevator pitches, featuring investor panels and organizing networking time with cocktails and food at the end of the event.  This model is not completely unlike many of the services that ZINO Society also offers, but ZINO Society provides these services in Seattle 11 months of the year.

Joe Rubin of FundingPost.com facilitated the panel and other featured panelists included ZINO Society member and active angel investor Peter Weiss, Conceivian CEO and angel investor, Saqib Rasool, Southern California angel investor, Jay Chavez, and Voyager Capital Senior Analyst, Daniel Gallagher.

We each talked about some of the things we look for when making an angel investment and what we find most important.  Daniel shared a quick list of the eight things they look for at Voyager when they are considering a venture capital investment:

1. strong business model
2. market size (they consider 1%-5% of a total market huge)
3. first-class team involved
4. the quality of the technology (how will it scale or fail?)
5. the product (how does it address the pain?)
6. valuation and terms
7. Is Voyager able to add value? (do they have expertise in that area as a value add?)
8. sustainable competitive advantage (what are the barriers to others doing the same thing?)

During the networking time following several entrepreneur elevator pitches and the panel discussion, I never made it to the hors d'oeuvres or wine table because there was a long lineup of entrepreneurs who were eager to talk with me about how they could work with ZINO Society to find resources and funding.  Thankfully, ZINO Society Dealflow & Operations Manager, Kate DesRosier, and Membership VP, Jamee Nunnelee, attended the event with me and were able to help answer questions and connect with the entrepreneurs attending.

There were several entrepreneurs with whom I was impressed that I hope to see pitching at a ZINO Society investment event soon!

Chihuly Garden and Glass Breathtaking!

Cathi Hatch & Ken Hatch

Last night, Ken and I attended one of the private receptions in advance of the opening of the new Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition at the Seattle Center.  It is truly breathtaking!  Though I had been on a hard hat tour during the construction of the project, the final product is magical and over-the-top eye-popping.

Chihuly Garden and Glass Glasshouse

Leslie & Dale Chihuly, Billy O'Neill and Korynne & Jeff Wright and the entire Wright family were on hand to toast the completion of this incredible project.  How lucky Seattle is to have this sparkling jewel at the base of the Space Needle!  This will become one of the number one tourist attractions in our city and where I will definitely want to take my future houseguests.

Mille Fiori Forest

My amateur photos won't do the reality justice, but I could not resist taking photo after photo as we walked through the exhibition. First we entered the mystical neon Glass Forest followed by the Northwest Room which includes Dale's Indian blanket collection and sepia photographs of Indian people by Edward Curtis. Next was the Sealife Room followed by the Persian

CEO Jeff Wright in Glasshouse

Billy O'Neill, Cathi & Ken Hatch

Ceiling and then two of my very favorite rooms; the Mille Fiori which feels like a Chihuly forest and the Ikebana and Float Boat where the colorful orbs and fronds were displayed in two canoes.  And then next we saw the Chandeliers Room and the Macchia Forest.  It must be noted that the darkened galleries and lighting enhance the pieces to their incredibly brilliant hues and colors. 

When we walked into the Glasshouse after the darkened galleries, it was exhilarating to walk into the light and the soaring 40 foot tall glass and steel conservatory with a 100-foot long suspended glass sculpture overhead.

Steve Schryver & Gordon Prouty

JJ McKay and Ken Hatch

A walk through the gardens outside was equally impressive with different colors of glass art focused in segments of the garden.  The Collections Cafe was another fascinating place to visit since it includes many of Dale's collections including dozens of accordians hanging from the ceiling and tables with displays of silver Mexican sombreros, fishing lures, clocks, string dispensers, ceramic dogs, wooden spools, fishing reels, plastic radios and other interesting collections of assorted treasures.

The reception food was delicious and was being produced by the onsite Cafe.  I was so pleased to see old friends, Chris & Mike Douglas there, both of whom I worked with in the restaurant industry at Restaurants Unlimited many years ago.  Mike heads the food and beverages operations for the Space Needle Sky City Restaurant and the Chihuly Garden and Glass Collections Cafe.  If the flavors of the food I sampled are an indication, I would say that Mike is doing a fantastic job!

We connected with many friends and acquaintances during the reception of around 250 people who were there to celebrate the opening including Karen & Chuck Lytle, Patti Payne, Gordon Prouty & Steve Schryver, Carolyn & Bob Kitchell, Jane & Dan McConnell, Carolyn & Lee Lewis, Susan Hutchison, Toni & Rod Hoffman, David Wright, Howard Wright, Jan Levy, JJ McKay, Ian MacNeil, Steven Goldfarb, Heide Lankeit, Rick Peterson, Janet Ketcham, Detra Segar, Matt Griffin and scores of others.

Congratulations to the Chihuly and Wright families and all of those who have been involved on the fulfillment of seeing this beautiful dream become a reality.  I can't wait to return!

Ken & Cathi Hatch, Patti Payne, Dr. Bob Kitchell

Ikebana and Float Boat

Approaching Ecstasy

Olivier Wevers, Cathi Hatch, Steve Jensen, Vincent Lipe

Last night, Christine Gilbert and I had the opportunity to attend a Whim W'Him production at the Intiman Theatre as guests of Artistic Director, Olivier Wevers.  It was opening night and the premiere of their new Approaching Ecstasy which is an engaging new dance collaboration composed by Eric Banks, choreographed by Olivier Wevers, and performed by Whim W'Him dancers, The Esoterics and the St. Helens String Quartet.  The production is part of the Seattle Center's Next 50 Celebration.

The production incorporates 40 singers, 5 instrumentalists and 7 dancers and is based on 18 love poems by Constantine P. Cavafy.  Each of the 18 vignettes creates a different mood, some more literal than others.  One of my favorites was danced by PNB Principal Dancer and Whim W'Him company member, Lucien Postlewaite with Andrew Bartee, another PNB and Whim W'Him dancer who were looking into a mirror and completely replicating the other's movements until finally the mirror "cracked" and they were able to step through the mirror and dance together.  Other favorites vignettes included PNB Principal Dancer and Whim W'Him company member, Kaori Nakamura and Andrew Bartee  in the first vignette dancing with a table.

The theatre was completely full and it was fun to see many people, that I primarily know from PNB, there to see the production including Francia Russell & Kent Stowell, Glenn Kawasaki, Steve Jensen & Vincent Lipe, Kathy Gerlich, April & Steve Kieburtz, John & Melba Short, Duell Fisher, Colette Courtion, Linda Sahlin,  Ariana Lallone, Carrie Imler, Candy & Rocky Koreis, Margo Spellman, Wayne Thurman, Juan Alonso, Nona Battistella, and dozens of others.

Congratulations to Olivier, who has done a fantastic job of bringing together a new dance company for our region, on his biggest undertaking to date!

Union Bank Open House Celebration

Jorge Flores, Ken Hatch, Angie Schrimsher

On Thursday evening, Ken and I attended the reception celebrating the new Pacific Northwest Headquarters for Union Bank which was held in the Seond Avenue Atrium of the 1201 Third Avenue Building (previously WaMu Tower).  New member to the Union Bank team and ZINO Society member, Angie Schrimsher, invited us to the celebration where I also had the pleasure of meeting her boss, Jorge Flores, Union Bank Senior Vice President, who was visiting from Los Angeles.  We also had the opportunity to re-connect with Chris Merrywell, who is also a Union Bank Senior Vice President.

Kathy Tune, Ken Hatch, Jim Tune, Cathi Hatch

Union Bank President and CEO, Masashi Oka was there from San Francisco to greet the guests and present a check for $25,000 to support a YMCA program helping children at risk which Seattle Seahawks are also supporting.  Seattle Seahawks President, Peter McLoughlin, was there to celebrate the donation and took the opportunity to unveil the new Seattle Seahawks football uniforms which include a true navy blue jersey with touches of bright green and twelve feathers running down the sides of the pants which represents the "twelfth man".  He also presented a special commemorative football to Masashi Oka.

We enjoyed talking with several other friends there including Sue Camou of the YMCA, Brendan O'Farrell and Kathy & Jim Tune.  Congratulations to Angie, Jorge and all the folks at Union Bank!

Dynamic Duo Delves into the Details to Create Heavenly Happening

Demon Christine Gilbert and Angel, Kate DesRosier

Last night, ZINO Society hosted our second "Angels & Demons" Roundtable Investment Meeting at the Columbia Tower Club.  It is like a regular investment meeting, but more fun since there are additional program elements.  More about that in a minute.

Angels & Demons panel:  Charles Finkelstein,
Peter Weiss and Brian Vowinkel

There was an "Angels & Demons" panel featured which included Brian Vowinkel, Charles Finkelstein and Peter Weiss, all of whom are ZINO Society members and active angel investors with many years' experience.  It was fascinating to hear them share their experiences in making both good angel investments and investments that didn't work out and hear their advice on what is most important to consider when making an investment decision.  There were some funny quips along the way including one of my favorites when Charles agreed that he would join the "old Rangers" Corps, but only after he returned to Harvard for another degree.  Since Brian was the Distinguished Honor Graduate at U.S. Army Ranger School following West Point and both Peter and Brian graduated from Harvard Business School, Charles felt like he needed to beef up his already extensive resume.

Cathi Hatch with UW Lavin Entrepreneurship Students

There were around 100 people in attendance and six entrepreneurs were showcased with fascinating companies for which they are raising funds including Randy Neely of ekt, Ali Shahrazad of SaLTBOX Services, Vishaal Melwani of Combatant Gentlemen, Kelly Ogilvie of Quemulus, Inc., David Israel of POP! Gourmet Popcorn and Kyle Schei of comr.se.  Click on the links if you would like to see more about what each of them do.  Because of sharing his company's popcorn with each attendee, I think David Israel got the nod for most popular entrepreneur of the evening.

Yvonne Swanberg of San Juan Vineyards

Some of the additional fun program elements included ZINO Society team members Kate DesRosier, Operations and Dealflow Manager, who was dressed as an angel with wings and a halo and Christine Gilbert, Director of Events, who was dressed as a demon complete with devils' horns and a pitchfork.  Christine did reluctantly share her pitchfork with the entrepreneurs when they got up to deliver their final pitch during the Redemption Round.

Featured wine makers were Yvonne Swanberg of San Juan Vineyards and Alphonse de Klerk of Rolling Bay Winery.  I loved the 2009 Cuvee Aldaro red wine Bordeaux-style blend that Alphonse was pouring and Ken definitely approved of the Estate Grown 2009 Madeleine Angevine white wine that Yvonne was pouring.  The Madeleine Angevine is a grape that I had never heard of before and the tasting notes say that it offers a "summer melon and a wet slate nose offers citrus and stone fruit flavors with a clean finish."

It was an impressive evening and though each ZINO Society team member, along with the many interns and volunteers that helped us with the details, brought much to the success and were so appreciated, the "Dynamic Duo" award for the evening goes to Kate and Christine!

Happy Mothers' Day!

Alicia & Andrew Hatch with Bode & Katie Laramore

It was a delightful Mothers' Day this past weekend.  First I got to play nine holes of golf with my new Mothers' Day gift of golf clubs with our two good friends, Judith Kindler and Kyle Johnson.  It was especially fun since even Ken agreed to ride around the course with us and have lunch together afterwards.  Though I really like my new clubs, my score does not yet reflect a positive change unfortunately.

Later in the afternoon, we were invited to my daughter, Katie's, and son-in-law, Kevin Laramore's home for a casual dinner.  Also invited were Michael & Alicia Hatch and their three sons, Jackson, Spencer and Andrew.  Since Katie and Kevin also have two sons, Cutter and Bode, there were FIVE boys under the age of five years old.  Plus Katie and Kevin have two big Catahoula dogs, Gus and Savvy, and we brought little ZiZi, the Yorkie, so as you can imagine, it was quite an active get-together!

Michael & Alicia Hatch with son, Andrew

The three bigger boys had fun playing on the new swing, slide and playhouse set in the back yard, while the two little ones tried to crawl and stand up without falling down.  ZiZi was enthralled with the two smaller boys and did her best to give them lots of kisses since they were often at her level and not fast enough to get away.  Once the big dogs realized that ZiZi was not a morsel of food to consume, all the dogs got along just fine, though it was a bit challenging in the beginning.

Katie did a beautiful job of organizing the dinner with flowers for both Alicia and me on the table while Alicia brought the most delicious Key Lime pie I have ever tasted.  Yum!

Bode Laramore, Katie Laramore, Andrew Hatch

  

Local Investing - From Groceries to Green

Michael Shuman speaks at Your Local Market

Jason Brown, CEO of Your Local Market, has invited me to participate on a panel in a couple of weeks focused on local investing.  I was fascinated by a recent event that he hosted for his customers and ZINO Society members and guests where he featured Michael Shuman, author of the book, Local Dollars, Local Sense which is a book giving advice on how to shift your money from Wall Street to Main Street and achieve real prosperity.  Michael will be participating on the panel also.



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His book goes into detail and has been very well-received and admired by many, but the quick overview of his advice that I gleaned from his remarks at Your Local Market included the following 10 suggestions on democratizing investing for a broader group of investors including unaccredited investors.

1. Invest in targeted bank certificates of deposit to support local business.
2. Participate in co-ops where members can loan money to business.
3. "LION" which stands for Local Investment Opportunity Network which is about establishing "pre-existing relationships" with wine and food receptions to count investors as established relationships.
4. Opportunity to participate in sponsorship sites in Kickstarter, etc.
5. Participate in internet-related lender micro-loans.
6. Invest in slow munis with bond proceeds to support local businesses.
7. Pre-sell gift certificates or memberships in local businesses.  This is what Thierry Ratureau of Rover's did when getting ready to build LUC and what Jason Brown is now doing with Your Local Market. 
8. It is legal in some states to sell local stock (within the state only) through crowdfunding and for the entrepreneur to pay a dividend to those who participate.
9. Support the emergence of local stock markets.
10. Considered the secret weapon of investing is the self-directed IRA.

Michael promised that we will be seeing the most dramatic transfer of capital in US history from Wall Street to Main Street.  This will be very interesting to watch!

Treasures & Trash at our Garage Sale

Santa Fe sheep from Ken's collection

Kate DesRosier modelling ball gowns.

More sheep!

Christine Gilbert modelling ballgown and
devils' horns

Over the past 17 years since Ken and I have been married, we have collected LOTS of trash and treasures and it is time to downsize!  So . . .  we are having a Garage Sale today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday, May 11-12).  From china to designer clothing including ballgowns to CDs and books to rugs, home decor items, dog outfits, and Ken's sheep collection, there is a very interesting selection of bargains.

ZINO Society team members have been on site to try on some of the dresses and I thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of the photos of Christine Gilbert and Kate DesRosier modelling a couple of the ballgowns.  Mary Holmes and I have dared them to wear white and black ballgowns with wings to our upcoming "Angels and Demons" ZINO Society Roundtable Investment Meeting scheduled for May 16th at the Columbia Tower Club.  They say they will do it, so you may want to come and check it out!

A view from the deck.

Laura Cosner and Judy Karabach

Kate DesRosier in white ballgown

Long-time Hatch family friends and associates have been working hard to put on the sale including Laura & Fin Cosner and Judy Karabach.  If you want to come check it out, my address is 1365 91st Ave. NE on Clyde Hill.  Come today before 5:00 pm and on Saturday between 8am-5pm.

Junior League Past Presidents' Luncheon

Outgoing JLS President Renee Hartnett with
Ashley Baerwaldt, Incoming JLS President

Today I attended the Junior League of Seattle Past Presidents' Luncheon to join in welcoming the incoming JLS President Ashley Baerwaldt to the group.  It was a lovely luncheon at the Rainier Club hosted by the outgoing JLS President, Renee Hartnett, and it was a treat to catch up with 28 past presidents. 

The Junior League of Seattle currently includes almost 1,400 members.  Each president serves for one year as President-Elect and then as President for one year.  It is an incredibly busy, yet rewarding time for these volunteer leaders.

As we each had the opportunity today to stand and share a bit about what is currently going on in our lives, I realized that since I served in 1991-92, that it is exactly 20 years ago that I served as JLS President.  In some ways, it feels like yesterday and in others, it feels as if it was in another lifetime.

The past president attending today that had served longest ago was Sara Hoppin, who was President 36 years ago.  Also attending was Kathy Randall, 1987-88 JLS President and current 2012 Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Community Service Award winner.  The other three past presidents in attendance today who have also received the Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Community Service Award were Marli Iverson (2006), Sue Mecklenburg (2008), and me (2003).  Additional past presidents attending today included Natalie Bowman, Elizabeth Reilly, Chrissey Miller, Rhonda Neben, Evelyn Zabo, JoAnne Jones, Marilyn Leck, Maria Mackey Gunn, Jane Nellams, Sue Minahan, JP Brigham, Susan Hubbard, Dot Fuller, Joan Gehrke, Judy Holder, Marcia Zech, Andrea Mann (Milwaukee), Heather McMahan (Palm Desert), and Gail Barre.

Renee Hartnett, Cathi Hatch, Ashley Baerwaldt

The past presidents were impressed with the direction we see the League heading and especially with a couple of the projects that Renee mentioned to us including establishing partnerships to prevent human trafficking and work to provide additional support and interaction with foster children.  It is rewarding and comforting to see such dynamic women who have stepped up to lead Junior League of Seattle, each of whom are committed to living the mission by promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  JLS is in very good hands!

Exciting Judith Kindler UNDAUNTED Project

JJ McKay, Judith Kindler, Cathi Hatch

My friend and fantastic artist, Judith Kindler, is working to raise funds for the largest art project she has ever undertaken through crowdfunding source, Kickstarter.  The name of her project is UNDAUNTED and to actually understand what she is doing, you need to click HERE to see a brief video about the project.

As a benefit of participating in the funding of the project, Judith is offering very special prices for some of her incredible existing art and new commissions too.  Last night I went to a reception at her gallery and had a chance to preview the art and hear more.  Spectacular and riveting!  Some of the people attending the reception included JJ McKay, Pam Anderson, Claudia & Tom Campanile, Bonny & John Midby, Carolyn Kelly, Tom Estep and many others.  JJ, as expected, did an amazing and articulate job of announcing the opportunity to participate to the guests in attendance.

If you already know Judith or are interested in contemporary and compelling art, I encourage you to look into this right away.  She has only the next 10 days to fulfill the fundraising needs through Kickstarter.  She will be available to welcome you to her studio/gallery at 570 Mercer St. right across from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation every weekday between 1:00-6:00 pm between today and May 11, 2012.  Or you can call her for a weekend appointment at her studio at 206-283-5253.

This is a great opportunity to help a world-class artist take her art to the next level and a great opportunity for YOU to collect an amazing piece of her work. 

Kathy Randall is the 2012 Dorothy Bullit Award Honoree

Maxine Barnard, Kathy Randall, Micki Flowers

Congratulations to Kathy Randall who is the 2012 Junior League of Seattle Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Award winner for a lifetime of volunteer leadership and community service!  Today, the two most recent previous winners for 2010 and 2011, Micki Flowers and Maxine Bernard hosted a luncheon for past award winners to honor Kathy and help welcome her to our group.

Kathy has actively participated in the community on many boards over the years including the Seattle Children's Hospital Board and the Red Cross Board following her active membership years in Junior League of Seattle where she served as President in 1987-88.  It was an honor for me to serve on her board and watch how effective she was at managing some of the many challenges that always seem to present themselves to the leaders of boards.  If I am remembering correctly, I think I was JLS Long-Range Planning Vice President that year.

13 out of the past 24 Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Award Honorees pictured
Seated: Maxine Barnard, Peggy Habegger, Kathy Randall, Sue Lile Hunter,
Sally Skinner Behnke, Ginger Ackerley, Kate Belcher Webster
Standing: Dee Dickinson, Micki Flowers, Sue Mecklenburg,
Cathi Hatch, Marli Iverson, Colleen Willoughby

The Junior League of Seattle created the Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Award in 1989 to recognize outstanding achievement in the area of community service.  It recognizes an Active or Sustaining Junior League member who has enriched the lives of her neighbors and community at large through extraordinary public service.  Kathy is the 24th recipient of the award.  It was extraordinary to see four out of the first five recipients there today including Sally Skinner Behnke, Colleen Willoughby, Sue Lile Hunter and Kate Belcher Webster to help celebrate Kathy's honor.  The only one missing of the first five honorees was Mary Maxwell Gates who passed away a few years ago.

May Day - We got Floral at Koral

Ken Hatch flanked by Mary Holmes and Christine Gilbert

Last evening, Bradley Dickinson and Mikel Rogers, Co-Owners hosted a ZINO Society Libations on Location at their new restaurant located in the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue:  Koral Bar & Kitchen.
Koral Bar & Kitchen serves regional American cuisine and boasts a warm and inviting atmosphere designed to create a relaxed look and feel. Distressed leather chairs, found wood furnishings and other distinctive artifacts create a comfortable ambiance for the neighborhood patrons and hotel guests alike. It is a good gathering place for large groups or a cozy dinner for two.

Ajit Sukesan and Kate DesRosier

Since it was May Day, guests were encouraged to wear "floral" to get into the spirit of the day.  I am talking about the traditions surrounding giving of flowers to friends on May Day, not anarchist demonstrations and vandalism as was being experienced in Seattle yesterday.

A prize was awarded to the ZINO Society member or guest who best carried out the theme in his or her attire.  Sponsor member, Darlin Gray, was the winner, though ZINO Society Events Director, Christine Gilbert, clearly deserved a prize of her own for wearing 2 different floral prints and adorning her hair with flowers!  ZINO Society team members Mary Holmes, Kate DesRosier and Jamee Nunnelee also got into the spirit with their floral dresses while husband, Ken Hatch, arrived wearing a floral aloha shirt.  Scott Wonder received an Honorable Mention for his very floral tie and suspenders.

Cathi Hatch with Koral Owner, Bradley Dickinson

New ZINO Society Wine Professional members, Scott & Monica Greenburg of Convergence Zone Cellars and producer of only 600 cases of wine per year, poured a selection of their white and red wines to accompany passed hors d'oeuvres by the efficient and friendly Koral staff.

A few of the ZINO Society members and guests who attended include Craig Williamson, Stacia Smith, Brad Vancour, Ajit Sukesan, Katie Holmes, Peter Weiss, Randy Neely, Charles Finkelstein, Linda Tonn, Jaennae Dinius, Nancy Harnasch, Rick Fisher, Linda Tonn, Jaennae Dinius plus dozens more.



Randy Neely and Katie Holmes

Linda Tonn, Jaennae Dinius, Kate DesRosier

Guests departed with a gift bag which contained a Seattle Celebrated Chefs Cookbook - Volume 3 plus Bravern wine rings, and assorted special offers and special access cards from Koral, Pearl and ZINO Society,