ZINO Business Insights Luncheon at Harris myCFO

Greg Sefanov, BMO Capital Markets

Yesterday, ZINO Society sponsor, Harris myCFO, hosted a ZINO Business Insights luncheon in their conference room featuring guest speaker, Greg Sefanov, Managing Director of BMO Capital Markets Technology team in New York entitled "Technology Traction:  Beyond the A-Round".  The discussion included the general nature of the current funding environment and what investors, VC/PE firms and those seeking investments are finding across the tech spectrum.

Hosting the Harris myCFO event were Debra Doran, Managing Director, Mark Castelin, Director and Senior Investment Advisor, Kate Anderson, Director, and a welcome surprise visitor from the Harris

Harris myCFO Team l-r: Mark Castelin, Debra Doran,
Kate Anderson, Claudia Sangster

myCFO Los Angeles office, Claudia Sangster, Director, Philanthropy, Estate and Trust Services.

Around 18 ZINO Society members and guests attended the luncheon ranging from sophisticated investors to start-up entrepreneurs.  Greg shared many insights about his experiences in the business.  

One of the charts he shared included Gartner's Hype Cycle and I thought the Hype Cycle Stages were fascinating: Technology Trigger associated with Seed/Start Up companies, Peak of Inflated Expectations, and Trough of Disillusionment associated

with Early Stage companies, Slope of Enlightenment associated with Expansion Stage companies and Plateau of Productivity associated with Later Stage companies.  

Greg Sefanov in conversation with Peter Weiss

It seems we often see the struggles of early stage companies seeking funding in that Trough of Disillusionment as problems with performance, slower-than-expected adoption or failure to deliver timely financial results lead to missed expectations and disillusionment sets in.  But it is exciting to watch as they overcome some of the initial hurdles and begin to experience success and recommit their efforts to move forward.

From some of the questions asked by participants, Greg's presentation really struck a chord.  Thank you to Greg and the entire Harris mcCFO team!  

Washington State Convention Center Turns 25!

As a member of the Art Advisory Board for the Washington State Convention Center,  I was pleased to attend the big "25 Years of Service" celebration of WSCC last week. Husband and curmudgeon, Ken, grudgingly accompanied me, but once he was there was so impressed and very glad that he attended after all.  Whew!

The reception was held in the Level 4 North Lobby which was filled with an installation of a special collection of cookie jars which was arranged for by Art Advisory Board member, Margery Aronson.  The dessert later in the evening was a vast array of freshly baked cookies from notables in Seattle.  As a memento of the evening, each guest was presented with a special collection of cookie recipes.  

Linda Willanger Celebrates
25 Years of Service

The dinner was held in the adjacent glass Skybridge which spans PIke Street.  I'm not sure where there is a more spectacular place to hold an event.  I felt like we were in a glass box balanced in the sky with airplanes visible overhead, traffic underneath and in the distance the Pike Place Market and the water.

The WSCC Chef and his team presented beautifully prepared food that was fitting to the beautiful venue.  We enjoyed visiting with many friends and acquaintances during the reception and over dinner including Joan & Bob Wallace, Carla Murray, Bob Flowers, Karen Wong, Matt Griffin, Jane & Dan McConnell, Susana Murillo, Susan & Dennis Okamoto, Marisa & Brad Walker, Stacy & Greg Lill, Jim Ellis, Frank Finneran and many others.

Jim Ellis and Ken Hatch share a moment together.

Ken was delighted to be able to catch up with Jim Ellis, with whom he shares a longstanding friendship since Jim sat on Ken's KIRO Broadcasting Board of Directors for many years.  Linda Willanger, WSCC Vice President of Administration, who oversees and directs much of what goes on with the committees and Advisory Boards at the Convention Center, was recognized for her efforts of 25 years on behalf of WSCC!  Congratulations, Linda!

WSCC Chairman of the Board, Frank

Dinner in the sweeping Skybridge

Finneran, served as emcee for the evening and as he said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, attempted from the podium to thank individually almost everyone in attendance.  It was especially interesting to listen to Jim Ellis' reminisces and remarks, as he was the leader behind finally getting the Convention Center to become a reality 25 years ago.  And now the Convention Center is launching an exciting new plan to expand the size and services of the Center in the hopes of attracting the really large conventions that we currently cannot accommodate.

Please join me in a toast to the Washington State Convention Center!  Cheers!     

Fiesta on First Day of Summer. Ole!

Patty Barrier and Cathi Hatch  

Last night Patty Barrier and I headed across the bridge to Old Mexico (aka Broadmoor) for a fiesta at the new Hacienda of Eliza & Chris Coburn.  When we arrived to the sounds of mariachi music, Lauren Coburn greeted us at the door with a broken arm (recently set) and announced in a dramatic matter-of-fact-life-is-so-unjust kind of way that Emmico had pushed her off the couch.

Greg Jones, Theresa Dowell and daughter, Jeannine, were all there in their sombreros.  Greg turned out to be the most popular guest at the party because he was equipped with an ammunition belt filled with shot glasses, lime squeezes and a holster armed with a bottle of gold tequila.

Eliza, who is the most amazing party planner, had thought of every detail to make it a special evening.  Multiples choices of margaritas, Mexican beer, Dante's Inferno Dogs hot dog stand, an ice cream truck and dozens of delicious passed appetizers,

Theresa, Jeannine and Greg Jones

Jackson Hatch with pinata

Greg Jones pours for Eliza Flug Coburn

desserts, a magician, a balloon artist, a face painter, and a trampoline kept everyone entertained and happy.

Emmico's dad, Tom Skerrit was there, Michael Hatch with three sons, Jackson, Spencer and Andrew in tow, Leslie Chihuly and her son, also Jackson, Dani Ackerley with her children, Julia de Haan with her grown son, Heather & Michael Sandoval with their twin boys, Eliza's mom, Pat Flug with face festively painted, Cyndee Halper, Margie Allison, Joe Miner with daughter Audrey, and dozens of others were all having a wonderful time.  Ole!!  

Fashions and Lunch with Zang Toi

Zang Toi and Arlene Wright

This past week, dear friend Arlene Wright, invited a few friends to join her for a private fashion show of Zang Toi's upcoming fall fashion collection at Nordstrom in Bellevue.  Zang Toi, who has been in the business for almost 25 years and personally prefers to wear kilts, is a force of nature and is passionate and happy to be designing beautiful luxe clothing for women.  His upcoming collection takes its inspiration from a recent trip he took to St. Petersburg.

The clothing was spectacular with lots of fur trim, gold cording and embroidery and sumptuous fabrics.  Of course everything looked exquisite on beautiful, tall Heather, the model that he had selected to showcase his fashions.

Jan Rogers

Arlene Wright

Joyce McCallum

Carole Ellison

We began in a large dressing room with a glass of champagne and were entertained with one extraordinary outfit after another.  One fox-trimmed jacket was especially a favorite and was coveted by several of our party including Arlene, Jan Rogers, Joyce McCallum and Carole Ellison.

Arlene's friends including Toni Hoffman, Jan Rogers,
Sue Raschella, Cathi Hatch, Diane Kuenster, Trudi Syferd,
Michele Heidt, Joyce McCallum, Susan Taylor 
and Carole Ellison.

Following the fashion show, Nordstrom treated us to lunch in The Grill and we were especially impressed to hear that Zang was on his way to accept a knighthood and highest honorary title of Datuk in conjunction with the birthday of Malaysia’s King, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah. 

Zang Toi, a Malaysian who founded a New York-based fashion empire in 1989,
was knighted in recognition for his contribution and services to the country.

The Datukship is the latest accolade Zang has received. He was the winner of Mouton-Cadet Young Designer Award in 1990 that put his career onto the Haute Fashion map. 

Seattle University "Rise Above It All" Year-End Celebration

Brayden Olson of Recurrence 

ZINO Society Member and Seattle University Albers School of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board Member, May McCarthy, hosted a lovely event for the winners of the Seattle University Business Plan Competition at the Columbia Tower Club this week. The name of the event was "Rise Above It All" Year-End Celebration.

May McCarthy and Sue Oliver

Having recently judged the University of Washington Foster School of Business Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition, I saw one of the same teams that made it to the UW Sweet Sixteen semi-finals also placed at the Seattle University competition.  The company has developed a process to extract cannabis oil from the leaves and
stems of marijuana plants and then infuse it into hard candies, which will initially be sold in medical dispensaries.

One of the other teams that was showcased was the winning Seattle University team, Recurrence, which is a teaching tool that includes a gamified version of traditional business cases, led by Brayden Olson.  We look forward to featuring Brayden and his company at our upcoming ZINO Life & Wellness Investment Forum on Tuesday.

Sue Oliver, who is the Executive Director of the Seattle University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, thanked May and introduced the featured teams who each shared a two minute pitch with the attendees.  In addition to Recurrence, the finalists were an interesting group that also included Nutraberry, a company that produces and supplies premium quality berry seed power and oil to the health food supplement industries; Octave, an education platform that teaches beginners and amateur singers the basics of singing through a gamified and social experience; and Universal Charge, a company that will create and operate the country's first interconnected access and payment system for commercial fueling of electric vehicles.

Congratulations to each of the winning teams!

ARCS Auction Successful in Supporting Graduate Students

Cathi Hatch & Dennis Evans
in his festive colorful regalia.

It was a beautiful evening on Sunday when we arrived at the Chihuly Garden and Glass for the annual ARCS Foundation Auction.  There were annoying and very loud protesters at the entrance to the museum trying to convince the ARCS guests to boycott the event.  Ken, who has been completely supportive of the value of the museum at the Seattle Center from the early discussions, was ready to get into a fight with one of the protesters.  I had to drag  him away reminding him that the protester was (a lot) younger and very fit.  Whew!  Crisis avoided!

Of course, once we walked inside the gate, we were transported to a magical, fairyland of vividly hued glass "plants" and "trees" in the garden and then into the Glasshouse with the incredible orange and gold glass floral sculpture hanging overhead.  Once we were seated, I especially enjoyed capturing the Space Needle and the floral sculpture within my sight at the same time.    

Sheila Noonan, Elizabeth Roberts, Cathi Hatch

The Co-chairs, Vicki Griffin, Marnie Briggs Stamper and Andrea Thoreson did a fantastic job with the table decorations.  The flowers were bright and colorful and very Chihuly-like and the lime green tablecloths were high-energy and matched the color of my outfit perfectly.  I couldn't decide if it was good or bad that I matched the tablecloths, but I loved the tablecloths anyway.

During the cocktail hour and dinner, it was fun to catch up with many ARCS friends and guests including Nancy Mee &

Alta Barer, Cathi & Ken Hatch

Alice Weymuller & Dennis Evans

Dennis Evans, Sandy & Kent Carlson, Carlyn Steiner, Susan & Bill Potts, Lynn & Steve Mowe, Jacque & Rick Doane, Alice & Ernie Weymuller, Mickey & Bob Flowers, Howard Wright, Sheila Noonan, Elizabeth & Jon Roberts, Carmen & Carver Gayton,  Julie Tall, Alta & Stan Barer, Nancy & Doug Norberg, Margaret Breen & Stewart Landefield and our son and daughter-in-law, Michael & Alicia Hatch.

This event is all about raising money to provide financial awards to academically outstanding students studying to complete graduate degrees in science, engineering and medical research at University of Washington and Washington State University.  The auction included only 22 live auction items, but the crowd was very generous raising nearly $650,000 including four new $75,000 endowment gifts, eight new fellowships and four shared fellowships.  

JLS Past Presidents' Luncheon and a New Tradition

Junior League of Seattle Past, Present and Future Presidents

This past week I attended the annual luncheon for Past Presidents of the Junior League of Seattle.  Outgoing JLS President Ashley Baerwaldt organized it to introduce incoming President Rebecca Wilson.  The luncheon was held at the elegant Sunset Club in Seattle.

The JLS Past Presidents Annual Luncheon tradition began with past president Marli Iverson (1978-79) thirty-four years ago when she decided to host a luncheon to introduce her successor.  

Ashley Baerwaldt explaining the new tradition and
starting the gavel with Kate Webster.

JLS Past Presidents applauding Rebecca Wilson's
acceptance of the gavel.

This year, Ashley implemented what she hopes will become a new tradition at these luncheons each year.  She lined up the past presidents in attendance in order of their time of service as JLS President, so the line began with Kate Webster (1960-62) and proceeded with Barbee Crutcher (1968-69), Anne Farrell, (1972-73), Colleen Willoughby (1974-75), Marli Iverson (1978-79), Marcia Zech (1982-83), Anne Blair (1984-85), Judy Holder (1986-87), Cathi Hatch (1991-92), Dot Fuller (1993-94), Susan Hubbard (1994-95), JP Brigham (1995-96), Sue Minihan (1997-98), Evelyn Zabo (2005-05), Rhonda Neben (2005-06), Chrissey Miller (2006-07), Elizabeth Reilly (2009-10), Natalie Bowman (2010-11), Renee Hartnett (2011-12), Ashley Baerwaldt (2012-13) and finally ended with Rebecca Wilson (2013-14).  The President's gavel was passed down the line beginning with Kate Webster from past president to past president until finally it was put into new President, Rebecca Wilson's hands.

It was a powerful reminder of how important each of us have been in that long line of past presidents, each doing our best along with our leadership teams to make a difference in our community and train future volunteer leaders.  

Outgoing President, Ashley Baerwaldt

Rebecca now has the opportunity along with her leadership team to lead the Junior League of Seattle into the 90th year since its founding in 1923.

I am sure that the other past presidents who attended the luncheon will join me in thanking Ashley for her most recent leadership and service, and wishing Rebecca the very best as she takes on the opportunities and challenges of her year as President of the Junior League of Seattle!