Angels, ZINOpreneurs and ZINOphiles

John Baker of Thos. Baker and Cathi Hatch

On Tuesday evening,  ZINO Society reached to new heights by hosting our high-energy Roundtable Investment Meeting at the highest point in the city in the beautiful Columbia Tower Club.  There were around 100 people in attendance and it was a fascinating agenda which included keynote speaker David Allen of McKinstry talking about "In Search of Innovation" and presenting ZINOpreneur Select Members, Chris Leyerle of Phytelligence, Rick Balakier of Red Cap, Martin Stever of Pacific West Land Real Estate Opportunity Fund and R.J. Selfridge of Cedar River Foods, LLC.

David Allen of McKinstry

Jason Brown of Your Local Market

In addition, Jason Brown of Your Local Market provided a brief traction update and John Baker, Founder and CEO of Thos. Baker, accepted a $50,000 check as the winner of the investment fund allocation for ZINO Marketplace Investment Forum as selected by the fund investors.

Cathi Hatch and John Bell, Willis Hall

Our featured Wine and Brew Professional Members were Ali Harvey of Dumas Station Wines, John Bell of Willis Hall and Charlie Finkel of Pike Brewing Company with a selection of handcrafted local wines and beers.

Rick Balakier of Red Cap

Martin Stever of Pacific West Land
Real Estate Opportunity Fund

We welcomed many new members and guests.  Also attending the meeting were Advisory Board members Bob Cremin and Ken Hatch and several University of Washington entrepreneur students including volunteers from the Science and Engineering Business Association (SEBA), the Lavin Entrepreneurship program, and the Entrepreneurship 370 class team that I am currently mentoring.

Lavin Students Emily Thramer, Chelsea Zhai, Dmitry Muzechuk
with Cathi Hatch

We were proud to present such accomplished entrepreneurs and are also pleased to announce that with recent angel funding decisions made by ZINO Society members, that our total angel funding facilitated to date is now $20.3 million.

Time to Plan a Red Mountain Wine Adventure

Ken Hatch, Trudi Syferd, Anne-Marie & Tom Hedges,
Dave Syferd, Cathi Hatch

Over the weekend, Ken and I had dinner with friends Trudi & Dave Syferd and Anne-Marie & Tom Hedges at La Spiga on Capital Hill, just down the block from the Ferrari of Seattle dealership.

In addition to enjoying a delicious dinner, we took time to discuss our upcoming ZINO Society Red Mountain Wine Adventure planned for June.  We don't have the details worked out yet, but are certainly planning a bocce ball tournament at the beautiful Hedges Family Estate property before dinner on one of the evenings.

Chester, our waiter

We enjoyed meeting La Spiga owner, Pietro Borghesi, and Chester, our waiter, took fantastic care of us.  The restaurant promised authentic Italian food from the Romagna region.  Though the lasagne was delicious, my personal food favorite was our shared pasta course of tiny handmade gnocchi in a sausage and cream sauce!

We will definitely plan to return!

Ken Hatch and La Spiga Owner, Pietro Borghesi

Cantinetta Encore

Chad Hinke with Bob Cremin

This week I have had the opportunity to dine at Cantinetta in Bellevue twice and both times were delightful!  On Wednesday evening, Ken and I had dinner with Bob Cremin (aka Brahma Bob), who was briefly in town between jet setting from Hawaii to Vancouver to Scottsdale to Miami and back to Seattle.  We so enjoyed catching up with him and all his adventures.

We met Cantinetta Manager, Chad Hinke, who along with his friendly and efficient service staff, made our evening delightful.  Bob ordered the lamb, Ken the Veal Milanese and I tried an outstanding pasta dumpling entree called Canoncelli.  The little handmade dumplings were filled with chicken and pork and served with crisp pancetta in a brown butter and sage sauce.

Delicious Zeppole

Of course for dessert, we had to order the Zeppole, since Bob had never tried them.  (That was my excuse at least!)  They were served warm and sugar dusted with the chocolate hazelnut Nutella running out of the center as we cut into them.  In fact, we couldn't even stop to take a photo until after each of us had consumed one of the delicious little temptations.

And then on Friday evening, our dear friend, Sarah Rindlaub, was in town visiting from their new home in Hong Kong so Patty Barrier and I met her for dinner at Cantinetta.

Owner Trevor Greenwood with Sarah Rindlaub,
Patty Barrier and Cathi Hatch 

It was so fun to catch up with one another and hear all about their new life in Hong Kong.  We look forward to making a trip over there to visit them and especially look forward to our scheduled golf trip together in August.

I was happy to see Cantinetta owner Trevor Greenwood there to greet us and once again the food and service was spectacular.  Patty and Sarah both tried the beet and fennel salad which I had so enjoyed earlier in the week and pronounced it delicious as well.  I ordered the Canoncelli because I was so impressed with it from my prior visit and it was once again fantastic.

Canoncelli

Zeppole!

Since neither Patty or Sarah had ever been to Cantinetta previously, I was "forced" to order the Zeppole once again for dessert so they could try it.  They both raved about it just as much as I do, and this time I was able to get the photo before we launched into them.

It was a perfect evening of great food and friendship!  

Screening for "The Barber of Birmingham"

Cathi Hatch, Director Robin Fryday, Matt Hooper

Last night, ZINO Society Team members, Mary Holmes, Christine Gilbert, Kate DesRosier and I, were invited by Matt Hooper, chair of the Arts and Entertainment practice for Foster Pepper, to attend a reception and the screening at the Neptune Theatre of his client's Academy Award nominated short documentary film entitled "The Barber of Birmingham". 

I enjoyed meeting the Co-Director and Producer Robin Fryday, who has worked on this film as her first film project.  She wanted to explore the impact of what the nomination and election of the first African-American president was making on the aging Civil Rights activists (also fondly referred to as the "Foot Soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement") in the South.  She chose to center her documentary around 85-year-old James Armstrong, an African-American barber and civil rights activist in Birmingham, Alabama.

Performer Johnny Gray

The event was hugely successful with SIFF, The Fearey Group, Seattle Theatre Group  and the Puget Sound Business Journal joining with Foster Pepper to host and support the event.  Foster Pepper partners Tayloe Washburn and Rafael Stone greeted the guests following a brief musical performance by talented songster and local winner of  America's Got Talent, Johnny Gray.  But, it was really Matt's remarks that resonated before he introduced his client, Robin, and the movie, as he described his grandfather's advice to make a difference with the "dash"; that little line on tombstones between date of birth and date of death and that what really matters is what we inbetween those auspicious dates.

Stained glass "Neptune"

There was a large turnout of people there for the screening and in addition to the people I have already mentioned, I had the chance to talk with several more including Bonnie & Rick Colette, Pat Fearey, Gordie Prouty, Sherry Zins, Nathan McDonald, Roger Nyhus, Judy Runstad, Steve Gahler and Nicole Vogel to name a few.  As we left, we were each encouraged to take a handout that included fifteen suggestions on how we can each take steps outside our comfort zones to support diversity.

Now, we all have our fingers crossed for this coming Sunday and the Academy Awards in the hopes that "The Barber of Birmingham" will be a winner!

C4C New Ventures Facility Ribbon Cutting

Linden Rhoads at podium

Ribbon cutting ceremony

Recently I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the University of Washington C4C New Ventures Facility at Fluke Hall.  It is a business incubator that provides UW start-ups access to lab and office space on the UW campus.  During the ceremony remarks, Linden Rhoads, C4C Vice Provost, accepted UW President, Michael Young's challenge as part of a larger commercialization initiative to double the number of start-ups produced by the UW over the next three years.

The new facility provides space to host up to 25 companies with 11,550 square feet of lab suites and 11,500 square feet of office space.  It provides dedicated space and facilities for translational research and early-stage business development and creates an environment where UW start-ups can work alongside other entrepreneurial teams and solve common business challenges.

At ZINO Society, we look forward to working with the folks at C4C to help support local entrepreneurism and active angel investing.

UW President Michael Young challenges C4C.

Sneak Peak at Chihuly Garden and Glass

Arlene Wright, Jan Rogers, Ken & Cathi Hatch

This afternoon, Ken and I went on a hardhat tour to see the progress being made on the new Chihuly Garden and Glass at the Seattle Center.  (As it turned out, we didn't really have to wear hard hats, just safety goggles.)

Ken Hatch and Billy O'Neill

When we first arrived, we were whisked past the lines of people waiting to go to the top of the Space Needle and directed to a special elevator which took us to the Skyline Level for a private reception and exhibition presentation prior to the actual tour of the construction site.  The new Chihuly Garden and Glass is promised to be the most comprehensive display of Dale Chihuly's artwork on public view.

We saw many friends and acquaintances at the reception and tour including Billy O'Neill, Mary Bass, Jerry Schwarz, Llew, Joni & Andrew Pritchard, Shelley & David Hovind, Leo Van Dorp, Jane & Dan McConnell, Betty Tong & Joe Miner, Tim Girvan, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora Mace, Jan Rogers, and Arlene Wright.

The reception program began with the introduction of the new Chihuly Garden and Glass Executive Director, Michelle Bufano and Public Relations Manager, April Matson.

Cathi & Ken Hatch, Llew, Joni & Andrew Pritchard
photo courtesy of Scott Mitchell Leen

Glass House interior under construction

Model of the Glass House

At the end of the program, Michelle asked if there were questions that she could answer though she had only been in the job a couple of weeks.  Billy O'Neill stepped in to answer a few of the questions that she could not answer about what will actually be included in the exhibition installation and said that it will represent the 50 years of Dale's art, so about half of the art will be brand-new and about half will be from his previous bodies of work.  In addition, some of Dale's many collections will be showcased including fish decoys, shaving brushes, accordians and a number of others.  Billy's best response about what to expect when the project opens was that really no one has the full understanding of what Dale will ultimately include in the display because that is the creative process and how Dale works best.

Though Curmedgeon Ken did complain a bit about having to walk through the construction site, it was fun to feel the scale of what the Chihuly Garden and Glass will be and especially the glass house portion with its soaring glass ceilings.  There were workmen on site working on the project to try to achieve the scheduled May opening.  I am sure when the Chihuly Garden and Glass opens, it will take Seattle's collective breath away!

A Russian Celebration for Valentine's Day Book Club

l-r: Diane Kuenster, Jan Rogers, Kathy Haggart,
Susan Neumann, Cathi Hatch, Joyce McCallum,
Pam Kaiser, Sherryl Wilson

Once each year, it is my turn to host the book review and luncheon for my Book Club at my home and this year my turn fell on Valentine's Day.  I thought about setting the table with hearts and flowers but then realized that it might be more fun to reflect the book we were reading this past month which was the biography, "Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman" by Robert K. Massie.  The book is 628 pages long and completely covers Russian history from Catherines's birth in 1729 as a German princess through her death in 1796 as Empress of Russia.  I still haven't had time to actually finish the book (according to my Kindle, I am 58% of the way through), but I feel like I am living in Russia during that era as I read it because it is so full of detail.

Salad of Belgian Endive, Hearts of
Palm, Beet & Pistachio Nuts

Meringue with Berries and
Chocolate Chip Cream

Susan Neumann was the designated book reviewer this month and she did a fanastic job of finding interesting details and reviews to share.  Also attending Book Club this month were Diane Kuenster, Sherryl Wilson, Pam Kaiser, Joyce McCallum, Kathy Haggart and Jan Rogers.

I decided to produce a hybrid Russian theme with touches of Valentine's Day as well.  The table was set with cobalt blue china while the flowers were definitely Valentine's Day since they included red roses and pink and white tulips.  The menu was also a mixture and included the following:

Amuse Course

Miniature Blinis with Creme Fraiche and Caviar

Shot of Icy Russisn Vodka served in jewel tone crystal shot glasses

Salad Course

Belgian Endive, Hearts of Palm, Heart-Shaped Beet with Pistachio Nuts, Blue Cheese and Vinaigrette

Heart-Shaped Parmesan, Pesto and Prosciutto Palmiers

Entree Course

Oversize Raddiatore Pasta with Carmelized Onion and Fennel with Bacon,

Roasted Asparagus, Fresh Shaved Parmesan, Seasoned Bread Crumbs served on a bed of

Sauteed Garlic Spinach and topped with s Soft Poached Egg

Dessert Course

Heart-Shaped Baked Meringues filled with Fresh Strawberries & Raspberries

and topped with Chocolate Chip Cream

Kathy Haggart and Susan Neumann

Judy Bone, Caterer Extraordinaire with Diane Kuenster
and Jan Rogers

Long-time friend and caterer, Judy (Bone) Hebert of Hey Jude Catering partnered with me to produce the luncheon calmly and efficiently as she always does.

Book Club was a success, but now I just have to finish the book!