“I am very pleased to announce that Genie Lutz has accepted our offer to become the company’s Director of Online Media and Strategic Marketing. Before describing Genie’s background, first a couple of words about the search process.

In thinking about this position, we intentionally did not seek a technology person per se, but instead looked for a marketing person who had a strong sense of how the web is most effectively used. Among many of Genie’s strengths, she sees the world from the eyes of the customer. Significantly and intentionally, she does not come from the newspaper realm.

In searching for the right candidate, we used a Seattle search firm that specializes on finding online executives. We interviewed a handful of candidates — again, none with newspaper backgrounds — and Genie stood out by a long distance over all others.

We have opportuntities in the future with greater focus on strategic marketing, particularly as it relates to branding and targeting (and monetizing) customer segments. In addition to her online work, Genie will assume the chief role of strategic marketing.

Genie is a “recovering” accountant. She began her career with the national tax and consulting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1989, holding several positions with increasingly greater responsibility. Most recently, she was their partner-in-charge from 2001-2009 for online services and strategy. She holds a bachelor of science in biology and a bachelor of arts in accounting from Rice University in Houston, Texas.

As you might expect with a talented executive who is conversant with online social media, more biographical information about Genie can be found at: http://twitter.com/genielutz http://www.linkedin.com/in/genielutz Most importantly, Genie shares our company values ….. the notion of public service and community welfare resonate with her.

Thank you to Genie, Steve, Rufus Woods – Publisher of Wenatchee World, and the Wenatchee World team for being a pleasure to work with! And a special thank you to all of you who helped network to make this match possible!”

Erik is a social entrepreneur, who founded TisBest Philanthropy and the TisBest Charity Gift Card — www.tisbest.org— a very timely and useful resource for gifts this time of year. . He is a member of Social Venture Partners, volunteers at his local Union Gospel Mission and supports the Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club.

Erik also serves as general counsel at EDG Commercial Real Estate, a medical real estate services firm.Prior to that, he was a business transactions attorney at Cairncross & Hempelmann and Perkins Coie. He graduated with highest honors from Williams College (Philosophy) and Harvard Law School, and is married living with his wife, 2 stepdaughters, 2 cats and a volatile quantity of fish in West Seattle. (more…)

Lisa also serves as President of Allrecipes.com, the leading online food community with more than 10 million unique visitors per month.  She has been in this position for over 2 years.

“We are delighted to have Lisa Sharples join the board of Livemocha,” said Shirish Nadkarni, CEO of Livemocha. “Lisa brings a tremendous track record in building large communities and developing successful monetization models at a range of leading internet companies. Lisa’s experience will be invaluable to helping Livemocha cement its leadership position as the world’s largest language learning community and building a strong business model while making language learning affordable and accessible to language learners all over the world”. (more…)

Those of you that know me, know that I like to make my gifts but never seem to have enough time to finish everything.   I have shelves full of empty jam jars, half finished knitted scarves, one felted slipper, beads that need to become jewelry, and so on.  I know it’s the thought that counts but I need to put a lot more than just thought into finishing these gifts!

I once had a teacher send an email to all the parents asking that we not give him “another coffee mug or book that says Teachers are Great”.  (Apparently he already knows that Teachers are Great.)  He suggested something else if we felt the need to recognize him during the holiday - Heifer International.   Love it!!  An entire catalog where the kids can give honeybees, flocks of chicks, goats and even a baby pig on their teacher’s behalf.  Heifer’s mission is to end world hunger and poverty and care for the earth.  So if you would like to give a gift to a loved one who is passionate about building sustainable global communities, then I highly recommend checking out Heifer International. 

This year I learned about a new and local nonprofit organization called TisBest in the PSBJ. They have created a wonderful Charity Gift Card where the lucky recipient can choose from more than 250 national nonprofits and local organizations to donate the value of the card.  I love that I can give a TisBest card and let the my friends select the charity that they believe in.  The list of charities (including Heifer) covers just about everything from the arts to humanitarian causes with new organizations being added all the time.  To date, TisBest has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.  I like the option of non-material giving for corporate gifts!  (more…)

Image credit: © Felix Mizioznikov

I saw an article recently that made my blood boil. It describes a job search firm that is being charged with taking advantage of job seekers.

The Minneapolis job search firm has been accused of “deceiving desperate job seekers who paid the company hefty fees in hopes of landing interviews for lucrative jobs that never materialized,” writes Michael Luo of the New York Times.

It’s tough enough to be a job seeker in a down economy, but being asked to fork over money you’re hoping will last until the next job – just to find the next job – is downright despicable. Unfortunately, asking job seekers to pay for dubious services is not an isolated phenomenon. I see it all the time. (more…)

While he is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, seemingly calm individuals you will meet, he likes to drive fast, very fast! His love of cars is not widely known, but ask him about his passion and you will learn more about cars—and how fast you can go—than you ever want to know.

Since I am a self professed car “hater,” Judd’s enthusiasm fell on deaf ears. But I am not above bribing him for a ride in a Ferrari!

I have the distinct pleasure of calling Judd a friend over the last ten years and hope you enjoy getting to know this private man. Please join me in congratulating Judd and his wife on the birth of their first baby girl, Briana.

We are honored to have Judd join the 40 over 40 group. (By the way, he is barely over 40!) With his strong ties to the Pacific Northwest, his is one interview we are particularly pleased to share with you. (more…)

About FiatLux Imaging, Inc.
FiatLux Imaging, Inc. is a Redmond, Washington-based company founded in April 2007 and is developing next-generation medical imaging software solutions including 3D advanced visualization and analysis for MRI and CT for use by neurosurgeons, orthopedists, and other image dependent providers, along with radiology departments and imaging facilities. FiatLux Imaging, Inc. supports medical imaging customer needs for confident analysis, intervention planning, and improved patient care.  FiatLux Imaging and FiatLux Visualize are trademarks of FiatLux Imaging, Inc.

Barbara founded SAGEFIELDS LLC in 2005 to help company leaders solve business problems. Her areas of focus include business operations, ownership transitions, financial planning and the building of culture-rich work environments. And she is skilled at using targeted philanthropy to enhance a company’s value.

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Deb will lead the Kinetix Anywhere team and help pilot them to success in this fast growing business segment. Previously, Deb worked at Nordstrom, where she was promoted to a lead, then to a trainer, and then moved to a supervisor position where she managed 50 employees. From there, she pursued a Masters Degree in Education and became a teacher before returning to the business world at eHarmony. At eHarmony, Deb was a Supervisor for the call center and QA Team, and she co-led a 100 person team there. She also helped manage vendor relationships including remote call centers in locales such as Mauritius (in the Indian Ocean) and Guatemala. Deb loves the vision for Kinetix and can’t wait to join the team! (more…)

Thank you Dan for an opportunity to glance into your personal life and see what makes the man behind Maveron! (more…)