The U.S. Small Business Administration today named KeyBank the top SBA Large 7(a) Lender of the Year. In a ceremony to launch National Small Business Week, SBA Secretary Karen Mills presented the award – the SBA’s highest recognition – to small businesses, lenders and investment banks that have demonstrated continuing commitment to the growth and expansion of small business.  “This honor reflects our strong partnership with the SBA, our relationship approach to our business and our ongoing commitment to small businesses,” said Rick Wirthlin, President of KeyBank’s Seattle-Cascades District. “Key’s experience with SBA programs has helped us support our clients through a volatile economy.”

The SBA awards the Large 7(a) Lender of the Year based on factors such as portfolio performance, year over year growth in loan approval volume and on lender size, and ongoing commitment to the growth and expansion of small businesses.

Key is one of only four banks to consistently place among the nation’s top 30 SBA lenders. In addition, Key has pledged to make $5 billion in small business loans by 2014, and expects to fulfill that pledge well ahead of schedule.

Wirthlin added:  “The SBA honor highlights our ability to identify creative ways to support the capital needs of our clients through different economic cycles, and reinforces our passion for prudently supporting the growth of our clients and our economy. It is a great honor to be recognized by the SBA, and an even greater honor to be able to help our clients thrive.”

Publisher’s Note:  Each KeyBank location on the Eastside should be listed on the Bellevue Business Directory.

My girlfriend, Stacia Loo, The Millionairess and I, along with her son Makaya have started a search to find the ideal living situation: preferably a luxury apartment or condo in downtown Bellevue.  We are currently working on a proposal for different properties, where we would both hold ongoing networking events for the ‘winning’ property – relying heavily on our networks here at BellevueBusinessJournal.com and the Eastside Entrepreneurs Social Network, as well as provide first class social media marketing strategy and implementation – all in exchange for a place for us to live.  How cool do you think it would be to have your Bellevue Apartment or condo blogged about every week?  SUPER COOL – and great exposure too!

MUST HAVE Features:

Two bedroom, two bath

Laundry in Unit

At least two parking spaces

Must accept pets – we have a 39lb golden retriever

NICE to HAVE Features:

Community room for networking events

Fitness / workout room

Here are just some of the properties that we are initially considering – we are open to all at this point.  If you have any comments or suggestions about any of these properties, I’d love to hear them.

Bellevue Apartments

*Prices represent starting at prices, as of December 2011

Their office is located at 1800 136th PL NE Suite 214, Bellevue, WA 98005.

“Taking care of people truly is my passion,” said Reeder. “Assisting Hands will provide the highest quality services to our clients in a highly individualized and compassionate manner.”

Reeder and his family have experienced first had the need for such services. Their interest for in-home care giving began with a neighbor who lived alone with no close relatives. “Helping her really opened our eyes and showed us the value and need of such services,” said Reeder. “This turned into such a special experience for us that we became her surrogate children.”

According to census bureau statistics, demand for such services continues to grow as 10,000 people reach the age of 65 years old everyday in the United States.

Assisting Hands Bellevue provides non-medical services such as, but are not limited to: personal care, bathing, dressing, companionship, exercise and mobility assistance, medication reminders and assistance, meal planning and preparation (including specialized diets), transportation and errands, coordination of social activities, light housekeeping and laundry. As an agency, Assisting Hands Bellevue services are available 24/7 from a staff of caregivers that are thoroughly screened, certified, insured, bonded and trained in CPR and basic life saving techniques. Their service is one that allows seniors to live and remain in their own home with the assistance of a trained caregiver.

“We witnessed firsthand the difficult transition it was for our neighbors to have to give up slowly, certain independent experiences such as driving. It really impacted our family and helped us to realize how important it is to help the elderly maintain their dignity and independence. This is more of a service then a job,” said Reed.

Marriage between Lord Sri Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi, referred to as “Srinivasa Kalyanam”, will be conducted by team of priests from India’s ancient and sacred Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, said to be the  most-visited holy place in the world; in collaboration with Sri Venkata Krishna Kshetra of Tempe (Arizona) on May 19, Hindu Temple of Wisconsin of Pewaukee on May 26, Portland Balaji Temple of Hillsboro (Oregon) on May 27, and  Vedic Cultural Center of Sammamish (Washington) on June two.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of India’s Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and temple communities in USA to organize this ancient ceremony.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

Reports suggest that like priests, idols of Hindu deities involved in these wedding ceremonies, and laddu prasadam (blessed food) to be distributed to the attendees, are also flying from Tirumala. Wedding will be held amidst recitation of the Vedic mantras. The sponsorship levels for this ceremony, lasting around 2-3 hours, go up to $1,116. Participation spaces are said to be limited.

Arizona celebration, claimed to first such event in the state, invites the devotees to “witness this celestial marriage here on earth”. Washington ceremony is also said to be first such ceremony in Seattle area.

According to Wisconsin temple website: “it is believed that, the region, where these celestial Kalyanams are performed, would be bestowed with peace and prosperity.” Dress code for participants: “Dhoti & Uthareeyam for men. Saree for women. Kurta/Pajama and Salwaars are also permitted.”

Oregon event, claimed to be first time in Portland and described as “divine opportunity”, will be performed in a special mandap ordered from India. It is said that during the ceremony, the idols of the bridegroom and bride face each other with a screen in between and are “allowed to see each other only at the appropriate auspicious moment when the screen is removed.”

TTD, headquartered in Tirupati, maintains 12 temples and their sub-shrines, including Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala. According to TTD website: “The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti (salvation), only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara.” Kanumuri Bapi Raju and L.V. Subramanyam are Chairman and Executive Officer respectively of the TTD Trust Board.

Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents.

Cast Iron Studios was designed to host both intimate and large private events and parties as well as specialty food and wine workshops led by the company’s cast of expert chefs, wine directors and bartenders. The space will also serve as a headquarters for the company’s popular catering services.

“Our vision of a dedicated event and workshop space has come together at just the right time and in just the right place,” said Larry Kurofsky, owner of Heavy Restaurant Group. “We are excited to have the opportunity of sharing our culinary passion with food enthusiasts as well as offer the region’s top businesses a new and exciting space for all levels of events. The space has been designed to comfortably accommodate everything from an intimate private gathering to a large corporate event to our specialty workshops.”

Private Events & Catering

With space for up to 250 guests, Cast Iron Studios allows Heavy Restaurant Group to meet the growing demand for large parties – those that go well beyond capacity at one of their individual restaurants.  In fact, Cast Iron Studios, which is connected to both Purple and Lot No. 3 in Bellevue, can expand to include both restaurant spaces and parties of up to 500 people.

The Food

With full access to Purple Café’s sophisticated and fresh Northwest fare and wine, Barrio’s modern Mexican cuisine and cocktails, and Lot No. 3’s menu of gastropub comfort food, craft brews and spirits, events at Cast Iron Studios have one of the widest catering selections available.  Expert staff is available to assist in designing the perfect food and drink pairings for all types of events.

In addition to events, Cast Iron Studios is also the company’s home base for their growing pick-up and delivery catering services ranging from reception packages and box lunches to dinner buffets.

Workshops

One of the most anticipated elements of Cast Iron Studios is the series of specialty food events, wine tastings and cocktail classes. These workshops allow Heavy Restaurant Group’s expert staff to share their experience and enthusiasm for all things food and drink from Baking 101 to the basics of mixing classic cocktails.

“We want Cast Iron Studios to be a place where people could come together and learn about the joys of exceptional cuisine and beverages. Our custom workshops, allow us to engage with those passionate about food, wine, beer and spirits in an intimate and interactive fashion,” said Kurofsky.

The current schedule includes seven different workshops in June and July with topics ranging from Pacific Northwest Cuisine taught by Harry Mills, Executive Chef for Heavy Restaurant Group, to A History of Whiskey led by Chris Faber, Bar Manager at Lot No. 3.  A schedule and description of upcoming Cast Iron Studio workshops can be found online at www.castiron-studios.com/workshops .

Custom workshops can also be created with the help of Heavy Restaurant Group’s team of chefs, wine directors and bartenders to make for a fun and hands-on learning experience with friends and family or as a great team building activity for local businesses of all sizes.

Cast Iron Studios is now open at 10650 NE 4th St. adjacent to Purple Café and Lot No. 3 in Bellevue.  Those interested in learning more about Cast Iron Studios can visit: www.castiron-studios.com. Private tours of Cast Iron Studio’s event space can be arranged by contacting David Yusen at davidy@heavyrestaurantgroup.com.

About Heavy Restaurant Group

Heavy Restaurant Group began in 2001, when Larry and Tabitha Kurofsky opened the first Purple Cafe and Wine Bar in Woodinville with the goal of providing an experience that delivered “approachable expertise”. Purple paired a global wine selection with Northwest cuisine made from local seasonal ingredients—all in an informal atmosphere. All menu items were designed to be enhanced by wine pairings and vice versa.  The idea took off, and in 2003, a second Purple Cafe and Wine Bar opened in Kirkland.  In 2006, Purple opened in downtown Seattle, followed in 2009 by a fourth location in downtown Bellevue.  In 2008, the company continued to build on its experience pairing food and drinks with the creation of Barrio in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, a restaurant that combines Mexican cuisine with innovative craft cocktails in an energetic urban space.  In 2010 the company introduced downtown Bellevue’s Lot No. 3, a restaurant and bar that combines comfort food, classic cocktails, and craft brews in a vintage industrial setting. And in May 2012, Heavy Restaurant Group unveiled Cast Iron Studios, an event venue and Heavy Restaurant Group’s catering hub featuring a schedule of regular special food and drink workshops.

My Marketing Center will provide a vital marketing tool for MRIS’s “Gen M” (new generation) suite of real-time, integrated business tools, accessible by nearly 45,000 Mid-Atlantic real estate professionals based in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and portions of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia.

The Marketing Center will provide MRIS customers with free and unlimited access to an integrated suite of professionally designed and simple to create digital and print marketing products and tools including Flyers, eFlyers, Postcards, ePostcards, and Virtual Tours. In addition to supporting marketing and promotional efforts, there’s productivity savings as well since MRIS customers will pull in real-time listing data – including photos –to create any of the marketing materials without having to re-enter data or upload images, tasks agents already complete when they create the listing.

“My Marketing Center will be the fastest way to reach home buyers and sellers with real-time, in-depth marketing information instantly. In seconds, a link to a polished Virtual Tour is posted to Realtor.com or to the agents website, another click and an eFlyer with the broker’s template and branding is posted on Facebook or sent out on Twitter,” said John L. Heithaus, MRIS Chief Marketing Officer, adding, “The faster an agent can respond in today’s digitally-driven economy in real time, the more successful he or she will be to generate more sales commissions.”

MRIS and Imprev also announced that a Premium suite of digital and printable marketing products and tools will made available to MRIS member agents and brokers at a low-cost. The lineup of Premium marketing products is expected to include access to premium Craigslist Display Ads, eCards (electronic Greeting Cards), Brochures, Digital Brochures, Newsletters, eNewsletters and more.

“Agents need three things from any business provider: quality, ease of use and value,” said Renwick Congdon, Imprev CEO and Founder. “At the end of the day, the finished product is what the consumer sees, so the quality of the product must reflect well on the agent and brokerage. Of course, if the agent can’t easily use the system they won’t, and cost is always a consideration. MRIS has addressed all three requirements with the ‘Gen M’ My Marketing Center. ”

About MRIS

MRIS is real estate in real time™, enabling its customers to list and sell nearly $93 million in real estate each day. In 2011, the company facilitated $33.6 billion in cooperative broker sales. A leading systems developer and integrator of real estate information technology and databases, MRIS connects its customers with timely, accurate and actionable data with a growing portfolio of technology solutions. This includes broker and agent software products, an industry-leading consumer real estate portal, HomesDatabase.com and many others. Behind the scenes, the CURE Solutions Group subsidiary of MRIS provides back-end technology to other MLS systems through CURE, a proprietary solution. MRIS serves nearly 45,000 real estate professionals spanning a 22,000 square mile section of the Mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and markets located in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia.

About Imprev

Imprev, Inc. is the leading provider of private-label Marketing and Design Centers for real estate brokerage firms, and is licensed to more than 200,000 real estate agents worldwide.  Imprev-powered Marketing Centers provide brokers and agents with digital and printable marketing products and tools, including iPad presentations, Craigslist display ads, automated eMarketing, social marketing (Facebook, Twitter) material,  Virtual Tours, Video, Flyers and eFlyers, Postcards and ePostcards and more. Imprev helps agents simply and cost-effectively create an impressive personal image merged elegantly with the influence of their company’s brand.  Established in 2000, Imprev is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.  Visit Imprev at www.imprev.com.

Ramp captain Kara Macias, of Chown Hardware, will build a free wheelchair access ramp for Guonei Liang of Renton.

Art Castilleja, the 2012 Rampathon chair explains, “Builder captains will lead their teams in constructing access ramps giving recipients the ability to get in and out of their homes with greater ease and flexibility.  For many of them, it will be the first time in years they have not had to rely on family or friends just to get in and out of their homes.”  According to Castilleja, each ramp represents a unique challenge for the team as they adapt design and construction to the existing landscape and the recipient’s needs.

The Master Builders Care Foundation is the philanthropic non-profit arm of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.    Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association is a trade association comprised of nearly 3,000 companies involved in the residential and light commercial construction industry. It is the nation’s oldest and largest local home building association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders.

Culinary classes begin May 17th and will be offered throughout the year on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at various times. Classes are hands-on and small class sizes allow direct interaction with the chef instructors. The majority of ingredients for the featured menus are certified organic or pesticide-free and are sourced through the 21 Acres Market and additional local farm connections.

Along with core culinary skills, such as bread and cheese making, preserving and knife skills, class themes include farm-to-table menu planning; cooking with raw ingredients; dinner parties and special events; meals from simple ingredients; wine and food pairings; outdoor grilling; and special diets and allergy-free cooking.

Upcoming culinary classes scheduled for May and June are: Raw Food Vegan; Spring Dinner; Cook for a Week; Water Bath Preserving; Gourmet Grilling; Intro to Food Processing; Farm Fresh Soups; Tapas and Local Wine; Home Bread Baking and Spring Brunch.

New Culinary Class Director, Gill Dey, is the newest staff member at 21 Acres. Dey has trained as a home economist and has over 25 years of experience as a magazine journalist, book editor and food consultant. She is a cookbook author, food writer and organic gardener. “I have high expectations,” Day said, “for meeting the gustatory demands of our students. We plan to offer hands-on learning experiences in food preparation and cooking for people with all types of skill levels.” Along with Dey, local chefs and instructors come to the 21 Acres School with backgrounds from the New York Culinary Institute, the California Culinary Academy and Seattle Central Culinary Arts.

Located in the new green-built Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living at 13701 NE 171st Street, Woodinville, WA  98072, the 21 Acres School offers both multi-day and one-day courses and classes aligned under our focus areas: Growing, Eating, Living. Faculty possess diverse backgrounds related to sustainability and have excellent reputations of helping people learn how to cultivate, demonstrate and advance systems that support sustainable agriculture.

Download the entire Culinary Catalog at http://21acres.org/school/culinary-program. Register early, class size is limited. You can also find information about 21 Acres on Facebook and Twitter @21acres.

“We’ve evolved over the years and wanted a new name to reflect who we are now,” said Barbara Langdon, LifeWire Executive Director. “We’re not just on the Eastside. We provide comprehensive services and programs all around the community, and LifeWire is like a ‘lifeline’ for a lot of people who are in an abusive relationship.”

LifeWire is an innovator of highly successful programs, including a 24-hour crisis line, shelters that provide safe housing, advocacy services, groups for children and teens, a Latina outreach program, counseling, and women’s support groups. These programs are critical when you consider that last year, LifeWire answered nearly 11,000 crisis line calls and worked with almost 5,200 local victims of domestic violence. Since 1982, LifeWire has served more than 115,000 victims and their children, helping them escape from abusive homes and relationships.

“This agency literally saved my life,” said Stacy, a LifeWire client who experienced domestic violence.  “Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to move into a safe place, find a new job, and help my children heal. It’s made the difference for me from being desperate, to starting a new life and having hope.”

“This is what we do,” said Langdon. “We’ve been providing this full spectrum of comprehensive care all along, and now, with our new name LifeWire, we know that people will better understand the range of services and prevention that we provide.”

LifeWire drives prevention through community-based initiatives to cause change in behaviors and attitudes about domestic violence. LifeWire’s recent World of Hope dinner and auction provided a platform to educate the community about ways to prevent domestic violence and highlighted the continuum of care, raising $400,000 for agency programs.

“We are thrilled with the response from our community, and the generosity of our donors,” said Kelly Becker, LifeWire Development Director. “This is a time for all of us to come together and celebrate the progress we’ve made over the past 30 years. As we move forward as LifeWire, we will continue to look for new and innovative ways to address domestic violence.”

For more information, please visit www.lifewire.org. You can also contact Kelly Becker at kellypb@lifewire.org or call 425-562-8840, ext. 253.

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LifeWire (formerly Eastside Domestic Violence Program) is one of the largest domestic violence service providers in Washington state. For over 30 years, we have provided safety to victims of domestic violence, offering a comprehensive range of programs and services that help people regain strength and courage. As an ally, problem-solver and an advocate, we not only assist victims in crisis, we also partner with our communities to educate our citizens so we can prevent abuse before it happens. Our goal is to create a safe environment for everyone. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, call LifeWire’s 24 hour Crisis Line at 425-746-1940 or 1-800-827-8840. Visit LifeWire at www.lifewire.org. 

As a result of wise planning and infrastructure investments by the major water suppliers in the central Puget Sound region, the answer, based on what is known today, is yes.

The Water Supply Forum, comprised of water suppliers in King and Pierce and Snohomish counties, announced today that the central Puget Sound region is expected to have sufficient quantities of high quality, great tasting water for the next 50 years.  The region will have plenty of water to protect the environment and fish habitat, and to provide an economic advantage over other areas in the country as growth resumes.

Water suppliers Seattle Public Utilities, Tacoma Water, the City of Everett and Cascade Water Alliance, and other smaller providers, all members of the regional Forum, came together today to present the 2012 Regional Water Supply Update during National Drinking Water Week.

The member suppliers analyze potential future needs and supplies, and plan accordingly. A key part of their mandate to manage existing water systems includes making wise infrastructure investments for the future. Together, Forum members reviewed demand, used new ways of looking at supply, and as a result, produced a coordinated outlook for the future.

“Our demand has changed in this region and our supply is plentiful.  This is a result of several things:  system efficiency, smart infrastructure investments and stewardship of water by utilities, as well as regional collaboration,” said Chuck Clarke, chair of the Forum and Cascade Water Alliance CEO. “And our residents throughout the region have made a difference by using water wisely.”

“We will be able to provide high quality drinking water for at least the next 50 years,” added Ray Hoffman, director of Seattle Public Utilities.

“Providing sufficient water in an environmentally sensitive manner enhances the quality of life and livability across jurisdictional lines and provides economic advantage for future growth and development,” said Linda McCrea, Tacoma Water Superintendent.

Since the mid-1990s, dramatic changes in water use have resulted in decreased average water use per household.  This is the result of increased water use efficiency, savings from conservation, changes in landscaping, more efficient household appliances, enhanced building and plumbing codes and improved irrigation.

“Our update also reflects the significant improvements and enhancements providers are making to their long established water systems to ensure service reliability,” added Jim Miller, Engineering Superintendent of the City of Everett’s water supply system.

Seattle is able to refill Chester Morse Lake to higher levels providing more water for later in the year.  Tacoma is breaking ground next week on the Green River Filtration Facility, which will enhance the area’s water supply reliability. Everett has been replacing its oldest major pipeline segments to increase the reliability of its regional water supply system, and has recently worked with the Snohomish PUD to relicense the Jackson Hydroelectric Project, which includes its water supply reservoir.  And Cascade Water Alliance purchased Lake Tapps in Pierce County for long term water and was granted one of the most significant new municipal water rights issued by the state in a decade.

“The Forum continues to be a venue for regional discussion about municipal water supply, and it gives water suppliers a way of identifying, analyzing and discussing regional and national trends as well as external threats,” said Clark.

For the complete 2012 Regional Water Supply Update visit: http://www.watersupplyforum.org/2012_update/index.html.

For more information on the Forum visit www.watersupplyforum.org.

About the Water Supply Forum: The Water Supply Forum is a cooperative effort of representatives of public water systems and local governments in the Central Puget Sound region of Washington State. The Forum addresses current and future water supply issues, including supply planning, environmental stewardship, and other water supply related issues currently facing the region.