the weekly seattle

It's Yonder's 5 year anniversary so we brought the Founder & CEO Caitlin back to the studio to share what's changed since we last talked, how the tariffs are affecting her business, the sometimes tricky relationship between small businesses and the city, and lastly, how we feel about virtual reality.

Top Stories

1. Trader Joe's coming to Northgate

Seattle Times article

2. Impact of tariffs

PSBJ articles

3. Bus only lanes in Fremont & Ballard

Seattle Times article

4. New mixed reality theme park

PSBJ article

About guest Caitlin Braam - Founder & CEO, Yonder Cider:

Caitlin founded Yonder Cider in 2020. Prior to this she worked at Angry Orchard as a Brand Strategist and before that she was the President of Seattle Cider Company & Two Beers Brewing. She has years long history of working in PR and broadcast journalism. www.yondercider.com

Yonder 5th Anniversary Party

Saturday, August 16th

12pm-10pm

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

As the CEO of the largest shelter in Washington state serving families experiencing homelessness, Dominique shares what Mary's Place is doing to serve our community and how things have dramatically changed since 2019. She talks about their strategic three pronged approach to help those in need, the impact of decreased federal funding, and why a housing first model has been successful. She also busts certain myths or assumptions many make about people experiencing homelessness. All this along with your roundup of top Seattle business news stories!

Top Stories:

1. Housing first program reveals positive data

Real Change article

2. Legislation proposed to protect the homeless

Seattle Times article

3. Youth shelter closes and CEO steps down

Seattle Times article (CEO)

Seattle Times article (closes shelter)

4. Starbucks announces new in office policy

PSBJ article or Seattle Times article

About guest Dominique Alex - CEO, Mary's Place:

Dominique Alex has been in the role of CEO at Mary’s Place for about two years. Before that, she was their Chief Program Officer. She’s also held leadership roles at Children’s Home Society of Washington (now known as AKIN), worked as a Head Start education specialist, an autism behavior based therapist, and was an adjunct faculty member at Goddard College.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

The CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality joins us to talk about the restaurant industry and especially the impact of the minimum wage change that took effect in January. Should all restaurants implement a mandatory service charge? Is there a place for dive bars in Seattle anymore? As the Founder of Brigado, a tech hospitality company, Chad also explains why he's declared war on credit card fees and where he thinks the solution is to avoid these ever increasing costs. Lastly, as the co-founder of Third Door Coalition, Chad shares his experience in trying to solve chronic homelessness and why he ultimately shut down that business.

Top Stories:

1. Whale Wins to close & Sea Creatures employees unionize

Eater article (Whale Wins)

Eater article (Union story)

2. Little Red Hen faces lease termination

Seattle Times article

3. Microsoft layoffs again

GeekWire article

4. Seattle being sued over mandatory affordable housing

Seattle Times article

About guest Chad Mackay - CEO, Fire & Vine Hospitality and Founder & CEO, Brigado:

Chad took over his father’s El Gaucho business as CEO in 2013 and has since turned it into Fire & Vine Hospitality which owns locations throughout Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Portland, Vancouver, Walla Walla soon to be Idaho. Chad co-founded Third Door Coalition which saught to solve homelessness in Seattle and he is also the founder & CEO of Brigado. He is currently on the board of Visit Seattle and previously the chair of the Washington Hospitality Association.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

As the Founder & President of a tech consulting/data analytics company AND a former lawyer, Ryan has a lot of interesting perspectives on the news of this week. We debate the controversial B&O taxes and what it really means to pay your "fair share". Ryan shares why going public used to be his dream and why it no longer is. He also makes some bold predictions on the future of Salesforce. Lastly, we dive into intellectual property laws: Does duping a product makes a creator more innovative? What should the role of government be to protect entrepreneurs?

Top Stories

1. Blueprint & Sigma form partnership

Business Wire article

2. B&O taxes debate

GeekWire article

3. Seattle startup raises $15M to compete with Salesforce

GeekWire article

4. Lululemon sues Costco

Seattle Times article

About guest Ryan Neal - Founder & President, Blueprint Technologies:

Ryan has led this company for close to 13 years. He is also the Managing Partner at Pendulum Partners, a private equity company. Prior to these roles, he was a managing partner at a law firm, owner of an athletic club, and owner of a windows & doors company.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

Rachel's older sister joins the NY hotel "studio" to break down the top news stories and share some of her own about what it was like growing up with Rachel and what it's like being a high school teacher.

Top Stories:

1. Leadership changes: USAFacts, Rover, Perkins Coie, Kaiser Permanente

USA Facts

Rover

Perkins Coie

Kaiser Permanente

2. Live Nation eyes new venue

PSBJ article

3. Compass sues Zillow

Seattle Times article

4. Grocery store updates: Bartell Drugs, QFC, PCC, Whole Foods

Bartell Drugs

QFC

PCC

Whole Foods

About guest co-host Lindsay Fletcher - Teacher:

Lindsay has been teaching for 17 years. She teaches English as a new language as well as Spanish to high schoolers. She is also a nationally board certified teacher. Lindsay lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two kids.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

The former Chief Economist for Windermere helps us understand how the economy is doing amongst the tariff and immigration changes at a federal level. He also shares interesting data on the job market and housing in Washington state. We ask him what people looking to buy a house should know, if he sees us heading towards a recession, and so much more in this special mid-year economic outlook episode.

Matthew Gardner - Principal & Chief Economist, Gardner Economics

Matthew Gardner is the Principal and Chief Economist at Gardner Economics in Seattle. Prior to this he was the Chief Economist for Windermere. With nearly three decades of experience in U.S. and U.K. real estate markets, Matthew draws on a background in econometrics to forecast housing trends and guide strategic decisions. He chairs the UW Washington Center for Real Estate Research, sits on the Washington Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, and lectures in forecasting at the University of Washington.

Venue:

Thank you to Columbia Tower Club for allowing us to record this episode at the Top of the Tower Studios!

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

This week we're talking the business of sports! Co-founder Chris Ackerley shares his insights about owning the Sonics, trying to buy a rugby team, and much more!

Top Stories:

1. Ackerley Sports Group bids on rugby team

Sportcal article

2. Hockey updates in Seattle

Seattle Times article (PWHL)

PSBJ article (Kraken coach)

3. Memorial Stadium updates

PSBJ article & MSN article

4. LinkedIn CEO gets another role

GeekWire article

About guest Chris Ackerley - Ackerely Sports Group

Chris is the Managing Director and co‑founder of Ackerley Partners, a private investment firm in Seattle. Formerly President of The Ackerley Group, he helped steer the firm through its public company merger Clear Channel. Together with his brother, he launched Ackerley Sports Group in 2023, investing in major sports ventures like the Seattle Kraken, Seattle Storm. Chris also acts as a board director & advisor across multiple companies.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

It's Pride Month! We talk to the Executive Director of Seattle Pride about the change in corporate sponsorships since the new administration, her decision to publicly announce the budget shortfall, and what she sees for the future of Seattle Pride. She also helps break down the news of a new Molly Moon's location, colleges merging, and a private equity acquisition.

Top Stories:

1. Seattle Pride update

Seattle Magazine article

Seattle Pride statement (2022)

2. Molly Moon's opens waterfront location

PSBJ article

3. Seattle U and Cornish merge

Seattle Times article

4. Acumatica acquired by private equity

PSBJ article

About guest Patti Hearn - Executive Director, Seattle Pride:

Patti has worked as the Executive Director of Seattle Pride for about two years. Prior to that she founded a consulting company and was also an adjunct professor for Seattle Film Institute. She has a long history of working in education like founding and heading the Lake Washington Girls Middle School and was the interim Head of School for Seattle School of Boys. She has her masters in Education and has served on several boards including The Bush School.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

As the Executive Director, Lisa gives us an update on the state of Pioneer Square, how the org is preparing for FIFA, and the unique way they are helping small businesses.

Top Stories:

1. State of Pioneer Square

Seattle magazine article and KNKX article

2. Sound Transit testing light rail on I-90

PSBJ article or The Urbanist article

3. New taxes on businesses

GeekWire article

4. Glass elevator at Space Needle

GeekWire article

About guest Lisa Howard - Executive Director, Alliance for Pioneer Square:

Lisa has been with the non-profit organization Alliance for Pioneer Square for 17 years! She earned her masters in Business from UW’s Foster School of Business and her first job was working as a seamstress.

Alliance for Pioneer Square website

Free waterfront shuttle schedule

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠

We're back with an inside look at the zoo! President & CEO Alejandro Grajal walks us through how they raised $120M for their new exhibit, the impact of decreased tourism from Canada, and his philosophy on why zoos are so important to our society.

Top Stories:

1. Woodland Park Zoo's new exhibit after $110M campaign

Fox13 article

2. International tourism is down in Seattle

PSBJ article

3. Microsoft to lay off 2,000 Seattle employees

GeekWire article or PSBJ article

4. Nordstrom is officially a private company

Seattle Magazine article

About guest Alejandro Grajal - President & CEO, Woodland Park Zoo:

Alejandro has led since 2016 as only the eighth director in its 117-year history. He oversees more than 350 staff and all aspects of zoo operations, from exhibits and programs to fundraising and community partnerships. Prior to Woodland Park Zoo, he held senior roles at the Chicago Zoological Society, the National Audubon Society, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, focusing on conservation leadership and education.

A published author with over 45 scientific and popular works, Alejandro also leads the Climate Literacy Zoo Education Network (CliZEN). He’s received numerous honors, including the George B. Raab Medal for Conservation Leadership, and is an accomplished wildlife artist whose work has been exhibited nationally.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com⁠⁠