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Puget Sound Business Journal
T-Mobile agrees to eight-figure settlement over data breaches
The Federal Communications Commission has settled with T-Mobile US Inc. (Nasdaq: TMUS) over multiple, massive user data breaches to the tune of $31.5 million, the agency announced earlier this week.<\p> The agreement will address a string of breaches affecting the telecommunications company in 2021, 2022 and 2023 that allowed bad actors to access data for tens of millions of customers, including Social Security numbers, addresses, birthdays and driver's license numbers. <\p>
'Blippi' star buys Kirkland home (Photos)
An actor who has gained fame among toddlers — and their parents — recently bought a $7.2 million home in Kirkland on the shores of Lake Washington.<\p> Stevin John, better known by his character "Blippi," acquired the home in the last week of September, according to King County records. <\p>
Mariners name new president of business operations
The Seattle Mariners have tapped Kevin Martinez to be their next president of business operations, the team announced Friday. <\p> The 34-year Mariners employee will be elevated from his role as senior vice president of marketing and communications and will now oversee all aspects of the Mariners business operations. <\p>
Iconic 131-year-old building in Tacoma set to reopen
The first phase of the iconic and long-vacant Old City Hall in downtown Tacoma is set to reopen by the end of this year after a six-year redevelopment process.<\p> To call the redevelopment of the 131-year-old building a challenge would be an understatement, said Eli Moreno, whose company Surge Co. owns the building and is the developer of the project.<\p>
Cybersecurity firm relocates its Bellevue office
San Francisco-based identity verification company Okta Inc. (Nasdaq: OKTA) is moving from its space at 110 Atrium in Bellevue.<\p> On Thursday, Okta confirmed it is moving into the U.S. Bank Plaza building in Bellevue's central business district. The move was first noted in Broderick Group's third quarter Eastside office market overview.<\p>
Avalara to downsize its office footprint in Seattle with relocation
Months after shifting its headquarters to the East Coast, tax software company Avalara Inc. will downsize from its current offices in Seattle's Pioneer Square to a much smaller space on the downtown waterfront.<\p> The company recently inked a deal to occupy 33,754 square feet in the historic Maritime Building at 911 Western Ave., an Avalara spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. <\p>
Microsoft exec snagged by Zoom for C-suite role
Microsoft executive Michelle Chang has been hired by Zoom Video Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: ZM) to serve as its chief financial officer. <\p> Chang worked at Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) for nearly 25 years, mostly recently as CFO and corporate vice president of the commercial sales and partner organization. She will report to Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and be based in Seattle, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on her terms of employment.<\p>
Future leaders are falling behind on a key part of management
Editor’s Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. <\p> As more young managers rise through the ranks at their companies, it’s important for organizations to ensure those individuals are properly trained to lead teams in all facets of business — and new research identifies an area that could draw more attention.<\p>
Millions of businesses have a new reporting deadline coming up
Millions of small business owners need to make sure they are complying with a new regulation — or face penalties.<\p> The Corporate Transparency Act requires businesses with fewer than 20 employees to provide names, dates of birth, addresses and other identifying information about its owners. It's part of a larger effort by the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to crack down on money laundering and other financial crimes.<\p>
Contractor picked for $300M Seattle rail yard project
Amtrak has selected PCL Construction Services to complete a $300 million upgrade to its maintenance facility in Seattle's Sodo area. The project will enable Amtrak to support its new, more efficient fleet of Amtrak Airo trains, among other improvements.<\p> All construction will take place within the King Street Coach Yard's existing footprint at 187 S. Holgate St., around a mile south of King Street Station.<\p>
Seattle's World Cup organizers reveal fan hub site
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and the organizing committee for Seattle's World Cup bid announced Tuesday the Seattle Center will serve as an official fan celebration hub for the quadrennial soccer tournament in 2026.<\p> The hub will broadcast all six of the 2026 World Cup matches hosted at Lumen Field. It will also feature entertainment, educational displays, food and drinks, and it will establish a business opportunity zone for small and BIPOC-owned businesses.<\p>
Acclaimed chef closes pizzeria after brief run in Walla Walla
James Beard Award-nominated chef Mike Easton has closed his Walla Walla pizzeria just months after opening it. <\p> In June, Easton opened Bacetto's Detroit Style in downtown Walla Walla after abruptly closing his nationally acclaimed restaurant Bar Bacetto in the nearby town of Waitsburg. On Wednesday, the pizzeria closed and its Instagram page was deleted. <\p>
Pokémon aims to build museum inside new Bellevue office
Pokémon Co. International is readying its new downtown Bellevue office for move-in, as revealed by recent permit filings for a dining space, amenities and even a museum.<\p> Since July, more than a dozen permits requests have been filed for tenant improvements under the project name Tetris at the 26-story The Eight tower, where Pokémon has leased 374,000 square feet earlier this year. But among the most intriguing plans for the office at 1066 NE Eighth St. is one for a "small museum" that was submitted on Sept. 24.<\p>
Meet these CEOs at Lumen Field event this month
From industries like software and logistics to the travel and cuisine businesses that are boosting the region’s hospitality sector, the Business Journal has identified the Washington companies making the biggest revenue gains.<\p> At our annual 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies event Oct. 24, a panel of top executives will explain how they’ve done it.<\p>
San Francisco fintech opens Seattle office with plans for growth
San Francisco-based fintech Brex has opened its Seattle office after first announcing plans to do so in June.<\p> On Wednesday, the company said employees are now working at Beacon Capital Partners' Met Park West building in Seattle's Denny Triangle neighborhood. A Brex spokesperson said the company is taking 6,000 square feet there and has 35 employees assigned to that office, but it plans to increase both of those numbers. <\p>
Seattle movie theater hunts for new home as lease nears end
An independent movie theater in Seattle is preparing to move after more than 50 years.<\p> The Grand Illusion Cinema announced Wednesday that it plans to leave its home at 1403 NE 50th St. in the University District early next year. The theater's lease expires in February, and the building owner has opted not to renew it, the theater said. <\p>
Amazon-leased building in South Lake Union sells at steep discount
The nation’s largest developer of biotech real estate last week paid $47.6 million for an office building Amazon leases in South Lake Union, King County records show. <\p> Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (NYSE: ARE) purchased the building at 428 Westlake Ave. N. from Karigo LLC, which bought the property for $81.5 million in 2017. The latest sales price represents a nearly 42% decrease.<\p>
Women's fashion brand to open at Bellevue Square mall
Reformation, a sustainability-minded Los Angeles fashion brand, confirmed this week plans to open a store at the Bellevue Square mall. <\p> The women's apparel retailer will fill about 1,500 square feet at 149 Bellevue Square in the former UpWest space on the first floor near Ben Bridge Jeweler and Indochino. <\p>
Affordable housing project aimed at families opens in South Sound
Spokane-based Inland Group has completed Copper Way, a 256-unit garden-style affordable housing development in Spanaway. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $83 million project at 19422 Mountain Highway E. is planned for later this week. <\p> Apartments at Copper Way will be reserved for households earning 60% of the area median income, which works out to $69,487 for a family of four. The development aims to help address the shortage of affordable family-sized apartments, and so roughly 80% of the units have two bedrooms or more.<\p>
Small-business grants you can apply for in October 2024
Small business may be feeling a bit of relief after the Federal Reserve lowered its interest rates by 0.5% — but owners still have a number of challenges to overcome.<\p> That includes higher prices, trouble finding workers and navigating the increasingly complex world of generative AI and other technology.<\p>
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