Medical Teams International Names New CEO

The board of directors of Medical Teams International announced Wednesday that Bas Vanderzalm will retire as President and CEO. Vanderzalm will step down as CEO on June 20, 2012 and will stay on as President through June 30, 2013. As President, Vanderzalm will focus on leading teams to the field, speaking on behalf of the organization, writing, and providing advice and counsel to the incoming CEO.

"During Bas' 14-plus years at Medical Teams International, the organization has grown to be one of the most respected Christian global health agencies in the country," said Ron King, chair of the board of Medical Teams International.

To ensure the organization continues to build on its solid foundation of service around the world, the board of directors has elected Jeff Pinneo to serve as the agency's next Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2012. Pinneo, retired CEO and President of Horizon Air, will engage with Vanderzalm in a several month transition as "CEO-elect" leading up to the July 1 effective date.

"The staff and volunteers of Medical Teams International have earned their reputation as one of the world's leading global health and disaster response organizations," Pinneo said. "It will be my privilege to lead and serve them as they further extend their reach and impact, to the benefit of the world's most marginalized people."

Jeff Pinneo,CEO-elect of Medical Teams International 

Erin McCallum of Enterprise Washington op-ed in Seattle Times

Erin McCallum, President of Enterprise Washington, wrote an op-ed published in The Seattle Times today concering The Washington State Redistricting Commission needing to set aside political partisanship and meet the January 1 deadline. The State of Washington has not been redistricted since 2001, and since these lines were drawn, the state's population has grown by 1 million, meaning not all men, women and children are being fairly represented in the current political process. The Washington State Redistricting Commission is negotiating in Olympia, and must reach a decision by January 1, 2012. As each day passes, concern is increasing that the commission will not meet the deadline because of political manueuvering.

To read more about what a delay in redistricting means for the state of Washington and to read the article in its entirety, visit The Seattle Times.

Erin McCallum, President of Enterprise Washington

Museum of Flight Names New Space Gallery in Honor of Charles Simonyi

On Thursday, Dec. 8, the Museum of Flight announced its new state-of-the-art, 15,500-square-foot space gallery will be named the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery in honor of Charles Simonyi, two-time space traveler, architect of Microsoft Word and founder of Intentional Software in Bellevue. Simonyi, who gifted $3 million to the $12 million building, also announced on Thursday that he is giving MOF - on a long-term loan - the Soyuz TMA-13 rocket module that carred him back from space in 2009, on his second trip to the International Space Station. Along with the Soyuz, Simonyi will be donating a space toilet and other artifacts that were part of his well documented and much followed trips to space.

Charles Simonyi and his wife, Lisa Persdotter Simonyi, after the
unveiling of the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery sign

"This imposing new Charles Simonyi Space Gallery could not have become a reality without Dr. Simonyi's continued support for The Museum of Flight and his vision about what our future can hold," said Doug King, President and CEO of The Museum of Flight. "While we are grateful for his monetary contribution, we truly named the space gallery in honor of Charles to recognize his commitment to aerospace education and his tireless enthusiasm for inspiring the next generation of space explorers."

The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery will be the home of the Full-Fuselage Space Shuttle Trainer (FFT), which will be delivered in NASA's Guppy airplane in various stages, beginning in June. The FFT is only one of its kind in the world and is the simulator in which every space shuttle astronaut trained for space flight. In addition to the Shuttle Trainer and the Soyuz module, there will be other rare space artifacts, both permanent and on tour - all part of this premier Space Gallery, to engage the next generation of scientists and engineers through hands-on learning.

Charles Simonyi in one of the many artifacts he loans
 to The Museum of Flight, his spacesuit

"The naming of the space gallery is a great honor for me and for my family," said Simonyi. "I have the highest regard for The Museum of Flight and now that we are at the threshold of a great expansion of civilian spaceflight, I fully support the Museum's efforts to engage the public on the issue of space exploration with a focus on civilian space: past, present and future."

"We are so honored by Charles' generosity," said MOF Chairman of the Board, Michael Hallman, himself a major donor. "His level of monetary and intellectual commitment will help to propel this Museum into an exciting future of continued leadership in educating and inspiring legions of young people to pursue and live their dreams."

The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery dedication was the beginning of a three-day experience at The Museum of Flight, followed by the 2011 Future Forum hosted by NASA on Friday, which featured panel discussions covering everything from innovation and discovery to commercial partnerships, education in space flight, and more. In addition, the space gallery was open to the public on Saturday to provide a sneak peek of what the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery will feature when it officially opens in June 2012, after the delivery of the Full Fuselage Space Shuttle Trainer. The doors of the space gallery will continue to be open to the public to view the future site of space artifacts. For more information on the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery hours of operation, please visit The Museum of Flight's website.

Overlake Continues Expanding Clinic Network

Overlake Hospital Medical Center is continuing to grow its network of primary care medical clinics on the Eastside with the acquisition of Issaquah Medical group, now named Overlake Medical Clinics Gilman. As part of the acquisition, Overlake has added two primary physicians and an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) to its staff. The new clinic is located at 450 NW Gilman Blvd., Suite 201 in Issaquah.

"One of our main goals at Overlake is to provide our patients with the most convenient and cost effective medical care possible," said Craig Hendrickson, Overlake's CEO. "The addition of Overlake Medical Clinics Gilman to our network means that we now have seven medical clinics throughout the Eastside, with two more opening in Redmond in 2012, offering the community unparalleled access to state-of-the-art healthcare."

The primary focus of the network of Overlake Medical Clinics is to promote health and wellness. Over the past two years, Overlake has focused on adding new primary care clinics and expanding its physician network to better serve patients in convenient locations close to where they live and work. The staff at each location works with patients to design care plans tailored to unique needs that are based on the latest, proven medical practices. Each clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and is designed to provide patients with a comfortable, healing environment with short wait times and same day appointments.

Joining the Overlake staff in Issaquah will be Elizabeth Lehmann-Taylor, MD, John Henn, DO, and Keya Chisholm, ARNP.

Dr. Elizabeth Lehmann-Taylor

Dr. John Henn


Keya Chisholm, ARNP

Overlake operates six other primary care clinics throughout the Eastside, including one on the hospital campus. Two more openings are planned for Redmond in January of 2012, including an adult family medicine clinic at Redmond Town Center and an Urgent Care Clinic on Redmond Way. Those will take the Overlake Medical Clinics network to nine altogether.

Turner Construction names new leaders in expansion efforts

Today, Turner Construction announced that Dan Gemme has been promoted to vice president and general manager of Turner’s Seattle office. Incumbent, Jack Beaudoin, has been appointed as vice president and general manager to lead expansion efforts in the Vancouver, Canada region.

Gemme has nearly 25 years of experience in the construction industry including field work, business development and office management. He has served as vice president and operations manager of Turner’s Seattle office since 2010. Gemme has worked on a wide array of projects in the healthcare, higher education and commercial interiors markets. “It is an exciting time for this company as Turner continues to expand and search for new growth opportunities in the Pacific Northwest region,” said Gemme.

As part of the company’s ongoing strategy to target growth opportunities, Turner is expanding its presence in Vancouver, Canada with Jack Beaudoin leading the company’s efforts in that region as vice president and general manager. Beaudoin began his career 30 years ago in Houston as a field engineer on Texas Commerce Tower. He was named manager of the Seattle Special Projects Division in 1987 and promoted to vice president in 2000. Beaudoin’s most recent assignment was general manager of the Seattle office in 2005.

Gus Sestrap has also been named the new operations manager for Turner’s Seattle office, replacing Gemme. Sestrap has led numerous large projects since joining Turner in 1981, including the Microsoft Data Center in Quincy, Wash., Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Ore., and CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Wash.

Turner Construction was recently awarded projects with the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Husky Stadium and Sound Transit. “These relationships show our commitment to this community and that we intend to be here for a very long time,” said Gemme.

Dan Gemme, Vice President & General Manager of Turner's Seattle office

Jack Beaudoin, Vice President & General Manager in Vancouver, Canada region

Gus Sestrap, Operations Manager for Turner's Seattle office

Enterprise Washington teams up with The 2012 Project

Enterprise Washington announced yesterday, Nov. 9, it is partnering with The 2012 Project to inspire women with experience in the private sector to run for the Washington State Legislature.   

“We are extremely excited to partner with The 2012 Project to help professional women who are interested in running for public office succeed,” said Erin McCallum, president of Enterprise Washington.

 The 2012 Project is a national, nonpartisan campaign sponsored by the Center for American Women and Politics to identify and engage accomplished women aged 45 and up from industries that are currently underrepresented in state legislatures and in Congress. Enterprise Washington is actively recruiting candidates in over 25 legislative districts in Washington state, connecting professional women who are interested in taking the next steps toward a potential candidacy with training and leadership programs, fundraising networks and political support organizations that can help them succeed.

Nationally, The 2012 Project aims to take advantage of new and open seats that will be created as a result of redistricting. Women now only comprise 17 percent of Congress and 23 percent of state legislatures. This underrepresentation of women in public office does not accurately represent a nation whose population is more than half female.

 With this new partnership, Enterprise Washington will continue to help companies and employees better understand how elected officials establish public policy, and how to become more involved in the political process.

 “There is so much talent out there in our state,” said Cathy Allen, one of Washington state’s top political strategists. “If business leaders encourage their female colleagues to run, they have a great chance of winning.”

Check out this video for more information about The 2012 Project.

Medic One Foundation funds Dispatch Academy to teach 9-1-1 dispatchers how to improve cardiac arrest survival rates

Today, Seattle Medic One and King County EMS conducted the Dispatch Academy, a program funded by the Medic One Foundation that is designed to teach 9-1-1 dispatchers how to improve cardiac arrest survival rates in their communities. The program gives antendees an in-depth, comprehensive look at the King County Dispatcher-Assisted CPR program and provides mentoring for the development of a dispatcher training program. Effective Dispatcher-Assisted CPR programs can effectively double the rate of community bystander CPR. The Dispatch-Assisted CPR programs in Seattle and King County play a critical role in our region achieving a cardiac arrest survival rate that is almost twice the national average.

The academy is being held at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.