July '12 Luncheon - Jeff Durrell '91

Jeff Durrell '91 talked a little about his undergraduate days, a bit about his career, and a bit about the commercial real estate conditions in the Seattle metro market. 

In his undergraduate days he spent four summers on the Green Knight crew working for Scot Reusser '84.  Following graduation Jeff pursued his dream to be in radio where he worked with Wayne Cody and his sport crew.  Then Jeff moved into commercial real estate and the rest is history.  

In April 2011, Mohr Partners, Inc., an international corporate real estate advisor, announced the opening of its office in Seattle, WA.  The opening of the new office included the announcement of Jeff Durrell ‘91 as one of the Managing Partners. The office is located at 11235 S.E. 6^th Street, Suite 210, Bellevue, WA 98004.Durrell is a 17-year veteran of the commercial real estate industry specializing in office leasing and sales. He has assisted clients in leasing 6+ million square feet of commercial office space in the Puget Sound area. As a result of his hard work and dedication to his clients, he has continually been recognized and rewarded as a top producer in the Seattle marketplace, and has been named a CoStar Power Broker seven times. Durrell began his career in 1994 with Colliers International, before eventually joining Pacific Real Estate Partners in 1997.  Jeff was a principal at Pacific Real Estate Partners until he made his move to Mohr Partners. 

In addition to Jeff, there are several other Fijis manning the Mohr office in Seattle.  Eric Leland '78 and Troy Leland '05.

Roger Collins '79, Bob Trimble '64, Dan Alexander '53, Ron Crockett '61, Mike Burns '91, Jack Rhodes '60, Jeff Zier '04, Chris Ascani, Troy Leland '05, Scott Reusser '84, Alex Fraser '14, Davis Vaughn '09

Other highlights of the luncheon was Roger Collins '79 and Chair of the Sigma Tau Scholarship Committee introducing the newly printed History of Sigma Tau 1900 - 1960 authored by Gordy Ringoen '60. 


Steve Stoddard '76 gave a report on his start-up company's "pay at the table" system for restaurant industry.  His company is Viableware, and the product is being manufactured in Spokane, and it is in beta tests in several restaurants in the Seattle area.   http://www.viableware.com

June '12 Luncheon - Bob Philip '40

Bob Philip '40, Dan Alexander '53,and John Ellis '50

The June luncheon was a rare treat for those who attended.  As one of our three oldest brothers still standing, Bob Philip '40 shared some of the colorful stories of his long career.  There was little discussion about his 18 years as a Regent for the University of Washington, but there was a an educational and entertaining story to be told of Bob becoming the owner of the Tri-City Herald.  And he noted several times that the acquisition was made possible with the investments of a number of his contemporary Sigma Tau brothers.  The crowd enjoyed themselves as Bob described his accidental entry into the publishing business.  And the story was only more colorful as he described the 13 year union strike they survived.

Bob was informative and entertaining, and the crowd peppered him with questions.  Bob's business acumen is rivaled by his clever wit, so even the Q & A was well worth the cost of attendance.  Being the class of '40, Bob didn't have any classmates attending, but there was a good group attending to welcome him as Tom Allen '43 introduced him.

Tom Allen '43, Dick Radloff '59, and Chuck Lappenbusch '59

April '12 Luncheon -- Tony Magnano '01

Tony Magnano '01 of The Napoleon Company

This family company has a rich history reaching back more than 100 years ago, when Antonio Magnano made a promise to offer the finest ingredients available.  Antonio Magnano had come to America when he was a youthful 24 years old.  Following the death of his father, Stefano, Antonio emigrated from Italy in order to support his mother (Maddalena) and brothers and sisters. His family lived in Pra, a small town outside of Genoa. Antonio came to Seattle in 1903 and opened A. Magnano & Sons, a wholesale food business, on First Avenue. Subsequently he moved to Western Avenue, and then expanded again in 1923 when he relocated onto two floors in the Pacific Marine Supply Building.

In 1960, Antonio’s three sons (Angelo, Marco, and Antonio) sold 51% of A. Magnano & Sons and started "The Napoleon Co." -- a food brokerage/import company. The name "Napoleon" comes from their private label, Napoleon.  The company expanded it its operations and began selling its own private-label products including vinegar, olive oil, lives, canned seafood, artichokes, pickled and grilled vegetables, and more. In 1970-1971, Joe (son of Angelo) and Milo (son of Marco) joined the company. Several next-generation family members work for the company today. Susan Magnano Salazar first entered the company in 1985. Amy Smith Kirtland, first of the fourth generation, joined the company in 1994.  Then fourth generation Milo Jr. Magnano joined in 2002 and Tony Magnano in 2007. 


Several graduates from Tony's era attended the luncheon to cheer him on. 

Front: Tony Maganano '01, Kelly Kolstad '01, Imants Holmquist '02,
Back row:  Jeremy Dodd '02 and Chris Brown '02

In 2010, Seattle Business magazine named The Napoleon Co. the winner of the first annual Washington Family Business Award for Small Companies.

March '12 Luncheon - James Wagoner '07 - Idaho

James Wagoner '07 - Idaho

James Wagoner ’07 – Idaho  James put on his entrepreneur hat and reminded us that our gas driven cars have a battery.  When our car battery runs low, we have two choices – charge it up or replace it.  While working with electric vehicles, James and his team made the same observation .  When an electric car’s batteries run low, you can spend 6-8 hours re-charging the batteries.  Or you could remove the dead batteries and replace them with fully charged batteries.  If you are on the road in your electric car, the idea of a short stop to get fully charged batteries in minutes is time efficient.  


James explained how the new battery technologies now make it possible to remove and replace the batteries in a car in about the time it would take to fill a tank of gas.  As a result the cars would no longer be out-of-service while being re-charged for hours.  It was an interesting concept that got the luncheon group active with questions and more questions.  James provided us with one of the more thought-provoking luncheons in some time.  


If you have questions, you can reach James at james.wagoner3@gmail.com  


And a tip of the hat to James' fellow Idaho grads at the luncheon:  Craig Schoenberg ’07 and Tony Johnson ‘05

November Luncheon -- Clay Loges '68 and his serial entrepreneur career

Clay Loges   UPS '68

Clay Loges ’68 began the November luncheon with a review of his undergraduate fraternity experience that led to his being elected the Student Body president for the Univ. of Puget Sound.  


Combining that student government experience with his business training at IBM, Clay ended up in his career of serial entrepreneurialism.  From pioneering the ten minute oil change industry to founding one of the Soviet Union’s first telecom businesses, Clay treated the luncheon group to some colorful insider views.  While building the Russia-based business to 800+ employees and 70,000+ customers, Clay had a number of unique experiences to share with the group.  


Clay also discussed the revolution of the digital age.  This included his participation in the mobile revolution being led by smart phones and mobile apps.  His current company is www.YodioTours.com offering digital tours on the Android and iPhones.   Anyone can create photo/audio presentations at his production site www.Yodio.com to be played via apps on Android and iPhones.  


While living at 4503, Matt Conroy '11, did a spring internship that included producing walking tours of UW's Greek Row.  You can view these tours and nearly three dozen other tours on the website and through the app.  You can find the Android app by searching “Yodio” on the Android Market.  

September Luncheon - Husky Football review by O.D. Vincent

 Always a popular luncheon when the football coach is speaking, this September SARK luncheon was SOLD OUT two weeks in advance.  The coach wanted to speak and run, so the room was packed by noon as we awaited the arrival of Coach SARK.   With no coach in sight by 12:10,  Ron Crockett '61 was pacing the floor.   Then the call came.

SARK had a last minute urgency, and he had just called the Senior Associate Athletic Director -- O.D. Vincent to represent him.  With a mere 5 minutes notice, O.D. had dropped everything and hustled the few short blocks to the Seattle Yacht Club.  A relieved Crockett introduced O.D. and we were soon enjoying a comprehensive conversation about Husky football and the PAC 12 program.

O.D. Vincent making a point at SYC Luncheon

  O.D. proved to be a great fill-in.  He is a Husky who is former captain of the golf team.  He's played the professional golfing circuit in Europe, and he is a rising star in the athletic management field.  As an undergraduate O.D. was in a fraternity, and he quickly established himself as a likeable, informed fellow who make a brief presentation and then answered any and all questions for the next half hour plus. 

The full room of Fijis got information beyond the football progam, and O.D. also alerted us to the likely deployment of the 3 tight end formations that appeared on the field the following Saturday.

The Seattle Yacht Club was most accommodating to our FULL HOUSE

Luncheon Speaker, Steve Day '75 at June 2011

Steve Day '75

Steve Day '75 filled us in on his undergraduate days, and then shared what he has learned in nearly 30 years of financial planning.

Steve Day '75 presenting to June luncheon

At our luncheon Steve assumed the role of "Myth Buster", and he took on a number of common myths that are often accepted as fact.  Of course, he attributed this "acceptance" as fact to the lack of good reporting by journalists.  And he explained much of this view throughout his dealing with the "Myths of Finance".

Here are some of the myths that Steve posed and then addressed.

• Myth #1 --   There is no "free lunch" in investing
• Myth #2 --  Stock markets do better under Republican administrations than under Democrats
• Myth #3 --  The way to go is to buy gold    (This was a great topic as Steve compared the quality of suit an ounce of gold would buy over the last two centures.)
• Myth #4 -- When you are young, you buy stock.  When you retire, you buy bonds. 
• Myth #5 -- Social Security won't be there for me when I retire.
• Myth #6 --  Cash value life insurance is a lousy investment 

Steve has a clever sense of humor that added much color to his addressing each of the above myths.  And he had a few more that he brought to our attention.  The information to busting these myths is best obtained directly from Steve.  Our publishing some of his comments here would likely lose much in the translation. 

All in all, it was an informative and entertaining look at old "truisms" about managing your finances.

Thanks to Steve -- good presentation.