washington business
Of Note
Passages : Spokane Leader Rich Hadley , who Helped Build Grassroots Alliance
Visionary Spokane leader Rich Hadley died on March 19 , just a few months after being diagnosed with ALS , also known as Lou Gehrig ’ s disease . He was 76 .
Hadley spent 38 years working at chambers around the nation . He led the Spokane chamber for more than 20 years , unifying the business community and bringing the chamber closer to its small member businesses .
He served as a regional voice for statewide issues , including preservation of the Fairchild Air Force Base and successfully lobbying the Legislature for the new WSU medical school in Spokane .
Photo : Jeremy Marinos
Hadley was also a champion of AWB , serving as an energetic early evangelist for the Grassroots Alliance and personally recruiting the first 25 chambers to join the alliance .
“ His legacy isn ’ t just about projects and economic development ,” AWB President Kris Johnson said . “ It ’ s highly personal . During his two decade-plus career leading GSI , Rich was constantly recruiting , mentoring , and launching new leaders into the community . Many of them are in positions of leadership right now , carrying on his vision .”
Hydrogen-Powered Flight Takes a Pioneering Step in Moses Lake
Pfizer Acquires Cancer Drug Maker Seagen for $ 43 Billion
In March , Los Angeles-based startup Universal Hydrogen completed a test flight of a hydrogen-powered airplane in Moses Lake . The flight showcased the viability of the company ’ s hydrogen fuel cell technology .
And in May , AWB staff joined Alaska Airlines and ZeroAvia last to celebrate the launch of a new collaboration to develop the world ’ s largest zero-emissions commercial aircraft .
Alaska Airlines delivered one of its 76-seat Bombardier Q400 regional aircraft to ZeroAvia , which will retrofit the plane with a hydrogen-electric propulsion system . The London-based company is developing a system large enough to power the Bombardier and other aircraft of similar size about 500 miles .
More than 100 people attended the launch event at Paine Field in Everett , including Gov . Jay Inslee and U . S . Rep Suzan DelBene .
Pfizer agreed in March to purchase Bothell-based biotech firm Seagen for $ 43 billion , and the two companies expect the deal to close later this year .
Seagen was founded in 1998 as Seattle Genetics . The company has brought four drugs to market for Hodgkin lymphoma and bladder , breast and cervical cancer . Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the pharma giant ’ s acquisition of Seagen will expand access to these cancer medicines . Pfizer already has 24 approved cancer drugs .
Seagen employs more than 2,800 globally and 1,600 in the Pacific Northwest . A 270,000-squarefoot biomanufacturing facility in Everett in the works is set to open in 2024 .
16 association of washington business