Stat of the Week

Based on 2008 data, the Brookings Institute released a report examining exports within U.S. metropolitan areas. The report’s purpose is to provide recommendations to the Obama Administration and Congress on how to double exports by 2015. Not surprising, Seattle emerged as a top export city within the report. Ranking at the 10^th slot in both total exports and number of export related jobs. Ultimately the total number of exports for Seattle should be higher due to our outstanding service industry like software, but capturing these numbers proves difficult.

On top of Seattle’s great showing in these polls, Seattle-based Trade Development Alliance was recognized as a model for increasing exports. Attributed to our quick ability to follow trends and change with the international climate. The Trade Alliance International Study Mission was highlighted for its ability to benchmark against foreign cities and implementing the successes back home in Seattle.

Click here to view the complete report.

Fortune 500 Magazine polled business professionals on which companies they most admire. The respondents chose from companies all over the world and from all industry sectors. In total, 346 companies were chosen.

Among this esteemed list, Washington state had a great showing. In the top 50 alone, five Washington state based companies were selected, including our most famous: Microsoft and Starbucks. This is the third highest number out of any other state or country.

Only California and New York beat Washington state with the most companies represented in the top 50 with eight and six respectively.

Top 50:

• 1. Apple
• 2. Google
• 3. Bershire Hathaway
• 4. Johnson & Johnson
• 5. Amazon.com *
• 6. Procter & Gamble
• 7. Toyota Motor
• 8. Goldman Sachs Group
• 9. Wal-Mart Stores
• 10. Coca-Cola
• 11. Microsoft*
• 12. Southwest Airlines
• 13. FedEx
• 14. McDonald’s
• 15. IBM
• 16. General Electric
• 17. 3M
• 18. J.P. Morgan Chase
• 19. Walt Disney
• 20. Cisco Systems
• 21. Costco Wholesale*
• 22. BMW
• 23. Target
• 24. Nike
• 25. PepsiCo
• 26. Starbucks*
• 27. Singapore Airlines
• 28. Exxon Mobil
• 29. American Express
• 30. Nordstrom*
• 31. Intel
• 32. Hewlett-Packard
• 33. UPS
• 34. Nestle
• 35. Caterpillar
• 36. Honda Motor
• 37. Best Buy
• 38. Sony
• 39. Wells Fargo
• 40. eBay
• 41. Nokia
• 42. Samsung Electronics
• 43. Deere
• 44. L’Oreal
• 45. AT&T
• 46. Lowe’s
• 47. General Mills
• 48. Marriott International
• 49. DuPont
• 50. Volkswagen

*Washington state based company

In the first installment of what will be an annual study produced by Site Selection, Washington state was named the second most sustainable state in the country. States were ranked based on scores from eight categories, including: number of LEED Certified projects, generation of renewable energy and incentives for green projects. California lead the pack followed by Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin and Illinois.

As an example of green projects, Site Selection recognized Fluor Corp.’s completion of Renewable Energy Corp.’s Silicon IV silane gas plant for its Moses Lake Expansion Project. The silane gas produced at this plant will be used in the production solar panels.

Greater Seattle has a reputation for both breeding and attracting smart, talented people to work and live in the city. With such a beautiful setting it’s no wonder forward thinking companies like Microsoft, Boeing and Amazon.com set up shop here. Let’s face it; we have a great track record.

With so many great companies concentrated in our region it must be tough to pick the cream of the crop. However, Puget Sound Business Journal has taken on this challenge and these lucky companies made the list:

• 206 Inc
• AAA Washington
• Absher Construction Co.
• Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services
• Aegis Living
• Artitudes Design Inc.
• Avvo
• BDA Inc.
• BHC Consultants LLC
• BNBuilders Inc.
• Brightlight Consulting
• Cairncross & Hempelmann PS
• CE&C Inc.
• CFO Selections
• Charter Private Bank
• CHG Building Systems Inc.
• Cobalt Mortgage
• Columbia Bank
• Columbia Hospitality Inc.
• Continuant
• Cozi Group Inc.
• Direct Interactions
• F5 Networks
• Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP
• GreenRubino
• Group Health Cooperative
• GVA Kidder Mathews
• Hanson Baker Ludlow Drumheller PS
• Harbor Wholesale Grocery Inc.
• Heritage Bank
• ImageSource Inc.
• Intelius Inc.
• Itron Inc.
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum
• Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Seattle
• Lane Powell PC
• LeMaster Daniels
• Lenati LLC
• Logos Bible Software
• Madrona Solutions Group
• MassMutual- The Seattle Agency
• Modern Dental Laboratory USA
• Mortenson Construction
• Moss Adams LLP
• msnbc.com
• National MS Society Greater Northwest Chapter
• North Coast Electric Company
• Novo Nordisk
• Outdoors for All Foundation
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - Operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy
• Paladin Data Systems Corporation
• Peoples Injury Network Northwest (PINN)
• Point B
• POP
• Precor Inc.
• Projectline Services Inc.
• Propel Insurance
• Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland PLLC
• Schwartz Brothers Restaurants
• Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC
• Senior Services of Snohomish County
• SightLife
• Smashing Ideas Inc.
• Sound Mental Health
• Stokes Lawrence PS
• Tableau Software
• Tangerine Travel Ltd.
• The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alaska, Montana, Northern Idaho & Washington
• The Mosaic Company
• The Resource Group
• Two Degrees LLC (dba Slalom Consulting)
• Unitus
• University Mechanical Contractors Inc.
• Valley Medical Center
• Verizon Wireless
• Visual Media Group
• Washington Dental Service
• Washington Trust Bank
• Wimmer Solutions Corporation
• Xtreme Consulting Group Inc.

The aftermath of the recession still has a grip on the nation. Many cities are struggling to stay ahead, while others have ramped up their ingenuity and are leading the pack. Seattle is one of these leaders, taking second place behind Austin, Texas on Kiplinger’s list of the 10 Best Cities for the Next Decade.

In comparison with the rest of the country Seattle is doing extremely well but the metropolitan area has not been unaffected. Seattle’s real estate, manufacturing, construction and retail industries all took major hits.

Let’s hope this current momentum will continue and sooner rather than later we can finally say ‘the recession and its aftermath are behind us’.

Remember the thrill and excitement surrounding getting your driver’s license, but the anxiety leading up to the dreaded driver’s test? Well, it seems this test is still stumping drivers around the country.

A study produced by GMAC Insurance asked 5,202 motorists from all 50 states and the District of Columbia 20 questions from the Department of Motor Vehicles exam and you would be surprised at how many drivers failed basic questions regarding the rules of the road. According to this study 85 percent of motorists could not correctly identify what to do when approaching a steady yellow light.

The national average of respondents passing this study is 76.2 percent. Washington state ranked 11^th and scored above average with 79.4 percent.

Drivers from Kansas lead the pack with 82.3 percent, while unsurprisingly New York drivers scored the lowest with only a 70 percent passing rate.

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is the nation’s second best airline in terms of reliability and punctuality. The U.S. Department of Transportation has been monitoring arrival and departure times for the top 18 airlines and the stats confirm Alaska’s promptness. On average, airlines are 80 percent on-time, but first place Hawaiian Air and second place Alaska Air surpass this standard with 90.2 percent and 87.3 percent in punctuality. Customer service is a major focus for Alaska Airlines and their strive for success is evident in their schedule keeping.

According to a study conducted by a Florida-based research firm, Greater Seattle has the strongest economy in America. Seattle was chosen based on their strong economic foundation and consistent growth in size and quality of living. Factors were measured from 1989 to 2008 to screen for trends and inconsistencies.

Indicators from this study suggest Greater Seattle was affected less during the recession than other metropolitan cities; as a result, Seattle’s stable economy will position the city for a quick rebound.

Olympia, Washington also made the list, coming in at the 14^th strongest economy in the nation.

A strong tourism sector is a main contributor in generating revenue and job growth for many U.S. cities. Thus, cities create tourism strategies to help increase their allure and boost their economy. A recent study performed by three Seattle-based research companies determined customer service plays a huge role in which cities are popular amongst tourists. The Cicerone Group, NetReflector and Global Market Insight teamed up to survey 30 of the U.S.’s largest cities and discovered that 85% of travelers believe customer service affects their overall experience while visiting a city.

It is time cities start improving their service industries because a good experience means larger tourism profit. If people enjoyed themselves they are more likely to recommend the location to a friend.

Three Southern cities, Charlotte, Nashville and Austin, took the top spots in customer service while three Northwest cities tied for fourth: Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas.

Although Seattle came in fourth in customer service, Seattle ranked first with the most knowledgeable service employees.

For the 2010 U.S. Census the U.S. Census Bureau created a $133 million marketing campaign to increase awareness and participation. Advertisement began in January with the goal of creating public awareness surrounding the importance of the 2010 Census and will extend into July with door-to-door follow-ups of non-responsive households.

A significant portion of these advertising dollars were spent targeting the “hard-to-count” demographic. Throughout the seven month campaign, the average person will be exposed to an advertisement 42 times. Never before has the U.S. seen such an immense and wide-ranging marketing campaign. From Super Bowl XLIV to the Winter Olympics and NASCAR, the Census Bureau covered all the bases, but did their efforts payoff?

As far as Seattle, participation only increased slightly. Compared to Census stats from 2000, Seattle turned in 2% more completed forms, totalling 75% involvement. Although the marketing efforts only persuaded Seattle somewhat, other states across the country saw larger increases. North Carolina (74%) and South Carolina (73%) achieved the greatest increases, both up 9%.

If you haven’t filled out your Census form there is still time, forms are being collected until July giving the Bureau enough time to calculate the numbers before presenting the data to the President in December.