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How is your company communicating through this current global crisis?
COVID-19 has forced everyone to shift gears, change the way they do business and revamp communications plans. Joanie, and our PARSONS + CO Creative Director, Eric Knudson, shared their thoughts with the Puget Sound Business Journal.
You can read the article here.
For more information about PARSONS + CO’s crisis communications services contact us at info@parsonsandco.com.
Starbucks recently announced ambitious plans to cut its waste, water use and carbon emissions in half during the next decade.
That’s great news! But a Seattle coffee place that cares about sustainability? That’s old news. Just ask our client Mighty-O Donuts.
Ever since they sold their first donuts at the U-District Street Fair way back in 2000, Mighty-O has been mindful of the environment and their impact. Twenty years ago, selling an organic and dairy-free product wasn’t as popular as it is now but Mighty-O has grown to be a staple for those with a sweet tooth and care for the environment and has five Seattle shops. Their delicious donuts are made with no chemicals, no genetically modified organisms and no animal products. But better ingredients are just the start. Mighty-O is committed to using sustainable products and creating zero waste by composting and recycling. No donuts are thrown away: instead they donate what they don’t sell to nonprofit organizations and compost all food waste.
The good news is that a global corporation and local business are both showing that you can be successful when you put sustainability first. More and more, consumers are making their decisions based on these kinds of environmental factors and are expecting—and demanding—more from the brands they choose to support.
The days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping, and Fall has wasted no time in making an appearance in the Pacific Northwest — despite our attempts to clutch on to those waning warm days.
And while the Parsons team thoroughly enjoyed the long days of summer, there is something special about that crisp Autumn air. Overcast days in the Pacific Northwest are made for reading, snuggled up under a blanket with a good cup of tea, or coffee, or kombucha.
We thought we would share a little bit about what we’ve been reading, what we’ve loved reading recently, and what we are looking forward to reading.
Joanie
Currently reading
Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It, Anna Lappé. Anna Lappé is a thought leader around climate and food systems and this is a huge area of interest for me.
Current favorite
Moment of Lift, Melinda Gates. I strongly believe, as does Melinda, that educated women will change the world.
Eric
Current favorites
It’s So Easy and Other Lies, Duff McKagen. Celebrity memoirs aren’t usually my thing, but I really enjoyed “It’s So Easy and Other Lies”by Duff McKagen, Seattle native and base player for Guns n Roses. In a low-key and charming style, he covers the beginnings of the band, their rise to superstardom, heavy drug use and eventually his sobriety and transition to mini-van driving dad and financial advisor for up-and-coming bands. Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line, Michael Gibney. I’m a lousy cook and only go to trendy restaurants when someone else invites me, yet I was fascinated by “Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line,” which takes you behind the scenes at an upscale New York restaurant where the stoves and the tempers are hot. A real eye-opener about the life of a professional chef. The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life, John LeCarré. I’m a big fan of spy stories and John LeCarre is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all of his novels and think he is one of the best in the world. I was very excited when his nonfiction “The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life” came out in 2016 and wasn’t disappointed when I finally got around to reading it this year. It’s everything you’d expect from LeCarre: great stories, near-perfect prose and memorable characters.
Hannah
Currently reading
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, Robert Dugoni. Someone recommended The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell because it’s like Educated. It’s about a young boy who was dealt an unfair hand in life and how his story unfolds.
Current favorite
Educated, Tara Westover. Educated was a page turner for me. I loved reading about a girl’s life lived so differently from mine and her perseverance through such formidable odds. There were moments I couldn’t believe it was a memoir, but I loved her dedication to expanding her mind and seeing the world.
Natalia
Currently reading
Leonardo Da Vinci, Walter Isaacson. I wanted to read this book in prep for a trip to Italy. Well I started, but I haven’t finished yet, and my trip to Italy is long over! But I’m taking it slowly and totally fascinated by the life of this creative genius.
On my TBR pile
Hollow Kingdom, Kira Jane Buxton. This was recommended by a friend who had the chance to read an advanced copy. It’s described as genre-bending, apocalyptic, and both horrifying and hilarious. The protagonist is a pet crow (I love crows) and it’s set in Seattle.
Natalie
Currently reading
Washington Black, Esi Edugyan & The Immortalists, Chloe Benjamin. I’m currently reading Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. And my book club just picked the Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin.
Current favorites
Lake City, Thomas Kohnstamm. A hilarious dark comedy that if based in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood in the early aughts. I loved the descriptions of a very different Seattle and the story line is a page turner.
The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah. It really makes you appreciate the amenities of modern life. It is a gripping story that portrays the struggles and strength of people that live in Alaska’s bush.
Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, Hannah Tinti. A great story of love and family that was based in a coastal town in Massachusetts which sounded similar to where I grew up and Hannah Tinti lives in Washington so there was also mentions of Seattle which made it a fun to read.
Amelia
Current favorite
The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt. My favorite read of 2019 so far has been the Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt. I scored it in the UW Book Store’s bargain fiction section, and it was impossible to put down once I started. Counting down the days until I get to see the movie adaptation!
What about you? What has been your favorite current read for 2019 and what’s in your TBR pile? We’d love to know.
Perched on a hillside, with sweeping views of the Wenatchee Valley, lies a very special garden. Ohme Gardens is a must-see for anyone venturing to Wenatchee or passing through North Central Washington. This year marks the 90th Anniversary for Ohme Gardens which has a rich history that started with the vision of a Wenatchee couple decades ago.
Back in 1929, Herman and Ruth Ohme purchased a dry and desolate 40-acre bluff. The couple saw potential in the land with the orchard and spectacular view of the Cascade Mountains and Columbia River Valley. They developed a vision- one that included tranquil pools, fluorescent greenery, and an immaculate landscape. Since then, Ohme Gardens has become a community treasure in the Wenatchee Valley.
The Ohme’s worked tirelessly to create the Gardens. They used milk gallons to cart water to the plantings throughout the Gardens and ended up installing an intricate irrigation system throughout the acreage. Although the beautiful site was originally created to be a family retreat, Herman and Ruth decided it was best to be admired by all- and Ohme Gardens became open to the public. In 1991, the Ohme family sold the gardens to Washington State Parks. It’s now maintained by Chelan County.
The team at Ohme Gardens is working hard to carry out the vision the couple had for the property, including the physical upkeep of the land as well as creating a shared space for the community to enjoy. The Ox Yoke Lodge is a beloved piece of architecture in the Gardens, and one of the very first structures to be built by the Ohme’s. As time has taken its toll on the lodge, a goal of Ohme Gardens is to renovate this meaningful and iconic landmark- not only to honor Herman and Ruth’s work, but to allow present and future generations to enjoy the lodge with family and friends. The Ohme Gardens Friends Society is a volunteer group that aids in these efforts, working on Ohme Gardens maintenance, implementing fundraising projects, garden promotion, and hosting events.
Ohme Gardens is a place where nature, community, and history can be enjoyed. While the gardens are gorgeous enough to draw a crowd on their own, they also host concerts, movie nights, yoga, and more throughout the year to bring the community together. The gardens offer an environment where people can gather, celebrate, reflect, exercise, relax, and appreciate while surrounded by stunning views, dense greenery, and blossoming floras.
At Parsons + Co., we are working with Ohme Gardens to support their goal of maintaining the vision that Ruth and Herman had for this land back in 1929. As a company, we stand behind the values of cultivating community, preserving culturally significant landmarks, and appreciating the beauty of the outdoors.
It’s true when they say that Seattle summers are worth the wait. From watching the Blue Angels soar during Seafair to hiking the nearby evergreen trails, the season has something to offer for everyone! With August in full swing, we asked our team to share their favorite activities- Pacific Northwest style.
Joanie: For a fun summer date night: Take the Bainbridge Island ferry from Seattle and walk to one of the wonderful restaurants in lovely Bainbridge. Then catch the sun setting on the city on the way back. There’s nothing like an evening ferry ride on a warm Seattle evening.
Some favorite restaurants: Harbour Public House, Streamliner Diner, Restaurant Marche and Hitchcock.
Natalia: At the start of this summer I bought an inflatable stand-up paddleboard and have taken the family paddling around on the various lakes and waterways around Seattle. It’s been a lot of fun to jump in the car and in just a few minutes be out on Lake Union or Green Lake. While we try to take at least one holiday out-of-town, we also enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest during the summer. We try to get outside as much as we can whether it’s riding bikes, walking dogs, picnicking at Gas Works or Golden Gardens, or finding festivals and farmers markets that we can stroll through. Summer in the PNW is the best.
Hannah: I love summers in Seattle for so many reasons! Having late nights around a campfire outside with friends and finding a good book to read in the sun are two of my favorite activities.
Eric: One of my favorite summer weekend activities is to go on a long bike ride with Joanie. We carefully plan our route, make sure our bikes and other gear are working smoothly, get up early…and then go out to brunch instead.
Natalie: For me, I love to grow lots of tomatoes to make sauce and gazpacho at harvest time. I also love to camp with my kiddos and get out on our boat to simply enjoy being on the water.
Chloe: One of my favorite Seattle summer activities is grabbing a picnic dinner and heading to Gas Works park! All of the boats in Lake Union are beautiful when the sun is going down, and it’s a great place to enjoy and relax with friends.
Amelia: I love taking advantage of all the fun seasonal activities Seattle has throughout the summer! To name a few, outdoor movies at Marymoor Park, Bumbershoot Music Festival, and trying bites to eat at the Seattle Street Food Festival are always highlights of my summer.
Thanks for being so good to us, Seattle!