Business - page 4

SWUN Math is a award winning education program focused on increasing mathematically student learning. Located in California and founded in 2011 by Si Swun. Their goal is to enhance the learning of all students. They work directly with schools and districts to make sure this mission is achieved. They provide training, guides, assessments, and regular meetings for their partners. They provide K-8 Common Core curriculum.

Mr. Si Swun struggled with math himself growing up. While learning the English language and being immigrant, he faced a lot challenges. Later he returned to the classroom and over came the challenges he faced growing up. He wanted to develop a math curriculum so others wouldn’t have to face all the challenges he did. In the late 1990s, Si Swun became a teacher and the rest is history. Si created a program to faced the many challenges he had to overcome (accents, language, ethnicity, to name a few). The program have been widely accepted in the state of California. Mr. Swun has been featured on the Colleague Alumni Magazine at Pepperdine.

Swun Math is very active and are “in this for the long haul”. Their passion is real and comes from a man who clearly understands the difficulties students are facing in the World today.

Quick Overview:
Company Name: SWUN Math LLC
Founder: Si Swun
Employees: 11-55
Headquarters: Cypress, California
Address: 10073 Valley View St #116, Cypress, CA 90630
Phone:  (714) 600-1130
Hours of Operation: 8AM-5PM (closed Saturday & Sunday)

Districts Using Their Curriculum:

• California Elementary
• Newport Heights Elementary
• Burlingame School District
• Maxwell Elementary

Learning Materials / Resources:
Swun Math YouTube.com
App via iTunes
Books via Amazon.com

Popular News about SWUN Math:
Helping Students With Math – SWUN Math | Emerald City Journal
In the classroom: Students adjust to less-rigid lessons
Core Strength – Colleague Alumni Magazine

Popular Videos:

Healthy teeth and lollipops aren’t something you tend to associate with one another.  And yet, a new product might be the natural alternative to costly cavities and gum disease.

Loloz, made by HealthyGrid, is a new line of sugar-free, cavity-fighting lozenges and lollipops. Definitely not candy, the magic comes from the extract from a specific kind of licorice root that has been shown to improve dental health.

Natural Dental Health Isn’t a Trend
In a city where we spend as much time outdoors as possible, and where a large portion of Seattleites prefer natural health remedies over traditional Western approaches, Loloz is right at home. In fact, it fits in nicely with the dentists using holistic practices, low-radiation imaging, and no-mercury fillings.

Half of the Loloz team is based in Seattle, while the other half is in Portland. It’s no accident that both are located in cities where people value proactive health practices.

While Loloz is available on the ubiquitous Amazon, the company plans to roll out its products in local retail outlets, health food stores, and other health-conscious retail locations in Seattle.

Flavors the Kiddies (and Kids at Heart) Will Eat Up
Loloz comes in three flavors: orange, lemon, and berry, and is sweetened by stevia and isomalt (a natural sugar substitute that minimally affects blood sugar levels and is tooth friendly).

Other similar products use Xylitol for sweetening, but the Loloz team wanted something more natural. After seven years of intense research by a team of microbiologists at the UCLA School of Dentistry, they came up with Cavibloc, an exclusively formulated, patent-pending extract from licorice root that helps to inhibit Streptococcus mutans, sobrinus, and Lactobacillus, the three types of bacteria that lead to tooth and gum problems. The extract targets and kills 99.9% of the harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay. That means a drastic reduction in the risk for cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

Loloz is making serious inroads already toward preventing tooth decay, the silent disease. The National Institute of Health found that more than half of children under the age of 15 are affected by tooth decay. And 92% of adults aged 20 to 64 have instances of tooth decay. So it’s an issue that affects a large percent of the population, and yet the standard way of dealing with it has been treatment after the fact, not prevention.

Loloz has been shown to reverse the decaying process, eliminating the need for costly (and painful) fillings. Dentists have been recommending Loloz to patients for years with great results. In fact, Dr. Wenyuan Shi, Chair of the Section of Oral Biology at UCLA’s School of Dentistry, stated on Good Morning America that Loloz was “the secret to beating tooth decay.”

Users suck on two Loloz pops a day for 10 consecutive days (not biting) in the morning and evening, allowing each lollipop to dissolve for about five minutes to allow sustained exposure to all teeth and gum areas. Using just two to four times a year has shown to provide maximum protection for about three to six months.. Loloz is intended to complement normal brushing and flossing habits and twice-yearly dental cleanings. A box of 20 lollipops or lozenges sells for $29.99.

Andrew Clapp is Director of Product Management at HealthyGrid, makers of Loloz and a startup that leverages emerging technologies to reach those in need of dental care.

Reducing your energy bills is a big issue for many these days. This is especially true because Seattle Utilities and Puget Sound Energy just keeps raising their rates on us. What are we going to do except continue to play their game and pay the increases each month and year. As a city, there isn’t much we can do about this. They have a monopoly on the energy so we are stuck. Below you’ll find some of the most recommended tips you can use to help reduce your energy bills.

First, it’s highly recommend to unplug devices if they are not being used. The Department of Energy as stated that 85% of our energy costs are from devices/appliances which are not being used. In short, if it’s plugged into the wall there still is a cost associated with that. Now obviously you don’t want to be unplugging your refrigerator but how about that toaster you never use or that lamp across the room? If you’re not using it or rarely use it, keep it unplugged and you’ll save money on your energy bills.

Second, if an appliance breaks or you’re looking to update your kitchen make sure you’re using Energy Star appliances. These appliances use 10-50% less energy and water compared to their counterparts. You’ll most likely have to pay a little more to get your hands on them but in the long run your monthly bill will be less. We are actually seeing more and more Energy Star appliances on the market and less of the old so just take your time and investigate that purchase. Educating yourself and looking a little bit longer can save your money and energy.

Third, get a good thermostat. You want one that is programmable so you can adjust it to during the day. You can make it more comfortable only when you need it. Some may want it turned down dramatically during the day then up a little more at night for example. The point is that you can control it easier to reduce your heating and cooling energy costs.

Fourth, consider talking to a energy solutions company like Smart Energy Today Inc. They offer a lot of products and solutions they can dramatically help reduce your energy bills. Plus, it helps with our environment. They also have dinner events you can attend (which are free) and they will just educate you about becoming more energy independent. Don’t even need to bring your money to the event. Did I mention it’s free? It’s a win/win.

Fifth, with all this great weather we are having try to use more fans instead of the AC. Fans are way less compared to AC energy costs.

Sixth, an easy fix everyone can do is make sure you home is air sealed. Just go through your home and make sure you don’t have an leaks where air can get in. Check around the edges of your doors and sliders. If there are holes or gaps, you’ll want to get that fixed or at a minimum put insulation in there so all your heat isn’t being wasted.

Seventh, the final tip we can give you is try to conserve water. Water heating is actually the third largest when it comes to your energy bill. Some tips you can implement are taking faster showers and just being alert when using water (dishes, clothing, cars, ect). Another great tip is to reduce your hot water temperature. It will save you a lot and you probably won’t even notice the change throughout the house.

There you have it readers. Take the first steps and start to reduce your energy footprint.

With all the news of energy costs going up in the Seattle area and the Pacific Northwest, we need solutions to combat this. Being a homeowner, I know my rates are constantly increasing yet I’ve done nothing to move into using more smart energy solutions. This week I’ve really been looking at my options. I called a few energy companies but one that really stood out was Smart Energy Today in Olympia. I spoke to one of their representatives about my home and some of the custom energy saving solutions they can do for me (see below). The gentleman I spoke with was extremely knowledgeable about the smart energy space and knew exactly what I was looking to do with my home. I was basically open to all ideas and solutions to save me money in the long run. The reality is that energy costs are just going to keep going up and we all need to be more independent when it comes to this. If not, we are all just going to continue to accept and agree to the constant increasing we all face. Being independent and saving money is something we all can do. Not only will it save us money but it will help the environment.

Smart Energy Today, Inc is headquartered in Olympia Washington. What I really liked about them was that they only recommend and use the best durable products on the market. Each one has its benefits and will save you money and energy in the long run. I could tell that the Smart Energy Today representative as passionate about helping me. I was educated not only on the financial savings but also about the products and the environment. They certainly are experts when it comes to energy solutions. I actually thought I knew a lot about energy and saving money but this guy was extremely educated. I felt like he could easily answer all my questions.

Smart Energy Today, Inc
Website: http://www.smartenergytoday.net
Employees: 60+ (2014)
Phone Number: (888) 405-8689
Address: 1001 Cooper Point Rd SW, Suite 140-290, Olympia, Washington 98502
Google Map Directions

Company Mission Statement:

Types of energy solutions / products they recommend and support:
Solar Energy, Insulation, Maintaining your home, and Lighting

Types of branded energy solutions available:
Clean Energy Guard™
Instant Connect™ Photovoltaic Solar System
Smart Air Ventilation™
Smart Light Series™
Sol Blanket Insulation™
Sol-Coating™

Smart Energy Dinners
One important thing about this process is learning about the energy products and solutions that are going to work best for you personally. All our homes and/or businesses are setup differently so they’ll want to get some info from you as well. Smart Energy Today, will help you every step of the way to setting up your home or business so it’s more energy friendly, however, I highly recommend attending one of their dinner events. They cover their products and solutions so you know exactly what your getting. Then they will connect with you to talk about any specific energy solution if wanted. Even if you don’t buy anything at their Smart Energy Dinners events, you’ll be highly educated about saving money on your energy bills and what you can do in the future. It’s really a fun event plus you get to eat!! If you go to the dinner, you won’t need to even bring a checkbook because they are not there to sell you anything. It’s more of a way to connect to the community and educate you about energy. Researching online and there is a lot of positive feedback about the experience. It’s not some cheap food or restaurant either. They go to places like The Ram, Dolce Carini, and Anthony’s Homeport. Dinner last about an hour or so and you get 2 tickets so you can bring your spouse as well. The company discusses ways you can save energy at home (or office) as well as tax saving opportunities. The Smart Energy Dinners events are invite only so give them a call first.

Customer Approval Rating:
Smart Energy Today, Inc has a A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. They have been an accredited Business since 08/02/2012 (established in 2008). On their website they also have lots of testimonials and customer reviews should you need to review more information. They are truly a leader in the Seattle and Puget Sound areas.

Free in-home analysis
One thing I really like about this company is that they will come to you for no charge and evaluation what you need to be more energy independent. A lot of companies charge to come to you and some charge as high as $85 dollars! It just shows you how much they believe in their solutions, team, and customer service. There is no risk or terms associated with this visit. You just give them a call and they’ll come out to look at everything for you. They are trained to listen and ask the right questions to make sure you’re getting the best solution/s available on the market. If you live or work outside of Washington State, they may have representatives available in your area as well so just call or email them to find out. They’ve satisfied 1000’s of customers.

Solar power is American power!
The time has come for Seattle to help lead the United States into a 21st century full of hope and bright ideas, rather than global wars and national insecurity. Energy independence through renewables and conservation is one hopeful avenue down which very few of our national leaders are proudly marching. Yet here in the Northwest we already have resources, opportunities, and leaders with which to realize renewable energy innovations. We live in a region notorious for cloudiness and are heavily dependent on cheap, salmon-exterminating hydropower. If we can demonstrate that solar powered technologies work here — both economically and environmentally, then the rest of the country will clearly see that they should follow!

This web site constitutes an initial effort to showcase local good works and resources that lead towards the solar future.

The first rooftop solar house in Seattle!
Located in the Roosevelt neighborhood, Thomas Allsopp’s home suports the first photovoltaic, grid-intertied, rooftop solar power system in Seattle. Along with the company that installed the system ( Puget Sound Solar), Thomas has set an excellent example of how to reduce one’s demand for electricity and then generate enough energy in the long summer days to last one through the winter. Rather than struggling with a storage method, he takes advantage of an on-going agreement with the local electric utility: you can run your meter backwards, thereby gaining credit for cloudier days! • 2001 open house slide show

• Seattle Times story (Oct 12, 2001): Homemade energy sparks savings and juices power grid, by Lynda V. Mapes
• Net metering for customer owned generation Practical information from Seattle City Light

Local organizations
Solar Washington Local non-profit promoting the development and effective use of solar and renewable energy and the related arts, sciences, and technologies with concern for the economic, environmental, and social fabric of Washington State through education and training. Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Association of builders, designers, home-owners, and others concerned with ecological building. Central Puget Sound chapter offers monthly meetings in Phinney Ridge neighborhood emphasizing educational themes.

Local solar designers, contractors, builders, and the like
Puget Sound Solar Winter Sun Design Sun Wind Concepts Western Sun Coop (Solar Utility Network) helps its members acquire and implement renewable energy technologies at the lowest possible cost through market aggregation. Our members are electric cooperatives, public utility districts, and municipal utilities. The Co-op purchases solar-electric technology directly from manufacturers and resells to members for resale to end use customers. The Co-op provides educational resources, training, marketing to its’ membership and their customers.

Recent local news coverage
• Dec 15, 2014: Smart Energy Today
• May 29, 2002: Nuclear power plant tries solar approach, Seattle Times, by Linda Ashton
• Oct 12, 2001: Homemade energy sparks savings and juices power grid, Seattle Times, by Lynda V. Mapes
• Apr 25, 2000: Solar power in the spotlight, Seattle Times, by Susan Jankowski

Mighty-O Donuts, Seattle’s über-conscientious donut company, has pledged to make its Wallingford neighborhood location a garbage-free facility effective Earth Day 2014.

Generating waste is unavoidable in any city. Seattle sends more than 300,000 tons of waste to the landfills each year (komonews.com). Visualize 100 train cars heading to a landfill every day. Seeking better solutions, Mighty-O Donuts follows a zero-waste strategy.

To accomplish a landfill-free facility, Mighty-O is working with vendors to minimize unnecessary waste and to use only recyclable or compostable packaging. The company is also kindly asking that customers do not bring trash into the Wallingford donut shop. Currently 90 percent of the waste from this facility is composted or recycled. Additionally, all leftover food is donated to the city’s homeless and hungry.
Along with helping to save the environment it is predicted that Mighty-O will save thousands of dollars each year. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to set an example and lead other businesses to do the same.
In 2013 Mighty-O was a finalist in the “Setting an Example” category at the Sustainable Seattle Awards, and is devoted to ensuring all of its ingredients come from companies with sustainable practices, organic production standards and the fair treatment of farmers and employees. In addition to being a certified organic bakery, Mighty-O is verified by the Non-GMO Project, and refrains from using animal products in its donuts or using ingredients that have been genetically engineered. In 2011 it won the televised Donut Champion Challenge on the Food Network, and was named by Bon Appétit Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Best Places for Donuts” in the country.

For more information about Mighty-O Donuts please visit www.mightyo.com or call 206-547-0335. Visit them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Once in a while we share our top stories for the month. Below you’ll find our top stories for April 2014 determined by our visitors at the Emerald City Journal.

Mike Asimos favorite Seattle hiking locations was one of our popular pages during the month. We discuss some of hot spots and also some of the hiking locations most people don’t visit or don’t know about. Powered by Mike Asimos.

History of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington was recently featured from Wikipedia. This popular page is getting more attention due to the research, history, and information presented.

Mike McGinn analysis which is old news now but we ran an informational article about Mike McGinn and his history as the Mayor of Seattle.

Washington State Liquor Control Board informational page and analysis of how our Liquor Board manages the program.

Mike Asimos Grateful Dead collection interview. We caught up with Mike Asimos to discuss his large collection and his travel experiences in Seattle, Washington.

What I find most amazing about companies is how stupid their managers in charge appear to be. With most companies I’ve seen they are hired with just a college education. They really haven’t worked their way up from the bottom or know anything about working with teams/employees. It’s unfortunate the business World is setup this way. The employees on the bottom do all the work and know how to really run the company – while the idiots above are book smart but have no real experience.

With that being said, I visited Steel Creek Whiskey in Tacoma Friday evening. I’ve been there a few times. The menu is pretty small but the food is good. They certainly are not cheap with steaks starting at $20 and their lowest items running about $13. I’m always on a mission to find a good steak. This place is up there on my list of good places but you do pay for it. The Steel Creek Whisky in Tacoma is a very nice establishment. It’s not your typical bar serving bar food and French fries you pay a higher amount for a good meal here. Here is a photo of the inside and as you can tell it’s a nice restaurant and bar that honestly most probably couldn’t afford to go to considering the economy and what the bill would be if you brought the family.

This is just a small section of the bar venue. It’s actually 12,000 sq ft so it’s really big and high quality through out. In fact, they claim it’s the largest in the South Sound.

I walk in and sit in my typical location – at the bar. I’m running solo tonight and just ordered a red bull (non alcoholic) and Cajun chicken. I’m not drinking tonight as I have to drive back later. As I mentioned the Steak is great here if you got the cash but tonight I was going to try something new. The place was busy but not to a point where the bartenders were hustling too much. By the way the bartenders here are great as well, attractive, friendly, and all the good things that a bar should have. We shared just some small talk but I felt welcomed. I can respect a bar manager who knows how to hire people with all those qualities. Most bartenders are your typical dudes with no personalities. Just hiring someone who can only sling drinks is what makes or breaks most bars with me.

I sit at the far side of the bar towards the end, order my red bull, and a few minutes later my Cajun chicken. As I wait enjoying the venue and anticipation of my meal, I’m interrupted by a security guy in a red shirt asking if I have a bracelet yet. I don’t so I show him my ID and he applies it to my left wrist as specifically instructed. You see restaurants and bars these days allow families and underage into the establishment (if sectioned off) and there is a point in the night where they have to leave I guess. Here comes the first “stupid” of the night. You see I was already in the bar section and drinking. Legally, you already violated your liquor license if I was underage in the bar section. The bracelet is pointless for people already in the bar section. Good job on that.

So I finish up my big meal which was great I might add, lean back relaxing in my chair – but I’m interrupted again. It’s about 9:45 at this point and another in a red shirt informs they have to take the chairs at the bar. You’d think a customer who would be willing to drop a $20 plus $5 bucks a drink could actually get to relax after a meal? The security guy was respectable, said it in a professional tone, but does that still make it right? I give up the chair in dis-belief a company would be so stupid to ask such a rude request. It was so unprofessional. I left at this point. To bad really I was considering buying more but after the interrupts and chair removal – it was time to go.

As I mentioned the security gentleman was nice and just doing a his job. With security, however, the best security is when they are there but not in the action. They should have a presence on the walls if you look around but they have no other function unless requested by a bartender (drunks), for arguments, or a customer has requested their assistance. They check Id’s at the door and assign bracelets at the door / bar area. Having your fat security guards walking around isles isn’t the way it should be done. From one young guy who has seen it done right to another who hasn’t – you obviously need some work in this area. On the same point, yelling at customer outside with another security guy that he was about to “break his nose” (while I was leaving) probably isn’t the best impression either. Being a fighter in my younger days I beg people to punch me these days. Not only do I get to beat the crap out of them legally – I get to sue them and you for your bar. Again, they are your muscle only if needed and other than that they should be your wall flowers.

There are a couple lessons we can learn about this review and Steel Creek Tacoma. First, be careful who you’re talking to and think about your actions. We live in a digital world and I’ll be the first to call you out on it. This review will cost you 10x what I paid that night. Don’t bother people spending money and certainly don’t take their chairs when they’re sitting having a good time. It’s people like you that would be stupid enough to tell Rosa Parks to sit at the back of bus. If you don’t know what you’re doing and the policies you’re telling others to do, you shouldn’t be in the business.