Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/893293
10 WAC Magazine | wac.net Car A Car B 100% Service Car 100% Car C Business leader Member Vanessa Smith of Blue Ribbon Cooking won the Women Business Owners 2017 Nellie Cashman Award in early October at the Four Seasons hotel in Seattle. Vanessa was one of five finalists for the prestigious honor. e award celebrates the strength of wom- en as leaders and business owners. e finalists were honored for their entre- preneurial spirit, ethics, and financial management. "It is quite an honor," Vanessa says. "Being a finalist and then actually winning was an incredible opportu- nity to share with other women my experience in business ownership, my journey, my obstacles, and my successes." Vanessa purchased Blue Ribbon when she was 23 years old and within three years employed more than 90 people. Blue Ribbon provides corpo- rate team-building cooking classes, custom catered events, all-inclusive weddings, and kids summer camps. e company also donates to various causes and charity auctions, provides scholarships for kids to participate in cooking classes, and serves holiday and other meals to homeless youth. Vanessa grew up a WAC member and rejoined as an adult in 2009. A cozy place to work … away from work Looking for a new place to work remotely around the Club? You'll love Torchy's Den. e renovated space on the 2nd Floor offers a new option for members seeking a comfortable place to plug in and get productive. Choose a tued leather couch or a cozy booth. Hold a meeting around the large round table, or find privacy in a quiet corner. A new doorway off Torchy's foyer leads directly to the den. Food and beverage service will be available but not required. Torchy's Den will be open 7 am–9 pm on Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–9 pm on Saturday, and 7:30 am–2 pm on Sunday. S H G P H O T O G R A P H Y Friends & Family Our annual Friends & Family event will take place in January and February. Share the WAC with your connections and colleagues and show them all the reasons you love the Club. When mem- bers help us grow, we all benefit. Contact Membership at 206.839.4795 or membershipinfo@wac.net for details. Looking up! e Elevator Modernization Project crossed the midway point in late Oc- tober when car B reopened for service. at middle high-rise li and the service elevator are now both operating with new motors. "We're getting closer every day, and it's great to see members get excited about project progress," President & CEO Chuck Nelson says. "It's also wonderful to see so many people taking the stairs to help offset elevator traffic during the project." Car C, the northernmost high-rise li, is now being upgraded. In addition to mechanical improvements, panels for new control kiosks were recently installed on every floor. During the project, members and guests can easily navigate the Club by stairway using signage posted around the Clubhouse. e central internal green staircase is the most popular route and offers the best access to the most floors. e Elevator Modernization Project began in early 2017 and is scheduled to conclude near the end of next summer. When the project wraps up, all three of the main elevators and the high-rise service car will have new motors and control systems. e original elevator motors dated to 1929. first take business leader / torchy's den wac.net/club-projects