Advertise on podcast: Seattle City Makers

For the better part of the past six years, the concept of office to residential conversions has been held up as a potential solution (in some cases THE solution) in downtowns across the country grappling with vacant or underused office properties. But what's a realistic expectation for conversions in Seattle? In addition to cost, what are other considerations impacting the feasibility of these types of projects? Jon and Grant Howard of Unico Properties go in-depth on these questions and more surrounding conversions, and they dig into the complexities of an office-to-residential project Unico completed in Tacoma, the Astor.  Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Grant Howard of Unico Properties, brought to you by Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

Perhaps you’ve seen social media videos of or have heard of the residential towers under development downtown with a Boeing fuselage tucked between them. It’s a wild project and it’s just one of the many notable works constructed by Seattle firm JTM Construction. From Weyerhaeuser's headquarters and RailSpur in Pioneer Square to the F5 Tower, Stadium Place and The Jack, JTM has built or renovated a large number of notable downtown properties. Jon and JTM Construction President & CEO Ben Coffman dig into the details of some of these projects; the challenges of historic renovation construction; Ben’s path to leadership at JTM; the state of the construction sector in Seattle and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ben Coffman of JTM Construction.

Did you know the waters of Seattle position us at the sixgill shark capital of the world? Did you hear about a humpback whale recently appearing just 30 feet or so from Pier 59? Are you aware of the Aquarium's remote operated vehicle and the burgeoning blue tech sector in Seattle? We're diving into the deep end with Seattle Aquarium President & CEO Meg McCann.  Meg and Jon discuss the Aquarium's upcoming 50th anniversary; the technology and innovation behind their work; Seattle's global impact on ocean policy; her path to leadership at this venerable Seattle institution and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Meg McCann of the Seattle Aquarium.

A meal at FareStart is more than a midweek lunch or a guest chef dinner, although those are great in and of themselves. Dining at FareStart is experiencing a nonprofit in action. Jon is joined by FareStart CEO Patrick D’Amelio, who has been at the helm of this venerable job training and culinary-based social enterprise nonprofit since 2023. The two discuss Patrick’s 30 years in executive leadership; FareStart’s shifts coming out of the pandemic; newer programs for younger students; the wildly popular guest chef nights; what’s ahead for FareStart and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Patrick D’Amelio of FareStart.

Earlier this summer, DSA and partners launched a coordinated effort to get people sleeping unsheltered in the Pioneer Square neighborhood downtown and on the path to stability. This project required a multi-team effort, close coordination, and there were no extra resources available to lean upon. Community Solutions had developed similar program architecture to address chronic homelessness in more than 100 cities across the country. Now, it was Seattle’s turn and the results were impressive. Community Solutions founder and president Rosanne Haggerty built this program in Times Square, and she sits down with Jon to talk about her beginnings in this work; the success of the Pioneer Square project in Seattle; the state of homelessness in our country and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Rosanne Haggerty of Community Solutions.

This is a first for the Seattle City Makers podcast as we welcome a U.S. ambassador to the show. Jon sits down with former U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Roger Nyhus. A Washington native with a deep history in politics and communications, Ambassador Nyhus and Jon discuss his path to the appointment, his relationship with former President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden; his duties and priorities as ambassador; the meaning of the word plenipotentiary; why an ambassador in the Caribbean can’t wear a linen blazer; meeting Rihanna; politics in Seattle and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ambassador Roger Nyhus.

The matches and watch parties now in the rearview, the World Cup-induced energy is still reverberating throughout downtown Seattle. In this second part of our World Cup Conversation episodes, Jon is joined by Peter Tomozawa, the CEO of the Seattle World Cup Local Organizing Committee. Peter joined the show right after the largest sporting event in the world concluded to give us a debrief on how the Emerald City fared on the global stage. Jon and Peter talk about the many ways this event impacted the community; incoming messages from all over the world about Seattle; what set our city apart as a great host location; how to keep the momentum going on and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Peter Tomozawa.

The matches now in the rearview, the World Cup-induced energy is still reverberating throughout downtown Seattle. In the first part of our World Cup Conversation episodes, Jon is joined by Seattle Sports Commission President & CEO Beth Knox and Seattle Reign Chief Business Officer Maya Mendoza-Exstrom. The two co-chairs of the bid to bring the FIFA Men’s World Cup to Seattle will take us behind the scenes of securing the bid; they’ll reflect on the recently completed Seattle matches; the impact of bringing the biggest sporting event in the world to downtown Seattle; what the soccer world had to say about our city & fans; how to harness the energy and vibes this event created; what’s next for big sporting events in Seattle and much, much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guests Beth Knox and Maya Mendoza-Exstrom.

Urban Visions Founder & CEO Greg Smith’s Seattle roots run deep in this city. The fifth-generation Seattleite has developed some of downtown’s signature properties, and real estate runs in his family. There are many tales to tell. Jon and Greg talk about bringing Weyerhaeuser to Pioneer Square; the transformation of the Grand Central Building; his views on downtown and the city; the importance of a growing residential base downtown and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Greg Smith.

The largest Goodwill store in the world (yes, the world) is just south of downtown Seattle. So, it’s fitting that Libby Johnson McKee is the President & CEO of Evergreen Goodwill, since she spent more than a decade as the director of worldwide returns at Amazon. Jon and Libby talk about Evergreen Goodwill handling 119 million pounds of products each year; how her career in tech has impacted Evergreen Goodwill’s operations; the education and job training opportunities at Goodwill; lives impacted by their programs and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Libby Johnson McKee.

Seattle’s public library system rivals any other in the nation, and even stands tall internationally, according to the system’s Executive Director and Chief Librarian, Tom Fay. Jon and Tom talk about how Seattle’s libraries compare to other markets; the technological evolution of what we experience via libraries; the upcoming Seattle library levy; the central library as an architectural gem; Tom’s favorite books and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Seattle’s Chief Librarian, Tom Fay.

Angela Dunleavy’s career in the Seattle food and hospitality sector has been marked by leadership with some really big local brands: Ethan Stowell Restaurants, FareStart and Gournando, to name a few. Her latest venture, Rally, is a creation of her own making building upon that deep food and beverage history. Jon and Angela talk about the founding of Rally; the importance of doing things in-person; the opening of her new restaurant Doris Social; bringing a 250-foot barge to Elliott Bay for the World Cup and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Angela Dunleavy.   Learn more about the Seattle soccer barge: https://www.soundersfc.com/seattle-soccer-celebration/  Read about Doris Social: https://hoodline.com/2026/03/goodbye-salumi-hello-doris-social-in-pioneer-square-shakeup/

Seattle sports fans likely know Simply Seattle as the go-to spot for shirts, jerseys, hats and some of the city’s most iconic apparel. But owner Jamie Munson’s story is also one of entrepreneurship, brand building and betting on Seattle’s sports culture. Jon and Jamie talk about Jamie’s path from general manager to owner of Simply Seattle; the growth of the business since purchasing it in 2015; the impact of the Mariners and Seahawks post-season runs; the lasting passion for the Sonics and what renewed NBA expansion buzz means for Seattle; and Jamie’s newest venture, Out West Trading Company, with locations across the Northwest and another opening soon in Suncadia. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jamie Munson.

Kevin Martinez grew up in a baseball-loving family in New Jersey, and the love of the game propelled him to a career in the big leagues. An opportunity with the Seattle Mariners sent him across the country in his early 20s, and after a brief stint back east, a love of Seattle and its MLB franchise lured him back. After spending decades directing marketing with the Mariners, he became president of business operations in 2025. Jon and Kevin talk about how going to a Yankees game led him to Seattle; his experiences with Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro and others; the excitement for the 2026 season after last year’s post-season run; how technology is changing the game; the Mariners position in the community; how the team handled the Ichiro statue reveal and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Kevin Martinez. This episode is sponsored by MCNW Advisory Partners and DSA members Matt Van Beek and Chris Jay. Join them as they host their inaugural Seattle Summer Soirée on June 4. Request access here: https://partiful.com/e/C7TNvm4KLOL4w0HnllFi

The odds are extremely slim that we will ever have a guest on Seattle City Makers with the same first job as Suzana Sakay. The president & CEO of the Washington Athletic Club, Suzana grew up in a Bosnian town across the Sava River from Croatia and her first job was born out of a brutal conflict. Jon and Suzana talk about her role as a NATO translator; her path from the Balkans to Seattle and the WAC; some interesting historical notes about the nearly 100-year-old club; the evolution of the WAC and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Suzana Sakay.