Gonzaga Grad, Trillium Founder Here To Discuss His Experiences

Gonzaga University School of Law graduate David Syre returns this week to tell the story of Trillium Corp., a $400 million real estate empire that he built.

The chairman of Bellingham, Wash.-based Trillium will discuss environmental and development issues that he has faced in the last two decades.

Syre graduated from the law school in 1972 and launched Trillium with a condominium resort project. The company has since amassed properties throughout the Western Hemisphere, including a South American forestry project, the Resort Semiahmoo in Blaine, Wash., and 450 parcels sprinkled across 20 states, which were part of the Burlington Northern Glacier Park real estate acquisition.

Syre speaks at 7:15 a.m. Thursday in the Jepson Center Auditorium. The meeting is free, but reservations are required before Wednesday. Call 328-4220, ext. 3759.

In other events this week:

Today

Microsoft Corp. holds a “Judgment Day” media event where Activision Inc., LucasArts Entertainment and 30 other vendors show off their Windows 95-compatible computer games in an underground garage at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Wash.

Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration meets at 10 a.m. at Washington State University Tri-Cities campus. Call 509-372-7492.

White House Conference on Travel and Tourism opens, continuing Tuesday.

U.S. Department of Commerce reports personal income for September.

Tuesday

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman scheduled to begin three-day hearing on 1995 Farm Bill.

Conference Board releases October consumer confidence.

Scheduled sentencing in Cleveland for Michael Monus, ousted Phar-Mor Inc. president convicted of more than 100 federal felonies in a fraud and embezzlement scheme.

Wednesday

Business Succession Planning class begins at 6 p.m. at the Community Colleges of Spokane Small Business Development Center at SIRTI, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Cost: $35. Call 358-2050.

Thursday

Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority board scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. in the Public Works Building. Call 456-4727.

Labor Department reports September factory orders.

National retail chains announce October sales.

Friday

Labor Department releases national unemployment figures for October.

Texaco concludes agreements with Chinese officials in Beijing to provide environmentally superior technology.

Saturday

A presentation of Behind The Red, White, & Blue; Posters, Propaganda & Pride, will be made at 6 p.m. to the Spokane Advertising Federation in the Cheney Cowles Museum. Cost: $20. Call 448-5255. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Measuring the economy/Interest rates

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Business Week, Oct. 30: Conventional wisdom says the mergers of the ‘90s make more financial sense than the leveraged buyouts of the ‘90s. Don’t count on it, Business Week says in a special report.

Forbes, Nov. 6: Lone Star Steakhouse repeats as the No. 1 company on Forbes’ annual list of best small companies.

Bad deals Worst mergers of the ‘90s, as ranked by Business Week based on compound annual growth rate before and after the merger: 1. Medical Care International and Critical Care America. 2. Quaker Oats and Snapple Beverage. 3. Novell and WordPerfect. 4. Time Inc. and Warner Communications. 5. BankAmerica Corp. and Security Pacific Corp. 6. Costco Wholesale Co. and Price Co.