2009 Power List

Our Most Influential People of the Year are an eclectic group—a guru of the mobile food scene, two guys with the Midas touch, a transportation visionary, and more

This was a year when Seattle caught up with the rest of the country, taking a deep plunge into the recession and a winter when snow removal was an obstacle the city (and mayor) couldn’t overcome. But despite the challenges, there were good-news stories being written throughout the city by leaders in everything from health care to sports and yes, even finance. We also saw the Obama effect as the new president reached far across the country to nab a few local political stars for leading roles in the other Washington. Our Most Influential People of the Year are an eclectic group (a guru of the mobile food scene, two guys with the Midas touch, a transportation visionary), and our Person of the Year grabs the spotlight by posing this intriguing question: Is it possible to improve on something as routine as reading?
Edited by Virginia Smyth
Researched by Elizabeth Economou

Read about the individuals on our 2009 Power List:

Locals Go to Washington
2009 Person of the Year: Jeff Bezos
James Jiambalvo
Diane Narasaki
Wade Weigel & Jeff Ofelt
Lynn Shelton
Tod Leiweke
Stefan Kappe
Michael Soman & Rod Hochman
Maria Goodloe-Johnson
Tricia McKay
Lane Czaplinski
New Media
Josh Henderson
Kathleen Brooker
Influential Acts
Ken Myer
Jason McLennan
Ed Murray, Jamie Pedersen and Charlene Strong
Danielle Lawrie
Dan Rosen
Mary Jean Ryan
Bruce Agnew