Saturday, June 16, 2001 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
Data Critical to relocate from Bothell to California
|
|||||||||||
Data Critical, the Bothell company that provides wireless communications to the health-care industry, said it is relocating its headquarters to Southern California and shutting down operations in this area. The publicly owned company is one of several that have announced layoffs or corporate restructurings as the quarter comes to an end and companies work to shore up their financial prospects.
In addition to Data Critical, Humongous Entertainment and Saflink are both reducing their staffs and restructuring their operations.
Data Critical said it is completing its move to Tustin, Calif., where it will join VitalCom, a company it recently acquired. Two Seattle-area facilities will be closed, leaving its Tustin, Oklahoma City, and Fairfield, N.J., sites open.
The company's workforce will be reduced by 22 percent, or 60 employees, most of whom work in the two local facilities. Some will be offered relocation to Tustin, the company said. There will be 210 employees remaining.
At Humongous, a pioneer in entertainment and educational software for children, more than 40 percent of the 117-employee staff is being laid off immediately.
"We're refocusing to make it a production-development studio," said Nancy Bushkin, spokeswoman for Infogrames, which acquired Humongous in 1999. "The marketplace has changed and become more competitive."
She said one focus will be on the Bothell company's "Backyard" sports series. Future versions of games featuring Humongous characters - Freddi Fish, Pajama Sam, Putt-Putt and Blue of "Blue's Clues" - will be developed only as the market demands them.
At Saflink, a Redmond company producing biometric security products, a new executive team has been named as part of a restructuring that may allow the company to remain listed on the Nasdaq stock market.
Glenn Argenbright, former chief executive officer of Jotter Technologies, an Elk Grove, Calif., company that merged with Saflink in September, is being named CEO, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. He replaces Jeffrey Anthony, who joined Saflink in 1992. Steve Oyer, a director at Jotter, was named chief financial officer at Saflink, replacing James Shepperd.
Nasdaq halted trading in Saflink on May 31 and is considering delisting the stock, which last traded at 24 cents.
Saflink is also cutting staff by 42 percent and closing or downsizing some offices. At the end of March, it had about 50 employees in three offices.
Information from The Associated Press and Seattle Times business reporters Tricia Duryee, Sharon Pian Chan and Brier Dudley is included in this report.
![]()

- David Stern's Seattle sucker punch shows we must stop being a pawn in NBA's game | Jerry Brewer
- Mayor: Kings deal about 'not letting somebody take something that isn't theirs'
- Seattle’s failed bid: No NBA, no promises
- Great Wolf Lodge ex-lifeguard held in alleged rape of guest, 14
- North Bend intruder had job, was father of five
- Pot rules taking shape; public gets a taste of what’s ahead
- Mariners beat Yankees again, near .500
- Ex-student sues Tacoma schools over restroom sex
- GE, Boeing tell airlines to inspect some 777 engines for defect
- Boston bombing suspect’s note explains motive, officials say
- Kings moving closer to sale to Sacramento group
346 - Game thread: Mariners try to contain high-octane Indians
296 - Hood River, Ore., bakery won’t make cake for lesbians
260 - House committee to grill ousted IRS chief
256 - SI report --- Hansen offered deposit back, declines to take it
128 - Another new Husky? Blakley gives commitment to UW
118 - Why is any political group exempt from paying taxes?
90 - Mariners have been here before, but this feels different
79 - LGBT students get $600,000 in scholarships from 2 groups
27 - Burgess quits mayor's race
26
- Pot rules taking shape; public gets a taste of what’s ahead
- Columbia Hills State Park is a Gorge wonder
- LGBT students get $600,000 in scholarships from 2 groups
- Why is any political group exempt from taxes?
- Contractor at Wade’s gun range cited for lead exposure
- Marine, dog partner reunited in surprise ceremony
- Sex-with-animals advocate told to stay off Internet
- Helping high-school students navigate the next step | Lynne K. Varner / Times editorial columnist
- Tableau Software shares soar 64% in trading debut
- Italy on the plate by way of Ballard | Taste



