There’s a sense, you’re right, there aren’t a lot of people who have stuck it out as long as I have. I point to Bruce Montgomery, and Bruce Carter, and a handful of others here locally. Certainly Mitch (Dendreon CEO Mitchell Gold) and Clay (Seattle Genetics CEO Clay Siegall) have done great jobs, but us old warhorses, there aren’t many of us here, and I understand the desire to stay in the area.
I’ve got strong connections to the community. I have really strong connections to the Hutch (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) a place where I’m spending a fair bit of time during the off-season between jobs. That’s important to me. It all factors into my thinking about what to do next. And there’s my girls. Those things are swirling in my head now.
X: How old are they, are they in high school?
DW: One is a senior in high school, and one is a senior at Colgate. She’ll probably come back to Seattle after she’s finished. So yes, Seattle is home.
X: What’s your time frame, when you’d like to have made a decision?
DW: I’m guessing I’ll probably have made my decision shortly after Thanksgiving, and probably start up with whatever I do next after the first of the year.
X: So in the meantime, you’re going to do a little glass-blowing and a trip to New Zealand. What else?
DW: You got it right. I’m doing a little consulting, and I’m on some scientific advisory boards. I’m doing some fun stuff on the science. But yes, my trip to New Zealand is something I’m looking forward to, and I’ll do some adventurous things while I’m down there. I’m anxious to get there, it’s a great part of the world, and a great place to clear your head.
