Business Week has named four Washington companies, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks and Amazon, to its list of the 25 most innovative companies in the world.

That puts Washington in second place nationwide trailing only California among the 50 states. California has seven companies, Intel, eBay, Cisco, Walt Disney, Google, Genentech and Apple, on the list.

The list is a result of a poll of 2,500 executives worldwide by Boston Consulting Group.

Microsoft was the highest ranked Washington company at fifth mostly on the strength of its huge research and development spending. Boeing was a newcomer to the top 25 propelled upward from 70th last year by its composite-bodied new 787 airliner.

Yes, Boeing is headquartered in Chicago. But its Commercial Airplane Group, which developed the 787, makes its home in the Puget Sound area.

No other states were even close. Minnesota came in third with two companies, 3M and Target. Seven of the companies, Sony, Toyota, Honda, Nokia, BMW, Virgin Group and Samsung are based overseas.

Only five other states are represented on the list: New York (IBM), General Electric (Connecticut), Wal-Mart (Arkansas), Texas (Dell) and Ohio (Proctor & Gamble).

The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, World Trade Center Tacoma and State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development will co-sponsor a seminar for companies considering entering the export market.

Called "Exporting in the Flat World," the seminar is slated for September 5-7 at the Port of Tacoma business Center in Fife. Matters up for discussion will include the improvement of importing and exporting skills and the development of an international business plan and marketing strategy.

The course will be taught by James Foley, Director of the International Trade and NAFTA Opportunity Centers at Bradley University. Foley currently serves as Director of the NASBITE Trade Credential. He received his MBA from the London Business School at the University of London.

Cost is $325 for non-members and $275 for members of WTCTA.

For more information or to register, visit www.wtcta.org.

There's still time to get your reservations in for the LeMay Museum Grand Tour - a drive-you-own-vehicle tour of Europe slated for May, 2008. The cost is $27,500, which includes a $10,000 contribution to the museum.

Stops on the schedule include Paris, Milan, Florence and Rome, with visits to the Ferrari factory and the flagship store of Nicola Bulgari, a member of he LeMay board. Visit www.lemaymuseum.org for further information.

Bulgari will also be one of the hosts next month as General Motors sponsors a reception – June 1 at the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Mich. – aimed at Motor City movers and shakers.

"It’s to introduce people in Detroit to the project, to get people excited. We have several board members from Detroit," said Valerie O'Shea, executive assistant to LeMay president and CEO David Madiera.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has made the switch to healthier trans-fat-free oil for frying foods at its in-store delis, according to Reuters. For all you fried food fanatics, that includes chicken, corn dogs and country steak.

Wal-Mart's announcement follows similar moves by restaurant companies, including Wendy's International Inc., Yum Brands Inc.'s KFC and Taco Bell chains and Starbucks Corp., which said yesterday it would nix trans fats from its food and drinks.

The Wal-Mart oil switch affects more than 2,400 deli locations at Wal-Mart's Supercenter and Neighborhood Markets in the United States, according to Reuters.

The Tacoma Goodwill honored local businesses and inspiring individuals today at its annual awards breakfast. The winners are:

•Brown & Haley, Business Partner of the Year. The Tacoma candy company selected Goodwill's Commercial Services department to handle its high-quality packaging.

•Galaxy Theaters of Tacoma, Small Employer of the Year. Galaxy has hired more than 20 disabled and disadvantaged workers from Tacoma Goodwill in the past two years.

•Foster Farms, Large Employer of the Year. The Kelso-based company has used workers from Goodwill's Vocations Unlimited program. The partnership provides Foster Farms with employees and allows Goodwill to train workers for future jobs.

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Harry Potter fans must be eager for the last book.

Amazon.com today announced that more than 1 million copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" have been pre-ordered worldwide for the seventh and final book in the epic series. And there's still two-and-a-half months left before its release.

The company also announced today it has further reduced the price of the hardcover edition of the book in the U.S. from $18.89 to $17.99, bringing the customer discount to 49 percent.

All customers who have already pre-ordered the book will be charged this lower price.

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