I spent the morning in Federal Way listening to Weyerhaeuser CEO Steve Rogel and President Dan Fulton talk about the future of the forest products company at the annual shareholders meeting.

Mostly they talked abut the trees. Or in the words of Fulton: "Trees define us."

The company has spent much of the last four years paring its operations to get rid of mills or products that don't fit with the company's mission. Now Weyerhaeuser, the biggest company in the South Sound, is realigning its operations around a few core products including wood.

The focus will be on products that have value beyond the commodity value of a 2-by-4 – products with a technological edge, Fulton said. He didn't get into specifics but said that the company is trying to deal with the ups and downs in the forest products market – such as right now when the demand for lumber is down because of the sagging real estate market.

"We will always be tied to some cycles but what we are trying to do is achieve a competitive edge," he said.

The word from Plano, Texas this week says J.C. Penney Co. will soon launch several lines for teens, including an extension of its American Living brand by Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.

The company will launch a private-label brand "Decree" in its juniors section and "American Living" and "Whitetag" in its young-men's section.

Penney said the lines will expand its offerings to teens, one of their most important customer groups.

The company has lately faced lackluster sales. Last week, it said same-store sales, or sales in stores open at least one year, fell 12.3 percent, a larger drop than analysts expected. In March, the company cut its first quarter outlook due to weak sales. For April, J.C. Penney forecast a mid to high-single digit same-store sales decrease, as a weak environment is partly offset by an extra selling day due to an earlier Easter.

"Decree" is a private-label brand that offers basics such as jeans and T-shirts. "American Living" for young men will feature premium denim and polo and T-shirts. "Whitetag" is an "urban rock" collection.

J.C. Penney shares rose 48 cents to $38.67 in Thursday trading.

William Stewart has been appointed executive director of the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance.

Stewart is a Washington native and currently serves as senior managing director of the International Trade and Economic Development Division (ITED) of the state's Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

“I am excited to come to Kitsap County to do economic development. The vision presented in the 20/20 Plan is an example of the excellent collaborative efforts made toward economic development in Kitsap County, and it is now my job to implement the plan. I am really looking forward to that,” Stewart said this week.

Stewart hails from Colville, where he began his economic development career representing the interests of Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties.

“I became highly sensitive to economic development when I owned my own newspapers,” he said.
A former newspaper editor and publisher, Stewart has been the executive director of three economic development organizations, was a business development specialist for Avista Corp. and twice served with the state’s economic development efforts, first as Director of Team Washington during the Gardner administration, and most recently as senior managing director. During his economic development career he also purchased, developed and sold two community newspapers and three retail enterprises.

US Airways says it will begin charging extra for window and aisle seats near the front of the plane beginning in May.

The Phoenix-based carrier said what it calls "Choice Seats" will cost an additional $5 to $30 more per seat beginning May 7.

The price of the more desireable seating will vary according to distance flown. Choice seats to Europe will cost $30 more each way. The cost to Hawaii will be $25. On domestic flights of 500 miles or less, the extra charge will be $5.

Both United and JetBlue Airways are selling seats with more legroom at a premium over regular coach seating.

Northwest, Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines are charging more for select seats.

The trend is propelled by airlines' rising fuel costs which are forcing earnings into the red.

As airlines announce multi-million dollar quarterly losses due to the high price of fuel, they're busy raising fares to try to stem the flow of red ink.

US Airways, Delta, Continental, American and Northwest have now matched or partially matched a fare increase instituted by United Airlines Wednesday.

That fare increase ranges from $10 for shorter flights to $20 per roundtrip for longer flights.

The fare increase attempt is the 12th this year. If it sticks, it will be the eighth successful fare increase since the first of the year.

Airlines have been selective in applying those increases only to routes without extensive low-fare airline competition.

A senior Cathay Pacific pilot who buzzed Everett's Paine Field on a delivery flight of one of Cathay's new $200 million Boeing 777s has lost his appeal of his firing.

The pilot, Ian Wilkinson, took off from Everett where the 777 was made, circled the field and made low pass over the runway at high speed. Observers estimate the plane was as close as 30 feet above the tarmac.

After videos of the stunt surfaced on the Internet, Cathay fired Wilkinson for performing the stunt without the company's permission.

On the Jan. 31 maiden flight with Wilkinson and his crew were Cathay chairman Chris Pratt and Cathay's director of engineering, Christopher Gibbs.

Neither Pratt nor Gibbs criticized the maneuver when it occurred.

The pilot can further appeal his dismissal to either the company's chief executive or its chief operating officer.