How a Seattle startup founder recovered from the darkest days of her life

Bezos and Inslee | Boeing 3D-printing face shields | New GeekWire Podcast episode ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Happy Saturday, GeekWire readers. Before we get to the latest news, here’s [a story that’s inspiring us this weekend]( Seattle startup founder Ramona Pierson, a US Marine Corps veteran, nearly died after being hit by a drunk driver in 1984. She gradually recovered her health, mobility and even her vision after 11 years without sight, founding two startups and working at Amazon. “We can have these terrible incidents that happen in our lives, but you have the power to create your own path forward,” says Pierson (above), head of data innovation and products at PwC in Seattle. Read more [in our “Working Geek” profile](. Editor’s Note: Yesterday’s newsletter gave an incorrect time frame for [Bill Gates' call to shut down the country]( to combat the coronavirus outbreak. He is calling for a 6-10 week shutdown. We strive for accuracy and apologize for the error. Jeff Bezos and Jay Inslee: In an [Instagram post]( the Amazon CEO said he thanked Washington’s governor for the “Herculean efforts he and his team have undertaken and for his leadership during this unsettling time.” Bezos stressed the importance of testing for the virus and said Amazon would continue delivering supplies to homebound consumers and creating jobs. Meanwhile, [a worker at an Amazon warehouse in the Seattle area]( tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the number of warehouses impacted [to at least 17](. “The COVID-19 crisis will be one of the most challenging and consequential events of our time - but we are already seeing the best of Seattle: our neighbors stepping up to support their communities.” That was [Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan]( who helped raise a #WeGotThisSeattle flag atop the Space Needle on Thursday. Later that evening, [Seattleites raised their voices]( to show support for those working through the crisis. Boeing makes face shields: Boeing says it's [using 3-D printing capabilities]( at factories in Missouri, California, Arizona, Alabama and Pennsylvania to manufacture face shields for hospital use during the COVID-19 crisis. Big Tech makes moves: Google [is donating]( more than $800 million in cash and advertising to fight COVID-19 and help small businesses. Apple rolled out [a new website and app]( in partnership with the CDC, the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA. [See more updates on our COVID-19 live blog]( GeekWire Podcast: This week on the show, we take a look at how Seattle’s tech companies are being impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and how they’re responding and preparing for the downturn. Plus, we offer our own reading of the Walt Whitman poem cited by Inslee in his address this week. [Listen here.]( Related: [GeekWire 200 startup leaders share leadership advice on navigating the COVID-19 crisis]( Startup news: Portland, Ore.-based virtual healthcare startup [Bright.md raised $8 million]( while Seattle startup [Textio laid off 20% of its staff](. Thanks for reading, and see all our stories below. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and editor Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Become a GeekWire member: Support quality journalism]( You love GeekWire for breaking news, in-depth reporting and timely features about science, technology and entrepreneurship. Now, you can help our scrappy band of journalists continue to tell compelling stories. How so? Consider a [GeekWire membership]( to help support our day-to-day coverage, everything from the GeekWire Podcast to our ongoing reporting on the coronavirus crisis. In addition to funding independent journalism, GeekWire members receive exclusive benefits, VIP event access and other special perks. Join today [here](. LATEST HEADLINES [Amazon employee at Seattle-area warehouse tests positive for COVID-19]( [Geek of the Week: Jordan Zager uses plant science to make cannabis more environmentally efficient]( [GeekWire Podcast: Coronavirus hits tech economy; life under lockdown; a poem for our new era]( [Ramona Pierson turns nearly fatal accident into success as startup founder and tech leader]( [OneWeb files for bankruptcy amid coronavirus chaos, leaving satellite network’s fate up in the air]( SPONSORED: GEEK HOME OF THE DAY [Pristine and Private Home on Mercer Island]( [Seattle teenagers debut SMS text alert service for COVID-19 stats, set sights on screening tool]( [SpaceX wins NASA contract to send cargo to lunar Gateway with new Dragon XL craft]( [Amazon shareholders submit 10 resolutions on environment, equity, lobbying and other issues]( [Textio lays off 30 amid COVID-19; Seattle startup hopes its AI writing tech will aid all job seekers]( [Bright.md raises $8M for virtual healthcare service that can help with COVID-19 related care]( [‘Joyful noise’ rings out in Seattle as people show support for workers on front lines of crisis]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [ALLEN INSTITUTE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI2): Technical Co-Founder // CTO (Stealth Startup)]( - [ALLEN INSTITUTE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI2): Deep Learning Engineer // Co-Founder]( - [Rad Power Bikes: Executive Assistant]( - [ALLEN INSTITUTE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI2): CTO-in-Residence // Co-Founder]( - [Stripe: Support Specialist]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? 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