Q&A A conversation with Marla Schimke, vice president of marketing for Zumobi. 6
Business to Business Happiness ... what does it mean to you? 3
$2.50
INSIDE February January 9, 18,2012 2013| |Volume Volume28 29 No. No.14
Small businesses Convention Centerspeak to host out quilterslegislative during applenty.session. 9 9
Workers’ comp Convention Center overhaul to host quilters plans fuel applenty. big debate. 13 9
Is it a real problem for real estate in the South Sound? The housing industry has had to defeat a variety of obstacles to start its climb back up to pre-recession levels. But a new enemy may lie on the horizon, and it even has a shady name to go with it: shadow inventory. According to Glenn Crellin, associate director for research at the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies, “shadow inventory” represents properties that have been taken back by the lending institutions, but for whatever reason, have yet to be put back on the market. The term has become a bit of a real estate buzzword recently, fueled by speculation that banks are holding back a flood of distressed inventory, laying in wait for improved selling conditions before letting such properties hit the market. So many properties hitting the market all at once, some experts predicted, would send home prices hurtling in reverse, damaging the finally recovering housing market. “If they all came on the market at the same time when there is a healthy inventory level, it would have the impact of pushing prices down,” Crellin said. “How
quickly (banks) will get those properties onto the market to help stabilize the market is hard to tell.” So are fears of this threat to the housing industry founded? Crellin and others around the South Sound real estate industry say no. For starters, according to Crellin, housing levels are low right now and could probably use more listings. Phil Harlan, practicing broker at Keller Williams Olympia, said agents throughout the South Sound are aware of the shadow inventory and will continue to watch the situation.
“If (shadow inventory) all came on the market at the same time ... it would have the impact of pushing prices down.”
See Shadow inventory, Page 7
- Glen Crellin, Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies
Could Cherry Point project cause Kent ‘terminal’ problem? New invention Convention Center could tohelp host quiltersand stroke applenty. cerebral17palsy patients. 15
Increased coal traffic on railroad could lead to road congestion issues for distribution center
INDEX
The proposed coal export terminal in Cherry Point would mean an increase in coal train traffic through the BNSF railway corridor (shown approximately in orange) that travels through Kent.
year mined from Montana and Wyoming would be hauled to the terminal along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line – and therein lies the potential problem. The rail corridor that the coal trains would travel extends from the two inland states and winds through Idaho and Washington before climbing up the Puget Sound coast, passing through Tacoma, Kent, Seattle, Everett and Bellingham before reaching Cherry Point. The opening and operation of such a high capacity terminal would inevitably lead to an increase in coal train
See Terminal concerns, Page 4
IN
Join us at 3pm on Feb 27th McGavick Center Tickets are $38
www.businessexaminer.com/crown-in-town
6 89076 06449
1
Q &A................................................... Featured List.....................................67 For The Record................................. Featured List....................................19 20 People For Theon Record................................. the Move.........................20 22 Scene Q&A................................................... & Heard.................................219 Scene &onHeard................................. People the Move.........................22 21
Cherry Point is over a hundred miles from south King County, but recent developments there have attracted the attention of some in the Kent business community. That’s because the Whatcom County site, already home to the largest oil refinery in Washington, may soon be home to the largest coal export facility in North America. The proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal, to be operated by global maritime service provider SSA Marine, would handle import and export of up to 54 million dry metric tons per year of bulk commodities. Up to 48 million tons of coal per
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TACOMA, WA Permit No. 308
Best Accountant in Tacoma Manning & Associates Best Active Life in Tacoma Point Defiance Park Best Acupuncture in Des Moines Rejuve Acupuncture
E OF TH S R E ARD INN 2012 W IN TOWN AW N CROW T) AL LIS I T R A P (
Best Advertising/Marketing/PR in Puyallup Highstreet Advertising Best American Food in Olympia Fish Tale BrewPub Best Apartment in Tacoma Williams Properties Best Architect in Aberdeen Gozart Alan E Archt Best Automotive Repair in Auburn Dave's Valley Auto Clinic Best Automotive Sales in Auburn Mike Scarff Subaru of Auburn Best Automotive Service in Puyallup Costco Tires Best Bank in Federal Way Umpqua Bank Best Bar in Tacoma The Matador Best Barbeque in Lakewood Cham Korean BBQ Buffet Best Beauty and Spa in Olympia Archibald Sisters Best Bed and Breakfast in Tacoma Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens Best Breakfast & Brunch in Olympia Sage's Brunch House Best Café in Olympia New Moon Cafe Best Camping/RV in Ashford Cougar Rock Campground Best Chicken Wings in Tacoma Buffalo Wild Wings Best Child/Day Care in Olympia The Children's Inn Best Children's Store in Olympia Wind Up Here Best Chinese Food in Federal Way Grand Peking
s in W e z e e r F o k is r F Best Burger in Tacoma fan has a all, “Every burger One yelper says it o Freeze. I n dive. Mine is Frisk oo sp sy ea gr e rit favo is place is my rt of the allure of th can't deny that pa when I was d brought me here Da y M ry. to his ily fam during his had been a regular just 7 years old. He grandfather gh School after my Hi ium ad St at ys da 1950. For when it opened in had introduced him will always be is heritage, Frisko th th wi us of e os th g at the the ritual of orderin special. We enjoy lot waiting to be ing in the parking nd sta d an ow nd wi windows down in our car with the called, then sitting d. ed on the dashboar and the fries perch
you love it It doesn't matter if charm most of you. . You might st give it a chance like regulars do, ju u will apprerite but I'm sure yo have your own favo ciate ours."
s a great e, Frisko Freeze ha id as at th all ng tti Se cooked with made on a griddle, burger. It’s simply special sauce top and dressed in on ed rch pe n bu e th better The fries used to be in. d ixe m ce tu let with the ells will bags and familiar sm r pe pa x wa e th t bu
ites have ories that Tacomaem m of n io ct lle co The e not lacking is little drive-in ar associated with th eeze is a ity. Truly, Frisko Fr in quantity or qual Tacoma icon.
Best Dentist in Tacoma Stadium Dental Health Center Best Dessert in Auburn Sun Break Cafe Best Diagnostic Services in Puyallup Sound Medical Imaging Best Diner in Tacoma Marcia's Silver Spoon Cafe Best Education in Olympia The Evergreen State College Best Electrical Services in Olympia Mr Sparky
Best Chiropractor in Kent Pearson Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Center
Best Entertainment in Tacoma Museum of Glass
Best Cleaning Services in Kent Diversity Cleaners
Best Ethnic in Tacoma Southern Kitchen
Best Clothing Store in Tacoma Vanity Fashion Boutique
Best Event Service in Lakewood Legacy Bakery & Catering
Best Coffee and Tea in Puyallup Anthem Coffee & Tea
Best Fast Food in Centralia Burgerville
Best Commercial Real Estate in Gig Harbor Mary K Wynn - Keller Williams
Best Financial Service in University Place C Tran Insurance Group
Best Community Service in Bremerton Goodwill
Best Fish & Chips in Lacey Beau Legs
Best Deli in Puyallup Sparks Firehouse Deli
Best Fitness in Tacoma Hot Yoga
Best Delivery Service in Bremerton It Won't Fit!
Best Flooring in Bremerton Abbey Carpet and Floor
ATTEND THE
BUSINESS EXAMINER CROWN IN TOWN AWARD CEREMONY HOSTED BY JOHN CURLEY FEB 27TH FROM 3-5PM. LIMITED SEATING. BUY YOUR TICKETS AT CROWN2013.EVENTBRITE.COM
IN
Best Nutritionist in Centralia Good Health Nutrition Center Best Optometrist in Olympia Twin Lakes Vision Clinic
Anthem Wins Bes t Coffee Shop
Best Pest Control in Kent Eco Elite Pest Control Best Pet Service in Kent Paws & Claws Pet Salon
“He-yo! What can I get for you sir?” W alking into Anthem downtown Puyallu in p is like walking int o a group of your favorite friends, wh o just so happen to have excellent taste in music, food and beverages. “[Anth em] is not your quiet corner coffee shop ,” says one satisfie d yelper, “This shop always a buzz. It wi is ll be noisy [and] ful l of fun employees You will likely see frie … nds and maybe me et someone new.” Founded in 2006,
the Reynold’s family
morphed from a co
ffee shop into a ful
Best Pet Supply in Kent Reber Ranch Best Physical Therapy in Puyallup Apple Physical Therapy Best Pizza in Olympia Old School Pizzeria Best Printing Service in Kent All Access Printing & Mailing
storefront has
l-service smattering of dinner choices. With exclamations such as, “BEST COFFEE IN WASHINGTON! ” and “Hands down the best place aroun d.” it’s no wonder tha t the Anthem crew scooped up the Bu siness Examiner’s Cr own in Town Award for Best Coffee Sh op in Puyallup.
Best Property Management in DuPont Dupont Realty & Property Management
yummy breakfast to
Experiencing Anthe m is as easy as orde ring a gourmet brown sugar latte an d cinnamon roll co mbo in the earlier hours or dropping in for a tasty lunch of American Ale an da
Best Public Service in Puyallup Puyallup Public Library Best Real Estate Service in Tacoma Lind Pest Control & Inspection Services
pear bacon and fe ta flatbread pizza. Planning on givin g Anthem a try? Their hours are Mon-Fri 5:30 am - 10 pm as well as Sat-Sun 7 am - 10 pm.
Best Residential Real Estate in Puyallup Somerville Realty Best Retail Store in Tacoma Tacoma Mall Best Sandwich Shop in Tacoma MSM Deli
DOWNLOAD THE CROWN IN TOWN MOBILE APP TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS
Best Seafood in Gig Harbor Tides Tavern Best Food Stand in Olympia California Taco Truck Best Home Service in Kent High Tech Appliance Service Best Home Shopping in Sumner The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse Best HVAC Service in Olympia G & G Heating Best Insurance in Bremerton H & K Agency Best IT/Computer Service in Puyallup Hard At Work Computers LLC Best Italian Restaurant in Tacoma Adriatic Grill Italian Restaurant Best Landscaping in Bremerton Bremerton City Nursery Best Lawyer in Federal Way Boice Law Firm PLLC Best Lodging in Tacoma Silver Cloud Inn Best Massage in Des Moines Quick Renewal Massage Center Best Medical Service in Federal Way Advanced Dental Artistry Best Mental Health in Tacoma HopeSparks Best Mexican Food in Centralia La Tarasca Best Mortgage Broker in Tumwater St. Julien Home Loans
Best Self-Storage in Puyallup Boush Moving & Storage Best Sporting Goods in Tacoma REI Best Steakhouse in Tacoma Stanley & Seafort's Steak Chop & Fish House Best Sushi Bar in Bremerton Trapper's Sushi Best Thai Restaurant in Olympia Narai Asian Cuisine Best Transportation in Tumwater Capital Aeroporter Best Urgent Care in Olympia Urgent Care of Olympia Best Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Food in Tacoma Quickie Too Best Veterinarians in Tacoma Animal Emergency Clinic Best Photographer in Puyallup Jeff Marsh Studios Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Tacoma Pho King Best Vintage/Used/Consignment in Federal Way Dumpster Values in Olympia Best Web and Graphic Design in Federal Way All Seattle Web Design
February 18, 2013 | www.BusinessExaminer.com | 11
continued from page 9 of the state’s Association of Western Pulp and Paperworkers, lobbyist Sean O’Sullivan said that his group particularly opposes the large reforms presented in SB 5127 and SB 5128. “We’ve heard a lot of talk about budgets and money, but let’s give some credit to the workers, and the sacrifice they make every single day,” O’Sullivan said. “They deserve good workman’s comp, so don’t chip away at it till you mess with the safety net. Figure out ways to cut the budget and save money in other ways, but please don’t do it off the broken backs of our members.” Katherine Mason, a Washington-based attorney who represents injured workers, also has particular concerns about SB 5127 and SB 5128. “We will end up shifting responsibility for who pays for that medical care from the responsible parties, the people who bought the insurance in the first place, to either private insurance, employment, Medicare, Medicaid, or charity care,” she said. “And that’s not fair. That’s not the responsible way to go forward.” Washington State Labor Council 3rd district vice president, Bob Guenther, of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said the sweeping reforms presented in all five bills could be questionable for many industries. “In the last 50 years, we can see how far we have come,” Guenther said. “But let’s have incremental change, not wholesale change.” Cody Arledge, a lobbyist for the Sheet Metal Workers 666 and the 38,000-member UFCW 21, said that although his unions were on board with nine of the 10 pieces of workers’ comp legislation in 2011, they want more discussion to figure out if the new bills will realistically bring savings. “There’s not one of us employees that don’t want to see our employers be successful,” said Artlidge. “So, although we’re in opposing all of these bills … we are partners in this, and I think we have demonstrated this in the past.” Many leaders in both business and government for Washington state, though, not only agree that the workers’ comp system could provide revenue for L&I through re-
form but also agree that many points in the new bills will be helpful to workers. Rep. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle, pointed out that when it comes to providing workers comp programs, it’s not all black-andwhite. “There’s a tendency for some to look at safety net issues as a quid pro quo, but many social benefits are hard to quantify and put a cost to,” he said. “So, when we look at many social programs, do you think that it’s fair that somebody with family responsibility — who’s lost their earning power due to no fault of their own on the job — should have the support system there for their family, who is otherwise going to have to go on socialized public dole?” And from the Washington Policy Center, Center for Small Business director Erin Shannon said that owners of local companies are desperate for relief. “Businesses are facing pensions that are 90 percent higher, and will have a 40 percent increase, in the next years,” Shannon said. “(These bills) are good public policy and will improve our small business climate.” Trent Haus, a government relations analyst in Lacey, added that the bills will keep the market competitive and reduce pressure on employers. For the Washington Farm Bureau, labor issues policy analyst Scott Dilly said that the bills are a good first step. “Agriculture makes up 13 percent of the state’s economy and supports 140,000 jobs, and we need these bills to provide more certainty and (security) to farmers,” he said. Ultimately, said Sen. Karen Keiser, DKent, what’s required to smooth out the workers’ comp system while simultaneously rebooting L&I reserves is simply more work. “I don’t think we’ve really had an opportunity to ask questions and delve into the substance of the bills,” she said. “And, frankly, without having Labor and Industries at the table providing real information about the consequences of these bills, about the history of rate increases, about the history of the retro program and refunds … All of these pieces need to be worked through.” Reach writer Holly Smith Peterson at hpeterson@BusinessExaminer.com
IN
Workers’ comp: Opposition to bills is strong, optimistic
is coming Crown in Town is a Puyallup-based enterprise that invites consumers to identify outstanding merchants and service providers in their community, recognizing businesses in 80 different categories by hosting award competitions in 6,700 communities. The Crown in Town mission statement:
“Our mission is ‘to help businesses market themselves to their community.’ We are committed to helping you build your company’s brand within your community, understand who your faithful customers are and reward them, and to reach as many people in the community hoping to discover such a great business like yours.”
Crown in Town founder and CEO Ryan Hart
After receiving consumer nominations, the public is invited to vote for their favorites within a process managed by Crown in Town. This year’s South Sound votes have been counted and tabulated, and the winners are ready to be announced! As the media sponsor for the Crown in Town award ceremony, Business Examiner Media Group is partnering with Crown in Town to honor this year’s winners at an awards program Wednesday, Feb. 27th, beginning at 3 p.m. at the McGavick Center in Lakewood.
so ... who are the winners? Glad you asked! Just turn the page to find out! (Want to see them get recognized in person? Go to www.businessexaminer.com/crown to buy seats for the event!)
WE FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY, NOT THE COMPETITION.
Workers’ comp bills in the works: Senate Bill 5112 would allow claims representatives for retro employers and groups to schedule independent medical examinations and vocational rehabilitation assessments, subject to certain conditions. Senate Bill 5124, a wage simplification bill, would change time-loss benefits of injured workers from a complicated process that uses a sliding scale, to a flat rate, with a monthly minimum. Senate Bill 5126 would allow an employer, L&I, or self-insurer to reimburse itself from a third-party recovery
for bills paid on behalf of an employee. Senate Bill 5127 would eliminate age restriction for settlement proposals, and does not impact payment of medical bills resulting from the injury; its aim is to allow structured settlements on compensation. Senate Bill 5128 gives workers of any age the opportunity to enter into “voluntary settlement agreements,” provides for light-duty work assignments for able workers, and commissions outcome studies on the measure.
BY TRACKING EMERGING ISSUES WE’RE ALREADY WORKING FOR YOU. PWB Law offers comprehensive advice to clients in all matters related to real estate from the ground up—from transactions to land use, construction and environmental compliance. Our attorneys are experienced in navigating the complex web of laws and regulations governing the use and development of real estate in Washington. We participate to communicate, offering our clients a clear view of the road ahead.
LEGAL ADVICE YOU CAN BUILD ON. 724 Columbia St. NW, Ste. 140 • Olympia • www.pwblawgroup.com • 360.742.3500