Business Pulse magazine Jun|Jul 2022

BUSINESS PULSE

JULY / AUGUST 2022

THE PULSE OF WHATCOM COUNTY

The future holds great promise for Janicki Industries’ continued growth Bellingham expansion will help push the boundaries of work in a myriad of industries

Janicki Industries President John Janicki

PLUS: JULY/AUGUST 2022 VOL. 47 NO. 4

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Your local business news brought to you by WHATCOM BUSINESS ALLIANCE

VOL. 47 | NO. 4 PUBLISHER Whatcom Business Alliance EDITOR Matthew Anderson

Bellingham PR & Communications CONTRIBUTING Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy

Stop by Our New Digs, 1415 Iowa St. So We Can Give You a Mug Birchequipment.com • Facebook • Instagram

WRITERS Heather Lea Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy Lorraine Wilde GUEST COLUMNISTS Nicole Burdick Mark Harmsworth Dann Mead Smith ART DIRECTOR Whitney Pearce PHOTOGRAPHY Sattva Photo EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Barbara Chase Cover Photo by Sattva Photo WBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BOARD CHAIR: Pam Brady, Director NW Gov’t & Public Affairs, BP Cherry Point EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: ; John Huntley, President/ CEO, Mills Electric Inc.; Doug Thomas, President/CEO, Bellingham Cold Storage; Josh Turrell, Partner, Larson Gross PLLC; Josh Wright, VP/Broker, Bell-Anderson Insurance BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Tyler Byrd, CEO, Red Rokk Interactive; Jane Carten, President, Saturna Capital; Andy Enfield, Vice President, Enfield Farms; Bryant Engebretson, Managing Principal, Tradewinds Capital; Jon Ensch, Commercial Banking Officer, Peoples Bank; Mitch Faber, Partner, Adelstein Sharpe & Serka; Sandy Keathley, Former Owner, K & K Industries; Tony Larson, President, Barlean’s; Becky Raney, Former Owner, Print & Copy Factory; Sarah Rothenbuhler, Owner/ CEO, Birch Equipment; Patrick Schuppert, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo; Galen Smith, Operations Manager/Owner, Coldstream Farms; Carryn Vande Griend, Government Affairs Representative, PSE; Billy VanZanten, CEO, Western Refinery Services For editorial comments and suggestions, write info@whatcombusinessalliance.com. The magazine is published bimonthly at 3111 Newmarket St., Ste. 106, Bellingham WA 98226. (360) 746.0418. Yearly subscription rate is $25 (US). For digital subscription, visit businesspulse.com. Entire contents copyrighted ©2021 Business Pulse. All rights reserved.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Business Pulse, 3111 Newmarket St. Ste. 106, Bellingham WA 98226

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JUL/AUG 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM

IN THIS ISSUE 12

CORVUS ENERGY SELECTS NEW U.S. MANUFACTURING FACILITY The Norway-based manufacturer, a leading supplier of battery energy storage systems for marine applications, is poised for rapid growth.

17

MAJOR HIRING IN THE WORKS

From shop technicians to engineers, Janicki Industries prepares for growth by expanding to Bellingham and continuing to create innovative equipment for the aerospace industry.

22

12 This year’s list of Whatcom County’s TOP 100 (based on 2021 sales) sees a number of new players, which bodes well for our local economy.

35 EMERGENCY OR LACK OF PLANNING?

What your business needs to know about the recent updates to the state’s new wildfire smoke workplace rules.

17

35

COLUMNS 39 Tackling our financial

45 New state rule on the

41 Four skills veterans

47 A key cause of data

literacy crisis begins at home bring as team members in civilian careers

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horizon may force coffee stands out of business loss and how to protect yourself

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BP UP FRONT

Sign of the times: Nearly every one of the Top 100 companies this year is hiring Business Pulse and the Whatcom Business Alliance are proud to bring readers our annual celebration of the amazing companies and leaders we have right here in Whatcom County.

Though these businesses generate nearly $4 billion in sales each year, the Annual Top 100 is not just a list of the most profitable private companies. It also celebrates what makes our county special — the tenacity, innovation and resilience of these companies shows exactly what we are made of. Much of their success is continuously reinvested back into our community.

The past two years have given Whatcom County businesses more challenges than anyone ever realistically expected to manage. The uncertainty created by the pandemic and local flooding created an economic environment that we are thrilled to be leaving behind. However, times remain challenging: Inflation is now

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BUSINESSPULSE.COM | JUL/AUG 2022

at its highest level in more than 40 years, and the cost of living is putting a pinch on family budgets. In addition, a 30% rise in housing costs over the last year is creating hardships for many in our region.

facility in Bellingham. Additional Top 100 highlights by Heather Lea include two longtime Whatcom County companies — Anvil Corporation and Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix — and a newcomer to the Top

Despite these obstacles, many companies in Whatcom County have thrived. On Page 12, Lorraine Wilde describes Corvus Energy’s recent move to Bellingham and how the company is electrifying the maritime industry. On Page 17, Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy profiles Janicki Industries’ expansion to a 251,000-square-foot

100 list, Lynden Interiors.

This month’s issue also includes important new Department of Labor & Industries emergency regulations regarding working outdoors during wildfire season, a new regulatory burden that threatens small coffee companies, and the surprising lack of financial literacy that exists in our

nation. Read on to discover the tremendous value that veterans bring to companies.

The Annual Top 100 is always a great source of pride for Business Pulse and the group of people who pull this issue together. I want to thank our team, the readers, advertisers, and contributors who make this magazine possible. Together we can overcome any challenge — especially if we harness the hard work and determination captured in the pages of this month’s issue. We are stronger together!

By the way: Are you curious how we arrive at this list? We compile the yearly Top 100 by contacting companies on the previous year’s list, mining personal contacts, discovering companies while reporting for Business Pulse, scouring new WBA members, and performing public inquiry. To be included in this list, a company must operate its headquarters in Whatcom County and be under private ownership.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and please enjoy the beauty of our region this summer.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 1-year subscription (6 issues) $25 2-year subscription (12 issues) $45 3-year subscription (18 issues) $60

businesspulse.com/subscribe

Barbara Chase, Executive Director Whatcom Business Alliance

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BP NEWSMAKERS

Jennifer Witherbee

Andy Riddell

Larson Gross hires Jennifer Witherbee as community and business growth director Jennifer Witherbee joins Larson Gross with more than 20 years of experience working as the executive director of the Washington Apple Education Foundation, where she helped take a program poised for growth and transformed it into a foundation awarding more than $1 million in scholarships annually, positively impacting thousands of students in Central Washington and the agriculture industry as a whole.

“We are so excited to welcome Jennifer to our team,” said Kelli Visser, CEO of Larson Gross. “With a proven track record for organizational growth and development, her efforts speak for themselves. Her depth of relationships, experience, knowledge and capabilities will complement our firm’s initiatives to support the expansion of our impact in Central and Eastern Washington.”

As the community and business growth director, Witherbee will be responsible for identifying growth opportunities while representing Larson Gross as a brand ambassador in specific targeted markets throughout Central and Eastern Washington.

“I’m looking forward to what this transition holds,” Witherbee said.

“Being able to continue to cultivate relationships in my community, specifically within the agriculture and nonprofit sectors, while also helping Larson Gross with its growth efforts,

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Heather Meyer

Debbie Granger

feels like an ideal scenario.”

Visit larsongross.com.

Andy Riddell named chief lending officer at Peoples Bank Peoples Bank has announced the promotion of Andy Riddell to senior vice president, chief lending officer.

In this role, Riddell will oversee the bank’s strategy across all commercial and marine lending activities. Riddell joined Peoples Bank in June 2021 and most recently served as senior vice president, commercial market leader, for the bank’s Snohomish Commercial Banking Group, where he led a team of bankers committed to serving the diverse needs of Snohomish County.

“Andy has a proven track record of exceptional leadership and expertise in commercial lending,” said Charles LeCocq, Peoples Bank chairman and CEO. He has served on multiple boards throughout his nearly 20-year commercial banking career in Alaska and Washington. He is a past board member of the Whatcom Business Alliance and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for YMCA of Snohomish County.

“I look forward to continuing Peoples Bank’s 100-year legacy of making a difference in our local communities by supporting local business owners, families and community organizations,” Riddell said.

Visit peoplesbank-wa.com.

Corey Culp

Jen and Will Lathrop

RMC Architects hires Heather Meyer AIA Heather Meyer AIA, LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE, CPHC® has joined RMC Architects as a project architect.

Meyer received a bachelor’s degree in graphic design in 2010 from Whitworth University in Spokane and a Master of Architecture in 2015 from the University of Oregon in Eugene.

She is currently working on several multifamily housing projects in Bellingham for RMC, including Mercy Millworks Housing and 1411 Roeder Lofts. She is also working on The Way Station, a collaborative downtown Bellingham project for Whatcom County involving Unity Care Northwest, Opportunity Council and PeaceHealth that offers a clinic and respite care to the homeless population.

In her role at RMC, Meyer will contribute her knowledge of high performance building design gained through her credentials with Passive House Institute, in addition to her combined strengths in both graphic design and architecture.

Visit rmcarchitects.com.

Debbie Granger wins prestigious 2022 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award The Seattle Propeller Club has announced Debbie Granger the winner of the 2022 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award for her many contributions to Puget Sound’s maritime community.

Granger is a longtime member of the Working Waterfront Coalition of

Whatcom County, with highly visible contributions throughout the community.

“Debbie’s work has been essential to the success of our organization,” said Jim Kyle, president of the Working Waterfront Coalition. “Her knowledge and work ethic set a very high bar.”

Granger’s many accomplishments include establishing Bellingham SeaFeast as a signature waterfront and seafood festival celebrating Whatcom County’s maritime culture, helping launch Bellingham Dockside Market as a hub for local fishermen to provide direct seafood sales out of Squalicum Harbor, and extensive fundraising efforts to support a new Fisheries and Aquaculture Center for Bellingham Technical College.

“On behalf of the Port of Bellingham, I’d like to congratulate Debbie Granger on winning the 2022 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award,” said Rob Fix, the port’s executive director. “Debbie is a tremendous advocate for Whatcom County’s working waterfront, and her passion and energy for marine trades is second to none. Debbie has made numerous and meaningful contributions to our marine trades community, and the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award is well deserved.”

Granger has worked in education, fish processing, public relations, marketing, fundraising and event management. Her last full-time job was with the University of Washington, where she managed a 12-state aquaculture research consortium.

After “retiring,” Granger and her husband, Pete, a commercial fisherman, returned to Whatcom County, where they continue to fish with salmon reefnet gear off Lummi Island.

Granger continues to work tirelessly for the Puget Sound maritime community. She is currently working to establish a Northwest Maritime

Apprenticeship Program to help meet the shortage of qualified employees in the marine trades industry. More than 6,000 jobs are created or supported by marine trades, representing 7 percent of the total workforce in Whatcom County.

Debbie is one of just three women to have won the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award since its inception in 1951.

Pearson Builders transitions Corey Culp to project manager Corey Culp, former superintendent at Pearson Builders, has transitioned into the role of project manager. In this role, Culp is responsible for managing various construction projects across the organization’s primary market segments, including health care, luxury homes and commercial construction.

Culp joined the Pearson Builders team in January 2001 and was able to gain invaluable experience as a carpenter while working on constructing Chrysalis Inn and Spa, Industrial Credit Union projects and multiple luxury homes in Bellingham and the San Juan Islands. He gained further experience running projects as superintendent in 2012, working for such clients as Mt Baker Imaging, Whatcom Educational Credit Union and Bellingham Cider Co. “Corey brings an extensive skillset to this new role,” said Scott Isenhart, president of Tiger Pearson Construction. “His experience as a journeyman carpenter, combined with his friendly, personable and customer-focused demeanor, make him uniquely qualified to excel as a project manager.”

“I’m looking forward to what this transition holds,” Culp said. “This new role allows me to continue to build on my experience in the construction

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industry while also allowing me more time to interface with customers, ensuring I can provide them with the service Tiger Pearson is known for.”

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New local owners for Dave’s Sports Shop in Lynden Will and Jenn Lathrop took ownership of Dave’s Sports Shop in Lynden on May 1. The local sporting goods store had been under the ownership of the VanderHoek family since its founding in 1957 as Jude’s Sporting Goods. The Lathrops started training in the store under Dave and Claudia VanderHoek, who were mentoring them to take over the business, in October 2021.

“Becoming the owners of Dave’s Sports Shop was something that we talked about and prayed through,” Will Lathrop said. “After meeting with a few advisers, we had the confidence to

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commit our family to this adventure.”

Will plans to manage much of the daily operations while Jenn focuses on human resources, accounting and other office tasks.

“We’re excited to pass this shop over to Will and Jenn and their young family,” said Claudia VanderHoek. “They have a high level of integrity and a heart for the business. Having worked with them for many months, we have full confidence that they have what it takes to succeed in the community.”

Visit davessports.com.

Barron awards two $5,000 scholarships to electrician students in support of the trades Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing recently awarded two $5,000 scholarships to two Bellingham Technical College students studying to become electricians.

Blake Anderson and Anthony Neubert each received the Dan L. Barron Trades Scholarship, named after the company founder. Blake Anderson The scholarships provide opportunities to individuals looking to enter the HVAC, electrical or plumbing trades and begin a successful career journey for them- Anthony Neubert selves and their families. There is no obligation to future employment with Barron to receive these scholarships.

As the labor gap continues to grow, careers in the skilled trades are becoming more and more in demand — a message that Barron is on a mission to share and support.

“The demand for skilled tradespeople is real. Barron and other companies need many more plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians,” said Brad Barron, chief operating officer for the company. “We’re happy to support Blake and Anthony as they enter the building trades and in carrying on my Grandpa Dan’s legacy.”

Anderson graduated from Liberty High School in Renton and is now in his second quarter at BTC. Neubert, formerly a chef at a Bellingham brewery, graduated from Oak Harbor High School and enrolled at BTC in 2020.

Committed to improving lives through its Air Solutions team and Certified Home Performance Experts, Barron provides a wide range of heating, cooling, solar, electrical, plumbing and indoor air quality products and services, as well as a large selection of stoves and fireplaces in its Firelight by Barron showrooms.

Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing has become one of Northwest Washington’s largest and most respected home performance experts, with showroom locations in Ferndale and Burlington. Approximately 200 local employees serve customers in the San Juan Islands and along the I-5 corridor from Blaine to Marysville and Oak Harbor to Concrete.

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CORVUS ENERGY: Electrifying the maritime industry Norway-based manufacturer to open Bellingham facility Lorraine Wilde PHOTO: iStockphoto.com/mihtiander

T

he maritime industry has historically been a vital part of our regional economy. So, it makes sense that Corvus Energy, a Norway-based manufacturer of zero-emissions maritime battery technology, would choose Bellingham for its new U.S. manufacturing facility.

On June 1, 2022, Corvus Energy began modifications to its new facility, located at 300 Harris Ave. in Fairhaven, for which it has a three-year lease with the Port of Bellingham.

As a leading supplier of battery energy storage systems for marine applications, Corvus is poised for rapid growth as the marine industry accelerates its adoption of decarbonization technology to meet global targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The journey to Bellingham It was about three years ago that the Port of Bellingham’s director of economic development, Don Goldberg, took a business trip to Norway to learn about the future of the marine industry.

“Norway probably leads the world in maritime technology,” Goldberg

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explained. “Clearly, it has the most electrified and hybrid vessels in the world.”

In fact, this relatively small nation was the first to produce an all-electric, zero-emissions vessel, a car ferry, in 2014. Today, Norway operates close to 40% of the world’s battery-powered ships.

Goldberg’s trip was organized by the Washington State Department of Commerce and Washington Maritime Blue, a member-based nonprofit based in Seattle focused on growing maritime business and technology in our state while simultaneously keeping sustainability and oceans in mind.

Goldberg toured Corvus Energy’s new facility during his trip, but he wasn’t exactly new to the concept of hybrid vessels. The port already leases property to All American Marine, a leading manufacturer of vessels with hybrid-electric propulsion systems.

“They just built and launched the first hydrogen ferry in the world here about a month ago,” Goldberg said.

“My interests in Norway were to potentially recruit companies that would want to bring their technologies to the U.S. to take our maritime industry

into that next generation. Part of that is electrification.”

Goldberg and Corvus kept in touch during the pandemic. It was about six months ago that the Fairhaven facility became available, so Goldberg reached out. Corvus considered multiple locations in Washington state and Texas.

“Besides offering them the perfect building, we’re also very close to their facility in Richmond, British Columbia,” Goldberg said. “But we also sold them on the fact that about half the ports in the United States are located in Washington. We’re also one of the biggest international trading states, and we have the biggest fleet of ferries in the country. So, it made a lot of sense for them to be here.”

“We’re also here because the governor of Washington state is very supportive of green technology,” said Mariella Deltcheva, Corvus Energy interim chief operating officer and plant manager.

Although Corvus is planning for extensive sales efforts in Texas, the company wanted its manufacturing efforts to remain near its existing research and development facility in Richmond, just a 45-minute drive for

“

It is an exciting time for us, and hopefully for other companies, to see the U.S. choosing the path toward zeroemission solutions.

There is so much potential in this part of the world, and we hope to be part of that.

WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY, SWIFT INDUSTRIES

Mariella Deltcheva, Corvus Energy interim COO and plant manager

senior staff.

Corvus Energy got its start in 2009, when an automotive battery expert and a naval architect began working on a plan to make hybrid ships in a Richmond garage. By 2011, Corvus had accomplished its first marine installation, a hybrid tug. The world’s first hybrid offshore support vessel followed in 2012, and then the first hybrid thousand-passenger ferry in 2013. After the company accomplished the first hybrid fishing vessel in 2015, growth skyrocketed. Because Nordic countries are ahead of the United States and Canada in the adoption of maritime hybrid technology, Corvus’ headquarters expanded to Norway in 2015.

Corvus would like to see a similar expansion here in the U.S. Its new manufacturing facility will enable Corvus to compete for and sell products to the federal government in compliance with the Buy America program.

“We also are looking at expanding

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These cargo ferries operate with 500 KWh diesel/battery hybrid systems installed in 2014. Their routes are from mainland British Columbia to Vancouver Island and back. The Reliant vessel (pictured on right) is being upgraded to 1.9 MWh of battery storage with Corvus’ new product — the Blue Whale.

into the Asian market,” Deltcheva added. “Having a location on the West Coast that we can ship from is a benefit. Also, some of our raw materials come from Asia, so this location is good for logistics.”

A tremendous amount of collaboration has gone in to getting the company here.

“Internally at the port, the real estate department and our economic development department worked very closely,” Goldberg said. “We were also successful getting a very competitive grant from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund. They’ll have $250,000 that will be used for improvement of the building and hiring workers in Washington state.”

The company is already off to a great start, because the Harris Avenue building is already a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified green building, including being powered by solar energy.

Big dreams for the U.S. market Building a range of battery storage systems is just the tip of the iceberg for Corvus Energy. Its work includes the full life cycle of battery systems — including integrating battery energy storage systems into vessels; monitor-

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ing efficiency, function and maintenance; finding second homes for the technology after upgrades; and even battery recycling.

“Our internal corporate goal is to have operational readiness by the end of Q4,” Deltcheva explained. “We will be engaging throughout the process with local contractors. We have a big milestone to get certification with ISO (International Organization for Standardization), and all of our products have to be certified by class for marine applications by many third-party organizations for safe use on a ship.”

Some existing research and development staff based in Richmond and a couple key hires will supervise the certification processes, since they are already familiar.

“When we are close to the end of that process, then we will begin hiring and training more local staff. Depending on orders, we’ll start with two to four new employees and grow to about 10 in three to four months,” Deltcheva said. “When orders reach full capacity, we’ll need about 20 people per shift, with 80% to 90% local staff.”

Corvus will begin by manufacturing its top selling product, the Orca Energy System. These versatile battery energy storage systems are appropriate for shore charging and a wide range of

marine vessels, including ferries, cruise ships, yachts, tugs and fishing, merchant and offshore vessels.

As demand grows, operations will expand to include additional battery energy storage systems lines.

“It will depend on what the market calls for,” Deltcheva said. “To accommodate further growth, we can add buildings onto this one or move to a larger location.”

Corvus has already begun taking orders for U.S. production.

Continuing challenges and benefits for business owners “We are limiting ourselves on recruitment right now,” Goldberg said, “because we have a childcare and housing crisis, and so we are being mindful that we’re not bringing companies in that directly compete with existing businesses for employees. We know that housing prices went up almost 30% here last year, while income went up only about 3%. That has put real pressure on the workforce.”

Goldberg’s position includes working to help solve these issues at federal, state and local levels. He chairs the Washington Economic Development Association’s Committee on Worker Housing and works closely with the Washington State Department of

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Commerce. Other port staff serve on committees and boards with organizations such as Whatcom Housing Alliance that focus on affordable housing and worker housing.

“Regardless of politics, most agree we are in this crisis together and we need to address and deal with it now, or we will see companies leave the area,” Goldberg said. “But we also know we have an energy cluster here, and so we’re focused on future energy-positive jobs for the region and the world.”

Goldberg believes that the transition toward green energy will benefit not just the maritime industry, but all of our business sectors.

“We’re trying to support our existing clusters by bringing green technology here that will help bring them into the next generation,” he said. “Higher education, manufacturing, health care, forestry, agriculture — every sector can benefit.”

“We’re extremely excited to have Corvus Energy here, as a leader in this industry, having supplied half of all battery technology on ships right now,” Goldberg added. “But we’re also excited about the other associated companies that may be interested in coming here as well. We fully expect that like the rest of their business around the world, Corvus will continue to grow very rapidly, and in the next few years, we’ll expand them into a much larger facility.”

Deltcheva agrees.

“We are all excited with the new positioning of our company,” she said. “It is an exciting time for us, and hopefully for other companies, to see the U.S. choosing the path toward zero-emission solutions. There is so much potential in this part of the world, and we hope to be part of that.” ■

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FEATURE BP

PHOTOS: Sattva Photo

Janicki Industries expanding to Bellingham Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy

I

magine the equipment it would take to build a spacecraft, or any high-performance aircraft.

Janicki Industries, headquartered in Sedro-Woolley and now expanding into Bellingham, is an engineering and manufacturing company that creates that tooling and equipment.

“When you build something big and high tech, it needs a lot of equipment,” said John Janicki, president of Janicki Industries.

Creating that equipment is Janicki

Industries’ core business. The company’s customers include the United States military, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Blue Origin and SpaceX. “We build components for their vehicles,” Janicki said.

To better understand what Janicki Industries does, think of it this way: The company’s aerospace customers want to build a part. Anything that helps them build that part is called a tool. The tool can be a mold, a

holding fixture, an assembly fixture, a trim-and-drill fixture. That’s what Janicki Industries makes: very largescale, high-precision production tools.

Janicki Industries often makes the part, too.

“You need a family of tools to make a composite structure,” Janicki said.

The new facility Janicki Industries is currently altering its recently purchased 251,000-square-foot facility on Wo-

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JUL/AUG 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM

PHOTOS: Sattva Photo

The building’s new tenants include Cascade Joinery, TruLife and Sedron Technologies.

burn Street in Bellingham. (The building formerly housed Safran Cabin, which made airplane overhead storage bins and ceiling panels.) Janicki Industries needs much bigger production doors and ramps, so existing 8-foot-wide doors are being enlarged to 22 feet wide and 20 feet high.

“We can’t get anything inside the building otherwise,” Janicki said.

In some places throughout the building, ceilings have been raised and big windows added.

“We’re fortunate that this quality building came online right when we were planning to expand,” said Janicki, who holds a degree in architecture. “A large number of our employees who work for Janicki live in Bellingham.”

Janicki Industries does not need the entire building, and as of May 2022 had signed three tenants: the Ireland-based orthotics maker TruLife, Northwest construction company Cascade Joinery, and Sedron Technologies, a research and development company owned by Peter Janicki, the founder and CEO of Janicki Industries. Still available for rent within the building is 45,000 square feet suitable for manufacturing and 20,000 square feet suitable for office space. Eventually, the building could house 300 to 400 employees from all its potential tenants.

“We’re still working out the exact use of this building for Janicki Industries,” John Janicki said.

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BUSINESSPULSE.COM | JUL/AUG 2022

How many in Bellingham?

The company is considering how many employees will be based here.

Janicki Industries is actively hiring for all its facilities, which now include Bellingham as well as Sedro-Woolley; Hamilton, Washington; and Layton, Utah. The company has 880 employees total now. Janicki expects up to 50 of its employees to work in the Bellingham facility within the first year.

“After that, it’s unknown,” he said.

“Maybe a hundred, in total.”

Janicki Industries’ Bellingham facility of 28.5 acres total includes 12 undeveloped acres behind the building.

“We may expand into that area,” Janicki said. “We constantly have multiple jobs up in the air that customers want us to do. The facilities we need for that will vary. We may take over more of this building and provide a building for one of our tenants or build a new building for us and lease out part of the existing building … all are options.

Step One is to get this building full and used again. I know all my tenants are hiring.”

In its own hiring, Janicki Industries is seeking “everyone, all levels, from shop technicians to new and experienced engineers,” Janicki said.

Before purchasing in Bellingham, Janicki Industries had 166-plus acres and 289,000 square feet of facility in Sedro-Woolley and Hamilton, plus 100,000 square feet in Utah.

“In spring 2021, we were actively

looking for more space,” Janicki said.

“We had multiple contracts that, if successful, would require additional manufacturing space. This building came on our radar. We were only looking for 50,000 square feet; this building is 251,000 square feet.

“Because of the schedule and opportunity for future growth, we decided to locate in Bellingham.”

The plan The company was founded in 1993

by Peter and Susan Janicki to produce precision milling machines. Early on, to demonstrate his computer-controlled machine, Peter Janicki created a machined mold for a hull for a Northwest boat manufacturer.

To this day, the company remains engineering-centric.

“Peter is very much an engineer,” said John Janicki of his brother. “We kept taking on more and more different jobs for these companies as we got a foothold with our tooling expertise. They gave us different problems, saying, ‘can you do this?’ ‘Can you do that?’ We had to expand for that. Just like any successful business, we focus on our customer.

“We never had a business plan to get to what we’re doing today. The plan was to take care of customers.”

Some of whom will soon be served from Janicki Industries’ new Bellingham facility. ■

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PHOTOS: Sattva Photo

Janicki Industries: an inside look Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy How is a spacecraft built? To view the process of building its parts, come along on a tour of Janicki Industries’ 154,000-square-foot facility in Hamilton, Washington, just off Highway 20 in the Cascade foothills.

Enter a huge production area called a “clean room,” a space that’s almost beautiful in its industrial function, gleaming and brightly lit with high ceilings and brilliant white walls. A dozen technicians in white lab coats and rubber gloves move around giant tables, performing tasks. The steady hum of vacuum lines lays down a calm soundtrack.

The nearest technician is sealing a giant plastic bag-like thing (called a vacuum bag) to layers of carbon fiber material atop a flat, shiny metal tool that’s 40 feet long and 6 feet wide.

In here, the word “tool” doesn’t mean what you think it means.

“It’s not a wrench; it’s not a hammer,” says Josh Requa, senior sales and business development, who’s guiding this tour.

Here, a tool is a giant mold, or pattern. This tool is being used to form a

layered, composite, carbon fiber part; the part will eventually become part of an aircraft, spacecraft or similar.

“Things that fly must be lightweight,” Requa says. “That’s where the composite comes in.”

A projector attached to the ceiling projects laser-light guidelines to the tech working below. These projectors, about two dozen of them widely spaced overhead, provide design guidance to the technicians.

On the wall behind us, an enormous garage door, 24 feet wide and 20 feet high, quickly rolls up to allow a tech to exit, then flies down again. It doesn’t stay open long, because the clean room is controlled for temperature and humidity. That’s important for some of the material that’s handled in here.

One type of carbon fiber material is called “pre-preg,” meaning it comes into this facility in giant rolls, frozen, already impregnated with resin. When ready to be used, it’s thawed, then unrolled onto a 60-foot-long CNC (computer numerical control) machine and cut into individual shapes.

(Think of flat cookie dough being cut into shapes.)

Those plies are formed, or laid up, into a part, which goes to the oven for curing. The oven is a 40-foot by 20-foot room that can reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Or, the part may be cured in a giant autoclave, which can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit and deliver 200 pounds per square inch of pressure.

After curing, a five-axis CNC milling machine gives it a trim, cutting holes and such if required. Quality inspection, which may involve an ultrasound to show the part’s interior structure, usually includes validation from the customer before the gigantic part is crated and shipped.

Back on the production floor, outside the clean room, Requa pauses to watch a tech operate a laser probe to match a finished part back to the original design, shown on a computer screen.

“Imagine what they are making,” Requa says. “Imagine where these parts will end up, where they will perform.”

Someday, you might see it flying far, far overhead. ■

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TOP 100

*

PRIVATE COMPANIES IN WHATCOM COUNTY [BASED ON 2021 SALES]

It was a blowout year for the companies featured in our annual ranking of Whatcom County’s largest private companies. Together, those on this year’s list generated almost $4 billion in sales — despite rising inflation, the ongoing supply chain crisis, and the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hiring is also top of mind for these innovators in the coming months. 97% of this year’s respondents said they will be hiring for jobs at all levels in all industries. *Out of over 150 companies contacted, 83 responses had been received at time of

publication. This list is the compilation of those responses.

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BUSINESSPULSE.COM | JUL/AUG 2022

EMPLOYEES COMPANY

LOCATION

FOUNDED

REGION

TOTAL

TOP EXECUTIVES

SALES

1

1

Exxel Pacific Inc

Bellingham

1989

50

214

Kevin R. DeVries

$350M+

2

2

Grizzly Industrial Inc

Bellingham

1983

275

Shiraz Balolia

3

3

Dawson Construction Inc

Bellingham

1967

122

214

Pete Dawson

4

5

Peoples Bank

Bellingham

1921

350

450

Charles LeCocq

5

7

Axiom Construction & Consulting LLC

Lynden

2002

n/a

385

Timothy Koetje

6

-

Faithlife LLC

Bellingham

1992

250

450

Vik Rajagopal

7

9

IMCO General Construction Inc

Ferndale

1978

64

188

Tyler Kimberley

8

12

Smith Gardens

Bellingham

1901

180

1100

Eric Smith

9

10

Kam-Way Transportation Inc.

Blaine

2008

68

252

Kam Sihota

10

11

Samson Rope Technologies Inc

Ferndale

1878

215

320

Christian Rheault

11

13

Trans-Ocean Products

Bellingham

1985

243

250

Murry Park

12

16

Alaskan Leader Fisheries

Lynden

1991

10

90

Robert Wurm

13

14

Hardware Sales Inc

Bellingham

1962

135

144

Ty McClellan

14

15

The Markets LLC

Bellingham

2006

180

250

Kevin Weatherill

PHOTO: iStockphoto.com/natrot

HIRING

$90 - $200M

2021 RANK

$50 - $89M

2022 RANK

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JUL/AUG 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM

Jim Holien, Anvil’s Bellingham branch manager

Courtesy photos

#16

| Anvil Corporation

By Heather Lea As the world transitions to sustainable energy, companies like Anvil Corporation become more and more valuable. Focusing on all aspects of oil and gas processing — from drilling to production, transportation and refining — Anvil provides multidiscipline engineering services to Pacific Northwest refineries.

Founded in 1971 with just a handful of engineers, Anvil’s reputation quickly gained momentum. Soon, the company was able to hire additional engineering disciplines to keep up with refinery work and projects in the pulp and paper industry. Today, the company has over 450 employees working in engineering, procurement and project management services with multiple clients and industries across the United States.

Jim Holien, the branch manager for Anvil’s headquarters in Bellingham, is responsible for all commercial business run from the Bellingham office and for the maintenance of all Bellingham facilities.

“I love contributing to the success

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BUSINESSPULSE.COM | JUL/AUG 2022

of our clients and our employees,” he said. “I especially enjoy working with so many knowledgeable, dedicated and hardworking people.”

Anvil prides itself on its employees.

Thanks to the company’s employee stock ownership plan, those working for the company are not just the product but the owners as well.

“Our employees are our greatest asset,” Holien said. “We believe in our people and the diversity in the experiences, perspectives and knowledge they bring to work every day. Every one of our employees is a valuable contributor to our success and our clients’ success.”

Safety is another important element.

Anvil has worked more than 9 million hours since 2011 without a lost time injury.

Plans for future growth and development include continuing wth the company’s present focus helping customers engineer the future of energy.

“We are diversifying and growing our portfolio of clients, which today includes renewable energy, chemical

processing, technology manufacturing and cybersecurity services,” Holien said.

He encourages job candidates to refer to the careers page of the website (anvilcorp.com/careers/). As Anvil Corporation grows and diversifies, the company is looking to fill various positions.

Holding true to its values of honesty, integrity, fairness and professional competence, Anvil has formed longterm relationships — some lasting over 50 years — with employees and clients. With an active interest in supporting higher education and helping students realize their dreams, Anvil regularly supports local community and technical colleges through scholarships, charitable gifts and donations, fundraising events, and the hosting of training facilities.

Throughout the years, Anvil Corporation’s mission has remained the same — to provide clients across multiple industries and locations with innovative and quality engineering and procurement solutions to build, transform and safeguard their infrastructure. ■

COMPANY

15

18

Roger Jobs Automotive

Bellingham

16

-

Anvil Corporation

17

-

18

LOCATION

FOUNDED

EMPLOYEES

TOP EXECUTIVES

REGION

TOTAL

2020

65

66

Jeff Swickard

Bellingham

1971

300

425

Dena Lund

Faber Construction Corporation

Lynden

1987

80

110

Rick Faber

26

Mills Electric Inc

Bellingham

1911

150

250

John Huntley

19

22

Brooks Manufacturing Co

Bellingham

1935

55

55

John Ferlin

20

20

Scholten’s Equipment Inc

Lynden

1980

38

58

Duane Scholten

21

24

Western Refinery Services, Inc

Ferndale

1990

220

220

Ryan Likkel

22

29

Saturna Capital

Bellingham

1989

76

108

Jane Carten

23

37

Jansen Inc

Bellingham

1952

7

70

Grant Jansen

24

25

Farmers Equipment Company

Lynden

1935

38

70

Kevin Pawlowski

25

27

ProPack Logistics US, LLC

Blaine

1991

82

267

Alex Snyder

26

23

Cowden Inc

Bellingham

1945

150

153

Brent Cowden

27

30

Andgar Corporation

Ferndale

1973

150

165

Todd Kunzman

28

28

Walton Beverage Co.

Ferndale

1931

115

115

Les Blouin

SALES

HIRING NEXT 12 MOS

$50 - $89M

2021 RANK

$30 - $49M

2022 RANK

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JUL/AUG 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM

COMPANY

29

38

Sanitary Service Company Inc

Bellingham

30

34

Mt. Baker Imaging/ Northwest Radiologists

31

31

32

LOCATION

EMPLOYEES

FOUNDED

TOP EXECUTIVES

REGION

TOTAL

1926

98

98

Paul Razore

Bellingham

1965

180

180

Dr. David Cahalan

Barlean’s Organic Oils

Ferndale

1989

108

117

Bruce Barlean

19

Seeking Health

Bellingham

2010

36

45

Dr. Ben Lynch

33

41

Daritech Inc

Lynden

1990

55

75

Dave DeWaard Ryan DeWaard

34

43

Blythe Mechanical Inc

Bellingham

cowden 1904

124

147

David C. Morse III

35

39

Strider Construction Co Inc

Bellingham

1988

inc

75

93

Kyle Gebhardt

36

44

Louws Truss

Ferndale

1998

9

144

John Louws

37

46

Barron Heating & Air Conditioning

Ferndale

1972

190

190

John Barron

38

-

Bellingham Cold Storage

Bellingham

1946

175

180

Doug Thomas

39

48

Infusion Solutions Inc

Bellingham

2010

66

75

Rowena Birnel

40

45

Woodstock International Inc

Bellingham

1989

30

30

Shiraz Balolia

41

54

Birch Equipment Rental & Sales

Bellingham

1972

55

80

Sarah Rothenbuhler

42

50

MSNW Group, LLC

Ferndale

1995

77

323

Terell Weg

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BUSINESSPULSE.COM | JUL/AUG 2022

SALES

HIRING NEXT 12 MOS

$30 - $49M

2021 RANK

$15 - $29M

2022 RANK

-

PHOTOS: Sattva Photo

#26

| Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix

By Heather Lea Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix, a long-running family business, was founded by Leonard Cowden in 1945.

Steve Cowden, Leonard’s son, took over the business in the ’80s and ran it for close to 40 years. In late 2017, Steve sold the business to his four kids, who were all active in the business.

“Northwest Washington’s Premier Gravel and Ready Mix Supplier,” as the website states, produces ready-mix concrete materials for commercial, residential and industrial applications.

Additionally, Cowden is a producer and supplier of a vast array of gravel, sand and quarry rock products throughout Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties. The company’s fleet includes dump trucks, tractors, concrete mixers, dozers, excavators and loaders, among other equipment.

In December 2021, the entire sand, gravel, quarry rock and ready-mix

operation (land and equipment) was sold to Lafarge Canada, a member of the Holcim Group. Brent Cowden agreed to stay on as general manager for the foreseeable future as part of the sale of the business. The Cowden family retained ownership of the transportation business, Cowden Brothers Trucking, which primarily hauls refuse from transfer stations in Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia to rail facilities in Seattle and Everett.

“Looking out for both our customers’ and employees’ well-being is of utmost importance for both Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix and Cowden Brothers Trucking,” said Brent Cowden, the company’s general manager since 2012. With Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix now under new ownership, he said, “the plan is to focus on the existing customer base, our employees and look for new opportunities within the

industry, both locally and at a broader level.”

Both companies are looking to obtain quality employees for all facets of the businesses, including commercial truck drivers, mechanics, operators and office staff. Open positions are listed at cowdeninc.com/employment.

And while on the site, if you’re interested, you can also find out how to maintain your concrete driveway, with such helpful hints as using sand for traction and how “de-icers containing ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate are the worst!” Did you know there is such a thing as concrete stain removal and that plowing or shoveling your driveway could cause damage?

Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix has two main locations in Bellingham — on Cedarville Road and Hannegan Road — with pit and quarry pickups available throughout Whatcom County as well. ■

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JUL/AUG 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM

#76

| Lynden Interiors

By Heather Lea Ryan and Jolie Winkler had always wanted to be in business for themselves. When the opportunity presented itself in February 2017 for them to take over ownership of Lynden Interiors, they jumped at the chance to make their dream a reality.

Formerly Lynden Floor Design, Lynden Interiors provides materials, labor and job management for home and commercial interior projects, including cabinetry, countertops, flooring and tile.

The company’s mission is to provide

28

BUSINESSPULSE.COM | JUL/AUG 2022

clients with the best-possible service and results while creating a positive, uplifting environment for those the Winklers work with and serve.

“We are so proud of our knowledgeable team, our beautiful showroom and our goal of always doing the right thing in all of our dealings,” said Jolie Winkler. “We have enjoyed so much the ability to look back over the last five and a half years and see the progress and improvements that have been made.”

The gallery on the company’s website shows past home and commercial projects with classy and clean designs,

PHOTOS: Sattva Photo

always with flair and a unique style: decorative tiles in a shower system, multiple flooring options, a colorful rug in a spacious room or an attractive, functional office kitchen.

“This journey has been such a blessing,” Jolie Winkler said. “It has been filled with many working hours and risk, but we now are enjoying the freedom that owning your own business can bring.”

The company has plans for growth and is currently interested in hiring an experienced designer/salesperson and a sales assistant. ■

COMPANY

43

49

Hoagland Pharmacy

Bellingham

44

56

Larson Gross CPAs & Consultants

45

53

46

LOCATION

FOUNDED

EMPLOYEES

TOP EXECUTIVES

REGION

TOTAL

1981

64

64

Carson Huntoon

Bellingham

1949

125

152

Kelli Visser

Allsop Inc

Bellingham

1964

21

35

Ryan Allsop

58

TriVan Truck Body, LLC

Ferndale

2002

75

75

Marty VanDriel, Cason VanDriel

47

60

Woods Coffee

Lynden

2002

200

325

Kelly Spiker

48

64

Wood Stone Corp

Bellingham

1990

101

106

Chris Trout

49

73

Talbot Services, LLC

Bellingham

1941

13

14

Stowe Talbot Michael Bayless

50

67

Lynden Sheet Metal Inc

Lynden

1940

94

94

Bobbi Kreider

51

61

All American Marine Inc

Bellingham

1987

75

75

Ron Wille

52

62

WesSpur Tree Equipment Inc.

Bellingham

2004

18

18

Ryan Aarstol

53

52

Bellingham Yacht Sales Inc

Bellingham

1984

14

14

Heather and Matt Ouilette

54

59

Lister Chain & Forge Inc

Blaine

1911

32

32

Michael Stobbart

55

74

Fat-Cat Fish Company

Bellingham

2008

30

30

Erin Vitaljic

56

68

Northwest Health Care Linen

Bellingham

1992

107

113

Kelsey Van Miert and Evan Hall

SALES

HIRING NEXT 12 MOS

-

$15 - 29M

2021 RANK

-

$10 - $14M

2022 RANK

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JUL/AUG 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM

COMPANY

57

66

A.L.R.T Corporation

Everson

58

69

Credo Construction

59

77

60

LOCATION

FOUNDED

TOP EXECUTIVES

REGION

TOTAL

1990

50

50

William Westergreen

Bellingham

2001

36

36

Todd Lapinsky

Hytech Roofing

Bellingham

1952

43

43

Dan Gross

72

Skeers Construction

Bellingham

1987

14

14

Dick Skeers

61

65

RoosendaalHoncoop Construction Inc

Bellingham

1979

12

12

Gary Honcoop

62

-

Brist Mfg

Bellingham

2015

40

49

Brendan Pape

63

-

KCPK Trucking

Deming

1985

32

32

Charles Cooper

64

78

Get Simple Box

Lynden

1997

6

28

Ross Black

65

80

American Canadian Fisheries

Bellingham

1985

16

16

Andy Vitaljic

66

75

Totally Chocolate Inc

Blaine

1993

40-100

40-100

Christian Mass

67

70

Whatcom Land Title Co

Bellingham

1982

85

85

Colleen Baldwin, Bill Ronhaar

68

76

2020 Cannabis Solutions

Bellingham

2014

55

55

Joseph DiGiugno

69

-

Perry Pallet

Ferndale

1995

45

45

Geoff Broersma

70

79

Natural Way Chiropractic

Bellingham

1995

50

50

Dr. Eddie Hansen

30

BUSINESSPULSE.COM | JUL/AUG 2022

SALES

HIRING NEXT 12 MOS

$10 - $14M

2021 RANK

Retiring/ Closing

$5 - $9M

EMPLOYEES

2022 RANK

-

COMPANY

71

81

Northwest Marine Industries

Bellingham

72

83

VSH CPAs

73

82

74

LOCATION

FOUNDED

TOP EXECUTIVES

REGION

TOTAL

2012

44

44

Ryan Binning

Bellingham

1997

32

41

Jessica Waggoner

Signs Plus

Bellingham

1992

31

31

Jim Sutterfield

-

JTI Commercial Services, LLC

Lynden

2004

40

40

Ted Huizenga

75

84

Reichhardt & Ebe Engineering, Inc.

Lynden

1993

23

23

Luis Ponce, P.E.

76

-

Lynden Interiors

Lynden

1994

11

13

Ryan Winkler

77

86

Signature Plastics LLC

Custer

2000

34

34

Bob Guenser

78

87

Innotech Process Equipmt

Lynden

2012

17

17

Tim Kaptein

79

-

Aquacare Environment Inc

Bellingham

1987

4

6

Henning Gatz

80

88

Trico Office Interiors

Bellingham

1951

7

7

J.R. Rawitzer

81

89

Team Technology

Bellingham

2005

6

6

Patricia Seaman

82

90

King Health Associates

Bellingham

2015

20

28

Karen King

83

-

ForeFront Hospitality DBA Inn at Lynden

Lynden

2015

14

14

Teri Treat

SALES

HIRING NEXT 12 MOS

$5 - $9M

2021 RANK

$1 - $4M

EMPLOYEES

2022 RANK

-

The compilation of this list requires a lot of work. Our staff reached out to over 150 businesses and the above list includes responses received as of press time via online survey or phone. If you don’t see your name on the list and would like to be included next year, please contact us at 360.746.0418.

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JUL/AUG 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM

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Emergency or lack of planning?

What your business needs to know about the state’s new wildfire smoke workplace rules Dann Mead Smith

This article, originally published June 3, 2022, at from June 15 until the end of September. The rules apply whatcombusinessalliance.com/news, has been updated to to workers who are outside at least 15 minutes in an hour.

This is something that may impact your business and reflect recent developments.

Now that summer is here, so is wildfire season in our state, unfortunately. Some of our summer days and nights probably will be impacted by the smoke that these fires produce, even if they are hundreds of miles away from where we live and work. It is something that we have learned to adapt to, especially over the past few summers. This is especially the case for those who work outside, whether it is in farming, construction, hospitality or landscaping services.

What you need to know The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has announced the state’s “emergency” rules, in effect

workers, even if you initially didn’t think your business would be covered. For example, beyond construction and agriculture, some of the impacted industries include retail delivery drivers, lumber yards, equipment servicing and nursery workers.

It’s important to know about these new statewide regulations and then voice your concerns — both about the “emergency,” which allows L&I to implement these rules without having to assess the cost to business, and during the regular rulemaking process, which should take place later this summer and could lead to permanent rules for future summers.

According to the Washington Retail Association, the

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Why did the agency not go through this process this past fall, right after the wildfire season? The agency has had months to develop new regulations rather than propose a new “emergency” rule a few weeks before it would go into effect. recently announced rules will require employers to include wildfire smoke response and outdoor heat exposure in their written accident prevention plans and train workers and supervisors on the hazards, mitigation steps and plans for responding to related problems before they are allowed to work in “excessive” heat or wildfire smoke conditions.

When wildfire smoke conditions reach an air quality index of 101, requirements will include providing respirators and limiting employee exposure to smoke. At an AQI of 69, employers are encouraged to reduce, reschedule or relocate work; provide enclosed buildings or vehicles where the air is filtered; provide respirators for workers; and reduce work intensity or increase rest periods.

Businesses have expressed concerns that the state, through L&I, is undertaking emergency rulemaking when no emergency is present. We all know that summer is coming, and with that, wildfire season, so there should be a regular rulemaking process. This would provide adequate time for businesses and workers to provide input and for a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed rule to be created.

Why did the agency not go through this process this past fall, right after the wildfire season? The agency has had months to develop new regulations rather than propose a new “emergency” rule a few weeks before it will go into effect.

And why was this issue not addressed during this year’s legislative session,

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when the governor and our elected representatives could have played a role? This is, instead, another example of unelected bureaucrats making decisions with no accountability.

What others are saying The Building Industry Association of Washington, which represents small and large construction companies across the state, has raised general concerns about the need for and the legality of these rules. More rules, it said, “only add complexity for Washington builders with little or no added protection for workers. We’re also concerned they’re proposing an emergency rule when they started the permanent rule-making process nearly a year ago and had plenty of time to adopt rules under the proper process.”

Businesses, of course, agree with the goal of protecting workers who conduct their jobs outside. The problem is with the process; any protections should be created with scientific evidence, review, common sense and cost-benefit analysis, which are not aways part of emergency rulemaking (and in this case there is no “emergency”). Having another emergency rule without a full process places a heavy burden of compliance, planning and investment of supplies and training on employers of all sizes.

In an article in Capital Press, Tom Davis, the Washington Farm Bureau director of government relations, criticized the department’s timing and failure to do a cost analysis required of a permanent rule: “How can they

justify an emergency? It gets hot every summer. A lot of farms have done their safety and heat training.”

Washington Policy Center’s Pam Lewison offered this perspective on managing workers who have to be outside: “Wildfire smoke and how to work within the confines of those cruddy days is, or should be, a concern for any employer with people working outside. Smoky days are miserable to work in (and I say that from experience as an asthmatic who has had to irrigate in them), but they are manageable when approached properly.

Allowing L&I to put too fine a point on enforcement of what that approach looks like is perhaps not the best solution to a tricky problem.”

What you can do It’s not too late for the Department of Labor & Industries to hear from you. I would also encourage you to contact the governor’s office and your local legislators, as they should also hear your thoughts, even if they do not have a direct role in this process (though they should). As mentioned above, the regular rulemaking period for this issue will probably move forward later this summer; Whatcom Business Alliance will keep informed you about a formal public comment period.

Dann Mead Smith, of the Mead Smith Group, works with groups such as Project 42, a new nonprofit organization created to change the course of Washington state. Dann lives part time in Birch Bay.

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FINANCE BP

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Tackling our financial literacy crisis It starts at home Nicole Burdick, AAMS® Do you feel like financial literacy in America is getting worse? It’s not just you. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s most recent National Financial Capability Survey revealed that only 34% of Americans could correctly answer four out of five basic questions on topics such as the effects of inflation and the impact of compound interest on loans. This survey confirms what we’ve suspected for years — our nation is facing a financial literacy crisis, and it’s getting worse.

One factor contributing to this crisis is the lack of financial literacy curriculum in our public education system.

Only seven states currently require students to take a semester of personal finance before graduating. Some offer it as an elective or as a component to a main course. How can we expect these kids to grow into adults who make wise financial choices about credit cards, student loans, home ownership and investing when they aren’t taught the basics?

Another problem is the fact that this conversation isn’t happening at home. One study conducted by BECU revealed that less than one-third of parents are currently

talking to their kids about money. Kids aren’t hearing about money — and they’re not even seeing it. With many financial transactions occurring digitally via credit card swipes and Amazon one-click purchases, money has become an invisible, intangible resource.

There are organizations addressing the financial literacy gap, such as Whatcom Dream and Junior Achievement, but they struggle to get enough support. The pandemic has exacerbated things, with donations being redirected to agencies providing housing and food. Financial literacy has fallen on our priority list, but as we’re now seeing, our failure to prioritize it early on has resulted in a generation of young adults who are largely ill prepared to successfully navigate the real world.

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So what do we do?

Our most powerful impact starts at home with our own kids, as early as preschool age. They may not be ready to learn about the stock market, but they’re old enough to discuss the basics of earning, saving, and needs versus wants. Consider sharing an example of when you saved up for something you really wanted, or a purchase you made that you later regretted, and what you wish you’d done differently.

We also need to give our kids the opportunity to practice. Allow them to save up for things they want with their own money. Let them experience the sting of regret when they spend it all too fast and then miss out on something they wanted. Leave enough of a gap between what you’ll provide and what they want that there’s an incen-

tive to get a job and earn an income. It’s not being cruel or unreasonable! If you remove these obstacles and help them avoid negative outcomes, you are stripping them of the opportunity to develop their own work ethic and learn resilience — not to mention making them less hirable when they do decide to enter the workforce.

Even if you’re not a parent, our community needs your support. If, like me, you’re concerned about the financial literacy situation, consider joining Junior Achievement as a volunteer teacher in K-12 classrooms, or connect with Whatcom Dream to support the financial literacy classes it

provides to adults.

Perhaps you can offer to mentor a youth or young adult you know. Just start somewhere.

There’s too much at stake to wait for the government or the education system.

We have the ability to make a difference, and we need to act quickly.

The longer we wait, the more the lack of financial literacy will continue compounding.

Nicole Burdick, AAMS® is an LPL Financial Advisor with Consilium Financial, a Bellingham-based team of Financial Advisors. Her practice is centered around females in leadership and women experiencing transitions such as death and divorce.

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WORKFORCE BP

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Four skills veterans bring as team members in civilian careers (BPT) - Each year, the U.S. military generates thousands of professionals with highly specialized, transferable skills. Beyond technical and operational expertise, every service member gains skills that help keep teams afloat and foster cohesion and productivity, serving them well in their civilian careers.

It’s important to recognize the value of these skills that veterans bring to businesses and organizations that employ them. Microsoft Military Affairs — which helps veterans and tran-

sitioning service members get their footing in tech — recognizes veterans’ unquantifiable value and experience in their civilian work.

To help you understand the value-add veterans are to the businesses and organizations that hire them, MMA has highlighted four skills former service members bring to the table.

1. Adaptability If you ask a veteran what they ‘did’ on active duty, the answer will be impres-

sive. During their time in the military, service members experience continuous on-the-job learning, constantly gaining new skillsets and specialties within new teams and environments.

As agile, resourceful learners, veterans can pivot on a dime, bringing tenacity and personal initiative to every challenge.

Cybersecurity, cloud administration and cloud application development are quickly evolving fields that require adaptability, which former service members have in spades. This adapt-

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ability allows veterans to thrive in an environment of constant flux and can bridge critical knowledge gaps that drive new solutions to business challenges.

2. Resilience Resilience is part of any service member’s training. Military service members know how to complete the mission set before them, whether it’s deployment to crisis areas, moving families to a new base or country, sacrificing holidays and time with loved ones, or enormous physical and mental challenges.

A veteran’s experience in overcoming obstacles and “staying on target” served them well during their military service and will continue to serve them as civilian and private sector profes-

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value each member brings to a team and how to facilitate trust to develop cohesion.

Veterans know how to join, develop and empower a team to operate as a unit. These interpersonal skills allow former service members to work productively and establish trust with different groups and personalities, fostering collaboration and teamwork. sionals, particularly as the work environment and customer needs continue to evolve.

3. Teamwork Teamwork is a critical skill in the military because members must operate in unison for the mission to succeed. This “stronger together” mindset cultivates a deep understanding of the

4. Leadership Adaptability, resilience and teamwork are all skills that ultimately make veterans agile, thoughtful leaders on any team. While the pressures they face on active duty are very different from those they’ll face in civilian life, veterans can be relied on to bring decisiveness and poise to even the most stressful environments.

Former service members are steady, focused and equipped to make tough decisions in some of the most stressful situations. As crisis managers, they know how to manage stress, deescalate and provide balance in a challenging environment. This advanced degree of “grace under pressure” allows former service members to push through when a project doesn’t go according to plan, find a solution and lead a team to success.

These are just a few of the core skills veterans bring to their jobs outside of military service. To learn more about how Microsoft is helping former service members leverage their skills in the technology industry, visit Military.Microsoft.com and the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy page or follow Microsoft Military Affairs on LinkedIn.

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OP-ED BP

The new WAC rules are yet another example of government passing a mandate on business with no thought for the fiscal impact.

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No loo, no latte New state rule could force coffee stands out of business Mark Harmsworth A recent change to the Washington Administrative Code rules that applies to coffee stands around the state will require stands to have “permanent plumbing” installed, including toilets. The impact to many smaller coffee stands will be significant, as the installation of permanent plumbing would require thousands of dollars of construction to each stand.

Some coffee stands too small to contain a toilet could be forced to close.

Many stands today use small water tanks or bottled water for coffee and cleanup operations and use toilets in adjacent buildings. Coffee stand owners are understandably concerned whether they can even afford to make the changes to comply with the new rules, even if they have the space.

KING-TV recently reported that a petition has been created by several of the affected coffee stand owners urging repeal of the new rules. The petition, as of June 10, had garnered 5,000 signatures.

The new WAC rules are yet another example of government passing a mandate on business with no thought for the fiscal impact. Small coffee stands were not built to contain large sinks, toilets and other plumbing, instead relying on adjacent buildings for those services. Ironically, if the coffee stand were mobile, the rules would not apply.

Coffee stands have been operating safely for decades.

There is no underlying public health problem that needs to be addressed. Why is there suddenly a health hazard now?

The change in the rules should at least be suspended until public feedback is collected and a review is completed regarding whether the change in the rules is even required.

The WAC rule change was adopted in March 2022, and businesses have until September to comply.

Mark Harmsworth is the Washington Policy Center’s Center for Small Business director. Mark was elected in 2014 to the Washington State House of Representatives, where he served two terms. His focus was on transportation and technology, including serving as the ranking member ion the House Transportation Committee. Mark works in the technology industry and is an owner of a small business after completing a long career at Microsoft and Amazon.

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TECHNOLOGY BP

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A key cause of data loss — and how to protect yourself (BPT) - Computer crashes. Cyber attacks. Viruses.

Theft. Power outages. There are so many ways you can lose the precious data stored on your computer. But the greatest threat of all? You. “Human error is one of the main causes of data loss,” says Brian Pridgeon, director of product marketing, Western Digital. “It could be as simple as spilling coffee on your laptop or accidentally deleting a critical file. Seemingly small incidents can lead to a massive loss of important files, for businesses, content creators and general consumers alike.”

It’s natural to make mistakes. But when it comes to human error, there are a few ways to protect yourself against the loss of important data.

Make data backup a habit Backing up your precious and vital files is crucial. As a rule of thumb, put protections in place for anything that would be difficult or impossible to reproduce or replace, or anything where a loss would evoke negative, frustrating or stressful emotions. For individuals, this might include address books, pictures, videos, music files, emails, documents and financial records. For businesses, data backups become

a bit more technical, and include backing up customer databases, configuration files, operating systems, accounting records, operational details and inventory supply levels.

Keeping your files backed up and safe offers peace of mind in the event of a system breakdown.

One way to help ensure the protection of your files is a storage drive or device, such as the My Passport drive or My Book desktop storage from Western Digital’s WD brand. The My Passport HDD from WD is a trusted drive that provides portable storage that fits in the palm of your hand. It can help you store photos, videos, music as well as documents. The My Book device from WD allows you to store even more data and is equipped with backup software for Windows and is compatible with Time Machine on macOS. It also features built-in hardware encryption with password protection to help keep your files private and safe.

Practice good cyber hygiene It’s all too easy to ignore those pesky pop-ups telling you it’s time for an update, but failing to do so can be another human error that causes data loss. Regular software updates allow your system to access the latest security features —

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so you’re protected from viruses and photos and videos — and stick to it. malware.

Some quick tips for file organization Another good cyber hygiene habit include: is regularly changing your passwords.

• Follow a naming convention This can help you stay safe online as • Always use dates when naming well as protect the private or importfiles ant information stored in your various • Be as specific as possible when laaccounts. If needed, mark your calenbeling files and folders dar or set a reminder on your phone • Regularly clean up folders that to make sure you remember to practice become cluttered these safety habits.

• Back up your important files regularly Careful data organization Mistakes are bound to happen, but How you handle your files can help many of the headaches and devastaavoid simple errors such as accidental tion that stem from data loss due to deletion. For example, if your desktop human error are preventable. By folis a mess of files and you’re trying to lowing these tips, you can take steps to clear space, you have a greater chance protect your data from one of the main of deleting something without realizing causes of issues. its importance. Take some time to set up an organization system for your files,

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