13 minute read
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
JOSH BURDICK | VERITAS MEDIA
PHOTO: Sattva Photo
Video truth-telling is hard but important
Veritas Media aims to do right and help the community flourish
Heather Lea
In today’s world, there are few things more effective for promoting a product or business than video. And while video production was an industry that suffered throughout the pandemic — it’s tough to shoot remotely — Veritas Media CEO and founder Josh Burdick and his team innovated and were able to continue providing a high level of excellence.
Veritas Media offers recruitment, training, human resources and e-learning video, along with sales and marketing content, to businesses and nonprofits.
When Burdick started out in 2011, he was a college graduate, and Veritas was his side hustle. By 2016, he’d quit his job and was devoted to growing his company. These were financially tight days, but with every completed project, Burdick poured his time, money and resources back into building Veritas.
“I bought more gear, started hiring freelancers and eventually secured some office space,” Burdick said. “My first full-time hire came in 2017, and by 2021 I had seven (full-time) people on staff.”
Burdick points out that his wife, Nicole Burdick, and his team members have contributed to his success.
“Even though I am the sole oper-
ator of Veritas, I haven’t grown it on my own,” Burdick said. “Seeing what we can accomplish with a team that meshes well together is incredible.”
Revenues in 2021 were $500,000, up $200,000 from 2020. Over the past two years, Veritas Media has done major projects with Lydia Place, Skookum Kids, Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, Skagit Preschool and Resource Center, Whatcom Business Alliance and more than a dozen others. The company does a lot of work with nonprofits and often subsidizes production costs. In 2021, Veritas gave more than $35,000 in discounts and in-kind trades.
Its organizational philosophy is to help clients “win the day” and to help the local business community grow and flourish.
This year, the company expects a shift to more dynamic videos and hybrid live streaming. Front-burner projects are those that will aid local clients recruit and retain employees, especially in the trades.
“Doing video production in Whatcom County is challenging,” Burdick said. “The perceived value of (these) services are consistently 20-30% lower than our counterparts in the Seattle market. We’ve had to be scrappy and lean to keep the majority of our business in Whatcom County.”
Along with advancing the business itself, Veritas’ most significant recent accomplishments have been producing the virtual graduations for the Bellingham School District in 2020 and 2021; helping raise over $1.8 million dollars for local nonprofits; and being named a finalist for the Bellingham Chamber Small Business of the Year award and the Wistia Choice Awards in Storytelling and Hardworking Video.
Burdick has been involved in Bellingham organizations such as Technology Alliance Group NW (as advisory board member and former marketing documentary films such as “Hope for Bellingham” and “See Yourself in Me.”
The word “veritas” is Latin for “truth.” Though truth-telling is sometimes hard, Burdick said, it is important.
“We’ve had to be scrappy and lean to keep the majority of our business in Whatcom County.” — Josh Burdick, owner of Veritas Media
committee member), Lettered Streets Covenant Church, Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and Whatcom Business Alliance.
Veritas Media also works to showcase the hard reality that members of our community face every day, through
“Exposing this reality is also where we find significance and impact,” he said. “We amplify the organizations and people who are at the forefront of helping those who need it most. I am driven by doing the right thing and helping our community flourish.” ■
SAVE THE DATE Thursday, May 19
FIRST ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF
TOURNAMENT
Sudden Valley Golf Course
Benefiting YES WHATCOM
Connecting high school youth with local career options, hands-on learning experiences, internships and apprenticeship programs that are available at Whatcom businesses.
For sponsorship opportunities, call Barbara at 360.543.5637
TONJA MYERS | CHRISTIAN HEALTH CARE CENTER
Courtesy photo
A mighty calling in long-term care
Tonja Myers works to keep residents safe while weathering budget cuts, staffing losses
Heather Lea
Like many health care leaders, Christian Health Care Center’s Tonja Myers has had her hands full during the pandemic — not just with mandates and safety protocols, but also with ensuring the safety of the elderly individuals in her care. And CHCC’s administrator did all this while juggling budget cuts and industry-wide staffing shortages.
Though the long-term care center received some funding related to COVID-19, Myers and her team were still forced to carefully monitor budgets, adjust staff and make other changes to continue operations — all while revenue declined and the cost of doing business increased.
“I don’t sell anything anyone wants to buy,” she said, “but when our services are needed, I want to make sure people have the best possible experience.”
The only locally held, nonprofit skilled nursing facility in Whatcom County, CHCC provides patient-centered skilled nursing services, therapeutic rehabilitation, and long-term,
24-hour nursing care.
“We consider it an honor to serve and to share life with the people entrusted to our care,” Myers said.
Sharing life with long-term care residents means providing enriching activities such as gardening and community bicycle trips and helping them maintain connections with friends and family. When visitation was paused at all long-term care centers during the pandemic, CHCC purchased additional iPads and coordinated video visits so residents could stay in touch with loved ones.
Myers received a degree in therapeutic and outdoor recreation from Eastern Washington University in 1984. She became an administrator in training, then tested for her nursing home administrator license in 1988, serving eight years at her first facility in Aberdeen. She moved to Bellingham in 1996 to work in long-term care, eventually taking the administrator position at CHCC in 2015.
Her proudest career achievement has been keeping CHCC residents protected during the pandemic.
“I am a team builder and have a talent for surrounding myself with smart, capable and dedicated people,” Myers said. “I have been able to lead organizations in providing truly exceptional care, even during extreme challenges, and that success lies with my team.”
CHCC, founded in 1956, employs 150 full-time and 40 part-time Whatcom locals. The care center’s mission is to provide skilled nursing care with compassion and love in Christ’s name. Notable awards and recognitions for CHCC include: the Dr. Herbert Shore Outstanding Mentor Award; Best Performance in Nursing from LeadingAge Washington; the Antimicrobial Stewardship Honor Roll; and multiple years as the best assisted living facility in Lynden, as voted by readers of the Lynden Tribune.
The care center is a clinical site for Whatcom County nursing programs, and it offers an employer-funded nursing assistant certification class for those looking to start a career at CHCC.
Myers is involved in many local organizations, including Aging Well Whatcom, Bellingham Bay Rotary, the Western Washington University Palliative Care Institute and Washington Health Care Association. She enjoys acting and has participated in shows at the Bellingham Theatre Guild. She personally supports Whatcom Hospice, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth, Bellingham Music Club and Animals as Natural Therapy.
“I thoroughly enjoy this area,” Myers said. “Whatcom County locals are honest and gracious with their feedback, even during trying times. I look forward to more years of exploring how CHCC can better serve our community.” ■
JOHN HUNTLEY | MILLS ELECTRIC
PHOTO: Sattva Photo
111 years of excellence
Mills Electric continues building legacy of community support, electrical prowess
Heather Lea
Mills Electric Co. has a rich Pacific Northwest history. The company began in 1911 with founder Howard E. Mills and stayed in the family until 2007, when an employee named John Huntley was approached by Howard Mills, Jr. The older man expressed having “run out of steam” and said he wanted to move on. This was a challenging opportunity for Huntley, as the company was going through bankruptcy. However, knowing what a great company he worked for, Huntley purchased Mills Electric Co. and became its president and CEO.
In its earlier days, Mills Electric specialized in commercial service and appliance and lamp repair while also servicing commercial and naval vessels at Bellingham Shipyards in the 1940s.
Today, Mills is an electrical and instrumentation company, supplying technicians to industrial sites in the Pacific Northwest and all refineries in Washington state. The company also performs work in commercial and residential areas and at two refineries in Billings, Montana, where the company has a regional office.
When Huntley came onboard, Mills had 40 employees. Currently, there are 200 staff, with 150 living in Whatcom
County. Revenues were $45 million in 2021.
Huntley’s proudest career achievement came during the pandemic, when accumulating unknowns about the future put local businesses under a lot of stress.“The Mills team (was) able to keep everyone employed during this difficult time,” he said. “Now that we can see a light at the end of the tunnel — and it isn’t a train coming — it appears the decision is paying off.”
Upcoming 2022 projects include building a new unit and preparing for spring turnaround at BP; spring turnaround at Phillips 66 in Billings and fall turnaround at Phillips 66 in Ferndale; a parking garage at St. Joseph PeaceHealth Medical Center; and a new building for Bellingham’s Lighthouse Mission.
Huntley formerly owned a general contracting business with his father and brother but sold out when Mills began taking too much of his time. He enjoyed working with his family while growing up.
“Now,” he said, “I get to work with my sons. I’ve been very blessed in my working career.”
The company’s awards include Outstanding Performer in Safety for 14 years running from the Association of General Contractors; the Contractor of the Year award for Washington state from ACG (twice); the Community Allstar Award from Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County; the Spirit of United Way Award; the President’s Award from the Western States Petroleum Association; and the Safety Excellence Award from the National Electrical Contractors Association.
“Whatcom County has blessed me with so much during my lifetime,” Huntley said. “It has been such an honor to give back to the community.”
Mills Electric has supported the Whatcom County Food Bank, the YMCA/YWCA, Bellingham Hospice House, United Way and Assumption Church, to name a few.
The company’s philosophy is short and sweet: safety, quality, performance. Huntley backs all employees 100% and feels there is no job worth doing if it can’t be done safely.
“It really comes down to dedicated and hard workers who love what they’re doing,” he said. “We here at Mills Electric have always had a great working relationship with the people of Whatcom County.”
He also credits his wife of 44 years.
“She has always supported me in the decisions I’ve made,” Huntley said. “Without her, I would not be where I am today.”
Huntley sits on the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation board and a subsidiary board heading up the hospital’s expansion. He will be donating time and money to the project. Mills Electric Co. is also donating time and money to the new Lighthouse Mission building coming soon.
“I’m proudest of all the Mills employees,” Huntley said. ■
SAVE THE DATES
WBA First Annual Golf Tournament
May 19, 2022
Sudden Valley Golf Course Benefiting YES Whatcom
WBA Member Appreciation Night - Bellingham Bells Game
July 15, 2022
Bellingham Bells vs Nanaimo Nightowls
JOHN BARRON | BARRON HEATING AC ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING No time to rest
Heather Lea
Many important factors make our homes comfortable to live in, not the least of which is heating and cooling. The inner workings of a healthy, temperate indoor environment might not be something most people think of daily, but it’s everything at Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing.
The Barron team lives out its mission of “improving lives” by solving challenges in three main areas of customers’ homes: comfort, health and energy efficiency.
Along with heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing, the family owned company offers solar, generators, water filtration, home performance and weatherization, as well as air purification, fireplaces, 24-hour HVAC and electrical services, and more.
In 2020, Barron received silver in Best of the Northwest’s “Best Clean Energy Company” category, and in 2021, it won gold.
John Barron, CEO, began full-time at the company in 1979, working alongside his parents, who founded Barron in 1972. After working in the field for over 10 years, John Barron transitioned into sales management before purchasing Barron in 1998.
Since 2017, Barron has added 100 team members and is working hard to increase skilled tradespeople in the workforce. It’s hiring for HVAC, electrical and plumbing, providing
high-paying jobs with benefits within the community.
This year, Barron will celebrate 50 years in business.
“I thank God every day that I get the privilege to work with our team,” John Barron said. “I’m humbled in the understanding that no person or company can rest on their laurels.”
John’s grandfather, Orie Barron, once told his grandson: “To be successful in business, you only have to work half a day — you just have to decide which 12 hours.”
Good advice and a strong family business ethic seem to be the driving forces behind Barron, as is keeping the company family run. John Barron’s son, professional engineer Brad Barron, came on board five years ago and is now chief operating officer. Brad Barron spearheaded the company’s WholeHome services, including the plumbing and electrical divisions, as well as the Barron Technician School, where new industry team members are trained in-house.
Barron now has 180 employees. Revenues in 2021 were $30 million, a $6 million increase from 2020.
“I believe if we just ask questions and listen,” John Barron said, “our community and internal Barron team members will tell us everything we need to know to be successful.”
Something dear to John’s heart is supporting multiple families each year through Barron’s “Christmas in July” and “Furnace Fund” giving programs. While a warm home is a basic necessity, it’s out of reach for many. Responding to community recommendations for families suffering hardships, John Barron personally visits each home to decide which system will serve them best. Barron then gifts heating and cooling systems, providing year-round comfort for those who need it most.
And when the needs of the community are within its own team, Barron responds equally well, as it did with this winter’s flood victims.
“It’s one thing to be involved in philanthropy,” John Barron said. “It’s quite another when you are there witnessing the tragedies people go through. When you know their story, you go through the pain with them. It’s very moving and humbling.
“I believe we live in a place where most people and businesses really care about each other. I consider it a privilege to be able serve our community, now and in the future.” ■
WBA Member Appreciation Night JULY 15, 2022
Save the date!
2021 Season Begins June 4, 2021 | www.bellinghambells.com 2022 Season Begins May 31, 2022 | www.bellinghambells.com
