S outheast I daho
Business Journal March/April 2015
biz.idahostatejournal.com
No longer taboo? Your suit is pressed, your resume is polished and your stomach is turning. Any job interview can rack the nerves, but the tattoo that peeks out from beneath that pressed suit and polished exterior can add to the tension. In a nation of employers who cannot discriminate based on race, gender or disability, it is still legal to deny employment based on body art. See Page 4
Overachievers Under 40 event set April 22 By Vanessa Grieve vgrieve@journalnet.com The premiere Overachievers Under 40 Awards event to honor Southeast Idaho’s extraordinary young professionals is only one month away. The Idaho State Journal, Idaho Power and Southeast Idaho Business Journal are launching the new annual event to recognize young adults whose contributions go above and beyond normal expectations in the workplace and in the local community. “We’ve created this event for the
young professionals in our community,” said Idaho State Journal Publisher Andy Pennington. “We feel part of our role as a media organization is to showcase the good work people are doing, and there is no better way to do that than to recognize through nomination.”
The first annual Overachievers Under 40 Awards event is slated for Wednesday, April 22, at the Stephens Performing Arts Center on the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello. The business dress event will start at 6 p.m. with a reception. The awards program will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $45 and will soon be available at Eventbrite.com — search for events in Pocatello. Visit www.OverUnder40.com for additional information. See Under 40, Page 16
News for business Contact Vanessa Grieve, editor of the Southeast Idaho Business Journal, with business news tips and story ideas at vgrieve@ journalnet.com. Stay up-to-date on local and regional business news online at biz.idahostatejournal.com, or follow the Southeast Idaho Business Journal on Facebook.
In This Issue
n Page 2 Job interview do’s and don’ts. n Page 3 Reach Global Markets with the SBA. n Page 5 Tattoo removal business booming. n Page 6 New technology could help irrigation issues. n Page 7 Your “workstyle” is just as important as your lifestyle. n Page 8 Understanding student loans. n Page 9 ISU to offer money management series. n Page 10 Working to pay for college. n Page 12 Should bosses befriend their employees? n Page 13 Maturity takes time. n Page 14 Digital marketing: What’s the big deal? n Page 15 Welcome back to the farmers market.
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Job interview do’s and don’ts By Vanessa Grieve vgrieve@journalnet.com First encounters can leave a lasting impression on people and are critical when applying for a job. Cues in the interview provide insight into a person’s interest in the job, company loyalty, attitude and how well they work with others, according to Kim Smith, the city of Pocatello human resource director. Kim Smith In a recent Journal article on the importance of soft skills, Smith shared how a job interview and types of questions asked during the interview help hiring managers assess the presence or lack of soft skills a person has. “We are looking for and try to formulate questions that address those (soft skills) specifically or how they behave in the interview,” she said. According to Merriam-Webster online, soft skills are “skills in dealing with and communicating with people effectively.” Other places refer to soft skills as personal attributes, or “emotional intelligence.” According to www.job-interview-site.com, soft skills include helpful human traits such as etiquette, social grace, ethics and presence of a moral compass. “In today’s world, when more and more companies are believing in working together, soft skills are gaining prominence during job interviews,” the website said. In practical terms, these traits are manifest in reliability and dedication to work, Smith said. How well a person relates to others, their ability to work in a team — giving ideas and accepting ideas, the ability to accept and learn from criticism, professionalism, self-confidence without being arrogant, being able to manage conflict and stress, and the ability of a person “to stay out of the fray” or workplace drama, are some of the qualities Smith looks for in interviews. For young job-seekers, Smith says it’s important for young people to show initiative by filling out and dropping off an application, and following up with a call, not the parent. “They need to understand the whole process,” Smith said. Smith also encourages applicants to not bring their parent, boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other to an interview. “They can be very distractive,” Smith said. “Again they can provide some insight into (a person’s) soft skills of what you are bringing or not bringing; interest in the job, maturity, those kinds of things. We will make some assumptions.” Smith provided some do’s, don’ts and examples of what not to say in an interview. Being prepared and behaving appropriately for an interview could mean the difference between doing well in a job interview, or not.
Interview Do’s: n Research the job being applied for n Dress appropriately n Ask questions that show interest in the job (i.e. training and feedback) n Maintain eye contact n Be friendly and enthusiastic n Be punctual
Interview Don’ts: n Don’t bring other people with you into an interview (i.e. parent, significant other or children) n Don’t bring animals (unless it is a service dog) n Don’t bring a cellphone (or turn it off and pack it away) n Don’t chew gum or bring cigarettes n Don’t wear a hat, sunglasses, muscle shirts or flip-flops (even if you are applying for a lifeguard position) n Don’t come with wet hair n Don’t talk poorly of past employers or supervisors
Examples of things not to say in an interview: n “That is a really stupid question.” n “What is your policy on Monday absences?” n “Will you give me advance notice for the drug test?” n “Do I get paid for the interview?” n “Are we done yet? My girlfriend is waiting for me.” n “I’m here because my mom is making me get a job.”
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Reach Global Markets with the SBA
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Calvin Goings guarantee 90 percent of export loans (working capital, line of credit or fixed-asset financing) on amounts up to $5 million. We also have an expedited approval process on export loans under a half-million dollars. With two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power residing outside the U.S., the SBA is acutely aware that trade agreements play an important role in the long-term success of America’s small businesses. And SBA is working to help small business owners across the country grow their businesses in this
global economy. Through its network of trade finance specialists located in U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the country, SBA provides training and consultation services on trade financing and U.S. government export programs to both lenders and small businesses. For example, KuKuRuZa popcorn company elevated its small business through the SBA Small Business Development Center’s Export Readiness Center. Through their assistance, KuKuRuZa was able to open franchise locations in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and South Korea. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to expand your customer base, there’s never been a better time to think globally. Explore www.sba. gov/exporting to learn how take your company international today. Calvin W. Goings serves as the Regional Administrator leading the U.S. Small Business Administration’s economic development efforts in the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.
With two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power residing outside the U.S., the SBA is acutely aware that trade agreements play an important role in the long-term success of America’s small businesses. And SBA is working to help small business owners across the country grow their businesses in this global economy.
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oday, 98 percent of American companies that export are small businesses. But more than half of our exporters are only selling to one foreign market, usually Canada or Mexico. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is here to help more entrepreneurs reach new markets for their goods and services. Trade agreements are critical to helping level the playing field for our nation’s small business exporters. That’s because they have fewer resources to overcome trade barriers and to gain market access than larger companies. Increases in U.S. exports have generated nearly one-third of our overall economic growth and supported 1.6 million new jobs. Last year, the U.S. exported a record $2.3 trillion of goods and services, an alltime high. One out of every five American jobs is tied to exports. These jobs generally pay better, nearly 20 percent better. SBA has supported $6.6 billion in small business export financing. We
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Tattoos no longer taboo? By Sarah Glenn For the Journal POCATELLO — Your suit is pressed, your resume polished and your stomach is turning. Any job interview can rack the nerves, but the tattoo that peeks out from beneath that pressed suit and polished exterior can add to the tension. In a nation of employers who cannot discriminate based on race, gender or disability, it’s still legal to deny employment based on body art. “Dress codes, grooming requirements or other appearance-based policies are legally permitted as long as they are enforced in a non-discriminatory fashion,” according to an employers guide published by the National Law Review. “In fact, courts rarely interfere with employers’ business judgments to impose gender-differentiated appearance and grooming standards unless the standards bear a clear and unequivocal relationship to a protected class.” While appearance-based hiring and firing decisions are still legal, the tide may be turning when it comes to tattoo acceptability in the workplace. According to the Pew Research Center, about 40 percent of Millennials (those born in the 1980s and ’90s) have a tattoo. One out of every three hands you shake in the workforce will belong to a Millennial, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) with that percentage expected to skyrocket in the next decade. If the BLS employment forecasts are correct and the Pew Research Center data remains constant, in 10 years, almost half of the workforce will be a tattooed Millennial. “It’s so common nowadays,” said Juan Garcia, Branch Manager for the Pocatello branch of Gem State Staffing. “The topic does come up, and we look at the tattoo. We see if it shows any-
thing vulgar or inappropriate. Then just as long as it’s covered up, it’s fine.” Around Southeast Idaho, discreet body art generally isn’t a reason for dismissal or even argument. Of the precedent-setting First Amendment court cases addressing the issue over the past decade, none have been argued in Idaho. “In Idaho, it’s still a fairly conservative state, in my opinion,” said Lance Erickson, Director of the Career Center at Idaho State University. The center counsels thousands of ISU students annually on techniques for finding gainful employment after graduation, sending these Millennials into diverse career fields. “Some ask (about tattoos),” Erickson said. “However, we don’t get these questions as much as people might think.” With tangential exceptions, the Supreme Court has not addressed the issue of appearance-based discrimination head-on, according to the National Law Review. The lack of law leaves employers free to make their own decisions on tattoos in the workplace based on the
individual needs of the company. In some workplaces, Bannock County for example, the rules about tattoos are different depending on the department. “In the absence of any office/departmental dress standards, clothing shall be appropriate for the functions performed and shall present a suitable appearance to the public,” says the Bannock County personnel policy for a public employee. “Any time a tattoo can be covered up, it is not going to be an issue,” Erickson said. The conservative and cautious approach to visible tattoos is a national trend that transcends the type of employment. A recent Salary.com survey quizzed employers across a broad range of industries and found that as long as the tattoo was covered up, it wasn’t a factor in hiring. However, 76 percent of respondents felt that tattoos and piercings hurt an applicant’s chances of being hired during a job interview. About 39 percent of those surveyed believed that employees with tattoos and piercings
reflect poorly on their employer. “We encourage team members to have a conservative approach,” said Laura Smith, a spokesperson for Idaho Central Credit Union. “We evaluate tattoos on a case by case basis. We just want to encourage people to present a professional appearance.” The words “discreet” and “visible” are key when it comes to employment with tattoos. As an employer, the Army National Guard spells out just exactly what it means by “discreet” and “visible.” “We won’t take soldiers with tattoos on their face, neck, forehead or hands,” said Col. Timothy Marsano, Public Affairs Officer for the Idaho National Guard. “No sleeves (tattoos that cover the complete arm from fingertips to shoulders). … Tattoos that are visible cannot be offensive, sexual or racist.” Tattoos on the arms and legs that are visible during physical training exercises are acceptable, as long as they are not full sleeves, Marsano added. While soldiers can request individual exemptions to the tattoo rules, Marsano does not see the military’s stance on body art changing any time soon. Marsano added that these are the most recent regulations. Their stance is not unusual. In the Salary.com survey, 42 percent said that visible tattoos are always inappropriate at work. While 31 percent of human resource managers said in a Careerbuilder.com survey that visible tattoos could have a negative impact on their decision whether to hire someone, the survey also found that bad breath was worse. “No one has ever come back to us and said they have been discriminated against because of a tattoo,” Erickson said. “Now nose rings, body piercings, we deal with that more than we deal with tattoos. ... We get more questions on facial hair than anything else.”
Spring clean your wardrobe
By Debbie Beaumont
This works well if you plan an afternoon to complete the job. Other experts says to tackle it a little at a time. Go through your pants and then tops another time in case you run out of time. Whichever process you choose, the process of editing is the same. 1. Get rid of anything you haven’t worn in a year. If you are hesitating to discard something because it was expensive, consider taking it to a consignment shop or try selling it online. 2. If items are stained or ripped, add them to the toss pile.
3. Donate unwanted items to charity. 4. Store your winter items now. Anything made of a heavy fabric like wool or fleece. 5. Sort through accessories, handbags, shoes, scarves, hats, gloves, and costume jewelry. Ask yourself the following about every item in your closet: Do I love it? Do I wear it? Does it project the image I want to project? Does it itch or scratch? Does it fit? Does it pinch my toes? Are the heels too high to walk in? Host a clothing swap with a
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group of friends. Get them to bring clothes they are not using. Everyone gets new clothes without spending money. Before you put your spring things back into the closet, replace your shelf paper, vacuum the closet floor, and make the closet fresh and clean. Dump your wire hangers. They ruin clothes and are only meant to be temporary. Buy padded hangers or clear ones. Now you can make that shopping list. Happy shopping. Debbie Beaumont is a fashion designer and owner at Deborah Beaumont LLC.
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pring clothes are popping up in the stores and I am ready to go shopping, but first I have to make room in my already overcrowded closet. Time to Spring clean the closet. To make it fun, pour a glass of wine and turn on the music. Get a pen and paper to make a shopping list of items you will need to add to your wardrobe. There are two ways to go about cleaning out the closet. Some experts say dump everything out of the closet and drawers. Then start by dividing clothes into categories: pants, tops, dresses, jackets.
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The tattoo removal process takes place in several stages.
Submitted photos
Tattoo removal business BOOMING By Sarah Glenn For the Journal
POCATELLO — Every morning and every night, without fail, it stares back at you from the bathroom mirror. A tattoo sometimes brings back fond memories of fun times. But other times it’s a permanent reminder of something that’s gone sour. Of the 45 million U.S. residents with tattoos in 2013, about 17 percent regret getting them, according to a Pew Research Center survey. In a Careerbuilder.com survey, 31 percent of human resource managers said visible tattoos could have a negative impact on their decision whether to hire someone. “We get a lot of referrals from people going into the military or dental hygiene programs,” said Mecinna Price, owner of the Idaho Skin Institute Medical Spa. The Pocatello Tattoo removal specialist also frequently removes tattooed wedding rings, names of ex lovers or permanent makeup tattoos gone wrong. The state of Idaho doesn’t require tattoo artists to be licensed, so there is plenty of room for error around town.
Her business sees an average of 20 people per month wanting body ink professionally removed, with more locals seeking the treatment in the summer months. Nationally, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported performing 45,224 tattoo removal procedures in 2013, up from about 41,000 in 2011. The tattoo removal industry hit its high point in 2012 when more than 58,000 people had their ink removed. Market research firm IBISWorld says that revenue for tattoo removals has surged 440 percent to an estimated $75.5 million over the last decade. Part of the appeal is because tattoo removal technology has evolved beyond a painful, scarring process. Down a short hallway, surrounded by the subdued lights and spa atmosphere of Nouveu Medical Spa and Salon, sits a half-million-dollar tattoo removal machine that aims to be the first of its kind in Idaho. As clients with regretful tattoos lie on a towel-laden massage table, the PicoSure machine pulses intense lasers at the speed of one trillionth of a second per pulse. The pressure is so strong and fast that it breaks the ink’s
thick carbon molecules into easily absorbable pieces. “It’s like breaking a rock into sand,” Price explained. “Those particles are then processed out through the lymph system.” Typical tattoo removal procedures work by digging a needle back beneath the surface of the skin, where the thick ink sits, and breaking up its dense molecular structure with a saline solution. “The saline causes large carbon-based pigments to break down,” Price said. “The scab holds the saline over the ink for a week or two.” If the scab stays dry and clean for that week, then ink is absorbed into the dead skin and comes off as the scab peels. “We let the skin heal for two or three weeks and then do it again and again until the ink is gone.” For a tattoo to completely fade, people might have to repeat that process up to 20 times. Cutting-edge technology like Price’s scarless PicoSure machine aims to decrease the number of treatments, which can potentially decrease the intimidating cost of tattoo removal. While getting a tattoo might
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and training adds to the expensive price tag for laser-removal services. “The demographic around here does not like to pay market price for self-care,” Price said. “People with (regrettable) tattoos around here often add to the ink or do something else to cover it up rather than pay for tattoo removal. … Lasers are expensive.” The medical spa acquired the PicoSure machine in December and it has been on the market for less than a year. “If you can take the pain of getting a tattoo, you can certainly take the machine,” Price said. “It is not unbearable but it is expensive.” For more information about laser tattoo removal, visit idahoskininstitutemedspa.com or picosure.com/tattoo-removal.
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cost between $80 and $100, those wanting to take them off can expect to pay at least three times that much for just one session with a professional — getting the ink out the old-fashioned way. While the cost and number of treatments depends entirely on the type and size of tattoo, getting ink removed with the scab-and-peel method requires about 20 treatments. “This (PicoSure) machine does take a fraction of the time to work,” Price said, explaining that very small tattoos usually require about three sessions and do not require the client to keep the area clean, salved and dry for weeks on end. However, being on the razor’s edge of new technology will cost you. The PicoSure machine is itself a $500,000 investment. And staff, overhead
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A potato crop near American Falls is irrigated.
New technology could help irrigation issues By Vanessa Grieve vgrieve@journalnet.com Recent drought years and declining underground resources are of concern to farmers using water to grow their crops. New research and technology could change the way farmers use water. Howard Neibling, an irrigation water management engineer for the University of Idaho, based in Kimberly, and the education committee chairman for the Idaho Irrigation Equipment Association, has studied a variety of remote monitory equipment. The technology available lets growers remotely monitor soil moisture, turn on and off crop water central pivots and pumps. These are time-saving tools, but technology also efficiently provides farmers with information to readily make adjustments to water flow and pivot speed, timely control of irrigation equipment. “Farmers are really aware of the risks of (water shortage) and are really looking for things that fit with their operations,” Neibling said in an interview late last year. Neibling believes if the technology is convenient and efficient to use, then farmers will be more likely to utilize the technology. Neibling said he, Dick Stroh of
Bonneville Power, and Troy Peters of Washington State University have been researching the use of a Low Elevation Spray Application (LESA) system for the past two years. The first-year studies were done in Nevada. Last year’s test sites were in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Stroh presented some of their findings at the Idaho Irrigation Equipment Association annual 2015 Idaho Irrigation Equipment Show and Conference in January in Idaho Falls. The group’s research placed the spray nozzle of irrigation equipment about one-foot above the ground, and spaced between four and five feet. “In suitable areas, the nozzles are operating or spraying your water inside the crop canopy, say in an alfalfa plant, in between (the plants), than down from the top, releasing it down below the top of the crop, so it doesn’t have the evaporation or wind-drift losses that we normally have,” Neibling said. The testing could indicate if this method, coupled with monitoring technology, would be suitable for certain types of soils, crops and farm operations. “We noticed in the first year we had about a 30 percent reduction in water loss to evaporation and wind-drift,” he said. The method and technology was tried on an alfalfa crop, which was cut
partway during the season. The overall water savings was between 10 and 15 percent. Last year, the method was tested on a spring-wheat crop in Arco, and measured 40-50 percent less water loss from evaporation and wind-drift. “I keep going back over my numbers because that was a big improvement,” he said. “Arco is in a really windy area. In areas (that are) hot, dry and windy, anything you can do to shield the water from that dry wind can cut the losses. We are excited to expand our tests to other fields (this) year.” Some irrigation technology allows farmers to turn on and off individual nozzles at designated parts of a pivot location. “Pivot control panels are getting better all the time to slow down or speed up (the pivots) at certain parts of the field,” Neibling said. “And then again we are talking about variable rate application, so different parts of the field can be programed to get more or less water.” Growers who pump water from underground sources are concerned about water-table decline. Research has shown that the ability to monitor water being pumped and to manage the application can decrease water usage. “It is pretty worrisome,” Neibling said of the concern for declining avail-
ability of water, “so there is a lot of pressure from state regulators and farmers themselves that they don’t run out of water. They need to be able to grow crops with less water.” Many of the remote monitoring devices available are manufactured by the same companies that make the central pivots. Most products work with the specific manufactured brand. A few companies are making remote monitoring devices that can manage a variety of central pivot brands. Neibling said soil monitoring technology can show how much water crops areas receive, as well as measure how deep costly fertilizers and nitrates seep in to the ground, relative to the plant root zones. This information can help prevent overwatering, which can unnecessarily leech nitrates into water supplies. Soil moisture monitoring equipment that transmits to a bay station has been around for about 10 years, Neibling said. Within the past few years, farmers have been able to remotely access their irrigation equipment from a laptop or computer. The ability to transmit that data via cellphones application has only been around for about a year. “At this point things are changing so rapidly it will be interesting to see what is available in another year,” Neibling said.
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Your ‘workstyle’ is just as important as your lifestyle
H
aving spent about 20 years chasing that elusive corporate executive title, that corner office, that brass ring, I’ve learned a few things about “work” and life. I’ve stopped dreading growing older and trying to fight the inevitable. I’ve embraced everything that comes with age: wisdom, learning from mistakes, participating in my children’s growth and continuing to nurture my marriage and the businesses my wife and I are growing together. I know it’s a cliché, but we are living our dream. I often hear individuals talk about their lifestyle — what it is and what they do. It often revolves around a job title, money and material items. I don’t hear much talk about their “workstyle.” Workstyle is not just how we work, but why we work and how we shape our work environments. It’s also about how we affect the people we interact with, and if we’re truly happy and fully participating in all life has to offer, in both work and play. I used to always ask myself two questions: “Am I happy going to work today?” and “Am I happy to go home after work today?” If the answer is “no” to either of these questions, there’s an issue. I’ve
Rory Erchul answered “no” to one of these questions before and took action to make a change. And I’m so glad I did. Not everyone can work for themselves doing what they want or love. In fact, most of us can’t. We work traditional jobs, and that’s the way it is. We have bills to pay and families to feed, and that’s totally fine. If this is your situation, hopefully you enjoy it or at least like what you do. If you don’t, it’s difficult getting out of bed each day. I know that sick feeling deep in your gut when you lie awake in bed at night dreading that early morning meeting or when you’re in your car heading to work in the morning just wishing it
were Friday. Have you ever kind of hoped you’d get into a minor accident on the way to work just so you can get out of it for a day or two? Not to get hurt or hurt someone else, just so you had a good excuse to miss work — I sure have. At one point, that was a daily thought for about a year and a half. I had to get out, and I did. That was many years ago and thankfully just a distant memory now. I did find a job and a company I liked. I enjoyed it, but something was still missing. I simply needed to do it for myself, for my wife and for my family Almost three years ago now, I joined my wife’s company, and together we’re making things happen. We’re doing what we love, and we love working together. In fact, we’re about to launch our fourth business together. We struggle, we disagree and we put in many, many hours. But we’re putting in those hours for us, for our family, for our businesses. And we always stop to take a break, to read to our kids, to go skiing, to volunteer at school or take the dogs for a long walk. We might have to work late at night or at 5 a.m., but the freedom and flexibility we now have is so much more precious and valuable than any salary
working for someone else. I guess my “workstyle” is about working hard when it’s time to work hard, but stopping to enjoy life, my children and my wife. It’s about taking the afternoon off on a Thursday to ski with a good friend, but then working eight hours on Sunday to catch up. It’s about having our internal meetings around the pool table or in the hot tub, and then spending three hours in negotiations with a client on a Saturday. I now control everything in my life and am no longer told when to work, how to work or why to work. If I’m not working, however, I’m not making money, so I still put in 50-plus hours a week, but they’re my 50 hours. I’m home every day and no executive title or corner office will ever replace a quick game of Connect Four with my 8-year-old daughter, an afternoon skiing
with my son or a walk on a gorgeous morning with my 11-year-old daughter and wife. Those of you who remember the ’80s might recognize this from a metal band, and I think its fitting: “You can’t be king of the world if you’re a slave to the grind!” What is your “workstyle”? Rory Erchul and his wife, Jennifer, own and operate ESquared Creative Inc, a local digital media firm that specializes in websites, search engine optimization, mobile apps, corporate training and consulting, video and more, providing services for regional, national and international clients for 14 years. Rory is also a founding partner and co-owner of Chute Trainer, Inc., a golf-training product produced and manufactured in Southeast Idaho. More can be found at e-squaredcreative.com and chutetrainer.com.
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Please Join Us In Recognizing
Idaho Power is pleased to partner with the Idaho State Journal for this inaugural event recognizing local businesses and the young professionals who make a difference in our Southeast Idaho communities. For nearly a century, Idaho Power has provided reliable, affordable energy to help sustain and grow local economies. Our local employees also have a long history of support in this area. We’re honored to be a part of this event. Join Us: Wednesday, April 22 Stephens Performing Arts Center Idaho State University 6 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information about Idaho Power’s partnerships, visit idahopower.com/community
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Teresa Borrenpohl is a doctoral student at Idaho State University. She is researching student loan debt.
Understanding student loans By Vanessa Grieve vgrieve@journalnet.com Teresa Borrenpohl first saw how much the monthly payment would be for her student loans during an exit interview her senior year of college. “I knew how much I had accumulated,” Borrenpohl said. “I knew it was about $32,000. ... It had never been shown to me in terms of (monthly) payments.” Borrenpohl was scheduled to pay $375 a month for the next 10 years. “The thing I was really shocked with was how much I didn’t know, and when I looked back at the process it didn’t feel like an educational process,” Borrenpohl said, adding that college learning extends beyond the classroom. “That was really a formative moment for me. If I didn’t know, how many another people don’t know.” After graduation, Borrenpohl and her husband “threw” every extra penny they had at the debt. They paid off the $32,000 in 15 months. Borrenpohl is currently a doctoral student at Idaho State University and researching students’ understanding of student loan debt. She said the generation going through
school has been call the “boomerang generation” because they end up moving back in with mom and dad, which is not surprising if their student loan payments are as much as $400. Instead of buying a vehicle or putting the money toward living expenses, graduates are putting good percentage of their income toward paying back student loans, Borrenpohl said. She believes part of the issue is lack of understanding of the lending process. “We’re asking these students to make these decisions when they don’t necessarily have the experience,” she said. “If a student were 16 or 17 and they go to a bank to get a loan for a car, they would be denied.” In a car-buying situation, young adults would be have to get a co-signer for a loan, but not with student loans. Borrenpohl didn’t want to be financially smothered by lingering debt. “Part of it is a personal philosophy,” she said. “I just don’t like to have debt, but when it came down to it, the $400 over time was going to accrue interest.” Devoting $400 a month for 10 years meant that was $400 each month she would not be able to spend on other things like investing, charity or other wishes. Borrenpohl hopes to discover what
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gaps students have in understanding the lending process. The amount of student-loan debt that students incur has been on the rise. When a loan defaults, it hurts the institution and the student borrower’s credit also suffers. Part of the equation is that as tuition has risen, student loans have become a greater percentage of a students’ financial aid packages. “We do rely on it and students rely on it,” said James Martin, the director of financial aid and scholarships at ISU. By law, higher education institutions are required to show students all the financial aid that is available to them, Martin said. Students are also required to take entrance-interview counseling and exit exams. ISU meets federal requirements for informing and awarding financial aid packages, which includes showing students the maximum loan amounts available to them. In September, ISU hit a 15 percent delinquency rate on student loans that started repayment in 2011, which has implications for the institution and borrower. “When former students get behind they tend to not take some of the help that is available to keep them out of delinquency,” Martin said. People having
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trouble paying their student loans are encouraged to contact their loan service. “If they don’t know who to contact, we’d be happy to help them.” Most student loans are on a traditional 10-year payment schedule. Martin said. There are a number of options available for borrowers with student loans, including deferred-payment options or income-contingent repayment. Martin said help should be free and borrowers should be cautious of services charging fees to resolve issues. Any college financial-aid office is equipped to assist student-loan borrowers learn their payment options and access their student loan portal. The National Student Loan Database (www.nslds.ed.gov) gathers borrower information from schools and agencies, according to the website. Borrowers can track the amount, status, disbursements and balances of Title IV loan and grant awards. “It will help them and hopefully help us with our default rate,” he said. ISU is considering additional measures to help students and parents make appropriate borrowing decisions, but the effort is a matter of “time and resources.” Having reached a 15 percent delinquency rate, ISU is required to hold firsttime freshman loan disbursements until
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So ut h east I d a h o B u sine ss J ou rnal the 30th day of the school year. Many who “evaporate” from school do so within the first 30 days of school. For “single-term” students, their financial aid will be disbursed once at the beginning of the semester and then midway through the semester. Martin said that can create hardships for some students. “All the statistics show the biggest number of defaults happen to attenders who attend less than a year,” Martin said. “They don’t really graduate with enough improvement on skills to find a job to help them make their student loan payments.” The average student loan debt incurred from students who attend ISU is between $21,000 and $22,000. If the default rate continues to rise, institutions that reach a 30 percent default rate can face sanctions, such as lost participation for Title IV programs. “We are concerned about it and taking some steps to reduced our default rate,” he said. There is a general assumption that once people get a degree they’ll have a job to pay off student loans, but starting salaries aren’t that great, Martin said. To pay off student loans, borrowers have to be diligent about paying the loans back. A number of institutions are turning to third-party services to help educate students about loan debt. One common third-party program is SALT (www.saltmoney.org), a nonprofit financial education program geared at higher education students. Martin said ISU has received preliminary word that the default rate for loans starting payment in 2012 could be down to 10.6 percent. ISU is using Borrow Centsibly from the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority. The service is contacting delinquent borrowers — not to collect— but to inform them of their options. ISU Credit Union has also provided information on financial literacy to voluntary students. “We are just getting our toes wet on that end of the
business,” Martin said. ISU tries to encourage students to consider how much they borrow. Martin would suggest to borrow the minimum, if anything. “When I talk to students and do presentations to parents and students I ask them to look at student loans as the financial aid of last resort,” he said. “That is really where the borrowing decision should be made. Rather than ‘I’m getting all this money, whoohoo.’” Borrenpohl is conducting her research this fall. Her research will ask students about personal and family lending experiences, family income, and other factors to know what shapes a student’s understanding of the lending process. She hopes to be able to identify students who might be more at risk for issues with student loans. “What I am finding from literature reviews (and what other studies have done), there are definite demographics about people who know more or less about student loans and the lending process,” she said. “We find that students that have a work history of more than six years tend to know more.” From her literary research, she said demographics play a role in how well students understand student loans. First-generation students tend to know less about the lending process. Males tend to have a greater understanding of the lending process, as well as students in math, science and engineering programs. But the research she has seen doesn’t necessarily point to ‘why’ this is the case. “I still believe it is worth the investment,” Borrenpohl said of gaining an education. “(It’s unsettling) when students leave college and the job market isn’t as great, or that payment is going to be as much as it is. ... Some students don’t even realize they are taking out student loans. It’s important to identify the students that are most at risk to get themselves in trouble. We can find out who these individuals are and give them that education up front.”
ISU to offer money management series Idaho State University’s Central Academic Advising is offering an informative money management series to help students with employment and financial literacy tools. The “Money Management for Student Success” series will be offered Monday, March 30, to Thursday, April 2, in the Office of Financial Aid computer lab, Museum Building, Room 337, at Idaho State University in Pocatello. Presentations will run all day from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., 12 p.m. to 12:50 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. The event is free to students and there will be giveaways at each presentation, according to a press release. Learn how to find part-time work, maximize banking services, make efficient use of financial aid packages, and develop a realistic budget for now and the future. Monday, March 30: “Bengal Jobs and Career Pathway Internships” Students looking for part-time jobs on campus or close to campus will learn about part-time employment opportunities to earn money and learn about the Career Pathway Intern (CPI) program. Professionals from the ISU Career Center will teach you how to use Bengal Jobs to find part-time employment.
The CPI program can help find paid work experience related to your chosen major or career. Tuesday, March 31: “Financial Responsibility 101” Rick Cheatum, with ISU Credit Union, will provide valuable information on the proper use of credit, how to safely build credit, and what resources are available to help students be responsible with money during the lean college years. Learn how to avoid excessive debt, accommodate your needs, and develop a plan for emergencies while successfully pursuing a college degree. Wednesday, April 1: “I’ve received my financial aid. Now what?” Carey Jennings, with the ISU Office of Financial Aid, will show students how to track their financial aid loan amount, estimate their repayment obligations, and explain the best uses of “surplus” financial aid money. The goal with federal Financial Aid is to earn a college degree with as minimum a loan debt
Thursday, April 2: “From Bean Counter to Millionaire” Janaan Haskell, with the ISU Department of Economic Education, will guide participants through money management scenarios to learn the long-term value of a college degree, and how to develop a budget that will sustain students through college and beyond. Developing a realistic budget will allow people to meet their financial needs, avoid credit problems, and even start saving for the future. Learn the myths surrounding financially successful people and discover that long-term financial comfort is within reach. For more about the “Money Management for Student Success” series, please contact Nancy Goodman at Central Academic Advising at goodnanc@ isu.edu or 282-3277.
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10 mar c h /a p r i l 2015
Southe a st I d a ho B us i ness J o urna l
Doug Lindley/Idaho State Journal
Shannon Gray, a sophomore at ISU, works at Fifth Street Bagelry in Pocatello. It is one of two jobs she holds to pay her way through school.
Working to pay for college By Vanessa Grieve vgrieve@journalnet.com Shannon Gray is a hardworking individual. She works anywhere from 48 to 55 hours a week between two jobs during the school year, and still manages to attend school full time at Idaho State University. Gray’s objective is to stay focused and complete her studies in a timely manner, with as little student loan debt as possible. “I get the payoff every single day,” she said as she works toward a degree in social work and Spanish. “Some days, I don’t notice it.” Learning to support herself is one of the many valuable experiences she is receiving outside the classroom. With no financial support from family, the payoff of hard work is being realized each day.
Coming from a home facing many difficulties and seeing her parents struggle to pay bills, Gray, a 19-year-old sophomore from Boise, wants to use her degree and experience to help others. “My personal goal is to get people to see the potential we all have,” she said. “I don’t know what kind of job that will be. ... (Helping people) is just really all I want to do.” Gray started working in high school to save up money to attend college. She sees education as a means to provide for herself and gain skills to help others. “I’ve always had the desire to prove to my parents I’m OK, and I’m going to be able to do it,” Gray said. “It’s going to be hard now, but in the future ... that is what I am working for.” Each semester, Gray outlines how much school and her living expenses will
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cost and compares it to how much she’ll have to work. She updates her budget regularly to adjust and anticipate any changes. In high school, Gray took Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), a college preparation course that outlined the types of financial aid options available. It addressed student loans — ones with interest and ones without — and grants and workstudy options. To many, student loans look like “free money.” Gray has seen students use the leftover funds to buy laptops, new cars or items they might not really need. “I think the biggest problem is it adds up really quick,” she said. “I think it is something students (should) try to avoid and if they take (out loans) they have to be serious about that.” For some, there may be no sense of caution when accepting all financial aid available or how that might impact their lives post-graduation. In Idaho, about one-third of students who graduate school do so without student loan debt. The average student loan debt in Idaho is about $26,622, according to Project on Student Debt (projectonstudentdebt.org). Gray works at Fifth Street Bagelry in Pocatello, and a workstudy position as an in-
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formation technology consultant on graveyard shift at ISU. Financial aid has some benefits, Gray said. Without financial aid options, going to school would not be an option for some. The assistance can help students focus on school and obtain an education. Students who haven’t interacted with the ill effects of lingering debt may not understand how burdensome it can become. “I think it is easy for students to misunderstand their impact in their life,” Gray said. “My parents are still paying off theirs.” Gray’s been asked why she doesn’t apply for more scholarships. She says it’s not as easy as it looks. Gray was fortunate to receive four of about 50 scholarships she applied for in high school. Applying for scholarships can be a full-time job, and there seem to be fewer scholarships available. Some that are awarded may only be available for the first- or second year of college. “It’s not that simple, although we wish it was,” she said. Those who hold out for scholarships may end up relying on student loans for those that don’t come through. What keeps Gray working hard is the notion that school is temporary: work really
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I’ve always had the desire to prove to my parents I’m OK and I’m going to be able to do it. It’s going to be hard now, but in the future ... that is what I am working for. ISU student Shannon Gray
hard for a few years. Gray struck a balance between school, work and paying the bills. If anything was sacrificed, it was sleep. Last summer, Gray spent 80 and 90 hours a week working two full-time jobs and one parttime job. She said she could physically work that much, but mentally, the undertaking was not sustainable. “I can’t really sacrifice as much (on sleep),” she said looking back. “This semester I am trying to find a balance. ... I’ve made it more of a priority to make sure I am taking care of my health more.” Gray is able to complete quite a bit of school work at her workstudy job. The hardest part is waking up to arrive at work or class. “If I don’t focus on school then there isn’t a point to working this much,” she said. After planning her semester budget, Gray realized she wouldn’t earn enough income
to cover her expenses this spring. She decided to take out a student loan. The loan will bridge the gap between what her two jobs provide and allow her to keep pace in school. Gray is not alone in her efforts to work through school and minimize the burden of debt incurred. Many students go to school and work. Those who do may not be commended for their diligence and sacrifice. “It’s not that I’m anything special; I’m just trying to get things done,” she said. “A lot (more students) are working harder than we know just to get through it. For the students out there that are doing it ... if I could tell them, ‘Good job, that is pretty outstanding.’” Gray has visited her high school to tell students to prepare and plan for college, whether parents help out financially or not.
“The main thing I want to share is that everybody is in a similar boat when they are in school,” she said. “They should be planning for it. (Even) if you have scholarships or parents paying, it can be gone in a moment. Understanding your situation is vital when that happens, but you are also not alone. A lot of students are in similar situations or have been in similar situations.” Gray is preparing an action plan to pay off her student loan. “Having a budget has really helped me know what to do and how to pay things,” she said. “Once (the student loan) starts to need payments, it’s going in my budget, and I’ll work on tackling it as fast as I can. The longer it stays around the more trouble it becomes. I really want to be able to get it out of the way as soon as possible.”
12 ma rch /a p r i l 2015
Southea st I d a ho B us i ness J o urna l
Should bosses befriend their employees?
Monica Bitrick
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loved college for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is I had a laid back job at a major corporation with a supervisor that rivaled my best friends on campus. Needless to say the workplace was awesome — at least for a short period of time. My supervisor was amazing for quite some time. During the day, she would defend our division against the corporate “bigwigs” who visited our office semi-annually from the East Coast and after hours got chummy with the team through various social engagements. It all was a workplace dream come true until personal conflict entered into the picture. Slowly but surely as our division had personal issues between co-workers enter into the workplace, so entered the problems associated with “picking sides” by our supervisor. Friendships with subordinates then became problematic because professional decisions were being made with emotional/personal basis. Favoritism blanketed the office, morale was decreased and performance issues were on the rise. All of this resulted in performance and operations issues noted by corporate resulting in some “come to Jesus” meetings with corporate and my supervisor that ended with reassignment to another position. Hard lesson but major impact on the company overall. Out of this story, we can take a look at the bigger pictures, and the question really becomes, “Is it OK for management to be friends with their employees?” Over the years, I have worked with a lot of management members. Some have understood the balance between personal and professional relationships, and others would rather play the nice guy and be buddies rather than bosses. This is an issue with newly branded managers all the way up to experienced and “C” level executives — and there’s not any simple answer or scenario. We spend a lot of time at work and with our co-workers. So it is easy, and almost natural, that friendships are formed with co-workers. It also is important to remember employees and managers alike are still people — meaning emotions, beliefs, biases, opinions, etc., all enter
into the workplace regardless of who we are or what position we hold. However, that’s where the problem itself lies when bosses become buddies. Friendships all have their ups, downs, bruises and bumps. Wouldn’t friendships be a little bit more complicated if one of the friends has the ability to hire, fire, promote or discipline the other friend? The answer is pretty simple. Not only would this be complicated but it would introduce a number of different issues that likely would follow such a perceived favoritism, potential discriminatory employment practices, unrealistic expectations by employees and managers alike and preferential treatment or decision-making of employees. Let’s not forget any “negative” decision made on either side is going to have a heavy impact on the “friend” on the other side. More than likely the decision is going to be taken personally — in turn resulting in an emotional response that will occur sooner or later inside or outside of the workplace. Think of your ultimate betrayal, and that gives you a small sense of what this story could end. I’ve seen it happen, and, folks, it is not pretty. Now I am not recommending that management should not build any relationships with employees. But there needs a comfortable balance of “friendly” leadership that doesn’t crossover the “friendship” boundary. Finding this balance is tough undoubtedly. But we can always start by looking at what employees look for in great leaders. Employees follow leaders who demonstrate individual interest in employees, care, concern, compassion, understanding, support, and the ability to lead by example. Keep in mind that if the relationship has a foundation or can be affected in the workplace there should be a foundation based on professionalism
and business guidelines. While friendships between management and employees make for a fun and light workplace, it can lead to a handful of problems and long-term is just bad business. Monica Bitrick is the CEO/ Founder of Bitrick Consulting Group and is the Managing Partner for Square One Networking.
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So ut h east I d a h o B u sine ss J ou rnal
M
Maturity takes time
aturity doesn’t happen overnight. It develops over time and isn’t purely a measure of one’s knowledge, but comes through learning and experiences. I remember wanting to be old enough to stay home by myself or look forward to the day I could drive myself to school. Those days didn’t seem to come soon enough, and there was always a transition period associated with those rites of passage. Was I mature enough to handle the responsibility of managing myself or those with whom I was entrusted? Many of the iconic moments of growing up are often associated with age or developmental benchmarks. Even then, these moments are met with the challenge of taking on responsibility and meeting expectations. If done appropriately, responsibility is doled out over time as trust is built, and as a good foundation is in place. If I went out with my friends and brought the family vehicle back in one piece and on time, there was a good chance my parents would let me borrow it again. Many of the responsibilities undertaken may be outside the home. In high school, formative moments of growing up included experiences in the workplace. Depositing money from the cash register, completing the nightly to-do’s and closing up the store with another peer were important opportunities to have. For myself, they were pivotal mo-
Vanessa Grieve ments of testing not only my abilities, but also my responsibility and followthrough. I remember turning 18. Legally I was an adult, but it was my senior year of high school and I still lived at home. There were opportunities available to me because of my age. But many of them I did not have the knowledge, experience or inclination to do. For instance, I could have decided to move out on my own, but for me, it would not have accomplished much. Fortunately, I might add, my parents had no intention of kicking me out of the house just because I was legally responsible for myself. As I look back on those years of transitioning to adulthood and integrating into society, I was OK with the process
of learning, and thought certain life moments would sort themselves out in time. But once I graduated from college, my perspective was challenged. I had thought that after spending several years in school, I should be able to quickly use all the tools I’d learned and apply them in the workforce, but it has taken a little more time. I maybe haven’t met my own expectations, but were my expectations realistic? In the past few years I’ve witnessed several college graduation ceremonies, and one commencement speaker shared some valuable insight for the graduating students. The graduation speaker said younger people tend to want to know all there is to know up front, to get it right the first time around and be at the top of their game by age 30. In reality, that might not be humanly possible. She encouraged the graduates to be content with the process of learning and gaining experience, and not to feel the need to have everything all figured out. Where the pressure comes from to “have it all figured out” is not clear. This pressure could be due to living in an instantaneous society in which the Internet and social media has made information gathering and instant feedback possible. Having constant access to information could easily translate to having unreasonable expectations of how to apply that knowledge. If information can quickly be looked
up online, then it can be quickly applied. Right? Because of this access, I see the expectation is then to quickly process information and apply it yesterday. I like the business model of working in teams where ideas can be shared, thought through and developed. Everyone can bring something to the table and find solutions to the problem together. Process individually or process together. I think we need to allow ourselves time to process and be OK with the reality that some problems will take time to solve. Maturity doesn’t happen overnight, but it can occur through a lifetime. I have to tell myself, ‘Be OK with the process.’ Plan for the future, but I can only do what is right in front of me with the knowledge I have today. Vanessa Grieve is the editor of the Southeast Idaho Business Journal. She can be reached with business story ideas and news tips at vgrieve@journalnet. com. She grew up in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho State University in Mass Communication with an emphasis in broadcast production. She worked for the ISJ as a multi-media reporter before assuming her current role as editor of the Southeast Idaho Business Journal. She also works in Moscow, Idaho, at the University of Idaho Video Production Center as a part-time videographer and technical director.
14 mar c h/a p r i l 2015
Southe a st I d a ho B us i ness J o urna l
Digital marketing: What’s the big deal?
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o many, the term “digital marketing” may seem foreign, a little complicated and maybe somewhere you are just too scared to go — at least for right now. But in reality, digital marketing represents a whole new and essentially virtual world where building a space for your business to be found is becoming essential. Your new lot in this digital world is known as a “digital presence”— it’s a place where people looking for your products and services can find you easily and with minimal effort. With so many changes in today’s technologies and the great invention of the Internet and especially Google, the average consumer has become used to acquiring the information they need almost instantaneously. “Where can I find a place to eat nearby?” Today’s consumers don’t drive around the block until they find a good-looking restaurant and they certainly are not whipping out the phone book they keep under their passenger seat. They are picking up their phone and most likely Googling, and the answer presents itself in just mere seconds. “There is a Mexican grill two blocks away, shall I direct you there?” Therefore, because of such increasing conveniences in our lives, we have all become pretty impatient. And typically the first place we will turn when searching for a particular product or service is where it’s most convenient and quick. That’s usually our digital devices and the Internet. In fact, 85 percent of consumers actually look for local businesses online (Intuit). So, what does that mean for business owners? You need that “digital presence.” If I open my laptop and go immediately to Google to find some local business offering the service or product I’m interested in, I’m not going to find your business unless you have a website for me to find, or at least some sort of digital listing. But what’s the big deal about a website? Maybe you have a Facebook page — isn’t that good enough? Well, at least you have a Facebook page — so long as you are keeping it up to date. But a website is essentially your digital storefront. Since most consumers are starting off online, the first place they will see your business is on your website, making it imperative to have a professional design that reflects the experience, expertise and services your business offers. Your Facebook page is a good overview of what you offer. It’s a chance to share new photos and keep people engaged with your business, and it’s a major marketing resource for you to utilize. But it doesn’t provide a space for you to showcase every aspect of your business. With a business website, you have
Having that informative and professional digital storefront for your business is a great first step to building your online presence. And unfortunately, it’s one that many small businesses are behind on. In fact, about 63 percent of small businesses don’t even have a website yet.
Kelsey West multiple pages to organize and describe each service or each category of product you offer with photos, descriptions, videos and more. Your website is a place to list every single thing you offer. And most the time, due to the great expanse of the Internet, you won’t run out of shelf space. So having that informative and professional digital storefront for your business is a great first step to building your online presence. And unfortunately, it’s one that many small businesses are behind on. In fact, about 63 percent of small businesses don’t even have a website yet. That’s bad, considering all that their corporate or larger competitors likely do. (Business News Daily). However, even if you are a small business with a website, in the digital world it takes a little more to really put your name out there. We already know that most consumers are turning to the Internet first to find what they need, but how are they finding these websites? You probably guessed it: search engines. Actually, 93 percent of consumers begin on a search engine when looking for a business (ReachLocal). So how do you show up in search engines? This is where digital marketing gets a little complicated. It’s called Search Engine Optimization or SEO. SEO represents all the organic or unpaid results that come up in search engines. To keep it simple, just think of it this way: When a consumer searches for something like “pet care Pocatello,” Google scours the web for the best results to provide their customers, the consumers. It wants to ensure it provides good and relevant results of providers that are actively in business and providing good service. So Google displays the websites of businesses whose business names have shown up in multiple places online. Google looks for accurate information, up-to-date content and key terms attached to the business name that define the services the business offers, and the area where it’s located. All of these steps, especially multiple business listings online, are what tell Google you are a relevant, reliable and good result for their searchers. And all of these steps, over time, will help bring your website up higher in
the search results. There are multiple other ways to promote your business online and reach your customers through other digital means. But for those of you that are new to the term, digital marketing’s best first steps are building a professional website for your business and making sure customers can find that business in search engines.
Kelsey West is the Digital Marketing Specialist for ISJ Media. ISJ Media is a digital marketing service in Pocatello providing web design, SEO, retargeting, text marketing, SEM, social media management and email marketing services to businesses of every size. Kelsey offers a monthly digital marketing enewsletter, the Monthly Marketer, to help business owners and
marketers learn more about the best practices of marketing their business digitally. For the past six months, Kelsey has also been giving monthly Breakfast and Lunch & Learn presentations to businesses in the community explaining more about digital marketing and the tools needed to build that digital presence. For more visit isjmedia.net or email Kelsey at kwest@journalnet.com.
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So ut h east I d a h o B u sine ss J ou rnal
Eagerly awaiting the Portneuf Valley Farmers Market lW ith our passion for locally-produced food, the Pocatello Co-op eagerly awaits the return of the Portneuf Valley Farmers Market, a sure sign of summer’s bounty in Southeast Idaho. This year’s Farmers Market will reconvene May 2. Ellen Loomis, manager of the Farmers Market, said she expects around 50 vendors to be selling their products during the peak months of July and August. This number doesn’t just include seasoned professional growers. New vendors are always welcome, including backyard gardeners. So if you happen to be blessed with more zucchini than you know what to do with, consider spending a Saturday or two selling the surplus. You’ll earn some extra money, and shoppers will be grateful for the chance to buy your produce. At its heart, of course, the Farmers Market is about the food — vegetables, fruits and grains grown locally and
Janna Graham shipped minimally. With comparatively little time between harvest and purchase (and less time spent traveling), locallygrown produce retains its quality. That means consumers get foods that are fresher, more flavorful and more nutritious than their counterparts shipped from afar. But it’s not just about better food. In preparation for the new growing season, here are a few more reasons to schedule a stop at the Farmers Market: The chance to support local. Shopping at the Farmers Market supports local family
farmers and the local economy instead of far-off agribusinesses. And since the food found at the Farmers Market is often of superior quality and offered at a reasonable price, it’s a budgetfriendly way to give back to the community. Protection of the environment. Many small-scale farmers use fewer chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers than agribusinesses, which protects our water and soil. In addition, food travels shorter distances to reach its selling point, which decreases the amount of fuel required between field and table. Variety. Instead of one type of basil or chard or tomatoes, you might find three or four — all incredibly delicious and worth trying. Ownership of food choices. By shopping at the Farmers Market, you get to know more about how your food is grown and processed. According to Loomis, one of the most valuable aspects of the Farmers Market is that it
encourages consumers to take ownership of the food choices they make. We can learn as much as we want about how our food was produced and buy from vendors whose practices match our own philosophy. Connection with the seasonal cycles. Watching (and tasting) the first early greens, followed by the berries, tomatoes, and squash of later months, allows us to connect with the natural rhythm of the growing season. Connection with community. It is extremely rewarding to get to know the people who grow your food. The Farmers Market provides ample opportunity to talk to the growers and learn more about their philosophies and methods. You also get recommendations on how to prepare the delicious veggies you’ve just purchased. And don’t forget the happy tendency to run into a few like-minded friends along the way. This year, organizers are
striving to make the Farmers Market not just a place to buy food, but a destination for family-oriented fun, socializing, and community building. To that end, the Farmers Market will continue to host special events and weekly activities for kids, such as the popular treasure hunt and “Shark Week” activities first introduced last year. We encourage everyone to check out what our local Farmers Market has to offer. Starting on May 2, the Portneuf Valley Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday through the end of October. The Farmers Market is at the corner of Fremont and Union Pacific in Old Town Pocatello. For more, including information about the Wednesday market, see the Portneuf Valley Farmers Market website at pvfm.info. Janna Graham is outreach coordinator for the Pocatello Co-op. She’s at outreach@pocatellocoop.com.com.
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16 ma rch /a p r i l 2015
Under 40 Continued from Page 1
Danielle Snelson, event producer and president of Sona Productions, said the event will have a modern vibe and include time to network and enjoy a variety of hors d’oeuvres and finger foods. “Were going to have a few different food stations of something different at each location,” Snelson said. Before the program starts, attendees can spend time mingling and enjoying the food, DJ’d music and atmosphere. More than 40 nominations were received by the March 20 deadline. The awards committee will review the nominations for young professionals under the age of 40 from the region who excel in the work they do through business and community involvement. Nominees will be assessed on their career advancement, business and community engagement, honors and overall body of work. “They are doing good work and we don’t want that to go unnoticed,” Pennington said of local young professionals. “We want to showcase all those folks that maybe aren’t getting the recognition they deserve right now.” Idaho Power is the event’s main partner with the Idaho State Journal and Southeast
Overachievers Under 40 The Overachievers Under 40 Awards event will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the Stephens Performing Arts Center at Idaho State University in Pocatello. The receptions begins at 6 p.m. with the awards program starting at 7:30 p.m. Information about the event can be found online at website http://overunder40.com. Tickets will be available through eventbrite.com. Idaho Business Journal, the ISJ’s business publication. Idaho Power Director of Corporate Communications Bill Shawver said the utility’s sponsorship of the Overachievers Under 40 Awards event fits in with its history of promoting the Pocatello, Chubbuck and Blackfoot areas. “Sponsoring this event allows us a unique opportunity to help recognize key and innovative achievements in the communities we serve,” Shawver said. What better way to recognize the great work of the area’s young professionals than to hold an event honoring them at the prestigious Stephens Performing Arts Center, Pennington said. The Overachievers Under 40 Awards event is the first of several annual awards events to be launched by the Idaho State Journal, Southeast Idaho Business Journal and their partners.
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Southe a st I d a ho B us i ness J o urna l
Other partners critical to the success of the Overachievers Under 40 Awards event are Portneuf Medical Center, Gate City Real Estate and ISU Credit Union. “We are so proud to partner with these good, community minded businesses,” Pennington said. “With their enthusiastic support, dedicated young professionals are able to come together to honor their contributions and the contributions of their peers. We appreciate the level of our partners’ involvement every step of the way.” Shawver said Idaho Power is pleased to partner with the Idaho State Journal and Southeast Idaho Business Journal in recognizing local businesses, and the people who make a difference in each other’s lives. “Recognizing the under 40 demographic is significant in terms of the insight and innovation they bring to our communities,” Shawver said.
We’ve created this event for the young professionals in our community. We feel part of our role as a media organization is to showcase the good work people are doing and there is no better way to do that than to recognize through nomination.
Idaho State Journal Publisher Andy Pennington “We are honored to be part of this inaugural event.” Pennington said those under 40 are often busy with their families and careers, and don’t always receive adequate recognition. “I think they have great ideas and it is a very busy demographic,” he said. “We just want to be able to recognize and specifically talk about the young professionals in our
community. They are doing good work and we don’t want that to go unnoticed.” Snelson said the Overachievers Under 40 event will be fun, social and lively. The opportunity for networking will segue into a great program to honor the area’s young professionals. “I think it will be an event everyone can take something away from,” Snelson said.