CHAMBER 0411

KELSO LONGVIEW

Vol. 3, No. 4 • April 2011

Business Connection

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce • Longview Downtowners • Kalama Chamber of Commerce 2011 COWLITZ COUNTY REGIONAL BUSINESS EXPO

Show-goers “cruise to success” despite snow On Friday February 25th the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce and the Cowlitz County Tourism Bureau weathered the storm and held the first Cowlitz County Regional Business Expo.

Despite inclement weather, the Business Expo was a success with more than 100 exhibitors and over 400 tickets sold for the regional Afterhours Reception. Lower Columbia CAP won a vendor grand prize multi-media marketing package worth $6,500 in gift certificates.

Thank you to media sponsors: Minuteman Press, Saskia Graphic Design, KUKN/KLOG/The Wave, Valley Bugler, Lamar Transit Advertising, Bicoastal Media, Columbia River Reader, KLCC Business Connection, Prographyx, RelyLocal.com, Exclaim Media and Creative Memories with Veronica Studt.

Exhibitors represented a diverse group of area businesses, including credit unions, computer technical support services, non-profit organizations, medical assistance, elder care and many more.

pleased with how the day went and the number of people that I got to talk with.”

Overall the Expo was well-attended and appreciated by exhibitors, attendees and event staff. It created a forum for networking and for local businesses to connect with each other to encourage economic growth county-wide. Many exhibitors are already on board for the Cowlitz County Regional Business Expo 2012.

Doug Clay of 72 Degrees Air Heating won the Grand Prize, to Alaska on Norwegian Cruise lations, Doug! At right: Mark County’s tourism director, who organize the event.

Conditioning & a cruise for two Lines. CongratuPlotkin, Cowlitz helped plan and

“This was a really great event that was a huge undertaking,’ said Saskia Terhorst of Saskia Graphic Design. “It’s great for the local business community to have something like this available to really network and make connections. I was very

The regional Afterhours Reception, held in the evening, featured catering by Mike Casetta of Summerland Catering and the Fire Mountain Grill at Hoffstadt Bluffs.

The decks are being swabbed and sails scrubbed and making way to “set sail“ for the 2012 Cowlitz County Regional Business Expo. Mark your calendars for February 24, 2012. For more information, please contact Megan Wells, Cowlitz County Tourism Bureau at megan@visitmtsthelens.com or call 360.577.3137 or Amy Johnson, Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce at ajohnson@kelsolongviewchamber.org or call 360.423.8400.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Weekly legislative breakfast briefings inform members Every Monday morning throughout the State legislative session, Chamber members and others interested gather at the Monticello Hotel for a briefing. The various elcted State representatives usually phone in during the meeting if they can’t be present in person, and the Chamber’s lobbyist makes a scheduled call via speaker phone for the benefit of the group. It’s a great way to stay informed.

Legislative Briefings Every Monday • 7am LaRiviere Room Monticello Hotel • Longview

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AN EVENING WITH THE STARS

Chamber’s Education Foundation to roll out red carpet at awards event The Kelso Longview Chamber’s Education Foundation will honor award recipients at its 2011 Education and Business Awards Celebration – An Evening with the Stars on May 11, 2011 at the Cowlitz Regional Conference Center.

The Education and Business Awards committee works hard behind the scenes to put together the nomination forms and determine who will be the recipients, as well as organizing an event that is as unique and special as the awards themselves.

Award recipients will be honored for demonstrating outstanding standards in each of the following categories:

1563 Olympia Way • Longview, WA 98632

Crystal Apple Awards To employees of local schools and colleges. A maximum of three awards will be presented.

Last year’s Crystal Apple recipients: Administrative: Mary Harding Classified: Cynthia Hanson Teacher: Greg McCormick

Workforce Education Awards Recipients who have demonstrated achievement in providing high quality workforce education and training in Cowlitz County A maximum of two awards will be given.

Last year’s Workforce Education recipients: Workforce Best Practice: PeaceHealth

2011 ~ An Evening with the Stars

Tuesday, May 11, 2011 Cowlitz Regional Conference Center 5:30 pm Social • 6 pm Dinner $50 per person, $340 table of 8 Sponsorships available

around the

WATER COOLER

Are you planning a conventional vacation or a ‘“stay-cation” this year? page 5

Workforce Individual: Jack Smith, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue

Business Excellence Awards Recipients reflect examples of excellence in business service to their customers, the Chamber, and the community. Three awards will be given.

Last year’s Business Excellence recipients: Large Business (50+ employees): Columbia Analytical Services, Inc.; Small Business (50 or less employees): Prographyx; Business Individual: Diane Craft.

Who will be walking down the red car.pet for this year’s celebration? We hope you will join us to find out.

This will be a special evening as we show appreciation to businesses and individuals going above and beyond in commitment and service to better our community.

For more information, please contact the Chamber, 360-423-8400.

IN THIS ISSUE Longview Downtowners . . . . 3 Business Toolbox . . . . . . . . . 4 Business Briefs . . . . . . . . . . 4 President’s Message . . . . . . . 5 Around the Water Cooler . . . 5 Mark Your Calendar . . . . . . . 6

PAGE 2

• APRIL 2011

KELSO LONGVIEW BUSINESS CONNECTION

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KELSO LONGVIEW BUSINESS CONNECTION

PAGE 3

Practitioners of the wheel prepare for annual event

What’s happenin’

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS BITS Signs of Spring Walking the 1200 block of Commerce Street is a real delight these days. The Hospice Thrift Store (1239 Commerce) has color-coordinated its window displays in pastel, primarily colors. Laurel Murphy was hurrying past on a rainy day and caught the pink window and then the yellow window and then stopped and went back to take a closer look. Next door, The Red Hat Thrift Store (1245 Commerce) has a window decorated in white with vintage wedding dresses. Murphy forgot about the rain and stopped at both stores to praise their mood-altering windows. The forecast is for a cold, wet spring; She recommends window shopping.

More than Baby Clothes Another good antidote for winter is also in the 1200 block, Bravo Babies (1231 Commerce). Nancy Limnell, who purchased the business in September, has a brightly colored, well-organized resale shop that “is more than just a baby store.” She carries clothes from infants to young adults as well as toys, furniture, collectibles and homemade

gifts in a room at the back. And it’s bargain priced. Limnell says the average price for clothing is $2.99. The shop is open Mon-Fri, 10-5. 360-425-8491.

I Scream Scoops (1339 Commerce) is offering “Springy” ice cream flavors — Mountain Blackberry, White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle and Lemon Meringue Pie. But the store is still stocking its best selling flavors: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Vanilla, Cotton Candy, Bubble Gum and Licorice. Obviously, kids really like this business. 360-423-4986.

Thinking Ahead Mother’s Day is May 8 and there are many fine products for sale in downtown Longview stores. But a one- pound box of fudge (six flavors available) is an extra special gift because a portion of the purchase price is donated to the Longview Downtowners. The fudge, made by Tom Bert who formerly sold the fudge at The Treasure House, can be picked up at Teague’s Interiors (1267 Commerce). For info, call 360-636-0712.

Planning Ahead Anna Goff (DIY Party Supplies, 1318 Commerce) presented an apocalyptic activity — 2011: Zombies Invade Longview — to the Downtowners at

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their March 8 general meeting. Goff said this “would be an eccentric, funky and fun fall event for people who don’t like to act their age.” The Downtowners will consider why the walking dead are good for Downtown as they work on their 2011-2012 strategic plan. For information, call 360- 423-3747.

Closing Businesses Totally Crazed (706 Triangle Mall), which was formerly located at 1339 Commerce, closed at the end of March.

2nd Edition (1300 Broadway; 360-4256816), which has operated at the corner of Broadway and Commerce for 16 years, plans to close at the end of April.

NEXT MEETING

Everyone interested in Downtown is welcome. Come mix and mingle.

Refreshments will be served.

Info: Doug Harvey 360-636-4477 Longview Downtowners: 360-423-8403, ext. 401

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In its third annual event, Cowlitz on the Move invites people throughout Cowlitz County to commute by bicycle during the week of May 16–20. The goal is to raise awareness of cycling within the community and to promote a healthy, fun and inexpensive mode of transportation. About 100 people participated last year, said Cowlitz on the Move spokesman Paul Youmans, adding that up to 500 riders are anticipated this year.

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Reasons to ride

Bicycling enthusiasts cite several reasons to ride, including improved physical fitness, savings on gas expense, stress relief and a feeling of accomplishment.

Although actual results vary, riders could burn up to 500 calories per hour, according to the event’s promotional materials.

To join the fun and be eligible for prizes, riders should fill out the registration form at www.cowlitzonthemove.org. More information and updates are available by visiting Cowlitz County Bike to Work Week’s Facebook page.

Co-workers within companies or departments are encouraged to participate together, adding to the fun and esprit d’corps.

•••

PAGE 4

• APRIL 2011

business

Local chamber executive to step down Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Rick Winsman, ACE, recently announced he will retire at the end of December this year.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors has established a search committee to begin a nationwide search for his replacement.

Winsman, 64, became the Kelso Longview Chamber president in 2005 and orchestrated the expansion of the Chamber’s advocacy efforts and increased the Chamber’s involvement in local and county-wide tourism.

During his tenure, the County’s largest business group established itself as the “Face of Business” in Cowlitz County, bringing the business community’s position on local and state issues in front of the elected representatives of the 18th and 19th Districts.

The Chamber’s Monday Morning Briefing, held every Monday morning during Washington’s legislative sessions, has grown each year and has developed the appreciation of those officials who represent this area in Olympia. The current 2011 session has seen early victories for business on Unemployment Insurance Reform and is current focusing on Workers’ Comp reform, balancing the current budget and creating the new 2011-2013 biennial budget.

Under Winsman, the Chamber also entered into an agreement with the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners to manage the County Tourism Bureau. Along with the existing management contract for the Kelso Visitors’ Center, this agreement provided additional critical mass to local area tourism. Currently, the Chamber is working with Commissioner James Misner in developing and implementing a new tourism program, the “Big Idea,” to leverage the effectiveness of lodging tax funds countywide.

Winsman previously founded and grew a successful, award-winning manufacturing business in Southern California and was a political consultant and lobbyist for the National Association of Manufacturers.

Chamber

of

Commerce Team

Rick Winsman, President/CEO Norma Davey, Director of Administration Amy Johnson, Program Director Debbie Brock, Bookkeeper Kelso Visitor Center Connie Parsons, Center Director Lois Sigurdson, Center Assistant Cowlitz County Tourism Bureau Mark Plotkin, Tourism Director Megan Wells, Tourism Assistant

Kelso Longview Business Connection

published monthly by Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce 1563 Olympia Way, Longview, WA 98632 360-423-8400 Produced by Columbia River Reader To advertise, call 360-636-1143 or 360-749-2632.

E-mail: nedpiper@comcast.net

KELSO LONGVIEW BUSINESS CONNECTION

business

TOOLBOX

BRIEFS

Kelso Longview

The Chamber Search Committee is expected to name Winsman’s replacement the first part of December to allow a smooth transition.

•••

Got

NEWS?

The Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce helps publicize your promotions, significant happenings and personnel achievements. Send info to: ndavey@ kelsolongviewchamber.org

By Susan Hoosier

Managing your cash flow Over the years, as I have worked with many businesses, it is apparent that many business owners still struggle with managing cash flow. Sometimes business owners are unaware of options for increasing cash flow and other times they are not comfortable projecting cash needs into the future. If your business is struggling with either or both of these situations, I hope to give you some ideas, as follows:

Cash is critical to the health of any business during these tougher economic times, it is more of a challenge to access working capital, particularly if the business is already suffering from poor cash flow. One of the primary factors a lender reviews when looking at a loan request is the business’ ability to cash flow existing debt and the new proposed debt. If the business is already struggling with cash flow, asking for more debt is not likely to draw a positive response from a commercial lender.

Let’s review some alternative ways to improve cash flow •Reduce the time it takes to collect on receivables. This can be done through improved collections, monitoring the status of client accounts and reducing the time that it takes to collect receivables.

•Increase the average sale. If you can get your customers to buy more products or services, sales will increase.

Consider bundling products and services together to entice customers to make a larger purchase.

•Increase marketing efforts. Analyze the success rate of existing advertising and marketing efforts and eliminate those programs that are not giving results and explore possible “guerilla” tactics, i.e. tactics that cost little or no money.

•Cut costs. This seems like a no brainer. However, when tough decisions need to be made, many business owners find it difficult to decide how costs should be cut. Consider working with someone who is objective to help you make those tough decisions.

•Reduce or restructure debt payments. This may involve exploring options with your lender, with a new lender or a proposal that justifies how a new structure will help your business improve cash flow. If you need assistance with a proposal, contact the local SBDC for assistance.

•Reduce or eliminate capital expenditures. If the company is growing, but there are no funds available to purchase assets, is it possible to lease assets?

Growth can be dangerous since most business owners think that increasing sales should be the primary focus of any business. Unfortunately, growth will cost more money and cause strain on cash flow. If the business is already struggling with cash flow, increasing sales may not be a good thing for your business unless you can make adjustments in some of the other areas.

•Increase staff productivity. This process may be more involved since analyzing current productivity can be time consuming if there is no system currently in place to track it.

•Increase prices. This is probably the most difficult decision that a business owner needs to make. There are ways to analyze your pricing to determine whether your pricing makes sense in light of what is going on in the market place. The decision to move forward with this step does not need to be arbitrary.

If the primary tool used to analyze cash flow in your business is the Statement of Cash Flow (which is one of the standard financial statements you can print from your accounting program), you are waiting too long to get a handle on your cash flow. It’s already history! The Statement of Cash Flow tells you how the company is generating its cash and provides a general sense of how it uses its money. It can also tell you how liquid the organization is.

The Statement of Cash Flow can tell you other important things, but more importantly, in my estimation, is the need for businesses to project cash flow long before it becomes history.

If an organization fails to project in advance for its cash needs, then there will be no way to proactively address cash shortfalls. This is a very dangerous position to be in.

Preparing financial projections can be an intimidating process. If you would like assistance with this process, the Small Business Development Center can help and can provide tools to help business owners raise their level of comfort in this arena so that developing financial projections becomes a routine practice. Contact the Small Business Development Center at 360442-2946.

Excerpts from an SBDC publication were modified by Susan J. Hoosier, a Certified Business Advisor with the Longview Small Business Development Center, part of the 24-office Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) network offering in-depth, confidential, and no-cost management advice to Washington businesses.

Visit www.wsbdc or contact Hoosier at shoosier@wsu.edu or 360-442-2946.

KELSO LONGVIEW BUSINESS CONNECTION

PAGE 5

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

When is Enough Enough?

Rick Winsman

Egypt, Christchurch, Tucson, Libya, quickly, she was pulled away and had and now Japan. So much is happening one last glimpse of the Pacific through and, seemingly, all at the same time. the window, leaving behind one of her Several years' worth of troubles, one most cherished possessions – a grand after the other, all bunched together. piano.

Evidently, current events have not paid Her father soon became ill and died in heed to a detention Professor center in Wheeler’s Idaho. At admonishwar's end, ment. Well, Kaz, her sisEnough! ter and her The Japamother and . nese are hundreds stoic and of others resourcewere transful, but how John Archibald Wheeler (1911-2008) ported back much can to San Franany one cisco and left to manage for themselves people tolerate over the span of 70 at the ferry terminal. They made their years? way to their home only to find it had

“

around the

WATER COOLER

Question: Are you planning a conventional vacation this year or are you “stay-cationing” around the area?

“We’re going to Mazatlan. We’ve never been to Mexico. It’s been forever since we’ve taken a 10-day vacation . . . anywhere.”

Time is what prevents everything from happening at once

As a young man entering the rough and tumble world of politics in Chicago, I was fortunate to have, as one of my administrative assistants (back then we called them “secretaries”), a woman of Japanese ancestry with a history that would fill me with awe and inspiration when I learned of it. I had not thought much about Kazuko over the years, until events in Japan over the past several weeks brought me full circle to her once again.

Kaz was born nearly eight decades ago in Japan. Her father was a rising executive of a Japanese corporation and soon was promoted to head the American subsidiary based in San Francisco. She and her parents settled into one of San Francisco's fabled Victorians with a panoramic view of the Pacific.

A younger sister was born in San Francisco and she and Kaz attended public school. Her father built the business and hired more and more people, mostly what they called "whites" but also many Chinese and African Americans. The two girls spoke English with each other and their father, but only Japanese with their mother, who missed her family and friends in Japan.

In the middle of a school day, Kaz was told by her teacher that she must return home immediately. Puzzled and alarmed, fearing something had happened to her parents or sister, Kaz raced home. There, as uniformed soldiers stood by, her parents told her that the family was being removed to an internment camp along with other Japanese and Japanese Americans.

Kaz had heard about war between her native land and the United States but had not understood what that meant.

She did not have room for everything and had to make painful choices about what to take and what to leave. Too

”

~Gian Morelli, Executive Director, Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts Longview “It’s not that often I take a vacation.

We’ll be doing short trips to the beach or something close. I’m not a ‘vacation person.’

I don’t like getting on a plane. It’s nice to stay home and just goof.”

been sold for unpaid taxes and belonged to a white family. The girls learned from neighbors that their father's company had been taken over by the U.S. government. Nothing remained except her father's automobile, which a neighbor had stored for them.

The neighbor showed Kaz how to operate the shift and pedals and, incredibly, Kaz drove her mother and sister east, away from their horrible homecoming.

Kaz had never driven a car but managed to drive as far away from San Francisco as she could with a gas station map and the money that had been returned to them when they were released from internment.

They were in New Jersey when they spoke with other Japanese who told them of a neighborhood in a place called Chicago where a person could live each day speaking only Japanese, buying food at the Japanese market and reading recent newspapers sent from Japan.

Kaz consulted the much-folded map and backtracked until she found Niseitown on the north side of Chicago.

Early in the war, the U.S. had faced a crippling labor shortage. Most men were drafted to fight. The federal government decided to permit nisei (second-generation Japanese-Americans) to work in major American cities. Most nisei were sent to Chicago. Forbidden to leave the city and unable to switch jobs, the nisei suffered racial and wartime discrimination. Still, life was better than in the detention camps.

When Japanese-Americans were released from internment in January, 1945, many headed to Chicago to join relatives. The Japanese population jumped to 25,000 from a few hundred, and with the end of the war, Japanese companies began exporting Japanese foods and clothing to Chicago, followed by banks cont. page 6

• APRIL 2011

“We’re planning a vacation in Japan.

Unfortunately, we’ve already paid for it. So far, it’s on.”

~Cynthia Jolly, M.D, Health Coach, Take Shape for Life, Longview

~Arlene Hubble Ad Rep, The Daily News, Longview “I’m getting out of town . . . going to the street rod West Coast Nationals in Bakersfield, California.

I haven’t done it in about 10 years.”

~Rick Johnson, Executive Director, Humane Society of Cowlitz County, Longview

“Around the Water Cooler” is a regular feature of Kelso-Longview Business Connection. Watch for our roving reporter this month at a water cooler near you.

PAGE 6

• APRIL 2011

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Every MONDAY:

Lower Columbia Professionals Committee

January 7 – April 10 Monday Morning Briefing Breakfast

Aaron Dawson, Opsahl Dawson & Co.

Education Foundation Committee

Carey Mackey, Red Canoe Credit Union

Member2Member Monthly Mailing Deadline

Darren Goan, American Red Cross

April 6

April 11 April 12

Longview Downtowners

David Schaafsma

April 14

De De Brill, Northwest Continuum Care Center

April 19

Erik Guttormsen, Fibre Federal Credit Union

May 11

Gretchen Taylor, Stewart Title

Ambassador Committee Business After Hours Business & Education Awards – An Evening with the STARS

Jason Meunier, Twin City Bank

June 17

Jennifer Dawson, Opsahl Dawson & Co.

August 24

Julie Laird, Bicoastal Media

KLCC Annual Golf Classic Mega Mixer

Every WEDNESDAY

Your Chamber Connection KEDO AM1400 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

FREE COUNSELING & GUIDANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS

(existing or being formed) Provided by S.C.O.R.E., an adjunct of the Small Business Administration.

Counseling is by appointment only. Call 360.699.1079

Keri Verhei, Elder Options

KELSO LONGVIEW BUSINESS CONNECTION

Enough? cont. from page 5 and trading companies. Indeed, it was soon possible to go about daily life entirely in the Japanese language if not entirely in Japanese culture.

Kaz's sister, an American citizen by birth, was so bitter and distraught at the treatment she, her family and other Japanese had received that she vowed to go to Japan as soon as she was old enough. She did and married a Japanese and raised a family and never returned to the U.S. Kaz quickly adjusted to the bilingual world of Niseitown. Her mother lived a life as Japanese as possible. She did not want to return to Japan and see the devastation of warfare. Kaz wanted to be an "American girl" and she became an American citizen as soon as the law permitted.

Last week, Kaz could not reach her sister in Japan. Later that day, I learned

Lonnie Knowles, Stewart Title Nick Lemiere, Edward Jones Nita Rudd, Cascade Title Company Russ Chittock – Russ Chittock American Family Ins. Agency Stephanie Bullock, Heritage Bank Steve Moon, Foster Farms

Chamber Ambassador Committee Russ Chittock American Family Insurance Lisa Allen Banda's Bouquets Nick Lemiere Edward Jones Sherr y Bean Employers Overload D'Dee Douglas Express Employment Professionals Kerr y Riley Futcher-Henry Group Diana Loback Global Images - Graphic Design & Marketing Jeni Quiriconi HeartSong Massage Jim Zonich Kelso Hardware Marine Tom Iverson KLOG/KUKN Diane Craft Koelsch Senior Communities Susan Sherwin Longview Memorial Park Carrie Medack National City Mortgage Kathy Kyllonen NW Continuum Care Center Aman Wasu Prudential NW Properties Pam Fierst Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center Walt Naze, Retired Shannon Werner, Sign Smart USA Myrna Rak, SignMasters, Inc. Lonnie Knowles, Stewart Title Glenda Ashe, Twin City Bank Jason Meunier, Twin City Bank Donna Hughes, WorkSource

from a mutual friend that she had finally heard from her sister and family. They had been caught in the mass movement of people from the northern to the southern part of Japan.

Kazuko knew that the Japanese are strong and resilient, no matter which country they call home. "They're strong like us Americans," she once said. She also said, "I am lucky to be an American but the United States is luckier to have me."

I agree.

••• Rick Winsman is President of the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce.

Follow us on Twitter!

2011-2012

Board of Directors Officers

Frank McShane, Chair Cascade Networks, Inc. Dale Lemmons, Immediate Past Chair, Interstate Wood Products Jerri Henr y, Treasurer Futcher - Henry Group Mike Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching Rick Winsman Kelso Longview Chamber

Directors

John Anderson, Anderson & Anderson Advisory, LLC David Campbell, City of Longview Sarah Cave, PeaceHealth Diane Craft, Koelsch Senior Communities Joel Hanson KLOG/KUKN/TheWAVE Mike Julian Kelso Theatre Pub Bianca Lemmons Cowlitz County Title George Raiter Cowlitz County Commissioners Denny Richards City of Kelso Julie Rinard Community Home Health & Hospice Spencer Partridge PNE Construction & CCS Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Dev’p Center Neil Zick Twin City Bank

KELSO LONGVIEW BUSINESS CONNECTION

PAGE 7

• APRIL 2011

Advertise in

KELSO – LONGVIEW

Vol. 1, No. 10 • Feb. 2010

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May Ad Deadline: Friday, April 15 For rates or to place your ad, call Ned Piper 360-749-2632.

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Recycle Monitors, Computers, Laptops, Cell Phones, TVs, CPU Towers & MORE Saturday, April 23 • 10 am–4 pm • Parking Lot near Izzy’s Pizza, Three Rivers Mall, Kelso. I-5 Exit 39

PAGE 8

• APRIL 2011

KELSO LONGVIEW BUSINESS CONNECTION

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