Volume 7, No. 10
October 2015
Business Kelso Longview
Connection Chamber of Commerce
Educating businesses on taking chances By Brenda Sexton For the Kelso Longview Chamber “I did not dream about going to prison as a child. I wanted to be a teacher,” Gina McConnell-Otten said. For 11 years, McConnell-Otten called a correctional facility home, but today as she finishes up a temporary position with Goodwill Work Opportunity Center of Cowlitz County, she can describe her job as a support specialist for Student Services with the Post-Prison Education Program as teaching. “With support and education there is nothing we can’t do,” said McConnellOtten, with the “we” standing for those currently incarcerated, but inspired and driven to create a different life when released. She volunteers with the Post-Prison Education Program (PPEP) – giving back to the program that gave her so much. The Seattle-based nonprofit’s goal is to
Gina McConnellOtten uses her education and work experience after release from prison to return to help those still incarcerated. reduce recidivism through education and support, two things McConnell-Otten needed when she decided to move her life forward after her 2011 release from the correctional facility. Inspired by a PPEP visit, while still behind bars, she buckled down and earned her high school diploma. She began a work release program in Seattle and earned a scholarship to attend a Seattle community college. The scholarship came from a woman whose brother had been incarcerated. McConnell-Otten was its first recipient. “I knew I was street smart,” McConnellOtten said. “But I didn’t think I was book smart. “I was uncomfortable and worried about stepping foot on a college campus. I thought everyone would see the big F on my forehead, the big F for felon. But no one saw it.” Her comfort zone continued to be tested. She was selected to be one of several fel-
ons teamed with University of Washington honor students for a quarter. What, she wondered – what would a privileged bunch of kids have in common with someone with a 13-page, front and back, rap sheet? The two diverse groups discovered common ground, and the project proved successful and eye opening. “The PPEP program literally built me up and loved me where I was at,” she said. “They’ve been there through it all for me, thick and thin.” So have the words of a judge who called her a waste of air, menace to society, and said she would amount to no good. As did the words from a friend she left behind in prison who told her, “I want you to not come back here. I want you to be my voice.” McConnell-Otten took those words to heart. Despite the “smell of lack of hope” that permeates through prisons, she re-
Please see Chances, page 2
Calendar
Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Friday
October 2 – 7:30 a.m. Boot Camp Retail Series Pricing Strategies – Cowlitz County LCC Heritage Room
Wednesday
October 7 – 7:30 a.m. Education Foundation Committee Canterbury Park, 1335 3rd Ave., Longview
“I did not dream about going to prison as a child. I wanted to be a teacher.”
Thursday
October 8 – 7:30 a.m. Ambassador Committee Canterbury Park, 1335 3rd Ave., Longview
Friday
October 9 – 7:30 a.m. Boot Camp Retail Series Promotions Strategies – Advertising LCC Heritage Room
Tuesday
October 13 – 5:30 p.m. Business After Hours American Workforce Group 1104 14th Ave., Longview
Friday
October 16 – 7:30 a.m. Boot Camp Retail Series Online Sales? Facebook? How to get in the game! LCC Heritage Room
Tuesday
Gina McConnell-Otten
Chances, from page 1 turns to share her story with PPEP. She participates in The If Project, a collaboration of law enforcement and previously incarcerated adults, who focus on intervention and prevention by sharing their stories, primarily with at-risk youth. She has testified at Legislative meetings. She shares her story with local organizations. She recently spoke at a joint meeting between the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Career Development Council (CWCDC) and the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce's Education Foundation. Chamber CEO Bill Marcum said the two organizations were discussing goals for 2016 to see if there were synergies each could use together to better work place employment. "She talked about the prison education program and wow, she was dynamic, passionate and knowledgeable," Marcum said. McConnell-Otten works with at-risk youth in her current position. A job that was hard to find. After she married and moved from Seattle to Kalama, she found her background stood in the way of employment. Using her resources, she found a line through AmeriCorps and ended up at the Goodwill Work Opportunity Center. That job was scheduled to end Sept. 30. Sad, but OK, she said. She has a plan.
October 20 – Noon Board of Directors Longview Country Club 41 Country Club Dr., Longview
Twelve credits shy of her goal when she left Seattle; McConnell-Otten plans to return to school to finish what she started. Education plays a key role in breaking the cycle of crime, she said. A minimum-wage job is a good start to build confidence, but a 2- or 4-year degree provides a living wage and stability.
Friday
According to PPEP, studies show that two years of post-secondary education reduces the rate of recidivism by more than 50 percent.
October 23 – 7:30 a.m. Bonus Boot Camp Critical Thinking and Problem Solving LCC Heritage Room
Her message: “Everybody wants to feel like they have a purpose. Take a second chance on someone coming out of prison.”
Friday
October 30 – 7:30 a.m. Boot Camp Retail Series What does your window/store say to customers? LCC Heritage Room
Every Wednesday
Chamber Connections KEDO/1400 AM – 3 to 4 p.m. Stream live at www.threeriversradio.com Local guest and current events
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L FAL15 20
L FAL15 20
2015 Small Business
BOOT CAMP
2015 Small Business Friday Mor nings Lower Columbia College
BOOT CAMP ★
7:30 am - 9 am
★ Heritage
Room at LCC - Admin. Bldg.
RETAILING Six Pack 11 2015 Fall Series begins Friday, September Sept. 11 What does your window and your store say to customers? Friday Mornings ★ Lower Columbia College Talking about window displays, store displays, signage in the store,
dust on Room the items, poor 7:30 am - 9 am ★ Heritage at lighting LCCetc.- Admin. Bldg. Facilitator: Bob Green, RW Green and Associates.
Sept. 18 Employee Training – Are your employees trained to help the customer
or just ring upSix a sale? Kevin Hunter, The Business Forum Show. RETAILING Pack
Sept. 25 window Purchasing Do you have a plan? Sept. 11 What does your andStrategies your store– say to customers? Facilitator: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor SBDC Talking about window displays, store displays, signage in the store, Oct. 2 Pricing Strategies – Cowlitz County dust on the items, poor lighting etc. Facilita tor: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor SBDC Facilitator: RW Strategies Green and–Associates. Oct. 9Bob Green, Promotion Advertising: mail, radio, online, print. Sept. 18 Employee Training – Are your trained to helpChamber the customer Facilitator: Bill employees Marcum, Kelso Longview or just Oct. ring up Hunter, The Business Forum Show. 16 a sale? OnlineKevin Sales? Facebook? How to get in the game! Sept. 25 Purchasing Strategies – DoTom youMay, haveMay52 a plan? Facilitator: Inc. Facilitator: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor SBDC Oct. 2 Pricing Strategies – Cowlitz County Facilitator: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor $ SBDC Oct. 9 Promotion Strategies – Advertising: mail, radio, online, Members print. $ Non-Members Facilitator: Bill Marcum, Kelso Longview Chamber Oct. 16 Online Sales? Facebook? How to get in the game!Register at: Facilitator: Tom May, May52 Inc. www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
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100 Members 160 Non-Members $
Now this is Truth in Advertising ‘Tools you can use to help you immediately’. The Kelso Longview $ Chamber of Commerce hit the nail on the head with their most recent Business Boot Camp. As an administrator and business owner with over 25 years leadership experience, I walked Register at: away every week with new tools, inspiration, motivation and a desire to strive to improvewww.kelsolongviewchamber.org my business by leaps and bounds. The courses were well planned, the content was interesting, relevant, informative, inspiring,, thought provoking and challenging. I can not say that I have ever spent so little and received so much. I can not wait until the next series. Now this is Truth in Advertising ‘Tools you canbusiness use to help you immeThe best investment in my I have ever made. Barbara A. Sudar • Administrator diately’. The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce hit the nail on theLongview Urology head with their most recent Business Boot Camp. As an Owner/Partner: administrator Estetica Day Spa
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and business owner with over 25 years leadership experience, I walked away every week with new tools, inspiration, motivation and a desire to strive to improve my business by leaps and bounds. The courses were well planned, the content was interesting, relevant, informative, inspiring,, thought provoking and challenging. I can not say that I have ever spent so little and received so much. I can not wait until the next series. The best investment in my business I have ever made. www.kelsolongviewchamber.org Barbara A. Sudar • Administrator Longview Urology Owner/Partner: Estetica Day Spa
360-423-8400
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
CEO’s Message
Maximum information needed for minimum wage vote By Bill Marcum CEO – Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Liberal billionaire Nick Hanauer is gearing up for his own initiative, which he calls “$16 in ‘16”. A push for a $16 minimum wage statewide.
I hope each of you have been following the minimum wage publicity that has been sweeping across the state of Washington. This past year the Legislature did not move forward on an increase to the state’s minimum wage bill that was proposed. The proposal would have taken the state minimum wage from its already highest in the nation $9.47 to $12 over the next four or five years – ahead of the general cost of living increase of each year.
Polling by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) shows that a $12 initiative would pass by a healthy margin and a $15 minimum wage by a narrow margin at this time. Below are a couple of links to stories about what was discussed above. http://ballotpedia.org/City_of_Tacoma_$15_per_Hour_Minimum_Wage_Measure,_Initiative_No._1_(November_2015)
A $15 minimum wage initiative will be on the ballot for Tacoma voters Nov. 3. If approved the minimum wage would immediately go to $15 per hour for all businesses with annual gross revenue of $300,000 or more. The initiative also sets a cost-ofliving increase each year based on the consumer price index for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue market.
http://shiftwa.org/liberal-billionaire-gears-up-for-statewide16-minimum-wage-push-in-2016/ The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce has this site running, telling its members that $15 is too extreme. There are some excellent facts and figures for you to look at, http://www.know15. com/
When the initiative was certified the Tacoma City Council put an alternative measure on the ballot calling for the city’s minimum wage to move to $12 per hour by 2018.
How will a $12, $15 or even $16 minimum wage affect your business? Most business owners I talk with say it will be devastating, but not all agree. Either way you need to be informed. Read as much as you can, run a cost analysis on your business and do some research. At some point you; your employees, and your family will be asked to vote on one or more of these initiatives.
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Karen Sisson, Project Manager Amy Hallock, Bookkeeper
The Kelso Longview Chamber Government Affairs Committee will be listening to you, to our Legislators and, to the AWB, trying to make a determination about how and what your Chamber will support or not support.
Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce. 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or e-mail bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month.
Here is my e-mail, bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org, let me know your thoughts and I will share them with the committee...thank you.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council
Business involvement is key to educating future workforce By Julia Maglione Communications Manager – Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council Technology jobs are growing twice as fast as other jobs nationally and offer some of the best-paying positions. Workers for these jobs are in demand in Washington State as evidenced by the more than 20,000 technology jobs currently open. Technology touches just about every industry and it’s not just computer programmers, software developers, robotics engineers and database managers; manufacturing, health care, finance/banking and law enforcement, among others, all have jobs that depend on knowledge of technology. Similar to other industries, technology is facing a shortage of skilled workers. By 2020, there will be 100,000 more jobs nationally than trained workers. While STEM-focused education is a critical component of maintaining our country’s competitiveness, it will not be enough to curtail the shortages. More than half of projected jobs in STEM fields are in technology occupations; however, not enough students are enrolling in technology classes to meet the need. The Business After School (BAS) program was developed to help bridge the labor gap by bringing young adults, ages 16 to 24, faceto-face with industries that will have jobs to fill. BAS Technology Week is Dec. 7, 8 and 9 and we invite businesses to get involved now. Fostering interest and tapping into the talents of our future workforce through participation in Business After School is an excellent way to showcase your company while also providing a young person access and information to potential careers. Sponsors are the key to making the nonprofit Business After School program successful. Sponsors provide a two-hour onsite visit for participants that includes a company tour, hands-on activity, discussion of the types of jobs in your company, education and training required, salary ranges and opportunities for internships, summer employment, etc. Sponsorship applications for Technol-
ogy Week are due by Oct. 27. Businesses may choose to sponsor a program year for $2,500 or an industry week for $500 or $250. Business After School highlights four industries a year: engineering, health care, manufacturing and technology. Manufacturing is the focus Oct. 5, 6 and 7 and is being sponsored by American Paper Converting in Woodland, NORPAC in Longview and Columbia Machine, Linear Technology, CID-Bioscience and Sigma Design in Clark County. Registration is required to attend an event and individuals can sign up at www.business-after-school.org. Engineering will be highlighted in February and health care in May. For more information, contact Cass Parker, SWWDC’s Program Coordinator, at cparker@swwdc.org or 360-567-1076 or visit the BAS website at www.business-after-school.org. Julia Maglione is communications manager at the SWWDC. She can be reached at jmaglione@swwdc.org or 360-567-3176. Facilitating Growth Through Leadership and Action
We are a membership based not-for-profit organization. Join us today! Resources • Access • Partnerships
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1452 Hudson St. • US Bank Building Suite 208 • Longview, WA 360.423.9921 www.cowlitzedc.com
12/12/15 Festive Sponsorship Levels Grand Bell: $1,000
Logo on all marketing materials, website, advertising, large logo on shirt, runner’s bag, banner at event (provided by Sponsor), promo item inside runner’s packets, and six (6) free registrations with shirts
Gold Bell: $500
Logo on all marketing materials, website, advertising, medium logo on shirt, promo item inside runner’s packet and four (4) free registrations with shirts
Silver Bell: $250
Logo on all marketing materials, website, advertising, logo on shirt, promo item in runner’s bag, two (2) free registrations with shirt
Bronze Bell: $100
Logo on shirt and promo item in runner’s bag
Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Lower Columbia College
A new vocational building on campus in our future planning By Chris Bailey President – Lower Columbia College
ergy efficiencies and classroom efficiencies. We are very excited about this potential change to the campus! Additionally, LCC plans on doing roughly $3 million worth of renovation to the Main Building this year. Main is the original LCC campus building, built in the 1950s. The remodel will include a renovation of the old biology lab and cadaver room into more useable classroom, faculty, and staff space. It may also include replacement of the old elevator and some external work to tie the building to the rest of the campus design. We are very proud of the improved functionality of our campus, as well as its beautiful new look. Come by and see your new-look LCC!
In December 2015, Lower Columbia College (LCC) will be 1 of 10 of the state’s 34 community colleges to compete for a new building project. It is expected that 3 of the 10 proposals will be funded by the Legislature based on the state’s bonding capacity. After a two-year long Facilities Master Plan process, it appears LCC has settled on its proposed project: A new vocational building! Based on the recommendation from our process, it is likely we will be requesting a 50,000-square-foot building. It will house an expanded welding program, and an expanded machining program, along with other vocational programs and some additional general classroom space. This new vocational building, if approved, will replace some 1950s and 1960s single story buildings. It will improve both en-
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Diane Craft, President Koelsch Senior Communities
Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College
Michael Julian Kelso Theater Pub
Julie Rinard, President Elect Community Home Health & Hospice
Clayton J. Bartness, DC Longview Chiropractic Clinic
Bianca Lemmons Cowlitz County Title Company
Lance Welch, Vice President PeaceHealth
Ken Botero Longview City Council
Frank Panarra Foster Farms
Joel Hanson, Past President KLOG/KUKN/The Wave
Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds
Tom Rozwod NORPAC/Weyerhaeuser
Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank
Linda DiLembo Three Rivers Mall
Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council
Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching
Wendy Hutchinson Millennium Bulk Terminals
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Steve Taylor Kelso City Manager Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner
Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Council of Governments
Communication – Is listening really the answer? By Bill Fashing Executive Director – Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments Members of the Housing First Coalition recently participated in a training session conducted by Joe Brewer from Seattle. The session focused on building trust and asking important questions and took place in an effort to enhance the effectiveness of the Coalition with an introduction of “Polarity Management”. The Coalition is a collaborative partnership of local agencies whose primary goal is to combat and end homelessness, address mental health issues, and provide support for persons with substance abuse challenges. The training helped me to think about these issues from a different perspective and the system can possibly be used by many as they approach those challenging situations where there does not seem to be common ground. Planners sometimes refer to these as a “wicked problem”. Joe took the participants on a brief tour of Cognitive Biases that influence how we make decisions. He also introduced a powerful yet simple tool for managing conflict called Polarity Management. The interactive session ended with a discussion on how the political nature of data impacts opinions and how the kinds of questions we ask can sometimes inadvertently lead to conflict. The rest of this article takes a fairly simplistic look at Polarity Management. We have all heard stories about discussing politics and religion at family events. I know it usually does not end well in the Fashing household. I have been trained over the years to become a better listener, believing that it would be useful in solving problems and enhancing understanding. In some cases listening may not be enough. Because we are placing biases and filters on what we hear all of the time, we ultimately limit our understanding of what the other party is trying to convey. Brewer pointed out that we are not always problem solving when it comes to conflict. Sometimes we are addressing unsolvable problems and the proper approach might be an
effort to manage the two poles of the issue. Discussions on these unsolvable problems often end in an agreement to disagree. Complicated topics don’t go away, that is why conflict resolution tactics don’t always work. Conflict management better address these situations. These unsolvable problems are based on the polar divisions of certain issues. We all tend to see the positive nature of the pole we support and the negative nature of the pole we oppose. What if we all strove to see the positive of the opposing opinion in our efforts to understand the issues at hand? Would it impact the ability to communicate? Would it expand our understanding of the issue and solidify a position or provide greater opportunity for possible compromise? As a supporter of Pole 1, I naturally tend to be in quadrant A and D when supporting my position. A better understanding of B and C
Source: Dr. Barry Johnson
might help lead me to the desired compromise. Does acknowledging our biases and working to manage the polarized nature of our community make sense? Does reframing our perspectives work to support the goals we all have for ourselves, our families and for our community?
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Business Toolbox
All employees are not alike... and that is a good thing By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser If you look around at your workforce and customers we have more generations in our workforce and our economy than ever before – what does that mean to your business? How can we build better teams; understand our customers; and thrive because of diversity rather than be distracted or confused by it? Keep in mind…your customer base is a reflection of your employee base. What generations are we talking about? Baby Boomers • Born 1946-1962 • Major life influence = parents who lived through the Great Depression • Beliefs about work = loyal to companies – value their job • Largest population demographic Generation X • Born 1963-1977 • Major life influence = saw parents laid off from long-term jobs • Beliefs about work=companies are not loyal – jobs are transitory; skeptical • Expect to move from job to job Generation Y • Born 1978-1998 • Influenced by Internet • Information at their fingertips • Want to know WHY? • 2nd largest demographic (60-70 million) • Making their presence felt in the workforce
• Social media IS • Diversity and equality are assumed • Collaboration is the norm For the first time in history, we have four generations active in our economy at the same time. This reality presents great opportunities for the institutions and businesses who pay attention to the needs and desires of these groups; especially Generation Y as they overtake the Boomers both in number and economic influence. To help you further appreciate the opportunities presented by this demographic, let’s take a closer look at how and what they think, believe, and value. Interesting Facts About Gen Y ➢ Teen arrests are down ➢ Teen drug use is down ➢ Teen drunk-driving accidents are down ➢ Teen pregnancy is down ➢ Teen abortions are down ➢ High school dropout rates are down The Truth About Gen Y • A generation of new confidence, upbeat and full of self-esteem • The most education minded generation in history • A generation paving the way to a more open, tolerant society • A generation leading a new wave of volunteerism Gen Y is Education Minded • 90 percent of high school seniors expect to attend college • 70 percent of them expect to work in professional jobs • 70 percent believe college is necessary to achieve career goals • 40 percent of college freshman plan to get a master’s degree They want to make a difference…
Generation Z • Born after 1998
Please see Petrick, page 11
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Business Toolbox Petrick, from page 10
o How will I be rewarded today? Although every generation exhibits ‘youthful impatience’; Gen Y demonstrates healthy impatience and when their tasks and responsibilities are at stake they ask…“How can I do my job when I don’t have the training, resources, and information to pull it off?” Organizations that can’t or won’t customize training, career paths, incentives, and work responsibilities need a wake-up call. Gen Y people are more entrepreneurial than Gen Xers. Generation Yers are starting more successful businesses in high school than any previous generation. How can you employ that entrepreneurial spirit in your workplace? Keep the following Gen Y/Z expectations in mind as you consider the culture and climate you have; would like to create in your business. Here are some things you can do to meet their expectations so they and your business thrive: 1. Provide challenging work that really matters 2. Balance clearly delegated assignments with freedom and flexibility 3. Offer increasing responsibility as a reward for accomplishments 4. Spend time getting to know your people and their capabilities 5. Provide ongoing training and learning opportunities 6. Establish mentoring relationships 7. Create a comfortable, low-stress environment 8. Allow some flexibility in scheduling 9. Focus on work, but be personable and have a sense of humor 10. Balance the roles of ‘boss’ and ‘team member’ 11. Treat Yers as colleagues, not as interns or teenagers 12. Be respectful – respect will be returned 13. Consistently provide CONSTRUCTIVE feedback 14. Reward Yers when they have done a good job 15. Social media IS – get in front of and embrace the reality; don’t bemoan the truth Take a moment to reflect on the expectations above. You may find that these expectations will serve ALL of your employees well – including you, the owner.
A 21-year-old machinist is excited about working in an electrical shop precisely because “it’s an environment where you can produce something useful, and you can see people glad they have this piece of equipment that never existed before.” It’s magic to them. EMPLYOYER’S HINT The magic for Gen Yers comes in making a difference; in making something worthwhile; while working with a great team and receiving the rewards they think they have earned. Team is Important – Collaboration (often using social media – including in the workplace) is vital. Gen Yers expect to be part of a highly motivated team of committed people. They like working closely and learning from colleagues they respect. They hope to socialize and even form friendships with their coworkers. The human connection is what makes work ‘FUN’ for Generation Y. Reality Check for Business Owners – What happens to Gen Yers when you also employ crotchety old grouches who seem to have a negative outlook on everything? Money Matters, BUT… Gen Yers have lofty financial and personal goals and fully expect to meet them. The dilemma is that most jobs available to Gen Y will be at or slightly above minimum wage and meet none of their financial expectations. Progressive employers will figure out a way to offer Gen Y incentives that their competitors are willing or able to offer. Gen Y will work for both financial and non-financial rewards. What to Expect from Gen Y • Comfortably self-reliant • Want technology and everything else RIGHT NOW • Want infinitely thrilling opportunities • They have been micromanaged by parents, teachers, counselors, and others throughout their life • Coach them to manage their time but DO NOT over supervise or breathe down their necks • They don’t care about climbing company ladders, paying dues, or cashing out at retirement…they ask: o What value can I add today? o What can I learn today? o What will you offer me today?
This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Adviser with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Longview. Jerry provides no-cost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via e-mail jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
When is your creative time? By Chuck Nau Retail Consultant and Sales and Management Trainer Murray & Nau, Inc.
stepping out of your comfort zone, conceiving and developing some new ideas while challenging and overcoming some accepted norms. You’ll observe along the way that as you ASK (Always Seeking Knowledge) questions and uncover new possibilities you will develop a hunger and a motivation for new learning and SUCCESS! Let’s pause one more time...and clarify this thing called creativity. Creativity is simply being able to conceive, develop and utilize new ideas or strategies when working with existing resources. Your creative thinking will flourish best in an ASKing environment that allows increased questioning and thinking plus an acceptance of challenging the ordinary while utilizing your past experience and knowledge. Much like changing a habit or driving a different way to and from work...the change itself will cause you to notice things in a new way, to increase your awareness of what’s out there. Creativity is your personal treasure! Enhancing it ever so slightly will help you develop new approaches and find new solutions for every day challenges. Discipline yourself, a step at a time, to use the power of questions...within yourself, brainstorming with yourself, to stimulate your creativity and assure both your continued learning and growth...continual questioning will help stimulate the flow of creativity. Once you are comfortable (and confident) with yourself and your newfound creative freedom, consider bringing your staff and fellow employees into the loop. Again, the benefits to your business, your work environment and your life will grow. When’s your creative time? To find it...schedule it! Start slowly...reserve one hour a day, three days a week, for the first month. At the end of the first month, check how well you did and then challenge yourself to do more next
When’s your creative time? Do you have any creative time? Yes! No! I do not know! Well, let’s pause for a moment, and allow me to ask you to do this simple search. Take a look at last week’s calendar, or for that matter, look at the last two weeks or past month, and highlight those times you set aside for your creative time. Surprised? You are at a loss inasmuch as you cannot find any such time...exactly the point of this month’s column. As a small business owner, retailer or service provider, creativity is fuel for the ongoing nurturing and growth of your business. It not only feeds your business, it feeds your soul! New ideas, new products or services, new questions in search of answers and new opportunities to target for your business’ revenue enhancement – all need some time on your calendar to bubble up into that “aha!” moment. According to my artist son and many of his fellow artists, creativity is play. That’s the easy part. Learning to allow ourselves to play is the hard part and the hard work, my son will tell you. Likewise, to live a creative life, one must lose the fear of being wrong. Let’s pause again for a moment…some of this sounding familiar to you? In today’s changing and challenging environment, finding your creative voice is one of the most critical skills you can invest in. As things change around us, we sometime forget that things need to change within us also. The heart of that change is inside us – the seeing, the observing, the awareness. Enhancing your creative voice to find new ideas, new answers and new solutions will keep you at the forefront, setting you apart from others and a step ahead of your competitors. To discover new things, you will find yourself
Please see Nau, page 13
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Nau, from page 12
conducted advertising and marketing workshops with retailers, chambers of commerce, community marketing groups, and re-
month. The best time to schedule your creative time? Creative people will often tell you it is first thing in the morning, as soon as you wake up and begin your day. And yes, it’s ALWAYS best to do it BEFORE you check your phone or e-mail! Last, but not least, something good is going to happen today...make sure you are looking for it!
tail organizations throughout North America. Based in Seattle, Nau is a 25-year veteran of advertising, sales, media and management, who knows and understands the everyday challenges of starting up, growing, and surviving in today’s ever changing retail climate.
© Murray & Nau, Inc. Chuck Nau of Murray & Nau, Inc. is a retail consultant and sales and management trainer. He has been a speaker for and
Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed to Chuck via e-mail: murnau@nwlink.com or at 425-603-0984.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Kelso
Longview
Three words: Streets, streets, streets
Volunteers make our gem sparkle
By Mayor David Futcher
By City Councilman Ken Botero
What are the three most important issues in city government? Sometimes it seems akin to the old adage about the three most important factors in real estate: Streets, streets, and streets.
With the wonderful summer months fading behind us, and all of the wonderful summer activities within our communities coming to an end, we need to take the time now to reflect on how all of these opportunities came together. VOLUNTEERS. Volunteers make up the largest work force in our community.
Our streets are a common denominator that we all share. They’re something we use regularly, and often when we’re in a state of mind that doesn’t exactly lend itself to forgiveness and understanding. So, when lights turn red at an inopportune time or we hit a bump while already stressed out from being late, it’s hard to stay patient. Ergo, we receive a lot of comments about street quality.
Look at the events that Longview, and our surrounding community provided: Fishing derby at Lake Sacajawea; Concerts in the Park; Independence celebration, including the Independence Day Parade; Black Bears baseball; LCC sports events; Babe Ruth activities; National Night Out; the many different fun runs; the new and ever popular Squirrel Fest; the car shows in the area; and of course, our county fair and service community fairs and expos. That’s just to name a few of the opportunities we had to show off our gem of southwest Washington, Longview.
We’ve had our transportation benefit district in effect for just about two years now. It provides us with $20 per vehicle each year on the car license fee, or about $150,000 a year. The funds are required to be used on streets. On top of that, we throw around $400,000 of general fund money for maintenance. However, depending on the study, we need to be spending close to $1 million a year just to keep the streets from deteriorating further.
Now we need to put some positive interest into what we want our community to look like in the coming year. We, as citizens of Longview, take pride in providing activities, along with business opportunities, to provide for that quality of place we echo at every turn. It is time that we, as a community, step up and volunteer our services, whether business or social, to make the coming year special. All of our professional skills can help small businesses grow and create more jobs in the community. With more jobs come more opportunities to provide that quality of place.
Some have said, “I pay $20, and the roads are still bad.” I think the reason for that should be obvious. But, they aren’t as bad as if you weren’t paying $20. The $20 fee helped us repave half of Talley Way this year, and replace the intersection at Minor Road and Mt. Brynion.
What volunteer opportunities are available? Let’s start with our business climate and the opportunity to aid in providing mentor programs for small businesses along with several entrepreneur programs. Some small businesses need a good sounding board to open doors to a more successful future. The team concept of helping another brings pride and a desire to be more productive in our ventures.
It’s been 15 years since we stopped paying as much for our car tabs, and the toll that’s taken on our roads isn’t going to be fixed in two years by a small $20 per vehicle fee. The Legislature recently allowed cities to raise the $20 to $40, and we’ll probably look at that option in Kelso. Until we as drivers are paying for what we use, the problem won’t go away.
Please see Longview, page 15
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Longview, from page 14
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Spend time volunteering in service programs in the community such as the Humane Society, which cares for animals in the community; the performing arts association, which brings more classical activities to the community; your local city government has several volunteer committees that always have openings to serve as volunteers. And with all the different service groups in each of our communities, the list goes on forever, there are plenty of areas to volunteer. We can be part of that charge of making this a quality of place. We spend many hours volunteering around our homes with chores to make them more appealing. Is Longview your home? If so shouldn’t we take a little pride and make Longview an appealing location for our guests to visit? Just think what a wonderful opportunity it would be if each one of us could volunteer just one hour a week to help make a difference in our community. Look for a beautiful season ahead and step up to the plate and volunteer just a little time to make our home exciting.
-Angela Mazza, Owner Angela Nicole Photography
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Kelso Downtown Revitalization Association
Annual Iron Horse Rally thunders through Kelso streets By Michael Julian President – Kelso Downtown Revitalization Association
finished off the event. The winds also kept the beer garden indoors, however people found plenty to eat at the Backstage Café and El Charritos.
The 8th annual Highlander Iron Horse Rally and Ride may have been the stormiest in our history, but motorcycle enthusiasts, bikers, and the community came out in support despite the challenges Mother Nature provided. The Kelso Downtown Revitalization Association (KDRA) moved the event to the more visible location on Pacific Avenue near the Kelso Theatre Pub, La Favorites, and WorkSource, whose parking lot kindly hosted our vendors.
With more than 50 bikes in attendance, people could get up close and look at everything from the most customized show bike to classic Harley-Davidsons, roadsters, cruisers, choppers, trikes, and even a dirt bike or two. Several of the bikes were a work in progress, with their owners in the midst of making modifications. As in previous years, a small number were available for sale, but most of the bikes were not going to be changing hands any time soon.
While the overnight thunderstorms and lightning cleared by mid-morning, high winds – mixed with occasional cloudbursts – continued to gust throughout the day up to 50 mph. This caused the cancellation of the inflatable obstacle course due to safety concerns, but children were treated to pirate candy necklaces, coloring books, crayons and flying discs from the Cowlitz County Dive Rescue booth, and cotton candy at the Elect Nancy Malone table.
The ride on Sunday left Kelso as planned beneath stormy skies. Although the group was small, the weather remained clear and the new route was enjoyed by all. We’d really like to thank our sponsors, vendors, talent, and the community for making the event successful. You can see more than 80 photos of this year’s event in the Highlander Iron Horse Facebook photo album here: https://www.facebook.com/highlanderironhorse The KDRA looks forward to Iron Horse 9 in 2016 and hope you will join us then!
Fortunately, our vendors and talent were up to the challenge and kept their tents anchored, tables dry, and prevented their microphones from blowing away while approximately 160 people enjoyed the booths and bikes. Longtime supporter Uncaged Cycles kept busy as always along with many other vendors. Musical talent Shastabloom got the party started, and the Hot Roddin’ Romeos
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Iron Horse Rally
Photo by Jan Levine An eagle flies across a front fender.
Photo by Mare Stern
Photo by Mare Stern Part of the Iron Horse event team.
Horse Heaven When the sun came out so did the crowd to check out the bikes at Kelso's Iron Horse 8.
Photo by Mare Stern
Photo by Mare Stern
Heading off into the sun.
Taking a shine to the chrome.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
PeaceHealth
October: A good time to consider breast health As of yet, there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in this country. Even so, there are clear steps women can take to reduce their risk. And October, which is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is the ideal time to take them.
breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS): • Avoid alcohol. Drinking is clearly tied to a heightened risk of developing breast cancer. In fact, your risk increases the more you drink.
One key safeguard is for women to maintain a healthy weight, especially in midlife and later. After menopause, most of the hormone estrogen in a woman’s body comes from fat cells. Estrogen can spur the growth of many breast tumors, and being overweight or obese can raise breast cancer risk. Women may be especially vulnerable to breast cancer if extra pounds settle on their waist, rather than their hips and thighs.
• Be active. A growing body of research indicates that exercise lowers breast cancer risk. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week.
Please see PeaceHealth, page 19
These additional steps may help women reduce their risk for
Wellness is contagious. Catch it at peacehealth.org.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Mind Your Own Business (at the Library) PeaceHealth, from page 18 • Carefully weigh the pros and cons of hormone therapy. Hormone therapy that uses both estrogen and progesterone can increase breast cancer risk in as few as two years of use. The use of estrogen alone after menopause does not seem to raise the risk of developing breast cancer. If a woman and her doctor agree that hormone therapy is necessary to ease bothersome menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, it is best to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Since breast cancer can develop even with these precautions, the ACS advises women to have yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as they are in good health. Regular mammograms (breast X-rays) can detect cancer in its early stages and give women a head start on potentially lifesaving treatment. If you have a heightened risk of breast cancer – for example, if you have very dense breasts – ask your doctor if you need additional screening tests, such as an MRI scan. Get tested The American Cancer Society urges most women to have yearly mammograms starting at age 40. We hope you’ll support your local community and long-time business by having yours done at the PeaceHealth St. John Kearney Breast Center. We offer 3-D mammograms with
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Show your support to those women in your employment or employee’s family members or your customers and honor them by sending a note to one or more of your favorite women. Dear _______________, Did you know it’s national Breast Cancer Awareness Month? With the sea of “pink” showing up everywhere, it’s kind of hard to miss, right? Usually, I think “isn’t that nice?” and then go on with my day. But when I hear that one in eight American women are affected by breast cancer, I thought awareness just isn’t enough. This year, let’s take action. And that’s why I’m writing you. You are important to me and I want you to be around for a long time. Let’s work together to lower our risk for breast cancer. Here’s what the experts recommend: • Be active. You know I hate to sweat, but even just 20 minutes per day of moderate exercise each week can lower breast cancer risk. I can do that. • Avoid alcohol. I put down my second glass of wine when I learned that the risk increases the more you drink. • Be careful about hormone therapy. Honestly, I hope to avoid it altogether, but I’ve heard it is best to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. • Get routine breast exams or mammograms. We both know that having a mammogram is about as much fun as slamming your chest with the refrigerator door, but they have saved thousands of lives. If taking these actions mean we’ll live a little longer, then – let’s do it – together. I love you too much to risk losing you. Sincerely ________________________________
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Mind Your Own Business (at the Library)
The right inspiration might be in the pages of these business books By Chris Skaugset Director – Longview Public Library
lasting prosperity. He incorporates examples from his own experience, as well as anecdotes from other business
The world of business and entrepreneurship are always changing and evolving and more and more people are writing down their experiences and ideas about what it takes to start, and run, their own business. While we certainly can’t buy all of the new books about business (nor any other area either for that matter) we do try to select ones that we think might help budding entrepreneurs, and experienced ones, to start and grow their idea. Below, you’ll find three of our more recent Small Business Collection additions and one fun title that if you’re into business, or into board games, that you should definitely check out.
innovators including Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Richard Branson. So, if you are looking to find your niche in the business world, have a great idea but aren’t sure how to make it happen, or if you’re just one of the many people who are worried about becoming obsolete in this era of rapid, technological transformation, this interesting book has something for you. The classic book by entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki has been updated for today in “Art of the Start 2.0: The Time-Tested, BattleHardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything”. Kawasaki’s goal is to make entrepreneurship easier in a very practical guide that takes
“Boss Life: Surviving My Own Small Business” by Paul Downs is my first choice for this month. The author describes a year in his life as the owner of a small Pennsylvania furniture factory that specializes in handcrafted boardroom tables. It is clear that Downs knows what he is talking about. In addition to his 29 years of experience as a cabinetmaker and business owner, he has been a frequent contributor to the New York Times “You’re the Boss” blog. It’s a well-written, jargon-free book filled with helpful business fundamentals and a fascinating narrative about the day-to-day happenings in his factory that is both informative and entertaining. Even if you aren’t interested in the business side of the book, it’s also a great book for anyone interested in woodworking or furniture making.
budding entrepreneurs through the steps necessary to launch a business. He arranges the book into categories such as conception, activation, proliferation and obligation that cover areas such as the art of startup, launching, fundraising, building teams, and being a good leader/businessperson/human being. This is a valuable, and well-written, tool for the budding entrepreneur, business students, or even seasoned business veterans. Finally, I have a fun title for you. It’s Mary Pilon’s “The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal behind the World’s Favorite Board Game”. What board game exemplifies small business, entrepreneurship, and the American Way more than Monopoly? That’s,
The next book is Jay Samit’s provocatively titled “Disrupt You!: Master Personal Transformation, Seize Opportunity, and Thrive in the Era of Endless Innovation”. Samit is a digital media expert who as launched, grown, and sold start-ups in the e-commerce, digital video, social media, mobile communications, and software industries. In this book he describes how specific strategies, based on the idea of disruption, which companies use to grow and flourish can be applied to individuals to help anyone achieve success and
of course, a rhetorical question and even if you don’t love Monopoly, Pilon has written a fascinating and well-researched book about the origins of this favorite of games. While in many ways, Monopoly is a benign game, unless you played in my family, its history is quite a different story. Pilon has written an absorbing book that is part social history and part tale of corporate greed that, in some respects, may even be more entertaining than the game itself.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Longview Downtown Partnership
Concert, gallery additions top city to do list New Sculptures
There are plenty of things to do in Longview. Here are just a few from the Longview Downtown Partnership’s latest newsletter.
The Longview Outdoor Gallery installed three new sculptures downtown in September. Modern Bloom was installed in front of Teague’s Interiors; Universal Beginnings was placed at Commerce Avenue and Maple Street, and Journey is in front of Elam’s Home Furnishings. A fourth new sculpture, Night Watchman, will be installed in front of Theil’s Musical Instruments as well.
Classic Concert The Columbia Theatre is hosting 1960s pop band Herman’s Hermits, starring Peter Noone, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Audience members are likely to hear classic hits like “I’m Into Something Good” when the group takes the stage. Herman’s Hermits sold more than 60 million recordings with 14 singles and seven gold albums.
The event marked the third rotation of temporary sculptures downtown.
Tickets are $15 to $45. For more information, go to www. columbiatheatre.com
Streetscape Update For those who haven’t been downtown yet, things are changing fast! The contractor should finish removing the sidewalk on the east side of the street soon and be ready to focus on building concrete forms for street curb and raingarden walls. The electrical subcontractor will also start, working behind AES to install street light conduits, with the landscaping contractor immediately following with irrigation sleeving. If anything has slowed their progress, it is the contractor’s need and desire to be painstakingly careful to remove the sidewalk without damage to building facades and brickwork. So far, they’ve done a good job. They’ve also done well to maintain an orderly jobsite and we’ve received compliments both from wheelchair patrons who’ve used the ramps as well as business owners who tell us their customers are able to navigate the construction without confusion.
LeeRoy Parcel Manager/LPO leeroy@cascade-title.com
Streetscape Part 2 Phase 2 of the city of Longview's Streetscape renovation is under way. Jon and Christine Randall, owners of the trolley, have volunteered to shuttle shoppers from the rear parking lots around to storefronts on Commerce Avenue on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Although they have generously offered ths service free of charge, they ask for a small donation of $1 per person to ride.
Alison Peters Bonnie Woodruff Diane Kenneway Dennis Bird Escrow Officer/LPO Escrow Officer/LPO Escrow Assistant Senior Title Officer alison@cascade-title.com bonnie@cascade-title.com diane@cascade-title.com dennis@cascade-title.com
Lindsey McTimmonds Marketing/Recording recording@cascade-title.com
1425 Maple St. Longview, WA 98632 360.425.2950 www.cascade-title.com
Connie Bjornstrom Receptionist/Typist connie@cascade-title.com
For an event calendar, coupons, meeting schedule, our downtown shopping guide or more information about the Longview Downtown Partnership, visit our website at www.MyLDP.org
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Ambassador of the Month
September magic month for Lemiere Nick Lemiere was September’s
He is married and has a son. For fun, Lemiere likes to play
pick for Kelso Longview Chamber
music, and walk or bike around Lake Sacajawea with his
of Commerce Ambassador of the
family.
Month honors. Lemiere is a past September Ambassador winner, earning the honor, which is based on volunteer service, in 2014. He is an Edward Jones owner and financial adviser. His office is located at 2020 9th Ave., in Longview.
Chamber Ambassadors, known as The Red Coats, are an integral part of the Chamber of Commerce. The Ambassador team is made up of active Chamber volunteers whose responsibilities include meeting and greeting at Chamber events, welcoming new members and assisting at ribbon
September Nick Lemiere
cuttings and community events. Ambassadors juggle busy
Edward Jones
professional careers while making time to assist the Cham-
Lemiere joined the Ambassadors in 2007 hoping to meet new people and help them get settled into the business community. He also volunteers with the Southwest Washington YMCA Board, Pioneer Lions, The Bridge Church, and Community Home Health and Hospice Foundation.
ber at a variety of events year long. If you would be interested in wearing a red coat and representing the Chamber, contact CEO Bill Marcum at the Chamber office.
2015 Cowlitz PUD Poster Contest Easy and Fun
All Ages
Prizes
Time to use your artistic talent and creativity to design a poster that demonstrates what electricity means to you and incorporate “80 years of electricity” into your design. Winning entries will be honored at our “80th Anniversary Celebration,” in 2016 . For more details on this contest visit www.cowlitzpud.org.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Chamber Connection
Prom Promotion Tammy Davis, manager for Grounds for Opportunity Café and Training Kitchen, dropped in on Your Chamber Connection host Carey Mackey to talk about the 2nd annual Senior Citizen Prom that took place Sept. 29.
“Your Chamber Connection” EVERY Wednesday Hosts of the Show: Carey Mackey, Red Canoe Credit Union ; Lonnie Knowles, Stewart Title, and Karen Sisson, Kelso Longview Chamber. Would you like an opportunity to be on Your Chamber Connection or to have more information about the qualifications of an open house or ribbon cutting? Contact Bill or Karen at the Chamber 360-423-8400
Huyen Truong, program coordinator for Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, stopped by our studios to promote GiveMore24 and the non-profit organizations that benefit from the drive.
Stream live at www.threeriversradio.com Local guest and current events
Laurel Murphy and Hans Schaufus, board members for Longview Outdoor Gallery, join Lonnie Knowles to celebrate LOG’s 5th Anniversary and the recent permanent art pieces donated to the city of Longview.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Welcome New Members
Chamber membership has its privileges Celebrate new Chamber members with us
Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, special events and committee participation.
* * *
• Annual Meeting and Banquet
A’Dawn Cruise and Travel All American Grind Coffee Shops Silver Cove RV Resort
• Networking Events • Committee Participation • Business Contacts • Quarterly Membership Meetings • Civic Representation
• Legislative Representation
• Monthly Business After Hours
• Issues Tracking and Information
Business Services include marketing for your business, referrals and access to Chamber publications and research data.
• Task Forces • Candidate Forums
• Mailing Labels
• Legislative Update Breakfast
• Membership Window Decals
• Demographics Publication
• Member Referrals • Ribbon Cutting
Packages
• Website Links
Basic Membership Package – $275 or $26 per month.
• Member to Member Discounts
Bronze Membership Package – $500 or $46.66 per month.
• Membership Directory
Silver Membership Package – $1,000 or $86.33 per month.
• Tax Deduction
Gold Membership Package – $2,500 or $211.33 per month.
• Newsletter
Platinum Membership Package – $5,000 or $416.66 per
• Business Card Display
month.
• Use of Chamber Logo
Diamond Club Membership Package – $10,000 or $834 per month.
Representation through action committees, candidate forums and up-to-date action alerts.
Nonprofit Package – $180 or $18 per month.
Join today! Call 360-423-8400 24
Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Ribbon Cuttings
The Art of Dedication Sept. 24 proved to be a big day for the Longview Outdoor Gallery as members and volunteers officially joined the Chamber, celebrated the art organization’s 5th anniversary and unveiled its new donor wall in downtown Longview. For more information about the Gallery’s latest installments, please see the Longview Downtown Partnership column on page 21 of this publication.
A Real Good Start The Chamber’s Red Coats took advantage of a sunny, fall day Sept. 10 to welcome Real Living The Real Estate Group to the community outside on the sidewalk in front of their new office located at 1338 Commerce Ave., Suite 101, Longview.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
State of the Cities
Membership Luncheon Our thanks to Steve Taylor, Kelso City Manager, David Futcher, Mayor of Kelso, Dave Campbell, Longview City Manager and Don Jensen, Mayor of Longview for updating members on current projects, progress and challenges at our State of the Cities address Sept. 16 at the Cowlitz Regional Conference Center.
The Sky is the Limit! We started in a garage in April 2007. Twin City Bank has provided us the necessary funding to grow our business into a multi-million dollar company. By early fall Twin City Bank will help us move into our new 15,000 square foot facility with room to continue our growth. Jon Hansen General Manager Fabricast Valve
729 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 1-800-319-2265 | 360-414-4101 twincitybank.com
Creating products to fuel the world
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Welcome Back!
We at the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce would like to give a SHOUT OUT and a big THANK YOU to the following loyal members for renewing their partnership with us.
*American Medical Response *Beacon Hill Sewer District *Cascade Title Company *CCS *City of Kelso *City of Longview *Comcast Spotlight *Costco Wholesale *Cowlitz County *Cowlitz County CASA *Cowlitz County P.U.D. *Cowlitz County Title Company *Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments *David E. Houten, DDS *Diamond Showcase *Document Management Archives *Dorothy Bain Hanson *Emerald Kalama Chemical *Express Employment Professionals *Freddy’s Just for The Halibut *Gordon Sondker *Interwest Benefit Consultants *KapStone *Koelsch Senior Communities *L.G. Isaacson Company *Longview Memorial Park, Funeral Home & Crematory *Lower Columbia College *Miller Paint *onthemark associates *Pacific Tech Construction, Inc. *Port of Longview *Rodman Realty, Inc. *Steel Painters/Railco *Swanson Bark & Wood Products, Inc. *The Golden Palace *The Red Hat *Three Rivers Eye Care
*Walstead Mertsching, PS *Watkins Tractor & Supply Co. *Acupuncture Northwest *Budget Blinds of Longview *Columbia Bank *Columbia Funeral Service *Columbia River Carpet One *Columbia River Mill Outlet *Compendium Consulting *Continental Investors Services, Inc. *Cowlitz County Guidance Association *DeFrancisco Lampitt and Brado PS *DSU Peterbilt *Estetica Day Spa *Fire Mountain Grill & Summerland Catering Services *G L Booth – JG Davis & Associates *Green Hills Crematory – Cascade NW Funeral Chapel *Kay Green *Signature Transport, Inc. *State Farm Insurance – Scott Fischer *Teague’s Interiors *Diamond Residential *Applied Application *Broderick Gallery *American Legion *Coleman Cellular *Port of Woodland *Advanced Dental Services *All Out Sewer & Drain Services *Baker Lumber Company *Brusco Tug and Barge *Carl’s Towing Service & Repair *Carlson’s Heating & Air Conditioning *Cascade Natural Gas Corporation *Coldwell Banker Bain *Cole’s Appliance Repair *Comfort Inn
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*Community Home Health & Hospice *Cowlitz Credit Union *Cutright Wholesale Plumbing Supply *Family Health Center *Industrial Packing *Interiors Plus *Life Works *Longview Housing Authority *Longview Orthopedic Associates *Longview Public Schools *McDonald’s of Longview *Pacific Fibre Products *Nipp & Tuck *Paperback Galore *Rush Insurance/Financial Services *Schlecht Construction *Somerset Retirement Home and Assisted Living *T.C.’s RV and Mini Storage *United Finance *Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company *Wasser & Winters Company *William (BJ) R. Boatsman *Errand Girl *American Family Kari-Ann Botero *Guild Mortgage *Interstate Wood Products, Inc. *Lower Columbia CAP *M & R Painting, Inc. *Mint Valley Federal Credit Union *Newrock Homes, Inc. *Northwest Auto Specialist, Inc. *Retirement Strategies *Simpson Timber Company *Superior Tire Service, Inc. *The OM Home *Triangle Bowl *Cowlitz County Chaplaincy *Biggs Insurance Services
Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Welcome Back! *Clay Bartness
*PNE Corp
*Stirling Honda
*Comcast
*Pro-Caliber Longview Motorsports
*Sweet Spot Frozen Yogurt
*Dick Hannah Toyota
*Red Canoe Credit Union
*Taco Time
*Fred Meyer, Inc.
*Red Canoe Credit Union 30th
*The Daily News
*Heritage Bank, Kelso
*Red Canoe Credit Union Washington Way
*The Roof Doctor
*Heritage Bank, Longview
*Safway Services, Inc.
*Twin City Glass Co.
*Hometown National Bank
*Searing Electric & Plumbing
*Twin City Service Co.
*Island Sun Tanning, Inc.
*Steel Chapel Longview Memorial Park
*Weatherguard, Inc.
*Kemira Water
*The Dog Zone
*Wilcox & Flegel Oil Company
*Longview Engineering and Design
*Utilize I.T., Inc.
*Workplace Wellness
*McCord Bros. Nissan Dodge
*Wal-Mart
*WorkSource Cowlitz/Wahkiakum
*Millennium Bulk Terminals
*Red Leaf Coffee
*B & R Mini Storage
*Minuteman Press
*BA Design
*Banda’s Bouquets
*Professional Communications Services
*American Red Cross
*Be Cause Business Resources, Inc.
*Servpro of Longview/Kelso
*Animal Health Services
*Best Western Aladdin Inn
*Sierra Pacific Mortgage
*Suzanne Arnitz
*Busack Electric
*Sterling Insurance
*Baxter Auto Parts
*Calportland
*Twin City Bank
*Behrends Body Shop
*Columbia Security
*U.S. Cellular
*Bob’s Sporting Goods
*Copies Today Speedy Litho, Inc.
*Waste Control Recycling, Inc.
*Burger King
*Cowlitz Container & Diecutting
*Woodford Commercial Real Estate
*Collins Architectural Group
*Edward Jones-Nick Lemiere
*United States Army
*Country Village Nutrition Shoppe & Café
*H & S Enterprises
*Lexi’s Pizza
*Day Wireless Systems
*Habitat For Humanity Cowlitz County
*B & B Air Conditioning & Heating – Entek
*Esteem Salon
*Hart Radiator
*Ethnic Support Council
*Heartsong Massage
*Fiesta Bonita Mexican Grill & Cantina
*J. L. Storedahl & Sons, Inc.
*Foster Farms
*Kaiser Permanente
*Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts
*Gallery of Diamonds
*Les Schwab Tire Center
*Community Health Partners/Cowlitz Free
*Global Images Graphic Design & Marketing
*Longview Timber Corp
Medical Clinic
*Hilander Dental
*Longview Urology
*Craig Stein Beverage
*Hydraulic Service, Inc.
*Ocean Beach Self Storage
*Dahl McVicker Funeral Homes
*Kelso Rotary
*P. T. Northwest
*Frontier Rehabilitation & Extended Care
*Les Schwab Tire Center
*Pacific Office Automation
*Northwest Motor Service
*Papa Pete’s Pizza – Longview
*Gibbs & Olson, Inc.
*Overhead Door Company of Southwest
*PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center
*Humane Society of Cowlitz County
*Washington
*Pets, Pawns & Imports
*Life Mortgage
*Peter C. Wagner, D.M.D., PS
*SW Washington Symphony
*Music & More D.J.s
*ProBuild
*The UPS Store
*Noelle McLean PS
*Propel Insurance
*TSYS Merchant Solutions
*Pacific Lumber & Shipping Co.
*Shamrock Tavern
*Washington State University Vancouver
*Papé Machinery
*Shirley L. Smith
*Zip Local
Corp. *Bicoastal Media dba KLYK/KRQT/KEDO/ NEW COUNTRY
Center
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Welcome Back! OUR LATEST RENEWING MEMBERS *Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance *Corwin Beverage *Cowlitz River Rigging, Inc. *Educational Service District No. 112 *Emergency Support Shelter *Employers Overload *Fairway collections *Futcher Group *Kelso School District *Kelso Theater Pub *Kelso-Longview Television, Inc.
*Longview Early Edition Rotary *Longview Eye & Vision *Longview Physical & Sports Therapy *Longview Self Storage *Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. *Opsahl, Dawson & Company, P.S. *Renaud Electric Company, Inc. *Reprographics, Inc. *Solvay *Southwest Washington Blood Program *United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties
*KeyBank
*Willamette Dental
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
In the News
SWWDC seeks firm to develop outreach campaign for long-term care industry
host Cascadian Slipstream, an exhibition of Columbia River oil painting abstractions by Darren Orange. The exhibit runs from Nov. 3 through Dec. 3 at the center, 1600 Maple St., Longview.
The Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC) and its partners in the Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC) are seeking quotes from companies to develop a marketing outreach campaign to elevate the long-term care industry and attract individuals to careers in long-term care.
An opening reception is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 3. The exhibit’s regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. In the exhibit, Northwest artist Orange continues an exploration of reflection and abstraction of the natural environment. Cascadian Slipstream is a body of oil paintings created mostly by a intuitive automaton nature, or a surrealist automatism with subtle references of the Columbia River and the greater Northwest. His works have been exhibited nationwide and have been included in collections worldwide and calls Astoria Oregon home.
The request for quotes can be viewed on SWWDC’s website, www.swwdc.org. To be considered, quotes must be received by SWWDC no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 9.
Darren Orange opens exhibit at Lower Columbia College’s Rose Center
Please see News, page 31
The Lower Columbia College Rose Center for the Arts will
Business & Corporation Law
Attorney Michael A. Claxton
Walstead Mertsching serves businesses of many sizes and in various stages of development. Whether your company is a small sole proprietorship or a large corporation, we can provide assistance and guidance. Utilizing a solutions-oriented approach toward achieving defined objectives, our goal is to allow our clients to successfully execute their business plans. • Complex Litigation • Formation, Reorganization, and Dissolution • Labor/Employment Issues • Mergers and Aquisitions • Purchases and Sales • Succession Planning
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
In the News News, from page 30
10-12, Westbound and Eastbound, Tennant Way between 7th Avenue and 15th Avenue, 7 a.m. (Saturday) to 6 a.m. (Monday).
Construction continues on Tennant Way Improvement Project with paving
Side streets will be open to local traffic only for business access.
Tennant Way construction is near completion. The contractor was scheduled to complete all of the concrete and pavement improvements by the end of September.
LCC named 22nd best community college in the United States
The next phase of the project is grinding the existing pavement and overlaying with new pavement. This phase of the project is weather dependent and requires dry conditions prior to the start of the grind and overlay.
In a newly released list of the best and worst community colleges in the nation by WalletHub.com, Lower Columbia College received the top ranking in Washington state, coming in at number 22.
The tentative schedule and roadway closures (weather dependent) for this work are as follows:
WalletHub.org based their rankings on 17 relevant metrics in four dimensions, including: 1) Cost and Financing, 2) Classroom Experience, 3) Education Outcomes and 4) Career Outcomes.
Oct. 8, Westbound, Tennant Way between 7th Avenue and 15th Avenue, 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.; Oct. 9, Eastbound, Tennant Way between 7th Avenue and 15th Avenue, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.; Oct.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Business After Hours
A Healthy Gathering September’s Business After Hours Sept. 15 brought us, and Ruth Melvin and Pat Williams, to the Spirit of Health journey at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center, where we toured the occupational health mobile unit and Kearney Breast Center, met providers and learned about services and programs.
The doctor is in with Annette Nelsen and Jessica Brunell.
The occupational health mobile unit was parked outside and available for tours.
See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
October 2015
Business After Hours
Judy Allen was a winner at the PeaceHealth After Hours
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The Jeff Steinback Trio provided music.