Kelso Longview Chamber January 2017

January

2017

Business Connection

Volume 9, Issue 1

Q

s

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

uatch Fest

Get a foothold into the world of Sasquatch at the Chamber's first sQuatch Fest event.

Saturday, January 28, 2017 Cowlitz County Convention Center 10 am - 10 pm

Northwest showing big interest in sQuatch Fest

C

ome January 28 Bigfoot will be making the big time at the Cowlitz County Convention Center.

That’s when the big guy will be featured front and center at the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural sQuatch Fest event.

“Whether you are a true believer or you just like the idea of Sasquatch there’s something for everyone,” said Amy Hallock, the Chamber’s Visitor Center manager.

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Lindsey Cope, Project Manager Amy Hallock, Bookkeeper Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or email bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month

Hallock and the Chamber staff dreamed up the all-day festival, which will feature experts speaking on the topic, an area with activities for the kids and a beer garden, as a way to capitalize on the success of Harry, the life-size Sasquatch that greets tourists at the Visitor Center.

“We were looking for a first quarter event and Harry was it,” Hallock said.

The furry friend took up residence at the Visitor Center after Chamber staff spied the creature at Woodford Commercial Real Estate.

“We need that Bigfoot,” Hallock said was roughly how the conversation went. “It would be such a great addition in front of our Mount St. Helens wall.”

It took some negotiating with Woodford owner Todd Wade, but eventually the Chamber purchased it. Rumor has it Harry originally was at the CineDome in Castle Rock.

For more sQuatch Fest, see page 3

The Kelso Longview Chamber's Sasquatch, affectionatley named Harry, is popular with visitors from across the country.

Saturday, January 28, 2017 Cowlitz County Convention Center • 10 am - 10 pm

Author Dr. Jeff Meldrum Researcher Derek Randles from the Olympic Project Kids’ Cave sponsored by CalPortland Food Vendors Craft Vendors Brew Mountain Beer Garden with fire pits serving sQuatch themed Winter Ales from local brewers Lots more for everyone! $20 for Adults, $5 Kids 12 and under Tickets available at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Dr. Jeff Meldrum

Your Locally Owned Stations

APPLIED APPLICATIONS, INC.

sQuatch Fest continued from page 1 “I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m looking for information on his background,” Hallock said.

What is true, since Harry arrived at the Chamber, and with the boost of his appearance in the 2015 and 2016 Kelso Longview Chamber’s Visitor Guide, he is reaching legendary status.

“He’s drawing so much attention,” Hallock said. “People come in with the magazine in their hand wanting to take a picture with him.”

The Chamber also has Bigfoot souvenirs – T-shirts, books, mugs and more – flying off the shelves. It didn’t take long for staff to figure the next logical step to draw people to visit was an event featuring the star attraction.

Chamber staff took a field trip to a Sasquatch Summit in Ocean Shores that drew more than 350 people to the two-day event and knew it would be a great fit for Kelso-Longview. With Ape Caves, the numerous local Bigfoot sightings and well, Harry’s popularity, it was a shoe in to draw a big crowd here.

Speakers for the event include: Dr. Jeff Meldrum, author of “Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science” and “Sasquatch Field Guide”, and Olympic Project researchers Derek Randles, co-founder/ head researcher; David Ellis, field audio recorder/analysis and Tom Baker, field researcher/data analysis.

Chamber staff is well on the way to lining up more than 50 vendors offering items like Bigfoot Coffee, Yeti Chips, T-shirts and jewelry.

Bring the family and let the young ones loose in the Kids Cave, sponsored by CalPortland. The Kids Cave will offer face painting, reading with Bigfoot, rock climbing and arts and crafts, including cast footprints of Bigfoot.

Brew Mountain will be open from noon to 10 p.m. with several breweries showcasing a winter ale including Snow Beast Imperial Milk Stout created by Five Don’s for the event.

The Chamber’s sQuatch, a man in a mascot suit they purchased for marketing, has already appeared at several Chamber and community events like the Christmas parade to create a buzz.

“It must be working as of today our Facebook events page has over 1,000 people who say they are attending or they will be attending, and the event has been shared nearly 1,000 times,” Chamber CEO Bill Marcum said. “All this and we have not even started our marketing efforts, with the exception of the events page and sQuatch showing up at various events in town.”

The cost to attend the all-day event is $20 for adults; $5 for children.

“I think the part I am looking forward to the most is the Kids Cave and the fun things kids will have the opportunity to do,” Marcum said. “I am amazed at the number of people who say they are coming to the event and the people from all over the Northwest who have already purchased tickets. I’m also excited to try the Snow Beast Imperial Milk Stout and the other beers created for the event.”

To learn more visit the Chamber’s website at kelsolongviewchamber.org or follow them on Twitter at #KLCCSQUATCH Feature provided by Brenda Sexton, Sexton Communications, for the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce.

sQuatch Fest speakers the best in the field • Dr. Jeff Meldrum, professor of anatomy and anthropology, Idaho State University. Dr. Meldrum is the author of "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science," "Sasquatch Field Guide," and "Sasquatch, Yeti and Other Wildmen of the World" and his work has been featured on the "Today Show" and NPR. More recently his attention has returned to the emergence of modern human bipedalism, evaluating fossil pedal remains and the footprints left in ancient strata. His co-edited volume, From Biped to Strider: the Emergence of Modern Human Walking, Running, and Resource Transport, proposes a more recent innovation of modern striding gait than previously assumed. His interests in the footprints attributed to an unrecognized North American ape, commonly known as sasquatch, came into focus when he literally crossed paths with an enigmatic set of tracks in the mountains of southeastern Washington State.

• Researcher Derek Randles, Tom Baker and David Ellis, Olympic Project.

The Olympic Project is an association of dedicated researchers, investigators, biologists and trackers committed to documenting the existence of Sasquatch through science and education. Through comprehensive habitat study, DNA analysis and game camera deployment, the Olympic Project goal is to obtain as much information and empirical evidence, with hope of being as prepared as possible when and if species verification comes to fruition. Their studies are conducted in a non-invasive manor with respect and sensitivity to probable habitat we believe this amazing species inhabits.

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 3

Lower Columbia College

By Chris Bailey

President

Students transform lives, inspire Community colleges play a unique role in the higher education landscape. We are open access by law, which means that we enroll virtually everyone that comes to the door. While this presents some challenges, it also creates an environment in which truly miraculous things happen.

Take Adelina Delao, for example. From the start, Adelina faced incredible odds for overcoming the drug addicted world into which she was born. She received little nurturing as a child, and was regularly neglected in addition to serving as a pawn in a protracted custody battle.

Due to her mother’s battles with addiction, Adelina and her brother were frequently left home alone without any food, running water or electricity. Although she was very young, hunger drove Adelina to beg for food at a convenience store near her home. At one point, she and her younger sibling were even abandoned at a local meth house.

Forced by her circumstances to focus on survival, Adelina’s educational progress fell behind. She was placed in many special classes to help with reading and math at school, but life was a constant struggle. She bounced between relatives’ homes, and even attended three different middle schools one year.

A few days before she was supposed to start high school, Adelina was thrown out of her stepfather’s home. She went to live with her father’s mother, who took Adelina in with literally nothing more than borrowed clothing on her back. It was an improvement of sorts, but Adelina was suspended for four months during her ninth grade year due to ongoing family drama. Once she was allowed to return to school, Adelina made up her mind to break the cycle of negativity and defeat in her life. She resolved that she would not fail herself like her mother had failed her.

Standing at a crossroads in her life, Adelina took the brave step of en-

rolling in the Career Education Options (CEO) program at Lower Columbia College. The program, designed for students ages 16 to 21 who are behind in credits, don’t have a high school diploma, and have conditions that interfere with success in the traditional high school setting, was a perfect fit for her.

Adelina began to excel in the program immediately. With support from former CEO Director Tuan Dang, Director Heidi Patrick and other program faculty and staff, Adelina soon received her diploma (well ahead of schedule).

Spurred on by her success in CEO, Adelina immediately began an associate degree program at LCC. She continued to excel in her studies, and shortly before receiving her associate degree in June 2016 was named the Outstanding Art Student of the Year by LCC faculty.

Adelina was accepted as a transfer student at The Evergreen State College in Olympia and began her studies there in fall 2016. Her future plans include continuing on to a master’s degree program, and finding a rewarding career that will allow her to help others find their way out of the darkness.

It is both an honor and a pleasure to work with students like Adelina, who do more than just transform their own lives. They also inspire others, particularly those who may not be able to easily picture themselves in college, and make those of us who work in education excited to come to work every day.

For more inspiring student stories, please visit http://lowercolumbia. edu/student-success-stories/index.php and http://lowercolumbia.edu/ student-life/student-awards/transforming-lives.php

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Lance Welch, President

Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College

Nick Lemiere Edward Jones

Clayton J. Bartness, DC Longview Chiropractic Clinic

Chris Roewe Woodford Commercial Real Estate

Neil Zick, Treasurer

Ken Botero Longview City Council

Tom Rozwod NORPAC/Weyerhaeuser

Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel

Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds

Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Julie Rinard, Past President

Wendy Hutchinson Millennium Bulk Terminals

Steve Taylor Kelso City Manager

Joel Hanson, Past Past President

Wendy Kosloski Teague's Interiors

Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner

PeaceHealth

Linda DiLembo, President Elect Three Rivers Mall

Frank Panarra, Vice President Foster Farms

Twin City Bank

Walstead Mertsching

Community Home Health & Hospice KLOG/KUKN/The Wave

4 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

Calendar Tuesday January 10 – 5:30-7:30pm Business After Hours Teri’s Restaurant 3225 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview

Thursday January 19 – 11:30am Ribbon Cutting Another Option 600 Royal St, Kelso

Thursday January 26 – 11:30am Ribbon Cutting Accent Ink NW 1426 12th Ave, Longview

Saturday January 28 – 10am-10pm sQuatch Fest Cowlitz County

Chamber CEO’s Message

By Bill Marcum

Plenty of events to fill your 2017 business calendar January 2017, can you believe it?

Below is a list of some of our events for 2017, put them on your calendar, plan to attend and have a good time networking with other businesses working to do the same thing as most of you... improve business in 2017.

Business After Hours for 2016 was filled by early October, so if you are interested in hosting please contact us for next year, yes, that’s right contact us now for 2018. We can always put you on a wait list for this year in case one of our members is unable to host.

January 10 – Teri’s Restaurant February 7 – Columbia Theatre, Gian Morelli has a great evening planned for everyone March 14 – Engraving Emporium, Ron and Michelle will have a newly remodeled showroom they are excited for all of you to see April 11 – Jessica Wade, State Farm in Kelso, has remodeled her office building and wants to show it off May 9 – Amada Senior Care, new to Longview the past year, is anxious to show you their facilities June 20 – The Monticello Hotel, will be back in business and ready to show off the new creations

1900 7th Ave, Longview

July 11 – Community Home Health Hospice, longtime provider in our community, would like to show their appreciation to everyone for all your support over the years

Every Monday

August 8 – BiCoastal Media will host “Hot August Nights” After Hours...look for a fun evening

Convention Center

January 23-April 24 – 7am Legislative Briefing Breakfast Red Lion Hotel, Birch Room

September 12 – Wheeler’s Auto, Truck and RV Repair, partnering with Foster Farms, to provide great food and a look at their new paint center

510 Kelso Dr, Kelso

October 10 – Silver Cove RV, looking to provide a fun filled opportunity for you to come to an outdoor barbecue fire pit and much more

Every Wednesday Chamber Connections

November 14 – Stewart Title, always good for a GREAT After Hours, will be hosting and of course “Puttin’ on the Ritz”

KEDO/1400 AM – 3-4 pm

December 12 – location yet to be determined

Stream live at www.threeriversradio.com

A few of our major events for the year include March 8 for the Building Bridges Business and Tourism Expo. A partnership with Cowlitz County Tourism, more than 80 businesses joined us last

year for this joint event. May 3 will be our annual Business and Education Awards night. This year it will be hosted by Lower Columbia College in the Rose Center and the Wollenberg Auditorium.

June 12 will be the annual Chamber Golf Classic, again this year being played at Three Rivers Golf Course. Same great format, great food provided by the Elks Lodge and with very marginal golfing skills on display. August 5 will be a new event in partnership with the Three Rivers Mall.

Stay tuned for details. In December we host our final major events of the year, the annual Jingle all the Way (December 9) and the Holiday Mixer (December 12). The location has yet to be set for this fun event that brings more than 200 people together to celebrate the holidays.

We will also have four Quarterly Meetings, scheduled for March 30, June 28, September 27 and November 15. Locations and topics for these meeting have not been set at this time.

Boot Camp will start up again March 3 with six classes on boardsmanship, followed by six classes starting May 5 and the final six classes beginning September 8. Class topics and speakers for the May and September sessions are yet to be determined.

Starting January 23 at 7 a.m. at the Red Lion is our Legislative Briefings. This is your opportunity to speak directly to our legislators representing your business in Olympia. Find out what they see as important pieces of legislation that will affect your business. How they stand on those issues and more. There is no cost to attend. Breakfast is available. Hot topics will be the budget, predictive scheduling and, of course, McCleary funding. Make your voice be heard before the decisions are made. We will meet each Monday morning until the session is over.

Attend, be involved, express your concerns.

Wow, I have not even covered the Lower Columbia Professionals events for 2017, Ambassadors meetings, Education Foundation meetings and board committee meetings. I guess I will have to save that for next month. As I have mentioned your Chamber has more than 200 total events, meetings and ribbon cuttings per year, with nearly 500 members there should be something for each of you that can help your business be more successful in 2017. I’m looking forward to helping you accomplish that goal in 2017.

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 5

Cowlitz Economic Development Council

By Ted Sprague

Executive Director

Annual meeting and exciting news from NW Innovation Works The Cowlitz Economic Development Council is hosting its Annual Meeting January 26 in the Cowlitz County Events Center, 1900 7th Ave. SW, Longview. We will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m. The program will begin shortly after noon and run until 1:15 p.m. I am pleased to announce our keynote speaker is Dr. Gary Gilliland, the president of the world-renowned Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Cancer touches everyone’s lives and this is your opportunity to hear first hand from the premier leader on cancer research in the United States, if not the world.

the company continues its ongoing efforts to lead the development of further innovations and moves closer to constructing one of the most environmentally responsible, advanced manufacturing plants ever built.

The world’s premier medical scientists believe we are now at a major turning point in curing cancer and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is the leader! The Hutch is home to three Nobel Prize winners and nearly 3,000 investigators and staff working round the clock to cure cancer and many other diseases. It is the first nationally designated cancer center in the Pacific Northwest and it is the largest recipient of National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health funding in the world. The treatment protocols and breakthroughs developed at The Hutch are implemented in hospitals and clinics around the world. Don’t miss this great event! To register yourself or a table of eight simply click on the respective link on the top of our home page – www.cowlitzedc.com. To join our growing sponsor list (JH Kelly, US Bank and Gibbs and Olson) to show your support of our community chose one of three sponsorship levels at http://www.cowlitzedc.com/sponsorship-information

“We are honored to have the opportunity to work Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with with such visionary leadthe program beginning shortly ers,” said Wu Lebin, chairafter noon. For registration, or to man of Chinese Academy sponsor the event, please go to of Sciences Holdings, a cowlitzedc.com shareholder of NWIW parent company. “Governor Locke, professor Shih and professor Sandalow have experience and insight that are of the highest caliber. That they would all agree to join our team speaks to the fundamental integrity of NW Innovation Works and its value proposition.”

Excellent news recently from Northwest Innovation Works – NW Innovation Works (NWIW) announced the formation of its Global Advisory Board with the appointments of former Washington Governor Gary Locke as chair and professors Choon Fong Shih and David Sandalow as members.

The Global Advisory Board is being created to advise NWIW as

Dr. Gary Gilliland, president and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, will be the keynote speaker at the CEDC Annual Meeting on January 26.

“With the tremendous leadership joining our team today, NWIW positions itself as a global leader in the next generation of sustainable manufacturing,” said Simon Zhang, CEO of NWIW. “I am proud to serve as the chair of the NW Innovation Works’ Global Advisory Board,” said Governor Locke. “This is a company with the right values – creating new jobs in Washington State that will help reduce the use of coal in China in the global effort against climate change.”

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6 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

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Does Your Business Have Curb Appeal?

Your company’s curb appeal goes a long way toward winning customers over and growing revenue. Even if you are not a retail business your curb appeal sends a message to passer-buyers about the quality of your work. Your business appearance projects an image to potential customers and local residents making them more or less inclined to visit or otherwise support your business.

Win the Mayor’s Award for “Best Curb Appeal” All Longview businesses are eligible to win a Mayors award for Best Curb Appeal Improvement. During the months of June-July 2014, you can nominate a business that has made the be best improvement by posting a “before” and “after” photo.

Go to our Facebook page: Make Longview Beautiful. Those visiting this page can “Like” the one they feel has made the best improvement. The one with the most “Likes” wins! Visit this page often and make sure you vote.

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Size 1/16 Page 1/8 Page 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page

1 - 3 Issues 4-7 Issues 8-10 Issues 12 Issues $110 $90 $70* $50* $175 $140 $105* $75* $205 $170 $140* $100* $325 $290 $245* $190* $625 $570 $480* $400*

Dimensions 2" x 2.5" (*Includes ad on website) 4" x 2.5" (*Includes ad on website) 4" x 5.25" (*Includes ad on website) 4" x 10.5" (V) or 8" x 5.25" (H) 8" x 10.5" (*Includes ad on website)

All ads include full color and any design work. Deadline is the 21st of the month prior to publication. Digital files: high resolution PDF, Tiff and JPEG. Non-Members of the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce please add 30% to above rates.

To advertise or request additional information please contact Lindsey Cope at 360-423-8400 or lcope@kelsolongviewchamber.org or CEO Bill Marcum at 360-423-8400 or bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org

Would advertising to the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce audience benefit your business?

Now offering a special Facebook advertising package that serves your ads to a unique, targeted audience of business people already connected to the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce.

Targeted audience: ■ FB users who like the Chamber page: 1,600 ■ FB users who have visited the Chamber website in the last 30 days (retargeting): 1,200 ■ FB users with profile emails matching KLC email list: 1,000 The total audience will net out less than the combined numbers from above due to duplication.

Basic $200 Package We create a campaign that goes to both targeted audiences over a period of 3-7 days. You receive $100 worth of Facebook advertising. Based on past campaigns and depending on your goals for the campaign, you can expect the following: ■ Up to 100 actions whether that is click to client’s website or some type of FB engagement.* ■ 10,000 to 20,000 ad impressions served to FB users.* ■ 60% to 90% reach penetration of the three audiences noted above.* ■ Campaign creative includes up to three ads in creative format of either single image, carousel or animated slide show. Client provides photos ($10 per photo fee if we provide photos).

■ Client receives a detailed report after the campaign noting the results.

Custom campaigns are available.

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Sound good? Contact us! 360-423-8400 bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org lcope@kelsolongviewchamber.org

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Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments

By Bill Fashing

Executive Director

The road to community engagement in area transportation decision making The public sector is constantly being asked to engage the citizenry and to be more transparent in its decision making. Each of us has our own ideas on what this might entail and at first review it seems fairly easy. Varying perspectives, needs, and philosophies on funding can complicate matters quickly.

I recently attended the Every Place Counts Leadership Academy developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The intent of the program is to enhance public participation in the transportation system. The program encourages the public to find meaningful ways to get involved in the transportation decision making process. It suggests early and frequent involvement and a willingness to provide constructive informed feedback, with the need to point out at least one solution for each problem identified.

There is an online toolkit meant to help citizens figure out how to voice their ideas and engage in the transportation decision making process. The kit includes an introduction to transportation and provides background on all of those pesky acronyms used in the transportation field.

The process of transportation has evolved from that of decide-announce-defend to a more open and equitable approach. Transportation projects today go through a planning process that includes public participation and consideration of equitable development.

There is a strong requirement for environmental and civil rights protection. Despite the changes, the process is still challenging for citizens and the public servants trying to maintain and build a stronger transportation system.

The training includes on overview of the process of making transportation decisions. The five-step process is outlined in the graphic, but the system is far more complex than it appears.

The COG plays a key role in the long-term planning of the transportation process. Cities, counties and other partners play a strong role in both long-term planning and the more immediate planning leading to construction of projects. The planning process includes

the setting of goals and identifying the systems needed to move people and goods.

The next phase is to calculate the anticipated revenues for transportation from the various sources. A list of top projects is developed from the planning process to potentially move forward, based on a balance of the identified needs and the anticipated funds available to spend. Once the projects are identified and funding sources are identified design will begin. This process includes the review of possible routes or options for construction with the goal of avoiding the creation of new transportation system problems impacting the community and the environment. This is the time that people in the community begin to hear more about the project, and interest or fear of the possible project may develop even though the project may have been in planning for years.

The “build” step is the effort to complete the planned work on schedule within budget and according to design. By this time, the community should be well aware of the project and any kinks and concerns should have been addressed, which is not always the case. The final step in the process is to maintain the system. This is becoming more important to many of us as local communities struggle with funding and increasing costs. Maintenance is appearing in long-range plans, including the COG’s Regional Transportation Plan, as a major priority and is an important factor in several funding programs.

The training materials suggest a few ways to get involved in the transportation planning and decision making process including the following items: •

Stay Informed

•

Work with neighbors

•

Work with groups and associations

•

Attend public meetings

•

Submit comments to the official record

•

Talk with decision-makers

•

Join a group

•

Serve on a committee

The Leadership Academy is focused on engaging more people during the planning process to help create a better end result. For more information on the Leadership Academy you can explore the online resources at https://www.transportation.gov/leadershipacademy.

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 9

City of Kelso

City of Longview

By City Manager Steve Taylor

By Councilmember Ken Botero

Prudent park plan good prevention The City of Kelso is pleased to announce its intention to commence a master park improvement plan process early next year. The City’s recently-adopted 2017 budget authorized funding for the master planning effort which will develop a comprehensive list of improvement projects, varying in size and cost, that either add to or upgrade existing facilities at city parks. The City will then incorporate these projects into its annual budget and deliver new improvements (playgrounds, picnic areas, landscaping, benches) each year.

Funding for parks is limited, so it’s important to plan ahead and consider the needs of the total parks system before spending money on new projects. Questions need to be asked, such as “how well will this investment serve park users” and “how should we design an improvement to achieve the greatest benefit?” Good planning will also evaluate the unforeseen impacts of a proposed improvement and seek alternatives that reduce adverse consequences. With this input, the City can confidently prioritize and deliver projects that meet the needs of the community while developing public spaces for the enjoyment of generations to come. Additionally, having a vetted list of improvements will make it easier for the City and service organizations like Rotary, Lions, and Kiwanis apply for grants that leverage local resources and spread our dollars much further.

Much attention has been paid to the Catlin Rotary Spray Park, and some good ideas have been brought forward by community members eager to improve the park’s safety and appearance. City staff has met several times with park proponents, and the ideas and solutions continue to evolve. Safety and security enhancements are needed in all Kelso parks to reduce vandalism and prevent illegal activities. The master planning process will help the City evaluate and prioritize options – such as locked, gated fencing around the spray park – for effectiveness and feasibility and plug them into an achievable plan.

It would be imprudent to immediately spend dollars on permanent park investments without undergoing the proper analysis.

The City is looking forward to hearing from the community as we plan for how our parks and public spaces can best serve our needs.

In the meantime, efforts are underway in 2017 to improve lighting and add security cameras to the spray park, and our primary legislative focus is to seek state capital funding for parking and emergency access improvements at the Tam O’Shanter Athletic Complex. By building partnerships with service organizations, public agencies, and energized citizens, Kelso will be in a great position to deliver the projects identified in the master plan.

10 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

The future starts today Greetings and welcome to 2017, the first month of the future for all of us hoping to create the wonderful Quality of Place. What kind of future do you want to live in? What are you excited about and what concerns you? What is your request of the future in our Quality of Place?

In this unique time in history, science and technology has progressed to a point where what we build is only constrained by the limits of our own imagination. Our future is not really a fixed point in front of us that we are all rushing helplessly toward. The world is changing, and we must change with it. Every year we hear of more incredible breakthroughs, which push the boundaries of our thinking and understanding further out into the world of what was once far-fetched thinking. Stop and think about the days or time gone by. In today’s world I can remember my father stating that no one will ever go into outer space, and look at our space program today. People swore that the horse and buggy era would never go away; today automobiles, trains, and airplanes are a major part of our lives. The march of progress has been strong for more than two centuries now, lifting billions out of a hard life indistinguishable from that of our first farmers. Technology has also steadily improved from the Industrial Revolution. Major leaps forward took less and less time. This is what the progress of human technology looks like on a timeline that stretches back to the beginning of man.

In our quest for building that Quality of Place it is very important that we build relationships between our surrounding communities, schools, colleges, and most importantly families. Remembering that what we build today will be at the forefront for our youth. By providing a positive reinforcement for our youth, such as, education, recreation, safety and a positive quality of life, we are uplifting and providing the enrichment for their lives and a more positive future for tomorrow. As a community we need to take a look at our busy schedules and rearrange our activities to a point where we can contribute to creating that Quality of Place that is desired. We as a community need to participate in local agendas such as shop local and support any and all business endeavors to build that firm togetherness. We need to look to our leadership at the city, county and, yes, even the state level for partnerships that provide for positive direction. It’s up to all of us to be active participants in the future.

A closing quote by Bill Keane, “Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”

Tuesday, January 10 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 Entertainment  Door Prizes  Appetizers & Beverages

An evening you will not want to miss!

Teri’s 3225 Ocean Beach Hwy, Longview

Cost: $15 advance / $20 at door Register at : www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

By Chuck Nau

Retail Consultant and Sales and Managment Trainier – Murray & Nau, Inc.

'Best of the Best' As a referee, I had numerous opportunities to observe some of the best of the best athletic teams. These teams typically have been coached in a highly focused, disciplined, and supportive environment. Surprisingly, even in today’s quickly changing and evolving retail climate, these same principles apply to the world of sales and marketing.

In working with retailers, chambers of commerce, community marketing groups, and retail organizations I have often found it helpful, as I initiate my work with them, to remind them to be the ‘Best of the Best’. This helps to refocus and reinforce some earlier learned (and often forgotten!) business tips to improve both retailing or service management while enhancing customer service and selling professionalism.

Which action steps, which things to do NOW, which right moves should you undertake in times when business is tough to get, to be the best of the best? Reflecting on my many discussions with owners, managers, franchisees, regional managers, operational directors, senior management and others involved in retailing, the following traits consistently surfaced as benchmarks of the best of the best retailers who are in touch with their community and growing and changing as their community grew and changed.

In good times or bad, best of the best retailers consistently assesses their resources, acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses. Likewise, they also consistently assess their community, both today and tomorrow. Rather than trying to change the past, they focus on designing the future.

In good times or bad, best of the best retailers, create an action plan, focusing on both their business and community assessment to put their resources and strategies to work for their business...they commit to themselves and to their business to DO SOMETHING...TO ACT rather than react!

When business gets tough, best of the best retailers raise their standards, they sharpen their pencils, further enhancing their strengths and competitive advantages, working smarter (not necessarily harder) to do whatever they do in the best possible way.

How might you develop a best of the best philosophy utilizing a focused, disciplined, and supportive (for yourself and your employees) environment?

Consider adding the B.E.S.T. principle to your business strategy and everyday operational procedures. Let’s walk through a quick best of the best refresher...

Everyday you need to Build your business. Your action plan, your continuity of effort and your consistency at enhancing your customers' perceptions all play a significant role in building, growing, and defining your business.

12 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

Each and every day, you, your employees, and your business should look for Opportunities to Excel...opportunities to excel in meeting your customer’s needs or problems, opportunities to excel and overcome competitive encroachments and market changes, opportunities to excel, to position yourself and your business to capture new market share or grow a new product line or service.

Selling, servicing, and offering goods or services are the lifeblood of your business. That lifeblood comes with the realization that the goods or service you, your employees, and your business offer are of value to your customers. Keeping the lifeblood flowing depends on core values...integrity, trust, follow up, to name a few. Fate, the urgency to survive, the hunger to succeed will all test your core values...don’t let fate, the good times, the bad times or uncertainty, tear down everything you have built, and thereby destroy your business identity.

You need to be a Teacher. To Teach your employees the ins and outs of the business they have joined is part of your responsibility. Teach employees their role in helping the business achieve its goals, identifying, understanding and working with its customer base, your personal and your business' core values, and most of all, helping your employees understand that everyone (including YOU!) continues to learn and grow as the business builds and grows.

Last but not least, remember that by creating a public awareness of who you are and what you do or sell you help your community, your business and yourself GROW.

© Murray & Nau, Inc. Chuck Nau of Murray & Nau, Inc. is a Seattle area based consultant and sales and management trainer. He 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. He has spoken to and conducted workshops for a number of local retail and chamber organizations, national publishing groups, national retailers and manufacturers, state press associations, and newspaper groups.

Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed to Chuck via email: murnau@nwlink.com or at 425-603-0984.

2017 January 10: Teri’s Restaurant February 7: Columbia Theatre March 14: Engraving Emporium April 11: Jessica Wade, State Farm May 9: Amada Senior Care June 20: Monticello Hotel July 11: Community Home Health & Hospice (FREE) August 8: BiCoastal Media September 12: Wheeler’s October 10: Silver Cove RV November 14: Stewart Title December 12: TBA (Holiday Mixer)

Business Toolbox

By Jerry D. Petrick

Certified Business Adviser

Great ways to increase your cash flow Almost daily I hear about cash flow challenges and concerns from my clients. Many tell that sales in their businesses have recovered somewhat from prior years, and they are still struggling with their cash flow. As most of us are aware, cash and cash flow are THE key indicators of business success and growth. Having sufficient cash flow provides you with more flexibility and options with vendors, customers, and creditors. If you don’t understand the different ways to improve your cash flow, you can get stuck thinking you have no options. If you are having cash flow concerns, chances are it is difficult for you to get a loan from the bank or credit terms from your suppliers.

3. Increase Your Sales and Marketing Efforts: The recent past has been a hard time for building supply companies. One client opened a building supply company before the real estate market slow down. Oops! So, he took a gamble and advertised on TV. It was hard to spend the money, but the results have been increasing sales every month since he opened. Another client doubled her sales force and has increased sales every month of the downturn – now that the downturn has ebbed, she has much less competition. There really is a lot of opportunity out there.

In many cases you may be facing significantly reduced competition in your markets.

Special Note: The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be presenting a ‘hands-on’ workshop on January 19 – NO CHARGE – we will learn how to determine the health and wellbeing of your business by understanding how the Income Statement and Balance Sheet play together to help you know and understand what is happening in your business. To register follow this link: http://wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/99270433

4. Cut Your Costs: This one seems like a no brainer, however, many clients have been slow to do the difficult cost cutting that is required to stay/become profitable. One of my clients was very slow to cut costs. We worked together and talked about each expense and explored other ways to get what he needed without spending so much. We found several creative ways to cut costs without hurting productivity or customer service. HINT: Your employees can be great sources for suggestions for process improvements and cost savings. Get them involved!

Business owners continue to develop inventive ways to solve their cash flow challenges. Some of the stories I’ve heard may spark your interest or key you in to options that would be helpful to you. I’ve taken some of the learnings from my clients’ experiences and broken these down to eight ideas to help your business.

1. Develop a Positive Cash Flow Cycle: The cash flow cycle refers to the difference in timing between when you pay for products/services or payroll and when you get paid by your clients or customers. A negative cash flow cycle means you pay out before you get paid (this is more common than you might imagine). A positive cash flow cycle means you get paid before you have to pay out. Sometimes a negative cash flow can be corrected with simple phone calls to your primary vendors/suppliers – clients regularly report they have asked vendors for 30-day terms and got it. This one step can put your business into a positive cash flow immediately. Other clients have started to ask for half down before they start a job and some clients offer small incentives for paying accounts receivable early. As the saying goes: “we miss 100 percent of the shots we don’t take.”

2. Increase Your Average Sale: If you can get your customers to buy more of your stuff, for more money, and more often you will increase your average sale. When your average sale amount goes up more dollars go into your bank account. I have a number of retail clients who started carrying more upscale products, increased their prices on some items, and bundled or packaged (great time of year to bundle/prepackage) some products together. They experienced an immediate improvement in their cash flow.

14 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

5. Reduce or Restructure Debt Payments: The payments you make on business debts, because it is money out of your bank account, are an important area that directly affects your cash flow. One client talked to their banker, the banker was reluctant to refinance or restructure the debt. I told this client that the secret was to talk to a bank other than his own. Banks other than your own view gaining your deposit and loan accounts as a big win. Your current bank may not always appreciate your accounts until they are about to lose them. Needless to say, this client did well in lowering their debt payments and received some other nice perks as well. (Naturally, this becomes a challenge if your loan is not current or in default – restructuring is not the same as a ‘workout’). Hint: If you take the other steps to improve your cash flow first; then approach a bank you will look more attractive to the new bank because of your stronger cash flow position.

6. Reduce or Defer Capital Expenditures: One business I worked with had a very tight cash flow because her business was growing. Growth always creates a drain on cash. She needed equipment and trucks to get to the next step. Buying new was out of the question. She started asking people she knew for what she wanted and got the equipment and trucks for almost nothing. Again, you will never know until/unless you ask.

7. Increase the Productivity of Your Team: I worked with a small business with a tight cash flow that was doing about $800,000 in annual sales with very little profit – they were essentially breaking even. We determined through analysis, if we For more Business Toolbox, see page 15

Business Toolbox continued from page 14

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increased sales to $1 million they should add about $100,000 to the bottom line. When they came back the next year they had actually increased their sales to $1.4 million, but there was still no profit. Based on the numbers, analysis of the situation was that they hadn’t increased the productivity of their people. When they added new business, their staff costs expanded with their sales. The idea is to find ways for your staff to get more done in less time, with less effort and cost.

8. Increase Your Prices: No I’m not crazy. Increasing prices is one of the hardest things for business owners to do. I worked with one business owner to research the prices her competitors charged.

We found that her prices were at least 25 percent below those of her competitors. We experimented with pricing and found that some items actually sold faster when they were priced higher. One business owner increased his prices by just $1. It added an extra $3,000 a month or $36,000 annually to the cash flow.

You all know that “cash is king.” It is the key to surviving the tough times and thriving in better times. By working smarter as well as harder you will improve your chances of survival and increase the value of your business. You might want to think of it this way: By improving your cash flow now you will benefit from improved profitability, productivity and positive cash flow.

This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, MBA, CGBP, SPHR, PMP and 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 email jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 15

Ribbon Cuttings

Open Doors

The Chamber welcomed our new member Ascott Garage Doors December 22 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at our office.

Welcome Tami, Scott, and the entire Lannan family! If you need to repair or replace any light commercial or residential garage doors, be sure to call them at 503-728-5070 or go to www.ascottdoors.com

ReVive and Well

On December 1, Chamber Ambassadors welcomed new member, reVive wellness and medical aesthetics, located within Coda Collective Day Spa. Be sure to contact Dawn Woods and her staff for your medical spa needs.

Resolution Central

In December we welcomed Forever Fit Gym to the Chamber, the perfect place for those with getting in shape on their 2017 resolution list. They are getting ready to kick off a whole year of wellness. They also work with businesses to create healthier employees.

16 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

Ribbon Cuttings

Happy Home

Buddy's Home Furnishings officially joined the Chamber with a ribbon cutting December 5.

Buddy's sells and rents furniture, household appliances and electronics. Stop in and check out their excellent prices and customer service.

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 17

Connect with Legislators Legislative Briefing Breakfast Begins Monday, January 23 - 7:00 am at the RED LION and continues each Monday throughout the Legislative Session

Each week, contact is made with our local legislators, either in person or by conference call, for an update on the bills and issues currently under consideration. Gary Chandler from the AWB is our main source of information as to what is going on in Olympia from a business perspective.

As a business, you often feel the impact from some of the decisions made by our State Legislators on your ability to do business in Washington State. These breakfast briefings give you an opportunity to discuss personally with your elected officials issues that impact your business and seek options that provide for better business operations in Washington.

Three major issues to be addressed during this session that WILL affect your business: Balancing the Budget, McCleary and Predictive Scheduling. Come find out and be heard!

January, 23 - April 24 Legislative Update Breakfast Mondays RED LION, Birch Room 7:00 a.m.

May - December Legislative Committee Meetings First Monday of each month Location for 2017 - Teri’s Restaurant 12:00 Noon

Mind Your Own Business (at the Library)

By Chris Skaugset

Director – Longview Public Library

Start 2017 with the best, and most interesting, reads from the past year As we end one year and begin the next, I thought I would give you a list of the best, and most interesting, books that I read from 2016.

There were a lot of great books, but these were the ones that I really enjoyed and the ones that continue to haunt me. I wish you all a joyous new year.

“Midnight in Broad Daylight” by Pamela Sakamoto. This was a beautifully written, and fascinating, history of a Japanese-American family that found members on opposite sides of World War II. Sakamoto not only tells this heartbreaking personal story, but surrounds it with vivid descriptions of what life was like both for JapaneseAmericans in the United States but in Japan as well.

“Love, Loss, and What We Ate” by Padma Lakshmi. The co-host of one of my favorite television show tells her fascinating story of how she became a model, her marriage to famed writer Salman Rushdie, and the face of “Top Chef ”. She has led a fascinating life and proves herself to be an excellent writer.

“In Such Good Company” by Carol Burnett. If you’re a fan of “The Carol Burnett Show” then this is the book for you. This wonderful book is filled with all of the love, and humor, that you’d expect from the comedic legend.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne. While I would have loved this more as a novel, as opposed to a play, it was still wonderful to be immersed in the magical universe of Harry Potter once again as Harry’s son faces life at Hogwarts and as the son of a legend.

“Great Reckoning” by Louise Penny. This is the latest in Penny’s

brilliant Inspector Gamache mystery series, based in rural Quebec.

This is an always well-written series, with fascinating characters, that every mystery fan should read.

“The Summer before the War” by Helen Simonson. This was a wonderfully, and beautifully, written novel of a young British woman who becomes the first female Latin teacher at a small school in England as war breaks out in 1914. It is part love story and part historical drama and was probably the best book I read last year.

“Crosstalk” by Connie Willis. Grandmaster Willis is perhaps my favorite writer and she doesn’t disappoint with this screwball comedy set in a very near future that talks about cell phones, telepathy, love, and everything in between. Even if you don’t like science fiction, Willis is a writer to try.

“Ancient Minstrel” by Jim Harrison. I was very sorry to hear that Harrison passed away last year and this collection of novellas once again shows his talents as a modern practitioner of a style similar to the great Ernest Hemingway.

“Children of Earth and Sky” by Guy Gavriel Kay. Kay is famous for his lush, beautiful fantasy novels set in fictional words not unlike times in our own history. The latest is set in a world like southern Europe during the Renaissance.

“Everybody Behaves Badly” by Lesley Blume. This is a history of the writing of Hemingway’s classic first novel, “The Sun Also Rises”.

If you are interested in that book, Hemingway, the 1920s, or the real cast of characters that the book is based upon you should find this work illuminating and a lot of fun.

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January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 19

Kelso School District

Longview School District

Special Education Director Denise Freund

Superintendent Dan Zorn

District's Quest for a home December 1 was a long anticipated day for an eager group of teachers, students, and parents in Cowlitz County. It was the first day that Quest Academy moved into its permanent home on 8th Avenue in Longview. Quest Academy, under the direction of Educational Service District 112 and lead by Dr. Sara Paul, has teamed with all Cowlitz County school districts by providing a therapeutic educational setting for students with Individualized Education Program (IEPs) whose behavioral challenges have impeded their access to education in a traditional school environment. Over the past several months the building, which most recently housed the Three Rivers Athletic Club, underwent its largest transformation yet. Countless hours of planning went into the design of the school, taking into account the special needs of the students that they serve. Currently there are 10 students participating in the program with the capacity to serve up to 40 students. School districts are working through the transition process with Quest to bring in other identified students in the county.

Aside from providing a therapeutic school option for individual students from our local school districts, the staff at Quest has also offered up their expertise in other ways. For example, in the Kelso School District, Paul and other members of her behavioral team have recently participated in meetings with teams from Kelso’s elementary schools, consisting of principals, climate and culture specialists, counselors, and school psychologists. The purpose of the meetings have been to allow school staff to share the ways in which they feel they are successful with our students who have significant behavioral needs and to identify areas in which they would like additional support and strategies. Paul and her staff have welcomed the opportunity to work alongside school staff to give suggestions and provide specific strategies to use with individual students as well as school wide strategies. Speaking on behalf of the Kelso School District, we are excited about the opportunities that this partnership with Quest will bring to our district and to the other districts in Cowlitz County.

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1452 Hudson St. • US Bank Building Suite 208 • Longview, WA 360.423.9921 www.cowlitzedc.com

Many issues loom at state level The 2017 legislative session will begin soon and with it will include many important issues that are certain to have an impact on the Longview Public Schools. I’d like to highlight some prominent issues for our community.

At the forefront will be the manner in which the state legislature chooses to address the state’s funding inadequacy brought to light in the Supreme Court’s McCleary Decision. The heart of this ruling is that local school districts have become far too dependent upon local levies to meet their basic education requirement needs.

In the Longview Public Schools, 22 percent of our total state funding comes from locally-voted Maintenance and Operation levies. The increased dependence on local levies across the state has resulted in discrepant district commitments to the Time, Responsibility and Incentive (TRI) pay given teachers to supplement salaries set by the state schedule.

Our TRI compensation average is $6,500 per teacher. The state average TRI pay is $14,000 per teacher. Because larger districts in the Vancouver area provide more in TRI pay, we have had some difficulty recruiting teachers to our area. Additionally, state funding for teacher and support personnel neither matches our need nor our actual compensation costs.

The present state funding formula only provides teacher salaries for 180 days of instructional time. Additional time is needed in our efforts to improve upon student achievement levels as we address school improvement and professional development. Our hope is that the solution crafted by the legislature acknowledges this need.

We also believe that the State Construction Assistance formula needs to be revised to more accurately reflect actual costs to support school construction. The present square-footage-per-student calculation does not meet national averages, industry standards or new class size requirements. Additionally, we would like to see the 60 percent majority vote for the passage of construction bonds reconsidered. The super-majority requirement puts control of our school bonding requests in the hands of the minority.

The requirement to increase high school graduation credits to 24 is an unfunded mandate because it requires making the school day longer with more class periods. Our district’s move to a seven-period day in the 2018-19 school year will remove about seven minutes per period (we need to teach more subjects in the same time allotment). Seven fewer minutes per day for 180 school days means approximately 21 hours of instructional time per credit granted. To recoup about four of those lost seven minutes, we need to add at least 30 minutes to the instructional day. This extension of the instructional day represents an approximate 7 percent increase in the cost of our teacher contract. These unfunded yet significant compensation implications to the adoption of a 24 credit graduation requirement have largely been ignored by the State Board of Education and Legislature.

This legislative session, we are also asking that graduation requirements no longer be tied to state-mandated test scores. It seems that we continue to make it more and more difficult for our students to graduFor more Longview, see page 21

20 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

Longview, continued from page 20 ate from high school, and we believe that districts should be allowed to manage their own graduation requirements providing they meet minimum levels provided by the state.

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Beyond the state level, we have deep concern for the systematic federal intrusion into the operation of our nation’s public schools. Over the past 16 years, our states and local public school districts have increasingly lost control of many decisions. This gradual creep of federal intrusion, couched in a need for accountability and justified by a propagandized belief that our public schools are failing has done little to improve upon the education we provide our students. I am hopeful that the replacement of No Child Left Behind legislation with the newly authorized Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation will be a first step in restoring control of our public schools to states and local districts.

Finally, state and national school privatization efforts which include support of charter schools and vouchers present great concerns. These efforts promise to put public funds in the hands of unelected boards and for-profit organizations who have no accountability to the public.

They are not required to serve all students nor are they required to meet the same standards of accountability, testing, and performance required of all public schools. The privatization efforts supported by former U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan, present Secretary King, and future Secretary DeVos have failed to produce any demonstrable improvement in student achievement levels. Diverting our nation’s educational resources from accountable and locally-run public schools governed by elected boards to unaccountable private entities controlled by self-appointed boards and individuals is certain to dilute the resources available to public schools that are uniquely charged with serving all students, regardless of background, ability, or station in life.

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County Commissioners

By Mike Karnofski

10 headlines I want(ed) to see by 2017 At the end of my first State of the County speech in January 2013, I proposed 10 headlines that I wanted to see by 2017.

1. County General Fund cash reserve at 15% 2. US Olympic Shooting and Archery Qualifier held at Cowlitz County Shooting Range 3. 5th Superior Court Judge named by Governor 4. 432/433 Project construction started 5. Cowlitz County Commercial Technical Education (CTE) Skills Center has first class 6. New Housing Permits reach 200/year 7. All County School Districts report increased enrollment 8. 300 new jobs created by Rural Economic Development Funds 9. Cowlitz County – #1 NW Tourist Destination 10. Cowlitz County named one of the top 100 Counties in USA So, how good were my predictions?

The County has increased its General Fund cash reserve from a low of 8.3 percent (the absolute minimum of one month’s reserve) to a projected over 15 percent in 2016 and a budgeted 12 percent by the end of 2017. Fifteen is a good goal, but is will be difficult to maintain with the need for capital improvements in the main County buildings.

I missed No. 2 by a long way. The use of the shooting range has continued to increase. It certainly is a first class facility that adds to the Quality of Place of Cowlitz County and brings in tourist dollars but it has not reached the Olympic Qualifier level yet.

Recent stories in The Daily News have shown that a fifth Superior Court judge will become a reality in 2017. The position is budgeted and a fifth judge should be sitting on the bench in September.

Although the 432/433 project construction has not started, I believe that we can claim victory for the Industrial Way/Oregon Way (IWOW) interchange, the key component of the project. Eighty-five million dollars was included in the Washington State transportation package for this project. The two top alternative designs have been selected and will be presented to the public at a January 26 meeting. In addition, the City of Longview was awarded $4.2 million to improve the SR 432/SR 411 interchange (more commonly known as Tennant Way/3rd Avenue interchange). Half of these funds came from the State’s Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board and the other half from the County’s Rural Economic Development Funds. In addition the City of Longview is in a strong position to receive a $5.5 million grant from the Federal Government to improve the California Way/3rd Avenue/Industrial Way interchange, and the Port of Longview has applied for a $37 million Federal grant to improve its rail corridor. The 432/433 Corridor projects 22 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

are a great example of successful cooperation between the cities, county, ports, Cowlitz Economic Development Council and Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments.

For No. 5, while there is not a CTE Skills Center, there are certainly a lot of positive activities to improve vocational education in our local schools. The recent tour of Kelso High School and the upcoming tours of RA Long and Mark Morris highlight the great classes that are offered to prepare students. These tours are sponsored by the Chamber and are a good way to see these classes (see the ad on page 24 for information).

You can see me in action at the Kelso High culinary class. There is still work to be done to continue to improve CTE but with the cooperative efforts of the local school districts and Lower Columbia College it will be successful.

Unincorporated Cowlitz County did not quite reach 200 new home permits is 2016. There were 162 new house permits through November and there should be around 180 for the year. I expect that there will be over 200 in 2017.

School enrollments have stabilized in most districts and Woodland School District continues to show steady growth. With the continued improvement of the economy I expect that all districts will show small increases in the next couple of years.

Looking at the grants for the County’s Rural Economic Development Fund since 2013, it is clear that 300 jobs have been created. The downtown improvements partially funded in Longview, West Kelso, and Castle Rock have resulted in more businesses. This is most evident in Castle Rock where store vacancies have decreased from more than 50 percent to around 10 percent. The Port of Kalama has used these funds to add warehouse space at SteelScape and land McMenamins. The Port of Woodland has all its warehouses leased supported by the infrastructure that has been funded.

Cowlitz County has not reached the level of No. 1 Northwest Tourist Destination but the numbers have continued to improve. Mount St. Helens Monument visitors in 2016 were increased compared to 2015.

Total tourism spending in the County was more than $160 million in 2015, an increase of about 8 percent since 2012. Direct employment associated with tourism is 2,160 jobs.

Finally Cowlitz County has not been named one of the Top 100 Counties in the USA. But, things are getting better; employment is up, there are more than $3.5 billion in announced industrial projects that are in permitting or negotiations, there are more than $300 million in infrastructure projects. Businesses have moved to Woodland, Kalama and Longview, because they want to be located in a Quality Place. These successes are due to the cooperative activities of the county, cities, ports, CEDC, CWCOG, and chambers getting the right people to work on the right problems.

Keep up the good work!

Business After Hours

Holiday Cheers!

Terry (left) with Solvay picked up a poinsettia at the Chamber's Holiday Mixer Business After Hours at Lower Columbia College on December 13. A special thank you to LCC, Linda Clark and Tiffany Stewart (left) for the beautiful holiday setting at the Rose Center.

Cindy (below) with Red Canoe Credit Union won a stunning centerpiece donated by Koelsch Senior Communities and Shawn Green with ServPro (below) found time to network with friends from Bicoastal Media.

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 23

Workforce Southwest Washington

By Donna Hughes

Business Services Consultant

On-the-Job Training Program helps businesses pay for new employees Hiring new employees is an expensive proposition. In some cases, it can take months for them to be fully productive.

What if you could hire a new employee and recoup up to 50 percent of his/her salary for the first few months? Would that help your business? Would you finally fill that open position knowing it would cost you less to do so?

If you answered, “yes” to any of these questions, the on-the-job (OJT) training program offered through WorkSource may be for you.

WorkSource will work with you to find potential job candidates and reimburse you, up to $5,000, for the trainee’s salary as they learn skills customized to your business. Your company may also qualify for tax credits for hiring certain job candidates, such as veterans.

Imagine finding a great candidate that needs an industry certification or training in a specific area and getting that training at no cost to your business – that’s where WorkSource can help.

Business Back 2 School

The OJT program is designed to make hiring new employees costeffective and easy for your business. WorkSource’s business services consultants provide no-cost services to help you hire the right person and train them to meet your company’s needs.

Companies that have participated in the OJT program have found it helps reduce the costs of hiring and training a new employee. Investing in your employees also tends to increase staff retention rates.

Before you hire your next employee, contact WorkSource to learn more about on-the-job training.

Companies looking for permanent new hires can contact Donna Hughes at WorkSource in Kelso at 360-578-4259 or dhughes@esd. wa.gov.

Donna Hughes is the Business Services Consultant at WorkSource Cowlitz/Wahkiakum and can be reached at 360-578-4259 or dhughes@esd.wa.gov.

SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 8:30 am to 1:30 pm

Mark Morris High School and

Discovery School

$15 per person includes bus ride and lunch. Join us for a tour of Mark Morris High School plus Discovery School and see how education has changed over the past 40 plus years. Brought to you by the Longview High School Career and Technical Education and the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce.

Don’t miss RA LONG HIGH SCHOOL on Thursday, May 11, 2017!

www.kelsolongviewchamberof commerce.org | 360-423-8400 24 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

December Ambassador of the Month Pam Fierst

Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center

Longtime volunteer earns Red Coat honor Pam Fierst has been named the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce’s December Ambassador of the Month.

loves to camp, fish, travel, and spend time with her family. She is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Fierst, the director of sales and catering/manager at the Kelso Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center, has been an Ambassador for 18 years volunteering her time to Chamber members and the community.

“We are thankful to you, Pam, for your many years of service and we hope you know how appreciated you are,” said Lindsey Cope, Chamber project manager.

She said she likes talking to Chamber members, learning about what they do and helping them get involved in the community.

When she is not fulfilling her duties as a “Red Coat” she and her husband, Destry, make many appearances during the holiday season as your friendly, neighborhood Grinch and Max at parades, collecting change for the Salvation Army and other events.

Pam is a mother of two children and grandmother to eight. She

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 cuttings and community events. Ambassadors juggle busy professional careers while making time to assist the Chamber 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.

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• Formation, Reorganization, and Dissolution • Mergers and Acquisitions • Purchases and Sales • Succession Planning

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A Full Service Civil Law Firm for over 90 Years CIVIC CENTER BUILDING, 3RD FLOOR 1700 HUDSON ST., LONGVIEW, WA

(360) 423-5220 Longview www.walstead.com January 2017| Kelso Longview Business Connection | 25

In The News

Kelso Longview Chamber looking for part-time help 10-20 hours per week

Community Home Health & Hospice welcomes new human resource director

The Kelso Longview Chamber is hiring.

The Kelso Longview Chamber is looking for a part-time person 1020 hours per week on a flexible schedule.

The job duties will include: Customer Service – assisting members and visitors who walk in or call into the office.

Social Media and Website updating – Posting photos of Chamber events, city events, reposting or sharing business/member events, business news items, posting to calendar of events, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Data Entry – Maintenance of the Chamber’s Contact Management System of members and member information.

Event Assistance – Set up, break down, registration, and prep work.

Compensation will be $11 per hour (flexible schedule).

For information or to submit a resume contact Bill Marcum, bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org. Deadline to submit resume is January 6.

Community Home Health & Hospice (Community) welcomes Kendra Zern as their new human resource director. Zern oversee the needs of Community’s 300-plus employees across southwest Washington. “We are so pleased to have Kendra on board,” said Greg Pang, Community’s president and CEO. “She has the professional expertise and compassionate spirit that exemplifies our care.”

Zern obtained her bachelors of arts in health administration from George Fox University in 2011 and recently obtained a Professional of Human Resources (PHR) certification. Zern has six years of human resource experience working in healthcare and nonprofits as well as having been a small business owner. Her previous employer recognized her with the Sewell Customer Service award for 2015.

Zern specializes in organizational culture, employee relations and HR compliance while focusing on operational excellence. “I understand the importance of developing an engaging team culture in order to promote success from within,” said Zern. In her free time, Zern can be found exploring new hiking trails in the Pacific Northwest or staying fit with her Clark County running club.

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WWW.M-Y-AGENCY.COM 26 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

In The News

Lunch and Learn with the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities Do you have questions about mediations and the way they interact with your overall health? Are you interested in learning more about preventing nutrient depletion and other adverse side effects?

If yes, please join the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities for its first 2017 Lunch and Learn with local pharmacist Julia Lang at noon January 12 at 1338 Commerce Ave., Ste. 309, in Longview.

Walstead Mertsching Attorneys Frank Randolph and Ryan Busby will provide the class with an overview of the competitive bidding process and small works roster for government projects. They will expand on the benefits of Limited Public Works Projects and the Contract Awarding Process.

Take the mystery out of Government Contracts and Small Works Rosters, and understand the benefits for your business.

Light refreshments provided.

For more information or to register please call, 360-577-4929

LCCA Education Series: Expedited Small Works Roster Please join the Lower Columbia Contractors Association (LCCA) January 11 for its next education class: Expedited Small Works Roster, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the LCCA office, 1015C Vandercook Way, Longview.

The LCCA and Walstead Mertsching have partnered to develop a series of educational classes for contractors offered monthly on the second Wednesday of the month of January through March. For information go to www.lcca.net/education.

This event is free to LCCA members; $35 for non-members.

For questions or to RSVP go to lcca@lcca.net or 360-425-8820.

Love your new life Losing weight can help you move well, breathe easier and reverse some health conditions.

What’s not to love?

Weight loss surgery n Nutrition advice Medically supervised program peacehealth.org/ weight

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 27

Welcome New Members

Buddy’s Home Furnishings Susan West, General Manager 840 Ocean Beach Hwy. Longview, Wash., 98632 360-425-3410 Manager369@buddysrents.com

100 Women Who Care – Lower Columbia Chapter 627 23rd Ave. Longview, Wash., 98632 503-997-9922 stacydalgarno@comcast.net

Bill Ammons – Retiree 308 S. Pacific Ave. Kelso, Wash., 98626 360-274-7811

Dependable Garage Door installation for your Residential and Light Commercial needs

(503) 728-5070

SAVE UP TO 50% ON

Your Electric Heating Bill!

LeeRoy Parcel Manager/LPO leeroy@cascade-title.com

Ductless heating and cooling systems provide year-round comfort and saves you up to 50% on your electric heating bill. With an $800 rebate from Cowlitz PUD, installing a ductless heat pump has never been this easy and affordable.

Get started now by finding an experienced local installer at GoingDuctless.com 28 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

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

Join the Chamber Today! Call 360-423-8400 Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, special events and committee participation.

• Use of Chamber Logo Representation through action committees, candidate forums and up-to-date action alerts.

• Annual Meeting and Banquet • Networking Events

• Legislative Representation

• Committee Participation

• Issues Tracking and Information

• Business Contacts • Quarterly Membership

• Task Forces

Meetings

• Candidate Forums

• Civic Representation

• Legislative Update Breakfast

• Monthly Business After Hours Business Services include marketing for your business, referrals and access to Chamber publications and research data.

• Mailing Labels • Membership Window Decals • Member Referrals • Ribbon Cutting • Website Links • Member to Member Discounts • Membership Directory • Tax Deduction • Newsletter • Business Card Display

• Demographics Publication

Packages Basic Membership Package – $275 or $26 per month.

Bronze Membership Package – $500 or $46.66 per month.

Silver Membership Package – $1,000 or $86.33 per month.

Gold Membership Package – $2,500 or $211.33 per month.

Platinum Membership Package – $5,000 or $416.66 per month.

Diamond Club Membership Package – $10,000 or $834 per month.

Nonprofit Package – $180 or $18 per month.

Steve Dahl

Real Estate Broker / Property Manager

1700 Hudson Street, Suite 101 Longview, WA 98632 SRDahl@PNWR.com I’m committed to providing high quality, personal service.

Your endorsement to family, friends and colleagues is the life blood of my business.

I greatly appreciate your referrals!

Cell (360) 431-3540 • Office (360) 423-4663 • Fax (360) 423-4693

www.PNWR.com

1157 3rd Avenue, Suite 218

1157 Longview, 3rd Avenue, WA Suite 98632 218 1157 3rd360.952.3100 Avenue, Suite 218 Longview, WA 98632 Longview, WA 98632 www.amadaseniorcare.com 360.952.3100 360.952.3100 www.amadaseniorcare.com www.amadaseniorcare.com January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 29

Chamber Connection

Listen Up

It was a busy month for 'Your Chamber Connection' on Bicoastal Media Longview. We had the chance to speak with Dawn Woods with new member reVive wellness and medical aesthetics, which moved into Coda Collective Day Spa. They offer a variety of services from aesthetics to Botox, Juvederm and laser hair removal. Later, Pam Whittle from American Workforce Group – CowlitzCo dropped by the studio. They work with job seekers and employers to find the perfect fit. Last, but not least, we were able to speak with newly re-elected Cowlitz County Commissioner Dennis Weber. We touched on the new hotel plans next to the Cowlitz County Event Center, as well as plans for residential development locally.

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

“Your Chamber Connection” EVERY Wednesday Hosts of the Show: Carey Mackey, Red Canoe Credit Union ; Brooke Fisher-Clark, United Way; and Karen Sisson, NORPAC 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 Lindsey at the Chamber 360-423-8400 30 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

Stream live at www.threeriversradio.com Local guest and current events

Chamber Connection We had the opportunity to take an "ussie" with Rachel Strand of the United Way of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties with special guest hosts Rich Coleman and Teedara Garn. We rolled right into all Russ Chittock at the Monticello Park has going on this holiday season. We celebrated our new member Forever Fit Gym with Karen G. Clemenson, followed by Abe and Manya from Silver Cove RV Park. Look out for their Business After Hours in 2017! We were able to talk wtih Natalie Richie from Longview Parks and Recreation. Their winter guide just came out along with a new way to register for their fun events. Last but not least, we chatted with Paul Anderson from Fred Meyer about the new ClickList. It is revolutionizing grocery shopping!

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 31

Chamber Connection

Rose Burchim with new member Accent Ink NW reminded us not to miss their booth at sQuatch Fest January 28.

Captain Sierra Dwelle with the The Salvation Army Longview Temple also stopped by to encourage donations of food, clothing and toys year round. If you cannot donate items, they always need volunteers! We also had the opportunity to speak with Yvette Olive from Bloodworks Northwest. Did you know that they supply our local medical center? Donate at one of their local drives and you could save the life of up to three people in our local community!

Your Locally Owned and Operated Community Bank • Checking, Savings and CDs • Business Loans • Construction Loans • SBA Loans 729 Vandercook Way, Longview

(360) 414-4101 www.twincitybank.com

There’s a Difference.

32 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

Welcome Back!

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. *Interwest Benefit Consultants *Columbia River Carpet One *Compendium Consulting *Cowlitz County Guidance Association *Estetica Day Spa *State Farm Insurance – Scott Fischer *Diamond Residential *Applied Application *Broderick Gallery *American Legion *Coleman Cellular *Port of Woodland *Cowlitz Credit Union *Industrial Packing *Pacific Fibre Products *Errand Girl *American Family Kari-Ann Botero *Guild Mortgage *Hometown National Bank *Island Sun Tanning, Inc. *Kemira Water *Sterling Insurance *United States Army *Lexi’s Pizza *B & B Air Conditioning & Heating *Community Health Partners/Cowlitz Free Medical Clinic *Pro-Caliber Longview Motorsports *Red Canoe Credit Union Washington Way *Red Leaf Coffee *BA Design *American Red Cross *Esteem Salon *Hydraulic Service, Inc. *ProBuild *B & R Mini Storage *Banda’s Bouquets *Be Cause Business Resources, Inc. *Best Western Aladdin Inn *Busack Electric *Calportland *Columbia Security *Copies Today Speedy Litho, Inc. *Cowlitz Container & Diecutting *Edward Jones-Nick Lemiere *H & S Enterprises *Habitat For Humanity Cowlitz County *Hart Radiator *Heartsong Massage

*J. L. Storedahl & Sons, Inc. *Kaiser Permanente *Les Schwab Tire Center *Longview Timber Corp *Longview Urology *Ocean Beach Self Storage *P. T. Northwest *Pacific Office Automation *Papa Pete’s Pizza – Longview *PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center *Pets, Pawns & Imports *SW Washington Symphony *The UPS Store *TSYS Merchant Solutions *Washington State University Vancouver *Zip Local *Berkshire Hathaway *Cowlitz River Dental *Dream Dentistry *Reality Homes *Longview Eagles *Service Master *Ricoh *Planet Fitness *WA Division of Vocational Rehabilitation *Acupuncture Northwest *Budget Blinds of Longview *Columbia Bank - Longview Branch *Columbia Funeral Service *Columbia River Mill Outlet *Columbia Wellness *Continental Investors Services, Inc. *DeFrancisco Lampitt and Brado PS *DSU Peterbilt *Fire Mountain Grill & Summerland Catering Services *G L Booth – J G Davis & Associates *Green Hills Crematory - Cascade NW Funeral Chapel *Kay Green *Lower Columbia Contractors Association *Signature Transport, Inc. *State Farm Insurance - Scott Fischer *Teague's Interiors *ASAP Business Solutions *My Agency *Area Agency on Aging Disabilities of Southwest Washington *Dino Doozer

*Windemere Kelso-Longview *Advanced Dental Services, LLC *All Out Sewer & Drain Service, Inc. *Baker Lumber Company, Inc. *Brusco Tug and Barge, Inc. *Carl's Towing Service & Repair, Inc. *Carlson's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. *Cascade Natural Gas Corporation *Coldwell Banker Bain *Cole's Appliance Repair *Comfort Inn *Community Home Health & Hospice *Cutright Wholesale Plumbing Supply *Family Health Center *Interiors Plus *Life Works *Longview Housing Authority *Longview Orthopedic Associates, PLLC *Longview Public Schools *Masthead Restaurant *McDonald's of Longview *McDonald's of Longview II *Nipp & Tuck Inc. *Ocean Beach Animal Hospital *Pacific Fibre Products, Inc. *Paperbacks Galore, Inc. *Rush Insurance/Financial Services, Inc. *Schlecht Construction, Inc. *Somerset Retirement Home and Assisted Living *T.C.'s R.V. & Mini Storage, Inc. *United Finance *Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company *Wasser & Winters Company *William (B. J. ) R. Boatsman *Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce *Interstate Wood Products, Inc. *Kalama Chamber of Commerce *Lower Columbia CAP *M & R Painting, Inc. *Mint Valley Federal Credit Union *Newrock Homes, Inc. *Northwest Auto Specialist, Inc. *Retirement Strategies *Simpson Timber Company - Longview Lumber Operations *Superior Tire Service, Inc. *Woodland Chamber of Commerce *Longview Outdoor Gallery

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 33

Welcome Back! *The OM Home *Triangle Bowl *Cowlitz County Chaplaincy *Biggs Insurance Services *Clay Bartness *Comcast *Dick Hannah Toyota *Fred Meyer, Inc. *Heritage Bank - Kelso *Heritage Bank - Longview *Longview Engineering And Design *McCord Bros. Nissan Dodge *Millennium Bulk Terminals *Minuteman Press *Professional Communication Services *Servpro of Longview/Kelso *Sierra Pacific Mortgage *Twin City Bank *Waste Control Recycling, Inc. *Woodford Commercial Real Estate *Bicoastal Media LV DBA KLYK/KRQT/ KEDO/KBAM/KPPK *Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts *Craig Stein Beverage *Dahl McVicker Funeral Homes *Entek Corporation *Frontier Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center *Gibbs & Olson, Inc. *Humane Society of Cowlitz County *Lemondrops Photography *Life Mortgage *Music & More D.J.s *Noelle McLean, PS *Office Depot Max *Pacific Lumber & Shipping Co. *Papé Machinery *PNE Construction *Red Canoe Credit Union *Red Canoe Credit Union - 30th *Safway Services, Inc. *Searing Electric & Plumbing *Steele Chapel Longview Memorial Park *The Dog Zone *Umpqua Bank *Utilize I.T., Inc. *Walmart *Animal Health Services, Inc., PS *Arnitz, Suzanne *Baxter Auto Parts Inc. *Behrends Body Shop *Bob's Sporting Goods

*Burger King - Longview (Main) *Collins Architectural Group, PS *Country Village Nutrition Shoppe and Cafe *Day Wireless Systems *Ethnic Support Council *Fiesta Bonita Mexican Grill & Cantina *Foster Farms *Gallery of Diamonds *Global Images Graphic Design & Marketing *Hilander Dental *Kelso Rotary *Les Schwab Tire Center *Longview Tire Sales, Inc. *Northwest Motor Service *Overhead Door Company of Southwest Washington *Peter C. Wagner, DMD, PS *Propel Insurance *Shamrock Spirits & Grill *Shirley L. Smith *Stirling Honda *Sweet Spot Frozen Yogurt *Taco Time *The Daily News *The Roof Doctor, Inc. *Twin City Glass Co. *Twin City Service Co. *Weatherguard, Inc. *Wilcox & Flegel Oil Company *WorkPlace Wellness *WorkSource - Cowlitz/Wahkiakum *Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance *Corwin Beverage *Cowlitz River Rigging, Inc. *Educational Service District No. 112 *Emergency Support Shelter *Fairway Collections *Futcher Group *Hart C's Steakburger & Thai Food *Kelso School District *Kelso Theater Pub *Kelso-Longview Television, Inc. *KeyBank *Longview Early Edition Rotary *Longview Eye & Vision *Longview Physical & Sports Therapy *Longview Self Storage * Mobile Mic Entertainment *Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. *Opsahl, Dawson & Company, P.S. *Renaud Electric Company, Inc.

34 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

*Reprographics, Inc. *Solvay *Southwest Washington Blood Program *United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties *Willamette Dental *Anderson & Anderson Advisory, LLC *Better Business Bureau *C's Photography *Cadillac Island Casino *Cowlitz County Museum *Cowlitz Economic Development Council *Cowlitz Indian Tribe *Epson Portland *Erickson Glass Co. *Estetica Day Spa *Fibre Federal Credit Union - Castle Rock Branch *Fibre Federal Credit Union - Kelso Branch *Fibre Federal Credit Union - Ocean Beach Branch *Fibre Federal Credit Union - West Kelso Branch *Fibre Federal Credit Union - Woodland Branch *Guesthouse Inn & Suites *Kellogg Supply, Inc. *Longview Country Club *Lower Columbia Economic Development Council *Motion Industries, Inc. *Mount St. Helens Creation Information Center *N.W. Deli Distribution, Inc. *Pathways 2020 *Prestige Senior Living Monticello Park *Progress Center *Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center *Riverview Community Bank *Sessions Plumbing & Heating, Inc. *Three Rivers Christian School *Timothy E. Nelson, DDS *Weyerhaeuser *Advanced Message & Dispatch *Beacon Hill Rehabilitation *Bob Beal Insurance Agency Inc. – State Farm *Building Industry Association of Clark County *Cascade Networks, Inc. *Cascade Select Market *Columbia River Reader *Davis & Associates, CPAs, PS

Welcome Back! *Eldon Robbins Auto Sales, Inc. *Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region *Longview Downtowners *Longview Pawnbrokers & Bail Bonds *North Pacific Paper Corporation/NORPAC *Performance Sheet Metal, Inc. *Prographyx *Snap Fitness *Stageworks Northwest *Stewart Title *Super 8 of Kelso/Longview *Three Rivers Mall *Youth & Family Link *Altrusa International Inc. of Longview-Kelso *Be Cause Business Resources, Inc. *Canterbury Inn *Columbia Ford Hyundai Nissan *Craig Martin The Voice dba Martin Audio Services *Ecological Land Services, Inc. *Eoff Electric Company *Fibre Federal Credit Union - Main Branch *Jansen Flowers & Gift Gallery *KLOG/KUKN/the WAVE Radio Stations

*Longview Radiologists, P.S., Inc. *Omelets & More *PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center Foundation *Teri's Restaurant OUR LATEST RENEWING MEMBERS *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 PUD *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 *KapStone *Koelsch Senior Communities *L.G. Isaacson Company *Longview Memorial Park, Funeral Home & Crematory *Lower Columbia College *Miller Paint *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 *U.S. Cellular *Walstead Mertsching, PS *Watkins Tractor & Supply Co. *Canterbury Gardens *Canterbury Park *Congressman Brian Baird *US Senator Patty Murray

We look forward to handling your next real estate transaction.

Our Escrow Team…

Why Our Service is the Difference!

Since 1982, Cowlitz County Title has been the trusted company the community turns to when buying, selling or refinancing a property.

Whether you need title, escrow or property search information, come in for our exceptionalservice. Leave with the secure confidence that your real estate investment is properly insured and protected.

Title Insurance Escrow Service ■ Residential & Commercial ■ 1031 Exchange ■ Locally Owned

Bianca Lemmons VP/Manager/LPO

Deanna Cornelison Escrow Officer

Shelby Caufman Escrow Officer

Linda Comley Escrow Officer/LPO

Leah Stanley Escrow Assistant

Rita Lawrence Escrow Assistant

Kristy Norman Escrow Assistant

■ ■

1159 14th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632 ■ Phone: 360.423.5330 ■ www.cowlitztitle.com January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 35

Jingle all the Way

Big Thank you to the 5th Annual Jingle All the Way 5k Run/Walk Participant, Sponsors & Volunteers Longview, WA – The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce held the “5th Annual Jingle All the Way 5k Run/Walk” December 10th in Historic Downtown Longview. It was a little chilly and wet, but that didn’t stop the 400 participants from coming out in their festive holiday attire and enjoying the race.

The energy was high and the smiles contagious throughout the evening. The Chamber would like to thank the large turnout of participants including big teams: Cowlitz County, City of Kelso, PeaceHealth, Estetica Day Spa, and the Cowlitz PUD. Thank you to the Jingle Committee: Marlene Johanson (Heritage Bank), Rick Johnson (Retiree Extraordinaire), Carey Mackey (Red Canoe Credit Union), Eric McCrandall (DAPC), Teedara Garn (Cowlitz PUD), Amy Hallock & Bill Marcum (Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce) for their great support and assistance in bringing this event to life.

A big thank you also goes out to the Jingle sponsors who make this event possible: MY Agency, Kapstone, Fibre Federal Credit Union, Corwin Beverage Co., PNE Construction, Mary’s Bar & Grill/Union Square, Foster Farms, KUKN, KLOG & The Wave, Pacific Office Automation, Amada Senior Care, Bi-Coastal Media, Prographyx, Ecological Land Services, Family Health Center, Twin City Bank, Hop-n-Grape, Heritage Bank, Walstead Mertsching, The Shamrock, The Future Group, Red Canoe Credit Union, Porky’s Public House & Eatery, Cowlitz County Title, Mill City Grill, Pets, Pawns, & Imports, Express Employment Professionals, Stewart Title, ServPro, Brandy Kays Olinger – RE/MAX, Lexington Minit Mart, Rick Johnson, Summerland Catering, Gallery of Diamonds, Three Rivers Christian, Eldon Robbins Auto Sales, The Humane Society, Kelso Theatre Pub, CJ Bartness, Shear Warriors, The Law Office of Meredith A. Long, American Medical Response, The Merk, Cowlitz Valley Runners, & C’s Photography.

Thank you for our entertainment and volunteers of the evening: Kelso High School Cheerleaders, Kelso High School Jazz Band, Bicoastal Media, Guse’s Gourmet Coffee, Dan Gallagher, Fred Meyer, John & Christine Randall and the Rely Local Trolley, Corby & Cowlitz Black Bears, The Original Kristi’s, Engraving Emporium, The Sandbaggers, Sasquatch, The Grinch & Max, The Pirates, the Washington State Delegates, Photographer Lloyd Smith, and the Cowlitz Visionary Youth.

Thank you to the City of Longview, Lower Columbia Professionals and our participating local high school seniors for keeping the streets clear and safe for our participants. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Lower Columbia Professionals Scholarship Fund that awards scholarships to graduating seniors from Cowlitz County High Schools.

We would not be able to do all that we do without all of you!

Pictures of the run are posted on the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. If you participated in the run and would like a commemorative T-shirt please call the Chamber at 360.423.8400.

36 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | January 2017

*Press release was sent to The Daily News of this letter on 12/13/2016.

Jingle all the Way

Holiday Hoofers

Warmed by their holiday spirit, hundreds braved the rain and cold and enjoyed the seasonal tradition of the Jingle all the Way FUN run and walk.

More great photos can be found on the Chamber's Facebook page.

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

January 2017 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 37