June
2018
Business Connection
Volume 10, Issue 6
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
The applause was deafening for this year's Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Education award winners. Millennium Bulk Terminals' Peter Bennett, center, was named Business Individual of the Year.
'A great night for business and education in Kelso and Longview' M
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Amy Hallock Project Manager Pam Fierst Office Manager Joelle Wilson Social Media Services
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 e-mail bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month
ore than 230 enthusiastic business and education supporters packed into the Lower Columbia College Rose Center May 3 for the Chamber of Commerce’s Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Education Awards. “It was a great night for business and educators in Kelso and Longview,” Chamber CEO Bill Marcum said. “It’s the people, who give 100 percent to their jobs, business, friends, neighbors and these two communities, that make the night so special.” As in years past, the evening was highlighted by the awarding of $21,000 in scholarship awards to 19 seniors graduating from local high schools. The $16,500 from the Lower Columbia Professionals and the $4,500 from the Chamber Education Committee through the Marie Harris Scholarship, is more than double the dollar figure of 2013. Those receiving scholarships were: Gabrielle Bennett, Kendal Bishop, Carolyn Wilson, Brooklyn Silva, Julia Hallowell, Rebecca Luff, Ashley Masters, Brooke Deering, Megan Slind, Robert Bartlett, Rachel Johnson, Macie Doolin, Ben Bergonzine, Haylee Hooper, Grace Parcel, For more Awards, see page 2
Chamber Ambassador Teedara Garn congratulates Kelso School District's April Huff, who won K-12 Classified Person of the Year.
Awards, continued from page 1
Calendar Thursday June 7 – 7:30-8:30am Ambassadors Meeting Columbia Bank
Tuesday June 12 – 5:30-7:30pm Business After Hours Delaware Plaza and Fire Mountain Grill
Julia Hallowell, Haylee Hooper and Grace Parcel were three of the evening's 19 scholarship winners. June 12 – Noon Chamber Executive Board Mill City Grill
Monday June 18 – All Day Chamber Golf Classic Three Rivers Golf Course
Tuesday June 26 – Noon Chamber Board Meeting
Ellia McCoy, Bryce Miller, Everett Pennington and Braxton Martin. Travis Ruhter from Mark Morris High School earned K-12 Teacher of the Year honors, while the K-12 Administrator of the Year trophy went to Rich Reeves from R.A. Long High School. Rick Davis and Sandy Catt received Lifetime Achievement Awards. On the business side, Mill City Grill was named Small Business of the Year and JH Kelly took Large Business of the Year honors. A full list of winners and nominees for both business and education awards is on page 3. For a full account of the evening’s festivities check out CEO column on page 4.
The Chamber's Lifetime Achievement honor went to Sandy Catt, presented by Jill Diehl.
Mill City Grill
Thursday June 28 – 11:30am-1pm Quarterly Luncheon Cowlitz Regional Event Center
Every Wednesday Chamber Connections KEDO/1400 AM or 99.1 FM 3-4pm Stream live at www.kedoam.com
Pathways 2020 Executive Director Paul Youmans shows off his award. More photos on Facebook
2 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
Congratulations To All the Nominees!
K-12 Classified Person of the Year
Higher Education Classified Person of the Year
*April Huff, Kelso School District (winner)
Michaela Jackson, Early Learning Center, LCC
Jamie Allred, Mark Morris HS
Higher Education Teacher of the Year
Kara Warner, Longview School District
Ann Williamson, LCC Faculty Education Instructor
Laura Norton, Northlake Elementary
Workforce Education Best Practice - Business
Miles Engebretson, Kelso School District
Cowlitz PUD
K-12 Teacher of the Year
Workforce Education Best Practice—Individual
Andrew Gragg, Kelso High School
Spencer Wiggins, NW Motor Services
Bob Johanson, Wallace Elementary
Small Business of the Year
Dawn Julian, Cascade Middle School
Anderson & Anderson Advisory
Devon Greenfield, Kelso HS
Dream Dentistry
JoAnn Keller, Huntington MS
Express Employment
Jodi Kruse, RA Long HS
*Mill City Grill (winner)
Jon Rice, Kelso HS
Reprographics
Kimmie Flint, Mint Valley Elementary
Large Business of the Year
Marie Gilchrist, Robert Gray Elementary
Columbia Ford
Toni Gravelle, Catlin Elementary
*JH Kelly (winner)
Tracy Gould, Monticello Middle School
PNE Corporation
*Travis Ruhter, Mark Morris High School (winner)
Business Individual of the Year
K-12 Administrator of the Year
Corey Balkan, Gallagher
Aaron Whitright, CVG Elementary
Lisa Straughan, Express Employment Professionals
Brooks Cooper, Mark Morris HS
Pat Sari, Columbia Ford
Chris Rugg, Cascade Middle School
*Peter Bennett, Millennium Bulk Terminals (winner)
Cindy Cromwell, Butler Acres Elementary
Tom Gunn, Reprographics
Lacey Griffiths, RA Long HS
Rising Star of the Year
Mary Carr-Wilt, Longview School District
Brian Brault, Walstead Mertsching
*Rich Reeves, RA Long HS (winner)
*Brooke Fisher-Clark, United Way (winner)
Scott Merzoian, Monticello MS
Marc Silva, Columbia Bank
Tim Yore, Catlin Elementary
Teedara Garn, Cowlitz PUD
Chamber CEO’s Message By Bill Marcum
Communities' stars shine at awards dinner May 3 was a great night for business and educators in Kelso and Longview. More than 230 people attended our Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Awards. It’s the people, who give 100 percent to their jobs, business, friends, neighbors and these two communities, that make the night so special. The cheers as nominees were announced and the roar of the ovation when the winners were announced is earsplitting. I did not think it could get better than last year and yet it did. Chris Bailey, president of Lower Columbia College, was our emcee this year and as always he did a great job keeping the evening rolling while also keeping it light and meaningful. For the second straight year, the event took place at the LCC Rose Center and the Wollenberg Auditorium. LCC catered the event with a wonderful selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres, cheese and desserts. The staff at LCC does an amazing job. For me, and I am sure many others, the part of the evening that is most special is when we bring our scholarship winners to the stage and present them with a $500 to $1,500 certificate toward their continuing education. Five years ago the Chamber and the Chamber’s Lower Columbia Professionals gave away three $750 scholarships. This year we handed out 19 scholarships totaling $21,000. Wow! It was awesome seeing our young people on stage, hearing their stories and learning about their future plans. To top off the evening we offered our Jansen Floral Effects floral pieces to help raise funds for next year’s LCC Foundation donation. We raised $1,105, enough for one LCC scholarship. Thank you to all who put money in the envelopes. We are off to a great start that will hopefully provide more scholarships next year.
Our 2018 Visitor Guide and Chamber Directory is hot off the press and available at the Chamber office.
I’ve said this before, this event doesn’t happen without the help of sponsors to offset expenses and pay for scholarship students and their families to attend. A huge thank you to this year’s sponsors: PeaceHealth, C’s Photography, KUKN/KLOG/The WAVE, Red Canoe, Davis and Associates, Three Rivers Mall, Gibbs and Olson, Millennium, Rodman Realty, Jansen Floral Effects, Nick Lemiere-Edward Jones, Foster Farms, Copies Today, Engraving Emporium, BiCoastal Media, Woodford Commerical Real Estate-Chris Roewe, Country Financial, Ecological Land Service and especially Lower Columbia College. I also need to give a big thank you to the Education Committee and chair Jill Diehl for their hard work and the long hours spent poring over, reviewing and narrowing down our scholarship applications before selecting the winners. It’s a very difficult thing to do. Last, and certainly not least, a big thank you, way to go, GREAT JOB... all those things to Amy Hallock, Chamber project manager. The awards dinner is one of our largest events and involves coordinating nominees, winners, scholarship winners, their parents, attendees, the food, the venue, sponsorship and a million other things I probably don’t even realize because Amy takes care of it. Thank you Amy...job well done. And thank you, everyone one of the 230-plus who attend the event, without each of you making a difference in our community, going the extra mile, doing that little extra in the classroom or in the boardroom we would not be the giving, helping communities we are today. So, again thank you.
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Lance Welch, President
Ken Botero Longview City Council
Nancy Malone Juneor of Kelso
Frank Panarra, President Elect
Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds
Chris Roewe Woodford Commercial Real Estate
Wendy Hutchinson Millennium Bulk Terminals
Tom Rozwod NORPAC/Weyerhaeuser
Marlene Johanson Heritage Bank
Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council
Wendy Kosloski Teague's Interiors
Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner
PeaceHealth-St. John Foster Farms
Bianca Lemmons, Vice President Cowlitz County Title
Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank
Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching
Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College Clayton J. Bartness, DC Longview Chiropractic Clinic
Nick Lemiere Edward Jones
4 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
Cowlitz County Commissioners By Dennis Weber
Let's Talk Trash: Headquarters Landfill controversy
We have received a steady stream of comments since the announcement that a review committee has selected Republic as the finalist in the County’s search for reform management at the Headquarters Landfill. Details of their initial offer published in other media made it appear as if a final deal has been struck. Fortunately, that is not true. By the time you read this, we will have also heard a reform proposal from our current public-private partnership with Waste Control. And as every successful business owner knows, the devil is in the details. I attended a Longview City Council workshop well over a year ago and sat alongside representatives of our private partner Waste Control to discuss what we were looking for in terms of landfill management, considering that long-time manager Don Olsen was about to retire and had recommended a sale of this asset. I stated then and continue to state that my bottom line is: 1) NO SALE of our $500 million asset; 2) long-term preferable rate stability for those producing waste in Cowlitz County (residential plus commercial/industrial); 3) maintain our partnership with Waste Control; 4) use better technology in handling methane gas; and 5) reduce our dependence on your property taxes for basic services, what I refer to as the Raiter Legacy. Now-retired County Commissioner George Raiter has been the loudest spokesman for monetizing the asset we have in our landfill. It is only possible because he insisted that we pledge your property taxes to guarantee repayment of the $30 million in bonds used to purchase the landfill from Weyerhaeuser and build the leachate pipeline all the way to the central sewerage treatment plan near KapStone. Any extra revenue generated by the landfill is a return on that investment. (Generating electricity from burning methane or converting the methane into natural gas and sending it into the main gas pipeline may be other sources of revenue, in addition to the municipal solid waste (MSW) from highrate counties.) This bond funding plan is unlike how cities finance utility improvements in which they pledge utility revenues to repay the bonds. It is important to note that NO property taxes have been needed to make bond payments yet. Our existing rates are sufficient. But the county did make a risky investment and it’s time to reap the rewards. In fact, the County has already taken advantage of the Raiter Legacy to the tune of $2 million for 2018. Interestingly, all the serious private proposals pledged to generate far more than that amount. Because the County’s property tax collections have consistently been less than costof-living indexes, we have been unable to adequately fund law and justice programs, facilities and maintenance, and important enhancements along the Toutle River and Silver Lake. A robustly funded Raiter Legacy will give us the tools to better serve the citizens of Cowlitz County. Our interim landfill manager informed us last month that his staff is beginning prep work for opening Cell 9. (Cells are the vast open pits into which landfill waste is dumped and covered. They contain the en-
vironmental controls to protect air and water quality. Opening Cell 9 so soon should be alarming to all our readers because there are only 22 cells planned at Headquarters to last the promised 50 to 100 years. While I didn’t teach a lot of math in my previous career, at the rate we have filled two cells in just the past 3 ½ years we will be lucky to reach 45 years. (Weyerhaeuser pretty much filled up Cells 1-6 before the County purchased the site.) I am most interested in how long-term rate stabilization will be addressed by the current public-private partnership (County staff and Waste Control). The landfill was licensed to accept municipal solid waste – the type that decomposes. When there is enough MSW in a cell, the cell shrinks down in time and can be refilled. So the license expects enough shrinkage in the earlier cells so that by the time all 22 cells are filled, the first ones can be filled again. But it requires enough MSW to make that process happen. Our manager also informed us that there has been no detectable shrinkage in the first six cells – filled up by industrial wastes. Again, we must have enough MSW in the mix to extend the life of the landfill, as promised. All the private proposals included adding more MSW. Hopefully the County staff/Waste Control proposed a realistic plan how they would accomplish that and better fulfill the Raiter Legacy. Detail of Republic’s proposal published in The Daily News made it sound like a final deal has been struck. Let me assure you that was their opening bid, not the final deal. We have a ways to go before a final deal is made, including considering that management reform proposal by the current public-private partnership and consulting our partners. I would have preferred more involvement from our long-standing Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) but our legal counsel, Steve DiJulio, arguably the most respected utility legal authority in Washington state, advised no more than five members on the review committee considering the rather confidential information from the private companies responding to our “Request for Qualifications” who narrowed down the eight proposals to Republic. They originally included legal counsel, County chief of staff, one rep from SWAC (from a major industry), public works director and a commissioner. By the time you read this, we will have heard from our current management on their reform proposal and met with SWAC to weigh in with their concerns. At least two public hearings will also review the matter. I have been meeting with interested groups to listen to their concerns and suggestions. As I continue to consider the best approach toward reforming management of the Headquarters Landfill, I will continue to insist on this bottom line: 1) NO SALE of our $500 million asset; 2) achieve long-term preferable rate stability for those producing waste in Cowlitz County (residential plus commercial/industrial); 3) maintain our partnership with Waste Control; 4) use better technology in handling methane gas; and 5) reduce our dependence on your property taxes for basic services, what I refer to as the Raiter Legacy. June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 5
Discover!
www.portofkalama.com
What are the commissioners’ roles and responsibilities? Are there laws governing the Port and Commissioners?
Visit Us Today! http://portofkalama.com/discover-port-kalama-commissioners-roles-responsibilities-districts/
We’re better than a bank.
We’re a family.
City of Longview By City Councilman Ken Botero
We live in a city on the move Welcome to the City of Longview, a city on the move. Longview, along with its citizens, is moving toward establishing a quality of place and quality of life for our residents and guests. When we take a look at what it takes to create these two wishes we need to look at how it provides for a healthy and reliable business atmosphere for our citizens, and the business partners we are inviting to join in our efforts. The health of our community promotes a positive image with positive results. Who wouldn’t want to live, work and play in a positive, healthy community? Recently our citizens, local government, and a special group of citizens brought to our attention our need for a biking and walking program that would provide the benefit of creating a positive, healthy atmosphere. In a federal transportation report, bicycling and walking were described as “the forgotten modes” of transportation– overlooked by many federal, state and local agencies for years. Recognizing the decline in walking and bicycling, and the ties to fatalities, the Unites States Department of Transportation adopted the first national transportation policy to increase the use of biking and encouraged planners and engineers to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian needs in designing transportation facilities for urban and suburban areas. The importance of a healthy community and the reasoning behind this new support for bicycling and walking is associated with the benefits associated with these visions, such as: ➢ Health Benefits – the health benefits of regular physical activity are far reaching in reducing the risk of heart attack, strokes, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. ➢ Transportation Benefits – Many of our local trips are less than three miles in length, yet about 72 percent of these short trips are made in vehicles. Bicycle and walkers can often bypass congestion and gridlock traffic, and in some instances may arrive at their destination faster than if they had driven a car. ➢ Environmental Benefits – The transportation sector accounted for nearly 30 percent of all energy consumed in the United States. Transportation is responsible for nearly one third of carbon dioxide emissions, and 80 percent of carbon monoxide emissions. Replacing short trips with walking or biking can help reduce this level of energy consumption.
Mark & Kerri Scroggins Fibre Family Members since 1992
➢ Economic Benefits –The cost of owning and operating a car, estimated at around $10,000 per year, can account for almost 18 percent of a typical household’s income. Compare that with the $120 yearly operating cost of owning a bicycle, or essentially free travel by foot, and it is clear that walking and bicycling can provide options for those of us trying to save a little money. Also, a thought, could bicycling and walking to many of our small businesses help revitalize our downtown businesses with new economic vision.
360.423.8750 • 1.800.205.7872 www.fibrecu.com Federally insured by NCUA
➢ Quality of Life Benefits – Numerous intangible benefits are associated with bicycling and walking. Providing more travel options can increase a sense of independence in seniors, young people, and others who cannot, or choose not to drive. Thank you for your time and I invite you to take a look at a city on the move, not only for your economic desires but also providing you with our quality of life with a positive view of the future. June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 7
2018
Monday, June 18th 1pm Shotgun Thank you John Paul for this great photo. Lessons included.
Room for two more teams $600 per Team of 4 $150 per Individual Players welcome Includes: Lunch, driving range, $5,000 putting contest, awards ceremony, steak dinner, 18 holes of fellowship, $10,000 hole-in-one opportunity and two carts per team. We will give you a call the first week of June to secure the people playing on your team.
Register at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Tee Time
Looking forward to teeing off at the 2018 Chamber Golf Classic you better get moving. Shotgun start is 1 p.m. June 18. See page 8 for details. You don't want to miss the fun!
LeeRoy Parcel Manager/LPO leeroy@cascade-title.com
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
June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 9
Workforce Southwest Washington By Jeanne Bennett CEO
Education to Employment: Building pathways and partnerships
Washington State ranks second in STEM jobs. An acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM jobs include construction, manufacturing, agriculture, software and hardware design, health care, and many others. While some STEM jobs require a four-year degree, approximately 75 percent of positions in Cowlitz County require some post-secondary education, but less than a bachelor’s degree. Many jobs require certifications that can be earned locally through community college or training programs.
vices and Resources; Engineering and Manufacturing Technology; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Business, Finance and Information Technology; Arts and Communications; Health Sciences and Resources. Based on these clusters, CTE focuses heavily on STEM careers. To be sure that students have choice as they explore the career clusters, the schools have designed both university-bound programs and community and technical college, apprenticeship, trade school and military programs. The schools recognize that every student has an individual path and needs support and direction to achieve success. To support students as they progress, many classes are articulated with Lower Columbia College for college credit. Businesses often tell us that students and adults lack “soft skills.”
As the local Workforce Development Board, Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) is dedicated to improving business’ access to well-trained and qualified employees. Given the reduced training requirements for many positions, we’re especially focused on building a strong and reliable pipeline of trained workers, beginning with high school students. To do this, partnership is key and working with local school districts and Lower Columbia College is critical. Seventy-five business representatives and educators came together on May 16 at the Education to Employment workshop, to discuss the employment pipeline. Thanks to presentations from Kelso and Longview Career and Technical Education (CTE) Directors Melissa Boudreau and Jill Diehl, we learned that Washington State requires that career exploration begin in seventh grade to help young people determine the best use of their academic time while in school. Career exploration assists students in understanding the career options available. Between seventh and 12th grades, students spend time building a “High School and Beyond” plan with the goal of graduating high school on time and with a plan for career or continuing education. For high school students, local districts have divided their CTE programs into six career pathway clusters to create and benefit from synergy between fields. The current clusters include: Human Ser10 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
Sometimes referred to as “essential skills,” this refers to specific skills and behaviors: timeliness, ability to communicate orally and in writing, creativity, reliability, conscientiousness and diligence. Career and Technical Education programs seek to teach and emphasize these skills to ensure that young people can successfully engage in employment. A key piece of the Education to Employment workshop was to share opportunities for business engagement in this work. Here are a few ways you, as an employer, can improve CTE and enhance young workers’ skills: • Participate in CTE Advisory Committees (Contact your local school district for information.) • Offer a tour of your facility to CTE classes • Provide equipment and training to the school • Hire a teacher for an externship • Hire a youth for a summer job Working together, business, education and workforce development will create a stronger, better-prepared and adaptive workforce for Cowlitz County. Jeanne Bennett is CEO of Workforce Southwest Washington. Reach her at jbennett@workforcesw.org or 360-567-1073.
Finding Talent in a Tight Labor Market Find talent where you haven’t been looking! Hear from organizations that can help you recruit and hire qualified candidates that may not be traditional for your industry, with first-hand employer success stories. Join us for a lively discussion on: • Benefits of diversifying your workforce • Dispelling myths of working with non-traditional candidates •
•
ROI/Social ROI of working with a diverse workforce How a culture of inclusivity plays a role in building a stable workforce 7:45 a.m. Check-in, coffee and networking 8 a.m. Program and Q&A
Date & Location
Space is limited. Register today!
Thursday, June 21, 2018 Cowlitz County Event Center 1900 7th Avenue, Longview
Go to Finding Talent/Cowlitz
Thursday, June 28, 2018 CoLab-The Collective 810 Main Street, Vancouver
Go to Finding Talent/Clark
Contact: Cass Parker cparker@workforcesw.org 360.567.1076 www.workforcesw.org I @WorkforceSWWA
Business After Hours
These three winners along with 12 of their friends will be going to a Cowlitz Black Bears game this season. Thank you so much to Jim Appleby and the Black Bears for their support of Chamber events.
Foster Farms Fun and Games Foster Farms hosted the Chamber's May
Business After Hours, which included a ton of fun games, friendly competition and great prizes. Thank you to everyone who helped make Business After Hours a great event, including our host and our game sponsors: Community Home Health & Hospice, Cowlitz Black Bears, Cowlitz County CASA, Koelsch Communities, Longview Country Club, Fire Mountain Grill, Kelso Youth Football, Edward Jones - Financial Advisor Nick Lemiere, and all who attended!
See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.
Kay Green was a happy winner of the Foster Farms chickens from the TV commercials. Foster Farms also gave away a 30-pound turkey with each basket. Thank you again to Jose and Toni who were super prize presenters.
June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 13
Quarterly Meeting
Cowlitz County Event Center 1900 7th Ave. Longview WA Thursday, June 28, 2018 11:45a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Commissioner Arne Mortensen
Commissioner Dennis Weber
Commissioner Joe Gardner
You are invited to attend the Kelso Longview Chamber’s 2nd Quarterly Membership Meeting. Please join us as we hear from our county commissioners about everything from the budget, to parks, to personnel challenges, to the manufacturing businesses that are still trying to making Cowlitz County home and I am sure the county landfill will be a topic that will be addressed.
$25 in advance/$35 at door (Price includes lunch buffet)
Register at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Mind Your Own Business (at the Library) By Chris Skaugset Director – Longview Public Library
Tense pacing, vivid characters jump from 'graphic novel' pages A graphic novel is a book length illustrative work that uses the form most people would recognize in its shorter comic book form. While the exact origins of the term “graphic novel” are uncertain, though hotly debated, there is little doubt that using pictures to tell stories has been around as long as the cave paintings at Lascaux, France. They continued through illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages. They exploded in popularity in the 20th century through comic strips and comic books, and in the last couple of decades have continued to grow in popularity in longer forms. There are many titles deemed classics in the graphic novel world equally recognized by critics beyond. These include the works of some of the greats, including Art Spiegelman’s Maus, Frank Miller’s Dark Knight, Alan Moore’s Watchmen, Craig Thompson’s Blankets, Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, and the recent award-winning trilogy March by famed Civil Rights leader John Lewis. In a library, graphic novels are a difficult thing to place, due to their nature: some are fiction, some are memoirs or autobiographies, some are histories and because of this, libraries tend to spread them around the Dewey decimal system in a way that can be difficult to browse. Well, to help solve some of this problem, and borrowing from our bookstore cousins, we are moving our graphic novels (after we have located, and relabeled, them all) to the mezzanine of the library near the newly moved science fiction titles. We hope this centralized shelving will help anyone who is an avid graphic novel reader, or someone who is curious about this growing art from, by providing easier access to this collection. While the move has begun, it will take us awhile to complete the project. Until then, you can find many of them under the Dewey decimal number 741.5. You should definitely check these out. These are not just the comic books that you remember when you were a child. Well, they are, but they are so much more. Below are a few of our most recent additions. The first is Craig Thompson’s new work Carnet De Voyage. Instead of a narrative follow-up to the classic Blankets, Thompson chronicles two months of traveling through Europe and Africa in this travel sketchbook. Still, this diary ultimately becomes something of a narrative and continues many of the themes from his previous works including his love of beauty, his sense of isolation, and the gradual physical deterioration of his hands due to arthritis and overwork. Many of the elements that made his earlier work so successful are
here as well including his incredible, lush line-work and attention to detail. This wonderful book, filled with touching and thoughtprovoking entries where the author captures the places he sees and the people he meets with an open heart and a deft hand. Olivier Vatine’s Niourk (based upon the book of the same name by Stefan Wul) is the next graphic novel that I want to feature. If dystopian science fiction is your thing, then look no further than this thrilling graphic novel. In the far, distant future, the oceans have mysteriously receded and humans have regressed into primitive groups foraging for survival. This epic tale of a young, outcast child whose quest to save, and lead, his people not only covers big ideas such as the human capacity for compassion, cruelty, and survival but is also a great adventure tale. Even the most widely read dystopian fiction fans will find something to surprise, and delight, them.
These are not just the comic books that you remember when you were a child. Well, they are, but they are so much more.
Finally, there is MWD: Hell is Coming Home by Brian David Johnson and Jan Egleson. If you ever wondered what it might be like for a veteran returning home, then this graphic novel might be for you. Returning home after serving in Iraq, Liz Mastrangelo struggles to re-acclimate to civilian life. A powerful and unflinching look at some of the issues connected to the impact of war on those who serve, the authors discuss Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, sexual coercion, finding new meaning in one’s life, and the well-meaning but unhelpful efforts of those who remained behind. The often-minimalist backgrounds and careful, naturalistic detailing create a sense of absence in the work that naturally aligns with the main character’s estrangement. Tense pacing, and vivid characterization, will hold the reader’s focus in this sharp-edged, but all too real, portrait of a soldier’s struggle to return to the world they left behind when called to serve.
June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 15
Business Toolbox By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Advisor
Want to sell your business in the next 3-5 years? Now is the time to plan Since the economic recovery has taken hold we have seen a steady increase in clients wanting to buy or sell a business. There are a few things business owners can do to prepare their business for a sale transaction. In many cases, it is a good idea to start 3-5 years in advance. In working with your business advisor, we can discuss things to consider and provide guidance on what information you will need to start getting together to sell your business. Information such as: • Your goals and NEEDS from the sale transaction – do you RE-
✓ What are your absolute requirements for a sale deal vs your desires for the liquidation event? ✓ What could you do to make your business more attractive/ profitable/easier to acquire compared to the other options investors may have? If you are buying a business, we can help identify things to look for in the business offering, prepare a financial analysis and talk about bank requirements. Below is an example of how sales prices and asking prices compare for the sale of businesses for consideration:
ALLY need a retirement income flow? • Estimated value of a business – with as little ego included as possible • Candid assessment of the overall financial health of your business • Assets included in a sale – what do you plan to sell? • Options for financing – your financial goals and options/impacts of various alternatives • How to find a buyer? We have seen some cases where a business owner tries to keep the tax burden so low that the business shows a loss each year. This may be good for taxes, but when it is time to sell, a buyer doesn’t want to buy a business that isn’t profitable and a bank does not want to lend money for a losing venture. There are some steps you can take to not only increase the sale
We also have some handy articles and tools for both buyers and sellers. As always, please contact your advisor to set-up an appointment for no-cost, confidential business advising.
value, but to identify potential buyers that can gain you more from a sale: ✓ Shop the market for businesses like yours – what alternatives are out there chasing the same buyer dollars you might be targeting? ✓ How does your business stack up against other business opportunities regarding cash flow, ROI, and profit margins? 16 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, MBA, certified business adviser with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Longview. Jerry provides no-cost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via e-mail jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org
By Chuck Nau Retail Consultant and Sales and Managment Trainier – Murray & Nau, Inc.
'Becoming One of the Best of the Best' When business is tough to get and the economic environment
She’s honest, and acts in her company’s behalf when she should
continues to be challenging, we may often find ourselves asking
and our interests when she should. She anticipates problems that
the question “Will this be an effective option, whether a product
may occur and works to minimize their impact on our working
or service offering, for my client?” Maybe we are asking the wrong
relationship.
question. The better question might be “Am I being an effective (solution offering) sales or marketing consultant for my client, particularly now, in this constantly changing economic environment?”
• He is prepared whenever he works with us, understanding the value of time, using ours, and his, efficiently and effectively. He is familiar with our budgets, calendars, sale events and the overall decision-making process. He is always thinking in terms of a plan
How do you know? Who would you ask?
or strategy, has an objective in mind, and rarely, if ever, discusses
During 30-plus years of interacting with retailers, small business
just one opportunity or solution.
owners, service providers, product managers, ad agency decision
• She sells from top to bottom including everyone involved in
makers, senior management and others involved in the buying
the planning and decision making process. She helps solve our
and supplying process, I have had many discussions about what
marketing challenges and problems, overcoming obstacles, and
is expected of a superior (...and successful!) sales or marketing
building on our successes. She keeps our entire team aware of any
consultant. It did not matter if these were local storeowners in
changes (at her company, with the company, in the market, out-
small markets or national retailers and ad agencies – the following
side the market) and regularly reviews with us her overall com-
qualities consistently surfaced as benchmarks of a topnotch sales
pany story.
or marketing consultant. • She is knowledgeable about us – our company, our products, our history, our people and the way we are organized, our customers, and our goals and strategies to achieve them. She is an idea person, helping us visualize how her offerings can best be utilized to fill our needs. She thinks strategically...challenging us with more strategic ideas and possibilities.
Last but not least, a topnotch sales or marketing consultant doesn’t sell. Rather, he rolls up his sleeves and works to understand what his client is trying to accomplish. Helping them realize their goal and strategies through creative problem solving develops a long-term partnership between his company and the client’s organization that benefits them both.
• He gives reasons why his company’s products, including but not limited to, websites, both his and others, should play an important role in our marketing strategy. He supports his reasons with research, testimonials, special features and opportunities.
© Murray & Nau, Inc. Chuck Nau of Murray and Nau, Inc. is a Seattle area based con-
He involves us in understanding the value of his product or
sultant and sales and management trainer. He is a 25-year veter-
service offerings. He continually feeds us promotional material,
an of advertising, sales, media and management, who knows and
updated market information and new product rollouts (social
understands the everyday challenges of starting up, growing, and
and mobile media possibilities) thereby positively reinforcing
surviving in today’s ever changing retail climate. He has spoken to
our involvement with and investment in many of his company’s
and conducted workshops for a number of local retail and chamber
offerings.
organizations, national publishing groups, national retailers and
• She is an account manager, not a salesperson. She is our point person for all of our contacts or dealings with her company and any related supplier. She’s enthusiastic and likes what she is doing.
manufacturers, state press associations, and newspaper groups. Comments and questions are welcome and June be directed to Chuck via e-mail: murnau@nwlink.com or at 425-603-0984. June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 17
Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments By Bill Fashing Executive Director
Governments running toward more, and safer, active transportation options
We have just finished the National Bike to Work month in May that saw many extra bikes on our local roads. We have also seen a flurry of activity in recent months regarding bike and pedestrian safety and access. The discussions are moving beyond the more traditional recreational access and beginning to include these modes as alternatives to the automobile. This idea of leaving the car behind and using our feet to power our movement is often referred to as active transportation. Active transportation is about providing safe options for people to get around the community using “active� modes such as walking and biking.
Safety is one of the top issues in the transportation planning and program delivery arena. You have all probably heard of Target Zero at this time and you will be hearing that term frequently in the coming years. Based on federal transportation requirements, the state and the CWCOG/Metropolitan Planning Organization have set performance targets for transportation safety. These targets include measures for non-motorists which include those engaged in active transportation. The following graphic shows the target for the Longview/Kelso area in our effort to move toward Target Zero.
We are entering an era where people are choosing alternative transportation methods, on purpose. They are biking and walking, not because they have no other options, but because they want to lead a healthier lifestyle and have less impact on the environment. These residents now engaging in active transportation are bolstering the numbers and are joining many other residents that do not have choices beyond riding or walking to get through their day. Even in our rainy climate, the possibilities of building the momentum for more of us to leave the car behind for short trips are growing and being more widely accepted. This growing interest will take planning and then actions to ensure the safety of the traveling public using all modes of transport. The map included below shows possible routes identified in a 2016 Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments Bike and Ped assessment created for the region based on input from residents. The routes are identified to assist residents and workers to access key destinations including shopping, schools, services, parks and major employers but many are less than ideal for active transportation users. The routes would provide awareness of the alternative uses and enhance overall safety for users of alternative transportation and autos alike.
The CWCOG will be tracking Non-motorist Fatalities and Serious Injuries as part of it transportation performance measures. The longterm aspirational goal is zero accidents. For more information or to get engaged in efforts to promote bike and ped activities e-mail me at bfashing@cwcog.org.
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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
18 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
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Lower Columbia College By Chris Bailey President
What's next for Lower Columbia?
There have been many significant changes at Lower Columbia College over the past decade: The Rose Center for the Arts, the new Health and Science Building, nearly $2 million in new science equipment from an Economic Development Administration federal grant, the new Anderson Family Pavilion and a revitalized gym complex. We had the birth of the Lower Columbia Regional University Center, now offering 41 baccalaureate, masters or doctoral programs and the rebirth of an international studies program. Along with these changes have come several national, regional and state recognitions and awards. Lower Columbia College is happy to have become “The Smart Choice” for higher education in the region. But the team at LCC refuses to rest on its laurels, and the upcoming year will be replete with new and exciting possibilities.
program as market research showed a high demand for truck and bus drivers. LCC faculty and staff are currently working to create a new one-year certificate to meet industry and union needs for qualified candidates for skilled labor and apprenticeship opportunities. The goal is to create a one-year, financial aid eligible certificate of proficiency that will provide foundational skills for the trades: industrial mathematics, industrial safety, blueprint reading, welding, machining, and soft-skills for the workplace. The goal of the proposed program is to prepare individuals to go to work, to enter an apprenticeship-training program, or to complete an existing LCC vocational program. This potential certificate will provide a nice pathway for students leaving high school and for older adults to get work ready for a high paying career in the trades.
Perhaps most exciting is our attempt to create an applied baccalaure-
Another key initiative next year is called “Guided Pathways.” The goal
ate degree. We are working through a process to establish Lower Co-
is to provide clearer pathways for students in their efforts to obtain a
lumbia College’s very first four-year degree: bachelor of applied science,
valuable degree. This involves early career exploration, better orienta-
teacher education. This is a long process that will involve State Board
tion and onboarding of new students, clear pathways to completion,
of Community and Technical College approval, and approval through
and more intensive advising to make sure every credit counts. Lower
the required accrediting bodies. This is in response to a critical need for
Columbia College was recently one of five Washington colleges awarded
elementary teachers in our region.
$1 million in grants to pursue its guided pathways initiative.
On the workforce side, there continues to be remarkable activity. First,
Finally, we are in the final year, year seven, of our accreditation process
we continue to work to obtain capital budget funding for a new voca-
with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NW-
tional building. The 55,000-square-foot building will house key voca-
CCU). Our “year seven visit” will be in October.
tional programs such as welding, machining, manufacturing, as well as transitional studies. We plan on building a state-of-the-art facility that meets the diverse needs of our workforce. As you know, LCC continues to assess and meet market demand. Recently, we implemented a new commercial driver’s license (CDL)
It will be an exciting 2018-19 academic year ahead, but LCC is ready to meet the challenges. We have been an institution willing to change and grow to meet our community needs. We are proud of our incredible history, and are excited to meet the future needs of our wonderful community.
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Kelso School District
Longview Public Schools
Director of Special Programs Denise Freund
Superintendent Dan Zorn
Preventing the 'summer slide' As the school year rushes to an end, students look forward to a long awaited break from the daily grind of the school day. Their parents and teachers, on the other hand, are often more concerned with decreasing the “summer slide”, which is the tendency for students to lose some of the academic growth they’ve acquired throughout the school year over the extended summer break. Finding ways to build in a scheduled reading time at home over the summer is one of the most effective strategies that parents can do with their kids to ward off the “slide”. Local school districts and other agencies also offer programs to assist students with many summer learning enrichment opportunities. The Kelso School District continues to offer a variety of opportunities to students this summer. At Kelso High School, Summer School Credit Recovery programs via the Odysseyware online system are available during two, two-hour sessions for the first month of summer. All third-grade students within the district are given a Summer Literacy Backpack through the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) using materials by the publisher Parents as Partners. The backpacks each contains: five leveled readers, a student literacy workbook, and a guide for parents to increase student literacy at home. The Extended School Year (ESY) program is provided to students with special needs who meet qualification for the services as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP). The instruction focuses on maintaining their current skill levels in areas that they have been known to demonstrate regression. In addition to the above services, Kelso’s free summer meal programs provide breakfast and lunch to any child age 18 and younger on the campuses of Barnes Elementary, Wallace Elementary, and Kelso High School. Youth and Family Link’s 21st Century Explorer’s Club is partnering again with the YMCA of Southwest Washington to provide students from Huntington, Coweeman, and Monticello middle schools the opportunity to attend the “Summer Abroad” YMCA camp at the Kalama River site. The camp offers exciting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities to the campers, such as a weather balloon launch, GPS geo-caching, hiking, forestry, cooking, and canoeing. At the elementary level, Youth and Family Link is partnering with the Kelso School District again to provide the “Summer Abroad” camps at Wallace and Barnes elementary schools with a focus on STEM, art, literacy, and physical activities. Our local public libraries offer excellent summer literacy programs for children of a variety of ages with learning activities, story times, crafts, and book clubs. Longview Parks and Recreation department offers countless options for kids and adults to participate in classes and activities that encourage participants to learn a new skill, be active, and connect with their community. With the numerous choices of educationally rich and entertaining summer options available to our students, parents can help ensure that the learning their student gains stays with them from one year to the next.
Safety is key in our public schools Longview Schools have a tradition of working each day to ensure the safety of our students and staff members and the security of our public buildings. While we know that no action or plan is perfect, we continue to maintain current systems and develop additional measures and enhancements to control what we can. At least once a month, our students practice an emergency response falling into three categories: • Shelter-in-place to respond to something such as a nearby chemical release. • Lockdown to respond to an active threat of violence. • Evacuation to move students away from a hazard such as fire or flooding. In addition, our schools – along with others in the county and across the nation – have adopted the ALICE response to threats of violence. ALICE is a way to remember the essential actions that are possible when faced by a violent threat. It stands for Alert (let others nearby know what is happening), Lockdown (lock and barricade the entrance), Inform (call 911), Counter (confuse the threat with chaos and distractions), and Evacuate. These actions need not be taken in any particular order. Furthermore, our schools cultivate a climate of trust and empower students and staff members to speak up if they have a concern or see something that makes them suspicious. We work on creating schools where everyone treats others with respect. We continually explore ways to update our actions and systems. Schools have reduced the number of entry points into each building, all schools have cameras and monitors at the front door entrances, classroom doors can now be easily locked from inside the classroom, and shrubbery has been trimmed to assure sightlines into our schools. We are focused on continuing improvements to our facilities that will protect the safety and security of our students and staff. The unsuccessful November 2017 building bond included $2.75 million for safety and security improvements including security cameras, door locks, emergency radios, and lighting. In February, voters approved a local Replacement Capital Projects Levy – a portion of which can be used for safety and security upgrades. As the Board of Directors drafts a 2019 bond, security improvements will be once again be considered. We would love to hear from a variety of voices as the bond request is being formulated and as we allocate local Capital Projects dollars to matters of safety and security. Toward that end we are asking folks to take a few moments to share their perspectives in an online “conversation.” Comments are taken For more Longview Schools, see page 22 June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 21
In the News
School administrators honor Kelso Police Department with leadership award The Kelso Police Department received a Community Leadership Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators at their annual recognition ceremony May 18. Kelso School District Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich presented the award to Chief Andrew Hamilton in recognition of KPD’s outstanding community leadership and contributions to the improvement of public education. “We truly value the great relationship we have with the school district,” Hamilton said. “We also want to wish Mr. Gelbrich the best as he retires at the end of the school year.”
Port and Cowlitz businesses in the Kalama Days Career Fair promoting career awareness among Kalama students and giving them increased motivation to do well in school,” said Mike Nerland, WASA Honorary Awards Committee Columbia River Region 112. “Your efforts have also helped foster the development of a STEM network in Cowlitz County. We thank you for your support of students and families in Kalama School District and throughout Cowlitz County.” “We are delighted to be recognized with this notable award. The Port of Kalama is working hard to develop a closer relationship between the students and faculty of the Kalama Schools and the Port’s business partners on the waterfront. We will continue to offer opportunities to meet members of the business community here and learn about the work we do, as well as career opportunities for students,” said Mark Wilson, executive director, Port of Kalama. “We hope to improve the understanding of the business activities here and let students know about the many career opportunities that can be found right here in the community.”
Port of Kalama and executive director awarded for contributions to education The Port of Kalama and Executive Director Mark Wilson have been honored with the 2018 Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Community Leadership Award for the Columbia River Region. The award recognizes Wilson’s and the Port of Kalama’s many contributions to the Kalama School District. The Port was instrumental in organizing the Kalama High School Career Fair and recruiting Port businesses to participate in an effort to educate students on career and job opportunities in the region and at the Port. The regional meeting of Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) honored organizations and community leaders for significant contributions to education and schools. Hosted by Educational Service District 112, the ceremony recognized honorees for the contributions they make to school districts in the region. “Mark Wilson and Port of Kalama commissioners have been instrumental in forging a cooperative new direction for district-port relations. Through these efforts, Kalama School District has engaged
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Longview Schools, from page 21 as part of our Thoughtexchange process which can be accessed 24/7 between June 4 and June 14. In addition to providing comments, participants can review and react to others’ ideas. Based on this participation, the major issues brought forward will rise to the top. Access Thoughtexchange at: https://my.thoughtexchange. com/?lang=en#p101864011 The information gathered in this Thoughtexchange will help the district as it constantly works to keep students and staff members safe and to best respond when school safety is threatened. 22 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
computer. tablet. phone. sign up today at 360.423.2210 or https://www.cowlitzpud.org/ebill
Ribbon Cutting
Child's Play
Our Ambassadors found a bunch of little helpers for the May ribbon cutting at the Children's Discovery Museum.
EmploymEnt law
WALSTEAD MERTSCHING
Attorney Nicole M. Tideman
AT TO R N E Y S AT L AW
Attorneys in our employment and labor law department represent employers and employees throughout southwest Washington. We handle matters regulated by the Washington State Human Rights Commission, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Washington State Department of Labor and industries, and the United States Department of Labor. Our attorneys can provide representation in all state and federal courts in Washington, including the Washington State Supreme Court. • Alternative Dispute Resolution • Disability Accommodation Issues • Discrimination Claims • Employee Training • Employment Contracts and Manuals • Family and Medical Leave • Hiring, Discipline, and Termination • Investigation of Complaints
• Labor Relations • Litigation • Non-competition Agreements • Severance Agreements • Sexual Harassment Claims • Unemployment Compensation • Wage and Hour Disputes • Wrongful Termination
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New Members Add your business to our growing membership – Call 360-423-8400 Today!
Happy Kids Dentistry 1717 Olympia Way, Suite 108 Longview, WA 98632 ResCare Home Care Melissa Cozaold 1516 Hudson Street Ste. 204 Longview, WA 98632
Westlake Chemical Mackenzi Ellis P.O. Box 865 Longview, WA 98632
Lower Columbia College – Head Start Suzanna Boursaw P.O. Box 3010 Longview, WA 98632
Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, special events and committee participation. • Annual Meeting and Banquet • Networking Events • Committee Participation • Business Contacts • Quarterly Membership
Representation through action committees, candidate forums and up-to-date action alerts. • Legislative Representation • Issues Tracking and Information • Task Forces • Candidate Forums • Legislative Update Breakfast • Demographics Publication
Meetings • Civic Representation • 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 • Use of Chamber Logo 24| Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
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.
May Ambassador of the Month Pam Whittle American Workforce Group
Whittle greets honor with warm smile Pam Whittle enjoys the meet and greet duties she performs as a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. Her willingness to be one of the many faces of the Chamber has earned her Ambassador of the Month honors for May. Pam, who recently moved from Columbia Bank to American Workforce Group, earned her red coat in July 2016. “I enjoy getting out and meeting new businesses,” she said. “I appreciate the work that the Chamber does to grow our business community. “It’s great, you get to see every face that comes in and welcome them. What’s better than having the opportunity to be in front of that many people?” In addition to her Chamber duties, Pam is involved with the Longview Early Edition Rotary, Lower Columbia Professionals and the Kalama Chamber. She said most people probably don’t know she was an Army Reservist. “I went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and I was trained as a 31U at AIT school in Fort Gordon, Georgia.
I received an honorable discharge when my reserve term was completed in 2003.” In her spare time, she enjoys visiting local tap rooms and breweries with her husband and adult children. “My daughter loves the food and atmosphere and my husband and I love to try new beers,” Pam said. “We also love to spend time outdoors, working in the yard, kayaking, enjoying time by the river.” She also enjoys getting up early on Saturday mornings, drinking coffee and catching up on shows all by herself. 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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PeaceHealth St. John – Wellness in the Workplace Susie Griffin Wellness Services Coordinator
Pedaling for the environment, workplace and health of it! In our younger years, having a bike gave us our first taste of independence, freedom and adventure. We pedaled away from the protective reach of our parents into outlying neighborhoods and beyond. We would pedal to meet up with friends, go to the mall, playground, video arcade, or to the local 7-11 for candy and a Big Gulp that would fuel us up for the journey home. Biking was not only our mode of transportation; it was our social tool to connect us with the world. As we grew older, passed our driver’s education class and received our license, the car quickly replaced the bike as our vehicle of transportation and social connection. Most of us still owned bikes, but the utilization rate dwindled down from transportation necessity to recreational or structured competitive activity. The usage of bikes, or bike culture, in America, pales greatly to that of European countries. Even in Portland, Ore., touted as America’s greatest biking city, bike commuting averages only about 6 percent, compared to Netherland’s 63 percent.1 However, despite the wide difference of utilization rates, bike culture in general and bike com-
muting specifically, is increasing in America. The shift is happening not only in urban areas, but in suburban and rural areas as well, such as our own Cowlitz County. Movements such as the Active Transportation Strategies Coalition and the Six Rivers Trail Committee are helping to make that happen. The successful outcomes from both groups will have a positive effect on the health of the people, environment and workforce in the county. The health benefits that bike commuting brings, creates a ripple effect into the environment and workplace. In a recent study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, a projected $594 million dollars could be saved in health care costs over 30 years if the City of Portland continues to invest in supporting its bike culture.2 This cost analysis study was based upon the healthy side effect of bike commuting: reducing the incidence and development of cancer, heart disease, depression, diabetes and hypertension. For more PeaceHealth, see page 27
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PeaceHealth, from page 26 Commuting by bike has a healthful impact on our environment. While a typical U.S. car churns out one pound of CO2 emissions per mile, biking produces zero.4 In addition to air pollutants, cars contribute to water pollution through oil leaks and the filling of landfills from old tires. Bike commuting also reduces the perception of and reaction to stressors. According to a study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management3, employees who biked to work reported feeling less stressed in the first 45 minutes of work than those of their coworkers who travelled by car. Feeling less mentally, emotionally and physically stressed allows for increased mental focus, creative and innovative thinking, memory retention and recall. These improved cognitive abilities result in less errors, more attention to detail, and better time management, culminating in higher work efficiency and productivity. An additional side effect of work stress reduction is the increased sense of employee satisfaction with and engagement to their job and organization. Want to save the world, be healthier in life and more productive
at work? Want to bike to work and get all those things but think it’s impossible? Here are some websites that will help guide you from impossible to possible: League of American Bicyclists, https://bikeleague.org/content/ commuting, Bicycling.com, https://www.bicycling.com/news/ a20031666/14-commuter-pros-share-their-secrets/, active.com Welcome back to your younger years. Now just ditch the Big Gulp. 1 Retrieved from http://www.reliance-foundry.com/blog/biking-usaeurope#gref 2 Retrieved from https://www.zdnet.com/article/portlands-bike-lanes-willcut-the-citys-health-costs/ 3
Retrieved from https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20046023/bike-commute-relieves-stress-workplace/ 4
https://www.c2es.org/2014/05/commuting-by-bike-offers-environmentaland-health-benefits/
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There’s a Difference. June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 27
Chamber Connection
Extra! Extra!
Ned and Sue Piper dropped by the radio studio and brought editions of the Columbia River Reader for our other guests like Brooke Fisher Clark of United Way and Marissa Carpentier of Columbia Wellness to read.
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; Karen Sisson, Stewart Title; and Russ Chittock, Enlivant 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 Amy at the Chamber 360-423-8400 28 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | June 2018
Stream live at www.kedoam.com Local guest and current events
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.
Apple Family Dental – Julia Gourley DMD Bicoastal Media LV DBA KLYK/KRQT/KEDO/KBAM/KPPK Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts Cowlitz County Veterans Service Center Cowlitz Valley Moose Lodge EGT, LLC Frontier Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center Life Mortgage Longview Freedom Market Mary's Bar & Grill Noelle McLean, PS Pie @ Trios Pizzeria PNE Construction Red Canoe Credit Union Safway Services, Inc. Sign Print 360 The Dog Zone The Ronan Thompson Foundation Umpqua Bank Utilize IT, Inc. Walmart June 2018 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 29