September
2019
Business Connection
Volume 11, Issue 9
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Kelso Longview 2019 Visitor Guide & Chamber Directory
Explore
300+ acres parks and
open space
Indulge
Amazing wines and craft
Enjoy
One of America’s prettiest
Chamber CEO’s Message
beer
towns
www.kelsolongviewcha
mber.org
By Bill Marcum
Summer Drives Visitors to Kelso Longview to Get Away 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 email bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month
A
s the summer draws to a close I thought I would share with you some interesting facts about the Kelso Visitor Center, which is manned by the Chamber staff seven days a week. Our numbers show 77 percent of all visits to the Visitors Center happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. We have seen a 13 percent increase in visitors this past summer. The trend from 2016 continues through 2019 – Monday is our busiest day. That’s right, Monday. Who would have thought that Monday would be the busiest day for visitors to the Visitor Center? During the summer our Monday visitors average about 30, with a high of 41. These numbers are the visitors who physically come into the building. We have another 20-plus each Monday who call us with travel questions. The second busiest day is Friday; and most of the 23 or more who venture through the doors generally do so after 1 p.m. I am also amazed at the number of people who come in looking for a local map because they are interested in moving to this area. The past two weeks several newly hired teachers have come
in looking for apartments, homes and basically anything we can give them to help them become more familiar with our area. During that same time we have had a couple new hires at PeaceHealth come in looking for the same information. All totaled over the past three weeks we have talked to more than a dozen families looking for housing information because they are moving here. Throughout the entire summer that number is close to 100 families. This past week we also talked to several people looking to retire in Washington. From what we gathered they are drawn to Longview’s location near the coast, the mountains, PDX, downtown Portland and Seattle. Last week I spent nearly two hours talking with two retired couples. They came in about 30 minutes apart, both from Ohio, who actually lived about 20 miles from each other. Traveling via motorhome, each couple was using Longview as their base point. One couple was staying about a week at Brookhollow RV Park and the other was staying a couple nights at the Elks RV space. During their stay, both couples had Mount St. Helens on their schedule, the Oregon and Washington coast, the Columbia Gorge/Multnomah Falls, and both were For more Visitors, see page 3
2019 Small Business
BOOT CAMP Fall Series starts Friday, September 6 Friday Mornings ★ Lower Columbia College
7:30 am - 9 am ★ Student Center Conference Room
FALL sERIES
September 6 Making Money with Facebook Tom May May 52
September 13 Language of Appreciation Ann Lucas Red Leaf Coffee
September 20 Exceptional Customer Service Chris Bailey LCC President
September 27 Attracting & Retaining Millennials Frank McShane Square Peg Consulting
October 4 Labor Cost Going UP January 1 Strategies to Success Jerry Petrick Small Business Development Council
October 11 What We Wish Our Clients Knew David Futcher Futcher Group
$
No pricing change since 2013!
100 Members
★ $160 Non-Members Sponsored by:
360-423-8400
www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Visitors, continued from page 1 excited about the Unique Tin Car Show. One couple came up from Oregon and was heading north to the Olympics, across the northern part of the state and Yellowstone before making their way back home to Ohio. The other pair crossed Idaho and Washington and was headed down the Oregon Coast into California and then up to Grants Pass, Ore. From there they wanted to see Crater Lake, back to Bend, Ore., and then across the state on Highway 20 to Boise, Idaho, as they make their way back to Ohio. Interacting with people traveling like that is one of the best parts of managing the Visitor Center. Living in the Northwest all of my life, including southern Oregon, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, western Washington and on the border of Oregon and Idaho; I have probably been on nearly every road in both states at least once. This makes it easy for me to give travelers some good advice on planning their route. Yes, that is why I spent about an hour with each couple as we went through their entire travel plan. I believe
this is one of the reasons the Chamber of Commerce manages the Visitor Center for the City of Kelso. The Chamber staff is not only very knowledgeable about Longview, Kelso and Cowlitz County, but also the Northwest and we are willing to spend time with our visitors to make sure they feel welcome and pleased with our level of assistance. If you spent a day working the Visitor Center, I think you also would be amazed by the number of people who come in who are staying two, three or four days in our area, using Longview/Kelso as their base and traveling from here each day. If any of you are interested in spending an hour or two at the Visitor Center please give me a call or send me an e-mail. We would love to have some of our members share the great experiences we do every day.
We’re proud to be your partners in health As the largest healthcare provider in Cowlitz County,
our team has the experience and comprehensive services to guide you through whatever life brings your way. n Pediatric Care n Advanced Heart & Vascular Care n Behavioral Health Services for adults and children n Comprehensive Women’s Health Services and modern Family Birthing Center peacehealth.org/longview
September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 3
Cowlitz County Commissioners By Elaine Placido Director of Community Services
County Community Services Update
In January of this year the Board of County Commissioners created a new position that oversees the departments of Building and Planning and Health and Human Services (HHS), the Geographic Information System (GIS) office joined Building and Planning in late 2018, as well. Intended as a way to better collaborate and integrate services between major departments that focus on serving our community, the new role allows me to better organize and direct staff with shared missions, and to respond more holistically to some of the larger issues facing our community. Stay tuned as we continue to work with other county departments and the community on a diverse range of topics including affordable housing, homelessness, development regulations, customer service and permitting, and many other important project areas. So far in 2019, it’s been a busy year. We are starting to see renewed commercial/industrial development, with just over $22 million in projects having been permitted so far this year; a massive uptick from this time last year when we were just over a half million in permitted commercial/industrial development. Single-family construction continues to be quite strong, with 139 new residences currently permitted for construction during 2019. Planners have been working on new developments, as well, including the approvals for the new Lexington School and several multifamily developments. In the office of Policy and Outreach, formerly Long Range Planning, work is underway to update the county’s special use ordinance and the planning commission is in the early stages of updating the subdivision codes. The Policy and Outreach staff is continuing its work with the voluntary stewardship program, historic preservation and a host of ordinance updates. The human services department has been busy working with the
homeless housing task force to provide updates to the county’s five-year plan to reduce homelessness. In addition, we entered into an agreement with the Cowlitz County Veteran’s Service Center to begin providing screening and initial qualification of applicants for assistance from the Veteran’s Relief Fund. This provides veterans who may have transportation barriers to multiple access points to apply for assistance and become linked to local resources. On the health department side of HHS, community health staff have worked to forge new and renewed relationships with schools, health care providers, and other community agencies that work with Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). By better educating the community about the role of Cowlitz HHS with CYSHCN we are now better able to serve some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. The Environmental Health Unit of the department held a grant-funded tire amnesty event that collected more than 15,000 tires. The tires collected from tire amnesty events are cleaned and shredded, then used for multiple purposes including: Astroturf, running tracks for track and field facilities, ballast for railroad lines, and waste-to-energy fuel. Another event is planned for this fall. Up-to-date information about department activities can be found on the department web pages, www.co.cowlitz.wa.us. HHS sends current information about a range of HHS related topics via their Facebook page, Cowlitz County Health and Human Services, and finally for quick and easy access to a wide variety of information in the Building and Planning Department, e-mail permitinfo@co.cowlitz.wa.us. If you’d like to talk with me directly, I’d like to hear from you at 360-577-3052, ext. 6662 or placidoe@co.cowlitz.wa.us
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Frank Panarra, President
Ken Botero Longview City Council
Bruce Pollock Bicoastal Media
Bianca Lemmons, President Elect Cowlitz County Title
Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds
Tom Rozwod NORPAC
Chris Roewe, Vice President Woodford Commercial Real Estate
Rich Gushman Gibbs & Olson
Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council
Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank
Marlene Johanson Red Canoe Credit Union
Lisa Straughan Express Employment Professionals
Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel
Wendy Kosloski Teague's Interiors
Michael Vorse Minuteman Press
Foster Farms
Walstead Mertsching
Nick Lemiere, Executive Board Edward Jones
Nancy Malone Mayor of Kelso Cherelle Montanye St. John/PeaceHealth
4 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner
& C ARL FORSB A N O L ER EA
TH MainStageSeason
G
IT’S A HIGH-FLYING OPENING AT YOUR COLUMBIA THEATRE!
AURE UM
Friday & Saturday, Sept. 20th & 21st 7:30 p.m.
2 NIGHTS!
COLUMBIA THEATRE and HALCYON SHOWS invite you to enter the breathtaking world of AUREUM. A truly awe-inspiring one-of-a-kind aerial arts adventure complete with a visual world of award winning larger than life computer graphics. Amazing physical feats, breathtaking computer graphics. Tickets $35-$45, Students $20.
THE SIMON & GAR FUNKEL STORY Friday, October 4th 7:30 p.m.
This concert-style show chronicles the amazing journey of this folk-rock duo. From their humble beginnings to their incredible success, to their dramatic split in 1970. It culminates with the famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981. Using huge projection photos and original film footage, the show features a full live band performing all of their hits, including ‘Mrs. Robinson’, ‘Cecilia’, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, ‘Homeward Bound’ and many more. Tickets $45-$55, Students $20.
DON’T MISS A MOMENT! • 360.575.TIXX (8499) • www.columbiatheatre.com
Lower Columbia College By Chris Bailey President
Lower Columbia College: Celebrating
85 Years of Excellence in Education! Lower Columbia College (LCC) has come a long way since its first year in 1934. With just 53 students that first year, no physical campus of its own, and a total annual budget of about $10,000, Lower Columbia Junior College opened its doors in classrooms at R.A. Long High School on Oct. 2, 1934. Now, Lower Columbia serves more than 5,000 students annually on a 38-acre campus with 26 buildings, and it has a $25 million annual operating budget. In addition to a full array of academic and vocational courses that offer pathways for great jobs and opportunities, the college is also home to the LCC Regional University Center where 84 baccalaureate and post-graduate degrees are offered. LCC also operates its own childcare center, and runs a nationally recognized Head Start Program. LCC’s creation in 1934 involved the formation of a ukulele band, a parade, a pep rally and a bonfire. This year we will formally be celebrating our anniversary at the Sept. 28 LCC Foundation Gala. The Saturday evening event is LCC’s signature friend-raiser and fundraiser every year. The Rose Center for the Arts will be transformed, and we promise you a
fun and elegant local event. Now in our 85th year, it’s a great time to be an LCC Red Devil. The big news this year is that Lower Columbia College will offer its first LCC four-year degree, bachelor of applied science, teacher education, beginning fall quarter. The first cohort will be comprised of approximately 24 students. Some of the proceeds from the Foundation Gala will help fund the program start-up. This month, a national rating organization looked at 710 community colleges and the various state community college systems. In its ranking, Washington state was ranked No. 1 in the nation for community college systems, and Lower Columbia College scored in the top 15 percent of the 710 community colleges that were part of the national ranking based on cost and financing, education outcomes, and career outcomes! LCC will be highlighting its robust history throughout the year. We invite you to participate in our year of celebration. Here’s to another 85 years of excellence in education! LCC Proud!
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. 6 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
Calendar Monday September 2 Labor Day Chamber Office Closed Thursday September 5 – 7:30-8:30am Ambassadors Meeting Columbia Bank Friday September 6 – 7:30-9am Small Business Boot Camp Making Money With Facebook Lower Columbia College Tuesday September 10 – 5:30-7:30pm Business After Hours Silver Star 1032 Vandercook Way, Longview Thursday September 12 – 4pm Lower Columbia Professionals Meeting Elks Friday September 13 – 7:30-9am Small Business Boot Camp Language of Appreciation Lower Columbia College Monday September 16 – Noon Chamber Executive Board Mill City Grill Wednesday September 18 – 7:30-9am Education Foundation Goodwill Friday September 20 – 7:30-9am Small Business Boot Camp Exceptional Customer Service Lower Columbia College Tuesday September 24 – Noon Chamber Board Meeting Mill City Grill Friday September 27 – 7:30-9am Small Business Boot Camp Attracting and Maintaining Millenials Lower Columbia College September 27 – 11:45am-1:30pm Quarterly Membership Luncheon Cowlitz County Event Center Every Wednesday Chamber Connections KEDO/1400 AM or 99.1 FM 3-4pm Stream live at www.kedoam.com
Mind Your Own Business (at the Library) By Elizabeth Partridge Director – Longview Public Library
Library's Small Business Toolboxes Built for Success The Small Business Hub in the Longview Public Library is excited to present our Small Business Toolboxes. These toolboxes were funded by the Longview Library Foundation as another small business tool available to library cardholders. The purpose of the toolboxes is to help entrepreneurs find the help they need for any of the topics in one convenient place. Each kit is packaged in a toolbox and checked out as a unit. Each toolbox will cover a specific area of developing your small business. The first of six toolboxes, Startups and Business Plans, is ready for check out. Inside this toolbox, you will find the following books: • “The Lean Startup” • “Business Plans Kit for Dummies” • “Legal Guide for Starting and Running a Small Business” • “The Small Business Start-Up Kit – A step by step legal guide” • “Successful Business Plan – Secrets and Strategies” • “The Art of the Start 2.0” (Audiobook) • Small business checklists, database information, and Washington State Small Business guide binder The topics for the future toolboxes include: • Finances and Accounting • Marketing and Social Media Marketing • Women Entrepreneurs • Spanish Language Small Business Resources • Leadership and Employee Development The Small Business Toolboxes check out as a kit for three weeks, with up to four renewals if no other patrons request them. In addition to the new Small Business
Toolboxes, you will find many other books, magazines, and how-to manuals for many topics relating to starting, building, and growing small businesses. If you have a Longview library card, you can check out any of these resources. You can also use your card to access small business resources on the Library’s webpage, www.longviewlibrary.org, including Reference USA, Gale Small Business Builder, and ProQuest. You can use these resources to help you find your market, build your business, financial, and marketing plans, and research the competition. The Hub also offers free small business classes provided by SCORE volunteers and mentors. These seminars cover taxes, accounting, business plans, and start-ups, just to name a few of the topics. The next seminar is Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will cover small business taxes. The seminar on Dec. 7 will cover selling techniques. You can register for any of these through the SCORE webpage, https://vancouver.score.org/ Did you know if you own a business in Longview, you qualify for a free card? Also, if you have a Kelso library card, you can come get a free reciprocal card through the Longview Public Library. If you have a Longview address, both inside and outside city limits, you probably qualify for a free card at the library. Not sure? Come in or call and we will let you know. There are many more tools available to small business builders at the Longview library’s Small Business Hub, too. If you would like a tour of the resources available, please contact me at 360-442-5321 or elizabethp@mylongview.com.
September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 7
The Executive Corner By Frank McShane Square Peg Consulting
Analyze the Job First, Then the Candidates
Finding the best talent is one of the biggest challenges in our current business climate. For many roles, it is a sellers’ (candidates) market. Business leaders may find themselves settling for whoever can fill the most basic requirements of a job. You might get lucky using this approach, but it often results in disappointing performance, increased turnover, and higher costs.
o Service Failures o Composite Safety Ranking The following behavioral profile emerged from comparing the top quartile performers with the lower quartiles. The significant differences showed that they were: • More unassuming, unselfish, agreeable, cooperative and peaceful.
Our Natural Tendency
• More reserved, quiet, serious, sincere and introspective.
When you need to quickly fill a job, either from the outside or with an internal candidate, the natural tendency is to pay most attention to what the person has done in the past. This is usually coupled with your impression of the person in an interview situation. Often, the key requirements of the targeted role are not well defined. This is particularly true of the behavioral requirements – the ones that will make or break performance in the role. One way to manage this natural tendency is to conduct a job assessment.
• More relaxed, patient, stable, calm and methodical.
Conducting a Job Assessment There are many ways of developing a useful job assessment. It needs to contain three sections: • Head – the personal drives and behaviors needed for success • Heart – the necessary values, passion, and cultural fit • Briefcase – the required qualifications, skills, and experience A behavioral profile (head) can be determined objectively by three to five managers who know the work well, either by discussion or by employing a job assessment tool. In jobs with multiple people, i.e. sales, operators, and truck drivers, it is also possible to develop a profile based on current top performers in the role. This helps to identify what skills and behavior they have in common that distinguishes them from lesser performers. The most reliable approach, however, is through a statistical analysis based on key performance measures. Example: Long-Haul Truck Drivers This analysis looks at the traits and behaviors that make for successful long-haul truck drivers, a very competitive position. Good drivers who will also stay with a company are hard to find and will leave if not managed properly. The Predictive Index conducted a study of 383 drivers for a large long-haul firm. The drivers were measured and ranked on the following criteria: o Job Tenure o Preventable Accidents o Non-Preventable Accidents o DOT Shutdowns o Moving Violations 8 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
• More accurate, careful, thorough, self-disciplined and dutiful. • More focused, less prone to distraction. The irony of this study is that people who fit the profile don’t necessarily interview well, due to their reserved and cautious nature. However, we aren’t hiring them to interview but to drive safely for long distances by themselves, a role for which they are ideally suited. How to Use the Job Assessment Profile when Hiring, Promoting, or Coaching However you go about developing a job profile, it can be very useful in making better people decisions. When hiring, it brings some objectivity about a person’s fit to the role in what is often a very subjective process. This will increase the chances of selecting someone who fits the role, gets up to speed quickly, performs well, and will stay with the company. Making promotion decisions based more on an objective assessment of the candidates’ potential for the new role, rather than their past track record, will result in capable leaders with more engaged and productive teams. If the need for coaching someone to improve arises, the job profile can identify more clearly where the person fits or doesn’t fit the role and pinpoint areas for adjustment. Be Careful What You Ask For! One unanticipated outcome of hiring to a job profile is that you get a cumulative effect from the needs of a specific type of people. In the truck driver example, people who fit the profile well have a strong need for clarity of expectations. They want feedback on how they are performing and a sense of security about their role as well as how the company itself is doing. If management doesn’t provide for these needs, these drivers generally won’t complain but rather will leave quietly for what may appear to be a more secure situation. If, however, management communicates clear expectations, provides feedback, and keeps them well informed, the company will benefit from a group of high-performing employees who want to stay. Frank McShane is president of Square Peg Consulting. For questions or comments, please contact him at fvm@SqrPegConsulting.com or 360-562-1077.
Discover!
www.portofkalama.com
Did you know that the Port of Kalama is part of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association? The Port of Kalama works with the other Lower Columbia River Ports as a member of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA)—a non-profit trade association that helps ensure our waterways are efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable. PNWA members include ports, businesses, public agencies and individuals who combine their economic and political strength in support of navigation, energy, trade and economic development throughout the Pacific Northwest. To put the Port of Kalama’s place in the Pacific Northwest in perspective, the Columbia Snake River System is the nation’s number one wheat export gateway and number two soybean export gateway which is fed by a 365-mile, 14-foot draft inland barge system which stretches from Portland, OR to Lewiston, ID. The river system exported over 50 million tons of cargo in 2016. It is also the west coast’s number one wood and mineral bulks export gateway and a rising importer/exporter of vehicles. In all, over $21 billion worth of cargo moves on the Columbia Snake River System each year. As a part of the Columbia Snake River System, the Port of Kalama is a strong advocate of the PNWA and their work to support the region on critical economic, environmental and transportation programs and issues. The PNWA mission: PNWA strengthens the regional economy by increasing economic and environmental sustainability, while providing a cooperative, regional approach to addressing public policy. The organization monitors and advocates on issues impacting the environment, energy, salmon habitat and relationshipbuilding. For more information, visit www.pnwa.net
https://portofkalama.com/discover-did-you-know-thatthe-port-of-kalama-is-part-of-the-pacific-northwestwaterways-association/
City of Kelso
City of Longview
By Councilman David Futcher
By City Councilman Ken Botero
Longtime chief to begin manager role The city manager position is probably the most important position in a city. Some people believe the mayor is the leader, but in cities like Kelso and Longview, the mayor simply chairs the council meetings, while the manager runs the show. In Kelso, the council recently decided to appoint former police chief Andy Hamilton to that position. During the process, some cynics opined that the hiring process we undertook was a sham – a dog-and-pony show designed to produce this predestined outcome. Let me assure you – at least from my individual perspective – that it was not. We cast a national net in looking for candidates. As part of the committee working on the selection process, I helped review about 20 résumés, eventually narrowing the pool to six candidates that were invited to interview with three panels: council, staff and community members. From that group, two candidates impressed us with their suitability for the position: Andy Hamilton and Torie Brazitis. Ms. Brazitis was an engaging candidate with a background in city management within and outside of Washington. There is no doubt in my mind that she would have been, and will be elsewhere, an excellent city manager. However, even she noted during conversation with me that the city was blessed to have two candidates who would both make fine managers. The council selected Andy Hamilton because of the quality administration he had given in the police department, evidenced in part by the strong partnerships he built to serve the city. In speaking with a neighboring police chief who had recently moved to the area, the way law enforcement agencies in our community work together is not the norm. Andy consistently worked with the other chiefs and the sheriff to make sure that each department supported the needs of the others. Those partnership skills have and will continue to serve Kelso well. Andy’s preparation for the interviews was evident, and portrayed his consistent commitment to hard work on the public’s behalf. Like policing, the city manager position is not an 8-to-5 kind of job. I have no doubt that Andy will continue to work above and beyond, bettering himself and learning more about how to be successful in his new position. 10 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
Follow the path of our city's founders Did you know? In 1849 two European American adventurers found their dream in the most beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest. This section of land near the Columbia River provided the footprint for those with a dream of creating their Quality of Place. Harry and Rebecca Huntington set foot on a beautiful and prosperous adventure in 1849 and named the area Monticello in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s home in Virginia. In 1852 a group of people gathered to discuss and petition Congress for the privilege to become a state, which they called Columbia. Congress readily accepted the petition, but only if the name was changed from Columbia to Washington in honor of President Washington. The name Columbia was too close to the District of Columbia banner. This new northwest venture remained sparsely populated for almost 60 years, consisting mostly of farmland and wilderness. The beautiful timber and forest were amazing. Driven by a dwindling timber supply in the south, timber baron Robert A. Long moved his timber dreams to the northwest in 1918 and formed partnerships with several other dreamers of that era. In 1921 Wesley Vandercook wanted to build a mill near the small town of Kelso, but it was apparent Kelso with a population of 2,000 people would not be able to support the 14,000 men that would be required to run the mill. So Long contracted with George Kessler, who designed a masterpiece based on the nation’s capitol with elements of Roman city planning. Today the beautiful City of Longview is the largest city in Cowlitz County and provides about 15.5 miles of quality life for the population of 37,000 people and growing. The City of Longview boasts eight elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, three private schools and an award-winning community college. It has many parks, including the Jewel of Southwest Washington, Lake Sacajawea. Sports are an active part of community life here in Longview with soccer programs, youth softball and baseball, and now, there is even the wonderful world of golf for our youth. Enjoy the many neighborhood parks. Find special shopping experiences in our historic downtown or enjoy the arts at the popular, historic Columbia Theater or performances by Stageworks or the community college students. You see Harry and Rebecca Huntington’s dream is still in motion. We are keeping their dream alive, generation after generation and into the future. We invite you and your family to join in our dream and follow the Huntingtons’ path in belonging to a community that IS A QUAITY OF PLACE. Come and visit, you just might stay.
Business Toolbox By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser
Can Your Business Weather 12.5% Profit Cut? Does your business employ minimum wage employees? Does your product have a large labor cost component?
Do you have a service business? (Read as virtually all your costs are wages) If so, are you aware that effective January 1, 2020, the minimum wage in Washington state is increasing 12.5 percent (from $12 to $13.50 an hour)? That’s a HUGE increase in labor costs (i.e. a GIANT dip in your company’s profits). Your business adviser at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is here to help you plan for your situation, below are some general strategies to make this cost increase a little less painful. Increase Prices When deciding whether to increase prices, you need to ask yourself, “Will our customers pay a higher price? Is our product worth this much more? Will our sales volume drop with a price increase?” Sell More! Are you sitting on a lot of inventory? Are there frequently a lot of empty seats at your restaurant? Are your landscaping tools or machinery often idle? If so, these are sure signs that you could use some marketing and sales assistance to increase the attractiveness of your current product or service. The SBDC can help you identify your target audience and tailor your marketing message to better reach potential customers. Reduce Fixed Costs Fixed costs are your monthly expenses, regardless of sales volume (examples include things such as rent, insurance, and debt repayment). Whereas increasing your prices can be done rather quickly, reducing your fixed costs can take some time. You may need to find another location, negotiate with your landlord for reduced rent, or find a symbiotic business to share your space. You may need to shop around for a more cost-effective insurance policy. You may need to refinance or restructure your debt. Essentially, now is the time to go through every line on your profit and loss financial statement and ask yourself the hard question, “How can I reduce (or even eliminate) this ‘fixed’ expense?” Reduce Variable Costs Your variable costs are the expenses directly related to your sales and/or production volume and ideally appear on your profit and loss financial statement as COGS or Cost of Goods Sold. Variable costs include items purchased with the intent to resell (in the case of retail) or ingredients that go into your dishes (for a restaurant example). Finding suppliers with lower costs and reducing waste are just two ways to reduce variable costs. Examine Hours of Operation Hourly labor can be tricky. On one hand, if business is slow, you can send an employee (or several) home to reduce costs (suggest-
ing that labor is a variable cost). On the other hand, if you have set hours of operation, a component of your labor is fixed. Thus, it’s worth a serious examination of your daily and hourly sales to identify if you can and should reduce hours (or even full days) of operation to save on hourly labor expenses. I worked through this analysis with one of my clients, who realized that he was consistently spending more in labor than he was generating in revenue the first and last hour his shop was open. By shaving 14 hours off his weekly hours of operation, he increased his annual profitably by more than $17,000 (since a minimum of two employees are always required in his shop). Reduce Labor Hours If you don’t have daily and hourly sales data available to make the strategic decision about reducing hours of operation, but you want/ need your total minimum wage labor costs to remain at the current dollar level (despite the $1.50 increase in the hourly minimum wage), here’s the formula to help determine how many hours to reduce, come January 1, 2020: Current minimum wage labor hours x $1.50 / $13.50. For example, if you currently have one minimum wage employee working 40 hours per week, you’ll need to reduce the hours worked per week to 35.5 hours to keep your labor costs the same as today. Consider Cutting your Losses If your business is struggling now and you rely on minimum wage employees and the suggestions above seem unfathomable to help weather a 12.5 percent cost increase, you might consider closing your doors. Regrettably, it’s not uncommon for business owners to pour their heart and soul into an enterprise and exhaust their personal savings trying to keep a business going. If you are currently paying employees minimum wage and forfeiting paying yourself and exhausted trying to turn your business around, I encourage you to be honest and brave in knowing it’s only going to get more challenging in 2020. Treat yourself with kindness and consider cutting your losses. More Strategies The Kelso Longview Chamber will be hosting a Boot Camp Series workshop, “Planning for Increased Labor Costs,” Oct. 4 presented by me, Jerry Petrick, MBA and certified business adviser with the SBDC. This will be an engaging discussion of strategies and tools for preparing for and managing through this change in your operating environment. To register go to: https://kelsolongviewchamber.org/event/ small-business-boot-camp-fall-series This article is a collaboration of Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Advisers Sherri Daymon of the Bellingham SBDC and Jerry Petrick with the Washington State University SBDC. The SBDC provides no-cost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. Jerry can be reached via e-mail: jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 11
Longview Downtowners & Kelso Downtown Revitalization Association By Lindsey Cope President
Great Day for the Great Race and More
June 29 turned out to be a clear, warm and sunny day for the Great Race to be welcomed into downtown Longview. With the Longview Sandbaggers in their sharp, red and white coats on hand to personally greet each car and direct them to their short lunch stop at Mill City Grill – every person seen was nothing but smiles. Each car was announced and parked on the street where a crowd of people gathered taking photos and interacting with the drivers. On the way to continue their west coast adventure participants drove right through the Bow Tie Bash Car Show. The Lower Columbia Corvettes’ Bow Tie Bash boasted more than 220 gorgeous, antique, classic and unique cars this year! “…We made our way back to Longview, which hosted one of the largest lunch stops in recent Great Race history. The town welcomed us with open arms, and put on a car show of their own to coincide with our rolling display of vintage iron,” was one of the comments at www.greatrace.com. The Great Race and Bow Tie Bash brought thousands into the area! While people were admiring the cars, they also were enjoying all that downtown Longview has to offer. The Longview Downtowners organized a shop local event boasting promotions, sales and raffles at most of the stores. There were also pop-up vendors in The Merk and Realty One Pacifica Group. Kona Ice was selling their amazing shave-ice. Time Out Ice Cream returned to downtown and had ice cream at Pets, Pawns and Imports and the Longview Pioneer Lions served ice cream and kettle corn. Down at Hearth Coffee the Children’s Discovery Museum provided face painters and in the Roxy Theatre, they and Renewal City Church, showed the Pixar movie “Cars” for free to families. From Noon to 7 p.m., J Squared Barrel House, in partnership with the Longview Downtowners, hosted a beer garden that was a ton of fun! Inside the beer garden was The Flying Pig BBQ, which was a fun treat. Those who purchased VIP tickets also received a collector’s 16-ounce mug. Between Janel and Jack at J Squared Barrel House, Kelly and Shaun with Specialty Rents and Trina and Doug at Mill City Grill – we were among hosting greatness all day long! Longview was officially named “Best Lunch Stop” by the Great Race July 11 and the Longview City Council recognized us for our hard work. The awards would not have been won if not for ALL of our sponsors and volunteers, who made this happen! Steve Lemmons with Tennant Way Chevron was our point of contact with the Great Race staff and a Title Sponsor. Steve was such a huge resource and help! Our other Title Sponsor Pat Sari with Columbia Ford welcomed the Great Race with his reader board. Bicoastal Media was our radio Media Sponsor and broadcasted the event far and wide. Copies Today was our Print Sponsor. O’Reilly’s, Pac Fibre, Randy Norman American National Insurance, and Twin City Bank all came in as Silver Sponsors. Our Bronze Sponsors included: Bud Clary Chevrolet, U.S. Bank, Paper Craft Addiction, Corner Café, Longview Recycling, Kevin Lawson Fairway Mortgage, CPI, Inc., Kerr Car Care, D&C Enterprises, Ecological Land Services, Pets, Pawns and Imports, Stewart Title, Teague’s Interiors, and Sweet Leaf. This event took a small army of community volunteers and businesses. We would like to thank each of you who made this happen: Randy and Goldie (Columbia River Corvettes); Steve Lemmons (Tennant Way Chevron); Pat Sari (Columbia Ford); Pat Palmer (Copies Today); Marc 12 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
Silva (Columbia Bank); Marlene Johanson (Red Canoe Credit Union); Keith Johanson, Pam and Darrell Whittle, Elisha Jolma, Brad and Maryann Whittaker (Realty One Pacifica Group); Katie Keaton (Bicoastal Media); Justin Brown (Longview Parks and Recreation); the gang at Mill City Grill, J Squared Barrel House, and Specialty Rents; Amy Hallock (Kelso Longview Chamber); Lonnie Knowles and Maile Walker (Cowlitz County Event Center); Wendy Kosloski (Teague’s Interiors); Brooke Fisher-Clark (United Way); Jason Clark; Monica Kingston (Heritage Bank); Lynsie Harriman (Empowered Health); Doug Viuhkola (Mill City Grill); Kindra Ahern, Pat Ahern, Mike Guido, Todd Clanton, Tanille Irvine, Kirby and Bryan Drake, Valerie Grey and Julie McIvor (Northwest Innovation Works); Longview Sandbaggers; Longview Pioneer Lions and many more! Don’t miss out on our Thirstday Thursday Sept. 5 from 5-8 p.m. Participating businesses will be open extended hours and will partner with other businesses for drinks, food, raffles, pop-ups and more! You can join us for an end of summer clean up Sept. 7 from 9-11 a.m. behind Mill City Grill where we will meet before we divide and conquer. If you would like to join us in the promotion, preservation and development of downtown Longview our meetings are open to the public. You can join us at the Creekside Café Sept. 12 at 8 a.m. or Mill City Grill at 3 p.m. Thank you, Longview and Cowlitz County for your continued support of downtown Longview! Downtown Kelso Though we took a brief break in July, our Kelso business group reconvened in August. In ONE HOUR our motivated group of individuals including business owners, city government representatives, and other stakeholders fundraised for an additional 14 flowerpots to give to businesses in Kelso! We also secured three places for public art and scheduled a meeting with a representative from Kelso High School to discuss bringing in local high school students to assist with the projects. We are excited to work toward beautification and public art in Kelso. Last, but not least, we scheduled another clean up day Sept. 7 from 9 to 11 a.m. We will meet under the Allen Street Bridge next to Kelso City Hall to divide and conquer. All are welcome! Please bring your gloves, bags, grabbers and vests. We will tackle near the mall and West Kelso too. Do you have a specific pet project in mind? Meet us before 9 and head out from there! This clean up is purposefully before the annual Kelso Highlander Festival and Scottish Games Sept. 14 and 15 in Tam O’ Shanter Park. The annual Kelso Highlander Festival brings our community together and brings in many from out of the area. What a great motivation for a little late summer spruce up! Please join us for our next meeting Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum. Anyone who is interested in the promotion, preservation, development and support of Kelso is welcome to attend. Bring a friend! You can find more about our group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kdrakelsowa
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Kelso School District
Longview Public Schools
Superintendent Mary Beth Tack
Superintendent Dan Zorn
Welcoming 19 new teachers this fall
Summer spent strengthening bond
We recently held an orientation for our new teachers. There are 19 of them starting this 2019-20 school year and we’re excited to welcome them to our district and the greater Kelso community. They are talented, bright, and passionate about preparing every Kelso student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen in a changing world.
What did you do during summer vacation? We spent the summer getting prepared for the new school year and distributing information about the capital bond.
We are pleased to introduce you to: • Amy Allison, special education at Barnes Elementary • Shawn Beattie, math at Kelso High School • Allan Brown, resource classroom teacher at Huntington Middle and Loowit High schools • Sarah Dahl, occupational therapist at Wallace Elementary • Noah Hall, English at Kelso High School • Liz Hoopfer, math at Kelso High School • Tyler Hutchison, structured learning at Wallace Elementary • Audrie Luczek, speech language pathologist at Beacon Hill and Rose Valley elementary schools • Tammy Parsons, fourth grade at Beacon Hill Elementary • Liz Prudnikova, math at Kelso High School • Christopher Reeves, physical therapist for all schools • Justin Roberts, language arts and social studies at Kelso High School • Erin Schuhmacher, counselor at Catlin Elementary • David Shoddy, science at Coweeman Middle School • Carly Sims, fifth grade at Butler Acres Elementary • John Speed, special education at Huntington Middle School • Lili Venegas, third grade at Beacon Hill Elementary • Tony Whipps, fifth grade at Beacon Hill Elementary • Sierra Wishard, English language learner/math at Coweeman Middle School We’re looking forward to the year ahead and working toward our goal of having 100 percent of our students graduate with a diploma and be college and career ready. 14 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
The bond information we have been distributing details the priorities, costs and planned projects at each school. While the bond information is important, we won’t lose sight of the ultimate goal – providing an excellent education for the children of Longview, which addresses their academic, social/emotional, and work readiness needs. The tenets found in the district’s bond request will help us to reach our district’s goals for the students we serve. School bonds are about buildings and facilities, and school is about providing kids the education they need to be successful in life. A high school diploma provides young adults options and opportunities to pursue their dreams. When students earn a high school diploma, they can go on to more schooling, enter the military or go straight into the workforce. Without a high school diploma, the number of options a person has shrinks quickly. We look forward to continuing to improve our already strong graduation rates so that our students have the options and opportunities for a successful and fulfilling life. During the summer, school staff and volunteers spent time circulating school bond information at the Go Fourth Festival, county fair and Squirrel Fest. Having the chance to meet with local folks and talk about the school district and bond was fun. The outpouring of support and well wishes from people was amazing. In anticipation of placing a bond measure on the ballot, the district contracted with a third party company to conduct a scientific public opinion study. The study objectives included determining the level of support for a school bond measure, and identifying the projects that the community considered most important to be included in the bond request. The results of the study were insightful and encouraging. The level of support in the community for a bond totaled 70 percent, with strong support across all demographic age groups. Breaking down the support a little further, the study said 72 percent of current parents of students support a bond, 71 percent of parents of former students support a capital bond and 65 percent of local residents who never had children in school support a bond. The study also showed people want information about vocational programs and whether they will prepare students for the workforce after high school, and whether capital bond dollars will be used to fix leaky roofs, update electrical and plumbing systems and address other facility needs. Further, the community is most interested in learning how the bond will improve school safety and security. If the capital bond passes, many vocational classrooms and work areas in the district will be remodeled, with new equipment and tools purchased to bring programs up to industry standard. The idea For more Longview Schools, see page 15
Longview Schools, continued from page 14 being students use the same equipment and tools and learn the same techniques used in the workplace. The district will continue to work with the trades to build the best vocational programs possible. Concerning whether bond dollars will be used to fix leaky roofs, update electrical and plumbing systems and address other facility needs – the answer is yes. Each of our schools submitted a list of the most important “large repair projects” needing attention. The list was prioritized and added to the bond measure. The bond sets aside $9.4 million to address these projects.
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Safety and security of students and staff members is a top priority for the district. If the bond passes, schools in the district will be retrofitted with a double door security system, additional security cameras and emergency communication equipment. The bond measure sets aside $4.2 million for safety and security.
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If you have questions about the school bond, or anything else, please give me a call. More bond information is available at longviewschools.com.
computer. tablet. phone. sign up today at 360.423.2210 or https://www.cowlitzpud.org/ebill
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September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 15
Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments By Bill Fashing Executive Director
Building Hope Among Today's Students The Longview School District hosted the authors of “Building a Culture of Hope” at a recent community forum. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the event and want to share a few takeaways that we should all be aware of. The world of work has been turned upside down over the past 20 years nationally and even more so in our region. This has resulted in a significant shift in the nature of work in our region. We have seen the loss of many family wage jobs and the job security that many in the region knew for so long. The decrease in job security has led to the loss of hope and the belief by many in our community that the American Dream was beyond their reach. According to the authors, poverty is a major component in the loss of hope. • In 2013, the majority of U.S. public school students were poor • 40 million people live in poverty in the United States • The poor include the working poor, more than 70 percent of families in poverty have an employed parent We have seen nationally an increase of household fragility, due to stagnant wages leading to multiple challenges include home-
lessness. The same challenges and trends have hit our region. The Longview School District became majority poverty in 2009. According to the authors, poverty is a “monstrous problem” nationwide and we are no different in our region. The solution needs to start with a focus on the children of our community and on the schools according to the book. Each of us has the potential to positively impact the situation and help to build a strong culture of hope throughout the region. Little things can make a difference for our schools and for our regional economy. Most of us are aware of the many challenges facing our region so I will not dwell on them, but want to address some of the causes of poverty as outlined by the authors. • Job elimination • Unlivable wages • Lack of skills that jobs require • Illness/catastrophic health crisis • Divorce/family breakdown/trauma • Old age • Poor education/feeling of helplessness
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The sense of helplessness is not something many of us easily understand, but it is real. It leads people to believe that they have little control to change one’s life. It supports an understanding that events in their lives are subject to external factors and not impacted by their effort or persistence. Life in a state of helplessness can limit the understanding of how to achieve personal goals or career opportunities. How can you help foster optimism in your schools and help to overcome the growing sense of helplessness? • Learn students’ names and use them • Participate in whole-school rituals and events • Help decorate the school • Celebrate good things happening in our schools • Ask school personnel what they need to improve educational opportunities • Help to make students feel they belong at school and in the community • Offer to mentor students and teachers • Volunteer to spend one-on-one time with students • Read with students
1425 Maple Street • Longview, WA 98632
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• Be a guest in a school, share your experiences • Bring yoga, music, arts and other wellness into the school For more CWCOG, see page 17
CWCOG, continued from page 16 • Help in the front office of a school • Help during recess – play games, teach chess… • Share information about positives • Participate in cultural celebrations • Notice people, acknowledge, talk • Share school events widely • Get word out to media sources in a positive light • Help students to get published and recognized The authors shared the following graphic and suggested that a better understanding of purpose will help to build a sense of control in one destiny. What can you do today to help foster purpose in your schools and help to create the workforce of tomorrow? As we work to make more immediate changes in our community, you might ask what can you do today to help foster purpose among your employees and their families?
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Taken from “Studio Insights by Michael David Sturlin –The Importance of Purpose”
Each of you are already making a difference in our region, but I hope you will consider expanding what you can do by engaging with and helping the kids of our community to develop and build their sense of hope and purpose. Economic Vitality Survey – Call to Action As a reminder, the CWCOG is conducting a regional Economic Vitality Survey and is seeking input from the community. The purpose of this survey is to provide information to the CowlitzWahkiakum Council of Governments to assist in its efforts to serve its member agencies and improve the economic vitality and quality of place throughout the two-county region. Please complete the survey and share the link to the survey with your employees, family members, and business associates. Click here to access the survey. September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 17
Our Current Project
Renaud Electic is moving into the Searing Building. They have hired Mountain View Commercial Contracting to do all the improvements. Searing closed its doors after nearly 50 years and another long time Longview business, Renaud Electric, is moving from its location of more than 55 years to the Searing location. Mountain View Commercial Contracting is doing all the construction necessary to make that transition a smooth one.
Our Services
• ADA Compliance Surveys • Construction Documents • Specifications • Value Engineering • Construction Planning • Build Site Analysis • Design Build • Site Research
• Ground Up Construction • Tenant Improvement • Cost Estimating • Site Development • Remodeling • Space Planning • Program Management • Building Master Planning
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Our builders come to work smiling and ready to build your dream. They have a passion for their work and are qualified to build your design.
Dan Frazier Owner
Licensed & Bonded
360-749-3107 mtvcontracting.com 199 Rocky Point Road, Kelso WA 98626 MOUNTVC853D6
Cowlitz County STEM Network
Premier Sponsor
Friday, September 27, 2019 Cowlitz Conference Center 11:45 — 1:30 pm $25 in Advance (by September 24th) $35 at the door.
Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Employers throughout the area have expressed
Ted Feller SW Washington STEM Network
workforce shortage concerns. The SW WA STEM Network is supporting the business community in Cowlitz County in developing a workforce pipeline by helping students acquire the competencies and credentials needed to make the school-to-work connection. Come learn how you can get involved and grow your workforce pipeline.
Ribbon Cuttings
Touching All The Bases Ribbon cuttings for Kelso Little League and Rister Stadium remodel.
See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.
20 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
Ribbon Cuttings
Learning Something New Ribbon cutting cermeonies at Big Leaf Montessori School and Hunting Learning Center during August kept Ambassadors on their toes.
September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 21
Ribbon Cuttings
Focused Focused Nutrition owner Tonya Lashley took center stage for our ribbon cutting. Focused Nutrition serves up healthy shakes, tea and aloe at 2121 8th Ave., Longview.
HotShot We were able to celebrate new member HotShot Pressure Washing with a ribbon cutting. They are an innovative company that specializes in residential, flatwork and fleet cleaning, focusing on attention to detail and commitment to their clients.
22 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
2019 January 15: Specialty Rents February 12: Port of Longview March 12: Business and Tourism Expo April 9: Three Rivers Christian School May 14: Lifeworks June 11: Antidote July 9: Three Rivers Eye Center August 13: Mary’s Bar & Grill September 11: Silver Star October 8: Steele Chapel November 12: Stewart Title December 10: Holiday Mixer
Business After Hours Join us for a fun night of Food, Drinks & Prizes Tuesday, September 10 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
SILVER STAR
1032 Vandercook Way, Longview
$15 in advance | $20 at the door Register at
www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Business After Hours
Hail Mary! Thank you Mary's Bar & Grill for hosting our August Business After Hours. It was a beautiful evening. Thank you Senator Takko for stopping by.
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
Residential & Commercial gro.n.control@gmail.com
September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 25
New Members Add your business to our growing membership – Call 360-423-8400 Today!
Healthy Choice Melyssa Roc and Alicia Matteson 351 Three Rivers Dr. Kelso, WA 98626 360-353-3322 livewell@hchc.live.com
Focused Nutrition, LLC Tonya Lashley 2121 8th Ave. Longview, WA 98632 360-323-8565 focusednutritionllc@gmail.com
HotShot Pressure Washing Allen Webb 1002 N 6th Ave. Kelso, WA 98626 360-612-7739 hotshotpressurewashing@gmail.com
Barran Liebman, LLP Traci Ray 601 SW 2nd Ave., Ste 2300 Portland, OR 97204 503-228-0500 tray@barran.com
Business Association with opportunities to promote
Village Concepts of Chehalis – Woodland Village Tonya Laeger 2100 SW Woodland Circle Chehalis, WA 98532 360-748-0095 tanyal@villageconcepts.com
• Ribbon Cutting
trade through Chamber socials,
• Website Links
special events and committee participation.
• Member to Member Discounts
• Annual Meeting and Banquet
• Membership Directory
• Networking Events
• Tax Deduction
• Committee Participation
• Newsletter
• Business Contacts
• Business Card Display
• Quarterly Membership Meetings
• Use of Chamber Logo
• Civic Representation Representation through action committees, candidate
• Monthly Business After Hours
forums and up-to-date action alerts. Business Services include marketing for your business,
• Legislative Representation
referrals and access to Chamber
• Issues Tracking and Information
publications and research data.
• Task Forces
• Mailing Labels
• Candidate Forums
• Membership Window Decals
• Legislative Update Breakfast
• Member Referrals
• Demographics Publication
HotShot Pressure Washing Allan Webb
(360) 612-7739 High Pressure Cleaning No Pressure Service Licensed • Bonded • Insured HOTSHPW811DZ
26 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
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.
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.
Corwin Beverage
Longview Eye and Vision – Drs. Terry and Jeff Tack
Cowlitz River Rigging, Inc.
Longview Physical and Sports Therapy Services
Educational Service District No. 112
Longview Self Storage
Emergency Support Shelter
Mobile Mic Entertainment
Fairway Collections
Northwest Hardwoods, Inc.
Futcher Group
Opsahl Dawson and Company, P.S.
Hart C's Steakburger and Thai Food
Renaud Electric Company, Inc.
Kelso Theater Pub
Reprographics, Inc.
Kelso-Longview Television, Inc. (KLTV)
Willamette Dental
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
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 September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 27
Chamber Connection
Cassondra Rosales with SlapShot USA LLC
See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.
Cruisin'
Diane Craft with Koelsch Senior Communities and granddaughter Alivia promoting "Crusin' to the Delaware".
Iya Trammell with Longview Parks and Recreation promoting family day at the lake.
“Your Chamber Connection“ EVERY Wednesday
Stream live at www.kedoam.com Local guest and current events 28 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
Hosts of the Show: Carey Mackey, Red Canoe Credit Union; Karen Sisson, Stewart Title; Shawn Green, ServPro Longview/Kelso and Marc Silva, Columbia Bank . 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
FAMILY FUN RUN he Friday, December 13, 2019 t e v Sa te! The Civic Circle in Longview Da
Festive Sponsorship Levels Grand Bell: $1,000 Logo on all marketing materials, website, advertising, radio ads, large logo on shirt, banner at event (provided by Sponsor), promo item inside runner’s packets, and six (6) free registrations
Gold Bell: $500 Logo on all marketing materials, website, advertising, medium logo on shirt, promo item inside runner’s packets, and four (4) free registrations
Silver Bell: $250 Logo on all marketing materials, website, advertising, logo on shirt, promo item inside runner’s packets, and two (2) free registrations
Bronze Bell: $100 Logo on shirt, promo item inside runner’s packets
YES! I WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPONSOR! NAME: ________________________________________ SPONSOR LEVEL: _______________________________
www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
360-423-8400
August Ambassador of the Month Dennie Meza The Daily News
Marketing Consultant Makes Headlines Dennie Meza, a marketing consultant with The Daily News, was named our August Ambassador of the Month. To learn more about
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? That my children are great humans.
her, we asked Dennie to respond to a few questions.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN? Hang out with family
FAMILY? Two children and two grandchildren
and friends, hiking, traveling, cooking good food, going to the beach
HOW LONG HAVE YOUR BEEN AN AMBASSADOR? 3 or 4 years WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO BE AN AMBASSADOR? To get more involved with our community WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH THE AMBASSADORS? Meeting new people, helping others, and build relationships
and reading a good book BIRTHDAY DATE? June 13 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 va-
YOUR FAVORITE AMBASSADOR STORY? Carrie (Medack)
riety of events year long. If you would be interested in wearing a red
found me my look-alike at the White House Business After Hours.
coat and representing the Chamber, contact CEO Bill Marcum at the
LOL
Chamber office.
Unionized Employer Update: Best Practices for Better Labor Relations September 19th, 2019| 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Kelso, WA Register at www.barran.com
Join labor attorneys Kyle Abraham and Nicole Elgin to learn about the latest legal updates affecting unionized employers. In this engaging discussion, they will cover recent arbitration decisions on discipline and discharge, as well as National Labor Relations Board rulemaking and unfair labor practice charges, including issues on bargaining and union access to employer property. Specifically tailored to unionized employers, this training will provide practical tools and advice on how to prepare for and implement these changes at your workplace.
EMPLOYMENT | LABOR | BENEFITS | COMPLIANCE | 503.228.0500 | BARRAN.COM 30 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | September 2019
In The News
United Way sets date for Day of Caring United Way’s annual Day of Caring event kicks off Sept. 11. It is the largest group of community volunteers to tackle various projects throughout Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. The day will start with the traditional morning volunteer rally at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds grandstands at 8:15 a.m. A big thanks to the county for allowing us to host our rally there each year. Volunteers will get their commemorative event shirts, refreshments, have a chance to win some raffle prizes, and celebrate and acknowledge everyone involved in this positive day. Because Day of Caring falls on Sept. 11 this year, we will be hosting a special ceremony honoring our local veterans, active military, fire, law enforcement and emergency responder personnel. We encourage all those who serve, or have served, in these fields locally to attend the morning rally to be honored. The rally concludes at 9:15 a.m. and projects will commence from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at which time the day ends. We are immensely grateful for the wonderful support of our annual sponsors: • Weyerhaeuser • NORPAC • Nippon Dynawave Packaging And for our fabulous Day of Caring event sponsors:
• Kaiser Permanente • Anderson and Anderson Advisory • Solvay • Westlake Chemical • Lower Columbia Longshoremen’s Federal Credit Union • JH Kelly • Wilcox and Flegel
Team registration forms and individual participant waivers for each person on a team to sign and submit back to United Way prior to the Day of Caring event by contacting me (information below). Team members will need to indicate shirt size on their form, so we can accurately order what everyone needs for that day. We will contact team leads with project assignments and details when we have those all configured. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any questions. We are so excited to bring the community together for another great day of giving back!
Brooke Fisher-Clark, Executive Director United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties 1338 Commerce Ave., Suite 206 Longview, WA 98632 Office: 360-423-5320 Cell: 360-560-3960
FAMILY FUN RUN he Friday, December 13, 2019 t e v Sa te! The Civic Circle in Longview Da
September 2019 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | 31
Friday October 4, 2019 e v a S te festivities start at 6:00 pm
a D the
Kelso-Longview Elks 900 Ash St, Kelso
Beer! Brats! Pretzels! Games! Music! Raffle Prizes! & More! Tickets ~ $20 per person Register online at
www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Hosted by Lower Columbia Professionals #itsforthekids
2020
Fri., Jan. 24, 4 pm - 9 pm and Sat., Jan. 25, 10 am - 8 pm
Cowlitz County Convention Center
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • • • • •
Mount St Helens Event Sponsor $10,000
Logo on all marketing material as sQuatch Fest Sponsored by “Your Business Name” Named on all radio, print and social media advertising 10' x 10' booth space at the event Logo on website, Facebook, newsletter and print advertising 100 collectible tickets to event with lanyards
Hoffstadt Bluff Sponsor $2,500 • Logo on marketing material & social media • 25 tickets to attend both days • Display banner and booth space at event
Hoffstadt Bluff Sponsor Options • Cornhole Tournament - Battle of the Borders D Kids’ Cave CalPortland • Kids’ Cave -Slogo OLon • Tickets - logo on back of tickets • Brew Mtn Beer Fest - S banner OLDin beer fest Life Mortgage D • Mug SponsorS-O logo L on mug Hop-N-Grape • Decorations - banner in MSH room • Speaker Sponsor - banner on stage
Ape Cave Sponsor $500 • Logo on print ads • Exposure on social media • 5 tickets to sQuatch Fest Ape Cave Sponsor Options • Drink tokenS- O logo on token MiLL CiTY GRiLL LD • Wristband - logoSon Antidote Tap House D OLwristband • ICE Sponsor
Columbia River Sponsor $1,000
• • • •
Logo on print ads, mention on social media Banner displayed at event 10 tickets to sQuatch Fest Vendor table
Columbia River Sponsor Options • Volunteer T-shirts S - logo on back JSquared OLD • Wine GlassesS- O logo LDon glass The Office 842 • Stage - banner on stage • Friday Night Speaker Dinner
Elk Meadow Sponsor $250 • Supporter of sQuatch Fest • Logo on print ads • 2 tickets to sQuatch Fest
Don’t delay! Register now for these sponsor opportunities!
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Rd Kelso, WA 98626 (360) 423-8400 www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
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March
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Kelso-Longview Business Connection monthly newsletter is published the first of each month, posted electronically on our website and over 6,400 emailed to local business professionals, city and county officials. To be included in this monthly email, call the Chamber office at 360-423-8400.
th each mon
Size 1/16 Page 1/8 Page 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page
1 - 3 Issues $110 $175 $205 $325 $625
4-7 Issues $90 $140 $170 $290 $570
8-10 Issues $70* $105* $140* $245* $480*
12 Issues $50* $75* $100* $190* $400*
2" x 2.5" 4" x 2.5" 4" x 5.25" 4" x 10.5" 8" x 10.5"
Dimensions (*Includes ad on website) (*Includes ad on website) (*Includes ad on website) (V) or 8" x 5.25" (H) (*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: PDF is preferred. JPEG accepted at high resolution(at least 300 dpi). Non-Members of the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce, please add 30% to above rates. To advertise or request additional information please contact Amy Hallock at 360-423-8400 or ahallock@kelsolongviewchamber.org or CEO Bill Marcum at 360-423-8400 or bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org
Advertising Agreement
Date:______________
Business Name: _____________________________________ Phone: ____________________________ Contact Name: _________________
___________________ Cell: _______________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________ Zip _______________ Email: _____________________________________________ Fax: _______________________________
Number of Issues: 12 month agreement
Invoice
Credit Card
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Plus Web Ad: 300W X 100H. Ads can be changed monthly. Signature__________________________________ Ad Rep Signature___________________________
360-423-8400
www.kelsolongviewchamber.org