May 2022 Business Connection

Business Connection Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

Eric McCrandall, sporting his red Chamber jacket, was named Ambassador of the Year

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Julie Rinard

Project Manager

k May 2022

Volume 14 • Issue 5 Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626

STAFF

Bill Marcum, CEO Julie Rinard, Project Manager Pam Fierst, Bookkeeper

Pillars of Strength and Apple Awards brings people together

N

early 300 people turned the banquet room at the Cowlitz County Event Center into a celebration! The evening began with education awards. The nominees provide education in the local community, exhibit excellence in service to students and they are responsible for the creation of unique, significant education programs in our local community. Master of Ceremonies Rachel Leinweber, from Coweeman Middle School, who serves on our Education Committee, presented these awards: K-12 Classified/Support Person of the Year Stefanie House, Human Resource Manager, Kelso School District K-12 Administrator of the Year Scott Westlund, Chief Financial Officer, Kelso School District

k

K-12 Teacher of the Year Kelli Stewart, Special Education, Barnes Elementary School

CONTACT US

360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum 360-423-8400 or bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline 20th of Each Month

Abbie Leavens Higher Education Teacher of the Year

Tamra Gilchrist, from Lower Columbia College, who serves on our Education Committee, presented these awards: Higher Education Classified/Support Person of the Year Sherie Hockett, Payroll Manager, Lower Columbia College For more Awards, see page 2

Awards from page 1

Higher Education Teacher of the Year Abbie Leavens, Faculty, Lower Columbia College The Workforce Education Best Practice Achievement Award honors employers that have demonstrated achievement in providing high quality workforce education and training in Cowlitz County. The award recognized employers that develop and implement programs that are innovative in nature, improve the preparation and/or performance of emerging incumbent workforce, have measurable outcomes and demonstrate collaboration between business, government and education. Chad Mullen from Educational Service District (ESD) 112 – Career Connect presented the award to Gibbs & Olson. Rich Gushman accepted the award and inspired us with an explanation of what the company is doing with youth and the impact they see here in our community.

Teedara Wolf, Cowlitz PUD, represented Lower Columbia Professionals and introduced the members. They held fun events throughout the school year and raised more than $20,000 for the scholarship fund. Twenty-two scholarships were awarded, totaling $26,000. Teedara and Rachel presented these scholarships: Erica Snyder and Jack Fitzsimmons, Mark Morris High School Lonnie Knowles Memorial Scholarship Brianna Sweet, RA Long High School Emily Bakunowicz, Kelso High School Jayla Clark, RA Long High School

Large Business of the Year, Fibre Federal Credit Union Business Individual of the Year, David Futcher, Futcher Group CPAs Rising Star Award, Bailey Roberts, Fibre Federal Credit Union Small Nonprofit of the Year, Cowlitz County Chaplaincy Large Nonprofit of the Year, Emergency Support Shelter

Cherelle Montanye, PeaceHealth, receives Community Leader of the Year

Service Organization Event of the Year, Rotary Club of Kelso – Rotary Lights in the Park Community Leader of the Year, Cherelle Montanye, PeaceHealth Longtime Chamber Ambassador Diane Craft with Koelsch Communities presented The Walt Naze Ambassador of the Year Award to Eric McCrandall with Family Health Center.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to these outstanding community members for their decades of impactful work:

Rachel Lopez, RA Long High School

Zoe Dieter, Huntington Middle School

Adam Nixon, Mark Morris High School

Ann Williamson, Lower Columbia College

Brenna Fraser, RA Long High School Emily Williams, Mark Morris High School Gracie Gann, Kelso High School Kha Ngo, RA Long High School Sarah Tran, RA Long High School Taylor Wilkinson, Mark Morris High School Chloe Yordy, RA Long High School and Lower Columbia College Running Start Hanna Bern, Kelso High School Jaylene Fuchs-Dickerson, RA Long High School Zoie Rodman, Kelso High School and WSU Vancouver Brianna Johnson, Mark Morris High School Erin Tack, Kelso High School Kenzington Cromwell, Kelso High School Lizbeth Robels, RA Long High School Sydney Parsons, Kelso High School Chamber members had an opportunity to vote among 28 nominees for business awards. Over 600 votes were cast. Chamber CEO Bill Marcum presented these awards: Small Business of the Year, Mill City Grill 2 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Karen Joiner, Lower Columbia College Dian Cooper, Family Health Center Bill announced Cowlitz Business Education Connection and introduced www.cowlitzcareerlink.com. Currently under development, it is designed for local businesses to show students, educators and potential employees information about their business. Stay tuned for updates and a launch later this year!

To top off the event, Bill challenged guests to raise $2,000 for a scholarship to be awarded in 2023. As guests exited the banquet room to have their professional photos taken by C’s Photography, they paused to slip cash into the envelopes on the tables. There was $2,558 in the envelopes!

We are grateful to the sponsors who made the Pillars of Strength & Crystal Apple Awards banquet possible: Alcoa Northwest Alloys, BiCoastal Media, C’s Photography, Cowlitz PUD, The Daily News, Evergreen Home Loans Longview West, Fibre Federal Credit Union, Foster Farms, Jansen Floral Effects, Jennifer Penfold Insurance Agency, KLOG-KUKN-The Blitz, Kelso Longview Elks Lodge No. 1482, The Main Event Party Store, Northwest Enforcement, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center, Sho’me Real Estate.

Sherie Hockett, Lower Columbia College, Higher Education Classified/Support Person of the Year

The Chamber and Lower Columbia Professionals handed out 22 scholarships totalling $26,000

Crystal Apple & Pillar of Strength Awards Big Night!

Mill City Grill Small Business of the Year

David Futcher Business Individual of the Year

Tamra Gilchrist, Lower Columbia College, presented Karen Joiner, Lower Columbia College, a Lifetime Achievement Award

The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce's Crystal Apple and Pillar of Strength Awards night was all about celebrating community success, in business and education.

More than 300 people attended our event at the Cowlitz County Event Center. Thank you to all who participated and played a role in the evening.

Congratulations to all the winners! Your stories are inspirational. More photos from the evening can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Michaela Jackson, Lower Columbia College, presents Ann Williamson, Lower Columbia College, a Lifetime Achievement Award

Sarah Hancock with Emergency Support Shelter, the Large Nonprofit of the Year Award winner, and Jason Meunier of Community Home Health & Hospice

Rachel Leinweber presents Zoe Dieter, Huntington Middle School, a Lifetime Achievement Award

Dian Cooper, Family Health Center, received a Lifetime Achievement Award

Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 3

2022 Small Business

BOOT CAMP Series starts Friday, May 6

Friday Mornings ★ 7:30 am - 9 am American Workforce Group Event Center 1145 14th Ave., Longview

LEADERSHIp series 2.0

May 6 Defining Leadership Chris Bailey President, LCC

May 13 Leadership Styles David Futcher Futcher CPAs

May 20 How Leaders Set the Tone for their Organization, Frank McShane Square Peg Consulting

May 27 TBA Rose Gundersen VP of Operations & Retail Services Washington Retail Association

June 3 Women: The Road to Leadership Mary Beth Tack Superintendent Kelso School District

June 10 Maximum Productivity Chris Bailey President, LCC

$

No pricing change since 2013!

100 Members

★ $160 Non-Members

Includes up to 4 members of your organization. $35 per class - individual class Sponsored by:

360-423-8400

www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce Bill Marcum CEO

Lisa Straughan, President Express Employment Professionals Marlene Johanson, President Elect Heritage Bank Marc Silva, Vice President Columbia Bank

Boot Camp helps employees step into leadership roles

F

or the first time in three years, we can host our Small Business Boot Camp series. Our first series, Boardsmanship, focused on nonprofit boards, which are generally made up of small business owners, managers or staff. Those boards

Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank

have term limits, and in most cases, the organization has one to three new board

Chris Roewe, Past President Woodford Commercial Real Estate

understanding their role within the board, the organization and their relationship with

Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching David Cuddihy The Daily News Duane Dalgleish Cowlitz PUD Jason Gentemann Foster Farms Rich Gushman Gibbs & Olson Keenan Harvey City Council, Kelso Nick Lemiere Edward Jones

members per year. The Boardsmanship series is designed to assist those people in paid staff.

We completed our March-April, six-class Boardmanship series April 8 with 12 to 15 people in attendance at each of the sessions. A big thank you goes out to Julie Nelson at American Workforce Group for allowing us to use their newly designed conference room.

Round 2, Leadership 2.0 Boot Camp, started May 6 and continues each week through June 10. Several have asked why the 2.0? The answer is we had a different series of leadership classes, the 1.0 version – three years ago.

Leadership is the process where an individual motivates others and mobilizes resources to achieve a goal. Leadership is both a set of behaviors that can be learned and a set of traits that can be developed. Leadership is a relationship between followers and those who inspire and provide direction for them.

Grooming leaders for success is critical for today’s organizations. By maintaining a group of qualified, high-potential candidates for leadership positions companies can avoid the hazards of succession and ensure the company is prepared for the future.

During the 41 years I have been in business, I have seen many people promoted into

Cherelle Montanye St. John/PeaceHealth

positions where they could not be successful. People who were excellent at the position

John Paul KUKN-KLOG-101.5 The WAVE

they got into the leadership position, they found it was not what they liked doing. It is

Bruce Pollock Bicoastal Media Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council

they were currently working, but not equipped for leadership or management. Once even more important today to cultivate your own leaders. Find employees who have the leadership traits, skills and culture you as the owner, CEO or manager, are looking for and groom those people to move into leadership positions.

These classes are designed to be a part of that grooming process. Check out the classes on page 4. There is still an opportunity to sign up for individual classes or, better yet,

Michael Vorse Minuteman Press

register the organization’s stars who you see being the leaders of tomorrow.

John Jabusch Cowlitz County Commissioner

people, your current leadership, your current supervisors and your most recent hire

Remember the old saying – if you’re not planning, you’re planning to fail? Your will all play a part in the planning and success you have down the road – if you plan and prepare those people for success.

Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 5

Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments Bill Fashing

Executive Director

It's survey season: Help us gauge the pulse of the community

Y

our perspective matters! The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) is seeking community input on several issues impacting our community.

can be found here or at CWCOG.org.

Housing Housing Needs Assessment Survey: English survey (click here); Spanish survey (click here)

Business Pulse Survey: Click here to access the survey. The CWCOG is asking for help from local businesses to understand the effect of the pandemic on our community. This effort is a continuation of the survey from early 2021. Please help us out by completing a brief survey, even if your business has experienced temporarily or permanent closure. Your perspective matters! This survey will be conducted monthly over the next few months to capture the changing impacts on the economy and to help the CWCOG determine future programming and business issues facing the community.

We encourage you to participate monthly.

Accessible Transportation Accessible Transportation User Survey: English survey (click here); Spanish survey (click here) Make a difference by providing input on your current and future accessible transportation needs in Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties. Your responses will help set priorities for funding opportunities to improve transportation services for people with disabilities, low income, youth, elderly, veterans, and rural residents who do not have the means to get to important destinations on their own. Please share with friends, family, and customers to assist in gathering information. This work will support the CWCOG in the development of the Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan. A copy of the most recent plan

6 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

The CWCOG is asking residents to complete this short survey to assess the housing needs and issues of availability and affordability in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.

The Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) Survey includes questions related to your current living situations, are you renting/owning, size, and satisfaction, among others. The results will be used region-wide to support new housing opportunities focused on the needs, challenges and hopes of local residents.

The deadline for the Housing Needs Analysis Survey is May 16.

Check out the new HNA Story Map

Freight Input of freight issues is critical to the long-term planning efforts of the CWCOG. Freight plays a key role in the region by employing high wage/ high demand residents to meet our everyday needs. We are currently conducting freight stakeholder interviews in our efforts to better understand the industry as we begin the development of the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. A copy of the existing regional plan can be found at this link at CWCOG.org. If you are connected with the freight sector we would like to hear from you: Click here to schedule your call. We value your experience and we want to hear from your business.

I hope you take the time to complete one or more of the surveys and feel free to share the information with others that might like to provide their perspective on the issues that impact our community. Upon request, the surveys are available on paper or in other languages. Questions may be directed to CWCOG by regular mail at P.O. Box 128, Kelso, WA 98626; via email to cwcog@cwcog.org; or by FAX at 360-214-3425.

Shop Local

LONGVIEW

CENTRALIA

1413 Commerce

1530 S. Gold St.

360-575-9804

360-807-1211

D

Investing in local workforce development pays dividends

espite working two part-time jobs, Cynthia, a single parent could not make enough to support her family.

Connecting with a case manager at WorkSource allowed her to learn about careers in healthcare and to pursue training to become a dental assistant.

Being available for training, however, made it impossible to maintain both jobs and Cynthia fell behind on her rent payments.

Transportation was also challenging and finding money for scrubs and other supplies for her training was daunting. With WorkSource’s help to pay for training, and support services to aid with rent, transportation and other needs, Cynthia was able to focus on her education. In a few short months she earned her Dental Assisting Certificate and was hired to a full-time position that will enable her to be self-sufficient and care for her family.

The help Cynthia received was made possible by investments in the local workforce development system – your tax dollars at work empowering a network of community-based organizations,

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

nonprofits and other organizations that serve on the front lines of economic recovery. This state-wide collaboration of local workforce development boards serves thousands of Washingtonians every year and helps businesses fill vacant jobs and improve the skills of their existing workers. Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) is the local workforce development board for Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Clark counties.

Right now, tens of thousands of people are still on the sidelines of the labor market for various reasons, among them lacking affordable childcare, and fearing COVID exposure for themselves or their families. Many need assistance to enter or rejoin the labor force. These individuals – including many Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and other people of color, women, immigrants, refugees, youth and rural residents – are in real danger of being left behind and excluded even further from the labor force and without support to meet even their most basic needs.

At the same time, businesses are struggling to fill nearly 200,000 vacant jobs across the state, including thousands in critical industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and hospitality services.

This is impeding our state’s economic recovery and hampering the ability of businesses of all sizes to fully recover and grow.

Workforce Southwest Washington and our peers in the statewide Washington Workforce Association recommended to lawmakers in Olympia a $50 million state Workforce Innovation Fund to empower local workforce solutions with flexible funding.

Our recommendation would have taken advantage of the infrastructure that already exists – established funding, network of providers, community partners, WorkSource job centers, and industry relationships – and build on it to produce better results for workers and businesses, and to maximize impact.

The dollars would invest in three broad, proven workforce strategies to transition Washingtonians into good jobs:

You’re retired.

Your money isn’t.

1.

Employer-Driven Earn-and-Learn Opportunities: With so many people changing jobs and moving into new industries and young adults wanting to move up from entry-level jobs or entering the workforce for the first time, options that allow people to earn a wage and support themselves and their families while learning on the job are imperative.

Innovation funds would allow WSW to enhance our Incumbent Worker Training investments with high growth and in-demand sector employers, as well as develop more occupation specific on ramps for individuals who are looking to change careers or find a quality job.

2.

Increase Local Service Capacity: Additional funds would allow WSW to grow its virtual services enabling access

To learn about the different options for your retirement accounts, call my office today.

Nick Lemiere, CFP® Financial Advisor 1332 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 360-425-0037

IRT-4395G-A © 2022 EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

8 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

For more WSW, see page 9

WSW from page 8

by more residents. We could also expand service delivery through partnerships with local colleges, universities and community-based organizations to serve people where they are, increase outreach to historically-underserved communities and provide culturally competent and inclusive services for young adults in our community who need more support finding their next steps.

3.

Invest in Wrap-Around Supports: To ensure an equitable economic recovery, supports, including childcare, housing, transportation and health care, are needed to truly support people to participate in programs that will help them reengage in the workforce.

Today, Washington state relies upon the federal government for funds to operate our state’s workforce development system. This funding was reduced 20 percent last year and is anticipated to be reduced again this year for most areas – at a time when residents need these services most.

There have been no designated workforce investments through the Federal CARES Act or the American Rescue Plan. Existing federal funds are not flexible enough to meet the needs and are ill-equipped to meet the demands caused by the pandemic.

Our state cannot afford to leave working mothers like Cynthia

“If something comes up, I just call my banker and we can figure it out.”

- Tracy Fisher, Business Diversity Institute

In addition to our vast experience and customized solutions, we put a lot of heart into helping your one-of-akind business succeed.

HeritageBankNW.com/allofus HeritageBankNW.com | 800.455.6126 |

Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC

behind. By investing in these local solutions, legislators would be making a down payment on equitable economic recovery for better and stronger communities and businesses.

Due to timing and the short session the requested funds were not made available this year. However, WSW and our partners across the state will continue to connect with our elected officials to share with them stories, like Cynthia’s, and keep the needs of our local residents and businesses at the forefront so that every individual has access to high-quality employment and every business has access to a skilled workforce.

For businesses seeking to provide training and advancement opportunities for their existing workers, WSW currently has applications open for employee training grants. Learn more about the program and how to apply.

Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) is the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) designated by federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation to oversee the public workforce system in Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Clark counties. WSW is a nonprofit organization and funds services that help individuals gain skills to obtain good-paying jobs or advance in their careers and help companies recruit, train and retain workers. Since 2003, WSW has invested more than $120 million in southwest Washington businesses and workforce.

We have what you need for a memorable event!

Birthday themes for kids and adults of all ages.

Supplies for any occasion: bounce houses, tables, chairs and a popcorn machine.

Singing telegrams, balloon arches and other ideas.

Let us help you create an event to remember!

3202 Ocean Beach Hwy., Suite 154 Longview, WA 98632

(360) 998-4080

themaineventpartystore.godaddysites.com Sunday and Monday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 9

Business Toolbox Jerry D. Petrick

Certified Business Adviser

Don't be selfish – RAISE YOUR PRICES!

H

mm…how am I being selfish by not raising my prices?

Well, if your business isn’t profitable because you don’t raise your prices despite significant cost increases then EVERYONE LOSES! You will be denying your clients/customers the ability to patronize your fine business; your employees will lose their livelihoods; and you will lose your business.

Ironically, the most common reason my clients offer for not raising prices is the fear their clients will leave them. I have never seen a business lose ALL their business due to a price increase.

There are some simple calculations you can make to estimate the impacts of a price increase – for example: Let’s say you have 1,000 customers Average income per customer is $500/year = $500,000 sales Average cost of service/goods sold is $400/customer/year Average net profit = $100/customer/year = $100,000 profit What if…

You increase your prices 10% ($550) You lose 10 percent of your customers (and don’t add any new customers) = (900 customers) Your cost of service/goods sold remains the same (you have already absorbed significant cost increases) Result: Sales = 900 x $550 =$495,000 Costs = $360,000 Profit = $135,000 The net results: •

Increase in profits

•

Decrease in number of customers to serve – allowing you to provide higher quality services

•

Work less hard to make more profit!

MAKES SENSE TO ME!

Now that you have a sense of how the economics of price increases can work, let’s look at some advice/suggestions for how to implement your price changes.

DO’S AND DON’TS WHEN RAISING PRICES WITHOUT LOSING CUSTOMERS Do study what your competitors are doing How have their prices changed in the past few years? If everyone in your industry has been raising prices, customers will be more 10 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

amenable to the change. If you’re the only one doing it, however, you’ll need to offer something unique that your competitors don’t.

The past two years of the pandemic have brought on increase prices across the board, so this provides “cover” for you to raise your pricing.

Don’t be deceitful Retail or restaurant businesses can often raise prices without customers noticing. However, if you own a service business or B2B company, don’t try to sneak a price increase into the bill after the fact. Let customers know in advance when you plan to raise your prices. This can be a good tactic for retaining customers.

Give them the opportunity to stay at the old price for six months or a year if they renew their contract before the price goes up. This practice can become an administrative nightmare and only delay the departure of a client who only used the delay to shop for a new vendor. Be mindful when entertaining this approach.

Do explain your reasons It’s not necessary to go into excruciating detail about your profit margins. Simply share the basics as to why you are raising your prices, with a focus on the benefits to the customer. For example, “In order to continue to provide you high quality service by offering 24/7 live customer support, we will be raising our monthly subscription rates by 20 percent beginning in September.”

Reminding your clients of the VALUE you provide will tend to keep the focus on the “worth” you provide versus just the “cost”.

Don’t apologize There is no need to apologize for your actions – your customers are living in the same economy you are and at some point, the price pressures are self-evident. If you come across as tentative or nervous about your price increase, customers may try to negotiate. Instead, focus on the benefits to customers that accompany the price increase, such as expanded product offerings or additional services.

Do expect to lose some customers – but expect to gain some, too Customers who are solely price-focused may stop doing business with you, but are those really the customers you want? Often, small business owners discover that raising prices attracts new, more profitable customers who are willing to pay a higher price for better quality. Value is a perception – direct the clients’ focus on “worth” instead of “cost” – ala the Apple sales model/methods.

WAYS TO STRUCTURE YOUR PRICE INCREASE IN WAYS THAT CUSTOMERS WILL ACCEPT •

Increase prices by adding fees. Instead of raising prices for your actual product or service, consider adding fees to cover

For more Petrick see page 11

COMMERCIAL LOANS WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH

Petrick from page 10

rising costs. This works best if one specific cost, such as raw materials or transportation, is rising. Just be aware that if those costs go down again, customers will expect the fees to go away (think fuel surcharges).

•

Introduce the higher prices in stages. If you’re really worried about losing customers, try raising prices for a small group of clients first to see how they react. If most of them accept it, you can expand the increase to your entire customer base.

•

Keep existing customers at the current price level but charge higher prices for new customers. Be sure to make existing customers feel special by telling them they’re getting preferential treatment: “Effective Jan. 1, we will be raising our prices. However, because you are a valued longtime customer, your price will remain the same for the next 12 months.” I suggest modeling whatever pricing strategy you decide to implement to make sure you are not creating unintended cash flow or other financial issues for your business. Forecast different scenarios to improve your confidence in your decisions.

•

Add value. Create product or service bundles by adding features that don’t hurt your profit margins but make a big impression on the customer. For example, a business that sells consumer electronics could add an extended warranty at no extra charge or offer longer customer support hours.

•

Raise prices on some products or services and not others. Try raising prices only on your most popular products and services. Since they account for most of your sales, this will have a dramatic effect on your revenues.

•

Create a lesser option for customers who don’t want to pay higher prices. Suppose your lawn-care customers currently get weekly mowing, edging and weeding service for $75 and you want to raise the price to $100. Create a lower-level service package (mowing, edging, and weeding every other week, or weekly mowing and edging with no weeding) for $75.

“

Our Commercial Loans aren’t automated or handled online.

It’s all person to person. We simplify an otherwise complicated process by navigating our members every step of the way. We offer commercial real estate loans, construction loans, vehicle and equipment loans, and business lines of credit, all designed with your needs in mind.

“

Melissa McDaniel, Commercial Loan Officer

Bring your business to Fibre Federal for Business Plus Checking, Business Online Banking, Remote Deposit, low-cost loans, and incredible member service.

800.205.7872 fibrecu.com Federally insured

by NCUA

FibreCU

FibreFamily

(Source: SCORE.org) Although we are talking about pricing changes due to the extreme inflation/supply chain or other issues it is smart to review your cost/prices/profitability on a regular basis to avoid surprises and actively “plan” your business instead of wondering “what happened?”

This information was gathered from several sources and provided by Jerry Petrick, senior certified business adviser with the Washington Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) serving southwest Washington. We provide confidential business advisory services at no cost to the business. To schedule an appointment email: jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org

Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 11

Cowlitz Economic Development Council Lindsey Cope

Vice President; also Longview Downtowners and Kelso Business and Community Association President

Business classes designed for success

S

mall Business Education

The Cowlitz Ecomonic Development Council (CEDC) has been awarded a Washington State Microenterprise Association grant for our ongoing business education workshops with Lower Columbia College and the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG). Registration is NOW open for our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis and business planning workshops. These are open to anyone for any existing or start-up business.

SWOT Analysis and Business Action Plan: In-person, May 24, from 9-11 a.m. Effective business management requires the constant review of all aspects of business operations. Using the SWOT method to analyze your business will help you develop an effective action plan for improving productivity and increasing revenue. Registration cost is $25. Sign up now at https://bit.ly/ SWOT-LCC. Preregistration is required. Limited space is available.

Scholarships are available for financial hardship. Contact me, Cowlitz Economic Development Council vice president, for more information at cope@cowlitzedc.com or 360-423-9921.

up downtown Longview in memory of our late board member, friend, and community advocate, Lonnie Knowles. More than 75 of his family, friends, and downtown family came together for over two hours to pick up trash, pull weeds, and improve a place that Lonnie loved. An extra thank you to the 7th Avenue Walmart for their donation of snacks, water, and garbage bags, the City of Longview for providing on-site garbage receptacles, and Mill City Grill for the use of their facilities. It takes a village and we and Lonnie knew we have one of the best!

May 19 will be our annual Longview Downtowners’ meeting at 3 p.m. upstairs a Mill City Grill. Nominations for new board members are open now. Contact me if you are interested. Anyone interested in the promotion, preservation, and development of downtown Longview is welcome.

May 28 marks another Shop Local Saturday in downtown Longview. Join us for a fun day of shopping and enjoying our lovely downtown area. You can find specific information and specials on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ downtownlongviewwa under “events”.

Don’t forget to eat local, drink local, shop local, shop downtown Longview.

Lower Columbia Investment Network (LCIN) We held our Lower Columbia Investment Network (LCIN) Night April 21. The Longview American Legion hosted the event that introduced over 20 potential investors to several up-andcoming businesses in need of capital to grow. The LCIN consists of a partnership between the CWCOG, CEDC, and regional stakeholders to introduce existing and potential businesses to local investors. The LCIN creates opportunities for local investors to network, build prosperous local businesses, keep investment money in our community, and help build a more resilient and sustainable regional economy in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. Membership is intended for local investors and local investment entities and is open to any individual or entity.

Future investor nights will take place in the third quarter. These events are invitation only. If you are interested in presenting a project or learning about projects, please contact me at cope@ cowlitzedc.com or 360-560-3286.

Downtown Longview (Longview Downtowners) Our downtown Longview community rallied April 23 to clean 12| Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Kelso Business and Community Association (KBCA) On April 23 the KBCA hosted a Kelso Clean-Up Day. Eighteen volunteers focused efforts around West Kelso gathering more than 24 bags of garbage in two hours. This event was also dedicated to the memory of Lonnie Knowles, who was a lover of Kelso and set to be our inaugural board president for this new association. A special thank you to the 7th Avenue Walmart for their donations and team of volunteers, the City of Kelso for providing on-site waste disposal, and Mayor Karnofski for leading the effort while I was in Longview.

If you are interested in the economic and community development of Kelso, we hope that you will join us on the fourth Thursday of the month as we discuss initiatives to bring new life to our beloved Kelso. This spring we are registering to participate in the Growing Vibrant Communities program within America in Bloom. The development of this program over the next year will allow us to pursue full America in Bloom status like our northern neighbors in Castle Rock. Meeting information can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kelsobca.

LOOKING FOR A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY PLACE TO GROW?

SPENCER CREEK BUSINESS PARK IS WAITING FOR YOU. • ZONED FOR MIXED USE

Large land site perfect for lodging/hospitality, retail, etc.

• CONVENIENTLY LOCATED OFF I-5 Just 30 minutes from PDX & the amenities of Portland

• 45 ACRES OF PRIME, SHOVEL-READY LAND Environmental permits & road improvements in place

• COMPETITIVE UTILITY RATES + INCENTIVES Designed to promote growth & ensure your succes

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR LEASE:

KALAMA RIVER INDUSTRIAL PARK • LOCATED OFF I-5 • FLEXIBLE 50K SQ. FT. WAREHOUSE + 1,750 SQ. FT. OFFICE SUITE

Lower Columbia College Chris Bailey President

How LCC is working to keep college costs low for its students

T

here are enormous benefits from getting a college degree or credential. A post-secondary degree is a pathway to a career, not just a job. Going to college is a way for individuals to get the skills necessary to obtain employment that provides significantly better pay, better benefits and better job security. Those with a college degree or credential are much less likely to lose employment during a downturn. Yet, recently, many critics have complained about the cost of higher education, and the potential for heavy debt for college students. Lower Columbia College (LCC) has responded to the call to keep college costs low, while allowing its students the promise of a better life. Moreover, there are currently a myriad of funding opportunities and financial resources available for current and future LCC students to keep that cost low. Below, I list some of the ways students can substantially limit the cost of an education through Lower Columbia College.

Dual Credit Opportunities For high school juniors and seniors, Lower Columbia College offers Running Start and College in the High School programs.

These programs allow students to gain college credit, tuition free, while also earning their high school credits.

Federal Student Aid Federal student aid is available from the U.S. Department of Education. This program provides money to pay college education expenses, not just tuition, at a college or other qualified institution. The Federal Student Aid program provides more than $150 billion in federal aid each year to those who qualify. In addition to student loan opportunities, this federal aid provides substantial grant and scholarships and work-study programs to help a student pay for college without added debt.

The Washington College Grant In addition to federal aid, the state of Washington has its own college aid program. Washington College Grant is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. Recent high school graduates and working-age adults from many low and middle-income families can qualify to receive money to attend LCC. There are no age limits and students can be either full-time or part-time. Award amounts vary based on income and family size. Many students would qualify for a full tuition award. But even someone from a family of four making up to $102,000 per year can get some money to help pay for college.

Relatively Lower Tuition For those who aren’t eligible for significantly lower college expenses 14 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

through existing federal and state aid programs, Lower Columbia College is still “the smart choice” based on its much lower tuition.

Lower Columbia College tuition is about half the cost of most public universities in the state of Washington and even a better bargain when compared to private colleges and universities. Currently, tuition and fees are about $4,200 per year. LCC’s new four-year programs, Bachelor of Applied Science, Teacher Education and Bachelor of Applied Science, Organizational Leadership and Technical Management, are also offered at a much lower tuition rate than programs at most other colleges and universities.

Lower Columbia College Foundation Scholarships The Lower Columbia College Foundation is providing over $570,000 in available scholarships this year for students at LCC. Applicants need only to fill out a simple, single form to qualify for the multitude of scholarships available.

The Student Success Fund In 2013, the Lower Columbia College Foundation set up a fund to support students in need of emergency money. The student success fund has about $1 million in its corpus, which produces roughly $50,000 per year in grants for students who need funding to get to degree completion.

Alternate Educational Resources Lower Columbia College has also undertaken several efforts to lower the significant costs of textbooks for our students. One mechanism is through alternative educational resource. Instead of requiring expensive textbooks from a publisher, many LCC instructors have created their own textbook/resources at no cost or at a much lower cost to students.

Pandemic-related Funding Finally, LCC has received millions of dollars in federal and state pandemic-relief funding that can directly benefit students in need of financial help. A simple form allows enrolled students to apply.

In closing, Lower Columbia College remains committed to helping community members obtain their goals of an education and a better set of opportunities. LCC strives to make higher education both accessible and affordable for area residents. When comparing cost versus benefit, Lower Columbia College is truly “the smart choice!”

Premier Sponsor

Monday, June 20 2022 12:00 Noon Shotgun

Make your Reservations Early! ~ Early Entry Fee ~ $500 per Team of 4 (Price goes to $600 on June 3) $125 per Individual ($150 after June 3) Includes: Lunch, driving range, $5,000 putting contest, awards ceremony, steak dinner, 18 holes of fellowship, $10,000 hole-in-one opportunity, a great tee prize 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 or call the chamber 360-423-8400

Kelso Public Schools

Longview Public Schools

Mary Beth Tack

Dan Zorn

Superintendent

Celebrating art in education

A

rts education is an essential component of a wellrounded education for each and every Kelso student. The transformative power of the arts in education is visible in our Kelso classrooms and student accomplishments, thanks to our dedicated teachers. Students positively benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and creativity. We are proud to have a robust offering of visual and performing arts classes in Kelso.

Recently, eight Kelso High School students won awards at the 2022 Southwest Washington Regional High School Art Show. A list of winning artwork is listed below.

REGIONAL AWARDS These pieces received the highest average scores from the judges and will represent the southwest region in the annual State Superintendent of Public Instruction Art Show in Olympia. Each regional award winner receives a $5,000 Art Excellence Scholarship from Pacific Northwest College of Art, renewable for five years, toward future enrollment.

• Isabel Lopez, “Tattered Bowl” •

Mei-Lien Tanner, “Flétrie”

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT (ESD) 112 AWARDS These pieces were rated very highly by the judges in the four judging categories (originality, composition, emotion and technique). Each ESD 112 award winner receives a $3,000 Art Excellence Scholarship from Pacific Northwest College of Art, renewable for five years, toward future enrollment.

• Isabel Lopez, “The Four Seasons of Franklin” • Maggie Waddell, “Fern” • Josie Settle, “24” • Remy Frey, “Take Me Back To Wonderland” • Kylana Hegnes, “Misfortune” •

Kylana Hegnes, “Fall’s Vixen”

HONORABLE MENTION These pieces were also rated very highly by the judges. Each regional award winner receives a $1,000 Art Excellence Scholarship from Pacific Northwest College of Art, renewable for five years, toward future enrollment.

• Remy Frey, “Bioactive” • Kelsie Collins, “Dart Frog” •

Mia Nestaval, “The Best View”

CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF ART PLUS DESIGN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 toward future enrollment.

•

Remy Frey, “Take Me Back To Wonderland”

You can watch the virtual award show, which includes this year’s award-winning pieces, in addition to hearing from participating artists on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuvl8UlApuE. 16 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Superintendent

Levy support much appreciated

I

wanted to start this Chamber column off with a heartfelt THANK YOU to all who supported our replacement capital projects and technology levy. The levy funding is a critical source of revenue used to repair and maintain our 15 schools, enhance safety, replace student computers and upgrade classroom technology, as well as, make long overdue upgrades to our athletic facilities.

The passage of the levy insures that our students will have the technology they need to be successful in today’s world, while attending school in safe and healthy buildings. It will also allow the district to make long overdue renovations to Memorial Stadium to allow year-round use of the facility by girls and boys teams. While we strive and focus on academics in Longview, athletics play an important role in our students’ lives and in their development. The investment the community has made in its children will pay off in the future as we provide our kids the best education possible.

With the levy passage now behind us, we are continuing the hard work on getting our students back on track by tackling the learning loss that occurred during the pandemic. We are laser focused on getting our kids back where they left off, experiencing significant student achievement gains in English and mathematics with graduation rates well above the state average.

As part of this effort, district administrators have been working one-on-one with each of our principals to gauge progress on their school improvement plans and implement strategic adjustments as needed. This effort will be ongoing and results will be shared with our Strategic Plan Review Committee this coming fall, where community members on the committee will review growth data for this school year and learn more about the goals set by schools for the 2022-23 school year. A great deal of work, driven by data, goes into this effort. If anyone is interested in learning more about our school improvement process, or if you would like to be on the committee, please let me know. The time commitment includes an orientation to review school improvement plans and a one-day tour of five schools. Committee members serve a three-year term, so they are able to see all 15 Longview schools during their term.

As this year tracks forward, I feel as though we are getting back to normal more and more every day. We are glad to be reinvigorating our focus on improving student learning in each of our schools’ classrooms and looking forward to our spring activities, state competitions, prom, senior award ceremonies, graduating the class of 2022 and honoring our employees and retirees at the end of the school year.

Thank you for your continued support. Your investment in our kids is greatly appreciated!

AWG

is my main source for finding qualified, skilled people so I can continue to grow my business!

Thank you Julie and your fantastic staff!

Da n

Dan of Mountain View Contracting

Our Mission

1145 14th Avenue ~ Longview

360-200-4900

Positively impacting people and our community by placing motivated and qualified individuals at great places to work. https://www.americanworkforcegroup.net

City of Longview

City of Kelso

MaryAlice Wallis

Mike Karnofski

Mayor

Leadership provides learning perspective

I

imagine that on April 11, you too, had feelings of surprise when you started your day. Who knew we would get nearly a half foot of snow across the region? One available source indicated it had been 87 years since the last measurable snow in the area in the month of April! Snowmeggedon does create all sorts of worries. Certainly, a major worry is downed trees and branches, power outages, and flooding. This past winter has surely given us plenty of practice, and just like most snowstorms in the Pacific Northwest, no sooner does a storm start then poof, it’s gone.

I’m continually amazed at the extreme level of behind-the-scenes worker bees in action in our community, for the greater good, at any given time. Huge thanks to our incredible heroes, the Cowlitz Public Utilities District crews, that were on the snow scene in an instant, working their magic during the wee hours of the morning and throughout the days following the recent snowstorm.

This past month has been a flurry of city adventures for me, from city business, to observing service, to learning new ways to do business, and partaking of, and giving firsthand.

Here are a few examples: •

•

•

In early April I traveled to Boston with Councilmember Ruth Kendall, Community Development Director Ann Rivers and Public Works Director Ken Hash to tour the Divert, Inc. facility. Divert, Inc. is a company the City of Longview has a purchase and sale agreement with for four industrial Mint Farm lots. The tour was enlightening and informative. The genius of this food waste company is the data and technology the company provides to the grocery industry to help with food management, reduction of food waste to landfills, and the ability to recover the natural gas from the food waste. The City of Longview couldn’t be prouder to welcome Divert, Inc. to our city.

I spent an evening celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Lower Columbia chapter of 100 Women Who Care with a roomful of enthusiastically compassionate women, who have collectively given more than $250,000 to local nonprofit recipients over the past five years. Each quarter a recipient organization is chosen to receive $10,000. This quarter’s recipient was FISH of Cowlitz County, an organization which partners with 18 local churches to provide goods and services to those in need in our community.

I enjoyed a great visit with Majors Phil and Lawry Smith of the Salvation Army at their quarterly senior luncheon. From providing hot meals, clothing, housing, and church services, the Salvation Army of Longview goes above and beyond to

For more Longview see page 19

18 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Mayor

City Council planing workshops

O

ver the past month and a half, the City Council has had three, four-hour workshops. The first part of the first workshop covered the required training for the Open Public Meetings Act and Public Disclosure Act. The second half was a discussion of executive session and privilege, appearance of fairness doctrine, classifications of Washington cities, forms of municipal government in Washington, roles and responsibilities of council and city manager, and identifying City challenges and priorities from the Council and administration perspectives.

The second workshop focused on continued discussion of City challenges and priorities and identification of information gaps to deal with the challenges and priorities.

The third workshop was to begin development of a strategic plan and action items for the rest of the year. There were six major areas: potable water system, streets and roads, downtown improvement, parks/recreation amenities and facilities, city facilities and staffing.

We were able to have some discussions on each area. The potable water system is the most significant issue for the City. The existing Rainy Water System has reached the limit of its useful life. The manufacturer will be sending an inspection team in the coming weeks to determine the options available for the system. This will be the topic of a future column.

The streets and roads discussion focused on maintenance options and capital needs. The engineering department is preparing a presentation for the Council to review these options.

Downtown improvement was one of the longer discussions and items discussed included: branding, signage, updating zoning codes, facade improvements, art and historic districts and area beautification. The main discussion topics for parks were the completion of Phase 3 of the Tam O’Shanter project and a recycle water system for the spray park.

The city facilities focus will be to develop a repair and maintenance schedule. There were two items for further discussion under the topic of staffing: recruitment and retention, and potential staff additions. All the areas and items will be the topics for discussion in future workshops, with the next workshop scheduled for May 17 prior to the regularly scheduled Council meeting.

I also want to thank the people who participated in the April 23 Clean-up Day in West Kelso. More than 20 bags of garbage were picked up. A special thanks to Walmart for providing water, snacks and bags, and to the Lower Columbia Contractors Associations for providing T-shirts, hats and gloves.

Longview from page 18

fill this needs gap in our community.

•

Finally, but not least, I toured Vancouver’s Stay Safe Community, safe parking and pallet homes community, with community members Brian Magnuson and Randy Hall, City Manager Kurt Sacha, city staff Kris Swanson and Ann Rivers, Longview Councilmembers Ruth Kendall and Hillary Strobel, and Kelso Councilmember Keenan Harvey, to view possible shelter opportunities for those in need.

These programs in Vancouver were designed to help those in need, to progress toward permanent housing. The City of Vancouver is seeing success.

Consistent Courteous Complete Title and Escrow Services

I am grateful for the service providers in our community. In 2019, the Accessible Communities Advisory Committee of Cowlitz County identified over 125 organizations within our community that provide accommodations to individuals with diverse disabilities. It is truly astounding the level of caring, giving and service this community continues to provide to those in need.

There are opportunities a-plenty to serve in the Longview community. Are there ways you are willing to help? Let’s work together to make Longview an even better place to work, live and reside.

1425 Maple Street • Longview, WA 98632

360.425.2950

www.cascade-title.com

Keep up with the latest on your heart.

peacehealth.org/hearthealth

Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 19

Cowlitz County Commissioners Arne Mortensen

County Commissioner, District 1

Department organization under way

R

eorganization: At the regular Commissioners’ workshop April 20, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved some significant changes in the organization of departments that are under the BoCC. These changes will be implemented as soon as possible, but it may take some weeks to finish the changes.

The position of chief of staff will be eliminated in the first week of June 2022. This will require rescinding the resolutions which created the position. The Commissioners will strengthen their roles as liaisons to various departments and will take on a direct management role with the groups that provide internal services.

These changes are shown on the graph below but be forgiving if a few changes are made as we shake out the effects.

The organizational chart shows the reporting (management) structures; the issue of physical location is still to be worked out and will require considerably more planning.

Take note we are focusing on providing better service in the key area of building and planning; the goal is to provide the public with better service at one location for all permits. This effort starts with putting building and planning under public works, and later, as we can, collocate the permitting functions under one roof; the latter will take a considerable amount of time and planning, and will be subject to staging.

For our internal workings, facilities management and purchasing For more BoCC see page 21

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Risk Management

Human Resources

Office of Financial Management

Senior Clerk of the Board

Public Works & Permitting

Liaison:

Liaison:

Weber Health & Human Services (HHS)

Jabusch

Roads & Engineering

Jail (DOC)

Stormwater

Probation Services (DOC)

Water & Sewer

Offender Services (DOC)

Noxious Weeds

Solid Waste

IT

WSU Extension

Building and Planning

Motor Pool ER&R Geographic Information Services (GIS) Facilities Management

Purchasing

20 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Liaison:

Mortensen

Environmental Health

Museum

Public Defense

Event Center

BoCC from page 20

also will be moved under public works.

Switching to a new topic: I want to take this opportunity to give a high-altitude view of how a government monster arises from a good idea. In the 1950s, or thereabouts, some corporations polluted savagely the environment, and that finally led to the establishment of the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) in February 1970. Since then that department has argued for more power to control activities that affect the environment, and, because just being alive we impact the environment, the DOE has taken license to invade nearly every aspect of human activity, essentially putting a stranglehold on minor and major development projects. The resultant politicization of decisions has created an interminable parade of lawsuits and lawyers that have kept reasonable businesses out of Cowlitz County. Evidently, it is not about the science, despite claims to the contrary.

Now, we see that Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is on the same path as ecology. Under the argument of, “it is for your health and safety,” and using the COVID situation for cover, we see many changes being mandated in our board of health. And we see much money being poured into programs to initiate or increase supervision on many operations such as on-site septic systems, in school building air quality, safety in retirement homes, etc. Just recently the BoCC approved adding yet another two employees (with a third in consideration) to

monitor those issues mentioned above. It should be clear to anyone that this is just the march toward further dictates; there will be “findings,” because that is their livelihood, and those findings will lead to rulings that will cost the taxpayers a fortune for unnecessary minimal gains. By the way, in addition to the above employees, the BoCC approved a similar request for another two employees. How did we manage without these new employees? Better than we will with them, I suspect.

The above changes, as well as in the mandated increase in the composition of the local board of health, have no statement of what problem is being solved and no reference to supporting data.

This is how monsters grow.

A final note: Recent discussions over the governor’s declaration of emergency have focused on how long a governor declared emergency should be permitted to last. The real question is why any government official is allowed to declare an emergency and, if yes, should that declaration supersede constitutional protections.

Many of us (should) trust that the people will respond to real emergencies without requiring the punitive controlling actions that they have endured now for two years.

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.

Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 21

Calendar MAY

4 5 6 10 11 12 13 18 19 20 24 25 26 27 30 31

JUNE Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Awards, 5pm, Cowlitz County Event Center Chamber Ambassadors, 7:30am, Columbia Bank Boot Camp Leadership 2.0 Series, 7:30am, American Workforce Group Business After Hours, Kelso Longview Elks, 5:30pm Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Lower Columbia Professionals, 4pm, location TBD Boot Camp Leadership 2.0 Series, 7:30am, American Workforce Group Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Ribbon Cutting, Keys Plus Locksmiths, 11am Boot Camp Leadership 2.0 Series, 7:30am, American Workforce Group Chamber Executive Board, Noon, Mill City Grill Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Ribbon Cutting, The Gifted Kitchen, 11am

Boot Camp Leadership 2.0 Series, 7:30am, American Workforce Group

MEMORIAL DAY – Chamber and Visitor Center closed Chamber Board, Noon, Mill City Grill

22 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

1 2 3 7 8 10 14 15 20 21 22 24 28 29

Education Foundation, 8:30am, Zoom Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Chamber Ambassadors, 7:30am, Columbia Bank Boot Camp Leadership 2.0 Series, 7:30am, American Workforce Group Ribbon Cutting, Shinju Dojo, 11am Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Boot Camp Leadership 2.0 Series, 7:30am, American Workforce Group Chamber Executive Board, Noon, Mill City Grill Business After Hours, Canterbury Park, 5:30pm Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Chamber Annual Golf Classic, Three Rivers Golf Course Chamber Executive Board, Noon, Mill City Grilll Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM Quarterly Membership Luncheon, 11:45am, Kelso Longview Elks Chamber Board, Noon, Mill City Grill Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM

New Members Add your business to our growing membership.

Call 360-423-8400 Today!

Membership packages to fit your needs

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 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

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

Membership Packages Basic • $275 or $26 per month Bronze • $500 or $46.66 per month Silver • $1,000 or $86.33 per month Gold • $2,500 or $211.33 per month Platinum • $5,000 or $416.66 per month Diamond Club • $10,000 or $834 per month Nonprofit • $180 or $18 per month

Look Who Joined in April Cowlitz Public Shooting Range Steve Nelson 1000 Toutle Park Road Castle Rock, WA 98611 360-846-3553 slnelson@yahoo.com

Fraternal Order of Eagles Longview Aerie No. 2116 Scott Reetz 1526 12th Avenue Longview, WA 98632 360-355-7045 sreetz@me.com

Shinju Dojo

Heather Gawlick 2207 Cascade Way Longview, WA 98632 360-998-0749 sensei@shinjudojo.com

Edward Jones – Roy Gawlick Roy Gawlick 755 Vandercook Way, Suite 203 Longview, WA 98632 360-414-7207 roy.gawlick@edwardjones.com

Jennifer Penfold Insurance Agency

Jennifer Penfold 1655 Hudson Street, No. 1 Longview, WA 98632 360-414-8042 jennifer.penfold@countryfinancial.com

The Gifted Kitchen

Vanessa Westmoreland 711 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 360-261-7697 vanessa@thegiftedkitchen.com

Alcoa

Kristin Gaines 4029 Industrial Way Longview, WA 98632 360-425-2800 kristin.gaines1@alcoa.com

InRoads Federal Credit Union Aimee Thompson 1720 St. Helens Street St. Helens, OR 97051 503-366-6369 aimee.thompson@inroadscu.org

Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 23

News & Events

News and events come from our website, press releases, and public information shared with us.

To see more visit kelsolongviewchamber.org

Governor’s office promotes friend of retail to policy/outreach position From Inside Washington Retail, Washington Retail Association

Gov. Jay Inslee recently promoted Nick Streuli to the position of executive director, policy and outreach.

Washington Retail worked closely with Streuli in his previous role as executive director of external affairs during the pandemic on efforts to protect retail employees and customers.

Washington Retail worked tirelessly to help create guidelines to reopen retail establishments safely as the pandemic subsided and institute safety protocols.

Before moving to the governor’s office, Washington Retail staff worked with Streuli as the legislative and executive operations director at the Employment Security Department, the agency that manages the state’s unemployment insurance program.

Streuli has always proven to be accessible and responsive with the best interests of Washington Retail members and their industry at heart. He is a straight shooter who tells it like it is – sometimes when you don’t want to hear it.

The retailers and citizens of the state of Washington are fortunate to have Streuli as a partner and trusted friend. Washington Retail is excited about his promotion and responsibilities, and confident he will execute them with aplomb.

Black Bears bolster broadcasting staff

With opening day just around the corner, the Cowlitz Black Bears add Brendan Reilly to the broadcasting staff.

student radio station.

In addition to his experience at Miami, Reilly spent last summer in Duluth, Minn., broadcasting for the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League. Over the past four years, he has broadcasted more than 180 games including baseball, football, and men’s and women’s basketball. He is excited to be moving to the Pacific Northwest for the summer and have a chance to be the voice of the Black Bears.

Chamber adds new face to Visitor Center Alex Benz joins the staff at the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.

Benz will be working part-time manning the Visitor Center Thursday through Saturday and assisting with updating the Chamber’s member database.

Water heaters typically last only 10 years.

Replace it before it fails with a highly efficient electric hybrid water heater and gain more than just peace of mind.

Get a new water heater professionally installed at a great PRICE

$2495

Reilly is coming to the Cowlitz Black Bears after his graduation from The University of Miami in May. During his four years at the University of Miami, Reilly was the sports director and lead student play-by-play voice for WVUM 90.5FM, the University of Miami’s

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 24 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

$1395!

Regularly: NOW: 50 gallon model, tax and permit extra

Water heaters are replaced one of two ways: When it decides

When you decide

x

Cold showers

þ No discomfort

x

Costly emergency replacement

þ No scrambling to find a plumber

x

Little choice in replacement model

þ Choose a high efficiency alternative

x

Possible leaks and water damage

þ Over $1000 in exclusive savings

x

Stress!

þ Cut water heating costs in half!

Click or call today Offer expires April 30!

50 gallon unit + installation for only $1395!

Don’t delay, special pricing expires April 30!

greatnorthwestinstallations.com

800-309-5211

News & Events

News and events come from our website, press releases, and public information shared with us.

To see more visit kelsolongviewchamber.org

Labor and Industries seeks input on new wage disclosure requirements

From Inside Washington Retail, Washington Retail Association

In 2022, the Legislature enacted SB 5761 to require employers to include a wage/salary range and a general description of all benefits and other compensation in all job postings. Specifically, SB 5761 requires an employer to disclose in each posting for a job opening the wage scale or salary range and a general description of all the benefits and other compensation to be offered to the hired applicant. The bill also attempts to clarify that a “posting” means, “…any solicitation intended to recruit job applicants for a specific available position, including recruitment done directly by an employer or indirectly through a third party, and includes any postings done electronically, or with a printed hard copy, that includes qualifications for desired applicants.”

The Legislature responded to Washington Retail’s concerns over ambiguity in SB 5761 by delaying implementation of the new law until January 2023. The delay allows the Department of Labor

and Industries (L&I) to develop guidance. L&I has responded by seeking initial input from employers on the issues or questions to help clarify in their guidance. In response, the Washington Retail Association provided the following: Employers need guidance on how to provide disclosure. For example, where is the disclosure to be provided, and in what form L&I should consider developing an FAQ with examples of how employers can meet the disclosure requirements.

SB 5761 requires disclosure of a wage/salary range for positions and a general description of benefits and other compensation.

Employers need guidance on what is meant by wage/salary range and what is an adequate description of benefits.

Finally, the Washington Retail Association urged L&I to convene a stakeholder group of business organizations to discuss input received from employers and assist in drafting final guidance.

Input can be sent to Cristina Evans at Labor and Industries by the close of business on May 13.

Columbia Theatre

CALLING ALL

presents...

13 13 to to 1 1 Year Year Olds!

Olds!

Directed by Susan Donahue Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann

Immerse yourself in the world of acting this summer with the Columbia Theatre's Teen Summer Camp production of URINETOWN THE MUSICAL! Where: Columbia Theatre, 1231 Vandercook Way, Longview

Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis

In Urinetown, a long-standing drought has led to a terrible water shortage. Citizens struggle with the government-imposed ban on private toilets and strict restrictions on where and when folks can go. One malevolent company holds the keys to the only option for relief, but not everyone is willing to pay the price anymore. As the people fight for their rights, a hero will rise and bring forth an uprising to lead them all to freedom. This irreverent story brings perspective and comedic flair to the story of a young man who gives all he has for his right to stand for what he believes.

Who:

students age 13-18

When:

Auditions June 20th 6pm-8pm Call Backs June 21st 6pm-9pm Rehearsals June 27th thru August 11th

Cost:

$300 tuition due after casting Limited scholarships available

Sign up online for more information!

Columbia Theatre Longview Box Office: 360.575.8499/ www.columbiatheatre.com Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 25

Attorney Tom Lee, Rotary Club of Kelso

Chris Ortiz, Longview City Council Jen Wills, Longview Parks and Recreation

Your Chamber Connection Radio Show Wednesdays at 6 pm KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM

Scott Reetz, Longview Eagles

Pat Palmer, Copies Today Speedy Litho

Contact Julie Rinard at 360-423-8400 or jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org to schedule your interview

Stephanie Rollins and Aimee Thompson, InRoads Federal Credit Union

26 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Kalei LaFave and Stacy Dalgarno, 100 Women Who Care

2022

February 15: Peoples Injury Network Northwest March 8: CCRC—The Mediation Center April 12: Cowlitz Indian Tribe May 10: Kelso Longview Elks Lodge #1482 June 14: Canterbury Park July 12: Fidelity National Title August 9: The Jewelers Bench, Inc. September 13: Lower Columbia Longshoremen’s Federal Credit Union October 11: Frontier Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center November 8: Stewart Title December 13 Holiday Mixer: Kelso Longview Elks Lodge #1482 Interested in hosting Business After Hours?

Contact the Chamber at 360-423-8400 or email jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org

A sweet win!

The outdoor fire pit provided a warm welcome

Business After Hours Hosted by Cowlitz Indian Tribe Cowlitz Indian Tribe did a great job hosting Business After Hours the evening after our snowstorm! Cultural food, drumming, smudging, amazing coffee and tea from Five Feathers Coffee shop, gifts for everyone and abundant door prizes!

Rena and Ashanti greet guests

The gift table was overflowing

28 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

BU S I N E S S aafftteerr R S U O HH OU R S

Tuesday, May 10 5:30 to 7:30 pm Kelso Longview Elks Lodge #1482 900 Ash Street, Kelso

★ Networking ★ Prizes ★ Spring Buffet ★ Beer, Wine & Well Drinks $15 in advance ★ $25 at the Door Tickets available at

www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Ribbon Cuttings

Thank you to these Ambassadors who participated in ribbon cutting celebrations during April!

Josh Carter KLOG-KUKN-The Blitz Joy Klein Columbia Bank Eric McCrandall Family Health Center Carrie Medack Diamond Residential Mortgage

Welcome New Member

Fraternal Order of Eagles Longview Aerie No. 2116

Diane Craft Koelsch Communities Crystal Garrison Fibre Federal Credit Union Teedara Wolf Cowlitz PUD Kelly Godden Speciality Rents and Events Kerri Guitteau Cowlitz Black Bears Katie Keaton Realty One Group Pacifica

Celebrating Grand Re-Opening

Fibre Federal Credit Union West Kelso Branch

30 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Nick Lemiere Edward Jones

Ribbon Cuttings

The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce would like to THANK the following loyal members for renewing their partnership with us this month.

Biggs Insurance Services Clay Bartness Comcast Dick Hannah Toyota Heritage Bank – Longview

Welcome New Member Synergy One Lending

McCord Bros. Nissan Dodge Minuteman Press ServPro of Longview/Kelso Twin City Bank

TRUSTED FOR OVER 39 YEARS

Service is the difference!

Glenda Beam Escrow Officer

Amy Hoyer

Leah White

Escrow Officer

Brittney Rexford Megan Howerton Escrow Assistant

Title Typist

Jason Hanson

Darren Plank

Title Officer

Title Officer

Carrie Staggs

Escrow Assistant

Escrow Assistant

Theresa

Pam McCormick

Title Officer

Woodford Commercial Real Estate

Steve Quaife

County Manager

Melinda Gottfryd

Bookkeeper/Recorder Campbell Order Desk/Receptionist

Leah Stanley

Waste Control Recycling, Inc

Policy Typist

Breshae Brunette Title Plant Admin

Most in-depth title plant in the county.

Accurate Reliable Timely Locally Owned 1159 14th Avenue , Longview, WA 98632 360.423.5330 www.cowlitztitle.com Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022 | 31

Lower Columbia Professionals Bourbon, Brews, Blues & BBQ Lower Columbia Professionals held their largest event of the year at Kelso Longview Elks Lodge April 9. Bourbon, Brews, Blues & BBQ supported scholarships for local high school students.

32 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | May 2022

Business Connection Advertising Rates Effective August, 2020 The Kelso Longview Business Connection monthly newsletter is published the first of each month, posted electronically on our website and emailed to over 7,000 local business professionals, city and county officials.

To be included in this monthly email, call the Chamber office at 360-423-8400.

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

1 - 3 Issues

4-7 Issues

$110 $175 $205 $325 $625

$90 $140 $170 $290 $570

8-10 Issues

12 Issues

$70* $105* $140* $245* $480* *Includes ad on website

$50* $75* $100* $190* $400*

Dimensions 2" x 2.5" 4" x 2.5" 4" x 5.25" 4" x 10.5" (V) or 8" x 5.25" (H) 8" x 10.5"

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

To advertise or request additional information, please call 360-423-8400 or contact: CEO Bill Marcum bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org Project Manager Julie Rinard jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org

Advertising Agreement

Date: _____________

Business Name: ____________________________________________ Phone: ____________________ Contact Name: _____________________________________________ Cell:______________________ Address: _____________________________________ City/State/Zip: __________________________ Email: ____________________________________________ Fax: _____________________________ No. of issues

Invoice

Card

Check

Plus web ad: 300W X 100H

Signature__________________________________

Ad Rep Signature___________________________