Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal 26/08

August 2013 Vol. 26 No. 8

The Voice of Kitsap Business since 1988

The quest for tourism

OC Poulsbo partners with Western, p. 12

Our special section on the Business of Tourism is on pages 26-33 New owners reviving Lakebay Marina, p. 25

Inside Special Reports: Tools For Your Business, pp 6-12 The Business of Tourism, pp 26-33

Photo by Jan’s Marine Photography

Tourists on a cruise with Destiny Harbor Tours out of Gig Harbor explore the waters of Puget Sound and take in stunning views of Mount Rainier.

Local tour operators offer scenic rides on land, water

By Rodika Tollefson Tom Drohan inherited the love of water and boating from his parents. He was 10 when the family moved to Gig Harbor, living on a boat for a while. He recalls giving tours about Puget Sound to visitors as a youngster, sharing his fascination with them.

These days, Drohan still loves to tell people from all over the world about Puget

Human Resources, pg 13 Financial, pp 14, 15 Technology, pg 17 Automotive, pp 34, 35 Editorial, pp 36-38 Home Builders Newsletter, pp 19-22

Sound. After a 20-year career running the family restaurant, Gig Harbor Inn, six years ago he put on an official captain’s hat and founded Destiny Harbor Tours (destinyharbortours.com). With two boats, one based in Tacoma and another in Gig Harbor, Destiny Harbor Tours offers three scheduled runs a day. According to Drohan, his is the only company south of Seattle with tours that charge per person. Charter events are also available for up to 33 people, Cover Story, page 28

Tim Kelly photo

A California-based composites manufacturer will soon move into this building the company bought in the Port Orchard Industrial Park.

Aerospace supplier moving to Kitsap

By Tim Kelly, Editor The effort to draw more aerospacerelated companies to Kitsap County is getting a significant boost. An established composites manufacturer has decided to relocate its operations from Southern California to the Port Orchard Industrial Park.

And who gets credit for recruiting

Omohondro Co. to Kitsap?

Omohondro Co. “What’s great about this company is they found us,” said John Powers, excecutive director of Kitsap Economic Development Alliance.

The company is owned by Mark and Composites, page 4

SAFE Boats brings new CEO on board; company co-founder will be board chairman SAFE Boats International announced that Dennis Morris has joined the company as president and chief executive officer, and that company cofounder and CEO Scott Peterson will be chairman of the board of directors.

Morris has “an extensive background in Dennis Morris business development

and international marketing within the defense industry,” according to a SAFE Boats news release issued July 17.

A former naval submarine officer, Morris most recently was president and CEO of Allen-Vanguard Corp. The Arlington, Va.-based company is a global supplier of customized protective gear and equipment for military bomb squads and other security forces, as well as providing counter-threat intelligence, training and

consulting services. Allen-Vanguard made the bomb suit featured in the Academy Award-winning film “The Hurt Locker.”

“We are excited to have Dennis Morris take the helm as Chief Executive Officer as I assume the role of Chairman,” Peterson said in the news release. “His impressive background and proven leadership in the defense industry make him a great choice to lead SAFE Boats International to a successful future as the company continues

to grow. He is an excellent match for our company culture, values and vision.”

Morris has an MBA from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Houston. Before his time at AllenVanguard, he spent 10 years as an executive with BAE Systems, a global defense, aerospace and security company based in London.

In the Navy, Morris was an officer on a nuclear submarine and also spent time at the Pentagon working with the head of U.S. Submarine Programs. As a Naval Reservist, he later worked on assignments supporting NATO operations.

SAFE Boats has nearly 300 employees at its manufacturing facilities in the Port of Bremerton Industrial Park. The company builds patrol boats for the U.S. Coast Guard, and last year secured a Navy contract to produce a new generation of larger patrol boats. Manufacturing those 85-foot vessels requires direct water access, so SAFE Boats expanded its operations to build the patrol boats at a leased facility in the Port of Tacoma.

2 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

Dentist who is consulting firm CEO to speak at AWOB meeting The next monthly Power Series meeting presented by the Alliance of Women Owned Business (AWOB) will be Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. at The Inn at Gig Harbor. The topic will be: Becoming a Trusted Expert — Improve Your Business Through Value, Communication and Rhonda Savage Marketing.

Rhonda Savage, a Gig Harbor dentist who is CEO of dental consulting firm Miles Global, will share her expertise of promising less and delivering more to clients. She began her career in dentistry as an assistant in 1976 and went on to complete dental school before serving in the Navy during Desert Shield/Storm.

AWOB’s monthly meetings feature a guest speaker, or special format event, on topics of interest to female entrepreneurs.

The events are free to AWOB members and first-time guests, and the fee for all others is $25, payable at the door. New members may sign up at the Aug. 14 meeting.

Attendees may bring a door prize to get a spotlight moment to promote their business – business cards are drawn for door prizes.

AWOB Meet Me After Hours, a no-host dinner opportunity, follows the meeting in the restaurant at the Inn at Gig Harbor, offering time for attendees to converse and continue networking in a casual one-to-one setting.

For more information: www.allianceofwomenownedbusinesses.com www.facebook.com/allianceofwomenowned businesses

Kitsap County hires new chief administrative officer Glenn Olson, former deputy chief administrative officer for Clark County in Vancouver, Wash., has been hired as the new chief administrative officer for Kitsap County. Olson has more than 30 years of experience in public administration, including budget and policy development, budget forecasting, implementing “Lean” processes, human resources and labor relations strategy, and reconfiguration of information technology services delivery.

Olson was hired by Clark County in 1997 as the budget director and eventually transitioned into the deputy chief administrative officer over Internal Services. He also served as a senior executive policy and forecast coordinator for the Washington State Office of Financial Management for more than 14 years. He holds a bachelor’s and master's

degree in Sociology and Demography from Western Washington University.

As the new chief administrative officer, Olson will be working closely with Internal Services Director Bud Harris, Administrative Services Director Amber D’Amato, Human Resources Manager Penny Starkey and Labor Relations Manager Susan Smith. He will provide leadership, direction and supervision over all internal services. He will be responsible for coordinating administrative functions such as organizational development, process improvement, strategic planning and budget on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.

“I have long admired Glenn’s ability and intellect. Kitsap County will benefit enormously from his addition to our organization,” Commissioner Josh Brown said.

Business development officer joins First Federal staff in Poulsbo

Patti Kelley

First Federal has announced the hiring of Patti Kelley as business development officer at the Poulsbo branch and lending center.

Kelley has 28 years of experience in financial planning, business development and customer service, and was the former Bainbridge Island branch manager of Kitsap Credit Union.

Port Angeles-based First Federal is a Washington-chartered mutual savings bank primarily serving the North Olympic Peninsula region through its nine full-service branches.

Candidate whose residency was challenged drops out of Bremerton council race

For years, Olson has trained newly elected commissioners from every county on budget issues as a part of their orientations through WASAC. He travels to counties to provide individual budget training for commissioners, other elected officials, and senior appointed officials. He also conducts training on budgets at annual conferences for both WASAC and the Association of Washington Cities.

Currently, Olson is heading up a project for WASAC to consolidate data from many state sources into a single system, so that counties may present a complete and comprehensive picture of their revenues, expenditures and performance to the legislature and to citizens.

5nd ANNUAL

Pacific Northwest Defense Symposium The Future of Defense TOPICS INCLUDE: MilCon Update, State of Shipbuilding, Cyber Security, Unmanned Vehicles, Regional Updates and more.

September 24th & 25th Kitsap Conference Center At Bremerton Harborside Hosted by:

Booths and Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Visit www.nwdefense.com for information Register today! www.kitsapeda.org

360-377-9499 Kitsap Economic Development Alliance 4312 Kitsap Way #103 | Bremerton, WA 98312

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 3

There will still be three candidates for Bremerton City Council District 5 listed on the Aug. 6 primary ballot, but Keith Ranburger announced recently he is withdrawing from the race.

Ranburger said he needs to spend more time focusing on his new business, and that his decision was unrelated to a challenge to his listed residency filed by Daryl Daugs, who is helping with the campaign of District 5 candidate Dino Davis. Daugs is the husband of council member Leslie Daugs, who is running unopposed in District 2.

Ranburger, a political newcomer, had listed his residence as 320 N. Callow, which is a small storefront where he recently opened an electronic cigarette shop called Pacific Vape.

He said that was his mailing address, and he told a local newspaper that he does have a residence in Bremerton but declined to disclose it. Ranburger reportedly listed a Port Orchard address as his residence on his application for a business license in Bremerton.

The Kitsap County Auditor’s office held a hearing on the residency challenge, although Auditor Walt Washington recused himself because of his ties to Daryl Daugs, who is executive director of Kitsap Habitat for Humanity. Washington is a Habitat board member.

The findings of the deputy auditor who conducted the hearing on the residency challenge have been submitted to the county prosecutor’s office for review.

The third candidate listed on the District 5 primary ballot with Ranburger and Davis is Deirdre McKeel.

Olson has been very involved in the Washington State Association of Counties (WASAC) during his career, and is a past president of the organization. Eric Johnson, executive director for WASAC, said “Kitsap County is gaining one of the most talented, knowledgeable and dedicated county administrators in Washington state. I have had the opportunity to work with Glenn in a variety of capacities over the past 15 years and his expertise in finance, pension policy and county administration is unsurpassed. The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners could not have selected a more competent, ethical, and professional administrator than Glenn Olson. I look forward to continuing to work with Glenn in his new capacity with Kitsap County.”

4 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

COMPOSITES

from page 1 Cynthia Sparks, who were looking for a suitable West Coast location to expand their business, Powers said.

For a number of reasons, including the Composite Manufacturing Technology program at Olympic College, the Omohondro owners settled on Kitsap County. They bought a 41,000 square-foot building that Leader International Corp. built in 2002 as its manufacturing facility.

The $2.74 million sale closed in June, and Omohondro will move in after the current tenant’s lease on the building expires at the end of August.

Powers said the company has already hired about 10 local workers who are being trained at Omohondro’s plant in Tustin, Calif. When the company gets its operation going in the Port Orchard Industrial Park, it’s expected to employ at least 40 people.

The company has been in business for 50 years, and has been owned since 1995 by the Sparks, who could not be reached for comment by press time. Omohondro designs and manufactures composite hardware parts for the aerospace and defense industries.

KEDA and a related stakeholders group, the Kitsap Aerospace and Defense Alliance (KADA), began a concerted effort last year to attract companies in the aerospace industry to the South Kitsap Industrial Area owned and operated by the Port of Bremerton.

When the Omohondro owners started exploring relocation options in Kitsap County, they were told about SKIA, but Powers said they were not interested in leasing space for their company.

“They were clear from the beginning … they wanted to own their facility,” he said.

Leader International co-owner Rick Flaherty said the timing was right for selling

Estes Builders employee gets certification in Living in Place design

Avalara hires Microsoft veteran as new chief information officer

Rick Gross of Estes Builders recently achieved the Certified Aging in Place Specialist designation after attending an education program through the National Association of Home Builders.

Developed to instruct homebuilders how to assess needs and identify design elements to allow clients to remain in their Rick Gross homes longer and enjoy a better quality of life while doing so, the training also emphasized making homes accessible for visits from family members or guests who are not as mobile as they once were.

“In home plan design, it’s vital to pay special attention to hallway and door widths, countertop heights, stairways, and exterior access which are all key elements to allowing our clients to live in place longer,” Gross said.

Estes Builders designs and constructs custom homes throughout the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, with offices in Poulsbo and Sequim. The company has been a North Peninsula Building Association Built Green member since its inception. For more information, visit www.estesbuilders.com or call 800-630-4399.

Avalara, a leading provider of sales tax and compliance automation services in the cloud, announced the hiring of Tom Parker as its chief information officer. Parker has nearly 20 years of experience helping global organizations envision, deploy and manage information technology solutions, which he will build upon in his new role at Avalara.

Prior to joining Avalara, Parker was director of application security at Microsoft Corp., accountable for the overall risk management of Microsoft IT’s application portfolio. Before that he was responsible for shaping Microsoft’s enterprise application platform business architecture and supporting model and tools as director of business architect, application platform. He is a Navy veteran who also has served as a strategic security advisor for Microsoft and as a managing consultant for Shavilk Technologies.

“Avalara is building a world-class management team with an eye toward accelerating our rapid growth,” company founder and CEO Scott McFarlane said.

“Tom’s recognized leadership and extensive experience in both the private and public sectors will go a long way as we continue to shape the company and set a new standard for compliance automation.”

Avalara, founded in 2004, pioneered a service-based platform for sales tax and

Coming Next Issue...

“This confirms our theory at KADA that we are a community with a lot to offer the aerospace industry.”

— John Powers, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance executive director and co-chair of Kitsap Aerospace and Defense Alliance

his company’s old building to Omohondro.

Leader’s operations outgrew the space and the company built a new manufacturing facility a block away in 2007, and has leased out its original building since then to Masons Supply Co. compliance automation. The company employs more than 400 people at its headquarters on Bainbridge Island and its’ offices in Seattle; Irvine, San Diego and Rocklin, Calif.; Falls Church, Va.; Raleigh, N.C.; Harrisburg, Penn.; and Pune, India.

Bainbridge business center offers ‘Productize What You Know’ course There are 1,829 "verified cottage industry" (home-based) businesses on Bainbridge Island and in Poulsbo and Suquamish. For such entrepreneurs, learning to package intellectual property and sell it online can help ensure success in the new economy, both by creating recurring income and enhancing Michael Fountain the authority of a practice. Though it is one of the most important "new ways to work," creating intellectual property products is still a mysterious, elusive process.

In a four-week class offered in August at OfficeXpats, Michael Fountain will explain how to turn what you know — and what your audience needs — into products and services that earn you income and set you apart from competition. Participants will explore how to design, build, deploy and

“Their lease was up in August, so everything worked out perfectly,” Flaherty said. “It was one of those right place, right time deals.”

He said the company and its owners and the jobs they will provide will be “good for our community.”

Even though it wasn’t a pitch from KEDA and KADA that drew Omohondro to the area, Powers said the company’s decision nonetheless shows that Kitsap is marketable as a location for aerospace industry suppliers.

“This confirms our theory at KADA that we are a community with a lot to offer the aerospace industry,” Powers said. “It validates what we’ve been saying for two years.”

Jill Merriman, a co-owner of Portlandbased Masons Supply Co., a manufacturer of concrete forming systems, said their Port Orchard operation would be moved to the company’s Tacoma location. market information products online: How to create a set of products from your life’s work or passion; how to create your “Callto-Action Marketing Plan;” how to create your first product; and how to create your homepage ATM. Fountain and a partner founded and sold two companies, ModernBill and ModernGigabyte, and he was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in 2006. In 2008, ModernGigabyte was acquired by Parallels, Inc. and DNZOOM was acquired by Bido, LLC. OfficeXpats is a co-working and conference center in downtown Bainbridge Island that offers memberships and meeting room rentals in a shared, collaborative workspace. OfficeXpats offers regular weekly business skills workshops to support the small businesses and independent professionals of Kitsap County.

All presenters at the "Tuesday@noon" business skills workshops are volunteering their time. The four-week workshop series, which will meet from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays starting Aug. 6, is free to OfficeXpats members and is open to nonmembers for $40/month. If you have ideas and experience to share about thriving in our local economy and would like to propose a workshops series, contact Leslie Schneider, leslie@officexpats.com.

To register for this series: http://www.officexpats.com/productizewhat-you-know.

Construction, Engineering and Architecture

Deadline to reserve advertising space

From the ground up, the principals involved in the building process

For more information: Dee Coppola 800-733-7990 or email dee@wetapple.com

August 15th

Port Orchard councilman resigns due to move outside of city as a member of the Transportation Policy Board for the Puget Sound Regional Council.

Although he was re-elected to a second four-year term that runs through 2015, all seven council seats could be up for election early next year if the Port Orchard changes its form of government, a step that Colebank supports.

The City Council has spent the past few months exploring a possible change to a council-city manager system, and approved putting the proposal to a public vote in November.

If the change is approved by voters, once it takes effect new council elections for all seats would be required early next year.

The process to replace Colebank will begin with the city posting a notice of the open position, and a committee of council members will review applications. The full council will vote on who to appoint to the seat.

He said his fellow council members have been an enjoyable group to work with, and “I think we were a real good team together.”

Colebank supports the proposed change in city government to have a “professional business manager” hired by the council as the city’s top administrator instead of an elected mayor, but he acknowledges there would be challenges in making such a transition.

“I think the city manager, if it passes, it’s just going to be a time of change that’s always kind of difficult for everybody, but I think it could be a really good thing for the city,” he said.

Local. Nationwide. Worldwide.

The Hill family takes the business of moving personally...

“Our real estate agent, Susan Moore, recommended Hill Moving. We visited their facility in Poulsbo — it was clean and neat. Everyone was very helpful and respectful, answering all our questions. The estimator was retired military (as are we), and he understood our concerns.

“The moving crew was professional and polite and worked well as a team. They took such good care of our antique furniture — no nicks or scuffs on the walls or carpets.

“We cannot say enough about Hill Moving. They even negotiated their trucks up the steep, narrow driveways of our community. The price was reasonable and they even offer free packing boxes!

“We would absolutely recommend Hill Moving to anyone considering a moving service.”

Linda & Gary Weightman Hansville

Nationwide, local &

international moving Long-term heated storage

service Our people and our moving

supplies set us apart Pianos, antiques, hot tubs DOT #534666 HG43090

Office & industrial moving Display & exhibit moving Free no-obligation

estimates

800-833-9555 • hillmoving.com 360-697-3969 • 206-842-6715 26394 Pioneer Way NW Poulsbo, WA 98370

We Deliver Peace of Mind... WORLDWIDE!

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 5

Jim Colebank announced he would step down from the Port Orchard City Council at the end of July because he is moving into a new house that is outside city limits.

Colebank, 67, who has been on the council since 2008, announced his resignation at the July 9 council meeting. He and his wife expect to move into their new home by the end of the month.

He initiated an attempt in 2011 to annex a stretch of Beach Drive east of city limits into the city, which would have included the 1.25-acre lot where the couple planned to build their house. However, the annexation proposal did not draw much support from other property owners in the area.

During his five and a half years on the council, the completion of the South Kitsap Skatepark and ongoing work to extend the pedestrian pathway on Port Orchard’s waterfront are accomplishments Colebank cited as highlights. Although he originally hoped the skatepark would be in the city, he supported and worked with stakeholders on development of the skatepark that recently opened in Kitsap County’s South Kitsap Regional Park.

“The other thing I wanted was the pedestrian pathway from the (Port Orchard) Yacht Club to Retsil,” he said. While the path doesn’t cover that full stretch yet, Colebank said he was pleased that the city recently extended the pathway further east in conjunction with the Port of Bremerton’s expansion of Marina Park on the waterfront.

He said improved communication and cooperation with Port of Bremerton officials has been a positive development during his City Council tenure.

Colebank said he supported “annexations that would help the economy of the city,” but he opposed any local tax increases during the difficult economic times that coincided with his years on the council.

Although the city hasn’t seen the viable downtown revitalization that’s been a goal for years, there have been some positive developments, Colebank noted. He was involved in getting Yachtfish Marine, a boating repair and maintenance business, to relocate from Tacoma to the Port Orchard waterfront several years ago.

Colebank, who was a high-level planner at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard before retiring in 2004, represented the city on a number of regional boards and planning organizations. He said he especially enjoyed working on transportation issues

VoIP provides alternative to traditional phone systems

By Rodika Tollefson When the Kitsap Children’s Clinic in Silverdale needs to reach its Port Orchard office, all a staffer has to do is dial an extension. And callers can get transferred to the Port Orchard location simply by dialing 2 after calling the Silverdale number. This seamless transition between two different locations is possible because of Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, technology.

VoIP uses Internet broadband instead of phone lines to transmit the call and it’s a service offered by many Internet service providers, including, locally, WAVE Broadband, CenturyLink and Comcast.

“VoIP interacts well with our PBX service, our on-call service and our appointment-reminder system,” said Melissa Reardon, IT and billing manager at Kitsap Children’s Clinic.

The clinic switched to VoIP service through WAVE two years ago after Reardon became impressed with WAVE’s customer service for her residential Internet plan at home. Although the system has 15 lines, Reardon said she doesn’t have to do anything to maintain it, and it has saved her company as much as 20 percent in costs. She

said it’s especially helpful to know that WAVE has local support technicians who can assist promptly if the need arises.

“I would recommend any business to look at the options to see if it’s advantageous to them,” she said.

Often times, the savings comes from bundling VoIP with Internet, but since it’s a standalone service, a business doesn’t even need Internet in order to use VoIP. Unlike some consumer versions such as Skype or Vonage, commercial VoIP service uses dedicated broadband and requires a phone system (albeit a special one) instead of a computer to place the call.

“In the early days, the Internet didn’t see the voice and data packets differently so calls were frequently dropped. We don’t send voice packets over the Internet. IP stands for Internet Protocol but (the voice data packets) never touch the Internet,” explained Dave Eller, director of enterprise sales for Comcast.

The voice traffic is prioritized so calls don’t come across as choppy, as the case may have been in the past. VoIP technology has greatly improved from about 10 or so years ago, when it was first introduced.

“The technology has changed so much, it is now the equivalent, and in some cases, better, than traditional phone service.”

— Patrick Knorr, WAVE Broadband executive “The technology has changed so much, it is now the equivalent, and in some cases, better than, traditional phone service,” said Patrick Knorr, executive vice president of business services and IP technology at WAVE Broadband. “As the technology improves, it becomes less expensive to provide this type of service.”

For large companies especially, part of the VoIP attraction is minimized staffsupport time. “In the old days, you needed one person to manage the phone system and another for the network. Now you only need one person,” said Kris Hagel, Peninsula School District technical support supervisor.

“You have a lot less hardware to monitor and a lot less things that can break.”

Peninsula School District switched to VoIP via CenturyLink several years ago for its 1,200-phone system. “As time goes on, the technology gets better and there is need for a little less hardware, so it becomes more cost-efficient,” Hagel said.

While the services are different from provider to provider, generally speaking the advantage is having a turnkey solution — no more need to program and reprogram PBX systems and maintain the equipment in-house.

“We deliver the business phones to their premises so they don’t need a phone system. The customer doesn’t need to be a phone guru or have IT staff,” Eller said.

VoIP’s advantages include the potential for extra features such as video conferencing integration and remote call centers (which means the ability to answer a call from home, for example).

“There’s no question that traditional phone service (could become) obsolete,” Knorr said. “People will continue to invent new functionality for VoIP, just as they did for the Internet.”

6 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

Companies big and small embrace responsive web design

By Rodika Tollefson If you visit Kitsap Bank’s newly redesigned website (www.kitsapbank.com) on a mobile device, you’ll notice more than the modern look with bright colors. Whether you view it on a smart phone or a tablet, there’s no more pinching and zooming — the images and the text are resized by “dropping” below, rendering perfectly based on the width of screen that’s being used.

Some of the content even “disappears” on devices — on the computer-screen version, the design looks different yet the same, with the content taking the best advantage of the extra real estate.

It’s because the site, launched at the end of July, uses responsive web design, a new way to create websites so they can be optimized for any device.

Responsive (sometimes called “liquid”) design uses fluid grids that resize and “restack” the images and content based on a percentage value instead of fixed pixel size.

The result is a site that looks as good on a phone or tablet as it does on the computer.

“When we were preparing to redesign our website, one of the criteria was to have a site that’s easily digestible on all devices,” said Shannon Childs, Kitsap Bank senior vice president of marketing. “In years past, websites were designed as a ‘box’ of a fixed size for standard monitors. However, with the advent of smartphones, tablets and

Screenshots from a smartphone (left) and a computer show Kitsap Bank’s newly redesigned website. The responsive design displays the content differently based on screen size as well as allowing for it to be prioritized differently on mobile devices. other mobile devices, the designs that were once built for a desktop display only are simply no longer feasible. …

Responsive design came as a necessity so you can design and maintain one site and have it function appropriately.”

Responsive design allows for the flexibility of selecting which content to prioritize on mobile screens. For Kitsap Bank’s site, the goal was for the mobile version to look a little different and optimize it with the type of information that people are more likely to search on

their phones, such as navigation to branches and ATMs. Other differences include things like eliminating photos on the community involvement page because photos take longer to load, and making the branch locator option more prominent.

“We felt the user experience will be so much better if (the mobile version) was optimized with what they needed on the go,” said Janet Silcott, assistant vice president and marketing officer. “One of our goals was to have a website people could use no matter where they were.”

Mobile devices take over As many as a one-third of American adults now own a tablet device (almost double the number of those who did the previous year), according to a June report by the Pew Research Center. Even a year ago, as many as 30 percent of people preferred to browse the Internet on mobile devices instead of computers. Tablets, in fact, have outpaced laptops in ownership growth, while desktop computers have been taking a steady dive.

According to some statistics, shipments of smart phones outpaced those of PCs for the first time last year, and the latest report from Gartner Research forecasts that tablets will dominate over computers by 2017. It’s not surprising then, that web designers are trying to convince their clients they not only need to think about mobile, they may want to think about mobile first.

“One thing we’ve learned is that a huge amount of clients come from a small radius, so they have to be very competitive. They have to build trust partly by how professional they look online, including on a phone,” said Kristy Ewing, designer with Ewing Creative (www.ewingcreative.com) in Port Orchard. “Based on the number of users of mobile devices, designers are going Responsive, page 7

RESPONSIVE

challenges because the web developers have to be especially thoughtful about content priority. Things that may appear simple, such as whether a loan calculator “drops” above or below the text when the screen is downsized, have to be taken into consideration. Still, he sees responsive design as a good solution for responding to mobile trends. In fact, his developer team already started “playing with the concept” on the mobile website version (mobile.kitsapcu.org).

“For my team, it makes the most sense going forward because there’s no way we can target all those devices but we also don’t want people to be pulling and pinching the website forever,” he said.

Whether using responsive design or not, Neumeister said businesses need to start thinking mobile first, even if their site has just a few static pages. That means even simple things like making sure phone numbers on the website can be dialed when displayed on a mobile phone (instead of being embedded into header images) and opting for clean, optimized design instead of a complex one.

“At the end of last year, it became clear that 2013 was going to be the year of mobile,” she said. “By the end of the year, I think every website will need a mobile solution because if it doesn’t, it will look outdated.”

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 7

from page 6 to miss the boat if they don’t cater to those people.”

Ewing first learned about responsive design based on her personal experience of browsing websites that required extensive scrolling and pinching on the iPhone and the iPad. As she learned more about responsive themes for contentmanagement platforms like WordPress, she realized it was an inexpensive way to offer mobile-optimized design. That became especially important for sites catering to travelers and people on the move, including a project she currently has in the works, a new site for the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance.

“It needs to be accessible from smart devices for those traveling to Gig Harbor on the road. They’ll have a lot friendlier experience on the phone (through the new site),” she said.

GHDWA Executive Director Mary DesMarais said when the site came up for redesign as a result of the organization’s rebranding, they knew they needed to be mobile-friendly. “We wanted it to look correctly on all devices. People are getting more technologically savvy and utilizing their phones for information, so it’s important to meet those needs,” she said.

Cost-efficient solution Designing with mobile in mind is far from a new idea, but in the past developers had to program several versions of the same site. Even apps, the darlings of the mobile world, have a limitation: They render differently on each platform, which means different image sizes and resolutions, among other things have to be considered for various operating systems. With hundreds of those platforms now in use, the designers’ challenges become increasingly complex.

But responsive design simplifies the process by using so-called media queries to detect the type of device in use and resizing the columns and the content accordingly.

“It’s the obvious first step for a mobile solution. If it’s a new website, there’s no debate,” said Jill Neumeister with Orca Design Group (www.orcadesigngroup.com) in Gig Harbor. “What makes it cost-effective is that you’re not duplicating anything, you’re dealing with web content. You’re just creating different views of the same content.”

Responsive design is especially effective when using a template-based contentmanagement system.

E-commerce, extensive catalogs and other complex parts complicate things, however.

“If you have an existing website with some development on the site instead of simple information, it’s a little more challenging so cost factors are involved,” Neumeister said.

Trend here to stay?

Mashable, a leading technology-news website, called 2013 the year of responsive design. It’s a growing trend that’s been embraced by giants like Microsoft, Disney and Starbucks. And smaller companies are following their example, even for complex sites, despite some in the industry still remaining skeptical.

Locally, another complicated site that will be redesigned using responsive approach is Kitsap Credit Union’s. The organization has been working on a new website for several months, with the expectation to complete a redesign next year.

“We’ve been doing a lot of research internally and responsive is the direction we’re going,” said Jeff Wells, Kitsap Credit Union e-business manager. “In the ‘90s, you had to worry about the computer, browser type and size but with the proliferation of mobile, it’s almost impossible to design for each platform. We have an unlimited number of devices and that’s changed the game.”

He said the approach is not without

Free tools for productivity and communication

8 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

By Rodika Tollefson Have you ever wished you could monitor all your social media on one screen? Ever gone to an important meeting and realized you left your notes at the office? Talked to a client via conference call and wished you could share your presentation remotely?

There are free tools for all these dilemmas — and more. Here’s a roundup of some online or digital tools that can make your workday a little more efficient.

And best of all, they’re all free (with the option to fork over a little money if you want some extra bells and whistles).

Evernote (evernote.com): If you have to take or share notes a lot as part of your work or if you constantly save links you want to access later, this is the last

(digital) notebook you’ll ever need.

Install the app on your smartphone, tablet and computer (Mac or PC) and you can seamlessly access your notes from any platform. You can easily add things like photos or voice notes from your phone, snip URLs or entire articles while browsing the web (with a browser add-on) or simply type text, and you can share any note or entire notebooks with collaborators (great for working on a team project that requires a lot of online research).

The app syncs up the notes through the “cloud” when you’re connected to the Internet. (Next time you head to a meeting, just drop your agenda or notes into Evernote while you are at your computer, bring your smartphone to your meeting, and you’re set.) You can turbocharge the options for $5 a month for the premium version and $10 a month per person with a business account.

HootSuite (hootsuite.com): This online app is a lifesaver if you have to monitor several social media accounts.

You can add up to five for free (up to 50 with the Pro version for $9.99 a month) — with choices that include Facebook, Facebook Pages, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google-plus, Foursquare, WordPress and mixi. Schedule posts ahead of time, post simultaneously to more than one network, and get all your streams onto one page for quick view. And that’s not all: HootSuite integrates with 49 free apps, from YouTube, Instagram and Tumblr to Evernote, Constant Contact, SlideShare and even SurveyMonkey — so you can add your accounts from these apps to your stream for one-stop monitoring and feel like Superman (or Wonder Woman).

Zamzar (zamzar.com): Anyone who’s been annoyed by receiving a Publisher attachment they can’t open will appreciate Zamzar. Upload your Publisher file (or one of several dozen other formats) and convert it to Word, PDF, HTML or plain text. Zamzar can convert a variety of common files like tiff, xls and mp3 as well as slightly more obscure ones, including video, image and e-book formats. Once the file is uploaded and converted, Zamzar will send you a link to download the new version. And if you don’t want to wait the 10 or more minutes that it takes or if you need to convert larger files, you can opt for the basic plan ($7/month) or pro ($16).

DropBox (dropbox.com): Everyone from high school kids to tech geeks is now using DropBox — an app that lets you store files in the cloud and syncs between multiple platforms. You can

either share an entire folder with others so everyone can access and work on the same files, or you can share a link to a folder or file for someone to access it but not change anything. And this is where DropBox’s added perk comes in: You can upload public materials like brochures or forms and point your customers to those links (that’s what Visit Kitsap Peninsula does for its e-brochures). It’s similar to the idea of Google Docs but much more versatile.

One other DropBox perk: For only $9.99 a month, you can get 100GB of

storage (or more with other plans) — so if you have a project that requires a lot of large file sharing, temporarily upgrade to this plan and say goodbye to the neverending exchange of flash drives.

OneNote (part of Office Suite): If you’re in love with the Microsoft Office suite, OneNote is for you. It’s similar to Evernote but it has extended capabilities and it integrates with other Office products including Outlook — just click the OneNote button and save that email in your notebook, organized with your other notes. You can sync notes between devices and share them with others and you can do a lot of the same things you can with Office, such as adding attachments; inserting tables, images, screen clips or voice memos; changing fonts; even doodling.

JoinMe (join.me): This meeting tool lets you share your screen with others, so you can do things like run through a PowerPoint presentation while your client follows along on a computer on the other side of the country (online or via an app). You can also make a conference call via the Internet, chat and share files. The free version allows up to 10 meeting participants and a pro account (which starts at $13 a month) extends that to 250 people plus adds extras like the ability to call in from a phone line, swap presenters, mark up the screen and more.

Skype (skype.com): This tool is fairly mainstream, used equally by grandmas to keep in touch with family and by companies to conduct business

across the world (especially popular for job interviews). But it’s worth noting that its premium version, which starts at $4.99 a month, has a bonus: You can make group video calls for up to 10 people as well as share your screen with the callers, similar to Join.Me. It’s similar to the free Google Hangouts, only more reliable.

Read Your Local Business News Online on your mobile device

www.KPBJ.com Are You Receiving Our Daily Updates?

Sign up now at daily.kpbj.com

Creating effective content to promote your business your text, whether it’s a site or a brochure, to find the important stuff.

Write short paragraphs, highlight the key points, and don’t write a novel where a poem will do.

Grammatical errors — this one is a big challenge if English is not your friend. But having sloppy grammar is like sporting a big coffee stain on your suit. Even professional writers can’t always effectively edit themselves, so recruit a second pair of eyes — even if it’s just your best friend. Watch out for biggies like using excessive

capitalization (this one gets people every time), commonly misused words (their/there/they’re), misplaced apostrophes (for possessive vs. plural) and stray punctuation.

Consistency — find your company’s voice and keep it consistent, along with your style. Whether you use a light tone or serious, whether you capitalize every word in the headline or not, whether you use first person or third, make sure you do it consistently.

Use good visuals (a picture is still worth a thousand words, and perhaps

more), hang out where your customers are, engage them instead of talking at them, write from the heart — and you may find out that writing good content is no longer a chore. You have the main requirement, a passion for your business, so all you have to do is give your content a little makeover.

• Rodika Tollefson is a longtime freelance writer for the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal and a recent graduate of the University of Washington Master of Communications in Digital Media program.

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 9

By Rodika Tollefson If you’ve ever been turned off by a weak handshake or a person’s business attire, you understand the power of first impressions.

In business, that power is often held by your company’s website and other customer-facing materials. Sloppy or poorly executed marketing content is like having a tattered welcome mat at your door or peeling paint in your lobby — it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

One of the many hats small-business owners often wear is copywriting. And if you’re not a writer, creating content for your site, blog and other collateral materials can be a painful process.

Below are a few basic tips that will get your creative juices flowing and help you avoid some common mistakes.

First of all, forget sales. Yes, the point of the content is to bring in customers, but you are not doing yourself any favors by hitting them on the head with salesy copy. Business owners are so passionate about their products and services, they can get carried away with hype, flowery language and unsubstantiated claims (how many No. 1 burger joints can there really be in one town?). This can also spill over into press releases (which will never be published if they read like an advertisement) and social media posts (which will simply be ignored).

Thanks to social networking, customers expect to have personal relationships with the businesses they patronize. They expect a conversational language, not a bunch of corporatespeak, when they visit you online. It’s challenging, if not impossible, to have a friendly website if you’re cramming it with SEO (search-engine optimization) keywords and forgetting to sound human. In fact, SEO marketing these days is being replaced by “content marketing” — whose building blocks consist of writing interesting, compelling content. Good content has become the best currency for company branding and attracting new customers.

Other building blocks of compelling content: Good storytelling — tell your story like you’re talking to a friend and try to connect with your customers. And don’t forget they are busy people, so the best way to get attention is to entertain, provide useful information, or tug at the heartstrings (yes, emotion still sells).

Scannable chunks — information snacking is the new normal. Customers are not only overwhelmed with information, they often consume it on more than one screen. This media ADHD means they’re scanning through

Using out-of-the-box ideas for community connections

By Rodika Tollefson Ken Perry is all to familiar with the difficulty of raising funds for nonprofits.

The owner of landscaping company Team Innovative has worked with several nonprofit boards, including ARC, and has helped raise money through various events.

When he decided to open his Grab Plants weekend in May, he came up with a way that would help both the nonprofits and his business: takeovers.

Each weekend is available to be sponsored by a nonprofit, which has to supply three volunteers to help at the Silverdale site (watering plants and talking to customers), as well as at least 10 days of marketing the event. In exchange, the group receives 15 percent of the weekend’s gross sales. So far, groups like the hospice and the food bank have earned about $500 each through the program while Perry has been able to save significantly on advertising.

“We allow nonprofits to raise a little money and to raise awareness to carry the energy forward. During the process, it helps drive traffic and boost sales at the nursery,” he said. “It’s a win-win.”

Fundraising takeovers have become a

Courtesy photo

The Kingston High School marching band performs outside the local McDonald’s during a “takeover” fundraiser at the restaurant. popular way for nonprofits to raise money —possibly thanks to McDonald’s popularizing the idea. McTakeovers have become synonymous with school

Building Bridges Between Technology & Business 10 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

Voice and Data Cabling Telephone System Installation and Support for Businesses Computer Networking

Pacific Communications Licensed Telecom Contractor Specializing in Small Office Communications

Raymond A. Yates (360) 440-3420 raymond@pacific-comm.net

LICENSED | BONDED | INSURED

fundraisers, helping pay for everything from fifth-graders camping trips to high school band uniforms.

“It’s probably the easiest fundraiser a group can do,” said Hope Lash, marketing director for Peninsula McDonald’s, which has 15 locations owned by the Beaulaurier family on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas.

Once a month during 10 months out of the year, school groups, schools and nonprofits “take over” at the restaurants for two hours, typically from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on a Wednesday. All they have to do is supply a handful of volunteers to provide visibility for the group and promote the event to their supporters. Peninsula McDonald’s guarantees them 40 percent of the sales and donates another 10 percent to the Ronald McDonald House.

Lash said the McTakeovers are not a marketing strategy but rather a way to give back — a total of about $100,000 goes out to the groups each year through all the locations. But she acknowledges that it does increase traffic to the restaurants.

“It’s a great opportunity for people who haven’t been at McDonald’s for a while to come back and try some of the healthy choices we’ve recently introduced,” she said. “It’s a great way for them to come out and hang out with their friends.”

It’s that exposure to new customers that makes takeovers a fringe marketing benefit for Teaching Toys, Too in Gig Harbor.

Owners Valla Wagner and Melissa Tennille began the fundraising program at their first location, Teaching Toys and Books in Tacoma, as a result of their personal experience with school fundraisers that required a lot of volunteer time but didn’t bring in much money.

“We wanted to create something that

will take almost no volunteer parent hours,” Wagner said.

Any school group or children-related charity can apply for the program and receive 15 percent of the sales during the two-hour event. Wagner and Tennille personally work the takeovers as well as provide extra staff to make sure customers receive enough help. In Gig Harbor, some schools book their dates a year in advance to ensure they get the dates they want.

The takeovers both bring in new customers and solidify their relationships with existing ones, Wagner said. “Like with any marketing, if a person loves you, they’ll tell others and word will spread. Every new person is a new opportunity to make a relationship for years,” she said.

That’s why the business partners also participate in events outside of the store, whether or not they can actually sell product there. As one recent example, they participated at a fair at Costco where they couldn’t sell toys, but instead they set up an active play area for kids. “It’s all about building connections, not about how much money you make at the event,” Wagner said. “It’s a great way to get your name out there.”

Matt Carter of Carter’s Chocolates, located in Port Orchard, also finds marketing a fringe benefit. While he has a limited staffing budget so he tries to go to events where he can at least break even if not make extra profit, he finds it a great way to get his company’s name out. In fact, he’s had customers come into the store after not finding him at the farmers market as expected.

“I do as many events as possible and part of it is for marketing reasons,” Carter said.

“It gets us to people who wouldn’t necessarily know we are here at all.”

For Kitsap Bank, going to community events is not a marketing strategy. In fact, participation in community events is part of the company’s Community Partner Program budget, not the marketing one.

The bank supports more than a hundred organizations, giving away more $300,000 for charitable causes every year, and it’s not unusual to spot its booth at various events around West Sound. Employees also volunteer for various events and fundraisers.

“It’s part of our culture and our employees are proud to be involved. It’s energizing to be out there,” said Shannon Childs, vice president and marketing director.

While marketing is not the purpose for their presence at the community events, however, new customers have commented in online surveys that they saw Kitsap Bank at an event. “I think when you’re seen in the community and you provide support for a cause someone believes it, it does build Community, page 12

West Sound Technology Association

Western Washington Summit 2013

Better Together!

Summit +Annual Individual WSTA Membership

only $99

MUSEUM OF FLIGHT PRESENTS The New Raisbeck Aviation High School Raisbeck Aviation High School is the new and permanent $43.5 million campus at The Museum of Flight, scheduled to open October 2013. Originally Aviation High School (AHS), the first college preparatory aviation-themed high school in the nation has operated out of two temporary locations since its inception in 2004. The new facility is being built on East Marginal Way, across the street from the main Museum of Flight campus and just north of the Museum’s outdoor airpark and brand, new space gallery. All subjects are taught in the context of aviation, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Though part of the Highline Public School District, it is open to students all across the region, and approximately 50 percent of its student body comes from surrounding districts as far away as Olympia, Everett, and Bremerton.

• Join us to hear more about this giant step forward in securing the future of AHS, and its partnership with the Museum and Boeing to inspire engineers of the future.

• As we prepare students for STEM education and career pathways while fulfilling critical gaps in our nation’s workforce, take a seat at the table as we map Kitsap’s future in alignment with this vision.

HONORARY CHAIR: KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

EVENT INFO:

Date: September 19, 2013 • Time: 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, Chief Kitsap Hall, 15347 Suquamish Way NE, Suquamish, WA

REGISTRATION:

By Sept. 1

(Register at WestSoundTechnology.org)

After Sept. 1 Table

Visit our website for more information on membership, registration, and sponsorships.

(10 Seats)

MEDIA SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSORS

BUSINESS SPONSORS

COLLABORATING PARTNERS • Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce • Bremerton Chamber of Commerce • Kingston Chamber of Commerce • Kitsap Aerospace and Defense Alliance • Kitsap Economic Development Alliance • Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce • Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce • Silverdale Chamber of Commerce

WSTA Members and Partners $40 Non-members $50 WSTA Members and Partners $50 Non-members $60 WSTA Members and Partners $420 Non-members $500

WestSoundTechnology.org

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 11

OTHER SPEAKERS:

Patty Murray — U.S. Senator Douglas King — President and CEO, Museum of Flight Reba Gilman — Principal, Aviation High School Larry Seaquist — State Representative Russell Steele — Chief Executive Officer of Port Madison Enterprises Dr. David Mitchell — President, Olympic College Tim Thompson — Port of Bremerton

PREMIER SPONSORS

OC partners with WWU to offer four-year business degree

12 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

By Tim Kelly, Editor Western Washington University will open a new university center in partnership with Olympic College that will offer a fouryear program for a bachelor’s degree in business at the OC campus in Poulsbo.

The two schools officially announced creation of The Western Washington University Center at Olympic College in Poulsbo at an event July 17 at the Poulsbo campus.

Olympic College president David Mitchell said the new center will offer a four-year program leading to a business degree, similar to the partnership OC has with Washington State University in offering a four-year mechanical engineering degree at OC’s main campus in Bremerton.

“We’re really excited about it,” Mitchell said. “We anticipate our enrollment in our lower division programs that feed into (the business degree program) will grow. That’s what happened with our mechanical engineering program with Washington State.

“Students look at it as a seamless fouryear baccalaureate program in their local community.”

Bruce Shepard, president of Bellingham-based WWU, said at the July 17 announcement that “the Kitsap Peninsula

Tim Kelly photo

The Olympic College campus in Poulsbo will be the home of a new Western Washington University Center to offer area students a program to complete a bachelor’s degree in business. is one of the more underserved areas in the state” for higher education, but stressed that the purpose of the new partnership isn’t to expand his university’s operation.

“It’s not about us,” Shepard said. “It’s about taking the strengths we have and applying them to the state of Washington.”

Establishing a four-year business program in Kitsap is about “being where people are in their lives, and in their careers,” he said.

OC already had a relationship with

Western, through a partnership that offers a bachelor’s degree program in elementary education in Bremerton. The OC campus in Poulsbo had the space to accommodate an expanded business-degree program, and the new Western Washington University Center will give WWU an enhanced presence in the region.

“One of the reasons I was excited about this is with the unused capacity of our building, it made perfect sense to work with Western to utilize that space and offer a baccalaureate program to students in their home community,” Mitchell said.

OC has a 39,000 square-foot facility on its campus in Poulsbo, which opened in 2004 on a 20-acre site just north of the State Route 3 interchange with State Route 305.

Mitchell said the first WWU business courses will be offered in the winter term, and the four-year program will be fully in place for the 2014-15 academic year.

“They are bringing some full-time faculty down here,” he said. “They’re making a big commitment.”

In addition to the business program, Western may offer some courses in Poulsbo through its Huxley College of the OC/Western, page 13

COMMUNITY

from page 10 positive relationships,” Childs said. “If someone chooses us as their bank because of our community involvement, it’s such an honor.”

It’s those first-person relationships that help Barry Doll and his wife, Debbie, grow their business, an American Family Insurance agency in Silverdale. That’s one of the reasons they have booths at several community events throughout the year.

They’ve done Taste of Hood Canal, Allyn Days, Whaling Days, Safety Days at Kitsap Mall and military events, among others.

“At events, the atmosphere is informal.

You get to meet people in a relaxed setting,” Barry Doll said. “We like to meet the people we serve and we like going to events.”

Doll uses other out-of-the-box marketing strategies, including advertising on shopping carts at Albertsons and Fred Meyer. But he finds face-to-face to work best. So he’s done things like setting up in a company breakroom for a few hours to review employees’ insurance policies (he’s gained several customers that way), attending business networking events like Green Drinks and being involved with several chambers of commerce. He also reaches out directly to realtors and mortgage loan officers — and now that he’s back from a year in Afghanistan with the Navy Reserves, he plans to go around (with a bowl of candy, he says) to kick his in-person marketing up a notch.

“It’s the best strategy,” he said. “It helps to create the name recognition.”

Jim Ullrich knows all about name recognition. Ullrich, who owns Wild Birds in Gig Harbor, doesn’t stop at events — that’s just one part of his marketing and outreach strategy.

Sure, he’s been a vendor at various shows and fairs — he’s done the Kitsap home show for 19 years, for example. But he also does as many as 40 talks a year to clubs and other groups about mason orchard bees and backyard wildlife sanctuaries, writes articles for WestSound Home & Garden magazine and teaches programs at local schools. He also gives away scholarships to Peninsula High School seniors (63 so far) and hosts Kitsap Humane Society at his st ore on a regular basis for spay and neuter or adoption events (he also gives adopting families a gift certificate to help offset some of their adoption fee).

“It’s good karma. You have to have these outreach activities to survive,” he said.

“Over time, people will come in and say, ‘I heard you talk at (X) two years ago and haven’t come in yet,’” he said.

Ullrich feels that just like with any other marketing, one key is consistency and repetition, which is why he doesn’t think his strategy would work if he only did a few events a year.

“I’ve been in business since 1993. Part of being open that long is doing all the things in the community,” he said. “You have to get out there.”

Businesses sorting out how court’s ruling on DOMA affects them that FMLA rules will now extend to same-sex partners. In other states, it could be a much more complex issue. For example, how will the FMLA be applied for a legally married samesex couple living in a state that does not recognize their marriage?

Washington’s Marriage Equality Act requires businesses that offer health insurance coverage to spouses to also offer it to same-sex spouses as well. This puts us already one step ahead of most. But what is now different is the tax treatment. Under DOMA, this coverage was taxable income for the same-sex partner, and now it is not. One more health insurance issue to keep in mind has to do with COBRA. If your business is large enough, COBRA continuation coverage will also now extend to same-sex married couples.

Under the terms of DOMA, pre-tax benefits under Health Reimbursement Accounts, Health Saving Accounts, and Flex Benefit Plans could not be extended to same sex-spouses. With the change, they now can be accorded those benefits without incurring taxes on the income. Since these changes go into effect immediately, should same-sex spouses should be given an opportunity to join those benefit plans now, rather than wait for the next open enrollment period? That’s a good question, and it should be directed to your benefits advisor.

If a health or welfare plan is self-insured, it is generally regulated by federal laws rather than state laws. In this case, a Washington company could have legally limited insurance coverage to only traditional married couples, despite our state’s Marriage Equality Act, and a business in these circumstances might assume that it could continue to do so even after the Supreme Court’s decision. The concern would be that this would open the company up for a claim of discrimination under the equal protection clause. Check with your plan’s administrator for guidance, if you are in this situation.

Same-sex spouses also now have the same rights as opposite-sex spouses when it comes to pension plans and 401(k) plans. Unless they waive their consent, they are now entitled to a 50 percent survivor annuity protection on pension plans, and are automatically the 100 percent beneficiary on the 401(k) plan. If your company offers those plans, it’s time to review your participants’ beneficiaries.

In the employment benefits arena, we are

used to dealing with enrollment dates, effective dates, vesting dates, etc. Are all of the benefit changes mentioned above effective as of 6/26/13? Or are some retroactive to another date, like the first of the year? The answer is... who knows?

As far as implementing changes to your benefit plans, leave policies, and any other employment policies that apply to spouses or families, you need to revise those policies and implement the revisions immediately. But the question of whether this could be retroactive remains, and if so, how far back could it go?

In the case of the original lawsuit considered by the Supreme Court, United States v. Windsor, it does apply retroactively to estate taxes. With that in mind, there are many legal experts who speculate that employees who have paid payroll taxes on health benefits may now be able to apply for tax refunds. And if they can, it seems logical that employers would be able to do the same. We may see guidance soon from the IRS on this. Windsor dates back to 1996. Imagine the headache if it’s retroactive to then! Perhaps it will only be allowed for the currently open tax years of 2010 through 2012, which is a manageable period of time.

Steps that you can take now include reviewing all of your written policies to ensure they comprehensively include same-sex married couples equally. Review your benefits to ensure they also include equal coverage for same-sex couples and families. Consult with counsel or benefits advisors if you have employees in states that do not recognize same-sex marriage, to develop a plan on how

your company’s benefits will be applied fairly and legally. Collect the same verification documents for same-sex couples as you would for any other married couple — no more and no less.

I was recently asked if a business owner had religious beliefs that conflicted with same-sex marriage, could that person choose not to extend benefits in his company to a same-sex spouse? The simple answer is no. The Supreme Court has extended the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection under the law to same-sex couples; Washington voters and our Legislature have extended the rights and responsibilities of marriage to all, and our state’s laws protect against employment discrimination based on sexual identity. As President Kennedy said, “Change is the law of life.”

Lastly, I haven’t even touched upon all of the facets of this issue due to its breadth. It would take several articles to cover it all!

Employers should make sure to talk to their benefit advisors to get a full picture.

• Julie Tappero is the president and owner of West Sound Workforce, a professional staffing and recruiting company based in Poulsbo and Gig Harbor. She can be reached at julie@westsoundworkforce.com. View her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/jtappero.

The recommendations and opinions provided are based on general human resource management fundamentals, practices and principles, and are not legal opinions, advice, or guaranteed outcomes. Consult with your legal counsel when addressing legal concerns related to human resource issues and legal contracts.

OC/WESTERN

teach courses.

The partnership is another significant step, Mitchell said, in achieving OC’s goal to provide more four-year degree programs for students who want to stay in Kitsap County to complete their college education. Olympic College also offers a four-year degree program in nursing at its main campus.

“This has been a long time coming,” said state Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo), one of several speakers at the announcement ceremony. “You think about all the students who are placebound, or who can’t afford to go across to a four-year institution, or go south — something like this is so important.”

from page 12 Environment.

Jim Funaro, campus director for Olympic College Poulsbo, estimated there will be 100-120 students enrolled in Western’s upper-level business courses when the new program is up and running.

The Poulsbo campus had a total enrollment of about 1,000 in the fall, and about 750 full-time equivalent students.

There will be two full-time WWU faculty members and an admissions officer at OC, and Funaro said Western also will have adjunct faculty members come in to

West Sound Workforce

15 Years in Business!

Celebrating over 5000 successful job placements on the Kitsap Peninsula!

561320 – Temporary Help Services 561312 – Executive Search Services 561311 – Employment Agencies

Kitsap County

(360) 394-1882

Gig Harbor Office

(253) 853-3633

www.westsoundworkforce.com

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 13

By Julie Tappero Whether you agree with Justice Scalia that the Supreme Court’s Defense of Marriage Act decision was “legalistic argle-bargle” or you agree with Justice Ginsberg that DOMA had to go, there’s one thing we can all agree on: DOMA’s demise at the hands of the Supreme Court means those of us who manage employees must work through our own legalistic argle-bargle now.

In June, when the Supreme Court struck DOMA as unconstitutional for violating the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection, it had immediate impacts on the workplace. As a business owner, manager, supervisor or human resource professional, you need to be ready to make necessary changes and to answer your employees’ questions.

It’s a bit easier for us here in Washington, since we already recognize same-sex marriages. Employers here can probably assume that a same-sex marriage, whether it originated in our state or another state recognizing same-sex marriages, will be valid.

It’s a more difficult question for those businesses located in the 37 states that don’t recognize same-sex marriages. And it’s even more complicated for businesses that have employees in a mix of those two types of states.

How would a business provide benefits to same-sex spouses in one state, and not to those spouses in another? What happens if a samesex couple lives in a state where their marriage is recognized, but works in a state where it’s not? There are more questions right now than there are answers!

Although much will be clarified by rulemaking and litigation, there is some indication and solid speculation about what’s ahead.

Following the Court’s ruling, President Obama said, “I’ve directed the attorney general to work with other members of my cabinet to review all relevant federal statutes to ensure this decision, including its implications for federal benefits and obligations, is implemented swiftly and smoothly.”

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a federal benefit, obviously falls under the President’s statement. In our state it’s clear

Tips for setting — and pursuing — financial goals

By Glenn Anderson You can get lucky by finding a parking meter with time left on it. You can “luck out” by having nice weather on your vacation. You can even be lucky at love. But when it comes to financial matters, you’re better off not counting on Lady Luck — and focusing instead on setting and pursuing goals.

Here are some suggestions for establishing and pursuing your financial objectives: Be specific. You probably have a lot of ideas about what you want to do, but if you’re going to turn these wishes into reality, you need to get specific. So, for example, instead of telling yourself that you want to retire early, set a goal of retiring at, say, 62. You can then use this target number to help guide your overall investment strategy. To illustrate: You can determine that you need to invest a certain amount of money each year, and earn a certain rate of return, to be able to retire at 62. You can also estimate about how much money you can afford to withdraw from your investment accounts each year to sustain a retirement that begins at 62.

14 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

www.edwardjones.com

Prioritize your goals. Of course, you want to achieve all your financial goals — and you can have a better chance of doing so if you rank these goals in terms of both importance and timing. For example, you may want to send your kids to college, purchase a vacation home and still be able to retire at age 62. How should you allocate your resources to each of these goals? Should you invest more at any given time for a specific goal? What types of investments are best for each of these goals?

Prioritizing your goals can help you answer these and other questions — and help direct your overall investment strategy.

Be prepared to change your goals. Over time, your family and financial circumstances can change considerably — which means you shouldn’t be surprised, or alarmed, if you have to change your goals accordingly. And you’ll find it easier to maintain this flexibility if you’ve worked diligently to create an investment portfolio with sufficient resources to allow you to change direction, as needed.

Review your progress regularly. If you’re going to eventually achieve your goals, you absolutely need to measure your progress along the way. Are your investments performing the way you had anticipated? Are your goals becoming more expensive than you had initially envisioned? To achieve these goals, are you taking on too much — or too

Members SIPC

little — risk? To answer these types of questions, it’s a good idea to review your overall progress at least once a year and then make whatever adjustments may be necessary.

As you can see, it will take considerable effort to set, review and (hopefully) achieve your goals. And it can be somewhat complex, too, so you may want to work with a financial professional — someone who takes time to talk with you about your goals, understands

your risk tolerance and family situation, and has the training and experience necessary to help you work toward your objectives.

But in any case, think hard about your goals and how you might accomplish them.

And don’t delay in taking action — because goals are generally easier to attain if you have time on your side.

• Glenn Anderson is an Edward Jones financial advisor in Poulsbo.

How can younger investors cope with tough times?

By Ron Rada As Americans, we’re used to thinking that we will inevitably do better than our parents’ generation. But, for now at least, this type of progress may be facing some roadblocks — and this inability to gain ground, financially, can have real implications for today’s younger people and their approach to investing.

Before we get to the investment component, though, let’s quickly review the nature of the problem. In a nutshell, younger Americans — those in their 20s and 30s — have accrued

significantly less wealth than their parents did at the same age, according to a recent study by the Urban Institute. Here’s why: Bursting of the housing “bubble” — Many younger people who bought houses shortly before the housing bubble began deflating in 2006 now find themselves to be underwater on their mortgages — that is, they owe more than their houses are worth.

Consequently, they have less opportunity to build home equity — which has been an important means of building wealth for past generations.

Student loan debt — The median balance among all households with student loan debt is now more than $13,000, Investors, page 15

Know Who to Call When Your Bonds Are Called.

Your local Edward Jones financial advisors:

Reinvesting after your bonds are called can seem overwhelming if you’re not prepared. That’s why it makes sense to call Edward Jones. That way you can find an investment that fits your specific needs. All you have to do to get started is pick up the phone.

Ron Rada

Pat McFadden

Todd Tidball

Donald Logan

Jessie Nino

8079 E Main St Suite 111 Manchester

19740 7th Ave NE Suite 114 Poulsbo

18887 Hwy 305 NE Suite 100 Poulsbo

2416 NW Myhre Rd Suite 102 Silverdale

19740 7th Ave NE Suite 114 Poulsbo

360 871-0998 1-800-995-0242

360 779-6450

360 779-6123 1-800-248-6123

360 692-1216

360 779-6450

Erin R. Abrigo

Calvin Christensen

David Hawley

Teresa Bryant

Glenn Anderson, AAMS

5775 Soundview Drive Suite 203-C Gig Harbor

3100 NW Bucklin Hill Rd Suite 115 Silverdale

23781 Hwy 3 Suite 101 B Belfair

555 Pacific Ave Suite 101 Downtown Bremerton

19032 Jensen Way NE Poulsbo

253 853-7988

360 698-6092

360 275-7177

360 373-1263 1-888-373-1263

Edward A. Finholm

Denette Chu

Angela Sell

Jeff Thomsen, AAMS

Jay Seaton

25960 Ohio Ave NE Suite 101 Kingston

423 Sedgwick Rd Suite 121 Port Orchard

3276 Plaza Rd NW Suite 112 Silverdale

5971 Hwy 303 N Bremerton

600 Kitsap St Suite 102 Port Orchard

360 297-8664

360 876-4709

Debi Tanner 8202 NE State Hwy 104 Suite 106 Kingston

360 297-8677

Call or visit your local Edward Jones financial advisor today.

Michael F. Allen, AAMS 3500 Anderson Hill Rd Suite 101 Silverdale

360 308-9514

360 779-7894 1-866-779-7900

360 698-7408

360 475-0683 1-888-475-4450

360 876-7538

Schelley Dyess

Mary Beslagic

Lori L. Morgan, AAMS

Jim Thatcher

2299 Bethel Ave Port Orchard

8079 E Main St Manchester

360 876-3835 1-888-688-7817

360 871-0998 1-800-995-0242

213 Madison Ave N Suite 200 Bainbridge Island

2135 Sheridan Rd Suite E Bremerton

206 842-1255

360 373-6939

Is your IRA a tax time bomb? sustainable? Can we continue to run deficits, increase our nation’s debt and provide Medicare and health care for all AND make good on our promise of Social Security income to retirees with 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day, and yet at the same time maintain all-time low marginal income tax rates?

If I had to make an educated guess about the future, t hen I'd say our current economic situation just doesn't seem sustainable. I'm not a betting man, but if I were I'd bet that taxes in the future are likely to increase for some people, and that benefits for some people will likely decrease.

When the "fair standard" is applied, the "some people" will likely be hard-working Americans who have been responsible with their finances, those who have managed to save and live within their means and who have accumulated wealth and are deemed to have accumulated more than their "fair share."

Let's consider a hypothetical scenario. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are currently both 60 and getting ready to retire. In retirement they will both have guaranteed income from Social Security, and Mr. Jones will have a pension.

They've always been frugal, and as they review their budget, they realize they're going to be able to live comfortably off their guaranteed income sources in retirement.

Mr. Jones has always been a saver and has managed to save about $500,000 in his 401(k).

When I asked Mr. Jones what the purpose is for that $500,000, he said it is to make sure Mrs. Jones can supplement her income after he dies and continue to maintain her standard of living.

He realizes when he t urns 70-1/2 he must begin taking required minimum distributions or face a 50 percent penalty from the IRS. If it were not for the required minimum distribution, then Mr. and Mrs. Jones would have no plans to take money out of this account.

INVESTORS

or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.

Because you typically contribute pretax dollars to your 401(k) or other plan, the more you put in, the lower your taxable income. Plus, your money can grow on a tax-deferred basis.

Here’s another suggestion: Don’t be “over cautious” with your investments. Many younger investors, apparently nervous due to market volatility of recent years, have become quite conservative, putting relatively large amounts of their portfolio into vehicles that offer significant protection of principal but little in the way of growth potential. Of course, the financial markets will always fluctuate, and downturns will occur — but when you’re young, and you have many decades in which to invest, you have time to overcome shortterm declines. To achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you will unquestionably need some growth elements in your portfolio, with the exact amount based on your risk tolerance and specific objectives.

These aren’t the easiest times for young people. Nonetheless, with diligence, perseverance and a measure of sacrifice, you can gain some control over your financial fortunes — so look for your opportunities.

• Ron Rada is an Edward Jones financial advisor in Manchester.

from page 14 according to the Pew Research Center — and debt levels are much higher for recent graduates. It can take years to pay off these debts — and the money being used for debt payments is money that can’t go toward building wealth for long-term goals.

Wage stagnation — For several years, the job market has been pretty bad for younger workers. And even those with jobs aren’t making much headway, because wages, adjusted for inflation, have largely stagnated for over a decade. Less income clearly equates to less opportunities for investing and creating wealth.

Still, even given these somewhat grim realities, younger people can help themselves build resources for the future and make progress toward their long-term goals. If you’re in this group, what can you do?

For starters, pay yourself first. Set up an automatic payment each month from your checking or savings account into an investment vehicle, such as an IRA. At first, you may only be able to afford small sums — but, over time, you may be pleasantly surprised at the amount you’ve saved.

Next, every time your salary goes up, try to increase the amount you put into your 401(k)

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are conservative investors at this point in their life and like so many of the people we have met, they say they're not trying to hit any home runs w ith their retirement savings. They just want to earn a fair rate of return and outpace inflation. So for this example we're going to assume a hypothetical 5 percent rate of return per year on their investments. We will also assume that Mr. Jones lives to age 86.

His $500,000 IRA, growing at 5 percent per year, assuming no distributions, will be worth $814,447 by the time he is 70 years old. Based on current calculations his required minimum distribution at age 70 would be $29,724. If all he does is take the required minimum distribution every year until age 86, then he will end up taking $735,979 of taxable distributions from his IRA over his lifetime.

Because Mr. and Mrs. Jones don't need the money to live on, they pay taxes on the IRA distribution and then turn around and purchase a certificate of deposi t (CD) with the net after-tax distribution, which is also paying 5 percent. (I know 5 percent is unrealistic in today's interest-rate environment, but we're only using it as an illustration here.)

Because this after-tax money is now in a CD, Mr. Jones will receive a 1099 at the end of every year and have to pay tax on the interest that he earns in that CD. When he dies at age 86, he will still have approximately $818,848 dollars remaining in his IRA. So assuming tax rates stay where they are, he will pay $191,000 in taxes just based on his required minimum

distributions.

The after-tax money growing in the CD will cause him to pay taxes on interest earned over his lifetime of an additional $68,185. And the remaining balance in his IRA of $818,848, assuming his wife has predeceased him and that his adult chil dren who inherit this balance at the time he dies choose to take a lump sum distribution and pay 35 percent taxes in one year, would create an additional $286,597 in taxes.

Today at age 60, Mr. Jones has an IRA valued at $500,000 and based on the scenario above, this IRA will cause he and his family a total tax liability of $546,427. In the scenario we assume the tax rates do not increase in the future alth ough they likely will.

By intelligently designing a strategic IRA to Roth IRA conversion where they pay taxes from non-IRA resources and convert over a number of years, they are able to reduce this projected future tax liability to just $141,532, as well as reduce his families' future taxes by $404,895 and increase his after-tax net worth by $434,555.

As you can see in this scenario, converting an IRA to a Roth IRA is a tremendous opportunity. This is probably why in 2010, 86year-old billionaire Charlie Munger, who is a business partner with Warren Buffett, told attendees at the Berkshire Hathaway meeting that he would be converting an old IRA to a Roth IRA.

IRA, page 16

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 15

By Jason R. Parker Most of the people we serve tell us they don't mind paying their "fair share" of taxes, but then they follow up by saying, "but I'd prefer not to pay more than my fair share." I think the term "fair" is kind of funny. I've learned that taxes always seem fair as long as I'm not the one having to pay them. I remember my Dad used to tell me, "Life is not fair, but it favors the prepared mind." I also recently read that "ignorance may be bliss, but it's expensive," and not planning or ignoring your future tax liability could create a future tax time bomb.

When I talk about retirement accounts, I am generally referring to accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, TSPs, and 403(b)s. These are accounts in which you have contributed pretax dollars and those dollars are growing taxdeferred, but when you begin taking money out of these accounts they will be 100 percent taxable as ordinary income and taxed at your effective income tax rate.

According to the taxfoundation.org, the top marginal income tax rate in 1950 was 91 percent, by 1980 the top marginal income tax rate was 70 percent, and today the top marginal income tax rate is 39.6 percent.

Accor ding to the USdebtclock.org, our national debt is currently $16.9 trillion and growing by about $1 trillion per year.

In a recent report from the Social Security board of trustees, they reported "The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds are projected to become depleted in 2033, unchanged from last year, with 77 percent of benefits still payabl e at that time."

Is this economic world we live in

The poison within and the exorcism

By Dan Weedin Last month, I noticed a strange looking sore right below my dog’s right eye.

Captain Jack is a Jack Russell terrier and not prone to complaining (unless he is hungry or a menacing rabbit has entered our property). The sore was bleeding a little bit, very puffy, and scary for his owner.

On closer inspection, it appeared to be more of an abscess. We thought he might have been bitten by something. A hasty trip the next day to the veterinarian was the next step.

Dr. Craig Adams at the Poulsbo Animal Clinic is Jack’s physician and quickly diagnosed a different problem. Our feisty canine had broken his tooth on something and through that tooth had developed an infection. The infection went up through the cheek and manifested itself in the sore we saw. Dr. Craig was quick to point out that this was a pretty tough dog. If it were one of us humans, we’d be out of our minds in pain and begging for surgery. He gave us some medications for the short term, and we scheduled surgery for the next week. As quickly as it had come, it went away as surgery was successful. Heck, Jack didn’t even need a cone of shame!

Infections are a poison. Once propagated, the venom spreads to all parts of the infected area, and if left to its own devices, will compromise the entire body.

Dogs and humans are not the only ones that are susceptible to infections and the poison they carry. Business organizations are, too. Allow me to explain …

There are many things that can poison your business. They start small, but like an infection can spread quickly and left to its own devices consume your culture and damage your business. Consider these “poisons:” • Drama and conflict between employees • Rumors and innuendo • Poor working environment • Anemic communication • Bad leadership • Inconsistent discipline • Apathy Once you get going, it’s easy to keep adding bullet points. I think you get my point.

All of these (and all the ones I failed to mention that you might be able to add to the list) have the capacity to cause you, your employees, your customers, and your community a great deal of angst. The good news is, that just like Dr. Craig did for Captain Jack, you too can exorcise this demon. The bad news is that it’s not always pleasant.

Here are my 5 simple rules to extricate the invidious poison to your company…

Take a hard look at yourself and make sure that you’re not the problem. This

takes courage, self-confidence and scrutiny.

It’s basically a soul-searching experience.

Often, you need help from a coach, mentor, or colleague. However, it’s where you need to start to determine if your leadership, behavior and modeling are enhancing or hurting your business.

Deal with conflict immediately. I’ve known very nice, very smart, and savvy business owners that literally avoided conflict like the plague. Conflict among employees especially must be dealt with swiftly, and with some skill (see Item 1 above). If you’re not skillful in this area, find someone in your organization that is.

Conflict left unabated is the quickest form of infection.

Take the pulse. The “pulse” is the heartbeat of your operation. Are your employees happy? Are they engaged in the business, or simply punching the clock? Are you providing a challenging and rewarding experience, or are they bored and seeking new employment while you aren’t looking?

You need to be skilled at observation and asking questions; demanding honest answers and respecting them; and able to deal rapidly with areas that need fixing.

Have fun. I have a client that has a foosball table in the middle of all the cubicles for his employees. There are other stations in and around the work area meant to offer a respite from the labors. His break area offers unique coffees, teas and other snacks. No wonder his company consistently is ranked as one of the top places to work in the Seattle area. What do you do to promote a fun environment?

Gone are the days of working people until they drop. You need to balance a mix of fun with the hard work that is being done. You will find that by doing so, the efforts during work as well as the results are better.

Stay vigilant. You can’t do this selfanalysis and clean up just once and forget about it. The poison has a slippery way of trying to work itself back in. You must be vigilant. That requires scheduling some of the behaviors and activities into your calendar and then following through. That means making real changes that become part of your culture and sustainable. The great business guru Peter Drucker once said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Make sure you’re eating a healthy breakfast!

Bottom Line — I didn’t wait to take Captain Jack into see Dr. Craig as I was scared that doing so would be deleterious to his health. His open wound was as clear to me as your issues should be to you, yet too often yours are ignored or swept under the rug. Stop sweeping and start acting. By investing your time and effort into my five simple rules, you will join Jack on the road to good health and eating crunchy dog treats.

Or if you prefer, lots and lots of success!

• Dan Weedin is a Poulsbo-based strategist, speaker, and mentor. He coaches business leaders and executives to become stronger leaders, grow their businesses, and enrich their lives. He was inducted into the Million Dollar Consultant™ Hall of Fame in 2012. You can reach Dan at 360-697-1058; e-mail at dan@danweedin.com or visit his web site at www.DanWeedin.com.

16 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

North Kitsap Soroptimists install new officers for 2013-14 Soroptimists International of Greater North Kitsap recently installed the 2013/2014 new board officers at the beginning of the service club’s fiscal year. Elected officers are Cindy Brooks and Sigrid Howard as co-presidents, Pat Dibert as secretary, Michelle Oss-Payne as treasurer, Amy Allen as director for membership, Kim Campbell as director for program and Jan Harrison as past president.

The Soroptimists group has been sponsoring “Bras for a Cause” for the past seven years and “Baubles, Boots and Bags” for the first time in November 2012 to raise funds for donations to local service organizations and programs helping women and children. Any nonprofit organizations interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to visit the group’s website at www.signk.org for more information.

Soroptimists International of Greater North Kitsap is a group of professional and business women, actively employed or retired, who are improving the lives of women and children in our community.

IRA

from page 15 Remember this scenario above assumes tax rates stay the same. Do you believe it is likely that marginal income tax rates will stay at alltime low rates? If you are like me, and you think taxes may go up in the future, then Mr. and Mrs. Jones and family will end up paying even more taxes by not converting to a Roth.

Marginal income tax rates are currently at an all-time historical low. This may be the opportunity of a lifetime to think about defusing your retirement account tax time bomb.

Please do not take action based on this information. I've learned that tax planning, especially with retirement accounts, really depends on your specific situation. So please, before you consider converting your IRA to a

Roth IRA, be sure to sit down with an expert and make sure it works within the context of your overall financial, estate and tax plan.

• Jason Parker is the president of Parker Financial LLC, a fee-based registered investment advisory firm working primarily in wealth management for retirees. His office is located in Silverdale. The opinions and information voiced in this material are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual, and do not constitute a solicitation for any securities or insurance products. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, no representation is made as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your trusted professional for advice and further information. Parker is insurance-licensed and holds his series 65 securities license. He offers annuities, life and long-term care insura nce as well as investment services. Follow Jason’s blog at www.thriving-in-retirement.com.

The importance of libraries in a digital age

By Jeff Brody Kitsap Regional Library More than 20,000 librarians and other library employees recently attended the annual conference of the American Library Association in Chicago.

For people who haven’t visited a library since they were children or teens, it may be hard to imagine the c o n t i n u e d importance of public libraries in the age of the Internet, Amazon’s online bookstore and Google/Bing search.

But conside r this: If you are 45 years old and you believe kindergarten classes of today are just like they were when you experienced kindergarten in 1973, you are in for a big surprise. In the same way, if you haven’t visited a library in 20 or 30 years, you need to shake off the image you have in mind because the libraries of your memory don’t exist anymore.

The modern library is not a dark, musty-smelling book ware house patrolled by the quiet police. Take a look at KRL’s plans for the new Kingston library space

and you’ll see a light, airy welcoming space that encourages people not only to browse the collection but also curl up with a book or meet with others to learn together or plan. It is connected to the Internet with a high-speed, high-capacity portal you can use if you have a laptop, tablet or mobile device; if you don’t own such a device, you can use computers at your public library to connect to jobs or social networks.

While still offering more than 525,000 physical items patrons can borrow, KRL’s modern library system also has collections of thousands of ebooks and downloadable audiobooks, and millions of songs that you can download and use for free.

New community libraries become gathering places and spur ec onomic development. New libraries regularly see

your Internet search, but can those search engines always find the information you are looking for quickly and can you be assured the answer is accurate and factual?

KRL still gets about 115,000 reference inquiries each year and helps Kitsap residents find answers to questions that come up on their jobs or as they work on school projects. Our reference librarians have even helped local authors write more accurate and detailed boo ks.

The art of library reference is not dead.

See this article from the Chicago Tribune: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/201306-22/entertainment/ct-ae-0623-borrellilibrary-20130622_1_desk-referencelibrarian • Jeff Brody is Director of Community Relations for Kitsap Regional Library.

Pew Research study shows young adults support, use libraries Library books, library databases, library spaces — individuals aged 16-29 are more likely than their elders to use all three, according to the latest Pew Internet and American Life report on young Americans’ relationships with libraries.

Professional Fiber Repair

“We offer the most complete professional technical services available on the Kitsap Peninsula.”

More than 80 percent of this age group believe it is important to have professional librarians help individuals find the information they need.

The study provides lots of data to confirm that young people “born with the chip” perceive libraries as important parts of their community and their information ecology, including the persistence of physical books and resistance to shifting resources online.

“Younger Americans’ reading habits and library use are still anchored by the printed page,” said Kathryn Zickuhr, research analyst at the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project and, with Kristen Purcell and Lee Raine, report co-author. “Some of this stems from the demands of school or work, yet some likely lies in their current personal preferences. And this group’s priorities and expectations for libraries likewise reflect a mix of traditional and technological services.”

Major findings from the report, released June 25, include: • Younger patrons are significantly

more likely than older Americans to use libraries as places to sit and read, study, or watch or listen to media; 60 percent of younger patrons say they go to the library do this, compared with 45 percent of library visitors over 30.

• 67 percent of younger Americans ages 16-29 say they would be interested in a library-based digital media lab where patrons could create and upload new digital content; some 27 percent say they would be “very likely” to use such a resource.

• 44 percent of library visitors under age 30 have used a library’s computer hardware, internet access, or a public Wi-Fi network, compared with just 27 percent of those age 30 and older.

• 85 percent of 16-17 year-olds read at least one print book in the past year, making them significantly more likely to have read a book in this format than any other age group.

To see more details on the survey: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/201 3/06/25/younger-americans-libraryservices/.

EV charging stations installed at Uptown Gig Harbor

— Caroline Rivers Estimator/Technician

360-373-2137 • NW-COMMNET.COM

Uptown Gig Harbor, in collaboration with Charge Northwest and ChargePoint, has installed four electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the shopping center parking lot near GreenHouse Restaurant at 4793 Point Fosdick Drive NW. These EV charging stations are the first ones located in Gig Harbor and are able to charge any electric vehicle currently available in the U.S. Motorists will be able to pay to use the station with apps on their smartphones, with a ChargePoint card or credit card. While their cars are charging, guests will be able to enjoy the amenities at Uptown including restaurants, shopping and a movie theatre.

Washington state has 3,559 registered EV drivers according to Polk Research, the second-largest number of EV drivers in the US. Pierce County has the third-largest EV population in the state, behind King and Snohomish counties. The chargers at Uptown Gig Harbor are the only available public EV chargers between Port Orchard and Tacoma and are conveniently located just off Highway 16 at the Olympic Drive exit.

Uptown was constructed using many LEED standards and the installation of the electric vehicle recharge stations reinforces Uptown’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 17

• Private campus networks • Fiber restoration • Fiber engineering and design • Rapid response to customer’s needs

360-613-5220 • TELEBYTE.COM

double the traffic and activity of the older facilities they replace. Where libraries are located strategically in areas that were in decline, as they were in Boise, Idaho, the new facilities provided a boost that generated redevelopment and new business activity.

All of this is the result of a relatively small cost to local taxpayers. The typical Kitsap house hold pays about $80 per year toward library service. If you borrow, instead of purchase, a few books, a few DVDs and a couple of music CDs in a year, you will get more in return than you’ve spent for your share of KRL’s operations.

But even more valuable, KRL makes a world of information accessible to you and helps you navigate that world. Google or Bing may return thousands of hits to

Organic bakery may take over vacant but messy kitchen Couple’s interest in starting new business resulted from wife’s dietary changes during cancer treatment

18 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

By Tim Kelly, Editor A bakery might return soon to downtown Port Orchard, where a cancer survivor who loves sweets hopes to set up shop in the former Morningside Bakery location on Bay Street.

Central Kitsap residents Clifford and Jo Ridlon started DpiO Bakeries earlier this year to make the kind of baked goods that Jo loved, although without all the chemical

Baker Tina Lofthus decorates a custom-order birthday cake as Jo and Cliff Ridlon watch her artistry in the commercial kitchen the couple rents in Bremerton for their new business, DpiO Bakeries. The Ridlons are looking for a retail location for their bakery and are negotiating a lease for the vacant building in downtown Port Orchard that was the site of Morningside Bakery until it closed in January.

additives she eliminated from her diet while battling breast cancer.

“I wanted my Christmas cookies, and my sweet treats,” Ridlon said. Since it was so hard to find goodies she craved that met her dietary restrictions, she and her husband decided to make their own, and start a business doing it.

Her cancer treatment included chemotherapy, radiation and multiple

Tim Kelly photo

surgeries, but Ridlon is convinced she’s cancer-free today at least in part because she followed the dietary advice of a Seattle naturopath recommended by her oncologists at Peninsula Cancer Center.

That advice was to eat organic foods as much as possible, and avoid anything that contained hormones — which could feed the type of cancer she had. Starting in March 2011, around the same time she started chemo, Ridlon adhered strictly to the regimen, eating only organic, allergenfree and gluten-free foods.

“When I changed everything, (the cancer) kind of went away,” she said. “It was pretty impressive.”

At a checkup in April after her most recent surgery, the pathology report showed no sign of cancer in Ridlon — and she said doctors originally had found a nearly 7-centimeter tumor they described as aggressive.

Ridlon's husband, a shipyard worker in Bremerton for 41 years who plans to retire soon, has his own health issues — he was diagnosed with prostate cancer several years ago, though his condition has required only monitoring and no active treatment so far. He's somewhat of a convert to organic as well, though not to the full extent of her commitment.

"The hormones and chemicals and stuff that can definitely cause cancer, if you're eating organic you're not going to get that," said Jo Ridlon, a former shipyard worker herself.

They chose their bakery's name because DpiO (pronounced "dee-pie-oh") is a playful acronym for what her children often said to reassure her when considering food choices at restaurants: "Don't panic, it's organic."

At DpiO, which also has a planned Silverdale location on Bayshore Drive, customers can be similarly assured about the pastries, bread and other baked goods. What they crave will be just as sweet and delectable, but made from healthier ingredients.

The bakery's website (dpiobakery.com) says "Our mission is to offer those who have a sweet tooth and are on particular persnickety diets an alternative to going without. By eliminating and replacing all chemically processed, artificial, modified, and allergy-

laden ingredients with ingredients that are all natural, organic, and allergen-free."

While the Ridlons — who own and manage the business but aren't bakers themselves — looked for a retail location, DpiO has been operating a few days a week in a rented a commercial kitchen in Bremerton. They've been specializing in custom-order cakes and baked goods for catered events, and occasionally have sold pastries by the shipyard gate.

The Ridlons got some guidance in setting up their business from the Veterans Business Outreach Center that’s part of Capital Community Development, a Seattle organization that helps entrepreneurs.

Jo Ridlon said they are negotiating a lease and would like to be open for business in the Port Orchard location by Sept. 1 if possible, but the kitchen and equipment there was left in such an awful mess that the extensive cleanup required will be an expensive undertaking.

“It’s a good location,” Cliff Ridlon said.

“It’s right by the (passenger) ferry, where all the yard workers go.”

The building went to a foreclosure auction recently, and wound up being purchased for more than $300,000 by Mansour Samadpour, who owns several properties downtown including the longvacant building in the same block that’s being renovated to become the Port Orchard Public Market.

Ridlon said they had considered putting their bakery in the market before they found out the Morningside Bakery building was available with an already-equipped kitchen.

"We want to kind of connect with the market," she said, possibly by having a sampling of baked goods displayed there to entice visitors two doors down to DpiO’s potential location. "We're planning on hopefully making some bread for the seafood restaurant that's going in the market."

Due to construction delays at the market building, the new bakery could open its doors first.

"It would be nice to be open before the market," Ridlon said. "Hopefully getting us in and going would help bring in people for the market, too."

August 2013 Edition

Events And Activities VISIT the NEW HBA Website! www.kitsaphba.com On Line Registrations!

DEADLINE 8/12 BUILDER BEST AWARDS APPLICATIONS DUE See HBA for details

Going on NOW Peninsula Home & Remodel Expo space Sales! Don’t miss out!

Visit: www.kitsaphba.com to register.

Thursday, August 8 Special Date Developers Council, 7:30 a.m.

NPDES II Permit 101 RSVP to HBA Friday, August 9 Expo Vendors Must have 50% deposit paid to retain booth.

Monday, August 12 Applications Due! 2nd Annual Builder Best Award Applications to HBA by 5 p.m.

Thursday, August 29 Executive Cmt. Mtg., 2 p.m.

Gov. Aff. Cmt. Mtg., 2:30 p.m.

Board of Directors Mtg,, 3:30 p.m.

REMEMBER! Builders Best Awards Applications DUE August 12th VISIT the NEW HBA Website! www.kitsaphba.com Online Event Registrations!

CALL FOR VENDORS!

Peninsula Home & Remodel Expo October 4, 5, & 6

From the peak of the housing market to the valley, the Peninsula Home & Remodel Expo has been here to help area residents and business owners find the services they need to keep their investment in its best working order! It’s that time again! With over three decades of experience managing the Peninsula’s home expos, the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County is excited to offer the 2013 Peninsula Home & Remodel Expo.

Our shows have a nice cross section of exhibitors connecting interested visitors to anything from the latest housing developments being built in the region, to roofing services, to cutlery and so much more! The Peninsula Home & Remodel Expo is a great low cost investment for area businesses to connect with their next client or reconnect with clients from the past.

We work hard for you! The Expo is promoted through targeted multimedia advertising in print, online and on television. We also use the tried and true area reader-boards, strategically placed signs, as well as a heavily promoted website with all the Expo’s details. We are on social media as well!

The Expo is an attraction because we keep it affordable with low ticket prices, amply available discount admission coupons, and FREE parking. As always we will have on-trend high quality seminars to entice Kitsap’s citizens to come and learn more. This Expo provides its vendors with generous set-up time, a full 21 hours of show time, and plenty of time to tear-down when it wraps up.

Year after year vendors find that being in our Expos is the most important advertising they do. Many participate in both this one and the Peninsula Home & Garden Expo (March) because it’s how they fill their work calendar or boost their sales. Over just one weekend vendors in the Peninsula Home & Remodel Expo will have the opportunity to interact with thousands of Kitsap residents interested in projects or items for their home and lifestyle. The rich array of vendors makes this an Expo you won’t want to miss. What are you waiting for? Sign up today! Space will become limited quickly.

All required forms are available on our website at www.kitsaphba.com.

Just click on the Peninsula Home & Remodel icon on the home page and you will find all the documents you need to reserve your booth today. All vendors will be taken in a first-in/first-placed order. Don’t delay! Submit all your paperwork now. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to call Katie Revis, HBA Expo Coordinator, at 360-479-5778. She is looking forward to assisting you.

THE 2013 FORD F-SERIES TRUCKS MORE POWERFUL, CAPABLE & ADVANCED.

PORT ORCHARD FORD

1215 Bay Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366 • 360-876-4484

brucetitus.com

2013 OFFICERS President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Baglio First Vice President . . . . . . Judy Mentor Eagleson Second Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Leage Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randy Biegenwald Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dee Coppola, CGA Immediate Past Pres. . . . Wayne Keffer, CGR, CAPS

2013 BUILDER & ASSOC. DIRECTORS Karla Cook • Judy Granlee-Gates Joe Hurtt • David Godbolt, CAPS, CGP, CGB, CGR Berni Kenworthy • Miriam Villiard Kevin Ryan • Leslie Peterson, CGA Shawnee Spencer • Jim Way, CGB

2013 STATE DIRECTORS Robert Baglio • Kevin Hancock Lary Coppola • Judy Mentor Eagleson Justin Ingalls, RCS • Wayne Keffer, CGR, CAPS John Leage • Ron Perkerewicz

2013 ALTERNATE STATE DIRECTOR John Armstrong • Walter Galitzki Brent Marmon • Greg Livdahl • Jim Heins

LIFE STATE DIRECTORS Bill Parnell

2013 NATIONAL DIRECTORS Robert Baglio • John Leage

2013 ALTERNATE NATNL. DIRECTORS Michael Brown • Jeff Coombe

LIFE DIRECTORS Rick Courson • Jim Smalley • Bob Helm Bill Parnell • Larry Ward John Schufreider • Dori Shobert

2013 COUNCIL & CHAIRS Build a Better Christmas. . . Randy Biegenwald Built Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter Galitzki

By Laws & Nominations . . Wayne Keffer, CGR, CAPS Developers Council. . . . . . . . . Berni Kenworthy Golf Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shawnee Spencer Govt. Affairs Cmte . . . Judy Mentor Eagleson Remodelers Ccl Chair . . . . . . . Walter Galitzki Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Leage Parade of Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dee Coppola Peninsula H&G Expo. . . . . . . . . . Ardi Villiard Peninsula H&R Expo . . . . . . . . . Dee Coppola

HBA STAFF Executive Vice President . . . Teresa Osinski, CGP tosinski@kitsaphba.com Events and Administrative Assistant . . . Katie Revis hbaevents@kitsaphba.com Administrative Coordinator. . . Kathleen Brosnan info@KitsapHBA.com

Home Builders Association of Kitsap County 5251 Auto Center Way, Bremerton, WA 98312 360-479-5778 • 800-200-5778 FAX 360-479-0313 www.KitsapHBA.com

August 2013 Edition

KITSAP HBA UPDATE The Kitsap Home Builder ’s Association has been busy the last few months working on a The BJC Group number of issues with our local jurisdictions.

The 2013 President Developer ’s Council, which deals with zoning and land use issues and convenes the first Thursday of every month, has been working closely with the Kitsap County Development Engineering in an effort to simplify and streamline the Site Development Activity Permit (SDAP) process as it relates to single family homes. This process has many inconsistencies, is difficult to navigate, and can be very expensive.

Kitsap County is working with the local engineering community, receiving their input, feedback, and recommendations in an effort to improve this process, shorten the timeline for approval, and hopefully make it less costly. This review is still underway, progress is being made and we know the efforts will pay off for all involved in the SDAP process; engineers, developers, contractors, and the County alike.

The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) has been busy interviewing the local candidates for City Council positions in Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Bainbridge Island. It has also interviewed the candidates for the State Senate seat vacated by Derek Kilmer. Look to the articles by the Government Affairs Director, Judy Eagleson, for the GAC’s and the Board’s endorsements for these positions. These races are taken seriously as their outcome will affect all of us. The GAC engages in spirited discussions about our endorsements and always keeps the interest of the construction industry and business paramount in our decision making process.

The HBA has also been busy working with the cities of Port Orchard and Bremerton in their drafting of the local amendments to the 2012 State Building and Fire Codes. We appreciate both the City of Port Orchard and the City of Bremerton’s willingness to listen to our concerns regarding the proposed local amendments and in each case modifying their proposed amendments to address our concerns. These local amendments have been crafted to ensure life safety is still maintained, but doing this in such a manner that does not impose costly changes which do not necessarily achieve the desired results.

The HBA is also holding classes to educate our members on the most significant changes that go into affect with the adoption of the 2012 International Building Code and International Residential Code. These classes are very informative and are an efficient way to become informed of the latest changes in the building code.

Stay informed, stay educated, make a difference, and have your voice heard, get involved at your local HBA.

Robert Baglio

Teresa Osinski

Don’t miss this chance to have your work be recognized as one of the Builders Best!

Executive Using a “blind judging” Vice President process, the Builders Best awards are peer given and a GREAT way to market the high quality work of your company. The application deadline has been extended to Monday, August 12. The process is pretty simple and relies on your pictures to tell the story and some additional, brief, written information. Last year ’s winners have proudly displayed their awards in home show booths, company headquarters, advertising, and in their open houses. Be recognized! Enter the competition. If you’re a real estate professional working with a builder or an architect proud of the floor plans you’ve crafted, encourage your builder to enter these awards! We may not have a parade but these awards are a great tool to set your project apart from the others.

Below is a list of the builders that won awards in the 2012 Builders Best process. There are many categories available to enter.

These were the categories that had winners last year. Do you know these builders and these projects? Enter the 2013 awards and become one of Kitsap’s Builders Best winners!

CGP

2012 Winners Multi-Family — Bremerton Housing Authority for the new apartment options at the new Bay Vista Development in Bremerton.

Speculative New Construction under $300K w/land — Cook Cook Construction, Inc. Construction Inc., for their well appointed, affordable, family focused construction.

Judges Choice — Custom Home Best Value — Cook Construction Inc., for completing a client’s dream home with exceptional craftsmanship on a very tight budget.

Custom Home $300,000$499,000 — Armstrong Homes of Bremerton for their beautiful beach escape, built on a difficult, narrow, sloped lot.

EDUCATION UPDATE Knowledge is power; power is the competitive advantage Check out www.biaw.com and click on the BIAW Education icon at the top of the page for information on industry required and optional courses.

Contact the HBA if you need First Aid/CPR recertification or want us to schedule some other training here in Bremerton.

Members get preferential pricing for all the courses offered, but most classes are also available to non-members too. On the mandatory side, courses cover a wide array of topics from Erosion Control to Workplace Safety. For elective courses you can take anything from business management to lien law. The choices are vast.

NAHB also offers an assortment of high quality, on-line classes so you can get the training you need without the added cost and disruption of travel. Check out their site at www.nahb.org/elearning.

2nd Annual HBA Builders Best Awards!

Kitsap Trident Homes

Custom Home $500K$800K — Kitsap Trident Homes for a spectacular home with a keen eye to detail

Custom Home over $800K — Kitsap Trident Homes for incredible craftsmanship and meeting the demands of an exacting client.

Custom Home Built Green® Construction — Cedar Bay Homes for a beautiful, sustainable and healthy home. Every detail was considered proving you can have green, classic, and functional all in one.

Applications for the 2013 awards are due on Monday, August 12. Contact the HBA hbaevents@kitsaphba.com or 360-479-5778.

Cedar Bay Homes

for

details

at

August 2013 Edition

Government Affairs Committee

Endorsements

Judy Mentor Eagleson Mentor Company 2013 Chair

In my article last month I talked about how our interview process works. While we still have some races to consider I am pleased to announce the following endorsements by the Homebuilders Affordable

Housing Council of Kitsap County.

• 25th Legislative Senate — Jan Angel • Bremerton Mayor — Patty Lent • Bremerton Council Position 2 - Leslie Daugs • Bremerton Council Position 3 - Mike Strube • Bremerton Council Position 4 - Greg Wheeler • Bremerton Council Position 5 - Dino Davis • Port Orchard Council Position At Large — Jerry Childs • Port Orchard Council Position 3 - Rob Putaansuu • Bainbridge Island Council South Ward — Roger Townsend.

As I mentioned last month, some endorsements are easy, some very difficult. Nevertheless, whether we endorse a particular candidate or not, we really appreciate each interview and would like to thank each candidate for their time and energy and most importantly, their willingness to step forward and serve our great community. Now please do your part. You should have received your Primary Election ballot in the mail. Please take a moment to complete that ballot and return it by August 6th.

Register & Vote!

It’s your responsibility.

August 6 - Primary Election October 7 - If you missed registration for the primary, today is last day for reg./updating October 18 - Ballots mailed out & Accessible Voting Units at available voting centers October 28 - Deadline for in-person new Washington State voter registration. NEW ONLY November 5 - General Election

24 hour emergency clean-up

ACTION

O T ff In he eri Se Be ng rv st ic e

The impacts of the National Affordable Health Care Act are still largely unknown and elements of the act are still in flux including when certain things kick in. Some of you have your health insurance through your membership in the HBA by enrollment in the BIAW Health Insurance Program, and that is a good thing! Some of you are trying to decide what to do and if you will stay with the insurance provider you have, be forced to change, or elect to change. Members of the HBA have a high quality option that may be just the thing they need. Recently EPK & Associates and Capital Benefit Services compiled a list of FACTS to help dispel some of the confusion out there. Take a look at this list and if you’re not already insured through the BIAW Health Insurance Program, call the HBA to get an application today. Quotes are FREE and available to you whether you’re a member yet or not. You may find that you can save money and improve coverage by joining the HBA and electing to enroll in the BIAW Health Insurance Program.

Fact: The BIAW Health Insurance Program has been given the approval from the Washington Insurance Commissioner’s office to continue as one of the very few “bona fide” association health plans in the state of Washington post health care reform. As part of your due diligence, feel free to ask other association health plans that may present themselves as an option for your employee benefits, if they can provide a similar approval letter.

Fact: The BIAW Health Insurance Program was used as the example for all other association health plans in the market as the path forward if they wished to gain approval in 2014.

Fact: Many other association health plans in the state of Washington will face difficulties in continuing to operate beyond 2014 in their current format.

Fact: The BIAW Health Insurance Program has been on the forefront of health care reform policy on both a state and national level and is well suited to guide our entire membership with resources and advice from the most basic health care reform related questions to the most complex.

Fact: The BIAW Health Insurance Program will be a great place for employers of all sizes to access competitive pricing and comprehensive benefits plans that will fit all budgets for many years to come.

Fact: The BIAW Health Insurance Program greatly values your participation in the program, is honored to have your business and will continue to work hard to provide you with the industry’s best pricing and service.

EPK & Associates and Capital Benefit Services understand that health care reform places challenges upon your business; they look forward to helping our members navigate the uncharted waters of health care reform while you give your family and employees confidence in their health care.

Hand-Selected Granite from Brazil Directly Imported for You! After our trip to Brazil, containers of granite are arriving at our showroom in Poulsbo. Discover a vast array of tile selections, slab granite and quartz, stone samples and custom countertops.

SERVICES CORPORATION

Maintenance

Landscape Maintenance

• Minor plumbing, electrical and carpentry • Minor roof repair and painting

Janitorial • Daily, weekly, monthly rates • Construction clean-up • Window and wall washing • Carpet shampooing • Floor stripping and waxing

• All phases offered

Tired of the surfaces in your home?

Time to “GET CREATIVE!”

Power Parking Lot Services • Parking lot sweeping • Parking lot washing • Parking lot striping • Snow removal

FREE ESTIMATES

373-4265 Commercial • Medical • Executive

We carry the industry’s top manufaturers:

360-598-3106 • 206-714-2948 22285 Stottlemeyer Road • Poulsbo (Next to Bond Rd. & Gunderson Rd.)

www.creativecounters.com Bonded & Insured License #CREATCI964BB

August 2013 Edition

Welcome New Members Olive Concrete LLC. Sherry D Olive POB 1117 Olalla, WA 9898359 (253) 857-2348 sherolive@harbornet.com And the SPIKE goes to...

John Leage JL Homes

Directors Mortgage Stephen Coupe 4550 NW Newberry Hill Rd., Ste 101 Silverdale, WA 98383 (360) 698-3020 nprom@directorsmortgage.com And the SPIKE goes to...

Judy Eagleson Mentor Company

Broughton Law Group Bill Broughton 9057 Washington Ave NW Silverdale, WA 98383 (360) 692-4888 bill@bbroughtonlaw.com And the SPIKE goes to...

Robert Baglio The BJC Group

NEW AFFILIATE MEMBERS Mentor Company Jennifer Mentor Mills Joe Mentor And the SPIKE goes to...

Judy Eagleson Mentor Company

Get the Washington State Building Code Updates!

Get all the updates through the Washington Association of Building Officials’ webpage! Visit www.wabobookstore.org/category_s/1835.htm to order the section or sections you need. Prices range from $17.00 to $21.00 a section (IRC, MRC, etc)

Government Affairs Committee Meetings — You’re invited!

Government Affairs meetings are open to HBA members. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are 2:30-3:30 p.m. Meetings are the last Thursday of each month (unless changed). If you have questions please call: Judy Eagleson at Mentor Company or Teresa at the HBA (360-479-5778).

Maximize Your Membership Is your company listing up to date on our website? Visit www.kitsaphba.com & check out the “Find A Member ” tab. Does your listing include your logo, YouTube video clips, Facebook link, etc. You should add this and more! Call the HBA to learn how to maximize the website (360)479-5778.

Thank You Renewing Members Over 20 Years Grandy Marble & Tile Inc (24) Harrison Homes LLC (24)

Over 5 Years Hood Canal Hting & Cooling Inc (9) Quasa Enterprises

20 Years Cook Construction Inc

Over 1 Year Cleaver Construction Inc (4) Quality Hting & Air Condt. (3) Choice Construction (3)

Over 15 Years Spellman Construction Inc (18) Johnson Homes Over 10 Years Eagle Crest Construction (15) Sound View Construction Inc. Schmidt’s Home Appliance & Sleep Advanced Rentals & Sales JCM Property Management

1 YEAR Anniversary Whittington Tile & Stone Inc.

The NAHB Member Advantage — RENT your car for less!

Renting a vehicle this summer?

Why mess around with “coupons” that aren’t really a savings? Tired of the hassle of the rental counter once you’ve arrived? Take advantage of your Member Advantage with great discounts from both Avis and Budget!

AVIS: Avis, a NAHB car rental partner offers up to 25% off to all NAHB members for rentals throughout the world. Along with the discounts, you can enjoy additional coupon values from them including UPGRADES and FREE DAYS. We also encourage you to enjoy the complimentary VIP service which allows you to bypass the counter and the lines and go directly to your vehicle in most airports in the US, and even internationally. Make sure you enroll for PREFERRED service on our exclusive site www.avis.com/nahb.

BUDGET: Budget, the nation’s best value brand rental car is a true partner of NAHB. With discounts up to 20% and their great new cars and trucks your membership brings you a real value. Also check out the additional coupons on our special website www.budget.com/nahb to make your rental even more affordable. Tired of standing in rental car lines?? As a NAHB member you can enjoy VIP service complimentary — just enroll at www.budget.com/nahb.

Check out both these special member only websites for the very latest deals being offered exclusively to the members of the NAHB. Remember, if you’re a member of the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County you are also a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Daily E-mail Updates It’s FREE for everyone!

Even if you’re not a Business Journal Subscriber

It’s easy to sign up!

Oldest Shredding Company in Washington On-Site & Off-Site Paper Shredding Service Certificate of Destruction Provided 100% Recycling Program for All Shredded Material – Nothing goes to the Landfill

American Data Guard NAID AAA Certified Destruction Company

206-285-5955 • 800-699-6610 www.adgshred.com

Licensed, Bonded and Insured

Just visit daily.kpbj.com and sign-up for our emailer to start receiving breaking area news stories right in your inbox. For more information call (360) 876-7900.

Building shell still waiting to be filled with touted market is well on its way, but we’re probably going to miss part of our summer.”

He did not say what a new target date was for opening the market.

“Everybody knows there’s a lot going on in Port Orchard, but it seems like it’s all in construction,” he said. He mentioned the Devilfish Pub that’s going in down the street, the Coffee Oasis that will occupy a

By Tim Kelly, Editor It’s still a waiting game for the project that’s been touted as the centerpiece of downtown revitalization efforts in Port Orchard.

There are painted lines on the concrete floor of the empty building at 715 Bay St. to indicate planned vendor spaces at the Port Orchard Public Market that developer Don Ryan has been planning and promoting for more than a year.

More construction delays have stalled progress on the project, though.

At the Port Orchard Bay Street Association meeting in July, Ryan told other downtown merchants that work on the building was interrupted for several weeks to address unexpected engineering issues involving the front wall where large windows and roll-up doors are planned for the market’s Bay Street entrance. He said there were actually three walls from when there originally were three separate buildings on the site, and another wall that had covered them up.

Ryan, the POBSA president, remains undaunted in the face of delays in his project, which at one time he hoped would be open by the July 4 holiday weekend. He told POBSA members construction work would resume July 22, and that “the market

Don Ryan, left, explains where various vendors will be located in the Port Orchard Public Market that he’s developing in a long-vacant building that’s being renovated on Bay Street. Ryan, president of the Port Orchard Bay Street Association, showed a group around the inside of the building after a July 18 POBSA meeting.

Tim Kelly photo

two-story space being remodeled at 807 Bay St., and plans for a new bakery to open at the former site of Morningside Bakery in the same block as the market.

Despite the “perpetual construction” mode downtown, Ryan said that “in 2014, mark my words, it’s going to be a comingout year. It’s going to be phenomenal.”

When he took a group over after the POBSA meeting to see the inside of the vacant building — which has a new facade on the front but still has boarded-up windows — the only visible interior work was framing for where restrooms will go.

But Ryan pointed out where different vendors will set up shop.

“We were almost at full capacity (for vendor spaces) a couple months ago, but some of our smaller vendors are kind of on shaky ground” waiting for the market to be ready, he said.

“We’re still on target to open with our core group of vendors,” which include a seafood shop and a full-service butcher, as well as a couple dining venues. Ryan, who owns the 110 Lounge downtown, will operate a restaurant and bar there, and the development will have “all the staples of a really class market,” he said.

“It’s still going to be a huge highlight in Port Orchard.”

Bainbridge seeks input on Waterfront Park, city dock The City of Bainbridge Island has launched a survey for citizens to provide input on the potential uses and structures at the Waterfront Park and city dock. The survey questions were developed from the conversations at two community meetings held in June. Responses will help the city determine the types of uses and activities the park and dock should support into the future.

"We appreciate and encourage residents to take this short survey to ensure that we receive as many contributions as possible," said associate planner and project lead Heather Beckmann.

The survey is available online, with hard copies available at City Hall. The deadline for responses is Aug. 12.

Re-Introducing our Port Orchard Team (Back Row L to R:)

Shelley Hill, Escrow Assistant 12 years experience

Elayne Jensen, LPO/Escrow Officer (Front Row L to R:)

Lori Marmon, Escrow Closer 16 years experience

Lori Bullard, Marketing Rep/Title Officer 16 years experience

Donna Cryder

Providing superior customer service and professionalism to every real estate transaction.

Tea room opening in downtown Poulsbo SILVERDALE OFFICE

Sugar and Spice Tea Company will hold its grand opening Aug. 8 in downtown Poulsbo at 18928 Front St. There will be an open house with samples of house-blend teas and a mix of offerings from their dessert menu. The public is welcome to tour the new tea room, sample the menu items and meet the shop’s proprietors, staff and vendors.

Sugar and Spice (www.sugarnspiceteacompany.com) plans to showcase local artists, offer locally grown and prepared foods, and host family night events.

360-692-4141 • 800-464-2823 2021 NW Myhre Road, Suite 300 Silverdale, WA 98383

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND OFFICE 206-842-2082 • 800-884-7636 921 Hildebrand Lane NE, Suite 200 Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

PORT ORCHARD OFFICE

Are You Receiving Our Daily Updates?

Sign up now at daily.kpbj.com

Title Insurance Escrow Services Real Estate Resources

360-895-7799 1382 SE Lund Avenue, Suite 1 Port Orchard, WA 98366

www.pnwtkitsap.com

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 23

37 years experience

Real estate agent rejoins Windermere staff Donna Cryder has returned to the Windermere Real Estate office in Port Orchard after a hiatus from the business for a few years.

She began her career as a real estate agent in 1994, and has specialized in helping clients in all phases of selling, buying or building their custom homes.

The Windermere office is at 1200 Bethel Ave. in Port Orchard. The phone number is 360-876-9600.

Partners In Success

Kitsap County receives two national awards for innovative programs Kitsap County was recently recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for implementing innovative county government programs to better serve area residents. The county received NACo Achievement Awards for the RePower Kitsap Program and the Department of Community Development's rework of the single-family residence permit process.

“This is a great example of how Kitsap County continues to develop new ways to provide services to our residents and increase efficiencies in the way we deliver these service," said Board of County Commissioners chair Josh Brown. "It's just two examples of the many innovations I've seen in county operations."

In collaboration with the Kitsap County Homebuilders Association, DCD tackled its processing of sing le-family permits in July 2012, with the aim of reducing the time it takes to approve a permit.

Listening to customers and using Lean process improvement methodologies, the DCD reduced the number of “in-house” processing days for approval from 26 calendar days to an average of 10-14 calendar days depending on submittals. It increased the number of first-time

approvals from 4 percent to 55 percent.

Customer surveys show that over 75 percent of those applying for a residential permit are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the service and help they’ve received from the department. While processing times were significantly improved, the code standards were not reduced, thus ensuring the permitted activity met federal, state and local laws and codes; nor were new staff hired.

“The department’s transformation has been hard work by everyone during some of the most trying times any organization could endure," DCD director Larry Keeton said. "Yet, these folks demonstrated, and continue to demonstrate, the old DCD is dead and buried. This National Award speaks highly of the professionalism of this team. It’s a job well done, an award well deserved."

The project was a collaborative effort. "The award isn’t the Department’s alone," said Keeton.

"The Board of Commissioners was instrumental in providing the necessary political and financial support to implement the Lean process. And, the Kitsap County Homebuilders Association had members volunteer their valuable time to help identify issues and solutions. This has truly been a productive partnership that benefits the community as a whole."

Top Floor Space•Heart of Silverdale 2041 NW Myhre Road, Silverdale • • • • • •

Upper floor of KCU building Entire floor is available SW corner of Ridgetop & Myhre Diagonal from Harrison Silverdale Views of Dyes Inlet & the Olympics Range from 922, 2270 to 5000 SF

For more information contact:

24 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

Daniel Morse, dmorse@bradleyscottinc.com Victor C. Ulsh, CCIM vic@bradleyscottinc.com 360-479-6900 • 800-479-6903

www.bradleyscottinc.com

The NACo Achievement Award program is a non-competitive program that recognizes counties for improving the management of and services provided by county government. Since the program’s inception in 1970, the NACo Achievement Award program has honored thousands of county government initiatives that have improved service delivery, achieved greater cost efficiency, provided improved customer service, and helped to develop a better-trained workforce.

RePower Kitsap Program Kitsap County used Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant funding to launch the RePower Kitsap program in February 2011.

RePower Kitsap is a countywide program dedicated to helping residents save money through energy efficiency, as they increase the comfort, health and safety of homes, and create local jobs. RePower Kitsap provides in-home energy assessments, energy-efficiency financing and incentives, and a local, skilled workforce to make achieving these goals easier and more affordable. Kitsap County partnered with the City of Bainbridge Island to establish a lowinterest energy-efficiency loan program with Kitsap Credit Union to provide access to financing for energy-efficiency projects.

The county also partnered with the Washington State University Energy Office, Conservation Services Group, Washington State Department of Commerce, Puget Sound Energy and Cascade Natural Gas to provide extensive marketing and incentives for the completion of home energy upgrades.

The RePower Kitsap program has helped address an important need in the local community for improved comfort in homes, reduced energy bills and increased job opportunities. This effort aligns well with Kitsap County’s internal energy conservation program and synergizes internal efforts to conserve energy and save taxpayer dollars with direct actions taxpayers can take to save energy in their own homes. A summary of key accomplishments of the RePower Kitsap program is provided below.

• Funded more than 500 home energy

YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS Need to finance your commercial property?

We have money to lend.

Contact one of our experienced lenders today.

Leslie Peterson

Duane Edwards

SVP & Chief Lending Officer

(360) 394-4753 lesliep@libertybaybank.com

(360) 779-4567

SVP & Relationship Manager

(360) 394-4775 duanee@libertybaybank.com

19917 Seventh Ave NE, STE.101 | Poulsbo, WA 98370 buSineSS | PeRSOnaL | hOMe

www.libertybaybank.com

•

• •

• • •

assessments in 12 communities throughout Kitsap County from February 2011November 2012.

Completed 19 post-upgrade energy assessments to compare EPS values before and after energy upgrades took place.

Upgrades completed at these homes saved 164,000 kWh in annual electricity use.

Funded 32 loans through May 2013 to provide over $246,000 for energy upgrades in homes.

Created more than six local jobs for previously unemployed and underemployed construction professionals and provided training in conducting home energy assessments.

Additional resources: Repower Kitsap web site: http://www.repowerkitsap.com/ DCD's Lean Process Video: http://www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/permit_pr ocess_kaizen.htm NACo Achievement Awards web site: http://www.naco.org/programs/recognitio n/Pages/2013AchievementAwards.aspx

Puget Sound Regional Council to study possible transitoriented development fund The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) has selected Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. and Impact Capital to conduct a feasibility study for a Regional Equitable Development Initiative (REDI) fund for King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties.

The purpose of the transit-oriented development (TOD) fund is to help developers secure sites near existing and future transit centers throughout the central Puget Sound region and invest capital into a variety of housing and community facilities. During the six-month study, Enterprise and Impact Capital will work with PSRC to evaluate the specific needs and investor support for the REDI fund by gathering feedback from developers, funders and community stakeholders. A draft evaluation and business plan will be presented to PSRC by end of summer with final recommendations to be completed by late fall.

A national leader in transit-oriented funds, Enterprise has helped develop successful programs in Denver and the San Francisco Bay Area, with programs in development in Atlanta, Chicago and other areas. In Denver and the Bay Area, TOD funds have been used primarily for site acquisition and other project costs associated with maximizing land use for equitable transit-oriented development.

Impact Capital has a track record of providing financial and technical support to Puget Sound-area nonprofits for the development of transit-oriented projects. It is the Northwest affiliate of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which has been involved in the creation of TOD funds across the country, and will bring different perspectives and ideas to the work in the Puget Sound region.

For more information, contact Jon Clarke, Enterprise senior loan officer, at 206.223.4516 or jclarke@enterprisecommunity.org. Or contact Seth Benziger, Impact Capital program officer, at 206.658.2605 or at seth@impactcapital.org.

Lakebay Marina’s owners plan to bring back resort atmosphere

By Rodika Tollefson Long before automobiles came on the scene, steamships ferried people and cargo all over Puget Sound, delivering everything from schoolchildren and machinery to eggs and mail. The little “ports” where the Mosquito Fleet made stopovers were bustling commercial centers until the 1930s, when highways brought a more accessible mode of transportation.

There’s only one such remaining Mosquito Fleet dock in Puget Sound, the Lakebay Marina on the Key Peninsula, according to Bainbridge resident Mark Scott. And he wants to make sure the historic pier gets the respect it deserves.

Scott bought the marina in October with his wife, Cindy, and has been working on miscellaneous improvements such as a new coat of paint. Although the marina had been open previously, it didn’t have regular hours and it saw little traffic. Its café had been closed for years.

Not only is Scott hoping to place the marina on the historic register, he is also trying to bring some of the commerce back — by selling local produce and reopening the café. He also wants to bring back the resort atmosphere the marina once had, so he purchased the adjacent dry land and will be restoring the cabins and two houses on the property.

“I used to come here years ago as a kid and we bought hamburgers and candy,” said Scott, a Peninsula High School alum whose family lived in Gig Harbor.

He has run marinas before on Lake Union and when Lakebay came up for sale, he saw an opportunity. “It’s such a unique spot, next to Penrose Point State Park and

Rodika Tollefson photo

The new owners of the Lakebay Marina reopened the cafe and have been hosting events such as beer and wine tasting and live music at the historic location on the Key Peninsula. They are also restoring some cabins on the shore nearby that will be available as rentals. far from houses,” he said.

In its heyday, Lakebay Marina was also home to Lorenz-Bernston Navigation Co., which build several of the Mosquito Fleet steamships. As many as half of the Puget Sound’s steamships were either built or based in Lakebay.

German immigrant Carl Lorenz settled in Lakebay while looking for a spot to build a water-powered mill, and soon he built several boats to carry lumber and then passengers. It was the activity at the mill, in fact, that contributed to the growth and development of Lakebay in the 1920s, according to the Key Peninsula Historical Society. Scott said the Virginia V, the last

surviving Mosquito Fleet boat now used for events, has a Lorenz-Bernston engine.

The rich history was another attraction for Scott, who hopes to turn the marina into a popular destination both for tourists and locals. Already, he’s brought several events to the dock, including live music and beer tastings with Gig Harbor’s Seven Seas Brewery and wine tastings with Belfair’s Mosquito Fleet Winery.

The Independence Day weekend was perhaps an indication of the Lakebay Marina-Resort’s comeback potential. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Scott said. “We had constant traffic, it was overwhelming.

People were enjoying themselves.”

Total of $2.52 million in state, federal grants secured for regional projects

At Olympic Fitness Single – $240 Couple – $355 Student/Senior – $205 Senior Couple – $290 $25 Initiation Fee *Expiration at end of term Limited amenities/services at Olympic Fitness Pro Call Olympic Fitness Pro at 895-3450 for their special(s)

Fully Equipped Fitness Facilities : *

Group exercise classes • Full Gym • Two racquetball courts Fully equipped weight floor & cardio theater Wellness center offering yoga

Specialty Services : *

Development FY 2013 Indian Community Development Block Grant. This grant is designed to assist in the tribe’s efforts to address a range of housing and community development needs on the reservation. The housing authority will use these funds to rehabilitate 10 senior housing units and other substandard homes that need substantial repair.

The tribe’s Natural Resources Department also received a $100,000 award through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their bay-wide tribal response program.

• Mason County received a $250,000 state Department of Ecology Clean Water Fund grant to develop a Belfair Stormwater Basin Plan and provide public outreach and education.

• The Port of Manchester received a $168,750 state RCO Boating Facilities Program grant to replace its north dock adjacent to the busy boat ramp launching facility and Pomeroy Park. This project was the subject of an article headlined “Manchester’s dock of the bay is a-changin’” in the July 2012 issue of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

5 Month Special*

Our sister club

•Massage Therapy •Spa Services • Personal Training

871-3433

895-3450 1476 Olney Ave. SE, Ste 101 Port Orchard Gym Hours: NOW OPEN 24 HOURS!

Serving Kitsap County for 25 years!

www.olyfitness.com

4459 Mile Hill Dr. Port Orchard Gym Hours: Mon - Fri 5am-10pm Sat 7am-7pm • Sun 8am-5pm

Are You Receiving Our Daily Updates?

Sign up now at daily.kpbj.com

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 25

Poulsbo-based Grant-Solutions, Inc. announced that six of its peninsula-area projects have been selected to receive a total of $2.52 million in the latest round of state and federal grants made available with the passing of legislative and congressionally approved budgets. Four of these were awarded to local projects in Port Gamble, Manchester, and Mason County, while others will help to fund a new municipal swimming pool in Chehalis and to build a facility in Olympia to expand health services in a four-county region.

“It was pretty slow going there as my clients awaited the passing of these state and federal budgets to start their projects, said Kathleen Byrne-Barrantes owner of Grant-Solutions, who helps develop projects and wrote the grant applications.

The grants will leverage more matching funds and result in the direct injection of over $5 million into local economies, an investment that will be multiplied by the eventual construction and implementation of the projects.

• The Port Gamble S’Klallam Housing Authority received a $500,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Scott has already started “I used to work on the come here dry land, as a kid and clearing out we bought the brush that overtook the hamburgers three cabins. and candy.”

His goal is to have cabins — Mark Scott, available for Lakeby Marina rent by next owner summer, then add new ones.

He will also restore the larger house for rentals and the other one, which used to be a parsonage, will likely become his family home.

The Lakebay Marina-Resort (lakebaymarina.com) has picnic tables on the dock and a small seating area inside, WiFi, basic supplies, local eggs and lettuce (with more produce to be added later), local beers and wines and a café with a menu of hamburgers and such — a little bit of everything to help boaters have a good time. Scott cleaned up the gas tanks and is selling ethanol-free gas, with added Soltron (enzymes made of tree leaves with no pesticides).

He plans to continue with the live events (the beer tasting brought in about 100 people) in hopes to attract more boaters to the area. But he’s also seeing many locals stopping by.

“The best part has been the overwhelming community support to see it come back and open,” Scott said. “Having the support has made us feel good about what we’re doing.”

What marketing approach works best to draw tourists?

26 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

By Tim Kelly, Editor Maybe Kasey Musgraves knew something about what a tourist draw her concert was. During her July 17 performance as part of the free summer music series at Clearwater Resort Casino, the young country singer twice called out “Come on, Seattle” to her audience.

Was this rising star who hails from Texas confused about where her gig was, or did a lot of folks come over on the ferry from Seattle to catch her show? Maybe both.

Regardless, the large crowd that covered the lawn and watched from hotel room balconies on a pleasant night at Clearwater — where lots of guests queued up at the food, beer and wine stands — was the envy of anybody in the tourism business.

And it's a huge business; a report released during the 2012 Western Governors Association conference held in Washington estimated that tourism generated $256 billion in sales and services in 2011 in the 19 Western states.

That's why tourism is something virtually everyone wants to promote, attract

“We provide the backdrop with The Natural Side of Puget Sound, and the local communities can all tie into that.”

— Patty Graf-Hoke, on Visit Kitsap Peninsula’s regional branding and marketing efforts Free outdoor concerts that many communities host are always popular in the summer.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the recent performance by country singer Kasey Musgraves that was part of the summer music series at Clearwater Resort Casino.

Tim Kelly photo

and increase on the Kitsap Peninsula. But plenty of people who share that goal have differing opinions about the most effective

strategies for marketing the region’s various destinations and activities to potential visitors. Moreover, every local nonprofit group or organization with a strategy for drawing tourists to their particular town, attraction or event wants a share of the available public funding — primarily from local lodging taxes — to pay for marketing.

While these various tourism booster groups are nonprofits or local government entities, they want to attract visitors who will spend money at local businesses — hotels, restaurants and bars, shops, golf courses and other recreation providers. It's about the economic benefit to their individual communities.

"Tourism is really about the private sector and private enterprise," said Patty Graf-Hoke, executive director of Visit Kitsap Peninsula, who likes to point out that tourism is the third-largest industry in Kitsap County and a major contributor to regional economic development.

Visit Kitsap Peninsula (formerly known as the Visitor & Convention Bureau until a recent name change) is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the Kitsap region, so GrafHoke's job is to promote the whole area and everything it has to offer. Visit Kitsap maintains a well-designed website that's colorful and comprehensive, with information and links on everything from the Olalla Bluegrass Festival to the Hansville Creamery where visitors can buy raw goat's milk and goat cheese.

But since the bulk of the nonprofit VKP’s funding comes from lodging taxes collected by hotels, motels and B&B inns, the primary goal of its marketing is the familiar “heads in beds” mantra — attracting visitors who will spend a night, a weekend or longer.

In addition to having a visually appealing and informative website, branding is another key part of tourism marketing, and Graf-Hoke said VKP has cultivated "The Natural Side of Puget Sound" the last few years to be an inclusive brand for the region.

"We provide the backdrop with The Natural Side of Puget Sound, and the local communities can all tie into that," she said.

That brand is used to market the overall experience the region offers, to draw visitors seeking a weekend getaway from the crowded metropolis across the Sound, vacationers from other states, and international travelers from Canada and across the Pacific.

“In my world, professional marketing, your customers have products and services to sell,” Graf-Hoke said. “My product is the Kitsap Peninsula.”

Ads placed in travel and lifestyle publications reflect that broad approach.

For example, an ad in Edible Seattle magazine lists all the farmers markets in Kitsap. A lot of VKP ads include the Kitsap Water Trails map — developed last year and widely distributed on ferries, at tourist info booths and REI outdoor stores around Puget Sound — which has a circle for every town, port and marina in the region.

However, some local nonprofit groups, even though they are included in the cooperative marketing that Visit Kitsap does for the region, want more promotion and support for their specific community festival, downtown association, etc. They're coming up with their own plans, and requesting to share in local lodging tax funds to help pay for them.

Marketing, page 27

The Kitsap Peninsula: It's all about the water

By Patricia Graf-Hoke, Visit Kitsap Peninsula One of our greatest tourism assets is our connection and historic relationship to the water that surrounds the Kitsap Peninsula region. Our local waters and shoreline connect every city and community on the peninsula. It is the natural element that connects us geographically as a region and through individual and shared history and culture. Our waters are our primary tourism attraction and it fuels our economy not only through the tourism industry, but other economic sectors.

Our natural environment, interconnected land and water trails, urban amenities and services, make Kitsap Peninsula a popular

destination for business travelers, leisure visitors and event planners. One of the key reasons for our growth as a tourism destination is our unique proximity to the Seattle-Tacoma region, the 13th-largest metro marketing area in the United States. It is also home to major global corporations and one of the most affluent workforces in the country. The view from Seattle skyscrapers across the water to the Kitsap Peninsula beckons city-weary urbanites and families to get away to "the Natural Side of Puget Sound."

Water is a major element of our natural environment and the close proximity of Seattle and easy access to our region was a key factor in Visit Kitsap Peninsula’s (VKP) development of “the Natural Side of Puget Sound” branding campaign initiated in 2009. The campaign has been extremely successful and today the Kitsap Peninsula and all of its communities are no longer thought of as just a gateway to someplace

MARKETING

specific organizations and providing those organizations with basically their own marketing budget,” she said. “If those funds are being used for cross-selling purposes to help support other entities in their community, that would make sense.”

Thatcher observed that “Tourism gets defined in different ways, depending on the perspective of the person defining it.”

She noted that some LTAC Orchard marketing specifically.” funding goes to smaller events Bainbridge Island did not Visit Kitsap Peninsula photo that draw people who boost the contribute any of its lodging tax Riders await the start of the Stottlemeyer 60 mountain bike race “heads in beds” count but aren’t money to VKP this year, but its held earlier this summer near Port Gamble. necessarily typical tourists. She LTAC explained that was because mentioned the Washington State legitimately should have a very large the tourism organization wanted each city Science & Engineering Fair that was held in proportion of the lodging tax money to to contribute at least $15,000 and did not Bremerton in April, and the 2012 Babe fund their economic goals for the county, want accept less than that from any city, to Ruth World Series hosted in Poulsbo. which is to promote tourism. Others feel keep things equitable.

While they’re wonderful events to that individual groups need to be promoted However, the executive director of the support in local communities, Thatcher to help nonprofits who are also trying to Bainbridge Island Downtown Association, said the attendees “come into the county to achieve those goals." which produces its own extensive go to this one event ... but they’re not doing Thatcher said there are good points on cooperative marketing for local business all the variety of things that one might both sides of that debate, and no simple members, said VKP is a good partner. define as tourism activities.” answer on how to allocate the limited funds “Patty has been great about including us, People who come from out of town for "to achieve tourism goals that bring the especially when they get international such one-time events “are not incentivized most benefit to the county." inquiries,” Andrea Mackin said. “She was to see Kitsap as a place to come back to For example, Bremerton has allocated responsible for bringing travel writers from again and again for tourism purposes.” $15,000 each of the last year to a single local India here a couple years ago. VKP has Return visits are the best tourism attraction, the USS Turner Joy, a been good to us.” business, such as a group of 200-plus decommissioned Navy ship that’s now a The total amount of lodging taxes Microsoft employees who recently came waterfront museum. That compares with collected within Kitsap County was about $1 across the Sound for a play day. Unlike the city’s $20,000 contribution to VKP. million last year, so a $15,000 contribution Microsoft’s first such employee outing to The Turner Joy is using a good chunk of to VKP from each of the four cities the Port Orchard area two years ago for its allocation to pay for expensive advertising represents about 6 percent of the total. golfing, kayaking and other recreation and in Seattle Premier Attractions, a discountAnne Thatcher has been a member of leisure activities, the return visit last month coupon brochure distributed around the the county's LTAC for the past two years was a lower-profile excursion, but still Puget Sound area. (See story, p. 32) and is co-owner of The Farm Kitchen, a significant for tourism in the area.

Graf-Hoke said VKP wants to support North Kitsap business that collects lodging Adventure tourism continues to grow and promote all the events and attractions taxes at the guesthouse it operates. on the Kitsap Peninsula, as evidenced by around the region, and she’s fine with them "I think the controversy has been that the Stottlemeyer mountain bike race. In its getting LTAC suport. But she thinks there is in place an organization (Visit fourth year held on the wooded trails near cooperative marketing is a more effective Kitsap Peninsula) whose stated purpose is Port Gamble, the state’s largest mountain strategy for all involved. to promote tourism for the whole county," “My concern is the money going to very she said. "That group has felt that they Marketing, page 31

experience tribal life at the Suquamish Tribe's Old Man House located on the shores of Suquamish, at Point Julia, home of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and in the sacred Canoe Journey tours. In Poulsbo, Norwegian Vikings sailed into Liberty Bay and created “Little Norway,” a 100-year old tourist destination that enticed American Cruise Lines, the largest tour operator of small cruise ships in the U.S., to add Kitsap Peninsula and Poulsbo to its Puget Sound Tour.

Kitsap Peninsula waters — from Hood Canal to Hansville, Brownsville to Bremerton, Poulsbo to Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island to Ilahee, Seabeck to Silverdale, and all points in between — offer water-related recreation activities including boating, sailing, fishing, water trail sports, scuba diving, beach walking and wildlife viewing, many linked by trails and Water, page 31

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 27

from page 26 Some of those local expenditures are not focused strictly on tourism marketing.

For example, the Port Orchard City Council approved $9,500 in lodging taxes to cover the cost of extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights this summer for passenger ferry service between the city's waterfront and Bremerton. One of the main proponents of subsidizing the nighttime ferry runs was Don Ryan, president of the Port Orchard Bay Street Association of downtown merchants, which received a separate allocation of about $16,000 from the city's 2013 lodging tax fund to expand its own marketing and develop a website (which launched in June.) Ryan owns the 110 Lounge on the waterfront and is developing a public market in a long-vacant Bay Street building, although construction delays have pushed back the planned opening of the market. (See story, p. 23) The city councils in Bremerton, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island and Port Orchard distribute the lodging taxes collected locally, and Kitsap County distributes what's collected in unicorporated areas, with Silverdale providing the bulk of that. Each governmental entity has a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) that reviews funding applications and makes recommendations.

Each LTAC has its own criteria for approving applications, and the evaluation process can get a little sticky when deciding who gets funding and how much.

Sometimes funding for local groups and events is pitted against contributions to Visit Kitsap Peninsula, which asks all four cities and the county to support its broader, cooperative marketing that aims to benefit the entire region.

The Port Orchard LTAC recommendations noted that “The Committee supports (Visit Kitsap Peninsula) in their promoting tourism; but feels no direct connection with Port

else — today the peninsula and its communities are the destination.

The campaign was designed as a mechanism for cities and communities to take advantage of VKP’s global marketing reach and capabilities, but maintain the freedom to express the unique identities of their own destinations. Using our local waters and natural environment as the common marketing denominator, is an extremely effective strategy to promote individual and collective tourism assets.

The goal is to support our local lodging establishments and grow our tourism industry for mutual benefit and gain.

Promoting our local waters acknowledges and celebrates our past, present and future. This includes our naval history and economy and maritime history represented by the Mosquito Fleet that connected Kitsap communities a century ago. Local waters connect the region’s cultural history, too. Visitors can

Local coalitions form to work together on marketing

By Rodika Tollefson In July, the Port of Poulsbo saw its fuel sales more than double in the year-to-date total compared with a year ago. Some of that is likely due to the uptick in the economy, but port manager Brad Miller doesn’t discount one other factor: a collaborative marketing effort to put Poulsbo on the tourism map.

“We’ve been seeing increased traffic,” Miller said. “There’s definitely a direct impact from the efforts of the (Poulsbo Marketing) Coalition to market Poulsbo as a nice local Puget Sound destination.”

The coalition was created several years ago with support from the City Council and has since become a formal nonprofit backed by the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association. The coalition includes merchants, lodging venues and entities such as the port and the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce. A large part of their efforts have been focused on cross-promoting events and local attractions.

“Even as a (government) agency, we still need to market the port because there’s a lot of competition out there,” Miller said.

“We also need to foster relationships with the businesses in town so we can promote the town and create a draw — if there are no restaurants, for example, nobody’s going to come to the marina.”

28 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

TOURS

One type of traffic new to Poulsbo hasn’t been seen prior to this year. Every Friday in May, American Cruise Lines dropped anchor in Liberty Bay and passengers were “shuttled” to shore and spent a few hours in Poulsbo. Once the cruise ship returns from summer operations in Alaska, Poulsbo will be part of the company’s Puget Sound tour itinerary again in September and October.

The response was so positive, the port hopes to work out longer stays in next year’s schedule. Miller said they’re also in discussion with Argosy Cruises about operating runs during special events.

The marketing coalition was among the groups that worked to ensure downtown was ready for the visitors. “We really rolled the red carpet out to make sure they felt welcome,” said Tammy Mattson, coalition chair and owner of Tizley’s Europub.

Mattson said when the group was originally formed, they didn’t know the direction it would take but it was clear they needed a cohesive approach. “By our coalescing and through the willingness of our partners to work together, we’ve had a tremendous amount of success for our limited dollars,” she said.

The coalition has also worked with Visit Kitsap Peninsula (formerly Kitsap Peninsula Visitors and Convention

Bureau) to tap into its regional marketing.

“Visit Kitsap has been hugely instrumental in our advertising,” Mattson said.

Working with the coalition helps get more referrals as well, said Poulsbo Inn sales manager Courtney Cutrona. She started attending coalition meetings in March and said she’s already seen the advantage of the joint marketing. One example is a new package Poulsbo Inn offers, a historic getaway that ties into several historic stops in Poulsbo as well as on Bainbridge Island, and offers restaurant and accommodation discounts.

“It’s one of our most popular packages,” she said, adding, “This is a great group of people working together toward a common goal.”

North Kitsap Consortium This kind of common goal is what brought together several groups from North Kitsap as well. They created the North Kitsap Tourism Consortium a couple of years ago and recently launched a visitor-oriented website at ExperienceNorthKitsap.com, which is still growing. The consortium started out as a grass-roots effort and now includes several major players: Port Madison Enterprises, Olympic Property Group, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the three North Kitsap

“People just don’t get out on the water a lot and we’re the only access besides the state ferries,” said Kitsap Harbor Tours operations manager Ed Morgan, who is also a boat captain. “They can see areas they don’t normally see without a boat.”

He’s taken people on charters to areas such as Agate Pass, Sinclair Inlet and Bellingham, and has watched them celebrate reunions, birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. The passengers can bring their own food and music to Rodika Tollefson photo create a real party on the water — Kitsap Harbor Tours partners with Argosy Cruises to take tourists even during the winter season for from Bremerton to Blake Island, where they can visit Tillicum Village occasions such as New Year and and enjoy a traditional salmon bake.

Christmas.

from page 1 everything from memorials to corporate outings.

“I’ve taken what I love and turned it into a business,” Drohan said. “I find it remarkable how rewarding it is every day.”

During the tours, passengers learn about Puget Sound history, ecosystem and geology. “In two hours, you have the full Puget Sound experience,” he said. He has met people from as far as Australia and Europe but there are also many locals, who get a unique view of their area from the water. “The views are different from the water,” Drohan said. “It changes people’s perspectives, even where they live. And the information on the tour opens their eyes to the color of the fabric of the place where they live or visit.”

For Drohan, the business is the best combination of his love for boating and his experience serving customers as a restaurateur. “I’ve been able to capture my experience and skills and create a product to bring an outstanding outcome — and that shows in our reviews,” he said.

Kitsap Harbor Tours Those who want to add some entertainment to their water-cruising

experience may find the right combination in tours from Bremerton to Blake Island, culminating in a salmon bake dinner and a Native American show at Tillicum Village.

Kitsap Harbor Tours offers departures from Bremerton on weekends in partnership with Argosy Cruises.

Kitsap Harbor Tours offered the Tillicum Village voyage independently in the past and teamed up with Argosy three years ago. Additionally, the company (which also operates the Kitsap Transit foot ferry between Bremerton and Port Orchard) offers private charters on its Admiral Carlyle II and Captain Pete boats.

Kitsap Tours While water is a big attraction for Kitsap visitors, there’s also plenty to see on land, in Jean Boyle’s mind. More than three years ago, she teamed up with her husband, Jim, to create a new business, Kitsap Tours (www.kitsaptours.com), featuring half- and full-day tours around Bainbridge and North Kitsap. Jim Boyle, who drove presidents and other VIPs during a career with the Secret Service, now drives the Kitsap Tours luxury mini-coach while Jean serves as the guide.

“People are coming from all over the country and the world. Every tour is

chambers of commerce. The group is funded through the Port Madison Enterprises Tribal Tourism Promotion Fund and Olympic Property Group, and doesn’t receive lodging tax money.

“A lot of people outside of this area don’t realize all the treasures this community has to offer,” said Julie McAfee, wedding and events coordinator for Olympic Property Group, which owns and operates Port Gamble. “There’s room for more exposure. We have a lot to offer and we wanted to work together with everyone we could to make that happen.”

Nancy Langwith, a Kingston resident who chairs the consortium, said the idea started with the attempt to promote tours and has since evolved. She said the driving force is the ability to get various stakeholders at the same table to work together.

Recently, the consortium hired tourism consultant Roger Brooks of Destination Development International to help them brand North Kitsap. One of the suggestions that came out of the process was to create itineraries for specific interests, such as quilters, foodies or hikers. The North Kitsap Tourism Consortium (NKTC) plans to bring Brooks back for another Coalitions, page 32

different because the people are different,” Jean Boyle said.

Boyle especially targets the tours to Seattle visitors, marketing the ferry ride as the start of the tours. Two of the tours feature trips to the Bloedel Reserve, where Boyle serves as the interpretive guide. The full-day North Kitsap tour makes stopovers around Bainbridge, Poulsbo, Suquamish and Port Gamble.

Boyle said the main reason they started the company was to get people to go beyond downtown Bainbridge. It took a year or so to build momentum with distributors as well as get reviews, but once they did, Kitsap Tours grew quickly to keep the couple busy every week (except for three months they take off during winter).

They also offer custom tours anywhere on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas (without overnight stays) and have done things like Hood Canal loops, culinary tours and Navy themes.

The service is so popular, the couple could easily expand to more trips beyond North Kitsap. But Boyle said they like to keep it small and are content with not growing.

“There’s tremendous opportunity in it and if I were at a different point in my life, I’d be growing it,” she said. “For us, this is what we want to do. We’re having fun but I dream that someone will come along and take it to another level.”

Unique wedding venues contribute to local tourism

By Rodika Tollefson The Kitsap Peninsula has plenty to offer visitors, thanks to its abundance of scenery, nature-based activities and quaint towns.

And while kayaking, hiking and beachcombing are among the attractions that bring people in from all over the world, there’s one other kind of activity that does the same — weddings. Couples trek to Kitsap from all over the country and beyond to tie the knot, bringing along families — who book overnight hotel stays. And, since most venues have discounts during the week and during the off-season, it helps bring people in during the slower tourism times.

“Most of them spend the weekend, even if they live in Tacoma or Kitsap,” said Kelly Watson, who owns Kensington Gardens in Gig Harbor with her husband, Mark. “They usually look for something to do so we send them to the harbor. The whole community provides a happy environment.”

Kensington Gardens , which has an English-manor style building and grounds, can accommodate weddings year-round both indoors and outdoors, with backdrops such as beautiful fountains and landscaping.

On-site catering is among the services that can be included in the package and Watson works with the parties to plan their event — often via Skype. Some of the wedding couples have come from countries such as Hong Kong, Dubai and Australia, usually because they have family in the area.

The Port of Allyn’s waterfront park is one of many scenic locations around the Kitsap Peninsula that are popular spots for summer weddings.

Port of Allyn photo

“When I got married, I didn’t know how to do it,” she said. “Our goal is to help the couple have the wedding of their dreams.”

The design of Kensington Gardens was inspired by Mark’s work in England. “The grounds are formal but the wedding can be less formal,” Watson said. “It’s their day so we ask them what they want to do.”

One tourist attraction in its own right, Elandan Gardens just west of Port Orchard, is also a destination that’s becoming more popular with brides. Boasting waterfront gardens and a world-class bonsai collection, the venue can accommodate weddings with up to 100 guests in the Bonsai Garden and more than 100 in the Celebration Garden.

Elandan co-owner Shana Niems said they used to do a lot of small (two to four people) ceremonies on short notice, with

the cost being the garden admission plus the minister’s fee. These days, more formal weddings are especially popular with couples from Seattle. Elandan provides the venue and the wedding party takes care of the rest.

“There’s no other venue that can even come close, it’s a glorious setting,” Niems said. “The giant stones, exquisite planting and waterfall, and you’re on the water — I don’t know how you can beat it. It’s a great backdrop.”

Another popular waterfront backdrop is the Allyn Waterfront Park. Bonnie Knight, who just retired as executive director for the Port of Allyn, said the park is a longstanding tradition with locals, but many couples come from all over Puget Sound and beyond. A gazebo, which can be fully

enclosed with wind panels, is usually used for the reception.

The park and gazebo are so popular during July and August, they get booked a year in advance, Knight said.

“The park is beautiful. It’s convenient because they can have the reception right there on the waterfront,” she said.

Brides who want the best of both worlds — a church ceremony and an outdoor reception with a beautiful backdrop — can find both in Port Gamble. Julie McAfee, wedding and events coordinator for Olympic Property Group, said the most popular package is three hours at the church (built in 1879), with the reception at the nearby pavilion on the waterfront.

But many brides love the water backdrop and choose it for the ceremony instead.

“This year we’ve seen an increase in the number of marriages on the lawn, which overlooks Hood Canal,” McAfee said. For weddings in April through October, OPG provides tents at both venues.

The average wedding brings about 150 people to Port Gamble, most of them not familiar with the town. “It’s really common for them to come in early and wander through the town’s shops,” McAfee said.

“Many of them come back for a weekend.”

At Bremerton’s Harborside Fountain Park, couples can have both an urban atmosphere and a unique backdrop. The Venues, page 33

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 29

South Kitsap SkatePark could become tourist attraction

30 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

By Rodika Tollefson While growing up in Milwaukee, Wis., Ian Wilhelm started skateboarding at age 6.

He always carried his skateboard with him and used to go on “tours” to the West Coast to check out parks. Whether he hitchhiked or took the train, the skateboard was always there.

“It was everything from my pillow to my friend,” he said.

Now living in Port Orchard and working as a union carpenter, Wilhelm still carries his skateboard everywhere he goes.

He’s never stopped skating for the past 31 years.

“I’ve traveled all over the country skating. It’s an obsession. You gotta skate them all,” he said.

Wilhelm is like many skateboarders — young and old — who have such a passion for the sport, they’ll travel for many miles to experience it. And if the recent Independence Day is any indication, the newly opened South Kitsap SkatePark in Port Orchard will give those skaters a good reason to trek to Kitsap. Several adult skateboarders traveled from Seattle and Portland to check it out over the holiday weekend, and some spent the weekend camping in Manchester. Even Thrasher Magazine — which caters to skateboarders all over the world — showed up for the grand opening in June. The event attracted about 3,000 people, including a champion skateboarder from California.

“The potential is unreal. We got such an amazing park,” Wilhelm said.

Of course, as the treasurer of South Kitsap Skate Park Association (SKSPA), he may be slightly biased. The nonprofit was the one that spearheaded the project and

Rodika Tollefson photo

Ian Wilhelm skateboards at recently opened South Kitsap SkatePark in Port Orchard, which is proving very popular and has the potential to draw skateboarders and events from outside the area. for Wilhelm, it was the 17th skatepark he helped build. But, he noted, it’s a $4 billion industry worldwide — and the potential is not just in people coming to try the park but also in various events and competitions.

What makes the South Kitsap SkatePark unique is its versatility. It accommodates any type of wheels, from scooters to bikes (even BMX bikes as long as the pegs are plastic). The design features a bowl, a full pipe, a “ditch” with a quarterpipe and a “whale’s tail,” plus a small plaza.

“Everybody loves it. The smiles on people’s faces are ear to ear,” said Leslie Reynolds-Taylor, president of the

Casual Waterfront Dining In Downtown Port Orchard Full Service Bar • Happy Hour Everyday • 3pm – 5pm

Our Outdoor Patio is Now Open for Summer!

LIVE music Thursdays 8–10 pm and Friday & Saturday 9–11 pm... With a late night entertainment menu.

For fabulous food in a relaxed setting and a beautiful view of Sinclair Inlet, Amy’s On The Bay is a great choice…

Voted “Best Steak” and “Best Seafood” by the people of SK 5 years in a row!

Amy’s On The Bay Restaurant & Bar 100 Harrison Avenue, Port Orchard 360-876-1445 www.amysonthebay.com

association.

Reynolds-Taylor said the park has been in the works for more than seven years. Owned and maintained by Kitsap County (as part of South Kitsap Regional Park), the 14,700square-foot park cost $425,000 to build. The money came largely from grants, both to Kitsap County through the state recreation conservation funds and to SKSPA from several large donors, including the C. Keith Birkenfeld Memorial Trust (the largest, at $75,000), Fred Meyer, Port Orchard Rotary and the Tony Hawk Foundation. The organization, which contributed a total of $110,000 to the project, also hosted fundraisers such as concerts at MoonDogs, Too and other events.

Reynolds-Taylor knows all about the parks as a tourist attraction. When her now-adult son was young, she would take him to Oregon for a week at a time, traveling around to different skateparks.

“I think the potential is huge. We built it for local kids but it could bring people in from all over,” she said.

By next year, the final phase of the park will extend the footprint by another 8,000 square feet. Kitsap County received a $235,000 grant

that will be used to add to the plaza and make other improvements as part of a master plan for the 193-acre South Kitsap Regional Park.

Only about 50 acres are currently developed — home to a playground, batting cages and other amenities — and the master plan includes a total of four baseball fields, four soccer fields and a community center, among other things. About $2 million in investments have been made into the entire park, with the rest of the master plan requiring another $20 million.

Ric Catron, Kitsap Parks and Recreation park project coordinator, said it’s very important for a community to have facilities such as the regional park so the local youth have things to do. But he also sees the economic development that the park can bring.

“The park is large enough to bring in people for events. They’ll come here for more than a day and they need lodging, meals, and sometimes they bring families so they’re interested in other things going on,” said Catron, who has been involved previously with several skate parks in Oregon.

Already, one group wanted to bring an event to the park in August, but the county couldn’t accommodate it. There are a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out — for one, the parks department hasn’t set up policy yet about events. Repeated vandalism to the portable bathroom — including someone blowing it up over July 4 — and safety issues due to overcrowded parking have also brought up additional concerns.

“We’re trying to address safety issues and calm down the traffic. (The park) is so popular, there’s a safety issue with people and cars,” said Kitsap County Parks Director Jim Dunwiddie. “We didn’t have a long enough time to address local use, let alone events.”

He said it would take a few weeks to deal with the safety concerns and a couple of months to set up an event use policy. “If a permit came in two months from now, I would think we’d be ready for it,” he said.

“The grand opening showed the potential for the site and we just need to strike a balance between general use and special events.”

County has opening on Lodging Tax Advisory Committee The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The committee reviews applications for lodging tax revenue and makes recommendations to commissioners on how to best distribute and expend these funds.

The time commitment is 10 to 15 hours total. The committee is made up of at least five members, including two representatives from businesses required to collect lodging tax, and two from local agencies involved in tourism promotion and events eligible to receive lodging tax revenue but which are not applying in the 2014 funding year.

There is currently a vacancy for a representative from tourism promotion and events. For more information about the committee, go here. To apply, contact R’Lene Orr at 360-3374410 or rorr@co.kitsap.wa.us.

WATER

from page 27 back roads. Our streams, lakes and shoreline offer a wide range of ecorecreation adventures, as well as significant economic benefits from tribal and private shellfish harvesting and fishing operations.

The Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails was recently added by Washington Water Trails to the Cascadia Marine Trail, and is in the process of being designated a National Park Service Water Trail, which promises to generate national attention to the region and local communities. The water trails guide has a dot on the map for every city, town, marina, boat launch and water access location connecting water trails throughout the region.

Also, VKP recently sponsored what has become the largest mountain bike race in Washington state with 450 riders and 800 guests. It was held on wooded trails near historic Port Gamble, with its waterfront offering spectacular views of the Salish Sea. Our local water is so good that Kitsap Peninsula micro-breweries have won more awards than any micro-brewer from any other county in Washington. REI was so impressed with our focus on all things nature and water that it plans to open a 25,000 square-foot retail store in Silverdale just steps from Clear Creek Trail and Dyes Inlet.

Our focus on water offers economic opportunity in every drop. The Puget Sound Regional Council estimates that the

Kitsap region generates nearly $500 million a year in tourism-related revenue and 6,500 jobs. Revenue from accommodations generates nearly $300 million annually. It is estimated that paddling activities generate $1.7 million in revenue. It's big business and there is plenty more waiting for our investment.

Tourism is a highly competitive industry. Every city, county, state and foreign county (especially Canada) is vying to attract visitors. The Kitsap Peninsula region and all of its communities have the potential to be a popular year-round destination. However, for this to become a reality will require a sustainable investment from private and public-sector tourism stakeholders. There needs to be a collective, unified agreement that it is vital to invest lodging tax dollars to support a region-wide marketing effort. If we want to effectively compete with other destinations around the Puget Sound and the state, we must be willing to make the same financial commitment to tell our story and promote our region.

• Patricia Graf-Hoke is executive director of Visit Kitsap Peninsula. It was founded in 1983 as the Kitsap Peninsula Visitors & Convention Bureau and is an official Washington state Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) responsible for marketing the Kitsap Peninsula region. Its offices are located in Silverdale; phone is 800337-0580 and its website is www.VisitKitsap.com.

MARKETING

from page 27 bike race drew 450 cyclists from 20 states, and hundreds of family members and friends came with them for the weekend.

Graf-Hoke also noted that the Seattlebased Cascade Bicycle Club, one of the largest clubs in the country, hosts their two biggest events on the Kitsap Peninsula — the Chilly Hilly ride in the spring and Kitsap Color Classic in the fall.

Also, VKP partnered for the first time with West Sound Cycling Club to promote the 20th anniversary of the Tour de Kitsap bike ride, held July 28 in conjunction with Whaling Days in Silverdale.

Visit Kitsap Peninsula gets the bulk of its budget from lodging tax contributions from the cities and county, and some from business memberships, including Bainbridge Island hotels and Clearwater Casino Resort owner Port Madison Enterprises, which contributed $12,000 this year. There are some businesses outside the county, such as hotels in Gig Harbor and Port Ludlow, that pay to be members because they see the value of being included in regional marketing.

The county’s lodging tax allocation of $156,000 is the largest in VKP's 2013 budget of about $275,000. That budget — for a region with a population of about 250,000 — is considerably smaller than for some other Destination Marketing Organizations in counties with similar populations.

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism has almost triple the VKP budget, and

received nearly $600,000 in lodging taxes for 2013.

In Yakima County, the Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau has a budget of more than $2 million, with lodging taxes supplying $374,000 and about $500,000 more in revenue coming from the cityowned convention center the VCB operates.

The only convention center-type facility in Kitsap County is the Kitsap Conference Center, which is owned by the city of Bremerton and operated under contract by Columbia Hospitality. The center gets $155,000 in city lodging tax funds.

The Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau, in a region with a population of 71,000, has a budget of $447,000.

Even with its limited budget and minimal staffing, the nonprofit VKP has helped boost tourism through “all the cooperative advertising we do to leverage the dollars we do have,” Graf-Hoke said.

“I think one of the things we’ve really been able to accomplish is branding and positioning the Kitsap Peninsula as its own destination. I believe that’s one of our strongest accomplishments.”

This is the time of year when LTACs start reviewing applications for next year’s funds, and Graf is making the rounds to foster a sense of partnership as she asks for support.

“I continue to look for opportunities to educate our stakeholders that VKP is a valuable resource for them in their marketing efforts,” she said.

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 31

Turner Joy’s boosters aim to raise its profile

By Tim Kelly, Editor Jerry McDonald knows how many tourists board state ferries at the main terminal in Seattle, and he wants them to know about all the possibilities that await visitors arriving at Bremerton’s waterfront.

“There’s a million people in Seattle, and the state ferries are the No. 1 tourist attraction in Puget Sound,” the Bremerton resident and tourism booster likes to point out.

So to spread the word about Bremerton to more people in the Seattle area — tourists and residents — McDonald is trying to link one prominent draw in his city with the top visitor attractions in and around Seattle.

The USS Turner Joy, permanently moored next to the Bremerton Marina, is the first tourist attraction in the West Sound to sign on with Seattle Premier Attractions, which is run by the Puget Sound Attractions Council, a nonprofit tourism promotion organization. Member attractions pay annual dues to fund its cooperative marketing efforts.

The widely distributed Seattle Premier Attractions brochure offers discount coupons for most of its members’ attractions.

The Turner Joy (McDonald is on the board of directors) didn’t sign up in time for inclusion in this tourist season’s brochure, but next year it will be listed with some 30 other popular attractions, such as the Space Needle and Experience Music Project at Seattle Center, zoos in Tacoma and Seattle, whale-watching tours in the San Juan Islands, and cruises to Blake Island for a traditional salmon bake at Tillicum Village.

Heather Carter of the Puget Sound

Tim Kelly photo

Jerry McDonald, right, stands with Steve Boerner, director of the Bremerton Historic Ship Association, in front of the USS Turner Joy on the Bremerton waterfront.

Attractions Council said new member applications typically are submitted at the organization’s fall meeting for inclusion in the next year’s brochure and other marketing materials. But she said the Turner Joy was interested in getting listed online this summer, so the membership dues were pro-rated for this year. The Turner Joy paid $1,800 for 2013, and it will cost $4,500 for full inclusion next year.

For now, the ship is listed under the What

32 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

Exceptional Assisted Living Community • • • •

24 hour On-site Licensed Staff Services Available to Meet Your Care Needs Delicious Meals in our Lovely Dining Room Safety, Security and Peace of Mind

Call us or stop by for a tour today!

360-874-1212 www.staffordcare.com 1761 Pottery Avenue, Port Orchard, WA 98366

To Do tab on the Seattle organization’s website (www.seattleattractions.com) with a description that concludes: “Overall, the Bremerton waterfront, with USS Turner Joy as the centerpiece, is an exciting and inexpensive Northwest experience; from the scenic cruise on the Washington State Ferry to enjoying the great public facilities, museums, shops and restaurants (car optional!).”

McDonald also said the museum ship signed on in 2012 to be listed with Visit Seattle, formerly the Seattle Convention and Visitors Burueau, which is the official destination marketing organization for Seattle/King County. It costs $395 a year, which gets the Turner Joy listed online and in the Official Visitors Guide that is published twice a year, as well as in two specialized guides utilized as resources for meeting and convention planners and for professional travel agents and tour operators.

It’s not just the Turner Joy that McDonald — who’s running for City Council and making tourism promotion his central issue — is trying to promote; it’s the whole Bremerton waterfront and downtown area, even including Port Orchard’s waterfront that’s connected by a 10-minute ride across Sinclair Inlet on a historic passenger ferry.

He’s also arranged for some Seattle hotel concierges and workers at the state ferries’ information booth on the Seattle dock to visit Bremerton and Port Orchard to see the local attractions and amenities, so they will hopefully tell travelers about them.

“I want to make the Bremerton route the premier Washington State Ferries route,” McDonald said.

COALITIONS

from page 28 session and Langwith said he has especially been focusing them on figuring out what makes North Kitsap unique and different from many other areas that promote themselves as tourist destinations.

“We are a group of small communities and one voice is hard to hear, but if we were to align and bring one voice together and market it, we could really grow tourism here,” said Langwith, a retired executive from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. One of those small communities is Hansville. Jack Harrington, who owns Labyrinth Hill Lavender with his wife, Susan, represents the Hansville Community Center on the consortium. He said one goal is to promote North Kitsap to visitors looking for specific types of experiences, such as outdoor family activities.

“Our group is typical of many in metro areas, where you have smaller groups promoting their neighborhoods,” said

Visit Kitsap adds new board member, staffer Visit Kitsap Peninsula announced that Doug Bartells has joined the board of directors to serve a three-year term. Bartells is hotel director for the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort and involved in the expansion of Clearwater’s hotel and development of its new 28,000 square-foot conference center.

Bartells previously was general manager of Holiday Inn-Downtown Everett and chair of the board of directors for the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau. He was instrumental in working Elizabeth with county leaders to Johnson form a Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) for the region.

"We have big plans for the organization and Doug's expertise and experience will be a big help in achieving our goal to become a major regional destination for visitors and events," said John Kuntz, president of the Visit Kitsap Peninsula board.

Visit Kitsap, which recently changed its name from Kitsap Peninsula Visitors & Convention Bureau, also announced Elizabeth Johnson has been hired as a fulltime staff member to provide information and event services support and to assist with social media strategies and programs.

Johnson graduated from Central Washington University in March with a degree in Tourism and Recreation and previously was a recreation intern for PenMet Parks District on the Key Peninsula. She is a lifelong resident of Kitsap County and a graduate of Bremerton High School.

Harrington, who’s been involved with tourism at regional and state level and has served on the Visit Kitsap Peninsula board for several years. “We’re trying to complement, not compete with the VCB.” The group, in fact, is not unique in Kitsap. Similar collaborative efforts have been sprouting up in South Kitsap, Bremerton and Silverdale. Patty GrafHoke, Visit Kitsap Peninsula executive director, said she’s been working with several of the groups to especially promote things like major events that could bring visitors. She noted that any community can adopt Visit Kitsap’s branding message, “The Natural Side of Puget Sound,” and develop a unique identity within that brand.

Visit Kitsap Peninsula’s goal is to work in partnership with its funders “to collaborate and create marketing programs that support their tourism sales goals,” she said. Bringing people in for overnight stays is a major focus since VKP is funded by lodging taxes.

“We are happy to have partnerships with anyone that can help make that happen,” Graf-Hoke said.

New Gig Harbor trolley caters to tourists, locals

By Rodika Tollefson It took several public and private-sector attempts and more than a decade, but Gig Harbor finally got its trolley service. Pierce Transit launched a pilot project in July with a daily route connecting the westside shopping area with downtown.

Pierce Transit, with the help of several community investors, achieved a version of what many others have tried over the years, including a previous mayor, the City Council and at least one private entity. The public transit agency got help, too — the city, the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Uptown Gig Harbor (through its merchants) each contributed $10,000 and the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance another $5,000 to get the trolley demonstration project off the ground. Another $6,000 in pledges is being solicited to meet the goal of $41,000.

The so-called PT Trolley — Get Around Gig Harbor is targeted both at visitors and locals, thanks in part to its nostalgic feel. Not only does the trolley bring back the look of yesteryear, it only costs only 25 cents per trip and comes complete with a specially uniformed “conductor” who announces the stops.

While Pierce Transit is funding the bulk of the cost, the service had to be heavily subsidized in order to keep fares low, said Derek Young, a Gig Harbor city councilman and Pierce Transit board member.

VENUES

works in tandem with the Suquamish Casino Resort for those who need accommodations.

Executive chef Thomas Kollasch (previously at Alderbrook Resort & Spa on Hood Canal and the Arctic Club in Seattle) provides the catering, and the clubhouse has a dedicated event planner. There’s no facility charge, except for additional costs for the dance floor and such.

“We’re doing an all-inclusive package to make it simple because people are already overwhelmed with prices,” said White Horse general manager David Raper.

He said what makes the venue attractive is the atmosphere. “People really feel like they’re coming into a resort,” he said. “Some people coming from Seattle have said they feel like they’re coming into a different part of the country because it’s so serene.”

Rodika Tollefson photo

Pierce Transit is operating a trolley service this summer in Gig Harbor with support from the city and local businesses and organizations.

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 33

from page 29 fountain park is one of several options available for weddings hosted at the Kitsap Conference Center, which is owned by the city of Bremerton and operated by Columbia Hospitality. Indoors, six rooms can be used for weddings and accommodate as many as 450 people for sit-down dining (and as many as 800 for standing room).

“The fountain park lends phenomenal views of the water, and the ferry if it’s timed right,” said Arne Bakker, who became the general manager of the center about three months ago.

There’s also the Fountain Room — indoor comfort with a view of the fountains.

And after next year, brides will have several more choices, thanks to an expansion that will add third-floor rooms with sweeping views of Sinclair Inlet.

Catering is provided as part of the package and Kitsap Conference Center has staff dedicated to event planning.

“We have a lot of versatility in what we can do,” Bakker said.

One of Kitsap’s newest unique venues is already getting attention from outside the area as well: the White Horse Golf Club’s clubhouse near Kingston. The new facility at the golf club owned by Port Madison Enterprises opened earlier this spring and had its first wedding scheduled for August.

Weddings can be hosted both inside the Northwest-themed clubhouse with its tall stone fireplace, and outdoors, and staff

“We wanted people to try it out and we wanted to remove barriers so the decision was made to keep fares low,” he said. “It had to be heavily subsidized to make it work.”

Last fall, voters turned down a Pierce Transit ballot measure that would have imposed a tax to help pay for existing services. As a result, the struggling agency has to implement a variety of cuts to its routes and service times, including in Gig Harbor, effective in September.

Young, who’s in his 16th year as a councilman and represents several cities on the transit board, said this project is part of the new Pierce Transit board of directors’ strategic direction.

“We decided we can’t continue doing business like this, especially with all the cuts.

So the directors challenged themselves to look at new ways to provide things like circulators,” he said. “The reason Gig Harbor was picked for the pilot is because we’ve been talking about it for a very long time and because of the partners stepping up.”

The trolley, which runs every 30 minutes, has extended hours on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and will operate through Sept. 28. One hope is to help reduce downtown congestion and parking shortages (on Tuesday evenings in the summer, downtown can be especially challenging to navigate due to the popular concert series at Skansie Brothers Park).

The trolley also allows pets — catering to Gig Harbor’s dog-friendly atmosphere — and has space for bicycles.

Within the first few days of the route kick-off, locals and boaters alike were taking advantage of the ride.

“Some boaters came in and were ecstatic to have the trolley,” said Mary DesMarais, executive director of the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance. “I think it will be a really good service for the tourists but also for locals.” She said the downtown merchants were excited about the route and saw it as a way to get people to explore additional areas of the waterfront.

Having a service like the trolley helps the city avoid the need for additional infrastructure like parking, Young said, but the visitor aspect is also a major driver.

“This is about connecting visitors to

different parts of town. If you can have them stay even an hour longer, that translates into them spending money at the local businesses,” Young said.

Two old-style trolley chasses on wheels serve as the route runners (the transit is leasing them through September) and two buses, painted like the trolleys, are on standby as backup. If the board decides to bring the route back next year, Pierce Transit would roll it into its regular service (currently the fare isn’t connected to the ORCA transit card) and consider purchasing vehicles. An evaluation process will help determine the project’s success based on results such as ridership and impact on merchants.

“If it is successful, we’ll bring it back as an annual seasonal service,” Young said. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll think of something else for Gig Harbor.”

Ford Explorer combines room, style and technology

By Lary Coppola There’s a reason the Ford Explorer is — in my view at least — one the best sevenpassenger sport-utility vehicles (SUV) currently available. It combines the family friendliness of a minivan, serious towing and off-road capabilities, in one very attractive package. We’ve driven both the 2013 and 2014 versions of the Explorer, both locally and in South Florida, and will attempt to capture the essence of both in this review.

This latest version Explorer debuted in 2011. The big departure for Ford, was abandoning the traditional body-on-frame architecture that’s always been the hallmark of “true SUV’s,” for the one-piece, unibody design utilized by the more popular crossover SUVs — as well as almost every passenger car built in the last 40 years. Even for a vehicle as large as the Explorer, unibody gives it a much more car-like driving feel — not to mention better fuel economy achieved through significant weight reduction.

The Explorer Sport was new in 2013. It features a twin-turbocharged version of Ford’s 3.5-liter V6 engine, a sport-tuned suspension and all-wheel-drive, delivering 365 horses and 350 pound-feet of torque.

New options for the 2013 Limited version include a lane departure warning system, heated steering wheel and a power tilt-and-

telescoping steering column, while all Explorers now come standard with a frontpassenger knee airbag. New in 2014 were standard auto headlamps, trailer sway control utilizing selective braking and engine management to control unwanted trailer movement, optional adaptive cruise control, and heated rear seats.

Model Lineup: The Explorer comes in four models: Base, LXT, Limited and Sport.

The Base Explorer comes standard with fabric upholstery, A/C, a six-way power driver seat with manual recline, a tilt-andtelescoping steering wheel with audio controls, power windows, locks and mirrors, trip computer, 60/40 split-folding secondrow seats, 50/50 split third-row seats, sixspeaker audio system with single CD player and auxiliary audio jack, rear privacy glass, roof rails and 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers. Options include a tow package and Microsoft Sync, which adds voice activation, Bluetooth and Sirius/XM Satellite radio.

The XLT gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, MyFordTouch, a USB audio port, keyless entry touchpad on the driver’s door, automatic headlamps, rear parking sensors and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Limited adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation, 12-speaker Sony

34 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

the peninsula’s magazine

www.wshg.net

audio system with HD radio, power adjustable pedals with memory, a cargo net, a rearview camera, remote start, a 110-volt outlet, 20-inch painted aluminum wheels, and the MyFordTouch touchscreen interface. Options include second-row captain’s chairs and an option package that includes ventilated front seats, an eight-way power passenger seat, power tilt-andtelescoping and heated steering wheel, a power-folding third-row seat and power liftgate.

The Explorer Sport comes standard with four-wheel drive and is powered by the aforementioned twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6. EPA fuel economy estimates are 16/22. Standard features include sport front seats with fabric upholstery, unique interior and exterior trim, and many of the standard features found on the Limited model.

Walkaround: The Explorer, with Ford’s signature 3-bar grille, displays design cues from other Ford vehicles, as well as an overall look somewhat reminiscent of the Range Rover, which Ford owned at one time. The sides follow the bodylines of the Taurus, while the fender flares appear inspired by the Mustang.

The window outlines are clean, bold and symmetrical, with blackened A, B, and Dpillars, while the bold, body-colored C-pillars slant down and back like the Range Rover.

With standard dark privacy glass, in the metallic white color of one of our test vehicles, the Explorer reminded us of a sleek yacht.

Molded projector beam headlights positioned below amber indicators adorn the fenders, rounding off the inherently square nose. The hood appears short from the side, but with two parallel humps and a scoop in the center, long from behind the wheel. The LED rear taillights finish off a design that’s ruggedly fresh, yet familiar.

Interior: The interior is smartly styled with excellent fit and finish. The comfortable front bucket seats sit up high, while the slanted center stack has a clean look showcasing satin-finish trim materials There’s lots of legroom in all three rows,

and reaching the rear row is easier than in most SUVs — even for adults. The rear doors open wide and split rear seats fold with a button and bounce back up with the pull of a lever. There’s up to 80.7 cubic-feet of cargo space that can be reconfigured in seconds.

Instrumentation on all Ford cars equipped with MyFordTouch have two driver-configurable LCD screens on either side the large speedometer, with a 8-inch color touch screen at the top of the center stack. The screens have four quadrants with different colors for each function — phone, audio, climate and navigation. Many of the features and functions can be adjusted in four separate ways — using the thumb buttons on the steering-wheel, touching the display screen itself, voice command, or the analog way — using the buttons on the center stack.

Under The Hood: All Explorers except the Sport come with a choice front-wheel drive or four-wheel-drive, and are powered

by Ford’s 3.5-liter V6 married to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It delivers 290 horses and 255 pound-feet of torque. EPA estimated fuel economy is 17/24 City/Highway and 17/23 on 4WD models.

Front-wheel drive is standard, four-wheel drive is optional Low-range gearing isn’t available, but 4WD versions feature Ford’s Terrain Management system, which depending on the driving environment, allows the driver to choose from four modes for optimal traction, along with hill start assist and hill descent control.

A 2.0-liter Ecoboost inline-four-banger is optional. It puts 240 horses on the highway with 270 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy is estimated at 20/28 City/Highway.

Behind The Wheel: We didn’t drive the Explorer with the optional 2.0 EcoBoost engine, but did drive the Limited and Sport models, with both versions of the 3.5-liter V6.

Married to a six-speed automatic with optional manual shifting, we found the V6 smooth and responsive. It delivered good acceleration and plenty of torque, effortlessly handling 75+ mph on an uphill freeway, Explorer, page 35

2013 Chevrolet Traverse: Spacious, family-friendly SUV varying amounts of third row room.

In addition to outstanding passenger space/comfort, the 2013 Chevy Traverse excels at cargo capacity. The interior is rated at 116 cubic feet, which is tops for 2013 midsize SUVs. The large liftgate/opening has no liftover and a flat floor. The third and second row seats easily fold flat, so carrying large items is simple.

Both front seats in the LTZ model are heated, cooled, and fitted with power lumbar. These features in conjunction with nice, soft leather seating surfaces made for excellent long distance comfort.

The second row captain’s chairs are also spacious and comfy. The floor is flat and third row access is reasonable. When the second row seats are moved up there is ample room in the third row for two adults or three children. There is still adequate cargo space behind the third row seat, plus a sizable under floor storage compartment.

The second row passengers have their own HVAC controls and our tester had the optional Panasonic rear seat entertainment center.

Under The Hood: An excellent 3.6liter direct-injected V-6 that’s backed by an efficient six-speed automatic transmission is the sole engine/transmission combo.

The engine is rated at 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It has a towing capacity of 5,200 pounds. The EPA rated our allwheel-drive LTZ model at 16-mpg city and 23-mpg highway. At the end of our week of largely highway driving the trip computer registered 21.4 mpg.

The Traverse is available in either frontwheel-drive or AWD. We strongly recommend all-wheel-drive for the variable weather conditions around here and for the added resale value. The fuel economy difference between the two drivelines is a single mile per gallon. There aren’t any driver controls for the AWD functions, but this is an all-weather vehicle more than a trail blazing 4x4.

Behind The Wheel: The first thing we noticed getting “behind the wheel” was the thinner than average steering wheel. We prefer thicker, contoured steering wheels.

The Traverse LTZ wheel is heated, which is a big winter plus. The auxiliary controls were slightly below average compared to competitive vehicles.

Comfort-wise, the driving experience is excellent. There is stretch-out legroom,

EXPLORER

Whines: The MyFordTouch system by Microsoft remains problematic — as it’s been since its debut — which really is too bad because it’s easier to use and more intuitive than many others. Makes me wish Apple built it so it would work flawlessly. We had ongoing problems answering Bluetooth phone calls, and with voice recognition for the climate controls.

Bottom Line: The Ford Explorer is a large, attractive, capable, fuel-efficient crossover SUV that’s well-equipped at any trim level.

from page 34 while seemingly loafing on the flatness of Florida’s I-95.

We found the ride comfortable and reasonably quiet, with handling excellent for a vehicle this size thanks to the rigid chassis and careful tuning of the independent suspension, along with speed-sensitive electric power steering for tight, quick turns.

Off-road, the AWD Sport navigated deep ruts and tall rises with aplomb, as if it had extra suspension travel.

ample headroom, and readily accessible controls and gauges. The ride is smooth, especially for an SUV with a substantial towing capacity.

Our test Traverse had side blind zone alert (in the side mirrors) and rear cross traffic alert. These features are greatly appreciated in modern congested, aggressive traffic.

Whines: The multi-function touchscreen infotainment center is amazing once you master it. Early on it can be a little confusing for people born before the computer age. Also, the location of the

emergency flashers button right below the screen caused us to activate it by resting our palm there while operating the screen.

We would have appreciated larger miscellaneous item storage bins/pockets, although the oversize glovebox was excellent.

Bottom Line: If you need to move a lot of people and their stuff, but don’t want something as big as Chevy Suburban, the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse is a strong candidate. It has a smooth car-like ride and demeanor with an excellent, oversized interior in a mid-size SUV wrapper.

CHEVY TRAVERSE

501 WEST HILLS BLVD., BREMERTON WWW.HASELWOOD.COM

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 35

By Bruce Caldwell Chevrolet has an extensive lineup of SUVs and trucks with a just-right size vehicle for almost every need. A standout in the larger mid-size crossover SUV category is the Traverse. The Traverse is noticeably smaller outside than a Suburban or Tahoe, but surprisingly spacious inside. The Traverse is available in either an eightpassenger or a seven-passenger (second row buckets) configuration.

A notable first for the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse is a front center airbag. This airbag prevents front seat occupants from hitting each other. The Traverse was substantially redesigned interior-wise for 2013 and the exterior was mildly changed. The chassis and drivetrain are the same as the 2012 models.

The Chevy Traverse is a close sibling of the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, especially when equipped as the top-of-theline LTZ variant. Traverse models (in ascending order) are the base LS, mid-lever LT (with two subsets, 1LT and 2LT), and the flagship LTZ. A comprehensive MyLink infotainment system is new for 2013. A rearview camera is now standard on all models.

Walkaround: The 2013 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ is conservatively styled, but there’s nothing objectionable about it. Save for the prominent Chevy bowtie on the horizontal grille it blends seamlessly into the sea of similar size SUVs. The wheels are pushed out toward the corners, which provides ample room for big, easy access doors. Fit and finish are excellent throughout.

The LTZ came with handsome, polished 20-inch alloy wheels and a power liftgate. The ride height is relatively low for an SUV, which is indicative of more paved road usage than off-road.

Interior: The interior of the Chevy Traverse is a highlight and rightfully so. As a family-friendly, multi-purpose vehicle the Traverse offers lots of versatile interior space and amenities. The Traverse is much smaller outside than Chevy’s legendary giant, the Suburban, but inside the Traverse exudes a Suburban-like feeling. There is ample head, leg, and shoulder room for all three rows of seating.

Space for the second and third rows involves a little give and take, but the second row seats slide approximately three inches. This allows maximum legroom when the third row is unoccupied and

Publisher Lary Coppola Editor Tim Kelly Advertising Sales Dee Coppola Pre-Press Operations Steve Horn Webmaster/IT Greg Piper Graphic Design Kris Lively Office Administration Jennifer Christine Web Host PCS Web Hosting LLC Contributing Writers Rodika Tollefson Don Brunell Dan Weedin Julie Tappero Jason Parker Press Releases

36 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

Email to pressreleases@KPBJ.com The Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal is a special interest publication dedicated exclusively to providing news, information and opinions to the business communities of the Kitsap and Key Peninsulas, and North Mason County. It is published monthly by Wet Apple Media. Copyright, 2013, with all rights reserved. Postage is paid at Tacoma, WA. The Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal is read by more than 26,000 business, professional, political and military leaders in Kitsap, Pierce, and Mason counties. Additional copies are available for $1.50 each. Annual subscriptions are available for $25.

Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content contained herein in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written consent of the Publisher is strictly prohibited. The Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal is proudly composed using Apple Macintosh® computers and printed by The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA. Views expressed herein are strictly the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the advertisers or ownership of The Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

Wet Apple, Inc. Post Office Box 1101 • Port Orchard, WA 98366

(360) 876-7900 • (800) 733-7990 Fax: (360) 895-2495 Website: www.kpbj.com

Member Kitsap Economic Development Alliance Kitsap Visitors and Convention Bureau Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce North Mason Chamber of Commerce Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce Silverdale Chamber of Commerce

Collaborating on capital formation – human capital formation

By John Powers Kitsap Economic Development Alliance A significant and far-reaching economic development – “development” – occurred in Kitsap on July 15 at the North Kitsap campus of Olympic College in Poulsbo.

On that day, in front of community leaders and citizens, David Mitchell, president of Olympic College, and Bruce Shepard, president of Western Washington University, announced a new partnership that will make it possible for students at the OC Poulsbo campus to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from WWU. When it comes to higher education, access, plus affordability, plus marketaffirmed accreditation equates to success. I believe this OC/WWU collaboration will lead to much success for the collaborating institutions, for the communities served, and most importantly for the students educated and the employers whose teams they join.

Olympic College and Western Washington University have a history of collaborating on a variety of programs in environmental and educational education, effectively extending each institution’s reach in serving students’ needs and market demands. Yet, in my view, this new regional center for WWU’s renowned business school programs is a game-changer. It will change how Kitsap is perceived and, how it competes in the Central Puget Sound regional job market — I believe July 15 marked a significant advancement in Kitsap’s economic future.

Human capital — “talent” — and the innovation it spawns, attracts financial

capital; and, financial capital is the lubricant for private-sector job retention and creation. Kitsap has long enjoyed an abundance of human capital, but has not been so blessed with the formation, attraction and deployment of financial capital, particularly equity capital at work outside the defense industry — outside the shipyard fence, if you would. Kitsap, led by Olympic College, now offers an ever stronger portfolio of baccalaureate degree programs — a growing engineering partnership with WSU, a burgeoning RN degree conducted in concert with Harrison Medical Center, a bachelor’s degree in education, and now a four-year business degree from a highly competitive and highly regarded business school — WWU’s School of Business. These programs form a critical mass of market-driven higher education assets and programs coalescing in a way that will not only strengthen our human capital, but will, in my judgment, be a tipping point that will catch the attention of investors of financial capital and lead to

new business development opportunities that heretofore may have been out of reach.

I predict that by the time the first WWU Bachelor of Business Degree is conferred at OC’s North Kitsap campus — that an existing, or new, business will have decided to invest more capital in Kitsap’s economy as a result of OC’s and WWU’s investment. That will lead to hiring more talent as a result of an ever-growing sense of confidence that our community, our economy — The Kitsap Market — contains all the essential resources and relationships needed to grow and prosper here in Kitsap.

Congratulations to presidents Mitchell and Shepard and to their boards of trustees, and to their administrative and academic leadership teams for having the courage and foresight to partner in Kitsap’s future, and to co-invest in our market’s most essential business capital — human capital — together!

On Kitsap!

• John Powers is executive director of the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance.

LAND-USE CASE

Development. “So I’m real interested in seeing how that plays out.”

The ruling is “more of a landowner issue than a developer issue,” in Jon Rose’s view.

The president of Olympic Property Group — who’s well known in local development circles for what’s going on in Port Gamble — said a number of Supreme Court decisions in the last 20 years were supposedly “landmark” cases, but “from my experience, none of those decisions has resulted in a reduction of the number or scope of new regulations.”

“If the past is any indication,” he added, “this decision is not likely to create any real change in local and state regulatory authority.”

from page 38 Bill Palmer, a land-use planning consultant and president of Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners, said the Florida ruling potentially could affect local developers who pay impact fees for their projects.

“I personally think, and have thought for a very long time that the whole impact fee ordinance that Kitsap County adopted and a lot of other jurisdictions as well, which came out of the state’s Growth Management Act, is something that could be subject to the Takings Clause in the Fifth Amendment,” said Palmer, who years ago was director of the county’s Department of Community

The magic of Washington Business Week

By Don C. Brunell Association of Washington Business Each summer for the past 38 years, students and adult leaders from across our state have gathered at university campuses for weeklong freeenterprise “boot camps” called Business Week.

There are other summer youth camps and school programs that focus on potential business careers, so what’s so special about Business Week?

What happens in Business Week is different. It has a magical quality that transforms the lives of both the students and the adults who mentor them.

I’ve been involved as an adult leader in Business Week since 1980. From the beginning, we wanted to ensure ethnic and economic diversity among the students, and we wanted to involve teachers as leaders and mentors. To make that

possible, we asked employers and service clubs to subsidize the program and provide scholarships so high school juniors and seniors from all backgrounds could attend.

It worked.

At Business Week, students cover the spectrum of economic backgrounds. Some participants have never been on a college campus, while others are world travelers.

Kids that are sometimes shunned in school interact with star athletes and student leaders. Skin color and the size of bank accounts simply don’t matter at Business Week.

When they first arrive, many of the students are unsure and skeptical, but by the second day, the magic has begun. By Friday — graduation day — hesitant strangers are transformed into confident enthusiastic friends who have a difficult time saying goodbye.

How does that magic work?

First, friends who arrive together are separated. Any clique, relationship or history that previously defined a student — in their eyes or the eyes of their peers — is

DETROIT

reality, buffoons like McGinn — and many Democrats in the state Legislature — fail to understand that the laws of economics still apply. If Democratic, Detroit-style thinking goes unchecked — and companies like Boeing continue to expand outside of Washington because of its onerous business climate that legislative Democrats seem determined to make worse — eventually Seattle will become Starnesville West. And as goes Seattle, so goes our state.

from page 38 McGinn trying to dictate wage rates to gain a union re-election endorsement by threatening to use land-use rules to hold up construction of a Whole Foods grocery store for no other reason than they’re non-union, that’s a Detroit-style abuse of political power.

Insulated from serious criticism by the lamestream media, as well as economic

gone, replaced by an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to remake yourself.

At Business Week, students are placed in groups of 10. Each group forms a company, creates an innovative product, figures out how to produce it efficiently, and crafts a marketing strategy. The teams live together, eat together, work together and learn together. Students are encouraged to share their experiences, to listen and understand.

They learn how to work in teams, but they also learn how to lead.

At week’s end, the teams participate in a trade show where they sell their ideas to “investors” — business, education and community leaders from across the state who donate their time to Business Week.

Seeing these young people come together, to watch as their confidence grows, to see them transform into selfassured, enthusiastic, imaginative people — often surprising themselves in the process — is a phenomenon that is difficult to describe.

It happens with the adults too, as major business leaders bond with teachers and students they’ve never met and may never see again.

So what transforms people?

First, the program is about learning life skills. It’s more than just being tops in the business simulation program. It is the realization that you have untapped ability and potential.

Second, it is unconventional because

students are challenged to be grounded and creative at the same time. Innovation is the order of the day.

Third, Business Week offers students firsthand experience with risk and responsibility. Adults provide guiding hands, but the students develop their companies, find solutions to problems and create something the world has never seen before.

Finally, it is about bringing disparate people together to work, live and have fun.

Traditional class, ethnic and economic barriers evaporate for a week.

Diversity, creativity and unlimited potential have drawn generations of immigrants to America’s shores for over 200 years. All of that is compressed into just one week at Washington Business Week.

That’s the magic of Business Week.

• Don Brunell is president of the Association of Washington Business. Formed in 1904, the AWB is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 8,000 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.

Port Orchard taking applications for open council seat, plus Planning Commission, Building Board of Appeals

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 37

The City of Port Orchard is accepting applications interested residents to fill a vacancy on the City Council. To qualify for the appointment, applicants must be registered voters and have lived in the city a minimum of one year prior to appointment. It is anticipated that the appointment will be made at the Aug. 27 City Council meeting, and the new member will serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

Interested residents may submit a letter of interest stating qualifications to the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 216 Prospect St., Port Orchard WA 98366. Questions regarding the position may be directed to the clerk’s office at cityhall@cityofportorchard.us or (360) 876-4407. In order to be considered, letters of interest are due by Aug. 2.

The city also has openings on the Planning Commission and the Building Board of Appeals.

The Planning Commission is appointed by the mayor and provides recommendations to the City Council on land-use actions such as rezones, special use permits, subdivisions, and comprehensive plan amendments. The Planning Commission also decides on land-use variances. It is comprised of eight citizens and meets on the third Monday night of each month. The city is seeking members who represent a cross-section of the community.

Technical experience and specialized education are not prerequisites to the appointment.

The Building Board of Appeals also is appointed by the mayor, and members serve fiveyear terms. The board meets upon notice from the chairperson, within 10 days of an appeal or at stated periodic meetings. Requirements for the position are: registered design professional with mechanical and plumbing engineering experience, or a mechanical contractor with at least 10 years’ experience, five of which shall have been in responsible charge of work.

Anyone who would like to be considered for appointment to the Planning Commission or the Building Board of Appeals should submit an application, letter of interest and a resume (if available) no later than Aug. 2. Applications may be mailed or delivered to: City Clerk Brandy Rinearson, City of Port Orchard, 216 Prospect St., Port Orchard WA 98366, or emailed to brinearson@cityofportorchard.us. For more information, call the clerk’s office at (360) 876-4407.

Random thoughts… and lessons from Detroit In spite of all the PR spin about the economy being propagated by the Obama administration and the lamestream media to draw our collective attention away from things like the IRS scandal, Benghazi, and Michelle’s never-ending, taxpayer-funded vacations, am I the only one who doesn’t believe things are getting any better?

Here in Washington, we hear reports from the state about job growth, but just looking around, I don’t see any of our clients hiring. Besides the tech and health care sectors in Seattle, I have to wonder where the rest of these jobs are. Can someone tell me?

I saw where George Zimmerman is considering changing his name to Ben Ghazi, supposedly so the lamestream media will stop talking about him.

I’m not surprised the City of Detroit recently declared bankruptcy. The last time I was there about a year and a half ago for an automotive-related event, I was shocked at the 8-lane downtown streets — with no traffic on them. Downtown Detroit, all around the Renaissance Center and Cobo Hall was a virtual ghost town at noon on a Wednesday.

Detroit has been big-government’s

“model city.” Since 1962, every single Detroit mayor has been a Democrat. It has the dubious distinction of being the place where if a big-government bad idea failed anywhere in America, chances are it failed first in Detroit.

Detroit has an income tax that’s the third-highest of any big city in America.

Is it any wonder LARY COPPOLA two thirds of the population has The Last Word moved out?

While Detroit’s automakers got billions from Obama in federal bailouts, in the case of GM, it was at the expense of stockholders and creditors. Many stockholders depended on dividends for retirement income and saw their entire life savings wiped out. Many of the creditors were small Detroit-area businesses that went bankrupt because of GM’s government takeover.

Where was the government bailout for those folks?

According to the Detroit News the City has 47 unions, and in 2011 employed just about twice as many people per capita as cities

with comparable populations — including a “horseshoer” — even though it has no horses.

Makes you wonder if Obama will bail out the city as well, since the UAW was the chief beneficiary of his original largesse.

Egotistical politicians believe they know what’s best for all of us, but refuse to understand their power doesn’t include changing the laws of economics; coupled with the fact too many of them are clueless about what those laws actually are. Constant government meddling, high minimum wages, easy to obtain welfare (Detroit has a huge radical Muslim population that has turned exploiting welfare into a science), and bureaucratic, featherbedding union rules are simply not the formula for success. But just like here in Washington, as long as the unions support their re-election, those politicians turn a blind eye to the ongoing damage being done.

Meanwhile, a county judge wants to stop the bankruptcy on the grounds that Michigan state law forbids Detroit to cut government services. How is Detroit going to continue to pay for those unsustainable public-sector pensions and support a bloated workforce? Democratic politicians have micromanaged the city into

bankruptcy, and yet continue failing to address the root causes.

As usual, those “we know what’s best for you” politicians believe more of the same is the answer — new taxpayer-funded stadiums, transportation projects and more are being proposed. And if you criticize them, Democratic politicians like former Mayor Coleman Young will publicly call you a racist and a bigot. Young has been quoted as saying, “To attack Detroit is to attack black.” That tends to shut critics up, as they don’t want be condemned by the leftist lamestream media for simply speaking the truth.

I read where a member of Great Britain’s Parliament compared Detroit to the fictional city of Starnesville in Ayn Rand’s prophetic 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged — an auto manufacturing city that became a ghost town after experimenting with socialism. In Atlas Shrugged, Starnesville’s demise is the first clue the entire society is approaching collapse.

There is a huge lesson in Detroit for Washington State — if anyone is actually paying attention. Detroit is Starnesville. And when you see Seattle’s buffoon Mayor Mike Detroit, page 37

38 • Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com August 2013

An intriguing Florida land-use case, and possible broader impacts Before the U.S. Supreme Court rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act and the Voting Rights Act sparked debate last month, the court handed down a little-noticed decision in a land-use case, and at least a few folks see the potential for a big impact.

The 11-year-old case involved a Florida landowner who sought a permit from a water management district to put a building and parking lot on 3.7 acres of his 15-acre property that consists mostly of wetlands. As environmental mitigation to get the permit, he offered to permanently conserve the rest of his property.

The water district said that was insufficient and wanted him to limit his development project to one acre and conserve the rest, or else pay for improvements on governmentowned wetlands elsewhere in the same watershed, according to an article on The Atlantic Cities website.

The owner — who’d had the land since 1972, and who died before the case reached the Supreme Court — sued the district over the requirements it set for granting the permit.

The court’s ultimate 5-4 ruling for the plaintiff was based on what’s known as the “Takings Clause” in the Fifth Amendment, which states "... nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

The water district defended itself against the lawsuit by arguing there was no government “taking” of any property from the landowner. But the majority decision written

by Justice Samuel Alito said that didn’t matter

in this case, because “Extortionate demands for property in the land-use permitting context run afoul of the Takings Clause not because they take property but because they impermissibly burden the right not to have property taken without just compensation.”

The online article notes this reasoning “appears to expand the definition of what constitutes a government ‘taking,’” in a way that might undermine application of land-use regulations. Past court rulings regarding the Takings Clause established the "nexus limitation" and "proportionality TIM KELLY test" that prevent government from Editor’s View a demanding concession from a property owner that’s unrelated or disproportionate to any harm caused by development of the land.

Previously that had applied only to taking property — easements on the land, for example — but in the Florida case the court extended nexus and proportionality evaluations to monetary payments the district sought as condition for a land-use permit.

The article cites a SCOTUS blog post that says the ruling “has the potential to significantly expand property-owners’ ability to challenge local land use regulations and fees, though it is not clear that this expansion will result in a significant number of successful challenges.”

The American Planning Association, which supported the water district in the Florida case, issued a statement saying the ruling “has jeopardized local governments’ ability to ensure that the costs of new development are fairly born by its developers and users.”

How might this affect land-use regulations in our region? A number of people involved on the development side and the regulation side responded, with some of them adding the caveat that they are not land-use attorneys.

Teresa Osinski of the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County says the case is interesting because of the missed opportunity for partnership between regulators and a landowner who “volunteered to permanently give up development rights to 75 percent of his property.” The court ruled against the Florida regulators who demanded more, and Osinski thinks that ought to be a lesson. “I hope regulators will remember this proverb going forward: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

Eliot Eisenberg is former senior economist for the National Association of Home Builders. Kitsap HBA brought in the nationally renowned speaker recently for a presentation (which was informative and entertaining) to area builders and real estate professionals about the economic impact of housing. He wrote in an email that “it sure looks like the high court has given landowners more power and as such have reduced the ability of cities and planning districts to force landowners to

buckle and bow before they get their construction permits.”

He added, however, that he expects “some sort of behavioral change that will result when smart planners and government officials read the decision and try to find a loophole. Nothing is ever static.

So this next phase promises to be interesting and it may take years to evolve.”

Kitsap County Commissioner Robert Gelder said he doesn’t foresee much impact because Washington state courts dealing with land-use permitting challenges have been applying the standards established by previous court cases related to the Takings Clause.

James Weaver, city building official for Bainbridge Island and the former community development director in Port Orchard, noted that this court ruling applied only to specific circumstances in one Florida case. He said such legal outcomes often prompt sweeping statements by property owners’ rights advocates or environmental groups that make unwarranted generalizations about broader impacts of a particular ruling.

“Here in Washington state,” Weaver said, “I believe both the development community and the jurisdictions processing the land-use permits both have a much better understanding of the requirements for the ‘nexus’ argument and ensuring that any proposed mitigation is necessary, proportionate, and well documented.”

Land-use case, page 36

Windermere Real Estate/West Sound, Inc. Serving Poulsbo, Silverdale and bremerton

PROPERTY FOR SALE OR LEASE Poulsbo CBA#509029 $300,000 Development opportunity directly across from Poulsbo's new 59,000 sf Safeway, opening December 2013. .75 acres, approved for 4,790 sf building.

Perfect for medical or office project. Great visibility w/views of Olympic Mtns. Kelly Muldrow at 360-7100509 or Joe Michelson at 360-282-5340.

Mark Danielsen 360-509-1299.

Bremerton CBA#512042 $900,000 Multi use building on Pacific ave in downtown bremerton. 3 commercial suites and 11 residential units and the adjoining 53 space parcel parking lot. Solid cash flow investment. Victor Targett 360-731-5550.

Silverdale CBA#521353 Very nice, street-level office space with road frontage. Prior uses are dental office and software developer. Very secure entry doors and plenty of parking. bob Guardino 360-710-7844.

Silverdale MLS#406781 $2,500,000 beautifully developed 3.28 acre parcel w/approved Site Dev. Permit (SDaP) for 101 unit Sr. Care facility in heart of Silverdale. eng. Plans; storm drainage & roads done; hookups paid. adjacent 1.96 acres also available.

Mark Danielsen 360-509-1299.

Bremerton CBA#500689 2,000 – 18,000 sq.ft. of built out medical space available across from harrison hospital. Very competitive pricing. Great access and parking. Joe Michelsen 360509-4009.

Bremerton CBA#482983 Great office space in downtown bremerton with views & good parking. 1300-7700 sq.ft.

Joe Michelsen 360-509-4009.

Bremerton CBA#453848 Commercial lease: 2,717 sq.ft. w/street frontage, ground floor retail/office space. $1,560/month incl.

Taxes & garbage ($5.90/sf/yr). Kitchenette area.12 off street parking spaces. Tenant pays gas heat & electric.

Silverdale MLS#484573 $3,500,000 Fully leased, 16,200 sq.ft. office building in Silverdale.

Three great tenants with long-term, triple net leases at 7.6% cap rate. no deferred maintenance, hi-tech security system and aDa compliant with elevator. bob Guardino360-710-7844.

Central Kitsap MLS#506507 $375,000 newer Duplex on Ridge top in Silverdale. 3 bdrm, 2 bths per side. excellent ploor plan with 2 bedroom featuring continental baths. excellent location - Great for owner occupant on 1 side. Victor Targett 360-7315550.

Now Accepting Online Nominations!

We are now accepting nominations for the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal’s annual 40 Under Forty leadership recognition program!

C O R P O R A T E

S P O N S O R S

• Print • Scan • Document Management

Realize your potential.

Quality service and a commitment to the community.

Submit your nomination online today Call 253-272-7099 800-495-3175 kelleyimaging.com

www.kpbj.com Nomination deadline August 15th, 2013

August 2013 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal • KPBJ.com 39

Do you know someone outstanding in their industry or profession who is deserving of recognition? Help us highlight the best and brightest young business leaders on the Kitsap Peninsula. Individuals must be under the age of 40 on Sept. 15, 2013 for consideration.