May 2014
Luncheon Speakers
Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings are held at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St., at noon each Monday, federal holidays excluded. Everyone is welcome!
May 5 – PT Robotics Team
The robotics team sponsored by Port Townsend High School and the Northwest Maritime Center will present its 2014 robot and share experiences from their rookie year. Sponsor Resort at Port Ludlow
May 12 Future City Challenge
Students from Chimacum Schools will talk about their participation in this competition where more than 35,000 middle schoolers from across the United States are tasked with re-imagining transportation systems. Sponsor Korean Women’s Association
May 19 - Dave Robison
The executive director of the Port Townsend Public Development Authority will provide an update on Fort Worden operations. Sponsor Sirens
May 26 - No Meeting.
Enjoy Memorial Day and the beginning of summer.
Taking business from good to great Great leadership, careful hiring keys to progress
By Jordan Eades In March, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce board gathered to listen to a presentation by Heather Bailey, board member and Chief Human Resources Officer for Jefferson Healthcare. She began by performing a simple survey. Each member received a blank post-it note on which we answered the following question: “As a board member, how do you feel like we are doing? OK, good, or great?” One by one we began filling up the columns of OK, good, and great. Our results were good. Most felt that, we as a board, and as an organization, have been achieving our goals and making a difference to our membership. Then, she challenged our board by asking what it would take raise the bar, not settling for just a “good” organization, but a great one. It was an inspiring and informative hour, where Bailey shared the work of Jim Collins, author of Good to Great. In his book, Collins describes his research on how good companies, even mediocre companies, make the leap from standard performance to amazing, longlasting performance. Over the course of five years, Collins compiled data that determined
Zach and Jordan Eades are co-owners of HOPE Roofing & Construction. Jordan says she was recently inspired by the guidance offered by author Jim Collins in the book “From good to great.” the universal distinguishing characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great. Among many valuable insights, was his emphasis on the fact that when all is said and done, it’s people who really make the difference and distinguish great companies from good ones. Great organizations and companies consistently demonstrate the ability to connect current and future employees with the opportunities and roles that fit their passions, their natural abilities, and what makes them significant within the organization.
Overall, it was a fantastic exercise that provided our board with keen insight on how we structure our committees, approach board development, and continue to offer Jefferson County business members with amazing avenues for promotion, information, advocacy and support. Fired-up with our board’s resounding commitment to excellence, I returned home to ponder the same questions for our business, HOPE Roofing & Construction. I wondered how my husband and co-owner would describe our business.
How did our team members feel about their performance, the work we perform, and the state of the business overall? As I considered these questions for myself, it became clear that the road to excellence starts with honesty, courage and desire. Now on our third year, I feel good about the work we have performed and the relationships that we have with our customers. That being said, I am not content to settle for the “status quo.” I think that we owe it to ourselves to dig deeper, aim higher. Continued on Page 2