October 2015
Luncheon Speakers
October offers a terrific lineup of speakers and forums for the Monday noon Chamber meetings, held at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, at 555 Otto St. just outside of Port Townsend. Don’t miss them!
Oct. 5 - Port Commissioner Forum Learn about the candidates’ plans for the future of the Port of Port Townsend. This meeting features Diana Talley and Steve Tucker. Sponsor: Jefferson Healthcare
Oct. 12 - No Meeting, Columbus Day Oct. 19 - Laurie Liske and Laurie Szczepezynski of First Federal
will share tips on how to recognize fraud, scams, or identity theft threats via mail, phone, or on-line, and will provide tools regarding what to do if your identity is stolen. Sponsor: Kristin Manwaring Insurance
Oct. 26 - Tom Clendening, KXIR & KSER Radio, General Manager
How KSER and KXIR support communities in Jefferson County and the rest of the North Puget Sound in a landscape of growing corporate control of media. Sponsor: Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Supplement to the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Your One Stop ‘Tips & Tools’ Business Resource Center
Partners at the Business Resource Center are ready to help your business launch and grow. By Kevin Hoult Working together – that’s a path to success that makes Jefferson County a great place to live and to do business. The latest example of our team spirit is your Jefferson County Business Resource Center, where you will find many of your Jefferson County business and visitors services working together. My name is Kevin Hoult and I have the honor of participating in this world-class venture, representing your Washington State University Small Business Development Center – the SBDC. Serving Jefferson County for nearly 20 years, your SBDC helps our local businesses seize opportunities, overcome roadblocks and enter new markets with free and confidential business advising and client driven research. Wrestling with business questions but don’t know where to turn? I’ll be offering my popular “Ask Me Anything” round table each Monday, here at the Jefferson County Resource Center from 1:30 p.m. (right after
Mo Chilli BBQ’s owner Mike Harbin, a Marine Corps veteran, got his business started with help from the Small Business Development Center.
our weekly chamber luncheon) to 3:30 pm. No appointment is needed and there is no limit on the conversation. Need research on local economic conditions, assistance with a local jurisdictional concern or classroom training on important business topics? Know a business considering relocating to Jefferson County? Team Jefferson EDC will deliver for you, fostering a business-friendly environment that fuels economic sustainability.
Brian Kuh, and the Craft3 team of innovative finance professionals can help connect businesses to sources of capital, needed to grow. A financial institution with a mission to strengthen resilience in the Pacific Northwest, Craft3 provides loans and expertise to local entrepreneurs. Lizanne Coker helps to connect professionals in the building trades with other practitioners and with business opportunities across Jefferson County. Liz and the Jefferson County Home Builders Association
help members find success together. Finally, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information Center can help with community referrals, relocation packets, and all of the great business services you’ve come to expect from our best-in-class chamber team. One of our collaborative success stories is the fabulous Mo Chilli BBQ. Entrepreneur and Marine Corps veteran Mike Harbin started his journey by reaching out to the SBDC for information on starting a business. Kevin referred Mike to the Team Jefferson EDC ‘Focus Plan’ business planning course where Mike was an exemplary student. Upon completion of his business plan, Mike found the financing he needed and now offers Mo Chilli BBQ in Discovery Bay. Check Mike’s website, http:// mo-chillibbq.com for more information. Kevin Hoult is our local Washington State University Small Business Dev-elopment Center representative. You can reach him at our new Local Small Business Resource Center.