Bellingham Business Journal, January 06, 2014 by Sound Publishing

Vol. 22 No. 1

JAN 2014

LOCAL RETAIL

Belle Bridal & Formal Shoppe ready to enter new era with new owner [13]

NEW GROCERY SHAKEUPS 2013 was a year full of changes for large grocery retailers in Bellingham

Waterfront plan seen as progress by some, but not by all City and port leaders have approved a master plan to guide development of Bellingham’s future Waterfront District. [9]

BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

ust two and half years after undergoing an extensive rebranding effort, The Market at Lakeway grocery store in Bellingham will close in early 2014, according to a Dec. 12 announcement from the store’s owner, The Markets LLC. A final liquidation sale began on Friday, Dec. 13. The company expects the store will sell off its inventory shortly after the turn of the new year. Company leaders provided some information about the closure in a news release, but declined to comment further. The news release indicated that despite building a loyal customer base since launching in July 2011, The Market at Lakeway failed to generate enough business to stay open. “The company decided the best option was to exit the Lakeway location, rather than compromise the quality or customer service in the store,” read the release. “For The Markets, it is simply a matter of directing its resources to more profitable opportunities.” “Like all businesses, [The Markets LLC] continually reassesses its portfolio of real-estate holdings and divests under-performing assets.” The Markets LLC will work with local unions to figure out new options for the Lakeway store’s employees, according to the company. It is not the first store The Markets LLC has closed this year. The company announced in August that its two Cost Cutter stores

theBUZZ

Our first glimpse at entrepreneurs ready to enter pot market Bellingham’s marijuana retail licenses likely to be selected through lottery system. [12] View a list of the applicants who have filed for licenses to grow, process and sell cannabis in Whatcom County. [19]

Local private-sector firms reporting solid job growth

Patrick Greenberg works at The Flaming Pie Pizza, one of the four restaurants inside The Market at Lakeway, during the store’s opening week in July 2011. The grocery store’s parent company, The Markets LLC, announced its closure and liquidation last month. MARK STAYTON PHOTO | THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL ARCHIVES

Safeway Inc. submits plans for potential new location in Bellingham’s Sunset Square shopping center [PAGE 8] in Bellingham, one located on Meridian Street and the other in the Sunset Square shopping center, would close by the end of 2013. The Markets LLC now operates 13 grocery stores in northwest and central Washington. It has five stores remaining in Whatcom

County, including Cost Cutters in Blaine and Ferndale, The Market at Birch Bay, the Everson Market, and a Food Pavilion in Lynden. When The Market at Lakeway’s liquidation wraps up, the company will have no locations in Bellingham.

New in, old out The Lakeway location’s closure is the latest in a series of recent developments for Bellingham’s grocery industry. WinCo Foods, the Boise, Idaho-based discount grocery chain, opened a nearly 90,000-squarefoot location at 300 E. Bellis Fair Parkway on Aug. 15. Fred Meyer recently finished an extensive remodel of its location at 800 Lakeway Drive, which is

Early fall job reports show privately owned business are adding new workers in Whatcom County. Holiday season hiring is projected to be on par with last year. [6]

Inside this month’s Business Toolkit Five tips to help you pick the right marketing partner. [15] The Kaizen way to employee engagement. [15] Business success is found inside company culture. [16]

See GROCERY, 8

BBJ 2014 BOOK OF LISTS

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Available February 3, 2014

Features detailed information about the top businesses in Whatcom County. Reserve your promotional space by January 3, 2014

360-647-8805 • tbouchard@bbjtoday.com

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[9] Master plan set

Port and city leaders have approved a master plan for Bellingham’s future Waterfront District. But opinions on the framework are mixed.

As a responsible lending leader, we work closely with you to help you understand your home financing options so you can make informed decisions. Whether you’re buying your first home, second home or refinancing your current home, we have the products and services to help you reach your homebuying goals.

Call us to explore your options.

[12] Pot on the way

Whatcom County gets its first glimpse of locals vying to snatch up licenses in Washington’s emerging recreational marijuana industry.

[10] AG talks year one Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson discusses priorities, state government and campaign finance laws.

[11] Powering up India Dixie Anndi Pena Branch Sales Manager 738-2363 NMSLRID 413608

Barry Weafer Home Mortgage Consultant 647-0897 NMLSR ID 420701

Hendor Rodriguez Home Mortgage Consultant 733-5892 NMLSR ID 404085

Arlington-based solar energy company with Bellingham connection eyes potential expansion overseas.

[7] Market Indicators [15] Business Toolkit [18] Public Records [22] People On The Move

Connect online

Brandon C. Mankle Home Mortgage Consultant 738-2362 NMLSR ID 634610

Reah Marie Dewell Home Mortgage Consultant 384-4975 NMLSR ID 156730

Brad Roen Home Mortgage Consultant 647-2342 NMLSR ID 408736

On BBJToday.com: Sign up for our free morning email and get the latest business news sent directly to your inbox. On Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBJToday On Twitter: @BBJToday On Google+: Bellingham Business Journal

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BUSINESS JOURNAL A division of Sound Publishing Inc. TONY BOUCHARD Advertising Sales Manager (360) 647-8805, Ext. 1050 tbouchard@bbjtoday.com

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EVAN MARCZYNSKI Associate Editor (360) 647-8805, Ext. 5052 evan@bbjtoday.com MICHELLE WOLFENSPARGER Creative Services Manager JENNIFER MILLER Creative Artist 1909 Cornwall Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone (360) 647-8805 Fax (360) 647-0502 News: editor@bbjtoday.com Ad sales: sales@bbjtoday.com Subscriptions: (888) 838-3000 circulation@bbjtoday.com BBJToday.com (ISSN 21620997) is published monthly by Sound Publishing Inc. at 1909 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Periodicals Postage Paid at Bellingham, WA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: BBJToday.com Circulation, PO Box 130, Kent, WA 98035.

CONTENTS

Feel confident with your home financing decision

January 2014

BRIEFS

January 2014

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Wood Stone Corp. sold to global firm Oven manufacturer plans to keep work in Bellingham Wood Stone Corp., a Bellingham-based company that makes stone-hearth ovens and other specialty cooking equipment, has been acquired by Henny Penny of Eaton, Ohio, both companies announced

Dec. 16. The sale was expected to close within weeks. Wood Stone was founded in 1990 by Keith Carpenter and Harry Hegarty. The business partners sold their first oven to an Anthony’s Restaurant in Everett. Today, Wood Stone sells its equipment to foodservice companies around the globe. With the acquisition, the company will remain privately held and will continue to operate out of its Bellingham facility at 1801 W. Bakerview Road. Wood Stone currently

employs 133 people. No personnel changes are expected with its sale to Henny Penny, according to the company. Henny Penny has been in operation for more than five decades. It is known for developing the first commercial pressure fryer in 1957. The company sells a variety of food-service equipment through its worldwide distribution network; its notable clients include KFC and McDonalds. In a news release, Carpenter

noted that shared values and strategic alignment between the two companies solidified the deal. “We never considered selling Wood Stone until we met and got to know Henny Penny,” Carpenter said. “Now, we will be able to expand our innovation capacity and global distribution and service footprint through this acquisition. This is an exciting time for Wood Stone; made even more so now with Henny Penny.”

SANTA GEARS UP FOR NEXT CHRISTMAS

formally GaPac

Don’t get duped into paying for free posters The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries reports that scores of businesses have contacted the agency asking about “official-looking” letters received by mail that apparently imply business owners must pay $295 for required workplace posters or face fines. While state and federal governments require businesses to place certain posters at job sites, L&I has always made those posters available for free. They can be obtained at agency offices or by calling 1-866219-7321. Posters can also be downloaded at posters. lni.wa.gov. L&I officials said the mass mailing has confused many business owners, who assume it’s from the state government. The letters say “final notice,” are addressed to individual businesses, and include a payment stub to purchase the posters for $295.

Further confusion comes from the fact that some private vendors sell required workplace posters, even though the government provides them at no cost. “Our staff has received lots of calls regarding what appears to be a bill for government posters,” said Anne Foote-Soiza, assistant director of L&I’s Division of Occupational Health and Safety. “L&I wants everyone to understand these posters are free for the asking. Please let other business owners know about it, too.”

Jerns Funeral Home owner opens new pet crematory The owner of Jerns Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Bellingham has opened a second business, Pets & Paws Cremation, to assist people who have recently had a pet pass away. Pets & Paws Cremation offers a 72-hour turnaround for pet cremations for owners in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan coun-

ties. Owner Brad Bytnar said every pet cremation includes an online tribute page, where owners and friends can share memories and photos of their pet. Options include pickup of a pet from a local veterinary or other location, a selection of urns and assistance with interment. Information about local regulations also is available. “Having recently suffered the loss of our dog, Heidi, I certainly understand the special bond that exists between pet owners and our companion animals,” Bytnar said. “We offer a wide range of choices for celebrating their lives and memorializing the special memories they provide in a dignified and safe manner.” “As the owner of Jerns Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, we became aware of the need for families to memorialize their other family members, their beloved pets. Much like our human crematory, our separate state-of-the-art facility for pets is operated by our

See BRIEFS, 4

Our name and logo have changed, but you’ll still see the same people you know...listening, learning, and helping in our community.

For accounts, services and ...peace of mind.

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January 2014

Did Tim Eyman irk some key business backers?

Major donors ponder support of Eyman’s failed Initiative 517

BY JERRY CORNFIELD The (Everett) Daily Herald

im Eyman may wind up losing more from November’s election than just an initiative. The Mukilteo resident’s last ballot measure put him at deep odds with longtime allies in the business community, and it could take a while to regain their trust — and their all-important financial support. Some, like the Washington Food Industry Association, vow to sever ties completely after the battle on Initiative 517, which voters overwhelmingly defeated. It would have given signature-gatherers nearly unfettered access to grocers’ private property.

BRIEFS | FROM 3 certified crematory operators.” Pets & Paws Cremation is located at 800 E. Sunset Drive, at the intersection with James Street, just off the Interstate 5 Sunset Drive interchange. It shares the location with Jerns Funeral Home, but the businesses use separate crematory facilities. For more information, call 360-483-9440 or visit www.PetsAndPawsCremation.com.

Fitness Gear & Training moving to larger Bellingham location Fitness Gear & Training, a downtown Bellingham business that offers fitness training programs and sells fitness equipment, plans to move to a new home at 1605 N. State St. The business’ new location will be larger than its current home at 1423 Railroad Ave. Added space will allow Fitness Gear & Training to install showers and offer free parking at its new location, which was previously occupied by Erickson Interiors. “The larger location will provide more space for both our training programs and our sales of new, used and consigned fitness equipment,” said Zac Palmer, general manager and son of Bob Palmer (who founded Fitness Gear & Training in 1989). The retail store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Fitness Gear & Training can be reached at 360-671-5059.

Workers’ comp rates will rise 2.7 percent on average in 2014 The average premium rate on workers’ compensation insurance in Washington state will rise next year, according to a Dec. 2 announcement from the state’s Department of Labor and Industries. The average rate increase on 2014’s premiums will be 2.7 percent, according to state officials, which would represent a rise of less than two cents per hour worked. The increase is part of a long-term plan to ensure predictable future rates by benchmarking them against changes in wage

“There’s a whole bunch of us very active in the business community saying no more,” said Jan Gee, the president and chief executive officer of the group, who also helped manage the No on 517 campaign. “We will not be giving Tim money to do an initiative or do a campaign.” Eyman acknowledged it was a mistake to include language that would have expanded where signature-gathering could occur. “If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t have put any of that stuff in there,” he said. “It is what it is.” But he seemed nonplussed at the idea the food industry association and other business groups would go their own way on initiatives. “Every initiative is a la carte. Everyone is free to support the ones they like and not support the ones they don’t like,” he said. There are others in the business community wary of associating with Eyman, but not as resolutely against doing so as Gee. “I can’t really say one way, or another, what our relationship in the future with Tim Eyman will be,” said Jan Teague, president

and chief executive officer of the Washington Retail Association. “I will say if he wants to engage in policy that deals with our industry, it would make some sense that he talk to us, and he didn’t. I am hoping that would be a lesson he takes to heart,” she said. Gee said members of the opposition coalition are encouraging leaders of the Association of Washington Business to steer clear of Eyman. That would be significant because the AWB — the largest statewide business association with 8,100 members — has been a major financial supporter of Eyman’s last two successful initiatives: I-1053 in 2010 and 1-1185 in 2012. Both measures require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes. In 2010, the AWB set up an independent committee to help qualify and pass the measure. It spent $617,000 in the effort. That year, Gee’s group contributed $5,000 directly to Eyman’s political committee. In 2012, AWB contributed $112,000 in cash to Eyman’s organization and provided

roughly $450,000 of in-kind donations to help qualify the initiative. That money went directly to the professional signature-gathering firm hired by Eyman. Given their long ties, AWB leaders aren’t ready to turn their back on him. “I guess I’d have to say it would depend on the issue,” Jocelyn McCabe, vice president of communication wrote in an email. “As you know, we have supported some of his initiatives in the past … but AWB did not support his most recent measure, I-517,” she wrote. “So we can’t rule it out entirely; it would largely depend on the issue.” Eyman said the business community benefits greatly from the anti-tax measures he pushes and would be surprised if they could find anyone to achieve the success he’s had. They’ve “got a lot of good stuff ” out of us, he said.

inflations, as well as to help rebuild workers’ comp reserves, according to L&I Director Joel Sacks. The increase, which will bring in about $55 million in additional premiums next year, is an average for all Washington employers. Individual employers could see their rates go up or down, depending on their recent claims history and any changes in the frequency and cost of claims in their industry. L&I held public hearings on the proposed rates around the state in October. It is the first time in three years workers’ comp premiums will increase in Washington. Among the professions that will see the greatest premium rate increase next year: land surveying service providers, 20 percent; volunteer law enforcement officers, 19 percent; concrete workers (foundation and flat work), 18 percent; wallboard installers (discounted rate), 16 percent. The greatest premium rate decrease in 2014 will be seen in consulting engineering and architectural services, which is set to drop 9 percent. A PDF showing 2014 rates classified by industry can be downloaded in the online version of this news brief (available at pnw. cc/rWhGi). Sacks said that L&I has committed to reducing workers’ comp costs statewide by between $35 million and $75 million by June 2014. Reforms made in 2011 are projected to save about $150 million by the end of the current fiscal year next July, according to L&I. The state’s workers’ comp system, which is the seventh-largest industrial insurance system in the U. S., provides coverage to about 2.5 million workers and more than 160,000 employers. L&I also oversees workers’ compensation programs that cover an additional 870,000 workers whose employers self-insure. About 100,000 workers file injury claims with L&I each year.

art lessons. Uptown Art Studio, which is at 23 Bellwether Way, Suite 101, in Bellingham, will offer a setting for customers to take painting lessons while enjoying complimentary beverages. The studio is part of a nationwide franchise. Robert Mishkin, who owns the Bellingham business, said patrons of Uptown Art will be guided step-by-step through the painting process in evening sessions led by local artists. The sessions will typically be held between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., Mishkin said. Each session features a painting that guests will actually paint themselves. Session instructors will provide tips and guidance specific to the challenges and styles found in the evening’s featured painting. More complex paintings will be used for advance sessions while beginner and less advanced sessions will utilize less complex paintings. As a licensee of Uptown Art, the studio has access to an art library with more than 2,000 paintings, including ones from all skill levels and interests. Mishkin decided to open the studio upon returning to Bellingham after spending several years in Franklin, Tenn. “Bellingham and its people have made me feel more at home than any other town I’ve lived,” he said. “While living in Tennessee I saw first-hand the effect these studios have. I knew when I returned to Bellingham, I would take this idea with me.” More information is online at www. uptownart.com/bellingham.

method that focuses on the body’s central nervous system. Andrews’ office hours are by appointment, with availability most days of the week. She can be reached at 720-276-8905. Transcendent Bodywork is online at www.transcendentbodywork.com.

Uptown Art Studio to blend art, entertainment A new business near Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor is blending entertainment with

Alternative massage therapist opens office in Fairhaven A licensed massage therapist who practices an alternative care regimen called structural integration, sometimes referred to as “Rolfing” has relocated her office from Boulder, Colo., to Bellingham’s Fairhaven District. Brooke Andrews, owner of Transcendent Bodywork, has moved into a new office in Suite 205 of the Larrabee Square building at 1050 Larrabee Ave. She also practices cranio-sacral therapy, another alternative

Jerry Cornfield is a staff writer for The Daily Herald in Everett, Wash., a partner publication of The Bellingham Business Journal.

Fewer Washington employers to see jobless taxes rise next year More than 80 percent of Washington employers will have lower or stable unemployment tax rates in 2014 compared to 2013, according to the state’s Employment Security Department. Of the roughly 170,000 taxable employers, 29 percent will move into lower rate classes and 53 percent will remain in the same rate class as 2013. Another 18 percent will enter a higher rate class due to their layoff history over the past four years. By comparison, in 2013, 14 percent of employers moved into lower rate classes, 61 percent stayed the same and 25 percent paid higher rates. “The tide is turning, and we’re seeing a larger number of companies moving back down the rate ladder,” said Employment Security Commissioner Dale Peinecke. “That’s a very positive sign.” There are 40 rate classes altogether, ranging from 0.14 percent to 5.82 percent for most employers. The total tax rate for each rate class will remain the same as in 2013. Unemployment taxes will be assessed on the first $41,300 of each employee’s earnings in 2014. These taxes are paid entirely by employers; workers do not pay into the unemployment trust fund. The average tax paid for each employee will decrease by $6, to $467 for the year. Each employer’s actual tax bill depends on its total payroll and rate class. In 2013, Washington’s average unemployment tax rate ranked 26th highest in the nation, down from fourth highest in 2008. Unemployment tax rates are established in state law. The Employment Security Department does not set the rates.

Briefs are compiled from news reports posted on BBJToday.com.

January 2014

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January 2014

Whatcom accelerates private-sector job growth Bellingham’s holiday hires expected to dip by 1.4 percent BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal Despite a statewide slowdown in fall hiring, Whatcom County’s private industries continue adding workers, with a growth rate eclipsing those found in other parts of Washington state, even traditional employment power centers such as King County. “It really seems that we’re on a trend where finally growth in Whatcom County is accelerating, and a lot of that is propelled by the private sector,” said Anneliese VanceSherman, a regional labor economist with the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Find coverage of the latest job reports and unemployment figures online at BBJToday.com. Whatcom County added 3,100 privatesector jobs—3,400 jobs in all—in October 2013, compared to October 2012, according to recent estimates from the Employment Security Department, which were released Nov. 26. The county’s initial unemployment rate estimate in October was 6.1 percent, down from 6.5 percent from the previous year,

while up slightly from a 6 percent rate in September 2013. The state’s monthly jobs report for October also included data from September. The previous month’s report was not released due to state labor economists inability to access relevant statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was closed during the federal government shutdown in early October, according to Sheryl Hutchison, the Employment Security Department’s communications director. Nearly all of Washington state’s labor analysts were furloughed during the shutdown due to the halt of federal funding that supports the staffers, Hutchison said. Whatcom County’s total employment grew steadily through September and October. The Employment Security Department does not include farming or agricultural jobs in its total employment figures. The county’s overall job count in October was estimated at 85,700, a 4.1 percent increase from the same month in 2012. Private-sector workers totaled 68,900, according to initial estimates, a 4.7 percent jump from the previous year. Leisure and hospitality employers led the way in new job additions in October, adding 700 jobs, which is a boost of 8 percent from last year. Manufacturers in Whatcom County added 500 jobs, a jump of 5.6 percent. The local business and professional services industry added 200 jobs in October, an increase of 2.9 percent. Other gains in the private sector included: financial activities, adding 100 jobs yearover-year for an increase of 3.1 percent, and construction, also adding 100 jobs, which

was a rise of 1.7 percent from October 2012. Whatcom County-based government employers added 300 jobs in October 2013 (a year-over-year increase of 1.8 percent), all of them within local government agencies.

Retailers leveling out new hires Retail job growth slowed in Whatcom County in October 2013, compared to previous months this year. Local retailers added 200 jobs in October, a year-over-year increase of 1.9 percent, as the holidayhiring season picked up pace. Holiday hiring in Washington state is expected to be on par with last year, according to projections released by the Employment Security Department in early October. State labor analysts expect Washington’s retailers to add about 13,500 seasonal positions between October and December this year. The better part of seasonal hiring will be in general merchandise stores, expected to add nearly 7,500 jobs, but down about 1,100 positions from the same period last year. Clothing stores expect to hire about 3,700 holiday workers, slightly up from 2012, according to the Employment Security Department. In Bellingham, analysts project a decrease in holiday jobs this season. They have forecast 414 holiday hires in 2013, which would be a 1.4 percent drop from the 557 hires last year. Retailers nationwide are expected to hire less seasonal help this holiday season. Federal labor projections expect about 700,000 temporary hires in the U.S. between October and December, below the 751,800 sea-

sonal jobs filled last year.

Elsewhere in Washington Whatcom County’s October 2013 jobless estimate was lower than a nonseasonally adjusted statewide estimate, which labor economists put at 6.4 percent. Statewide unemployment, when seasonal factors are accounted for, stands at 7 percent. County-level rates are not seasonally adjusted due to their smaller sample sizes. Whitman County, on the eastern border of the state, led Washington in October with the lowest jobless estimate at 5 percent. San Juan County near Whatcom was close behind, with a 5.3 percent initial estimate. Twenty of 39 counties in Washington were at or below 7 percent unemployment, according to the report’s initial estimates. The highest unemployment in the state is found in Grays Harbor County, at 10.9 percent. In areas surrounding Bellingham and Whatcom, Island County posted a 7.3 percent jobless estimate, Snohomish County was at 6 percent and King County was at 5.4 percent. Skagit County continues to struggle with higher unemployment than its neighboring counties in northwest Washington. Its jobless estimate in October was 7.4 percent. Vance-Sherman said Skagit has stood out among other counties in Washington as being slower to recover from recession-era job losses.

Thank You Evan Marczynski, associate editor of The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

To our readers and our advertisers— thank you for another great year. We wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2014. The Bellingham Business Journal

INDICATORS

January 2014

BBJToday.com

Jobs: Unemployment hanging near 6% Jobless benefit claims

Unemployment Rate

Includes continued unemployment benefit claims in Whatcom County

Includes non-seasonally adjusted figures in Whatcom County

10%

Bankruptcies

Oct. 2013: 1,780 Yearly change: �17.09% Monthly: �1.37%

Oct. 2013: 6.1% Yearly change: �0.4% Monthly: �0.1% 4000

Nov. 2013: 36 Yearly change: �2.86% Monthly: �29.41% 70

Includes filings for Chapters 7, 11 and 13 in Whatcom County

Chapter 7 Chapters 11,13

3000

2000

30 20

1000

2% J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O 2012 2013 SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O 2012 2013 SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

J FMAM J J A S O N D J FMAM J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCE: U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT, WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

Spending: Canadian-dollar rate falling Sales-tax distribution

Motor-vehicle registrations 1250

Includes monthly averages (Canada-to-U.S.) at market closing

$1.10 $1.00 $0.90 $0.80 $0.70 $0.60 $0.50 $0.40 $0.30 $0.20 $0.10

1000 750 500 250

J FMAM J J A S O N D J FMAM J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Nov. 2013: $0.95 Yearly change: �5% Monthly: �1.04%

Includes original registrations in Whatcom County

Includes basic and optional local sales tax to Bellingham

$2M $1.75M $1.5M $1.25M $1M $750K $500K $250K

Canadian dollar

Nov. 2013: 899 Yearly change: �3.33% Monthly: �18.94%

Nov. 2013: $1.77M Yearly change: �4.12% Monthly: �1.72%

J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

J FMAM J J A S OND J FMAM J J A S ON 2012 2013 SOURCE: BANK OF CANADA

Housing: Sale prices return to climbing Residential sales

Home sales prices

Average: Nov-13: $294,779 Yearly change: �4.56% Monthly: �4.45% Median: Nov-13: $260,000 Yearly change: �8.81% Monthly: �4.42% $350K $300K $250K $200K

Average Median

$150K $100K $50K

J F MAM J J A S O N D J F MAM J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCE: NORTHWEST MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

Closed: Nov-13: 199 Yearly change: �3.65% Monthly: �28.93% Pending: Nov-13: 236 Yearly change: �6.79% Monthly: �14.49% 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Pending Closed

J FMAM J J A S O N D J FMAM J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCE: NORTHWEST MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

Foreclosures & delinquencies

Delinquency: Sep-13: 3.27% Yearly change: �0.99% Monthly: �0.05% Foreclosure: Sep-13: 1.12% Yearly change: �0.4% Monthly: �0.05% 4.5% 4% 3.5% 3% 2.5% 2% 1.5% 1% 0.5%

Foreclosure Delinquency

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S 2012 2013 SOURCE: CORELOGIC

Other factors: Travel still below last year Airport traffic

Nov. 2013: 42,562 Yearly change: �7.09% Monthly: �0.07% Includes total enplanements at Bellingham International Airport

70K 60K 50K 40K 30K 20K 10K J FMAM J J A S O N D J FMAM J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCE: PORT OF BELLINGHAM

Cruise terminal traffic

Nov. 2013: 1,641 Yearly change: �14.17% Monthly: �6.14% Includes inbound/outbound passengers at Bellingham Cruise Terminal

4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 J FMAM J J A S O N D J FMAM J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCE: PORT OF BELLINGHAM

Building-permit values

Bellingham: Nov-13: $3.7M Yearly change: �21.28% Monthly: �73.38% Whatcom Co.: Nov-13: $6.1M Yearly change: �69.44% Monthly: �22.78% $45M $40M Whatcom Co. $35M Bellingham $30M $25M $20M $15M $10M $5M J F MAM J J A S O N D J F MAM J J A S O N 2012 2013 SOURCES: CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WHATCOM COUNTY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

GROCERY | FROM 1 across the street from The Market at Lakeway. A similar effort is underway at the Fred Meyer at 1225 W. Bakerview Road. The Albertsons grocery store at 1650 Birchwood Ave. also recently completed a remodel. Bellingham-based Haggen Inc., which operates stores across western Washington, has completed remodels on its five Whatcom County locations. The company redesigned those stores under a new brand identity, Haggen Northwest Fresh. Haggen is also phasing out its TOP Food and Drug discount brand, which has operated since the 1980s. Eight TOP locations around the Puget Sound area have closed or are slated to close this year. Three TOP stores that remain open are expected to be remodeled in the future as Haggen stores.

A renewed company When it first opened in 2011, The Market at Lakeway was a prime example of its parent company’s new direction. The Markets LLC emerged from the remnants of Brown & Cole Stores LLC, which had operated 20 grocery stores in Washington state under the Cost Cutter and Food Pavilion names. Brown & Cole filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2006. The company exited Chapter 11 in December 2007 with help from Hancock Park Associates, a Los Angeles-based private equity investment firm that purchased a majority shareholdership for $43 million. The deal kept Brown & Cole mostly intact. Its union contract stayed in place, and employees retained wages, benefits and seniority entitlements. Brown & Cole also remained headquartered in Bellingham as an independent company. Shortly afterward, it reformed as The Markets LLC.

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January 2014

Kevin Weatherill took over as president and CEO, replacing Craig Cole, who retired from his role as president after leading the company for 22 years. With Weatherill, The Markets LLC began making changes to its stores, using the money from its new majority shareholder to fund a series of improvements and redesigns.

“Really Local” strategy The Lakeway store, which replaced an old Cost Cutter in Bellingham’s Lakeway Shopping Center, emphasized locally grown and crafted products, and also featured a deli, bakery and several in-store restaurants that offered dine-in or carry-out orders. Its layout featured several specialty sections, including ones for organic produce and seafood, as well as “Beer City,” a walk-in refrigerated room containing hundreds of craft, domestic and imported beers. The Market at Lakeway was the first of its company’s stores to introduce the “Really Local” advertising campaign. Products produced less than 35 miles from the Lakeway location carried special labels, and flatscreen televisions played video interviews with farmers and artisans in and around Whatcom County. The ad campaign won recognition from the National Grocers Association in 2012. Information from The Bellingham Business Journal’s archives was used to provide background reporting for this article.

Evan Marczynski, associate editor of The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

When it opened in 2011, The Market at Lakeway was a prime example of the new direction of its parent company, The Markets LLC. MARK STAYTON PHOTO | THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL ARCHIVES

Safeway exploring possible location in Bellingham

afeway Inc. has applied for a design review permit with the City of Bellingham to remodel the former Cost Cutter location in the Sunset Square shopping center and turn it into a new Safeway grocery store. The news was first reported Dec. 12 by The Bellingham Herald. According to the plans, the remodel would shrink the former Cost Cutter from 75,188 square feet to 66,791 square feet. The project would include signage, facade changes and a complete interior remodel. View the city’s Planning and Community Development Department’s “notice of application” online at pnw.cc/s9yaO. Additional plans indicate the Safeway would like to build a gas station near the store. The full application and associated documents are available for viewing in the Permit Center at City Hall, located at 210 Lottie St. Safeway’s only current Whatcom County location is in Lynden, on Guide Meridian Road. —Evan Marczynski

January 2014

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MILESTONE ON THE WATERFRONT City and port officials agree on shoreline district master plan, but opinions differ on its scope

BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

early a decade of work on a master plan for Bellingham’s future Waterfront District ended last month, as local leaders approved guiding framework to redevelop 237 acres of shorefront property along the city’s center. The Bellingham City Council voted, 6-1, Dec. 2 to approve a cluster of documents that lay the course for the new waterfront quarter. The Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners gave its official approval Dec. 3. City Council members approved several final changes to the planning documents prior to their vote. They added language in support of creating of living wage jobs in the district, attracting businesses to relocate to the waterfront, and maintaining the property’s wildlife habitat. Council members also agreed to complete studies of the economic impacts of the future district every two years rather than every five, which had been initially suggested in planning documents. The Port Commission also approved these adjustments. Relevant waterfront documents are online at the port’s website, pnw.cc/rBhMg, and the city’s website, pnw.cc/rBhTf. Both fans and critics of the waterfront plan packed City Council and Port Commission chambers last month. Supporters, including some individuals who had been involved in the planning process at various stages over the past decade, said they were glad to see the initiative move forward. Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville praised the waterfront plan as an important step for the community. She told City Council members that the possibility of working on the district’s development was one of the major reasons she chose to run for mayor in 2011. Port Commission President Jim Jorgensen, in remarks prior to his final vote on Dec. 3, recalled his first year as a port commissioner in 2005, when government leaders and community members first began envisioning possibilities for a new shoreline. “It’s been a long haul,” Jorgensen said. Bill Gorman, interim director of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told City Council members he was happy to see the development process reach this milestone. “I’m glad you’re finally at this moment,” Gorman said.

Ali Taysi, principal of AVT Consulting LLC, a Demolition work and environmental cleanup, which are among the first steps in Bellingham’s waterfront redeBellingham-based real- velopment, have already been underway on the site for several years. Above, a Feb. 15, 2012, file photo shows an estate consultancy, said old bleach plant being torn down. The building was once part of a Georgia-Pacific pulp and paper mill. he believed the plan EVAN MARCZYNSKI PHOTO | THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL offered suitable balance between the various community and devel- basin, have been controversial among resi- only “no” vote on the City Council, said he opment interests, while also not being too dents and activists who would rather see the thinks the current plan dismantles former lagoon used in broader cleanup efforts in visions of a waterfront favoring large parks ambitious. and the preservation of historical strucMark Buehrer, founder and director the nearby Whatcom Waterway. McShane said he found very few elements tures. He also raised concerns over the city of 2020 Engineering, a Bellingham engineering firm that emphasizes sustainably of the waterfront plan agreeable. He told taking financial responsibility to build new designed building projects, said that the City Council members that he would back roads and bridges on the site, saying private few early waterfront development proposals any of them who voted “no.” See WATERFRONT, 14 Councilman Jack Weiss, who cast the that had been made public were impressive. He hoped that waterfront planners would allow developers some flexibility when working within the parameters of the master plan. “This development, once it’s completed, needs to show our inspiration, needs to show what we can do in Bellingham,” Buehrer said. But some opponents said the framework has faults, including concerns that private developers, rather than local residents, will have too much control over the future district. Kate Blystone, program director with the RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, a local nonprofit that has been critical of the waterfront plan’s treatment of habitat restoration and living wage job creation, told City Council members she felt they did their best to address her organization’s concerns. But she said the waterfront plan needs stricter language requiring habitatimpact assessments be completed prior to any building projects receiving approval. Blystone also said there should have been another public hearing regarding the plans, a desire echoed by several others at the City Council’s Dec. 2 meeting. She said city staff had not been given adequate time to convey to residents the recent changes to the planning documents. “The waterfront redevelopment is the biggest thing we’ve ever done as a community, and we need to take the time to do it right,” Blystone said. Dan McShane, an engineering geologist and former Whatcom County Council member, was critical of the port’s involvement in the process. He said he opposed port plans to build a new marina inside a large lagoon that once served as a key component of Georgia-Pacific’s wastewater treatment system. Plans for a marina inside the lagoon, known as the ASB, or aerated stabilization

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January 2014

Attorney general’s first year brought a full plate

Bob Ferguson talks priorities, government and campaign finance

BY BRANDON MACZ Bellevue Reporter

ashington Attorney General Bob Ferguson says his office is prioritizing as best it can to deal with current and pending legal challenges in the state in the face of a slimmer budget, and he’s confident critical issues are being addressed. In an editorial discussion with Reporter staff Tuesday, Dec. 3, Ferguson touted his selection of Nancy Krier as the open government ombudsman for his office and being able to bring that position back to full-time status. The attorney general said he is also proposing a bill to provide locally elected officials with an online training resource for navigating open records requests within the law. While some cities like Kirkland are backing budgets that make government accessibility a first-tier service, others are being challenged by what they consider to be burdensome requests for public information. Ferguson said it’s good for local governments to work to clarify with the

public what they want in order to narrow the scope of requests, but sometimes it doesn’t matter. “There will be some cost to that and some inconvenience,” he said of following open government laws, “and that’s a fact.” The attorney general’s lawsuit against the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association over campaign finance concealment claims will move forward this month. So far, Ferguson said the association is accused of hiding the identities of contributors of up to $10.6 million to its campaign against I-522 in Washington, which would have required labeling on some genetically modified food products. He added it is the largest amount of concealed money ever donated to a campaign in the state. The GMA has since provided the names of its backers and their share of contributions, but continues to deny any wrongdoing, said Ferguson, adding he has read an association letter to its contributors that promised to conceal their identities. “They were very thoughtful and deliberate in concealing the names of those donors,” he said, adding his office is seeking more options than just monetary penalties against the GMA. “Even a significant (monetary) penalty on their end may be interpreted as the cost of doing business.” The Washington State Liquor Control Board accepted applications through Dec. 19 for licensure to grow, process and sell recreational marijuana with the potential for legislation to be passed next year that

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is proposing a bill to provide locally elected officials with an online training resource for navigating open records requests within the law. CRAIG GROSHART PHOTO FOR THE BELLEVUE REPORTER | COURTESY TO THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

would require medical marijuana patients to go through these suppliers without being subjected to taxation. Many cities

have accepted that they will soon need to make room for retail marijuana stores and grow sites, but others like the city of Kent are not embracing the change. The Kent City Council voted last month to put a moratorium in place for marijuana businesses. Ferguson said the liquor control board is now seeking an opinion from his office about whether these municipalities have legal grounds to oppose marijuana as a commercial enterprise in their cities and oppose the will of voters who approved I-502. He’s trying to come up with a legal opinion as fast as possible, he said, while continuing a good-faith effort with the federal government to keep it from intervening with state law. With the holiday season in full swing, the attorney general’s office also has been warning the public about potential scams, such as in retail, online and fake charities. Ferguson said his office also is focusing on improving protections for veterans and matching state protections for those deployed by order of the governor with federal protections afforded to those deployed by the president. The legislation is called the Washington Service Members’ Civil Relief Act and is being requested for consideration during the 2014 legislative session.

Brandon Macz is a staff writer for the Bellevue Reporter, a partner publication of The Bellingham Business Journal.

Whatcom County continues steady home sales

Improved inventory, stabilizing home prices aid market health BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

Sales activity for single-family homes and condominiums in Whatcom County continued soundly in November as the 2013 holiday season approached, according to a recent report from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. NMLS real-estate brokers in Whatcom County reported 199 closed residential sales in November, a year-over-year increase of 3.65 percent. Brokers also reported 236 pending sales, a jump of 6.79 percent. Local home sales prices also increased in November, according to NMLS data. The county’s median sales price in November was $260,000, up 8.81 percent from the same month last year. The average sales price was $249,779, an increase of 4.56 percent. Winter weather and holidays generally slow housing market gains, but activity in the Pacific Northwest remained strong compared to usual year-end trends, providing optimism for home sales next year, according to NMLS brokers. Across the 21 counties represented by the NMLS in Washington state, closed sales in November were up 5.3 percent,

compared to the same month last year. Pending sales rose 1.6 percent. The region’s median selling prices also increased year-over-year by 4.86 percent. NMLS brokers indicated that inventory shortages continued in several areas around the region, according to a news release accompanying the latest report. Shortages were still apparent in many Seattle neighborhoods. Yet improved inventories in other areas, along with stabilizing home prices, fewer short sales and improved local economies were credited with helping keep real-estate markets stable, according to the NMLS. Whatcom County had 5.44 months’ worth of home inventory in November, above a regionwide average of 3.33 months. An inventory of between four to six months is generally considered to be a sign of a balanced market.

Yearly change: 3.36 percent increase Median list price: $249,900 Yearly change: 2.63 percent increase Active listings New listings: 200 Yearly change: 3.85 percent decrease Total active: 1,283 Yearly change: 6.47 percent increase

Average list price: $367,063 Yearly change: 5.99 percent decrease Median list price: $279,900 Yearly change: No change Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Evan Marczynski, associate editor of The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

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POWERING UP INDIA

With its Bellingham-based parent company’s overseas acquisition, Arlington solar firm eyes expansion

BY JIM DAVIS The (Everett) Herald Business Journal

ndia is a country where power can be unreliable at the best of times. Flip a switch or turn on an appliance and there’s a chance that nothing will happen. “In India, their grid is very undependable,” said Drew Zogby, president of the Bellingham-based Alpha Technologies. “They have six- to eight-hour blackouts every day.” And that makes it a market that’s very attractive for businesses that can provide a stable source of power. Businesses such as Arlington’s OutBack Power. In November, OutBack’s parent company, Alpha Technologies, announced the purchase of a NavSemi Energy, an Indian firm that designs and manufactures solar power systems. The deal likely means that OutBack can expand its presence in India. And that means more jobs in Arlington. Zogby said it’s a key step in the goal of expanding the Arlington company from 75 employees to 150 in the next five years. “I think it absolutely will allow us to add more engineering support, sales and marketing” at OutBack, Zogby said. OutBack has been in business for about 15 years and moved this spring into the former Bayliner boats and Meridian yachts buildings at a business park in Arlington. OutBack makes electronics that converts and stores primarily solar power into energy that’s useable for businesses and homes. The same technology also can be used on cellphone towers -- something that’s huge as more and more people use wireless phones. The equipment is engineered and developed in Arlington and primarily assembled in Bellingham. The company uses components purchased from around the world. OutBack’s products already have a posi-

tive reputation in India. “Renewable energy (Above) Warranty repair technician, Greg Fordan makes repairs on a power board for a solar electrical system systems in India and charge controller, Thursday, at Outback Power’s facilities in Arlington. other expanding mar(Inset) A classroom of employes works in the spacious new building that formerly housed Bayliner Boat conkets demand rugged, struction facilities at Arlington Airport. Mounted on the wall at left are some of the Outback Power products. reliable and costeffective technology,” DAN BATES PHOTOS FOR THE HERALD BUSINESS JOURNAL | COURTESY TO THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL said Babu Jain, founder of NavSemi Energy in kets in Africa, parts of Asia and parts of does better than anyone else,” Zogby said. a statement. “We’ve long been impressed Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific with Alpha and Outback’s ability to meet Island countries. Jim Davis is the editor of The Herald Business Journal in and exceed the PV needs of challenging “Even in the most remote places of the Everett, Wash., a partner publication of The Bellingham environments.” world, there is a need for basic reliable Business Journal. NavSemi Energy, based in Bangalore, power and that’s what OutBack does and India, has been around since 2008 and has worked with Alpha Technologies for several years. The purchase -- Zogby declined to say how much it cost -- is advantageous for Alpha and OutBack for several reasons. It allows the companies to take a lot of the good ideas from NavSemi to be utilized and sold by OutBack. It also allows Alpha and OutBack access to the NavSemi’s customer base in India. And it gives Alpha and OutBack a base in India to provide support within the same time zone as many of their new customers. “Half our business is outside North America,” said Harvey Wilkinson, OutBack’s general manager. “India is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. This “When no bank wanted to look at us, Industrial Credit Union gives us a chance to expand.” saw our business potential. Our experience with Dale has been In India, most families -- or at the least the ones middle class and up -- already exceptional; he is full of innovative ideas. The credit union is have battery backup for their homes, Outconvenient and friendly – they always remember my name.” Back’s senior marketing manager Mark - George, owner of A-1 Shredding Cerasuolo said. In America, solar power is used because it’s preferred. In countries like India, it’s used because it’s needed. “It’s kind of like the world is divided between people who want to be green and people who need to be green,” Cerasuolo said. IndustrialCU.org (360) 734-2043 In the future, OutBack and Alpha want to continue to expand its reach into mar-

Business Banking that Realizes Potential

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January 2014

Applicants line up for first marijuana licenses Bellingham retailers likely to be selected through lottery BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal With business names ranging from the more generic, Emerald Acres and Pacific Bionetworks, to others that might elicit chuckles, like Green Stop or Bearded Bro’s Buds, Whatcom County got its first glimpse of the local entrepreneurs vying to snatch up licenses in Washington’s emerging recreational marijuana industry.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board began releasing weekly lists of names through the end of November and December indicating hundreds of applicants seeking licenses to produce, process or sell recreational marijuana. State regulators opened a 30-day window on Nov. 18 for interested parties to submit license applications. Enough entities have applied for marijuana retail business licenses in Bellingham to trigger a lottery, which will be used to select the ones given the go-ahead to open stores within city limits in 2014, according to guidelines set by the Washington State Liquor Control Board back in September. Details on the lottery process have yet to be released. Washington’s regulators will allow six retail marijuana stores in Bellingham, and

15 total across all of Whatcom County. Outside of Bellingham, Whatcom County is allotted seven “at large” retail locations, and the cities of Lynden and Ferndale are each allowed one. The liquor board will allow up to 334 retail outlets statewide. Cities with larger populations were given a proportionate number of license allocations, based on available data, and “at-large” licenses were also allocated for outlying communities and unincorporated areas in each county. Allocations were chosen on a county-by-county basis using 2010 population data from the state’s Office of Financial Management, as well as adult consumption data gathered by BOTEC Analysis Corp., a private company hired as a consultant to the state to help implement the new system,

mandated by last year’s successful Initiative 502. Regulators are currently reviewing applications—verifying residency status, running criminal background checks, ensuring businesses will not be within 1,000 feet of schools or other specified areas, among other safeguards. They don’t anticipate that licenses will be issued until late February or early March 2014. In the meantime, Colorado, the only other U.S. state that has legalized marijuana, began issuing licenses last month for retailers to sell recreational bud. Shop owners began selling there on Jan. 1.

Evan Marczynski, associate editor of The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

Building permit filed for new Marriott addition The Lynnwood-based hotel developer that in November opened a Marriott SpringHill Suites on Northwest Avenue in Bellingham is getting ready to start construction on a sec-

ond hotel that will connect to its first. The developer, 360 Hotel Group, recently filed a building-permit application with the city of Bellingham to construct an 83-room,

five-story wood frame addition to the SpringHill Suites. The addition will be an extended-stay hotel called Marriott TownePlace Suites. Shaiza Damji, manag-

ing director for 360 Hotel Group, said her company hopes to begin construction on the TownePlace Suites in February 2014, pending building-permit issuance by the city. Most pre-con-

struction work on the site has already been completed—including storm-water detention, utility connections, underground parking and foundation work—and the company is looking

Strong, Local Relationships “Circle of Life Caregiver Cooperative is a worker-owned cooperative providing in-home care to Whatcom County seniors. It was only natural to choose WECU®, another cooperative, as our financial institution. We look forward to working with WECU® to promote the cooperative movement and to grow our business. It

to complete its build out within six months in time for an August 2014 opening, Damji said. The TownePlace Suites will feature a combination of studios, one-bedroom suites and two-bedroom suites, all with full kitchens. The two connected hotels will share some amenities, including the swimming pool, hot tub and fitness center currently in the SpringHill Suites. The TownePlace hotel will run its own breakfast bar in its lobby, Damji said. In other local hotel news, a building-permit application was recently re-filed for a five-story, 99-unit Oxford Suites hotel at 4051 Meridian St. The Oxford Suites brand, which is operated by the Oxford Hotel Group of Bend, Ore., has 14 locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. —Evan Marczynski

is reassuring to have a line of credit available for temporary cash flow purposes and possible small equipment purchases to take us to the next level when that need arises. We look forward to a long lasting, community-based relationship with WECU®. ” Dustin Wilder of WECU® with Catalina Concepcion, Nikki Kilpatrick, Alice Robb, Kathleen English and Jo Ann McNerthney of Circle of Life Caregiver Cooperative

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CHANGING HANDS Downtown Bellingham bridal and formal shop ready to enter new era with new owner

BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

lanning a wedding may be a nerveracking experience for some people, but when Nicole Croney put hers together 10 years ago, she said she loved every minute. And today, working at her bridal gown and formal wear shop in downtown Bellingham, Croney said she enjoys sharing her customers’ frenzied excitement in what, for many, will be the lead up to one of the greatest moments in their lives. “I enjoy the challenge part of it in working with the family, being a part of that moment when they find their dress, and they’re so happy and their mom’s so happy,” Croney said. “It’s just a joyous occasion.” Croney purchased Belle Bridal & Formal Shoppe in November from her grandmother-in-law, Elaine Wood, who has run the business at 201 W. Holly St. since 1985.

Belle Bridal sells wedding gowns and other formal dresses, as well as tuxedos and bridesmaid dresses. The store also offers alterations and gown-preservation services. Business for bridal gown shops and providers of other wedding-related services in the U.S. took a hit during the Great Recession, according to data from the market research firm IBISWorld. Increased unemployment led to couples spending less on their ceremonies or postponing nuptials all together. But Wood said Belle Bridal has seen good business in recent years. “You just shift your direction a little bit,” Wood said. “You find people are still buying, but they’re a little more careful about what they spend. So you just have to gauge that and plan your buying to that end.” To stay on top of shifting demand, Belle Bridal has expand its inventory over the past few years, Croney said. That includes increasing prom-season offerings and

Sportsman Chalet closes after 41 years in local retail

Nicole Croney, left, and Elaine Wood inside Belle Bridal & Formal Shoppe in downtown Bellingham. Croney purchased the shop from Wood, who is her grandmother-in-law, in November. EVAN MARCZYNSKI PHOTO | THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL focusing on customer service add-ons. Croney highlighted the shop’s “dress log,” inside of which sales associates record every prom and formal dress purchased, as well as the school the buyer attends. This ensures no other buyers from that school have the same dress. Croney said the log has been one of the most popular customer-service details Belle Bridal offers.

Wood said the shop also gets significant business from Canadian shoppers looking for formal gowns. Among its perks for bridal customers, the shop provides long-term gown storage, giving soon-to-be brides a location to keep their gowns in the months leading up to

See BRIDAL, 14

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Store’s owner cites difficulty competing with online sellers

small retailer,” Lemke said. Lemke moved the store to its current location in 2010, after he took over the business from Steve Brewster in 2001. Brewster originally opened Sportsman Chalet in 1972 in Bellingham’s Sehome retail area. Sportsman Chalet moved locations several times as its business grew over the years. It was a fixture in downtown Bellingham for 15 years before moving to Sunnyland BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI Square. The Bellingham Business Journal The store specialized in selling and rentSportsman Chalet, a ski, snowboard and ing outdoor gear, particularly for skiing and sports equipment retailer, has announced snowboarding. It held popular gear swaps it will close its doors after more than four prior to the beginning of ski season. Sportsman Chalet also sold equipment decades of operation in Bellingham. A phone call to the store on Monday, Dec. for soccer, swimming, tennis and disc golf. Lemke said he’ll miss being an equipment 2, was answered with an automated message resource for local skiers, announcing a liquidasnowboarders and tion sale, which began at other outdoor enthusi9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, “Our industry has changed asts. Dec. 4. Sportsman Cha- quite a bit, and the change “I feel very fortunate let was closed for several definitely doesn’t benefit to have had so many days before then, as staff the small retailer.” great employees and so worked to tag discount—Noel Lemke, owner of many loyal customers ed for the sale. over the years, that’s the The store is at 2420 Sportsman Chalet thing I’m going to miss James St., next to Tradthe most,” he said. er Joe’s in Bellingham’s He added that he hopes his customers Sunnyland Square shopping center. Noel Lemke, the store’s owner, said the will continue to support other local busidecision to close was driven largely by nesses. “Every little purchase makes a difference,” increased competition from online retailers. Although Sportsman Chalet tried hard to he said. meet the competitive prices offered online, Lemke said adapting to the shift toward Evan Marczynski, associate editor of The Bellingham Web-based shopping was just proving too Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com. difficult. “Our industry has changed quite a bit, and the change definitely doesn’t benefit the

Matthew Woolsey, left, and Jacob Knapp, co-owners of C9 Photography & Design. pose for a “selfie” at Woolsey’s office in the Wellspring Building on Dupont Street in Bellingham. C9 PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO | COURTESY TO THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

Commercial photography firm finding success in Bellingham BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

atthew Woolsey doesn’t mind that playing the role of “hype man” for his business partner and photographer, Jacob Knapp, is a large part of being co-owner of C9 Photography & Design. After all, he said, Knapp is the creative brains behind the company. Yet Woolsey, who manages the busi-

ness development and marketing side of C9, enjoys his role. He said the division between himself and Knapp is one of the keys to making the company work. It also helps that the two have been friends since childhood. “I think we’re completely oppositebrain people, and we fully understand which parts of the company to give each other,” Woolsey said.

See C9, 14

BBJToday.com

WATERFRONT | 9 developers should shoulder those costs. Several City Council members who voted in favor of approving the final documents said they believe the plan still has flaws. City Councilman Michael Lilliquist said he remains critical of certain aspects, including the amount of public park space allotted for the new district, as well as the scope of transportation options. “This is less than I hoped for, less than it could have been,” Lilliquist said. “I think we’re falling short, not so short, but short nonetheless.” But Lilliquist said he

thinks the vetting process has led to new language in the plan that adds important symbolic significance to the undertaking. He said he takes solace in the fact that the approved documents do not represent the final stage of work on the new district. City Council President Seth Fleetwood agreed with that thought, as did Councilman Terry Bornemann. They said that the documents, taken together, offer a master plan that allows the long-awaited process of renewing Bellingham’s waterfront to begin. “This is a dynamic document,” Fleetwood said. “It’s going to be subject to change over the years, but this [approval] permits

progress.” Bornemann said that until a developer steps forward to build on the site, nobody can know for sure what shape the waterfront will take. At this stage of the process, he said, waterfront planners must focus on setting parameters. “I think we’ve got a really good framework,” Bornemann said. The port and the city are working together to direct planning, cleanup and development of the property. Much of the land comes with an legacy of industrial activity that for decades sustained hundreds jobs, yet left in its wake millions of dollars worth of environmental liability. Cleanup, demolition

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Several firms have submitted plans to the Port of Bellingham to redevelop the historic waterfront Granary Building, once slated for demolition. EVAN MARCZYNSKI PHOTO | THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

and site prep have been underway on Bellingham’s waterfront for several years. Redevelopment areas span a strip of shoreline from the Bellwether Way development to the north, extending down to the site of a former garbage dump at the southern terminus of Cornwall Avenue. They also include the former site of a Georgia-Pacific Corp. pulp and paper mill, a property today owned by the port. Development plans present a five-phase scheme

with initial stages focusing on site cleanup and establishing a new commercial and residential area connected to the city’s downtown. Later phases include building a new public park at Cornwall Beach to the south, rejuvenating a marine-trades area and building the new marina to the north, and relocating a BNSF Railway line that bisects a portion of the site. The port is already seeking developers for about 11 acres of property that

surrounds Bellingham’s historic waterfront Granary Building. That process includes selection of a “master developer,” who will guide the first commercial development on the site. The first construction on the site is not expected to begin for several more years.

Evan Marczynski, associate editor of The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

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BRIDAL | FROM 13 their weddings. Croney said she believes the shop’s experienced staff has been a major key for its success. Belle Bridal employs six people, including both full-time and part-time workers. As she settles in to her new position as owner, Croney said that, for now, custom-

C9 | FROM 13

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C9 Photography, which last July began working with clients in Bellingham and other areas of western Washington, offers a range of commercial photography services, including for marketing, real estate, portraits and weddings, among other purposes. The company’s recent commercial clients include Haggen Inc. and the Zen Sushi restaurant that recently opened in Barkley Village. Woolsey said C9’s structure allows Knapp to focus entirely on his creative efforts, rather than handle the additional business and marketing aspects of the business—a dual role common for many professional photographers. Knapp said that as he began building a photography portfolio and sharpening his skills—he said his interest in the field developed out of a childhood passion for filmmaking—he never felt completely comfortable with the sales aspect. “For me, I was always the creative person, but I didn’t know how to market myself,”

ers probably won’t notice many changes in the store. She does expect to eventually remodel certain sections, although those plans are still in early stages. Croney added she will likely hold a grand re-opening event next spring. She also plans to redesign the store’s website and boost its presence on socialmedia sites, particularly Facebook, she said.

Knapp said. On that end, Woolsey takes over. Woolsey said he has long held an interest in entrepreneurship and business development. He also maintains a construction cost-estimate firm that was founded by his father. In its first few months, real-estate photography has made up about half of C9’s business. Woolsey and Knapp have also found success in marketing-related and corporate photography, securing jobs to take photos of new store openings or new products. The two are also hoping to eventually offer regular photography classes, either on a monthly or quarterly basis. Woolsey said C9’s range of services allows the company to maintain business throughout the year, instead of having to rely on busy wedding seasons or other seasonalbased photography opportunities. The business strategy does present timemanagement challenges, and both business partners agree: It’s a lot of work to handle. Knapp said that eventually they would like to hire additional photographers, likely as the company’s business volume expands..

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January 2014

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Five tips for hiring a marketing partner

o, you’ve been thinking about hiring a marketing firm, publicist or social-media manager for your business, but you don’t know where to start or how to compare options. This month’s article is just for you. Selecting the right partner is an important decision. You’ll want to make the best choice possible, so it’s worth investing a bit of time upfront to understand the options, identify your needs and consider your budget. Here are five tips to review before you pick up the phone: 1. Know the scope of work you need help with Write down a list of any marketing-related projects or tasks your business needs help with. The list may include things like developing a marketing strategy, creating new brochures and business cards, updating marketing content or editing your website, writing press releases, managing social media accounts, working on corporate branding, or even brainstorming business-development ideas. If you find you need help in only one area (like a press release or new business cards), then consider hiring a press-release writer or a print company for graphic design work. If it looks like you need help in a variety of areas (website, publicity, graphics and social media), then it may be best to partner with a business that can handle all of those tasks in-house, so your marketing messages are consistent.

2. Be prepared to share a “ballpark” budget How much do businesses spend on marketing Patti each year? DependRowlson ing on the size On Social of your Media & company, the market Marketing you are trying to reach and how aggressively you want to grow, your annual marketing budget may be anywhere between 2 percent to 20 percent of revenue (The U.S. Small Business Administration suggests roughly 7-8 percent for businesses with less than $5 million per year in revenue, with smaller growth goals.). The professional you choose to work with will need to know how much you would like to invest in marketing so they can make suggestions based on growth goals and budget. The tools available for use will vary depending on your budget—radio, video or TV ads might not be within budget, while social media, copywriting and personal networking may be a better fit. 3. Understand the firm’s size and who will be your point of contact

Depending on the size of the business, the person you initially meet with may or may not be your point of contact in the future. In larger companies, your projects may be assigned to an account specialist or you may work with a team of people who will complete tasks. With smaller firms, the person you initially meet with may also be your point of contact in the future and the one completing most of the tasks. There are plusses and minuses to both, so make sure to ask how many people work for the firm, who will be working on your projects, what their experience is and even how you will be communicating with them (in person, via phone or email; what are their business hours?). 4. Check out their circle of influence and experience with social networking There is no denying that the marketing world has changed. It’s far more interactive. So the firm or person you choose should have an understanding of social networking. If social-media management is going to be part of your plan, make sure the firm and their representatives are actively using the platforms you are considering. Ask to see samples of pages they manage. Remember that a solid network cannot be built overnight. It’s developed over time. Already having access to a large audience, and an understanding of how to use the

tools, can make it easier for marketing professionals to help your business grow. 5. Know the right questions to ask references When it comes time to check references, ask to speak to two to three existing customers (similar in size and scope to your business, if possible). Talk with those clients about how long they have worked with the firm, whether communication is timely, how accessible employees are and how they feel they have benefited from the services provided. Lastly, it’s important to understand that, in many cases, marketing success does not happen overnight. But if you choose the right marketing partner, this could be a long-term relationship that builds over time. Allow six months to get the ball rolling, build trust with consumers and test new strategies. Monitor results along the way. After that time, review your marketing plan, goals and budget, and make necessary adjustments.

Patti Rowlson is a marketing consultant and social media manager at PR Consulting, Inc. She helps Whatcom County small businesses identify, implement and consistently maintain marketing-related programs. Learn more about small-business marketing by connecting with PR Consulting on social media sites or by visiting www.pattirowlson.com.

The Kaizen way to employee engagement

magine for a moment a workplace where every single employee, from the president to the janitor, was thrilled to be at work and excited to tackle today’s challenges. This is not some idealized dream, it is accomplishable by changing the way we approach employee Collin engageMcLoughlin ment. Today, more than On 70 percent Employee of your Engagement workforce— your coworkers, employees and managers—are not fully committed to their work. Imagine a football team where

only three players actually wanted to win, and the rest were going through the motions, or worse, passing the ball to the other team. We are stuck in a rut, and the best way to re-engage our workers is by tapping their creative potential. Employee engagement is difficult to define and even harder to create, but it is absolutely essential to a highly functioning organization. Organizations with engaged employees are safer, more productive and far more successful. But before we get ahead of ourselves, I think it is essential that we answer the simple question: What is employee engagement? In my years as a business consultant, I’ve found hundreds

of answers. But, for me, the simplest answer is the best. Engaged employees are ones who want to apply their discretionary efforts to their work. That means they are thinking about what they do, they enjoy coming to work and

they are committed to success. There are different levels of engagement. An engaged employee will be passionate about their work and eager to innovate. A not-

See KAIZEN, Page 16

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January 2014

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Business success found inside company culture

here is an advertisement all over television these days. There are several versions, but all carry the same message. One character in the scene asks the question: “Did you know you 15 minutes could save you 15 percent on car insurance?” A second character rolls their eyes and responds: “Everyone knows that!”, whereupon the first character counters with an obscure factoid in the form of a question in hopes of getting some recognition for their intelligence. Like a lot of things in life, knowing something is really only as valuable as what you do with the information—like did you really save 15 percent on car insurance, or did you

KAIZEN | FROM 15 engaged employee is “sleep working” through their day. They are putting in the time, but not the energy or passion. Finally, there are activelydisengaged employees. This group is actively undermining the work of engaged employees. According to Gallup, in 2012 only 30 percent of the workforce was engaged in its work, with 52 percent not engaged and 18 percent actively disengaged. That means that at any organization, it is likely that 70 percent of your workforce is not fully committed to your goals. So how do you change

Mike Cook On Management

this? Simple—by allowing and encouraging everyone to be creative at work. If you asked a classroom full of kindergartners if they considered themselves to be creative, you would see dozens of raised hands. However, if you asked a corporate board room, or all the workers on factory floor, you would be lucky to see one or two hands go up. Somewhere on the journey of our lives, we convinced ourselves that we are no longer creative, that our personal inspirations are not worth contributing. Awakening that creative spirit is the key to becoming engaged in our work. That is what we need to rediscover.

just know that you could? Many business owners relate to the culture of their businesses like this, as well. Ask most any business owner if they know that managing the culture of their business can pay big dividends, and you will often get the knee-jerk response: “Every-

Look around your work environment. Is there something that can be changed to make it easier, faster or more effective? By viewing your workplace not as a static grind, but as a fluid space that can be reshaped and molded, you become a sculptor of your own masterpiece. Think about the tasks that you go through every day. Can they be improved? Eliminated? It can be something as simple as redesigning the forms you use so it only takes up one page instead of four, or something as elaborate as rearranging a factory floor so that everyone can always access the tools in the middle of the room. By allowing everyone

one knows that.” In my experience, however, not many business owners operate from their knowledge of the power of culture to make or break a business, nor do they truly have an appreciation of this fundamental truth. I was reminded that it might be time to write again about the power of culture to make or break a business when today I saw that Booz & Co. issued a new report reinforcing “what everybody knows. To paraphrase the Booz findings, many companies do not act on what they know to be true, and culture can make or break your business. You may be saying to yourself that, as to shape how they conduct their work, you are harnessing the intellectual talents of everyone within your organization, as opposed to just those at the uppermost level. It creates a positive environment, where everyone is engaged and working toward a more productive tomorrow. This type of thinking requires trust on the part of management. Too often we are told that all the solutions are held within one CEO’s head. We have built up the empire of the allknowing entrepreneur. This is foolish. If employees feel that they have control over their work processes, with the ability to improve their own work environment and

a business owner in Whatcom County or Skagit County, reports like this have little to do with your organization. After all, Booz is an international consulting companies and the participants in their surveys have thousands of employees—real cultures, so to speak. You have only a few employees and you know them all by name and you buy pizza for everyone frequently, maybe even a beer or two every now and then. That should do it, right? If you think that the occasional free pizza or even a turkey at Thanksgiving makes up for close attention paid to the day-to-day

be responsible for meeting their internal goals, then they will be more engaged in their work. I’ve spoken to businesses around the world, and I am always surprised when I encounter managers who do not trust their employees. If you don’t trust them with your business, why do they work for you? Too often, management can view employees as a cost, simply a biological machine, not realizing that every single employee has an incredible contribution to make to a company: their creative mind. Here are three ways you can begin changing your workplace:

Build a Kaizen board

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See CULTURE, Page 17 Kaizen is a Lean manufacturing term for “continuous improvement.” A Kaizen board is a place where you can display all the ideas your employees generate. Ask each employee to submit something once a month. That’s not a hard ask. One idea every 30 days. Hang these ideas up on the Kaizen board so they can be applauded and implemented.

Use visual displays Have your front desk, shop floor or production team put together a visual display that lets everyone know how successful they have been. It could be a color-coded board of numbers or a giant thermometer that slowly fills. The key is that anyone walking in must be able to instantly grasp its meaning.

Invest in on-the-job training. Workplace learning should not be a once-ayear occasion. You should be constantly bringing in fresh information to help inspire new ideas. Create a book group and read the latest material in your industry, or stream learning videos in your break room. By constantly stirring the intellectual pot, ideas will bubble forth. By tapping into the creative potential within every employee, you are harnessing the total intellectual strength of your organization, rather than just a sum of its total labor. The result is an inspired and fully engaged workforce.

Collin McLoughlin is a Lean and Kaizen publisher, consultant and author. You can learn more from him at his training website, www.uttana.com.

January 2014

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NONPROFIT NOTES

What exactly is corporate citizenship? BY RACHEL MYERS Courtesy to The Bellingham Business Journal Everywhere we look lately, there seems to be another article or blog post about it and the impact it can have for businesses. This month, we wanted to look more closely at this idea and just what it means to be a good corporate citizen. The Boston College for Corporate Citizenship (BCCC) recently shared some of its extensive research on this topic. In a presentation titled, “The Value of Corporate Citizenship in a Complex World,” BCCC shared data along with real-world stories from practitioners including Umpqua Bank and Microsoft. A few key points stand out: - Companies are giving more attention to corporate citizenship at the highest levels of management than they did just three years ago. - Corporate citizenship is becoming a global concern. Increasingly, corporations are expected by customers and shareholders to address the sustainability and ethical impact of their businesses, not just in their

local communities, but worldwide. - Companies are realizing that being socially responsible is more than just giving away money to nonprofits. Investors and shareholders alike have increasing expectations of corporations to measure and report what makes them good corporate citizens. According to Bob Gilbreath’s book, “Marketing with Meaning,” 87 percent of consumers would switch brands based on association with a good cause, and 50 percent of consumers would pay more for products from brands that support causes. The premise of Gilbreath’s book is essentially that when people choose to engage with your business and products in a meaningful way, everybody wins. As good as that sounds, the question many of us have is: What would this look like for my business? According to top researchers in this field, one important step is to discover what causes your customers and employees really care about. While there are lots of creative ways to approach this process, it can be as easy as putting up a whiteboard in your reception area or break room and asking

people to share which organizations they support. Facebook is another great place to ask people what they care about, and why. Some local companies have created “lunch and learn” sessions where employees can invite the nonprofit organizations they support to share a 20-minute overview of their work during the lunch hour. After gathering feedback from your network, it is time to tap into your creativity as you decide how to best support a local cause. Whether it is dedicating a percent of sales from a specific day, holding a food drive, matching employees’ charitable gifts or organizing a volunteer day, there are dozens of ways to support the wonderful work happening in our community. Research shows that your customers will enjoy an opportunity to help you give back—especially if you make it fun and easy. Paula Berg, resource development manager at Whatcom Community College, who has worked with dozens of local companies, says: “I am honored to work in such a

philanthropic community, and I’m grateful for the many businesses who contribute to Whatcom Community College’s success. These businesses provide volunteers who help ensure our programs remain innovative and current, as well as funding to support scholarships and important college programs. Socially responsible companies who engage with their local nonprofit sector help make this the healthy and thriving community that we can all be proud of. “ If you would like to learn more about the local nonprofit community and explore potential partner organizations, you can visit both the Whatcom Council of Nonprofits’ website at www.whatcomcouncilofnonprofits.org, and the Whatcom Community Foundation’s website at www.whatcomcf.org.

Rachel Myers is the development and programs manager at the Whatcom Community Foundation. This piece is part of a recurring series of columns from the Whatcom Council of Nonprofits regularly featured in The Bellingham Business Journal.

TOOLKIT CULTURE | FROM 16 culture of your business, then you might find, as the Booz survey respondents did, results like these if you survey your employees: - 60 percent said culture is more important than the company’s strategy or operating model. - 96 percent said some form of culture change is needed within their organization. - 51 percent believe their organization is in need of a major culture overhaul. - 45 percent do not think their culture is being effectively managed. - 48 percent do not think they have the capabilities required to deliver lasting change. - At 57 percent, skepticism due to past failed efforts was the number-one reason for resistance to change. Here’s what I think: As a small business owner, you read columns like this one and say to yourself: “Yes everyone knows that culture is more important than just about any other single factor in predicting business success, but I am not a sociologist or psychologist and I cannot afford to hire Booz to come in and help me!” And with that, you throw up your hands or shrug your shoulders, as if to say: “Hey, what do you expect from me?” Really, are you satisfied with that? I don’t think so, and I also think you are right about both not being able to afford to hire Booz, or about not being a psychologist for your business. However, maybe this might be a place to start. Could you address the following?: - Make sure that bad behavior is visibly, but respectfully, confronted. - Make sure that compensation, incen-

tives and promotions are based on results and behavior, not just results. - Manage your emotions, and do not give yourself permission to explode in public. - Have those pizza parties on a regular schedule, and have them be about communication as well as camaraderie. This means you have to be there. - Do not let employees use email as a “cover your butt” tactic. Make sure it is a proactive tool. - Make it clear to managers on how to treat employees respectfully and be rigorous with performance expectations. Just what is good enough? - Be specific about values and behaviors, and reinforce them publicly.

Taking action You might be surprised to hear this, but a careful examination of your own relationship to having employees is the very first step in having the culture you want. It is a well documented fact that you’d be hard pressed to find any public company that didn’t profess in its annual report that its employees are its most valuable asset. You would be equally hard pressed to find any of those same companies showing employees on the asset side of their balance sheet. Leaders in those companies might quickly protest that they are limited by the rules of accounting insofar as what they can show as assets, and currently employees don’t meet the qualification. While I agree with this explanation in principle, I think it is necessary to dig deeper into a company’s actions regarding employees to see how they might reflect the truth in practice. In many cases there seems to be a disconnect in the professed value of employees that may in part be reflected in

a number of surveys that report 70 percent levels of employee disengagement. But usually these statistics reflect surveys of larger companies. So, assuming that if you are reading The Bellingham Business Journal, you may not be involved with a public company or even a much larger private company, more likely a Whatcom County or Skagit County business, what does this discussion have to do with you? I’d ask you to think about this: When you reflect on your employees, do they show up for you primarily as expense or investment, resource or asset, problem or opportunity? The difference is crucial, not so much because there is a right answer, but because knowing the answer for yourself begins to provide a clearer understanding of how you might build the culture of a business. It can also provide an understanding of why things may be going the way they are in your business today. Here is what I have found as a matter of practice: Some business owners have employees because they need them in order to operate their business. This is what I would call a pragmatic approach: employees as necessity.They are resources to be used to whatever degree they can be and ultimately an expense that must be tolerated, but not necessarily embraced. In other cases I have found that the employer has employees because the employer has a clear vision of the kind of business they want to create, how big they want to be, what services they want to provide, etc.—and they will willingly have as many employees as it takes to fulfill that vision, knowing that without the particular skills their employees bring, there is little

hope of getting there. This view reflects understanding of the value for interdependency when it comes to accomplishing anything of consequence. Before moving on to the other steps below, it should be noted that if you are operating from the perspective of employees as a necessity and expense, then you may be reluctant to adopt the following steps. The direction I’ll be taking you involves increasing the level of reliance on the employees as the means to the success of your enterprise. Once you clear that hurdle, the rest of these steps may just fall into place. - Clarify your own vision for your business, and begin to communicate that openly to your employees. - Get clear on which values you believe reflect that vision, and communicate them often. Take a look here at how a well known values-driven company, Zappos, expresses its values for employees. - Define your strategic priorities. What will focus employee action and intention? Will you focus on adding new products, improving overall customer satisfaction, adding new customers? Here’s an example of a strategy focused rigorously on getting the customers what they want, taken from a recent segment from CBS’ “60 Minutes.” - Determine and communicate the performance and results you believe will help accomplish your vision. - Measure, feedback and recognize. Again, hopefully this last item would be obvious, but nothing cramps performance like not knowing how you are doing, or not being recognized for your contribution.

Mike Cook is a management developer who lives in Anacortes, Wash. He publishes a weekly blog at www.heartofengagement.com.

RECORDS

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BUSINESS LICENSES Listings, which feature both new and renewed licenses, include business name, licensee name and the business’ physical address. Records are obtained from the City of Bellingham. A Better Way Massage LLC, A Better Way Massage LLC, 12 Bellwether Way, Suite 219, Bellingham, WA 98225. Akers Construction LLC, Akers Construction LLC, 1800 Alabama St., Apt. 47, Bellingham, WA 98229. Becoming Studios, Amani Hanson, 3700 Alabama St., Apt. 119, Bellingham, WA 98229. Austin’s Cleaning Services, Austin Nicole Scott, 1461 Greenville Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Belle Bridal Formal Company, Belle Bridal Formal Company, 201 W. Holly St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Alabama Hill Adult Family Home, Bellingham Adult Family Homes LLC, 3614 Alabama St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Bellingham Chamber Music Society, Bellingham Chamber Music Society, 717 15th St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Bellingham Christian School Foundation, Bellingham Christian School Foundation, 1600 E. Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Breast Milagro Company, Breast Milagro Company, 2940 Squalicum Parkway, Suite 101, Bellingham, WA 98225. Broadbeans Inc., Broadbeans Inc., 60 Windward Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229. Cabin Essence, Cabin Essence, 521 Linden Road, Bellingham, WA 98225. The Cannabis Seed Co., Caline J. Bruyn, 1053 Sehome Ave., Bellingham, WA 98229. Canam Windows, Canam Windows LLC, 115 W. Magnolia St., Suite 211, Bellingham, WA 98225. Cannapure LLC, Cannapure LLC, 5222 Rauch Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Cares C&D Inc., Cares C&D Inc., 817 Queen St., Bellingham, WA 98229. CEK Enterprises, Cathleen Emily Kunz, 2301 Elm St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Caz Environmental LLC, Caz Environmental LLC, 4073 Hannegan Road, Suite H, Bellingham, WA 98226. Cellpap BV North America Inc., Cellpap North America Inc., 114 W. Magnolia St., Suite 404, Bellingham, WA 98225. Caltona Styles, Christine Marie Altona, 2315 James St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Chuckanut Pickers, Chuckanut Bay Pickers LLC, 4735 E. Oregon St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Cleanline Paint & Design, Cleanline Paint & Design LLC, 2724 Utter St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Concrete Resolutions LLC, Concrete Resolutions LLC, 1336 Undine St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Original Ironworking, Curtis Ray Landers, 5549 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Daniel A. Raas, Attorney At Law PS, Daniel A. Raas, Attorney At Law PS, 1503 E St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Boulder Creek Construction, David Arcese, 1007 E. Toledo St., Bellingham, WA 98229. David Kenneth Wood, David Kenneth Wood, 521 Kentucky St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Dawn Marie Matthes, Dawn Marie Matthes, 3121 Brandywine Way, Bellingham, WA 98226. Champlin Guitars, Devin Champlin, 306 Flora St. # 10, Bellingham, WA 98225. Henderson Lawn Care, Douglas Edward Henderson, 1688 Sapphire Trail, Bellingham, WA 98226. Eco-Radiant Services LLC, Eco-Radiant Systems LLC, 2105 Michigan St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Educated Hands Massage, Educated Hands Massage, 1621 Woburn St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Elutions Design Bureau Inc., Elutions Design Bureau Inc., 215 Bayside Pl., Bellingham, WA 98225. Zorganics Beauty Salon And Spa, Frida N. Emalange, 3930 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Meridian Cleaning Center, Funtourage LLC, 4120 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226. P&G Collections, Garth Allen Amundson, 427 W. Holly St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Gary Guerin Remodeling & Repair, Gary Paul Guerin, 4047 Eliza Ave., Apt. 102, Bellingham, WA 98226. GM’s Hair, Gaye Marie Fleming, 314 E. Holly St., Suite 100, Bellingham, WA 98225. Green Homes LLC, Green Homes LLC, 1009 Yew St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Groove Merchant Northwest LLC, Groove Merchant Northwest LLC, 3851 Fraser St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Hailey Huntley Aesthetics, Hailey Huntley Aesthetics,

5110 Noon Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Hannah Lee Underwood, Hannah Lee Underwood, 1400 N. State St., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225. Health Elite, Health Elite LLC, 1903 D St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Highend Accessories Inc., Highend Accessories Inc., 1326 E. Laurel St., Unit 200, Bellingham, WA 98225. Homestead Furnishings Inc., Homestead Furnishings Inc., 4240 Pacific Highway, Bellingham, WA 98226. #1 Nails, Hung Van Le, 137 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA 98225. Weathered Words, Jennifer A. Galbraith, 3779 Greenville St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Jeremy Christian, Jeremy Christian, 2711 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98225. John Christophe Shaughnessy, John Christophe Shaughnessy, 1611 W. Connecticut St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Organic Cleaning Company, Jon Herrick, 2728 W. Crestline Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Jon Bash Music, Jon Richard Bash, 2985 Ferry Ave., Apt. B-105, Bellingham, WA 98225. Stance Audio, Jose Miguel Villalobos-Ochoa, 4241 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Arnett Northwest Rental And Services, Josh Luke Arnett, 3065 E. Bakerview Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Bellingham Muse, Kerri Lynn Burnside, 1121 N. State St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Kitchen Therapy Inc., Kitchen Therapy Inc., 521 Kentucky St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Kulshan Services LLC, Kulshan Services LLC, 2012 Edgefield Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229. Soshark, Lacy Lynn Wallgren, 2849 W. Maplewood Ave., Apt. A25, Bellingham, WA 98225. Law Office Of Lisa Saar PLLC, Law Office Of Lisa Saar PLLC, 805 Dupont St., Suite 6, Bellingham, WA 98225. James Care Consulting, Lucy N. James, 3165 Agate Bay Lane, Bellingham, WA 98226. M2 THC, M2 THC, 48 Louise View Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229. Green Stop, Marc Allen Wilson, 1240 E. Maple St., Suite 102, Bellingham, WA 98225. Catholic Counseling Network, Margaret Mary Pierce, 421 Morey Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Nails By Mary Jo, Mary J. Gran, 1325 Lincoln St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Country Hills Blue, Mason T Kuchenreuther, 1450 E. Hemmi Road, Bellingham, WA 98247. The Bitter Baker, Megan R. Carroll, 1309 N. State St., Unit A101, Bellingham, WA 98225. Fotka Production, Mikhail A. Samoylenko, 5021 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. OC Professional Handyman Co., OC Professional Handyman Co., 2310 Yew St. Road, Bellingham, WA 98229. La Quinta Inn & Suites Bellingham, Parador Inc., 1063 W. Bakerview Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Huckleberry Threads, Pat Fisher, 6 Fields Park Pl., Bellingham, WA 98229. RDW Construction LLC, RDW Construction LLC, 158 S. Forest St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Bash Box Studios, Rachel Marie Louws, 2721 Franklin St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Rebecca Schayes CNM-ARNP, Rebecca Elizabeth Schayes, 204 S. Garden St., Bellingham, WA 98225. B. Linton Photography, Rebecca Linton, 1501 Austin Lane, Bellingham, WA 98229. Ready For You Property Turnover Services, Richard John Gray, 5023 Waschke Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Tynsky Construction, Robert Dale Tynsky, 2625 W. Maplewood Ave., Trailer 4, Bellingham, WA 98225. Rogel Media, Rogel Media, 231 Terrace Pl., Bellingham, WA 98225. Roger Jobs Approved, Roger Jobs Motors Inc., 1300 Iowa St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Samora Holdings, Samora Holdings LlLC, 1513 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229. Hair By Sarah, Sarah Marie Casad, 310 E. Magnolia St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Sea Of Green Farms, Sea Of Green Farms LLC, 2123 Lincoln St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Sears Authorized Hometown #6606, Sears Authorized Hometown Stores LLC, 3548 Meridian St., Suite 101, Bellingham, WA 98225. Sweat On Fitness LLC, Sweat On Fitness LLC, 275 Sunset Pond Lane, Unit 9, Bellingham, WA 98226. TT Accounting Services, Tatyana Tikhonov, 220 W. Champion St., Suite 200, Bellingham, WA 98225. Moonsparkle Pet Services, Terica Marie Brester, 1730 Bayon Road, Bellingham, WA 98225.

January 2014 The Crossing Guide, The Crossing Guide Magazine, 1155 N. State St. # 510, Bellingham, WA 98225. Top Shelf Cannabis, Thomas Lee Beckley, 3857 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. How2Boater, Thomas M. Clark, 2550 Newmarket St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Throttle Junkies LLC, Throttle Junkies LLC, 2141 Queen St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Better Nails, Thuy Ha H. Tran, 125 Telegraph Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Tide Lines, Tide Lines LLC, 220 E. Maple St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Times Fly LLC, Times Fly LLC, 4503 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229. Union Constructors LLC, Union Constructors LLC, 3032 Cedarwood Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Virtual Services, Virtual Services LLC, 3620 Irongate Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Volodymyr I. Farmahey, Volodymyr I. Farmahey, 3201 Northwest Ave., Suite 1, Bellingham, WA 98225. TCBY, Westside Yogurt Inc., 1 Bellis Fair Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98226.

BUILDING PERMITS Includes commercial building activity with an estimated valuation listed at $10,000 or more. Records are obtained from the City of Bellingham’s Permit Center. Status updates on permits are available on on the city’s website. 12/9/13 to 12/16/13 ISSUED PERMITS None reported with valuation at $10,000 or more. PENDING APPLICATIONS 4051 Meridian St., $9,311,746 for commercial: new five-story, 99-unit hotel. Permit No.: BLD2013-00581. 12/12/13. 4050 Northwest Ave., $4 million for commercial: construct 83-room, five-story, wood frame addition to hotel: Marriott Towneplace Suites. Permit No.: BLD20130572. 12/9/13. 905 Darby Drive, $2,075,000 for commercial: new 16,694-square-foot medical facility: Biolife Plasma Services. Contractor: Oracle Contracting Services. Permit No.: BLD2013-00504. 12/13/13. 2500 Sqaulicum Parkway, $1,359,588 for commercial: phase 1 (9,960 square feet) of new 21,000-square-foot, one-story medical office building with associated on-site parking (shell only). Permit No.: BLD2013-00535. 12/10/13. 1323 Commercial St., $500,000 for tenant improvement: remodel existing office space; new roof and storefront glazing. Contractor: The Franklin Corp. Permit No.: BLD2013-00551. 12/9/13. 155 E. Kellogg Road, $185,000 for commercial addition and alterations: construct addition between two existing senior care facilities and combine the two into one building: Highgate House. Permit No.: BLD201300344. 12/13/13. 2901 Squalicum Parkway (first floor), $150,000 for commercial alterations: interior remodel of hospital space for outpatient cardiovascular rehabilitation space. Permit No.: BLD2013-00584. 12/12/13. 915 Iowa St., $120,000 for tenant improvement: interior remodel for new office tenant in previous retail space; restripe parking lot and install landscaping, per planning. Permit No.: BLD2013-00552. 12/9/13. 1208 11th St., $80,000 for tenant improvement: convert existing retail space into seating to expand existing cafe (occupancy change from M to A-2); install new restrooms: Colophon Cafe. Permit No.: BLD201300575. 12/10/13. 12/2/13 to 12/9/13 ISSUED PERMITS 913 Lakeway Drive, $45,000 for commercial alterations: remodel of common restrooms on both first and second floors of office building: RE/MAX Whatcom. Contractor: Hjelmseth Construction. Permit No.: BLD2013-00539. 12/4/13. 21 Bellwether Way 108, $30,000 for tenant improvement: finish shell space for new law office: Thomson Law LLC. Contractor: Summit Construction Group. Permit No.: BLD2013-00555. 12/6/13. 519 E. Maple St., $30,000 for commercial alterations: repair structure hit by vehicle, install retaining wall and minor interior changes per approved plans: Bellingham Academy of Spiritual Development. Permit No.: BLD201300534. 12/5/13. 177 Telegraph Road, $10,000 for commercial alterations for “B” occupancy per plans: combine two existing tenant spaces (155 and 177) into shell space; add one bathroom: South Kenyon Street LLC. Contractor: Braam Construction. Permit No.: BLD2013-00565. 12/6/13.

3111 Newmarket St. 104, [no valuation listed] for tenant improvement: minor remodel within existing public library space to provide additional office: Barkley Company and Bellingham Public Library. Contractor: Scoboria Construction Inc. Permit No.: BLD2013-00559. 12/5/13. PENDING APPLICATIONS 805 Home Lane, $6,580,750 for new 106-unit hotel. Permit No.: BLD2013-00354. 12/6/13. 2901 Squalicum Parkway (CN second floor), $1.8 million for commercial renovations to existing hospital for acute rehab unit: St. Joseph Hospital. Permit No.: BLD2013-00566. 12/2/13. 1610 J St., $1,728,560 for commercial: new 20-unit, mixed-use building. Permit No.: BLD2013-00485. 12/5/13. 2200 Iowa St., $720,000 for commercial: addition to automotive showroom; includes new service reception area and regrading of parking lot: Roger Jobs. Permit No.: BLD2013-00251. 12/3/13. 4051 Meridian St., $200,000 for commercial: construction of retaining walls for hotel development. Contractor: Colacurcio Bros. Inc. Permit No.: BLD201300526. 12/4/13. 4064 Irongate Road, $148,954 for new commercial: construct metal canopy for new fueling site. Permit No.: BLD2013-00474. 12/4/13. 4064 Irongate Road, $17,524 for new commercial: construct utility/restroom building for new fueling site. Permit No.: BLD2013-00473. 12/4/13. 2000 Kentucky St., $15,000 for commercial: demolish corridor connecting two buildings and infill exterior walls. Contractor: Credo Construction. Permit No.: BLD201300571. 12/6/13. 11/25/13 to 12/2/13 ISSUED PERMITS 2901 Squalicum Parkway (CN ground floor), $118,000 for tenant improvement: remodel of nonpatient support spaces on ground floor (includes hospital mailroom and staff support offices): PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital. Contractor: The Franklin Corp. Permit No.: BLD2013-00536. 11/27/13. PENDING APPLICATIONS 2901 Squalicum Parkway (CS first floor), $400,000 for commercial tenant improvement: renovation of existing scan suite 1 and addition of 175-square-foot UPS enclosure. Permit No.: BLD2013-00561. 11/25/13. 177 Telegraph Road, $10,000 for commercial: combine two existing tenant spaces (155 and 177) into one 2,544-square-foot shell space for “B” occupancy; remodel restroom and shower. Permit No.: BLD201300565. 11/27/13. 11/18/13 to 11/25/13 ISSUED PERMITS 1155 E. Sunset Drive 118, $80,000 for commercial: expand storage area into adjacent tenant space and racking for storage. Contractor: Marco Contractors Inc. Permit No.: BLD2013-00457. 11/18/13. 23 Bellwether Way 101, $50,000 for tenant improvement: completion of tenant shell in franchised art studio for training amateur artists: Uptown Art Studio. Contractor: Summit Construction Group. Permit No.: BLD2013-00533. 11/18/13. 2227 Midway Lane, $10,000 for tenant improvement: chemical storage rack systems for new chemical manufacturing/distribution building (permitted under BLD2013-00023): Cesco Solutions. Applicant and contractor: Credo Construction. Permit No.: BLD201300540. 11/20/13. PENDING APPLICATIONS 1122 Cornwall Ave., $5 million for new four-story, 42-unit affordable housing mixed-use building. Permit No.: BLD2013-00309. 11/21/13. 1140 10th St., $3,852,600 for commercial: new fourstory, mixed-use building: South Bay Suites. Contractor: Wellman & Zuck Construction LLC. Permit No.: BLD201300557. 11/21/13. 4-8 Bellis Fair Parkway, $1.3 million for commercial: demolish movie theater and construct three new tenant shells. Permit No.: BLD2013-00550. 11/19/13. 1323 Commercial St., $500,000 for tenant improvement: remodel existing office space, new roof and storefront glazing. Contractor: The Franklin Corp. Permit No.: BLD2013-00551. 11/20/13. 3824 Hammer Drive, $130,000 for new commercial: pre-engineered open steel RV storage building. Permit No.: BLD2013-00463. 11/22/13. 300 E. Sunset Drive, $125,000 for commercial: addition to and remodel of existing structure for retail pharmacy. Contractor: Bisla Construction Inc. Permit No.: BLD2013-00558. 11/22/13. 915 Iowa St., $120,000 for tenant improvement:

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RECORDS | FROM 18 interior remodel for new office tenant in previous retail space; restripe parking and install landscaping, per planning. Permit No.: BLD2013-00552. 11/20/13. 3826 Hammer Drive, $100,000 for new commercial: preengineered open steel RV storage building. Permit No.: BLD201300464. 11/22/13. 3820 Hammer Drive, $90,000 for new commercial: office building for RV storage site. Permit No.: BLD2013-00462. 11/22/13. 3822 Hammer Drive, $80,000 for new commercial: pre-engineered open steel RV storage building. Permit No.: BLD2013-00461. 11/22/13. 21 Bellwether Way 108, $30,000 for tenant improvement: finish shell space for law office. Permit No. BLD2013-00555. 11/21/13.

LIQUOR LICENSES Records include license activity in Whatcom County. They are obtained from the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which is online at www.liq.wa.gov. 12/11/13 to 12/18/13 NEW LICENSE APPLICATIONS Stone’s Throw Brewery, Stone’s Throw Brewery LLC; Anthony John Luciano and Jack Randolf Pflueger applied for a new license to operate a microbrewery and sell beer/wine and growlers in a specialty shop at 1009 Larrabee Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. License No.: 413052. 12/17/13. RECENTLY APPROVED LICENSES McKay’s Tap House at 118 E. Maple St., Bellingham, WA 98225, had changes approved on an existing license to be a direct shipment receiver (in/out of WA). License No.: 401542. 12/13/13. DISCONTINUED LICENSES Meridian Cost Cutter #67 at 4131 Guide Meridian Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, had a license to be a direct shipment receiver (in WA only) discontinued. License No.: 364342. 12/16/13. Sunset Cost Cutter #448 at 1275 E. Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA, 98226, had a license to be a direct shipment receiver (in WA only) discontinued. License No.: 075092. 12/16/13. 11/27/13 to 12/11/13 NEW LICENSE APPLICATIONS Basil; Serirattana Amy Huber and John E. Huber, applied for a new license to sell beer/wine/spirits in a restaurant lounge at 420 Cherry St., Sumas, WA 98295. License No.: 363660. 12/10/13. RECENTLY APPROVED LICENSES Bellingham Lake Grocery Outlet at 1600 Ellis Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225, was had changes approved on an existing license to be direct shipment receiver (in/out of WA). License No.: 083281. 12/6/13. Soy House Restaurant at 400 W. Holly St., Bellingham, WA

98225, had changes approved on an existing license to sell beer/ wine/spirits in a restaurant service bar. License No. 369850. 12/6/13. DISCONTINUED LICENSES Stella at 311 E. Holly St., Suite #101, Bellingham, WA 98225, had a license to sell alcohol in a nightclub discontinued. License No.: 408366. 12/6/13. 11/13/13 to 11/27/13 NEW LICENSE APPLICATIONS Strong Spirits, Troy Strong Inc.; Troy A. Strong applied for a new license to operate a fruit and/or wine distillery at 2120 Grant St., Suite 6, Bellingham, WA 98225. License No.: 412094. 11/25/13. The Fairhaven, The Fairhaven Inc.; Peter P. Logrande and Vickie G. Logrande applied for a new application to sell beer/wine/spirits in a restaurant lounge at 1114 Harris Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. License No.: 360892. 11/22/13. Pickford Film Center, Pickford Film Center; Patrick Clark Dizney, Mary E. Doherty, Rebecca Louise Shew and Megan Laura Greenfield applied to make changes to an existing license to sell beer/wine in a theater at 1318 Bay St., Bellingham, WA 98225. License No.: 086261. 11/14/13. PFC’s Limelight Cinema, Pickford Film Center; Patrick Clark Dizney, Mary E. Doherty, Rebecca Louise Shew and Megan Laura Greenfield applied to make changes to an existing license to sell beer/wine in a theater at 1416 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. License No.: 410221. 11/14/13. BEVX360 Bellingham Beverage Express, Bellingham Beverage Express LLC; Craig Michael Mullarky, Laurie E. Mullarky, Amy M. Shintaffer, Dean Phillip Shintaffer, Joyce A. Shintaffer and Mark E. Shintaffer applied to make changes to an existing license to sell beer/ wine in a tavern and for off-premises consumption at 2001 Iowa St., Suite A, Bellingham, WA 98229. License No.: 409956. 11/13/13. RECENTLY APPROVED LICENSES Acme Diner at 2045 Valley Highway, Acme, WA 98220, was approved for changes to an existing license to sell beer/wine/spirits in a restaurant lounge. License No.: 085172. 11/21/13. DISCONTINUED LICENSES Twin Sister’s Lodge at 7461 Mount Baker Highway, Maple Falls, WA 98226, has a license to sell beer/wine/spirits in a restaurant lounge discontinued. License No.: 353993. 11/20/13. Old Fairhaven Wine at 1106 Harris Ave., Suite 4, Bellingham, WA 98225, has a license to be a direct-shipment receiver (in/out of WA) discontinued. License No.: 085928. 11/12/13.

MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATIONS Includes applicant’s business name, address, license number and filing date. Records obtained from the Washington State Liquor Control Board, online at www.liq.wa.gov. This

information is compiled from raw data supplied by the liquor board, and is subject to change. Visit BBJToday.com to view the the most recent updated listings. RETAILERS Alger Grass Station, 1712 Old Highway 99 N., Bellingham, WA 98229, 050820, 12/5/13. Bellinghamsterdam, 1000 C St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 05152, 12/12/13. Bellinghamsterdam, 4326 Pacific Highway, Bellingham, WA 98226, 051385, 12/13/13. Buds SOS, 6061 Portal Way, Ferndale, WA 98248, 051362, 12/13/13. Chuckanut Recreational LLC, 1215 N. Lake Samish Drive, Suite B, Bellingham, WA 98229, 13/14/13. Dakota Land Company LLC, 1726 Edwards Drive, Unit 7, Point Roberts, WA 98281, 050523, 11/27/13. Dancing Gypsies, 4370 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 050979, 12/6/13. East 542 Cannabis, 051132, 10211 Old Mount Baker Highway, Glacier, WA 98244, 051132, 12/10/13. Fred C. Larsen, 2119 Lincoln St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 050576, 11/27/13. Good Life Cannabis LLC, 1474 James St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 051569, 12/14/13. Green, 2119 Lincoln St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 050325, 11/22/13. Green Stop, 1240 E. Maple St., Suite 102, Bellingham, WA 98225, 050421, 11/23/13. Happy Cloud’s, 970 Pole Road, Lynden, WA 98264, 051044, 12/10/13. Hemp House LLC, 1108 C St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 051429, 12/13/13. JWC Enterprises LLC, 2119 Lincoln St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 051108, 12/10/13. Mandeep Kaur, 4564 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 051461, 12/13/13. Miracle Mate USA Inc., 3957 Irongate Road, Suite 110, Bellingham, WA 98226, 050834, 12/6/13. Pain Management Clinic, 479 12th St., Blaine, WA 98230, 051016, 12/10/12. Sunshine Cannabis Supply LLC, 4010 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 051525, 12/14/13. The Green Pot, 5655 Guide Meridian, Bellingham, WA 98226, 050437, 11/26/13. The Joint LLC, 141 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA 98225, 050244, 11/21/13. The Treehouse, 4208 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 051447, 12/13/13.

Top Shelf, 4581 Rural Ave., Bellingham, WA 98226, 051045, 12/10/13. Top Shelf Cannabis, 3857 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 050414, 11/23/13. VHT Enterprises, 1240 E. Maple St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 050916, 12/6/13. PROCESSORS Oh McDonald Farms, 2902 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229, 050349, 11/23/13. Acme Consumer Products, 5439 Sand Road, Suite B, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412655, 11/27/13. Acme Mountain Herb, 962 Valley Highway, Acme, WA 98220, 412162, 11/19/13. Agape Research WA LLC, 2002 Valley Highway, Acme, WA 98220, 051065, 12/10/13. Aquatic Life Sciences, 1269 Lattimore Road, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412535, 11/26/13. Bakecation, 470 W. 2nd St., Suite 104, Sumas, WA 98295, 412219, 11/20/13. Bearded Bro’s Buds, 7955 Chisholm Trail, Suite A, Maple Falls, WA 98266, 412284, 11/20/13. Cannasseurs, 2690 Brown Road, Ferndale, WA 98248, 051102, 12/10/13. Canndo, 5934 Lawrence Road, Everson, WA 98247, 412430, 11/20/13. Country Hills Blue, 1450 E. Hemmi Road, Bellingham, WA 98247, 412411, 11/23/13. Crescendo Chocolate, 134 Kline Road, Bellingham , WA 98226, 412617, 11/27/13. Deepwater Botanicals, 5225 Industrial Place, Ferndale, WA 98247, 412154, 11/19/13. Delta#Nine, 9314 Swanson Road, Sumas, WA 98295, 412747, 12/4/13. Dr. Bubblers, 25 Rose Ridge Loop, Bellingham, WA 98229, 051593, 12/14/13. Emerald Acres, 7056 Portal Way, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412432, 11/23/13. Eservices, 5439 Sand Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412654, 11/27/13. Fine Detail Greenway, 8287 Golden Valley Blvd., Maple Falls, WA 98266, 412400, 11/22/13. GLG LLC, 7056 Portal Way, Building L, Suites L1 and L2, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412117, 11/19/13. Green Liberty, 5373 Guide Meridian, Suite F3, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412964, 12/10/13.

See RECORDS, 23

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January 2014 January

January 2014

PORT NEWS

Local Governments Work Together to Benefit Community Sponsored content provided by Port of Bellingham

is dramatically improved when they all work together to meet community needs. Cooperation, not competition, are becoming the local gold standard. Here is a look at a few standout examples from 2013:

he Port of Bellingham’s mission statement includes a phrase about “working cooperatively with other entities” and 2013 was a great example of that. This year promises even more cooperation and partnerships. The Port Commission and staff believe that the effectiveness of local governments

Shared Emergency Operations Center: The Port, City of Bellingham and Whatcom County government have forged a partnership to lease the building (owned by the port) for a unified Whatcom County Emergency Operations Center. This is the building that was used by the federal government during the Olympics as an emergency center. Emergency management staff now working in the Civic Center building and some City of Bellingham offices will be moving into this space early in 2014. Private partners also helped make this possible with generous donations of funding and equipment from BP, Phillips 66 and the Whatcom

Community Foundation. Shared State Legislative Focus: 2013 marked the first year that the Port, City and County pooled resources to hire legislative specialists to work on the community’s behalf in Olympia. The three governments, although very different in focus, developed a shared set of legislative goals and worked together in our state capital so that all could be more successful. This shared strategy remains in place for 2014. Agreements on the Bellingham Waterfront District: In December, the Bellingham waterfront redevelopment project took a huge step forward when the Bellingham City Council and the Port of Bellingham Commissioners adopted the complete package of master planning documents for the Waterfront District. The approved documents include a master plan, development regulations, development

agreement, planned action ordinance and an interlocal agreement for facilities that describes the Port and City investments in streets, utilities, parks and environmental cleanup. Approval of these documents is an essential first step in the phased redevelopment of the 237-acre waterfront site. Focused Economic Development Strategy: 2013 marked the second year that the Port, City and County combined funds to create a Tri-Funders Allocations Committee aimed at paying for a strategic set of economic development services. In 2014 the group again has recommended contracting with WWU’s Small Business Development Center to deliver those services. Supporting Small Cities’ Economic Development: In 2013, the Port provided matching funds to Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden and Nooksack to support

planning and design for their transportation and infrastructure projects. Recommendations for the allocation of this money came from the Small Cities Partnership, a group the Port supports that

brings together mayors from all of the small cities. Since 2004, the Port has worked with this group to provide $444,755 to their projects. This program will continue in 2014.

PORT OF BELLINGHAM CONTACT: Port Administrative Offices 360-676-2500 info@portofbellingham.com www.portofbellingham.com

1801 Roeder Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Scott Walker, District One Michael McAuley, District Two Jim Jorgensen, District Three

MEETINGS: 3 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Agendas are on the Port website. THE PORT OPERATES: Bellingham International Airport Bellingham Cruise Terminal Squalicum Harbor Blaine Harbor Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park Bellwether on the Bay Shipping Terminal Airport Industrial Park Sumas Industrial Park

Bellingham’s Best Marine Store Pacific Northwest cards, books, & gifts Outdoor clothing, TEVA & Merrell shoes Toys for kids & adults

851 Coho Way, Bellingham, WA • 734-3336 or 800-426-8860 Shop anytime online at: www.LFSMarineOutdoor.com

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Serving: Bellingham, Blaine, Birch Bay, Ferndale, Lynden, Lummi Island, and all of Whatcom County.

Arts & Culture • Dining Bicycling • Fishing • Wildlife Water Adventures• Casinos Lodging• Winter Activities Shopping • Spas • Health

A Refreshing Change

MORE... to explore.

2013 — Our Tourism Year in Review Sponsored content provided by Loni Rahm, and Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.

into the $565 million annual county-wide visitor industry.

he Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism staff made a presentation to our board of directors at their December board meeting. Gathering activity information from each department was the easy part! Condensing it down to a few highlights that could be quickly and enthusiastically shared with the board wasn’t as easy. We finally managed to whittle it down to a mere 23 information-packed slides and a 45-minute presentation. Which I will now attempt to share with you in 600 words or less! MEMBERSHIP As I’ve mentioned in this column before, the BWCT board made a bold move

in 2013 – authorizing any business with an active presence in Whatcom County (and the proper licensing of course) to be a tourism bureau member for FREE! We don’t automatically enroll you…you have to let us know you want to accept our offer by filling out an opt-in application available on our website www.bellingham.org or upon request at mike@bellingham.org. Since we initiated the “Everyone’s a Member” program, 58 businesses have joined our destination marketing team. But there’s plenty of room for more! So please take a minute in the new year to opt-in with your contact information and a description of your business so we can help you tap

TRAVEL SHOWS The tourism bureau purchases booth space at a variety of consumer trade shows, including the Seattle Golf Show, Outdoor Adventure Show (Vancouver), Seattle Bike Expo, GEAR Expo and West Coast Women’s Show. In 2014, we’ve added 6 more trade shows to our calendar. Promotional giveaways and prize packages are a great way to put your business name and products in front of the tens of thousands of people who stop by our booth for information. VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS Most of you are familiar with the “Lighthouse Building” on Potter Street which serves as our offices and our flagship information center. In 2013, we began an ambassador program at the airport and

cruise terminal, which we are also expanding to Bellis Fair Mall and downtown Bellingham. Regardless of how many people use technology to communicate, there is still no substitution for a smiling face ready to provide assistance and information services. With our sincere gratitude to Becca Verda, the BWCT staff member who created the ambassador program, we are pleased to introduce you to Larry Manley, a former ambassador himself who will be taking charge of program recruitment and training this month. DESTINATION MARKETING Our organizational mission is to attract visitors to our area as a vital component to economic vitality. To accomplish this, we develop and implement strategic marketing programs to raise destination awareness and create a desire for travel to Bellingham and Whatcom County. Although we certainly tell our own story through advertising and marketing activities, we also partner with the media so they can help tell our story for us. In 2013, we provide direct assistance for well over 100 members of the media:

travel writers, editors, bloggers, radio hosts, television reporters and more. We regularly communicate with more than 500 members of the press electronically and through association relationships. These relationships resulted in print, online, and broadcast media coverage that included: Sunset Magazine, AAA Journey, Vancouver Province, Vancouver Sun, Seattle Times, Northwest Travel, The Oregonian, Harbors Magazine, Snowboarder Magazine, Seattle Met, Nature Guides BC, KING5 TV, KPLU Radio, Food Traveler Magazine and much more! See what I mean? I’m out of space already, and so much

more to share! Although 2013 was a busy year, we anticipate 2014 will be even busier. As you implement your own business plan for the new year, I encourage you to take advantage of our marketing and media relations activities. If you aren’t already a member, opt-in to our FREE membership. Consider partnering with us on specific programs that will directly benefit you. Send your press releases to media@bellingham.org so we can help tell your story. And most importantly, let us know how we can connect you with visitors that will help make your 2014 more prosperous and productive. Happy New Year!

January Events

Visit our website or call for more details: www.bellingham.org (360) 671-3990 January 3 200-Hour Power Yoga Teacher Training January 4 Free Live Music with Heron & Crow

Free Live Music with Grumpy Old Bear January 18 Free Live Music with Dave Nellis January 21 Film: Las Marthas

January 9 Indigo Girls Concert January 11 Whatcom Museum Speakers on Ice

January 25 Free Live Music with David Vergin Every Thursday-Sunday Improv Comedy - Upfront Theatre, 8:00 & 10:00 pm

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism 904 Potter Street | Bellingham, WA 98229 360-671-3990 | 800-487-2032 www.Bellingham.org Open 7 days, 9 a.m

PEOPLE

BBJToday.com

Accounting VSH CPAs in Bellingham has hired Mary Taylor as a new member of its accounting team. Taylor earned her accounting degree from Western Washington University and received her Certified Public Accounting designation in 2009. She has more than five years of experience in public accounting and is currently pursuing her master’s in taxation from Golden Gate University. VSH can be reached at 360-734-8715.

Consultancies Karlee Deatherage has joined Lehman McShane Strategies as a policy assistant to the company’s managing partners, Cathy Lehman and Lisa McShane. Deatherage is a graduate of Western Washington University and holds a degree in environmental planning and policy from Huxley College. She was most recently the coordinated campaign manager in the Whatcom Wins campaign, where she worked to coordinate four candidate campaigns, nine staff members and 359 volunteers during therecent Whatcom County Council races. She directly managed a team that made more than 47,000 phone calls and contacted more than 42,000 voters at their doors. Lehman McShane Strategies can be reached at 360-224-8877.

Legal Services Brian Hanson and Andy Heinz have joined the Barron Smith Daugert estateplanning practice in Bellingham. Hanson and Heinz bring with them clients from their previous firm, which Brian Hanson dissolved due to retirements and reorganization, according to a news release. Heinz joins Barron Smith Daugert as partner, and Hansen Andy Heinz as “of counsel.” The company can be reached at 360-733-0212.

Media Evan Marczynski has been named associate editor of The Bellingham Business Journal and BBJToday.com. Marczynski has been a member of the BBJ’s staff since January 2012, when he began a stint as an Evan Marczynski editorial intern. He was hired as a staff reporter three months later. Originally from Pullman, Wash., Marczynski moved to Bellingham in 2005. He graduated from Western Washington University in 2012

with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Marczynski can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@ bbjtoday.com.

January 2014

GOLDEN APPLE WINNERS

Nonprofits Dr. Laurie Brion has joined the dental staff at Interfaith Community Health Center, where she will provide care to adults who will qualify for Medicaid’s expanded adult dental coverage, which Dr. Laurie Brion becomes effective Jan 1. Brion is a graduate of the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry. She was in private practice in Bellingham for 11 years and, most recently, was affiliated with the dental program at Bellingham Technical College, both as a teacher and a practicing dentist. Additionally, she has four years’ experience at Yakima Valley Migrant Farmworkers Clinic and worked briefly at the Swinomish Tribal Dental Clinic. Interfaith Community Health Center can be reached at 360-6766177.

Real estate Jeff Duncan has joined RE/ MAX Whatcom County’s Sudden Valley office. Duncan, a resident of Whatcom County for the past 15 years, focuses on residential property sales and purchasJeff Duncan es. Prior to earning his real-estate license, Duncan spent 17 years in management and sales in the medical field where he practiced customer relations on a daily basis. He can be reached at 360-441-2121.

Retail Chuck Robinson, co-owner of Village Books and Paper Dreams in Bellingham’s Fairhaven District, has been appointed to the position of director of the LIBRIS Indemnity Company. LIBRIS was formed in 1997 by the American Booksellers Association to provide affordable business insurance to it’s members. It currently provides insurance protection for nearly 350 bookstores throughout the U.S. Robinson founded VIllage Books in 1980 with his wife, Dee.

Kudos Rick Anderson, former CEO of Moss Adams LLP, has received honors from the American Institute of CPAs for his decades of work to help improve the accounting profession. Anderson has served on several AICPA committees and task forces, is a former member of the AICPA Council,

Molly Mitchell-Mumma, right, vice principal at Blaine Middle School, and Dawn Cottnair, a teacher there, are the 2013 recipients of the Golden Apple Award, presented by the Whatcom County Library System. The award honors educators who have gone above and beyond to strengthen young people’s connections with books, reading, and libraries. PHOTO COURTESY TO THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL and is the immediate past chair of the AICPA Major Firms Group. He is an alumnus of Western Washington University.

treasurer and owner and president of M.C. Smith Construction Inc. in Whatcom County, as its 2013 Remodeler of the Year.

Molly Mitchell-Mumma, vice principal at Blaine Middle School, and Dawn Cottnair, a teacher there, are the 2013 recipients of the Golden Apple Award, presented by the Whatcom County Library System. The award honors educators who have gone above and beyond to strengthen young people’s connections with books, reading, and libraries.

The nonprofit Opportunity Council and Fiamma Burger in downtown Bellingham raised more than $300 for Maple Alley Inn at a special Fiamma Burger breakfast fundraiser on Dec. 3. Maple Alley Inn serves breakfast at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Old Parish Hall on Walnut Street on Tuesdays, and hot lunches at Faith Lutheran Church on McLeod Road on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fiamma Burger is serving it new breakfast menu from 6:59 a.m. to 11:01 a.m. daily.

Blue Skies for Children has begun distributing new and gently used winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves and blankets to children who are homeless, low-income and in foster care as part of its Winter Warm Up Program. The nonprofit organization recognized the Zumiez Foundation and Alcoa Intalco employees for generous donations of items. For information on making contributions, call 360-756-6710 or visit Blue Skies’ office at 2505 Cedarwood Ave., Suite 2, in Bellingham (open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays). The Building Industry Association of Washington has named Audrey Borders, the organization’s current president and owner of Borders and Son Quality Roofing Inc. in Whatcom County, as its 2013 Builder of the Year. The award honors BIAW’s builder members for their meritorious service and exemplary devotion to the homebuilding industry. Borders is the second woman in the organization’s 50-year history to receive the award. The BIAW also named Monty Smith, the organization’s current

Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County broke ground its latest building project on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7535 Leeside Drive in Birch Bay. Local volunteers with Habitat’s Women Build program is constructing the home in partnership with future owners Julio and Juana Ortiz and their four children. The home will feature an ultraenergy efficient design and donated solar panels from Western Solar. Habitat expects the finished home will produce nearly as much energy as it uses. This will be the third ultra-efficient home Habitat has built in the county, but the first to include solar panels. Construction is slated to get underway in spring of 2014. Community members interested in volunteering, supporting or learning more about the project are encouraged to visit www.hfhwhatcom.org, or call 360-715-9170. The Mount Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross raised

See PEOPLE, 23

January 2014

RECORDS | FROM 19 Inter Continental Foods, 4564 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 413145, 12/10/13. Jack’s Homegrown, 1957 Bender Park Blvd., Unit B, Lynden, WA 98264, 412381, 11/23/13. JBeck, 432 Sprague Valley Drive,, Maple Falls, WA 98266, 412917, 12/6/13. Leef, 3210 Peace Portal Drive, Blaine, WA 98230, 413085, 12/13/13. Little Valley Gardens, 7292 Nooksack Road, Everson, WA 98247, 050823, 12/5/13. Marigold, 1606 Halverstick Road, Lynden, WA 98264, 412559, 11/27/13. Mt. Baker Greeneries, 4256 Rural Ave., Bellingham, WA 98226, 412303, 11/20/13. Mt. Baker Homegrown, 5600 Everson Goshen Road., Bellingham, WA 98226, 412500, 11/26/13. Nooksack Nuggets, 5202 Reese Hill Road, Sumas, WA 98295, 412990, 12/11/13. Northwest Organic Nursery Inc., 6283 Noon Road, Suite A, Everson, WA 98247, 051529, 12/14/13. Ocean Grown Enterprises LLC, 6481 Portal Way, Ferndale, WA 98248, 051555, 12/14/13. Old School, 3110 Standard Road, Deming, WA 98244, 051451, 12/13/13. Oracle Acres, 11052 Mission Lane, Glacier, WA 98244, 412841, 12/6/13. Perecan Farm, 6942 Karber Road, Blaine, WA 98230, 051490, 12/14/13. Plain Vanilla, 3140 St. Clair St., Suite C, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412644, 11/20/13. Pyramid Green Houses, 425 W. King Tut Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412587, 11/27/13. Sea Of Green Farms, 2123 Lincoln St., Bellingham , WA 98225, 412153, 11/19/13. Shamrock Holdings, 1400 Kentucky St., Bellingham, WA 98229, 413113, 12/13/13. Sideways Green, 5213 Galbraith Road, Acme, WA 98220, 12/10/13. Sleeping Giant Greenhouse, 5192 Aldrich Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412209, 11/20/13. Starry Field Farms, 5595 Starry Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412448, 11/22/13. Stonebreaker Growers, 4965 Fat Dog Lane, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412594, 11/27/13. SubX, 1419 Whitehorn St., Ferndale , WA 98248, 412111, 11/19/13. Sustainable Organics, 2666 E Smith Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412606, 11/27/13. Trail Blazin Productions, 2005 Division St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 412082, 11/19/13. Virtual Services, 3620 Irongate Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412073, 11/19/13. Washington Finest, 8971 Guide Meridian Road, Lynden, WA 98264, 412104, 11/19/13. Whatcom County Cannabis Gardens, 5373 Guide Meridian, Suite D-11, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412567, 11/27/13. Windpoppy Farm & Nursery, 3171 Unick Road, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412208, 11/20/13. TIER 1 PRODUCERS (Less than 2,000 square feet) Acme Mountain Herb, 962 Valley

PEOPLE | FROM 22 $105,000 for local Red Cross services during its 16th annual Real Heroes celebration on Dec. 5. The chapter also honored 11 community members who saved lives, performed exceptional rescues, provided ongoing support to

BBJToday.com Highway, Acme, WA 98220, 412162, 11/19/13. Bearded Bro’s Buds, 7955 Chisholm Trail, Suite A, Maple Falls, WA 98266, 412284, 11/20/13. Marigold, 1606 Halverstick Road, Lynden, WA 98264, 412559, 11/27/13. Mountain View Massage, 6059 Barr Road, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412460, 11/26/13. Mt. Baker Homegrown, 5600 Everson Goshen Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412500, 11/26/13. New Sussex Farm, 9759 Weidkamp Road, Lynden, WA 98264, 412714, 12/03/13. Nooksack Nuggets, 5202 Reese Hill Road, Sumas, WA 98295, 412990, 12/11/13. Oracle Acres, 11052 Mission Lane, Glacier, WA 98244, 412841, 12/6/13. Perecan Farm, 6942 Karber Road, Blaine, WA 98230, 051490, 12/14/13. Schach Shots, 8 Sanwick Point Court, Bellingham, WA 98229, 413028, 12/11/13. Virtual Services, 3620 Irongate Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412073, 11/19/13. Whatcom County Cannabis Gardens, 5373 Guide Meridian, Suite D-11, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412567, 11/27/13.

TIER 2 PRODUCERS (2,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet) Oh McDonald Farms, 2902 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA, 98229, 050349, 11/23/13. Cannasseurs, 2690 Brown Road, Ferndale, WA 98248, 051102, 12/10/13. Canndo, 5934 Lawrence Road, Everson, WA 98247, 412430, 11/20/13. Deepwater Botanicals , P.O. Box 31271, Bellingham, WA 98228, 412154, 11/19/13. Delta#Nine, 9314 Swanson Road, Sumas, WA 98295, 412747, 12/4/13. Dr. Bubblers, 25 Rose Ridge Loop, Bellingham, WA 98229, 051593, 12/14/13. Fine Detail Greenway , 8287 Golden Valley Blvd., Maple Falls, WA 98266, 412400, 11/22/13. GLG LLC, 7056 Portal Way, Bldg L, Suites L1 and L2, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412117, 11/19/13. Green Liberty, 5373 Guide Meridian, Suite F3, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412964, 12/10/13. Jack’s Homegrown, 1957 Bender Park Blvd., Unit B, Lynden, WA 98264, 412381, 11/23/13. JBeck, 432 Sprague Valley Drive, Maple Falls, WA 98266, 412917, 12/6/13. Leef, 3210 Peace Portal Drive, Blaine, WA 98230, 413085, 12/13/13. Little Valley Gardens, 7292 Nooksack Road, Everson, WA 98247, 050823, 12/5/13. Mt. Baker Greeneries, 4256 Rural Ave., Bellingham, WA 98226, 412303, 11/20/13. Pyramid Green Houses, 425 W. King Tut Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412587, 11/27/13. Sea Of Green Farms, 2123 Lincoln St., Bellingham, WA , 98225, 412153, 11/19/13. Sener Fisheries, 1597 Slater Road, Bellingham, WA 98248, 413149, 12/7/13. Shamrock Holdings, 1400 Kentucky St., Belligham, WA 98229, 12/13/13. Sideways Green, 5213 Galbraith Road, Acme, WA 98220, 412959, 12/10/13. Sleeping Giant Greenhouse, 5192 Aldrich Road, Bellingham, WA 98226,

those in need and dedicated their careers to the service of others. Donations to the organization can always be made by calling 360-733-3290, going online to www.redcross.org/mtbaker, or mailing donations to American Red Cross, Moun Baker Chapter, 2111 King St.,

412209, 11/20/13. Starry Field Farms, 5595 Starry Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412448, 11/22/13. Subx,1419 Whitehorn St., Ferndale, WA 98248, 412111, 11/19/13. The Cannabis Seed Co., 1053 Sehome Ave., Bellingham, WA 98229, 412401, 11/22/13. Trail Blazin Productions, 2005 Division St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 412082, 11/19/13.

TIER 3 PRODUCERS (10,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet) Acme Consumer Products LLC, 5439 Sand Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 050566, 11/27/13. Agape Research WA LLC, 2002 Valley Highway, Acme, WA 98220, 051065, 12/10/13. BC Growers Etc., 912 E. Smith Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412555, 11/27/13. Country Hills Blue, 1450 E. Hemmi Road, Bellingham, WA 98247, 412411, 11/23/13. Emerald Acres, 7056 Portal Way, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412432, 11/23/13. Eservices, 5439 Sand Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 050533, 11/27/13. Green Squared, 3140 St. Clair St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 050034, 11/20/13. Inter Continental Foods, 4564 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 413145, 12/10/13. Northwest Organic Nursery Inc., 6283 Noon Road, Suite A, Everson, WA 98247, 051529, 12/14/13. Northwest Organic Nursery Inc., 6283 Noon Road, Suite B, Everson, WA 98247, 051530, 12/14/13. Ocean Grown Enterprises LLC, 6481 Portal Way, Ferndale, WA 98248, 051555, 12/14/13. Old School, 3110 Standard Road, Deming, WA 98244, 051450, 12/12/13. Pacific Bionetworks, 3140 St. Clair St., Bellingham, WA 98226, 050165, 11/20/13. Stonebreaker Growers, 4965 Fat Dog Lane, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412594, 11/27/13. Sustainable Organics, 2666 E. Smith Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 412606, 11/27/13. Two Brothers Farmers, 2310 Timon Road, Everson, WA 98247, 412962, 12/10/13. Washington Finest, 8971 Guide Meridian Road, Lynden, WA 98264, 412104, 11/19/13. Windpoppy Farm & Nursery, 3171 Unick Road, Ferndale, WA 98248, 412208, 11/20/13.

BANKRUPTCIES

Shahriar Bozorgzadeh and Kelly L. Evan, $199,626.78, 2131102205, 11/25/13. S a m u e l D e l g a d o, $ 2 9 , 6 1 5 . 2 8 , 2131101452, 11/15/13. Cathern T. Vargas, NW Pro Concrete, $7,561.59, 2131101450, 11/15/13. Michael S. Kennard and Betty L. Kennard, $60,817.68, 2131101449, 11/15/13. Juan Agustin and Maria M. Vicente, $65,061.80, 2131101448, 11/15/13. Bradley W. Semke, $219,124.40, 2131101447, 11/15/13. C&K Graphics LLC, Craig L. Mayberry, single member, $8,670.65, 11/13/13.

RELEASES OF FEDERAL TAX LIENS Steven T. Hubbard, $9,160.07, 2131200582, 12/6/13. Steven T. Hubbard, $31,714.37, 2131200580, 12/6/13. Edwin J. Vandyken, VGLM, $8,549.21, 2131200057, 12/2/13. Gregor y K . Kendall, $29,049,

2131101520, 11/18/13.

WITHDRAWALS OF FEDERAL TAX LIENS Bryan Dobb, $55,373.97, 2131200056, 12/2/13. Dallas R. Carr, $6,063.18, 2131102081, 11/22/13.

STATE TAX JUDGMENTS Tax judgments of $5,000 or more issued by Washington state government agencies and filed locally in Whatcom County Superior Court. Listings include taxpayer name(s), judgment amount, the state agency filing the judgment, case number and filing date. Records are obtained from the Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk’s Office. C&H Management Services, $9,587.51, L&I, 13-2-03100-7, 12/18/13. The Big Fat Fish Company Inc., $9,279.28, Revenue, 13-2-03093-1, 12/17/13. Stauffer Stains LLC, $5,457.23, Revenue,

13-2-03094-9, 12/17/13. Main Street Bar & Grill, $5,280.19, Revenue, 13-2-03095-7, 12/17/13. Pickard & Sons Plumbing LLC, $8,420.72, Revenue, 13-2-03092-2, 12/17/13. Copper Hog LLC, $23,447.50, Revenue, 13-2-03059-1, 12/11/13. Hannegan Farm and Home LLC, $6,868.80, Revenue, 13-2-03062-1, 12/11/13. The Cat Clinic LLC, $7,986.80, Revenue, 13-2-03065-5, 12/11/13. Blaine Automotive Parts Inc., $14,549.07, Revenue, 13-2-03017-5, 12/5/13. Babe’s Place Inc., $5,835.41, Revenue, 13-2-03018-3, 12/5/13. La Cantina Birch Bay LLC, $14,412.80, Revenue, 13-2-02977-1, 12/2/13. NW Choice Construction Inc., $7,580.12, Revenue, 13-2-02944-4, 11/22/13.

View more public records online at BBJToday.com.

Barkley 360-714-5080

The right mortgage, right here.

Dimi Hartman

NMLS# 405722

Dave Schwab

NMLS# 487529

Sue Schwab

NMLS# 487530

Becky Farrar

NMLS# 487446

No recent bankruptcies involving businessrelated debt were reported.

FEDERAL TAX LIENS Tax liens of $5,000 or more issued by the Internal Revenue Service. Listings include taxpayer name(s), lien amount, document number and filing date. Records are obtained locally from the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office. Hindman Construction Inc., $21,050.33, 2131200579, 12/6/13. Craig W. Dexter and Deborah L. Dexter, $12,170.09, 2131200054, 12/2/13.

Dodi Mason

NMLS# 404247

Brett Mason

NMLS# 1040839

Charlotte Pros NMLS# 413520

Bellingham, WA 98225. Natural Way Chiropractic raised an estimated $15,000 in toys during its 19th annual Toy Drive for the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program on Dec. 7.

Email your business announcements to editor@bbjtoday.com.

Nicole Walker

NMLS# 116574

BankWithSterling.com

Gary Tice

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Nikki Benson

NMLS# 952637

BBJToday.com

January 2014

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