magazine
PUBLISHER
Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
EDITORIAL
David Schaffert
360-357-3362 dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com
CONTRIBUTORS
David Schaffert
Doug Mah
Natasha Ashenhurst
Kathryn Millhorn
ADVERTISING
Sales & Marketing: Krystal Barkus-Franco
Elizabeth Bretschneider
Ashley Chandler Shelbi Boyd
SUBSCRIPTIONS
360-357-3362
info@thurstonchamber.com
DESIGN
Ben Hawkes
Mosaic Marketing Studio
COVER
Diksha Berebitsky and Stacey Callaghan. Cover photo by Shanna Paxton Photography.
PRINTING Print NW
CONTACT THE CHAMBER
809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507
360-357-3362
info@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com
Celebrating Innovation, Community and Perseverance
This month, we spotlight a diverse range of stories showcasing local businesses, events, and inspiring individuals shaping the Thurston County community.
November Forum & Nonprofit Expo
The Thurston County Chamber’s November Forum will explore the critical topic of "Wealth Transfer" with keynote speaker Kristi Mitchem, providing insights into retaining wealth locally to support community development. Alongside, the Nonprofit Expo offers a unique platform for nonprofits to connect with local businesses and community members, raising awareness and fostering partnerships for social good.
Washington State Governor’s Inaugural Ball
In January 2025, the Thurston County Chamber will host the prestigious Washington State Governor’s Inaugural Ball at the Capitol Campus. This event will celebrate the Governor, elected officials, and our state's future. As the Chamber marks its 150th anniversary, this historic event continues a legacy of civic engagement and community celebration.
Perkins Family Farms: True Grit South Sound Oyster Farmers
The Perkins family has deep roots in farming, but a leap from land to sea turned
them into successful oyster farmers. Ryan Perkins, a Navy veteran, and his family now cultivate oysters in South Sound's magical waters, overcoming challenges like the pandemic and extreme weather.
The Doula Team: Empowering Families and Doulas Alike
Stacey Callaghan and Diksha Berebitsky launched The Doula Team to offer critical support during childbirth and beyond. With over 40 years of combined experience, they provide mentorship and hands-on training to doulas, ensuring they avoid burnout while delivering top-tier care to families.
Kelley Create: Celebrating 50 Years of Business Solutions
Kelley Create has been a staple in the business technology sector for five decades, offering everything from IT services to cybersecurity solutions.
From oyster farming to birth support, business innovation to community engagement, this issue of VOICE Magazine showcases the resilience, creativity, and spirit that make Thurston County strong.
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER
BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY SINCE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THURSTON COUNTY I Shellica Trevino, CEO
W hen Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County (BGCTC) opened their doors in 2001, OlyFed was one of the organization’s early investors. From board leadership and volunteer support to financial assistance and program tools and resources, OlyFed has and continues to show up for the thousands of local kids served by the Clubs.
“When community partners support us, we want to support them, which is why we’ve chosen to work with OlyFed,” Shellica Trevino, BGCTC CEO said. “We love that they live out their values and put our needs first.” For Shellica, what sets OlyFed apart is the fact that they put real relationships above the bottom line.
November 2024
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER VOICE MAGAZINE
Visit ThurstonChamber.com and click on the Events Calendar for the latest information regarding Chamber events.
After Hours
Join our host, Sky Bear Media at 113 Thurston Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98501 on Thursday, November 7 at 5:30 p.m. for the Thurston Young Professionals (TYP) Monthly Networking Event. Enjoy bites and beverages as you expand your network! All are welcome – feel free to invite other 20 to 30-year olds so they can expand their networks! Thurston Young Professionals is sponsored by KGY Media Group.
Join our Business After Hours host Thurston County Title at 105 8th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501 on Thursday, November 21 at 5:30 p.m., for mingling and networking with other business professionals, a door prize business card drawing, beverages and appetizers. Business After Hours is a great opportunity to expand your network, and it is proudly sponsored by ROXY 94.5
Join the Thurston County Chamber for its November Forum on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at the Norman Worthington Center at Saint Martin’s University at 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503. The event will focus on strategies for retaining community wealth and giving back in ways that strengthen the region. The keynote speaker, Kristi Mitchem, Founding Partner at &Partners and former CEO of BMO Global Asset Management, will lead the discussion on the critical topic of Wealth Transfer. Sponsored by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. Find out more and register for the event at www.thurstonchamber.com/events.
Thank You Sponsors!
Kelley Create: 50 Years of Business Solutions p. 7
Looking to help your team adapt and grow with new technologies? Kelley Create is invested in your success, and with their 50 years of experience, their team is sure to have a solution.
Perkins Family Farms: True Grit Olympia Oyster Farmers p. 11
For the Perkins family, farming is in the blood. Generations relied on the land, slowing moving west over the years. Eventually, they hit water and Perkins Family Farms adapted to a new crop: oysters.
Empowering Families and Doulas Alike p. 14
With over four decades of combined experience, Diksha Berebitsky and Stacey Callaghan are revolutionizing birth support through training, mentorship, and a thriving doula community.
Caught in the Lens p. 22
Keep up with the latest Thurston Chamber happenings and see all of the great smiles that make up our membership!
The True Power Of Quality Service
Demonstrating our commitment to quality, we consistently earn the highest QA cleaning scores among hotels nationwide.
Recognized and awarded globally by multiple companies, such as "Contractor of the Year 2023" and “Best Commercial and Industrial Cleaning Firm in North America," we demonstrate our unwavering dedication to excellence.
A commitment to maintaining a clean, wellorganized environment, facilitating smooth business operations.
In the words of our CEO, Danielle Vest, “We are as successful as our clients allow us to be. Because our clients have such great communication with us, we can ensure not only great service but exceptional outcomes."
Celebrating 50 Years of Business Solutions with Kelley Create
by Kathryn Millhorn • Photos by Shanna Paxton
Your business is so much more than just buying and selling or providing a unique service. It blends staffing, suppliers, marketing, community partnerships, employee benefits, location management, civic engagement and customer interactions.
Whether you’re building the perfect entrepreneurial start-up, purchasing an established storefront or franchise, transitioning from online to bricks-and-mortar, or expanding your company’s footprint, let Kelley Create be part of the journey. With 50 years’ experience, they’ve seen it all and can help your team adapt and grow alongside cutting-edge new technologies.
Kelley Create Helps Businesses Grow, Thrive and Succeed
Lee Bowman is a Strategic Account Manager for Lacey’s Kelley Create. He explains that their company is special because they view all clients and customers as partners on the journey to success. “Our partnership is built on a relationship where we’re invested in your success,” says Bowman. “It’s not a transactional exchange because at Kelley Create, we want to build and nurture a long-term partnership with you.” They focus on partner care, outstanding service, and being a one-stop shop.
Bowman himself has spent more than 40 years in the office technology industry and admits to having seen it all. He says that businesses have, and will continue, to focus on automating tasks which allow themselves more time and resources to focus on customers. Including artificial intelligence can be a key tool in your arsenal and the Kelley team is happy to walk their partners through the process.
Pacific Northwest Born and Raised, Kelley Create has 34 ‘Little Headquarters’ Including Lacey
Since 1974, the founders of Kelley Create have seen their company expand into 34 locations across five states. The Lacey branch—today found at 8300 28th Ct NE— originally opened in 1979. Each office is dubbed a ‘Little Headquarters,’ says Bowman, because staff stays plugged into civic organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and managers understand that local employees know their community best.
Photography
Lee Bowman, Strategic Account Manager for Lacey's Kelley Create.
"We’re a mission-driven company and our mission is to 'create strategic advantages designed to help our partners grow their businesses'."
For the 50th anniversary, many locations have, or will hold, partner and employee appreciation events. But they’re not pausing for long.
“We’re continuing to grow,” says Bowman, “to stay ahead of the curve in my industry. We’re a missiondriven company and our mission is to ‘create strategic advantages designed to help our partners grow their businesses’.”
They do this by offering knowledgeable subject matter experts in IT services, cybersecurity, AI, mail solutions, Cloud Fax, and more. “You name it, we have the expertise,” says Bowman, “And this ensures we can provide and customize an office technology solution to help partners succeed.”
For 2025, Bowman and the Lacey team hope to continue educating partners about new technologies on the forefront and providing implementation solutions that meet their needs.
A Passion for Creative Solutions and Strong Local Businesses
Bowman has been with his team for 43 years after starting as a part-time driver. When not working, he loves family time and fishing, but even Monday mornings are a delight when you love your career so much. “I’ve done this for more than four decades,” he admits, “which tells you how much I love it; both what I do and the people I work with. I’ll work as long as they let me and even Monday
mornings inspire me to see how much fun we can have on the way.”
With a company culture that honors dedication and tenure, Kelley welcomes local hiring and career building. To learn more about all they offer, see how the team can work for you, or ask questions about job opportunities, call 360.491.1854 or email Lee Bowman directly at lee.bowman@kelleycreate.com.
Running a business requires endless juggling and a passionate willingness to go the extra mile. At Kelley Create, they not only do both, but help you accomplish your goals today, tomorrow, and into the next 50 years.
venablespestmanagement.com info@venablespest.com
Venables Pest Management is a locally owned and operated company using pet-friendly, professional pest management solutions for ants, termites, mice, beetles, spiders, bed bugs, yellow jackets and rats. We also offer commercial and residential maintenance services and real estate inspections. Give us a call today.
PERKINS FAMILY FARMS: True Grit Olympia Oyster Farmers
by Kathryn Millhorn • Photos by Shanna Paxton Photography
Our state is the leading producer of farmed shellfish in the country, says Washington’s Department of Health. The longtime Olympia saying that ‘it’s the water’ applies to more than just beer; our oysters are some of the finest in the world.
For the Perkins family, farming is in the blood. Generations relied on the land, slowly moving west over the years. Eventually they moved so far west, they hit water and Perkins Family Farms adapted to a new crop: oysters.
Growing the Finest Perkins Family Farms Oysters in the South Sound's Famously Magical Waters
Ryan Perkins explains that his parents stepped away from the farming tradition and spent 30 years in the insurance business in downtown Olympia. Ryan, who attended Olympia schools before graduating from Oly High, served more than a decade in the Navy. He started looking for a new career as he transitioned away from military service.
From 2017 to 2020, Perkins flew back and forth from his Naval station in California to the family’s new adventure as oyster farmers in Olympia.
They worked with friends already in the shellfish business to establish tideland seed beds for their growing—quite literally if somewhat soggily—cash crop.
When Perkins finally left the Navy in 2020, he returned home to an industry decimated by the pandemic. With so many restaurants closed, he resorted to selling from his vehicle, holiday home deliveries, and the start of their own restaurant program. “But,” he says, “from there I learned sales and really dove into farming, distribution, and be so incredibly persistent that I never took no for an answer.” Today this family business includes dad's business development, mom’s bookkeeping skills, and his brother’s delivery driving amongst others.
Adapting to a Changing, Post-Pandemic Climate, One Oyster at a Time
Once the economy started to re-open after COVID-19, Perkins Family Farms had to tackle the weather. During 2021 alone, they were faced with statewide repermitting and the loss of more than 400,000 oysters during that summer’s intense heat dome.
Things, however, eventually settled down. The farm uses a tumbling method developed by Chelsea Farms where the young Cliff Point oysters grow in bags suspended out of the sand. They tumble over each other with the tide which encourages a meatier, gritfree oyster. Once determined to be the right size, they are moved to shallow water so their shells harden for easy shucking. “It’s definitely not a set-it-and-forget-it crop,” says Perkins, “it’s very hands-on.”
Today, approximately 40% of their crop heads north to restaurants in the Seattle area with 60% heading south to California. Over the years the team has created several ways to showcase their shellfish. These include pop-up dining events with one of Ryan’s longtime friends (they met way back in kindergarten) thanks to a pop-up pilot program from the Department of Health and one-offs inspired by Enterprise for Equity, the Olympia Downtown Alliance, and the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC).
“We grew up here and know what Olympia was, and we want that again for our families.”
-Ryan Perkins
Encouragingly, says Perkins, “we’ve been surprised and delighted by the level of support from other oyster farmers and the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA). They’ve really helped us get our foot in the door. The shellfish growing community feels like it’s getting smaller so they’ve been a huge benefit.”
A Head for Business Plus a Creative Mindset Equal Shellfish Success
Today, Perkins Family Farms believes in what Ryan calls “cross-marketing for farm and food” in the shape of catering large events, weddings, and festivals as well as maintaining their crop for export.
The chef-y side of the company loves cooking up delicious seafood under their signature tent at such fan-favorites as LoveOly festivals, the South Sound Block Party, Harbor Days, and more. “Cooking under a tent instead of a one-person food truck means customers can see us work and build relationships,” says Perkins.
They’re also revitalizing downtown Olympia’s The Reef diner, one tasty plate at a time. “We grew up here and know what Olympia was,” says Perkins, “and we want that again for our families.”
You can sample Perkins Family Farms Cliff Point oysters at Olympia Seafood, Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar at 222 Market, and Octapas Café. If you’d like to place an order for your home or restaurant, call 360.810.1232 today.
Adaptation and grit are crucial to success and thanks to the majestic oyster, Perkins Family Farms are going strong into 2025 and beyond.
The Doula Team: Empowering Families and Doulas Alike in Thurston County
by Natasha Ashenhurst • Photos by Shanna Paxton Photography
With over four decades of combined experience, Diksha Berebitsky, CD Body Ready Pro (left) and Stacey Callaghan, LM, CPM, CD, (right) are revolutionizing birth support through training, mentorship, and a thriving doula community.
Childbirth is one of life’s most profound moments, but it can also be overwhelming and lonely. In Thurston County, two women are changing that. Stacey Callaghan, LM, CPM, CD, and Diksha Berebitsky, CD, Body Ready Pro, launched The Doula Team LLC in January 2024 with a mission to provide families with the support they need through pregnancy, birth, and the early months of parenthood. At the same time, they’re creating a community where doulas can thrive, ensuring these professionals have the guidance and resources they need to avoid burnout and succeed in their careers.
With over 40 years of combined experience as doulas—28 years for Stacey and 16 for Diksha—they’ve seen firsthand the importance of having a solid support system during childbirth. But their vision goes beyond offering comfort during labor. They’ve built a business that serves not only families but also the doulas who help them.
“We saw a need for more education and better support in our community,” Stacey said. “That’s why we created The Doula Team— to provide both families and doulas with the care they deserve.”
WHAT IS A DOULA?
A trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. A doula is a non-medical companion who can support you physically and emotionally throughout childbirth. During labor they can reassure and encourage you and help you with changing position, breathing, massage and relaxation.
“There aren’t many places in Olympia where families can gather and support each other. We want to create that space.”
—Stacey Callaghan
Comprehensive Support for Families
The Doula Team offers a range of services that guide families through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum life. Whether it’s helping with breastfeeding, offering emotional support, or providing practical advice during those exhausting first weeks, their goal is to make sure families never feel alone.
“Families can call us, and we’ll match them with doulas who fit their needs,” Diksha explained. “We give them a choice of two or three teams to interview so they can choose the right one for them. And from there, we support them through every step of the process.”
This support extends far beyond birth. The Doula Team also offers a monthly parent support group, a large Cesarean and VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) group, and quarterly events focused on family health and mental well-being. The idea is to create a space where families can connect with others, ask questions, and feel like part of a community.
“By teaming doulas together, we make sure they get breaks and families still get fresh, energized care. It’s a win-win.”
—Diksha Berebitsky
“Once the baby arrives, it can feel like you’re on your own,” said Stacey. “That’s why we’re there. Whether it’s postpartum care or just helping someone through a difficult night, we want to be that lifeline.”
A Lifeline for Doulas, Too
While supporting families is at the heart of their work, Diksha and Stacey also recognized an equally important need: supporting the doulas who provide this care. The profession can be emotionally and physically demanding, often leading to burnout. To combat this, The Doula Team offers a unique partnership approach, pairing doulas together so they can share the workload.
“Doulas can’t continue to be on call 24/7 or work 30hour births without relief,” Diksha said. “By teaming them up, we make sure they get breaks and that families still get fresh, energized care. It’s a win-win.” In addition, The Doula Team offers mentorship, helping new doulas
navigate the business side of their work—something many struggle with. Each doula who works under the umbrella of The Doula Team is a 1099 contractor and, therefore a small business owner. “We want to make sure doulas have the tools they need to run their businesses,” Stacey said. “From taxes to contracts to client management, we help them every step of the way.”
This support is critical, especially with Washington State’s new certification program for doulas. Beginning in January 2025, certified doulas will be able to bill Medicaid, making their
services accessible to more families. The Doula Team’s training program, one of only four in-person programs in the state, is preparing doulas for this shift.
“For the first time, doulas will be able to earn a stable income while helping families who otherwise couldn’t afford their services,” Stacey explained. “It’s a huge step forward for maternal care.”
A Hands-On Approach to Training
Diksha and Stacey believe that inperson training is crucial for preparing doulas. Their comprehensive program
goes beyond the basics of labor and delivery, offering hands-on practice in comfort measures, birth positions, and emotional support techniques. The Doula Team's 4-day, 32-hour training is certified by the State of Washington and includes additional courses in Lactation, Childbirth Education, and Cultural Awareness. These extra classes fulfill all the remaining requirements for certification with the Washington State Department of Health, allowing participants to become WA State Certified Doulas. Taught by certified doulas, all of the training is delivered in person.
“For
the first time, doulas will be able to earn a stable income while helping families who otherwise couldn’t afford their services.”
—Stacey Callaghan
“Being a doula is physical work,” Diksha said. “You need to know how to hold a person, how to help them move during labor, how to support them when they’re in pain. That’s something you can’t learn from an online course.”
The Doula Team’s training also focuses on bio-mechanics— specifically, how to help balance the body during pregnancy to create more space for the baby to descend. “There’s so much misinformation out there,” Diksha said. “We want to teach doulas how to really help their clients, not just get through the motions.”
In addition to practical skills, their program includes classes on cultural awareness, lactation, and childbirth education, ensuring that new doulas are prepared for the diverse needs of the families they will serve.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Berebitsky and Callaghan have big plans for The Doula Team. They hope to eventually open a community Parent and Education Center in Olympia, where families can come together, learn, and receive care. This center would offer classrooms for childbirth and parenting education, a parent gathering space with a children's area, and office space for practitioners like chiropractors, midwives, lactation consultants, and nutritionists.
“There aren’t many places in Olympia where families can gather and support each other,” Stacey said. “We want to create that space—a place where families can hang out, have tea, let their kids play, and just be a part of the community.”
Their vision reflects a growing recognition of the importance of community-based support in maternal and child health. “We’re seeing a shift,” Diksha said. “The State of Washington is investing in doula work because it’s clear that having this kind of support leads to better outcomes for families.”
For now, Diksha and Stacey are focused on continuing to provide the best care they can, both to the families they serve and the doulas they mentor. With The Doula Team, they’ve built something special—something that is changing the way Thurston County thinks about birth, postpartum care, and the role of doulas in the community.
Got Marketing?
The Olympia City Council will be exploring an increase to the minimum wage within the city.
The Finance Committee, comprised of three Olympia council members, met on September 16th, 2024. At this meeting, they expressed support for a proposal that would increase the city’s minimum wage by the end of the calendar year. This set off alarms across the business community, especially among locally owned retail, restaurants, and nonprofit organizations.
The Thurston Chamber, in partnership with the Olympia Downtown Alliance and Thurston Economic Development Council, mobilized and convened businesses on October 1st to gather reactions, concerns, and perspectives from the business community. About 80 people attended and expressed
Is a Minimum Wage Increase In Our Future?
by Doug Mah, Thurston County Chamber Public Policy Director
significant concerns about an increase in the minimum wage by one city and extreme frustration with the lack of outreach and failure by the City Council to consult with area businesses on the impacts increasing the minimum will have.
The following week, the Finance Committee held an emergency meeting on October 7th with the intent to create greater public engagement on the issue and amend their proposal that would increase the city’s minimum wage by the end of the calendar year. These changes did little to calm concerns held by the business community or reduce proponents’ call to increase the minimum wage during public communication at ensuing city council meetings.
Currently, there is no change in the minimum wage within the City of Olympia. There is no proposal under
consideration by the City Council that specifically outlines how much or when any increase may occur. There is no proposal for how the city would implement and enforce a minimum wage increase. However, the City Council will be looking at plans to engage the community on this topic, most likely starting in 2025. Council members appear committed to holding discussions with residents, employees and business about the minimum wage before any decisions are made.
The Thurston Chamber will continue to keep members up to date and gather business input as the Olympia City Council considers increasing the minimum wage. Overall, the Thurston Chamber has significant concerns regarding any change to the minimum wage, workplace conditions, or employer requirements implemented by any single jurisdiction within the region.
November Forum: Navigating the Great Wealth Transfer
As the largest wealth transfer in history approaches, how can Thurston County ensure this wealth stays local to support a thriving community? That’s the key question at the heart of the Thurston County Chamber’s November Forum. With support from the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, the event will focus on strategies for retaining community wealth and giving back in ways that strengthen the region.
Kristi Mitchem
The keynote speaker, Kristi Mitchem, Founding Partner at &Partners and former CEO of BMO Global Asset Management, will lead the discussion on the critical topic of "Wealth Transfer." With trillions of dollars expected to pass from one generation to the next in the coming decades, the forum will address how individuals, businesses, and nonprofits can work together to ensure that wealth remains in Thurston County and is used for the community’s long-term benefit.
Key takeaways from the forum will include:
• Maximizing wealth creation during your lifetime.
• Practical strategies for keeping wealth local and using it for charitable purposes.
• The importance of wealth transfer for businesses and nonprofits, and why it’s crucial for them to pay attention now.
• Actionable steps for giving back efficiently and ensuring your community thrives.
In addition to the forum, the event will feature a Nonprofit Expo where local nonprofits and social impact organizations can showcase their work. This expo offers a unique opportunity to connect with community members, potential donors, and like-minded organizations. There is no charge for nonprofits to participate in the expo, though tickets for lunch and the program can be purchased for $30.
Why Participate in the Expo?
• Showcase Your Work: Highlight your mission and programs to a broad audience.
• Networking Opportunities: Build connections with other nonprofits and businesses interested in social good.
• Increase Awareness: Engage with attendees who are passionate about supporting community-focused initiatives.
Join us for an informative and impactful event as we explore how to "Live Well, Give Well" and ensure that Thurston County’s wealth supports future generations.
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: The Norman Worthington Center at Saint Martin’s University, 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Registration: Reserve your spot at thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber Honored to Host Washington State Governor’s Inaugural Ball
The Thurston County Chamber is honored to announce it will host the Washington State Governor’s Inaugural Ball on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm at the Washington State Capitol buildings. This event celebrates the office of Washington’s Governor, statewide elected officials, and the state's legislative and judicial branches, marking a pivotal moment of transition and reflection for our state’s future.
When the original organizers stepped back, discussions between the Governor's Office, the Lieutenant Governor's Office, and the Thurston Chamber began. Ultimately, the Chamber accepted the challenge. "Typically, events of this magnitude require a solid year of planning instead of a few months," said David Schaffert, President/CEO of the Thurston County Chamber. "However, we're excited to take on the role of organizing this celebration. With community support, we’ll preserve beloved traditions while introducing new elements that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our state and region.”
Taking place across the Capitol Campus, with the Legislative Building as the focal point, the ball will feature a variety of festivities. The Chamber is especially proud to host this event during its 150th anniversary. “As we reflected on our history, we discovered a meaningful connection: since Washington’s statehood, the Thurston County Chamber has been supportive of the Governor’s Inaugural Ball and legislative engagement,” Schaffert noted.
After the cancellation of the 2021 ball due to the pandemic, and the uncertainty surrounding the 2025 event, the Chamber is proud to ensure the legacy of this historic tradition continues.
This event is open to elected officials, community leaders, and the public. Tickets will be available soon, with more details about the program and special guests to follow.
courtesy of the Washington State Archives. Governor's Inaugural Ball at Tyee Motor Inn in Tumwater, January 10, 1973. Images include Dan and Nancy Evans, the ballroom, guests, dancing, socializing, the Washington Military Academy honor guard, and the band.
Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm–11:00 pm
Where: Washington State Capitol Buildings
Who: Hosted by the Thurston County Chamber; open to elected officials, community leaders, and the public.
For more information and updates, please visit www.wastategovball.org
Photo
Caught in the Lens
Keep up with the Thurston Chamber happenings – ribbon cuttings and the networking events. Find more at the Chamber's Facebook page – fb.com/thurstoncountychamber.
