J A NU A RY 2017
TH UR STON C OUN TY C H AMBE R OF C OMME R C E
The Business of Art
M
A
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A
Z
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An interview with The Washington Center's Jill Barnes
Page 12
The State of the Community
Page 23
$11 Min. Wage & What it means B U I L D I N G C O M MU N I T Y P R OS P E R I T Y F OR OV E R 1 4 0 YEAR S
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Every month, the Thurston County Chamber offers several networking events, forums & workshops to the community. Here are some highlights you won't want to miss.
In this issue...
6 Caught in the Lens
Jan n. 3
MM at Derma Medical Spa
Photos from Chamber events.
JJoin us at Derma Medical Spa on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 a.m. for Morning Mixxer. Enjoy plenty of coffee, breakfast treats and great conversation. Where? 3025 Limited Ln NW #100, Olympia.
8 Advocacy Update
Jan. 5
Young Professionals at 222 Market Y The Thurston Chamber Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a great place to interact with younger business professionals in a low-pressure environment. Join us at for after hours Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at 222 Market, 222 Capitol Way N, Olympia.
Jan. 11
Forum: State of the Community On Wed., Jan. 11, at 11:30 a.m., representatives from Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, and Thurston County will collectively present a State of the Community address. Please
note, Forum is at Saint Martin's Norman Worthington Center this month.
Jan. 19
Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club JJoin Business After Hours host Nicholson & Associates Insurance at the Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club on Thurs., Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy drinks, appetizers and the chance to tour this amazing new facility located at 3505 Steamboat Island Road Northwest, Olympia.
Ja an. 25
Bush Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan Update
12 The State of the Community Leaders from the County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm report on successes, challenges and new initiatives.
19 The Business of Art We kick off our new series, The Business of Art, with a conversation with The Washington Center's Jill Barnes.
Distinguished Leader Awards
23
The 16th annual Distinguished Leaders Awards celebration
Minimum Wage
will take place on Wed. Jan. 25, 2017 at the Hotel RL Olympia. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the program at 6:30 p.m. Reserve your spot today at www.thurstonchamber.com
What you need to know about the minimum wage increase to $11 per hour.
For more event information, please visit www.thurstonchamber.com
www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 3
Community Building is a Team Effort PUBLISHER Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
EDITORIAL Editor: David Schaffert Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com
CONTRIBUTORS
I
n this issue of the VOICE Magazine
rather than working in silos, as in the
we include a report from the cities
past, the leadership teams from each
of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and
jurisdiction now meet with each other
Yelm as well as from Thurston
on a quarterly basis. Ryder believes in
County. This information precedes
the regional approach and believes that
our annual State of the Community
together we can make greater strides
Forum which takes place the second Wednesday of January.
Natasha Ashenhurst David Schaffert
Why both? Why a report and a Forum? Aren’t
Jessica Coen
you duplicating effort?
Matthew Erlich, Dept. of L&I
That answer is yes and no. We know that 250
Sales and Marketing: Marny Bright,
of you will attend Forum to hear the State of
Beth Johnson, Korey Twombly or Blake
the Community address and network with
Phone: (360) 357-3362
our elected officials. For those attending
Email: info@thurstonchamber.com
Forum, take the time to read the article (p.12)
SUBSCRIPTIONS Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: info@thurstonchamber.com
as a way to prepare to engage one-on-one with your elected representatives at Forum. For those of you who are not able to attend Forum—roughly 2550 of our readers—this
DESIGN
article provides an excellent briefing from
Mosaic Marketing Studio
our local government.
Washington Center for the Performing Arts. The painting in the background was done by her husband, Nathan Barnes. Photo by Heather Harris, Elements Photography
One theme we are hearing from each jurisdiction is recognition that a team approach produces results. Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder points out that
PRINTING
in part, 12 years ago when the Chamber the Shared Legislative Agenda (SLA) for our community. The legislative requests that resulted from the SLA have had significant impacts on capital funding for our region. It also set in motion a model of how we can work together and leverage each other. Working in a collaborative fashion is not always easy and it is important to recognize it often takes greater energy and resources to do so, but the payoff
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Jill Barnes in her office at The
We believe this team approach began, convened local governments to create
ADVERTISING
Knoblauch
than we could going alone.
of alignment and greater effectiveness is worth the extra effort. Give credit to local elected officials for the team effort that is now prevalent in the community and to the Chamber for creating a vehicle that has served the community well in achieving a common agenda. ●
Print NW
By, David Schaffert, THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER PRESIDENT/CEO & Jessica Coen, THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CHAIR
CONTACT THE CHAMBER PO Box 1427 809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: info@thurstonchamber.com Website: www.thurstonchamber.com
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY INVESTORS
COPYRIGHT
DIAMOND INVESTORS:
All material appearing in the VOICE Magazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. The VOICE Magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements.
Anchor Bank Capital Medical Center Heritage Bank Phillips Burgess Washington Port of Olympia Xerox Services
PLATINUM INVESTORS America's Credit Union - Lacey Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park
4 • January 2017 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
Morningside Olympia Federal Savings Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Print NW Providence St. Peters Saint Martin's University TwinStar Credit Union Washington Business Bank
GOLD INVESTORS First Citizens Bank Cabinets by Trivonna Columbia Bank The Creative Office GHB Insurance Great Wolf Lodge Hometown Property Management
Jessica Jensen Law PS Nicholson & Associates Nisqually Red Wind Casino Olympia Furniture Company Pardiman Productions Puget Sound Energy RHD Enterprises Hotel RL Olympia Saint Martin’s University SCJ Alliance TAGS
www.thurstonchamber.com
Caught in the Lens...
6 • January 2017 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
A collection of photos taken at Chamber events during December 2016
www.thurstonchamber.com
Dec. 2016 Events, including: YPN at Mediterranean Breeze, Morning Mixxer at Weichert Realtors, Boss of the Year Forum, a new solar panel ribbon cutting at T Brothers Liquor Lodge, a grand reopening at Hampton Inn and Business After Hours at Capital Events Center with catering by Elyse's Catering.
WE’RE BUILDING SO YOU CAN, TOO Meet Michael Kelly, one of two new members of the expanding Phillips Burgess legal team. A cum laude graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law, Michael is a distinguished veteran of the U.S. Army. He will work out of the firm’s Olympia office and focus his practice on business law and real estate transactions.
ĈăąƎ +(1) % Ǝ 0čƎ ĎƎ 1%0!ƎĄăāĎƎ (5),% ĎƎ ƎƎĊĉĆāĂƎƎēƎƎĄćāčĈąăčĄĆāā ĆāĆƎ .+ 3 5ĎƎ 1%0!ƎąāĉĎƎ +) ĎƎ ƎƎĊĉąāăƎƎēƎƎăĆĄčăĊăčććąā mkelly@phillipsburgesslaw.com
www.thurstonchamber.com
WWW.PHILLIPSBURGESSLAW.COM
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 7
ADVOCACY UPDATE
creating a positive climate for business and community One of the Thurston County Chamber’s primary missions is advocacy, which can take many forms—providing beneficial services and products to Chamber members; supporting nonprofit, education and government organizations; and, of course, lobbying government bodies on issues impacting business and community. Here is an issue we are actively engaged in this month:
The Bush Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan The Bush Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is being developed to balance growth and the preservation of endangered species within the City of Tumwater and its urban growth area. The City of Tumwater and the Port of Olympia are jointly developing the Habitat Conservation Plan through the terms of an Interlocal Agreement. The HCP will provide for long-term preservation and management of three species, protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, that occur in Tumwater: Olympia pocket gopher, streaked horned lark, and Oregon spotted frog. The City and Port will be working through 2017 to lay the groundwork for the plan. Public meetings will be held in late 2017. A draft plan is expected to be ready for public review soon afterwards, with the plan being finalized and implemented later in 2018. HCPs allow communities to continue to operate—business as usual—while mitigating the impact on these species. The Chamber is participating in the stakeholders group.
Briggs Village Text Amendment Briggs Village is the only “Urban Village” in Olympia’s comprehensive plan. Currently drive-throughs are generally not supported in the Urban Village code. The request by owner is to expand the OMC 18.05.060 and 18.05A.095 to allow drive-throughs for restaurants, pharmacies, and other pedestrian-oriented/walk-in businesses, in addition to banks. Drive-throughs would be limited to a single lane. In December, the Briggs Village proposed text amendment was approved by the planning council and is now on the Olympia City Council’s consent calendar for passage. The Chamber provided testimony to the planning commission.
8 • January 2017 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston Green celebrates business sustainability Apply today!
Thurston Green Business designation applications are open Jan. 1 - Mar. 15. Apply online at www.thurstongreenbusiness.com
S
aving water, conserving energy, reducing waste and buying or selling green are all sustainable steps that improve the health
of our community and environment. Businesses who take these steps to lower their environmental footprint find that they save money while protecting and preserving resources. In Thurston County, businesses who take one or all of these stewardship steps receive recognition for their efforts when they become a Thurston Green Business. It’s easy and FREE to join. Applications accepted Jan. 1 through Mar. 15, 2017. Apply today! It's free! Visit www.thurstongreenbusiness.com www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 9
10 • January 2017 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
www.thurstonchamber.com
CHAMBER FORUM
State of the Community Address
O
n Wednesday,
one-on-one networking setting.
January 11, Tumwater Mayor
Students from the Reeves Middle
Pete Kmet, Yelm
School Alki Program will be in
Mayor Pro Tem
attendance as part of their studies of
Tracey Wood,
local government.
Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby, Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder and Thurston
Forum includes lunch. The cost is
County Commissioner Bud Blake will
$35 for general admission, $25 for
collectively present a State of the
prepaid Chamber members, and $30
Community address at the Thurston
for members at the
Chamber's January Forum.
door.
Please note: This month's Forum is held at Saint Martin University's Norman
Reservations for
Worthington Center.
the State of the Community Forum
Every year, leaders from the
are strongly advised.
community share their perspectives on current issues and future prospects.
Visit www.
Leaders will illustrate the important
thurstonchamber.
steps and investments made this past
com or call the
year to grow our local economy and
Chamber at
promote new employment.
360.357.3362. The Forum Sponsor is
This is an opportunity to engage
Puget Sound Energy.●
business and community leaders in a
Thurston Chamber Forum Wed., Jan. 11, 11:30 a.m. Saint Martin's Norman Worthington Center www.thurstonchamber.com Thank you to our Forum sponsor, Puget Sound Energy.
www.thurstonchamber.com
Students from the Reeves Middle School Alki Program will attend, once again, the State of the Community Address as part of their studies of local government. If you are interested in sponsoring a student's lunch, please call the Chamber at 360.357.3362
“Rick is an excellent aƩorney. One with vast experience and keen knowledge of the law. I recommend him for his unprecedented skills in this arena.” — Parella Lewis, SeaƩle-area news personality and client.
Advancing his clients’ legal interests since 1987 Employment law Contracts Real estate Government Call (360) 464-6533 www.richardhugheslaw.com 324 West Bay Dr. NW, Ste. 201, Olympia
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 11
the state of the community report EVERY JANUARY, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THURSTON COUNTY, OLYMPIA, LACEY, TUMWATER AND YELM SPEAK AT THE CHAMBER FORUM'S STATE OF THE COMMUNITY ADDRESS. THIS YEAR, WE ASKED THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO WRITE ABOUT THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF 2016 AND SHARE 2017'S NEW INITIATIVES FOR THE VOICE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THEIR REMARKS AND THEN ATTEND FORUM ON WED., JAN. 11 AT THE NORMAN WORTHINGTON CONFERENCE CENTER. THERE, OFFICIALS WILL TAKE PART IN A MODERATED DISCUSSION ON TOPICS RANGING FROM EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH, TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND HOUSING. part of the Old Olympia Brewery. This is intended to streamline the process for preservation and future redevelopment of the properties north of Custer Way. The City also acquired the historic Old Brewhouse Tower at the base of Tumwater Falls. 2.
annexation in Tumwater history,
Tumwater: Mayor Kmet’s Report Tumwater is Celebrating...
Annexation – Completed the largest over 2.5 square miles northeast of the airport, bringing in over 3,200 residents and numerous businesses.
3.
Summer Youth Employment
During 2016, Tumwater made significant
Program – in partnership with
progress in several areas. Three areas
Garden Raised Bounty (GRuB)
in particular I would like to highlight
and Boys and Girls Club, provided
are:
summer jobs for 32 high school
1.
Brewery - With the assistance of
students. This program not only
funding from the Department
helped the students learn job and
of Ecology, completed an
life skills and earn a paycheck, but
Environmental Impact Statement
also gave them an opportunity to
and SEPA Planned Action for
learn more about the services the
redevelopment of the most historic
City provides and grow food for the
12 • January 2017 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
community.
Tumwater’s Challenges One of our biggest challenges has been the extraordinary increase in court related costs from some $300,000 just a few years ago, to over $850,000 projected for 2017. This is driven by many factors not within the control of the City such as new public defense standards and medical costs.
Tumwater’s Priorities for 2017 There is a lot happening in Tumwater. To give you just a glimpse, in the upcoming year, we are looking forward to the opening of a new Toyota dealership and associated connection of Tyee Drive to Israel Road, opening additional land on the west side of I-5 for development. We are also hoping to begin preservation
www.thurstonchamber.com
of the historic Old Brewhouse Tower,
percent identify themselves as an
Lacey’s Priorities for 2017
but we will need financial help from
Olympia resident. Long-term, we will
We are bracing for growth. That means
the state and the local community to
work with our regional partners for
working with the county to provide
help make this happen. We are also
financial support.
services for UGA as well as keeping
hoping to secure funding from the state
our roads in excellent condition. The
to equip a new brewing and distilling
We are also celebrating Lacey’s business-
Transportation Benefit District will be
center, as a way to jumpstart interest in
friendly climate—an accomplishment
on the ballot in November, and it will
redevelopment of the Brewery complex.
we have really focused on this past year.
raise sales tax .02 percent, with the funds
In addition, we will be conducting
Economic development is the backbone
going to maintaining the roads in the
over $2 million in street paving and
for how we provide services to the
City. Countywide, roads in our UGA are
restoration work, thanks to a voter
community. This year we worked with
a big issue. Together with the county, we
approved Transportation Benefit
the Economic Development Council
need to figure out how to accommodate
District.
to coordinate meetings with Lacey
the growth that is coming, whether
employers and there has been a lot of
that is keeping our roads in excellent
good information that has come out of
condition or putting parcels with failing
those meetings.
septics on sewer.
Lacey’s Challenges
This past year we began meeting
As we head into the new legislative
quarterly with other mayors and city
session, our region is looking at
managers and rather than work in
transportation funding, specifically for
isolation, we are beginning to think
the I-5 corridor between Mounts Road
regionally. I am excited to continue this
and south of Tumwater. We are thankful
work.
that the transportation package passed,
Andy Ryder, Mayor City of Lacey
Pete Kmet, Mayor City of Tumwater
but now we need another corridor analysis to understand how to move all of the traffic from I-5 through Thurston
Lacey: Mayor Ryder’s Report Lacey is Celebrating... We have had several success stories. One is the Lacey Veterans Assistance Hub, which we began working on in 2012. It started out as a mobile van that parked once a week at City Hall, but was immediately overwhelmed by veterans in need. Through a partnership with South Puget Sound Community College, we found a permanent space at the Lacey campus and offer wraparound services, not just mental health, but housing and education services also. Then, we took the project onestep further and brought in compatible nonprofits to provide services as well. Lacey invested in renting the space and hiring a coordinator. We are finding from initial data that people are traveling from all over Southwest Washington to the Hub, but over 80
County. We have a $5 million ask to look at the issue and it is a huge priority for our region. Other challenges Lacey faces are population growth and our septic to sewer conversion plan. We have neighborhoods in Lacey’s Urban Growth Area (UGA) that have failing septic systems, yet the cost to convert those to sewer is astronomical. We need to move 10,000 residential and business parcels from septic to sewer and only 1,500 of those are in the city limits, the other 8,500 are in the UGA. Now consider that according to the TRCP we are expecting 20,000 new residents over the next 20 years to end up in our UGA. It is crucial that we come up with a long-term plan for either annexation or to work with the county for a long-term solution. We need to ask if Lacey’s public facilities are adequate for that growth. We need to develop a long-term plan for either annexation or working with the County.
Yelm: Mayor JW Foster’s Report Yelm is Celebrating... For years, people have complained about traffic congestion in Yelm, which is a significant problem in the summer when people travel to Mount Rainier. Because of the diligence and cooperation of previous city leadership working with JBLM, legislators and the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRCP), we were able to get the state to begin the 510 Bypass Loop five years ago and expect completion by 2022.
Continued on page 15 www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 13
Join us... We are headed to New York City March 3, 2017 ● 6 p.m. Cocktails ● Dinner ● Auction● After Party Hotel RL Olympia $125 per person Sponsorships Available www.thurstonchamber.com Presented by:
On a personal level, we entered 2016
Tenino—all the way to the Nisqually
hundreds of additional units of market-
with a lot of upheaval on the city council
River so that it will go from Yelm to
rate housing and the fact that we are
with the addition of three new council
McKenna.
seeing new businesses opening weekly.
JW Foster, Mayor City of Yelm
Olympia’s Challenges
members. Since August, we have made a concerted effort to bring the council together and we have been successful. Today, we are a cohesive council
Olympia, like many communities up and down the I-5 corridor, continues
working well together.
to struggle with taking care of our most vulnerable populations. I am
Yelm’s Challenges
encouraged that we are now thinking
We are a city of 8,500, but we have a
more regionally about how to house
service population of 45,000 people
more people. That may look different for
coming to Yelm to do their shopping and
each city, but we can all agree to work
take their kids to school. This places a
strategically together. This issue is bigger
burden on our local budget. It is hard
than Olympia alone.
to provide the services we want. Yelm was hurt by the recession and we still personnel doing more work. We need to rebuild our economy. That is our challenge. We need to improve the
looking at increasing our inventory of affordable rental units. Likewise, decreasing homelessness by seeking
It was quite the year for Olympia. We
fund our services.
accomplished so much already as we prepare for the next 20 years of growth.
Yelm’s Priorities for 2017 Yelm is geographically isolated from
strategy, and we were
than a destination. I see that changing
public participation
example, is widely regarded as an
2. Public Safety - specifically funding a
and partnership with
excellent place to watch a movie. It
Call 360-616-1749
stakeholders.
features an upgraded lobby with a
We can celebrate that
21-year-old only area making it perfect
we have increased
for a date night. Yelm also has great
the level of private
parks and an incredible trail system.
sector confidence in our downtown
One of the projects I intend to work on is
as demonstrated by
extending the Yelm/Tenino Trail—which
the construction of
becomes the Chehalis Western Trail at
and chemical dependency issues.
Integrity, Excellence and Focus For your legal and tax needs
thrilled with the
dramatically. Our new cinema, for
individuals experiencing mental health
Continued on page 17
two of our downtown
Yelm as a city to pass through rather
funding for supportive housing for those
full time walking patrol, body camera
We completed phase
the rest of the county. Some view
www.thurstonchamber.com
1. Increase housing affordability by
Olympia is Celebrating...
economic base and find creative ways to
Olympia’s Priorities for 2017
Olympia: Mayor Selby’s Report
have not recovered—resulting in fewer
• • • • • •
,
Let me help with:
Tax Preparation and Filing Elder law, Estate Planning Probate, Trusts Government, Municipal Law Public Finance and 103 Law Tax
VICTORIA S. BYERLY, P.S. A T T O R N E Y A T L AW
www.vii c t o rii a sb b y e rll yp p s .c c om m Thurston County Chamber VOICE ď Ź January 2017 ď Źď€ 15
360.456.4999
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www.thurstonchamber.com
Continued from page 15 implementation, enhancing our
facility, licensed by the Washington
community court capacity and scoping a
State Department of Health, to assist
citizen's advisory committee.
individuals with mental illness who are
3. Lobbying the legislature to fund
in crisis.
the Capital Lake/Deschutes River Environmental Impact Study. This is the
Next, we are going to do the same thing
next step in developing a management
in Mason County. This is a regional
plan for the future of this critical area to
approach and it is working.
our city.
Thurston County’s Challenges Of course, all of these initiatives will
The Thurston County Board of
require new revenue streams—work the
Commissioners adopted the Land Use
council will tackle this year.
Enforcement Code, Title 26 in February,
The City of Yelm hires new city manager
2015. It has caused quite a stir. The most
Cheryl Selby, Mayor City of Olympia
common enforcement issues relate to land use violations and what the County can do to respond to neighbor concerns about such things as junk vehicles or building without a permit. There is no new criminal enforcement provision, contrary to popular belief and there is no change regarding inspection. In addition, we will continue to work on the Habitat Conservation Plan. The current projected cost of the HCP is $151
Michael Grayum
we would plan for needs and gaps on a
I
six-month basis, now we have extended
September 1, 2015 to take another job
that to 18 months.
after a stellar career in Yelm.
Mason Behavioral Health Organization
The County is very involved in Thurston
Grayum was one of three City
(TMBHO). The governing board oversees
Thrives, not only as a funder but also
and manages integrated state-funded
as a stakeholder, especially in the areas
mental health and substance use
of law and justice, housing and clinical
disorder programs serving Thurston and
care.
million over 30 years, approximately $5 million per year. The new commission
Thurston County: Commissioner Bud Blake’s Report Thurston County is Celebrating... In 2014, Thurston and Mason counties
will have to take this on immediately.
Thurston County’s Priorities for 2017 In 2017, the County is adopting a Biennium Prioritized Budget. In the past
n December, Yelm Mayor JW Foster appointed Michael Grayum as City Administrator.
Grayum is the former Mayor of Dupont and replaces
Shelly Badger, who resigned effective
joined to implement the Thurston Administrator candidates interviewed November 16 and comes to Yelm with excellent experience and an outstanding résumé.
Mason counties. It is also significant to note that for the This year, the TMBHO opened the Mental
first time in Thurston County’s history
Health Triage Center, a 7,500 square
we have three independent county
foot facility at 3285 Ferguson St. SW in
commissioners.
Tumwater. We converted an existing
Bud Blake, County Commission Chairman Thurston County
one-story building into the 10-bed Triage Center. It will operate as a secure 24-hour, 7-days-per-week treatment
www.thurstonchamber.com
Mr. Grayum served as the Mayor of the City of DuPont, Washington, from 20122016. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Washington. He assumed his post Jan. 1, 2017. ●
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 17
With no sales goals our team is motivated by just one thing.
YOU.
Honesty. It’s One of our Core Values. See the rest of our Core Values at
wabizbank.com
THE BUSINESS OF ART
The Transformative Power of the Arts, an Interview with The Washington Center's Jill Barnes Jill Barnes backstage at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Photo by Heather Harris, Elements Photography.
by Natasha Ashenhurst
This is the first article in our new series, 'The Business of Art,' where we talk about the role of the arts in creating a vibrant and prosperous community.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to put on some cozy pajamas, pop a bowl of popcorn and curl up on the couch in front of a movie streamed right into our living room?” How many of us have—perhaps silently—said exactly that when we had tickets to a live performance? We could stay in and take advantage of an overwhelming number of entertainment options from the comfort of our own home. Why not?
Barnes, executive director of The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, calls the symbiotic relationship between audience members and performers. She believes in the transformative power of the arts and knows that there is nothing— absolutely nothing—like a live performance delivered
Well, because we already paid for those tickets—and maybe we’re meeting up with friends and family for dinner before the show. So, we push those thoughts aside, put on our coat, hat and scarf and head downtown to watch The Nutcracker ballet, a Ben Folds concert, or take part in the Messiah Sing Along. And here’s the thing. Once that show is over and the curtain closes, I’ll bet—if you are anything like the rest of us— 99 percent of the time you were so glad you made the effort to get out of the house, drive downtown, find parking (not so bad)
www.thurstonchamber.com
and take part in what Jill
“straight to your eyes and ears and right into your soul.” That performance might be from one of the 20-plus local artistic partners of the Center, including Ballet Northwest, the Olympia Symphony and the Student Orchestra of Greater Olympia. Or, it might be
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 19
an internationally known musician
develop ideas for a dedicated performing
or a Broadway staged show like the
arts center to serve the region.
upcoming presentation of STOMP.
After ruling out property in the Black Lake area, the group began looking for
No matter the performer, experiencing
property downtown. After other sites
or participating in a live performance is
fell through, the committee turned its
the reason for The Center’s existence, a
efforts toward repurposing the Olympic
community jewel that is celebrating 32
Theater movie house. CAAC members
years of providing entertainment and
determined that operations at the new
cultural activities to our region.
performing arts center should follow the model used by other cities and turned
“We provide a first class experience
management over to an independent
not just for our performing artists, but
non-profit.
for all of our community members that participate in the arts. Whether it is a 10-year-old Nutcracker performer or someone playing with the Olympia Symphony, we want both the audience members and the performers to have a first-rate experience,” said Barnes.
History of The Center Before 1985, our region did not have a dedicated performing arts center.
Ballet Northwest's production of Swan Lake on stage at The Center.
The City completely rebuilt the theater and, by 1985, The Washington Center for
The building that houses The
the Performing Arts celebrated its grand
Washington Center began as the old
opening.
Liberty Theater, a 1924 vaudeville house. In 1948, new owners renovated the space and turned it into the Olympic Theater movie house, but it eventually
The City owns The Center’s building and The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is a private, not-for-
fell into disarray.
profit organization with a long-term contract to operate The Center run by a
In 1980, a number of stakeholders led the City of Olympia to create the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee (CAAC) to
board of directors. In 2014, an extensive facelift renovation
T h e P e r f e c t H o m e S ta r t s W i t h The Perfec t Kitchen 0
s ta r t y o u r s e a r c h w i t h Greene Realty Group
20 • January 2017 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
www.thurstonchamber.com
was completed. Its rejuvenation
the Northwest, even with Seattle, so there
coincided with a rebirth of downtown
has to be critical mass which makes us
with new construction and other
work very closely with each other,” she
renovations springing up nearby, such
explained.
as Thurston First Bank, Three Magnets Brewing Co., and the 321 Lofts.
Barnes’ goal is to complement, not compete, with The Center’s artistic
The Center’s board hired Jill Barnes as
partners and the result is a program that
executive director in 2013, succeeding
has something for everyone. She also
Tom Iovanne, who retired in 2011, and
believes her mandate is to educate our
Robert L. Stewart, The Center’s original
community about the arts.
manager. One of The Center's artistic partners is
Economic Impact As a non-profit, The Center operates with earned income through ticket sales and facility rental fees, as well as contributed income in the form of individual donations, grants and sponsorships. Barnes says that the contributed income is crucial because it helps them fulfill their mission of providing a first-class space for artistic partners at affordable rates. The economic impact of The Center is significant. Barnes says that over 100,000 people attend a show every year. That is 100,000 people dining out at downtown restaurants, shopping at boutiques and wandering through art galleries. The Center draws audience members from not only the region, but from as far away as Alaska. The Center conducts surveys after their shows. From that data, they estimate that 45 percent of respondents dine out beforehand. When people travel further, they are staying at hotels and spend more time—and money—in our region.
Jill Barnes. Photo by Shanna Paxton Photography.
Olympia Junior Programs. This group
The Center is booked for over 280 events
serves anywhere between 20 and 30
350 days each year; bookings that are a
thousand students each year. For many,
combination of shows from the artistic
this is their first introduction to the
partners, and shows The Center brings
performing arts.
in from around the world, community fundraisers and business meetings.
“By experiencing the arts we can learn
Barnes says it is a puzzle to balance the
about other cultures or express our
partners and outside performances.
own culture and ideas," said Barnes. "Everyone responds to it differently. If
“We work with our artistic partners
you have ever sat in an audience and
and set our schedule two years out. If
have been moved by a song you know
there is a conflict we have a resolution
what I’m talking about. Ultimately, we
committee, but those are rare. Once
are in the business of making memories.
our partners’ dates are booked, we fill
I love to ask people, ‘What is the first
in the rest of the season with outside
performance you remember seeing?’ For
performers, which is one of the most fun
most people, it is a vivid memory. One
and exciting parts of my job,” she says.
that they’ll never forget.”
Barnes does her best to bring a variety
Today, The Center serves as an anchor of
of entertainment to The Center. She goes
the region’s downtown, and it continues
to booking conferences where she meets
to provide the South Puget Sound with
with artists and agents. She gets on the
a world-class performing arts center for
phone with performing arts centers in
local and nationally known performers,
Portland, Bend, Bremerton, Edmonds,
as well as a space for community events.
and Bellingham to work with regional
And whether we visit The Center as a
partners to bring big names to the Pacific
performer or an audience member, we
Northwest.
are taking part in an experience that— ultimately—is worth the effort to get off
“We are geographically isolated here in
the couch, out the door, and into our rich and vibrant community. ●
All photos on this page were taken pre-show at The Center's opening performance An Evening with Rita Moreno, on Thursday, October 13th. Photography by Shanna Paxton Photography. www.thurstonchamber.com Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 21
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L&I UPDATE
What you need to know about the minimum wage increase to $11 per hour
T
Submitted by Matthew Erlich, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
he minimum wage in Washington increased to $11 an hour on Jan. 1, 2017. Since the recent election, the Department of Labor & Industries has received scores of calls asking for clarity on the details of the new law.
The new minimum wage, a result of the passage of Initiative 1433, applies to all jobs, including those in agriculture. Workers under 16 years old can be paid 85 percent of the adult minimum wage, or $9.35 per hour, in 2017. In addition to minimum wage, the initiative addresses paid sick
The Seattle, Tacoma and the City of Department SeaTac have higher minimum of Labor & wage rates for 2017. For employers in those areas, the Industries local minimum wage rate will has received apply as long as it is higher than the state minimum. scores of calls asking for The new law does not change minimum wage exemptions or clarity on the regulations regarding overtime details of the pay. new minimum Since 1998, L&I has been wage law, responsible for calculating the state’s minimum wage each effective Jan. 1, September. Under Initiative 1433, 2017. the minimum wage will increase leave.
to $13.50 by 2020. L&I will resume calculating the minimum wage for calendar years 2021 and beyond.
Paid sick leave starting in 2018 Along with increasing the state minimum wage, the initiative requires employers to provide paid sick leave starting Jan. 1, 2018. Under the initiative, L&I must adopt rules to enforce the new requirement, including, “...procedures for notification to employees and reporting regarding sick leave, and protecting employees from retaliation for the lawful use of sick leave...” The official rulemaking process, which will include public comment opportunities, will take place in 2017. Interested parties can sign up for updates on the process on L&I’s Employment Standards Program listserv (Lni.wa.gov/Main/ Listservs/WRWageHour.asp).
Worker rights L&I provides materials to help employers inform workers about the minimum wage and their rights as workers. Employers are required to post L&I’s “Your Rights as a Worker” poster in the workplace. The poster has general information about employment issues. An optional, minimum-wage poster is also available for employers. Both are free from L&I. L&I enforces the state’s wage-and-hour laws. The agency investigates all wage-payment complaints. More information on Washington’s minimum wage is available on L&I's wage and hour webpage. Employers and workers may also call 360-902-5316 or 1-866-219-7321.
www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE January 2017 23
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