March 2018 VOICE by Thurston County Chamber of Commerce

MARCH 2018

THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The impact of Ron Thomas

ON OLYMPIA'S

URBAN

RENAISSANCE

BU I LDI NG CO MMUNI TY PROSPERITY FOR OVER 140 YEARS

Built Design PUBLISHER Thurston County Chamber of Commerce

EDITORIAL Editor: David Schaffert Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com

CONTRIBUTORS David Schaffert Doug Mah Natasha Ashenhurst

By David Schaffert, Thurston Chamber President/CEO

n this month’s VOICE, we focus on

The importance of spending time on the

Ron Thomas of Thomas Architecture

built environment and those who are

Studios and Rhys Roth, Director of the

influencing it is evident when we think

Center for Sustainable Infrastructure at

about what we want our community to be

The Evergreen State College. Both stories—

and how it operates.

at their essence—are speaking to a concept Ron Thomas and his talented team view

known as ‘built environment.’ Built environment is a social science that refers to our fabricated surroundings that

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provide space for community gathering

Sales and Marketing:

and human activity. Built environment can

Blake Knoblauch Aaron Bernhard

range in scale from buildings and parks to

Phone: (360) 357-3362

green space in neighborhoods and cities. It

Email: info@thurstonchamber.com

often includes supporting infrastructure,

SUBSCRIPTIONS Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: info@thurstonchamber.com

such as water supply or energy networks. Our built environment is critical to many facets of our lives including health,

DESIGN

economic development, and a sense of

Mosaic Marketing Studio

community. In fact, they are at the core

COVER ART Ron Thomas, photo by Dinea Norell of Dinea de Photo

of what some would consider a quality community. The appearance of quality amenities such as boardwalks, parks, access to waterfront, places that draw

PRINTING

people together, and the infrastructure

Print NW

that often is taken for granted or not

CONTACT THE CHAMBER PO Box 1427 809 Legion Way SE

noticed—such water systems, wastewater, transportation, energy, and storm water— all define a community.

the unique opportunity to build on the historic Olympia downtown as a way to enhance and add to the built environment of downtown. The private sector who hires Thomas is striving for quality spaces that will have market value and appeal to people to live and be downtown. Rhys Roth and the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure are looking at innovative ways to solve our infrastructure needs. He said, “the goal is to examine best practices, technologies and solutions that will ensure that energy, water, and transportation are affordable for every business and at the same time better the environment, public health and local quality of life.” Thomas and Roth are paying attention to Thurston County’s built environment from both a design aesthetic and infrastructure point-of-view and as a result are improving the quality of our community. ●

Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: info@thurstonchamber.com Website: thurstonchamber.com

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY INVESTORS DIAMOND INVESTORS:

publisher accepts no responsibility

Capital Medical Center Little Creek Casino & Resort Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel Phillips Burgess, PLLC Port of Olympia Providence St. Peter Hospital TwinStar Community Credit Union South Puget Sound Community College Washington Business Bank

or liability for the accuracy of any

PLATINUM INVESTORS

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

information contained in the text or advertisements.

America's Credit Union - Lacey Greene Realty Group Heritage Bank - Olympia

Mills & Mills Funeral Home Morningside Olympia Federal Savings Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Print NW Saint Martin's University TAGS Awards and Specialties

GOLD INVESTORS Bakala State Farm Boggs Inspection Services Cabinets by Trivonna Charter College C.P.C. Landscape, LLC The Creative Office Firs Senior Living Community GHB Insurance

Grays Harbor Fair & Tourism Great Wolf Lodge Hometown Property Management Hooper Financial Services Jessica Jensen Law PS LoanStar Home Lending Nicholson & Associates Nisqually Red Wind Casino Olympia Furniture Company Pardiman Productions Puget Sound Energy RHD Enterprises SCJ Alliance South Sound Radiology Venables Pest Management Wells Fargo Community Bank

EXPERIENCE THE CAPITAL ADVANTAGE

Robotic-Guided Spine Surgery capitalmedical.com

Capital Medical Center is partly owned by some of the physicians who serve our patients.

March 2018

CONTENT & CALENDAR

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. Thurston Young Professionals Join the Thurston Young Professionals for their monthly

In This Issue...

6 Advocacy Update

Edge, located at 4611 Tumwater Valley Dr. SE, Olympia.

Your vote and your voice is needed at the next election.

A Night on the Town in Paris!

On Friday, March 2 at 6 p.m., attendees of the Chamber

Talent Magnet

networking event on Thursday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. at River's

Foundation's signature fundraising event, A Night on the Town, will be transported to Paris! The evening kicks off with live entertainment, a silent & live auction and after-

Olympia is the home of a new podcast called Talent Magnet. Meet your hosts!

party. Presented by Washington Business Bank.

Morning Mixxer at Action Business Furniture

Ron Thomas

Join us for Morning Mixxer on Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 a.m. at Action Business Furniture, located at 2316 4th Ave. E,

Sustainable Design and the Urban Renaissance

Olympia. Enjoy networking, coffee and pastries!

Forum: Best of South Sound! The Best of South Sound Awards Ceremony takes place during the Thurston Chamber's Monthly Forum, on Wednesday, March 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Saint Martin's Marcus Pavilion. Come early for the Best of South Sound EXPO showcasing the top businesses in each category! The EXPO begins at 10:30 a.m. Learn more at thurstonchamber.com.

Business After Hours at Jessica Jensen Law PS Join the Chamber on Thurs., Mar. 15 at 5:30 p.m. for Business After Hours at Jessica Jensen Law PS. Business After Hours is a free networking event. Hosts provide light appetizers and beverages, games and raffles. Location: 2604 12th Court SW, Suite B, Olympia.

The Center for Sustainable Infrastructure Meet Rhys Roth, the Center's Director and the Keynote Speaker at the April Thurston Green Business Forum.

18 Best of South Sound Over 500 attendees expected at the Best of South Sound Awards Ceremony on March 14.

Thank you, sponsors! thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March 2018 5

ADVOCACY UPDATE

Your Vote Needed By Doug Mah of Doug Mah & Associates and Thurston Chamber's Public Policy Division Director

MG! Only 1 out of 3, or about 33.8 percent

problems and setting clear expectations for solutions, as well

of registered voters in Thurston County,

as the conduct for our elected officials. The best way to remind

that had a ballot item in their district, voted

decision makers that we have expectations for them is to have a

in the February 13, 2018 Special Election.

high voter turnout in every election.

We didn’t do much better in the 2017 general election where only 34.3 percent of

Make sure you are registered to vote by checking your status

registered Thurston County voters cast a ballot. We need to do

at: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/#/login . Mark election

better. Chamber members can help lead the way to greater voter

dates in your calendar and set reminders. The next special

turnout.

election, if jurisdictions place a levy or bond on the ballot, will be

Last month’s 2018 special election included a sale and use tax increase in the City of Olympia, and school levies in the Centralia, Olympia, and Yelm school districts. The 2017 general election in comparison included the election of our countywide port commissioners, city councilmembers, school board members, and fire district commissioners and a public safety levy in the City of Olympia. Voting matters. Public policy requires participation. The easiest and most important way to participate is by simply voting. Public policy is determined by those that participate and share their experiences, ideas, and insights as decisions are made. The Chamber’s Public Policy Division finds opportunities to remind decision makers about the needs, abilities, and the capacity of the private sector to help create vibrant communities. The business community must be clear and upfront in identifying

6 • March 2018 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

in April 24, 2018. There will be a primary election on August 7, 2018 and the general election will be held on November 6, 2018. The 2018 election will include electing local state legislators, members of congress, and most of the county officials including the sheriff and a county commissioner. Our highest turnouts have been presidential election years. In 2016, 74.3 percent of registered voters sent in their ballot, and our highest local turnout was in 2008, when almost 86 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. We need to aim for this level of turnout. Please make sure you are registered to vote. Encourage voter registration. Then, please remember to vote. Encourage your friends, family, co-workers, and peers to vote. We want to proudly state: 4 out of 5 registered voters in Thurston County vote in every election. That would be powerful public policy making. ●

thurstonchamber.com

MEMBER PROFILE

What sets Cabinets by Trivonna Apart From Most of Their Competition?

abinets by Trivonna is a small, family owned

used. Therefore, the designers take the time to get to know their

Kitchen Design Studio that focuses on the

customers: the size of the family, the number of cooks in the

specific needs of their customers. There are

family -- Are they gourmet cooks or “get the meal on the table

three major factors to designing a kitchen, bath,

cooks”? Are there children in the kitchen area doing homework

or entertainment center: Appearance, Price and

or setting the table? Pets? All of these and many more questions

Function:

and ideas are discussed. As a result, in eleven years, CBT

Appearance comes to mind first for most customers. With over twenty displays and over 300 sample doors, they are often able to “touch and feel” the products they are considering. The designers at CBT are able to show the customer the look they are thinking of as well as many other looks that they haven’t even considered. The second factor is Price. CBT’s designers tell potential customers early in the conversation, “If price is most important to you, CBT is probably not a good fit.” WHY? CBT designers are happy to design within a customer’s budget, and they have cabinet lines at various price points, but the less expensive lines do not have many of the features that are needed for the kitchen

designers have never used the same design twice. The floorplan of two houses may be the same, but the people are different. One example of how designing for Function affects the price of a job is drawers. Drawers are more expensive than doors, or even doors with rollout trays. But it’s so much easier to open a draw and put in or take out a pan. In addition to the personalized design process, Cabinets by Trivonna rises above the competition in customer service before, during, and after the sale. Cabinets by Trivonna has for the last five years received the “Best of Customer Service” award on houzz.com.

to Function well for the family using it. It is Function that drives CBT’s designers to think “outside the box” and create the perfect kitchen for the family that will use it. The functionality of a kitchen depends on how it will be

Cabinets By Trivonna 4444 Lacey Blvd SE G, Lacey, WA 98503 www.cabinetsbytrivonna.com SPONSORED MEMBER PROFILE

thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March 2018 7

Caught in the Lens...

8 • February 2018 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

Photos taken at Morning Mixxer at LoanStar Home Lending, Thurston Young Professionals at El Sarape, Education Summit and Business After Hours at Olympia Federal Savings.

thurstonchamber.com

MEMBER PROFILE

TAGS Now Producing Custom Logo Wear

ocal businesses have known TAGS Awards & Specialties as a local leader for awards, name tags, personalized gifts, rubber stamps, and promotional logo items, but now customers are coming to TAGS for

custom embroidered apparel as well.

“We have been embroidering apparel in-house for four years,” said TAGS co-owner Mike Williams.

Above, Stephanie Hemphill with AWB is wearing a jacket custom embroidered by TAGS.

“Logoed apparel helps establish

helpful in situations where employees are purchasing their

a company’s

own items, meaning

image and brand.

there’s no longer

Impressions

a need for one

are what count, and with logo embroidered apparel the

employee to be

opportunities are endless.”

coordinating all the purchases. They are

Your type of business will determine the type of custom apparel

also great for sports

that best suits your business. Those in the service industry

teams and schools.

may provide employees with an embroidered baseball cap and uniform, while a restaurant may use logo embroidered golf

The Washington

shirts, aprons and chef coats.

State Auditor’s

“Logoed apparel really makes an organization look sharp,” added co-owner Brenda Williams. “For a modest investment, you can make a big impact on how others think of you.” In addition to offering in-house embroidery, TAGS also offers complimentary company stores. Company stores are especially

TAGS Awards & Specialties 3643 Pacific Ave SE Olympia, WA 98501 www.tagstrophies.com

Office has been very successful with their company store. According to HR Manager Marie Davis, “It’s really easy for our staff to purchase items, and it saves my team all the coordination time.” At TAGS, no embroidery job is too big or too small. “We don’t have a minimum order,” said Mike. “Once an organization sees the benefit of wearing branded apparel, they tend to come back for more. It’s just a great way to establish your brand.” ●

SPONSORED MEMBER PROFILE

thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March 2018 9

Above: Michele Winn and Sytease Geib are hosts of the new podcast, "Talent Magnet" a podcast developed by the Thurston County Chamber and brought to you by Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council. Photo by Dinea Norell of Dinea de Photo.

New Olympia-based Podcast, “Talent Magnet” Now Available on iTunes

hurston County is home to a new podcast!

Wilczynski, Vice President and Regional Executive of the Seattle

Introducing Talent Magnet, a podcast

Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, about

developed by the Thurston County Chamber

the role mentorship plays in recruiting and retaining veterans

and brought to you by Pacific Mountain

and military spouses. For the second episode, Talent Magnet

Workforce Development Council.

spoke with a Pepsi Northwest executive about the role company

Our goal is to help businesses attract exceptional talent by focusing on recruitment, training, and retention best practices; ultimately helping businesses become Talent Magnets! Hosts Michele Winn and Sytease Geib from the Thurston County Chamber’s Workforce Division conduct a variety of informative interviews with business leaders and workforce development experts to highlight best practices and available resources. For the first episode, Talent Magnet interviewed Darlene

10 • March 2018 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

culture plays in retention best practices. "While I was initially nervous to do the podcast, it quickly became a conversation that really touched on the challenges many veterans and spouses face when trying to develop careers. It was a great opportunity to share my story and hopefully help others,” said Darlene Wilczynski Listeners will find Talent Magnet at thurstonchamber.com as well as on iTunes and Google Play. Visit these sites for a list of past and future podcasts.

thurstonchamber.com

The right fit for your business. One size never fits all. At TwinStar, you’ll have several business accounts and services to choose from, and together we’ll find the right accounts and cash management tools to improve your bottom line. Call me to learn how. Alexis Miller Business Development Officer 360.923.4450 alexis@twinstarcu.com

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(360) 943-8060 www.rants-group.com

thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March 2018 11

Ron Thomas of Thomas Architecture Studios. Photo by Dinea Norell of Dinea de Photo.

The Impact of Ron Thomas on Olympia's Urban Renaissance By Natasha Ashenhurst

rchitect Ron Thomas believes Olympia is experiencing an urban renaissance unlike anything we’ve seen since the 1950s and ‘60s, and this renewal is the culmination of years of community work coincided by an upturn in the economy.

Thomas is too humble to admit that his

Franklin Lofts, The Village at Mill Pond,

Thomas came to Olympia in the late 50’s

creative mind and experience are behind

Briggs Village — and you’ve seen his plans

and grew up in a family of eight children,

the changing look and feel of the urban

for Views on Fifth and Westman Mill on

which meant it was up to him to earn any

core, which — in turn — is changing the

the pages of The VOICE Magazine.

spending money he desired during high school. Apart from being a good student,

lives of everyone who lives, works and plays here.

In February, Thomas and The VOICE talked

Thomas worked at a variety of odd jobs —

about how he became an architect, why

his favorite being at the Olympia firm of

You know his work even if you don’t

he moved to Boston, why he moved back,

Flotree & Sogge Architects.

know him — 321 Lofts, Campus Lofts, Red

his struggle with illness, and how it all

Leaf Townhomes, Thurston First Bank &

profoundly influenced his work.

12 • March 2018 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

After graduating from Tumwater High

thurstonchamber.com

321 An Urban Infill | Multi-Family Residential Photo courtesy of Thomas Architecture Studios

Campus Lofts Adaptive Reuse Project | Office into Multi-Family Residential Photo courtesy of Thomas Architecture Studios

School, Thomas pursued a degree in architecture at Washington

Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Hope VI plan.

State University. He worked summers for local architecture firm

“It was an incredibly progressive social project — market rate

Olsen - Rowe Architects, but he also worked construction —

housing beside low-income housing, and no one knowing who

digging trenches at the site of Capital Mall.

was paying what — and it exposed me to big projects,” said Thomas. “I quickly went from rookie status to managing a project

Olsen - Rowe Architects promised Thomas a job after graduation,

for our firm that was worth hundreds of millions of dollars and

but the recession forced him to look elsewhere. Thomas landed

thousands of units of housing.”

a construction job with Mike Anderson Construction at a new development called Panorama City near Lacey.

“After that, I’ve never thought twice about taking on big projects.”

Thomas’ break finally came when architect Lee Pardini offered

His mentor, Sy Mintz, was passionate about urban planning and

him a part-time job working in the morning, and architect Mort

housing. His designs were having a big impact throughout the

James offered him work in the afternoon.

country.

“I did this for six months until Lee finally had enough work to

“This work ingrained in me the juxtaposition of passion and

hire me full time,” said Thomas. “After a while Lee said to me,

community on a very large scale,” said Thomas.

‘You have some talent, kid. You ought to get out of here.’ He was trying to tell me I needed exposure beyond Olympia.

By 1991, the Thomas family —now with three children — had just finished renovating a beautiful Victorian home in Boston.

“It was one of the best pieces of advice I ever got.”

Thomas got a call from Pardini asking him to return to Olympia to work on the Tacoma Union Station project his firm had just

Around the same time, Thomas met Becky, a fourth-grade teacher

won.

at Evergreen Christian. “We were settled in Boston, but my wife and I decided that we’d “Anderson’s wife set us up on a blind date,” said Thomas. “We

like to raise our kids near family in the Northwest, so we moved

married three months later, on Dec. 22, 1981.”

back to Olympia,” he said.

The newly-wed Thomas family decided to follow Pardini’s advice

Pardini and prominent Tacoma architect Jim Merritt had Merritt

and hatched a plan: They would move to New England, then

and Pardini offices in Olympia and Tacoma but closed the

move every few years until they had worked their way around

Olympia office six months after Thomas had returned. Eventually,

the country. With no job and a new baby, the young couple moved

Thomas’ daily commute took its toll.

to the Boston area in 1983 and Thomas found an architecture position with Mintz Associates on a project known as Harbor

The family ended up moving to the north end of Tacoma — which

Point, which eventually became a successful model for the U.S.

became home during their children’s school-age years. They

(Continued on page 14) thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March 2018 13

(Continued from page 13)

The Thomas Architecture Studios staff. Photo courtesy of Doug Walker Photography. renovated a craftsman home and enrolled their children in Life

that have front porches that face the street — [or] neo-traditional

Christian Academy, where they all ended up graduating. Thomas’

social principles,” said Thomas. “We went through a year-long

career sped ahead, but his focus remained constant.

approval process for the site plan. This led to another project and another, and before long I am in Olympia more than on

“Housing, planning and civic projects were and remain my

Bainbridge, so my wife and I decided to move to Olympia.

passion,” said Thomas. “This work quickly became my marketing sector. Landing public contracts was second nature to me.”

“That set off a chain reaction,” said Thomas. “Soon, I am employing four people, then we found a space at 109 Capital

Eventually, Thomas and Randy Cook opened their own firm,

Way, then we are introduced to Walker John and we work on the

Thomas Cook Architects, in Tacoma’s Old City Hall. They had a

Thurston First project.”

beautiful office, but it required maxing out their credit cards and the constant support of their spouses to make it work.

Thomas and John enjoy working together — both possess a

Over time, they merged with another firm and became Thomas

passion for urban housing — so one project led to two to three to

Cook Fitzgerald Architecture, with Thomas as president while

four.

continuing to manage civic and housing projects. “When you add Walker to Sukh and Briggs Village and then mix Then, everything came to a halt.

in civic — such as planning for the Thurston County Courthouse feasibility study, our firm was growing, and we could no longer

“I developed a series of health issues over a year and a half — an

all fit in one building so split into two,” said Thomas. “When we

esophageal pre-cancer condition, gall bladder surgery, failing

were not able to renew our lease on our Capital Way building we

corneas and diabetes — my wife was worried about me, so I said,

decided to buy a building.”

‘I could just leave,’” said Thomas. “I told my partners I was selling my portion of the firm to them, that I was taking time off for my

Thomas found the old Canvas Works building, designed by

health and that if I came back, I wouldn’t compete, so that is what

prominent Olympia architect Joseph Wholeb in 1929, off

we did. We traveled to Europe. We visited our kids.”

Columbia & Legion in downtown Olympia and got access to begin redevelopment in December 2017. Over the next 45 days,

The couple ended up on Bainbridge Island when Thomas — still

they blasted away at the paint and plaster to expose the original

too young for permanent retirement and now healthy — decided

Douglas fir ceiling rafters, steel columns and beams and board-

to hang his shingle and Thomas Architecture Studios was born.

formed concrete exterior walls. The building is still under

Where was his first client located? Olympia.

renovation, but the Thomas Architecture Studios team hopes to move into their new space by the end of March. Once complete,

In 2010, he received a call from Sukh Samra, a developer trying to

Thomas Architecture Studios will occupy the front and another

launch a project called The Village at Mill Pond.

company — not yet disclosed — will lease the west half.

“Sukh let me show him how the Olympia land use code is

Today, the growing TAS staff numbers 18 and the team comes

designed around the principles of New Urbanism — principles

from all over the world.

14 • March 2018 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

(Continued on page 23)

thurstonchamber.com

This Manchester, WA downtown park is a stormwater facility in disguise. With an eye-catching nautilus spiral design, it is a gathering place that fits with the local character and showcases views of Puget Sound. It provides another important function: reducing polluted rainwater runoff draining into the Sound. The project was funded by Kitsap County and Washington Department of Ecology. Photo courtesy of Kitsap County Public Works.

Innovative & Sustainable Infrastructure

nfrastructure is a boring word until the power goes out, you’re stuck in traffic, water won’t flow from the faucet, or the toilet won’t flush. Once any of these things happen, our awareness of infrastructure systems can suddenly come into focus.

The U.S. will need to spend over $3 trillion on infrastructure in the next decade, just to keep our nation’s vital systems, like energy, transportation, water, and waste, in working order, according to experts. Will we spend that money wisely, investing in creative new approaches and sustainable innovation, which will be better for the environment and more affordable? Rhys Roth from The Evergreen State College’s Center for Sustainable Infrastructure is bringing these questions to the table and you will have the opportunity to hear him speak at the Thurston Green Business Forum on Wednesday, April 11. When Rhys Roth was writing his master’s

Evergreen State College and went on to

and often on outdated technologies,”

thesis on climate change, he said he was

co-found an organization called Climate

Roth said.

sure that if scientists just got the facts

Solutions, but a few years ago, he

out there and people began to see what

decided to do something new.

He was determined to bring a new paradigm and investment discipline to

was at stake they’d bust down Congress’s door and we would get a solution. Today,

“I was fascinated with infrastructure.

how we spend money on infrastructure

he realizes that pushing information will

Communities can’t function without it

in order to get social, economic and

not cause change.

yet, for the most part, we are oblivious to

environmental value out of these

it. Infrastructure is critically important,

systems.

Rhys received his Masters in

and we are spending billions on it—yet

Environmental Studies from The

we are investing the money on auto-pilot

16 • March 2018 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

Near the end of 2013, he approached

thurstonchamber.com

MEMBER PROFILE

Younger Homes First Tenant 2017

Left: Rhys Roth, Director of the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. Right: LOTT Clean Water Alliance’s Regional Services Center is located on the site of the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant. The building houses LOTT’s administrative offices, the WET Science Center, a water quality laboratory, and meeting spaces. The building is designed, built, and certified as LEED Platinum for environmental sustainability. Photo courtesy of LOTT Clean Water Alliance. The Evergreen State College to house his brainchild, the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure (CSI). “I agreed to raise all the money for the operation of the Center. Evergreen had just gone through budget cuts and wasn’t in a position to fund. Through the combination of private foundations and individual donors I was able to open the center at the beginning of 2014,” he said.

was a bi-partisan trip, which included six Democrats and six Republicans from Washington State. The goal of the trip was to identify opportunities to collaborate to advance sustainable infrastructure, which is excellent for the local economy, the environment and community. The group returned energized and inspired to find real bi-partisan solutions to our infrastructure needs. Ultimately, the goal of the center is to examine twenty-first century best practices, technologies and solution strategies that can help us ensure that energy, water, and transportation are affordable for every business and at the same time is better for the environment, public health and local quality of life, rather than outdated strategies.

Homes First has served over 4,000 people and currently has more than 225 tenants in 39 properties, real brick and mortar homes. “As our housing is on scattered sites, many times neighbors will not know that Homes First is the owner,” states Marge Price, the Homes First Development Director.

The successful business model that Homes First follows includes utilizing public dollars, local mortgages and private grants and donations. “Our partnerships in this community are what make our business work for the benefit of those who need help the most. We certainly believe in a hand-up, not a hand-out so that people have a chance to succeed and hope for a better future,” shares Marge. YOU are welcome to join us in carrying out our mission through volunteering and donations.

“There is a real opportunity for Thurston County to position itself as a center for innovation in the business of sustainable systems and sustainable infrastructure,” said Roth. “Public infrastructure is a way for us to pool our resources and invest in enduring systems that enable us to power our businesses, get around the community and handle the waste we generate. Sustainable infrastructure is about investing smartly in those systems so that we

thurstonchamber.com

ince 1990, Homes First has been creating and maintaining affordable rental homes for those who need them most in the south Puget Sound region. We provide a wide variety of types of housing including single and multi-family homes for those struggling to find and retain housing.

Statistics about our struggling neighbors are hard to read, with 6,500 local children in school on free or reduced lunches, and more than 1,400 enrolled children are homeless. A lot of families are just hanging on the edge, trying to maintain a roof over their heads.

Now, four years later, Rhys just returned from a trip to Scandinavia. It

can make it easy for everyone in the community to do the right thing.” ●

Homes First

Homes First openingdoors@homesFirst.org 360.236.0920 X250 HomesFirst.org SPONSORED MEMBER PROFILE

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March 2018 17

Sixth Annual 'Best of South Sound' Awards Celebration Set for March

he Thurston County

members at the door. Finalists are able

Chamber and The

to register for $25 online through March

Olympian are pleased to

2. Reservations are strongly advised.

co-host the sixth-annual awards ceremony for

Immediately preceding the Best of South

Best of South Sound

Sound Awards Ceremony, the Thurston

category winners. The awards ceremony

County Chamber will host a brand-new

will take place at the Chamber’s Forum

event—Best of South Sound EXPO—

March 14. We expect over 500 people

The EXPO begins at 10:30 a.m. and is a

at Best of South Sound, so advance

tradeshow-style format featuring the top

registration is encouraged.

three nominees from each category. This

For the past decade the Olympian has recognized Thurston County businesses with the coveted Best of South Sound award. Readers vote online for their favorite business in over 80 categories, including favorites such as Best Bank, Best Real Estate Agent, Best Dentist and of course, Best Barista. The Thurston County Chamber Forum meets on the second Wednesday of the month, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Forum includes lunch and the cost is $35 for general admission, $25 for prepaid Chamber members, and $30 for

is an incredible exposure opportunity to get to know these businesses. What: Best of South Sound Awards Ceremony and EXPO When: Mar. 14, 2018. The EXPO is from 10:30 a.m. until noon and the Awards Ceremony begins at 12:00 p.m. Where: Saint Martin’s Norman Worthington Center & Marcus Pavilion 5300 Pacific Avenue, Lacey, WA. For more information call (360) 357-3362 or visit thurstonchamber.com Thank you to our sponsor, TwinStar Credit Union. ●

18 • March 2018 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

thurstonchamber.com

I found savings and chill time. Theresa M— 40 mile commute

Find Your Vanpool Theresa started vanpooling when she took a job 40 miles from home. Savings on gas and car maintenance drove her decision. She also loves being able to relax and “just chill” when not driving.

The First Month is Free Save money, stress and the environment. We’ll help you ﬁnd your vanpool. Call toll-free 1-866-330-7033.

intercitytransit.com/vanpool Watch Theresa’s story

MEMBER PROFILE

What Employers Need to Know About Paid Sick Leave As of Jan. 1, 2018, employers in Washington must provide nearly all of their employees with paid sick leave. Paid sick leave is an employee right, and does not require the payment of premiums by either the employer or the employee.

Dr. Dominic Femiano, Dr. Tracy Hamblin and Dr. Bradley Christ

The Sports Medicine Team at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates

he Sports Medicine Team at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates strives to deliver comprehensive innovative

care to the physically active population.

Under the law, employees must accrue paid sick leave at a minimum rate of one hour for every 40 hours worked. This includes part-time and seasonal workers. Employees are entitled to use paid sick leave beginning on the 90th calendar day after the start of employment. Employees using paid sick leave must be compensated at their normal hourly compensation by their employer for each hour of paid sick leave used.

Utilizing a team-based approach to patientcentered treatment, our fellowship trained

Employees may use paid sick leave:

physicians and multidisciplinary staff

• To care for their health needs or

provides injury prevention, treatment

the health needs of their family

and rehabilitation, regenerative medicine,

members.

surgical interventions and patient education

• When the employee’s workplace

to maximize performance and injury

or their child’s school or place of

outcomes, and improve quality of life.

care has been closed by order of

For more information about Drs. Bradley Christ, Dominic Femiano, Tracy Hamblin and Trent McKay, or to make an appointment, find us at olyortho.com or call (360)709-6203.●

Olympia Orthopaedics Sports Medicine Team at OOA 3901 Capital Mall Drive SW, Suite A Olympia, WA 98502 www.olyortho.com

a public official for any healthrelated reason. • For absences that qualify for leave under the state’s Domestic Violence Leave Act. Questions? Visit www.Lni.wa.gov/SickLeave or contact the L&I by calling 1-866-219-7321 ●