MAY/JUNE 2015
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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BUSINESS & Labor Find Strong Public Support for Port of Olympia See page 14 PRESERVATION & INNOVATION: Olympia Country & Golf Club is Ready to Welcome a New Generation See page 25 B UI LDI NG COMMUNITY PROSPERITY FOR 140 YEARS
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CONTENTS
CALENDAR
Page 4 ...........................Outgoing Chair's Letter: Ron Bruchet Page 5 ...............Incoming Chair's Letter: Mariella Cummings
May 5 Morning Mixxer - 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - Allwest Moving and Storage, 2640 Willamette Drive NE Lacey.
May 7
Page 6 & 7 ..................................................Caught in the Lens
Young Professionals Network - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The Fish Tale Brew Pub, 515 Jefferson St., Olympia.
Page 9 ...........................................Chamber Advocacy Update
May 13
Page 11.....Thurston County Chamber's 110th Annual Meeting
Thurston County Chamber Annual Meeting 11:30 a.m. Red Lion Hotel Olympia.
May 21
Page 13........................................Marny Bright on Networking
Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m. Capital Events Center, 6005 Tyee Dr SW, Tumwater.
Page 14 ...Chamber Finds Strong Support for Port of Olympia
June 2
Page 21 .............................................Welcome New Members!
Morning Mixxer - 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - Combined Fund Drive, 416 Sid Snyder Ave, Olympia.
June 4
Page 23.......................................June Forum: LTC Graduation
Young Professionals Network - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. River's Edge, 4611 Tumwater Valley Drive, Tumwater.
Page 25..............................The Olympia Country & Golf Club
June 10
Copyright © 2007 Thurston County Chamber ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published bimonthly by the Thurston County Chamber.
Forum - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Red Lion Hotel Olympia Topic: Leadership Thurston County Graduation
809 Legion Way SE P.O. Box 1427 Olympia, WA 98507
June 16
www.thurstonchamber.com info@thurstonchamber.com 360.357.3362
June 18
Health Care Champions - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Olympia Country & Golf Club. Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m. - Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St SE.
Join the conversation online at facebook.com/ThurstonCountyChamber.
These events require pre-registration at www.thurstonchamber.com
BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY FOR 140 YEARS Diamond Investors:
Platinum Investors
Anchor Bank Heritage Bank Phillips Burgess Physicians of Southwest Washington
Port of Olympia Versoria
Executive Officers Mariella Cummings, Chair Physicians of Southwest WA Jessica Coen, Chair Elect Xerox Company Drew Phillips, Vice Chair FORMA Construction Neil Woody, Treasurer McSwain & Company P.S. Ron Bruchet, Past Chair GHB Insurance
Capital Medical Center FORMA Construction KeyBank Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park Morningside TwinStar Credit Union Washington Business Bank Xerox
CHAMBER BOARD & STAFF Board of Trustees
George Barner, Port of Olympia
Michael Cade, Thurston EDC David Cullen, David D. Cullen Dick Cvitanich, Olympia School District
Ben Shah, Olympia Orthopaedics Kevin Stormans, Stormans Inc. Ann Sweeney, Red Lion Hotel
Faith Trimble, The Athena Group Cheryl Fambles, PAC Mountain Workforce Elyse Villanueva, Heritage Bank Joanna West, Washington Business Bank Development Council Perry Hanchey, Diamond Technology Innovations Mike Williams, Tags Awards And Specialties Sandi Wilson, Thurston First Bank Joseph Lanham, Wells Fargo Bryan McConaughy, Puget Sound Energy
Gold Investors
America's Credit Union • Cabinets by Trivonna Columbia Bank • The Creative Office Express Employment Professionals First Citizens Bank • GHB Insurance Great Wolf Lodge • Jessica Jensen Law PS McSwain & Company PS Nisqually Red Wind Casino Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Pardiman Productions Providence St. Peter Hospital • Puget Sound Energy Red Lion Hotel Olympia • Saint Martin’s University SCJ Alliance • TAGS • The Governor Hotel
Chamber Staff David Schaffert, President/CEO Sytease Geib, VP Workforce Development Marny Bright, VP Member Services Alisha Blain, Events Coordinator Laurie Bjerke, Admin. Assistant Debbie Burk, Business2Business Kathleen Cooper, Business2Business Beth Johnson, Member Services Judy Reynolds, LeadershipThurston County Rachael Lebon, Business2Business Pam Singleton, Finance Officer
Editor: David Schaffert Layout & Design: Natasha Ashenhurst of Mosaic Marketing Studio Printing: Print NW Martha Wagner, Member Services Cover Photo: Tim Knittle, left, Longshore Foreman with ILWU Local #47, Kelly Atkinson, center, Senior Vice-President, Talon Marine Services Michele Winn, Camo2Commerce and the vessel's agent, and David Schaffert, President/CEO of the Thurston County Chamber. They are watching the loading of the Jamaica Bay. 2 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
www.thurstonchamber.com
www.thurstonchamber.com
Staying Relevant by Embracing Change by Ron Bruchet
Ron Bruchet, right, at the Thurston Green Business Forum, with David Schaffert, middle, and Rich Hoey, City of Olympia, left.
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can’t help but start this letter with the phrase, “time flies when you’re having fun!” I know it is a saying that is grossly overused, but my year as the chair of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce was fun and it’s hard to believe that it has already come to an end.
One of the conference themes that resonated with me most was the idea that chambers can no longer stay complacent. Dave Kilby, president and CEO of WACE, referred to it as having “productive paranoia.” In other words, in order to stay relevant, we leaders must continue to evaluate all of the Chamber’s programs and events to determine what’s worked well and what needs to change. We must be visionaries, and we cannot be afraid of letting go of things that have gone beyond their shelf life.
If truth be told, I gained a lot more out of the experience than I was able to contribute. The position was a great opportunity to learn and become more engaged in I believe David and the entire Chamber many of the important issues facing staff should be applauded for the work our community. Although my core they do and for being forward thinking values have remained the same, many and continuing to find innovative ways of my opinions and positions have changed as I became more educated to support our membership. about each of the key issues. -Ron Bruchet But this letter is not about me and my year as the chair. Instead, it’s about a great organization steeped in a rich history of advocating for a thriving business community, and the exciting future ahead. The Chamber has always focused on creating jobs, finding solutions for small businesses, supporting our youth and education — as well as our transitioning military personnel — and ultimately making Thurston County a better place to live and raise our families. With that in mind, several of us from the board were able to attend a day long conference hosted by the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives and Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE) to learn about building an even more effective and dynamic leadership team.
I’m sure most of us in the business community could also use a little dose of productive paranoia, but for chambers I think this can be a little more challenging. With limited staff and so many events scheduled each month, I can understand how complacency for some chambers could simply be a result of having to exist in survival mode. With that said, comparing our Chamber to others who shared their experiences during the conference, I believe David and the entire Chamber staff should be applauded for the work they do and for being forward thinking and continuing to find innovative ways to support our membership. We really do have a great organization with dedicated staff and a visionary CEO who is always striving to get better. In closing, I want to welcome Mariella Cummings as the new chair of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce. We’re lucky to have someone with such experience and insight, and I look forward to remaining on the board for one more year as past chair, growing even more under her leadership and guidance. ● Ron Bruchet is the outgoing Chair of the Thurston County Chamber Board of Trustees, and President of GHB Insurance.
4 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
www.thurstonchamber.com
Essential Ingredients
by Mariella Cummings
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Mariella Cummings, emcee at A Night on the Town, introducing Congressman Denny Heck.
hat an honor and privilege it is for me greet you in the beginning of my term as chair of your Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.
In 1987, I relocated to Olympia to become the CEO of Capital Medical Center. I’ve had the pleasure of working with many of you in subsequent private sector business roles and community volunteer activities.
bimonthly publication of The VOICE, are some of the many ways we strive to keep you informed and to learn from you about how to better meet your needs. Let us know how we can improve these communication efforts. The leadership workshop reinforced the pride we board members and our president share about what the Chamber has accomplished in its 140 year history, and renewed enthusiasm about how we can continue to grow and improve.
Like you, I understand that the Chamber’s primary mission to We understand your Chamber’s role is not to sponsor events, but build community prosperity is only possible with a vibrant, rather to provide solutions for business successful and engaged private Successful chambers are also success. Our solutions involve hundreds sector. Growing and sustaining courageous in identifying and a healthy private sector is the facilitating discussion of complex of engagement opportunities, from foundation for Chamber policies and sometimes controversial issues. economic development to the arts. and programs. Our Chamber -Mariella Cummings Through the Chamber Foundation we seeks and embraces collaboration are investing in the county’s future and opportunities with governmental partners, educational private sector enterprise by prioritizing student success and institutions and many volunteer organizations. Together with career planning, and preparing adults for increased community the other members of the Board of Trustees, our outstanding engagement and leadership. professional staff and volunteers, I pledge continued dedication to this mission. Successful chambers are those with the courage to change, who What are the essential ingredients of a successful Chamber of Commerce? Earlier this month, I attended a leadership workshop — sponsored by the Western Association of Chamber Executives — with three other board members and Chamber President David Schaffert. Per these national experts, the essential ingredients include board leadership, professional staff and strong programs in support of member business success. A critical fourth ingredient is effective member communication about the value the chamber is providing. Our website and social media pages, member service representative support, networking and social events, and our
reassess programs and policies that might have outlived their value to member businesses. Successful chambers are also courageous in identifying and facilitating discussion of complex and sometimes controversial issues. In the coming months we'll ask the members to join the conservation on several issues impacting our community. The Board also welcomes your feedback about how to improve member services now and for the future. Please consider how you might want to become more involved with the Chamber in this ‘solutions’ business in support of ‘Community Prosperity’. ●
Mariella Cummings is the 2015-2016 Thurston County Chamber Board Chair, CEO of Physicians of Southwest Washington, LLC, and President of Results Incorporated. www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 5
Caught in the Lens...
6 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
www.thurstonchamber.com
Photos taken during March and April 2015 at the following events: March Forum - Best of South Sound, Morning Mixxer at Senior Services for South Sound, Business After Hours at Best Western Plus, April Forum - Thurston Green Business, Morning Mixxer at Mantis Graphix, Business After Hours at Cross Insurance Agency, and A Night on the Town.
www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 7
Photo above: Night Image of the Capital in Washington D.C. as seen from the Washington Monument. Thurston County Chamber staff attended the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) Conference in Washington DC in April.
Advocating for Community
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n any given day the Thurston County Chamber is working with local government representing business interests, is on a panel discussing the future of education and the workforce, and is meeting with community leaders advocating for a stronger economy. Here are a few of the issues we are actively engaged in. To learn more about these issues, or to find out how you can become involved, email info@thursonchamber.com
Development Council and local governments — requested a $373 million transportation project for the South Sound. Congestion pressures on I-5 – particularly between Tumwater and Lakewood – regularly disrupt the ability for freight to move efficiently. Puget Sound communities will attract hundreds of thousands more jobs and residents over the next 30 years, worsening an already bad situation on this vitally important corridor. As of press time, lawmakers were trying to draw closer on what the final transportation budget will look like which includes local projects.
The Business & Economic Development Committee
National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) Conference in Washington D.C.
Here’s what you need to know: The Business and Economic Development Committee focuses on a variety of land-use, zoning, and public policy issues that impact economic development. Recently they have focused their attention on the City of Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan implementation, expansion of Olympia Architectural Design Requirements, Olympia downtown strategies, and Lacey's Woodland District zoning, specifically design review expansion.
Transportation Here’s what you need to know: The Shared Legislative Partnership — that includes the Thurston Chamber, the Thurston Economic
www.thurstonchamber.com
Here’s what you need to know: Thurston County Chamber staff were invited to attend the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) Conference in Washington DC in April. A major theme of the conference was how workforce boards are engaging and taking care of the needs of business. Under the recently adopted Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) local workforce boards are required to view business needs as primary when developing delivery service models. The Chamber has been engaged in workforce development for over a decade, representing business needs in the public workforce system. Thank you, Pacific
Mountain Workforce Development Council, for extending the invitation to this event. A significant takeaway was that business in our region should feel good about the approach and the types of endeavors workforce partners are doing to support our human resource needs.
Business 2 Youth Connect Here’s what you need to know: Business 2 Youth Connect is a workplace integrated learning pilot program. This program will assist youth in the Olympia School District to find future success through job coaching, business-in-class engagement, internships and job opportunities. Here’s what you need to do: Become a program sponsor. Set up and maintain a company profile to describe your business, highlighting your unique attributes, and communicating your areas of need to future employees. Become a career coach. By spending less than an hour per week, you can share your experience and advice with students by contributing to online discussions threads. Offer work-integrated learning activities. You can post and coordinate activities like job shadowing, company tours, internships and entry-level employment opportunities your business offers directly with students and educators. ●
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 9
MA R K YOUR C A L E N DAR! May 5 - 7:30 a.m. am
2640 Willamette Drive NE, Lacey
June 2 - 7:30 a a.m. m 416 Sid Snyder Ave, Olympia
Morning Mixxer
Morning Mixxer
Swing by and enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a variety of breakfast treats while you enjoy a tour of Allwest’s facilities. Family owned and operated, Allwest has been a staple in South Puget Sound for over 50 years. Specializing in local and long distance moving, senior communities, storage solutions, and commercial office relocation, we are truly a full-service moving company. ●
The CFD and Secretary of State Kim Wyman would love to host you for breakfast on Tuesday, June 2 at 7:30 AM for the Morning Mixxer. Enjoy a breakfast, meet some different nonprofit organizations that are involved in the program, and hear a little bit about what the CFD does for the community. ●
515 Jefferson Street SE, Olympia
4611 Tumwater Valley Road, Tumwater
Young Professionals Network
Young Professionals Network
The Fish Tale Brew Pub will be our host this month! Admission is FREE, Chamber Membership not required. Get ready to make awesome new connections, and be sure to bring a friend! The Thurston Chamber YPN is a great place to interact with new, younger business professionals in a low-pressure environment. Bring plenty of business cards and a smile, and you're set to enjoy a fantastic evening of networking! ●
River's Edge will be our host this month! Admission is FREE, Chamber Membership not required. Get ready to make awesome new connections, and be sure to bring a friend! The Thurston Chamber YPN is a great place to interact with new, younger business professionals in a low-pressure environment. Bring plenty of business cards and a smile, and you're set to enjoy a fantastic evening of networking! ●
May 7 - 5:30 p.m.
June 4 - 5:30 p.m.
May 21 - 5:30 p.m.
June 18 - 5:30 p.m.
6005 Tyee Dr. SW, Tumwater
2745 Martin Way E Ste A, Olympia
Business After Hours
Business After Hours
Join the Capital Event Center in an evening of education. Learn how the Capital Region Educational Service District and Capital Event Center offer a wide variety of event and meeting services. Enjoy delicious hours d’oeuvres by Elyse’s Catering and Events while touring the beautiful and innovative space. Music by local high school students will amaze you as you enjoy an evening of education. ●
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the stage and new Green Room, view artwork from local artists, and be among the first to see the 2015-16 season unveiled! We present our own season of national and international touring artists from a broad spectrum of genres and styles. Our real purpose, however, is to provide the support services needed by the many local performance groups who call The Center home. ●
Morning Mixxer sponsored by Mixx 96 FM and Anchor Bank and is the first Tuesday of each month, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Locations vary. Includes coffee and pastries. Admission is FREE. Business After Hours is sponsored by 94.5 ROXY and Heritage Bank and is the third Thursday of each month. Locations vary. Admission is free.
More information about upcoming events can be found at www.thurstonchamber.com. 10 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
www.thurstonchamber.com
Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Air Group, Brad Tilden, to Speak at Thurston County Chamber's 110th Annual Meeting
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oin the Thurston County Chamber for its 110th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 13 at the Red Lion Hotel Olympia. Brad Tilden, named one of the Top 50 People in Business by Fortune magazine in 2014, will deliver the keynote address.
chief financial officer and corporate controller. Before joining Alaska, he spent eight years with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University and an executive master’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington.
Tilden is chairman and chief executive officer of Alaska Air Group and its two subsidiaries, Alaska Tilden has also been recognized by The Puget Sound Airlines and Horizon Air. His address will include an Business Journal as its CFO of the Year, and by the Boy overview of Alaska Airlines, how Alaska employees Scouts of America as a Distinguished Eagle Scout. work together to remain strong, independent and Brad Tilden, CEO of Board of Trustee Chair Ron Bruchet will introduce the successful. He'll also discuss the role of business in Alaska Air Group Chamber’s Chair Elect, Mariella Cummings, and with joining community and government partners to meet Chamber President/CEO David Schaffert will review last year’s the challenges faced by our region, e.g. education, transportation successes, and share their outlook for 2015-2016. and other key priorities. Under Tilden’s leadership, Alaska has reported record financial results and one of the highest profit margins in the airline industry. The company has been profitable for 11 consecutive years.
Cost is $35 for members, $245 for a table of seven. Cost for nonmembers is $45 per person or $315 per table. It includes a plated lunch. Register online at www.thurstonchamber.com and click on Annual Meeting. Reservations are required for this event.
Tilden is a 24-year veteran of Alaska Air Group. He previously served as executive vice president of finance and planning,
Thank you to our presenting sponsors, The Port of Olympia and Heritage Bank. ●
www.thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 11
GET THE PEP BACK IN YOUR STEP! Pain in your hips or knees can keep you from living a full and active life. The surgeons of the Joint & Spine Center at Capital Medical Center are ready to help get you back on your feet! We are the only South Sound hospital to earn a Gold Seal of Approval® for hip and knee replacement surgery from The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading organization for health care accreditation. This means that you can expect topnotch, high quality care with a focus on helping you return to the activities you enjoy most.
Learn more online at capitalmedical.com or call 360-956-1296. 3900 Capital Mall Dr. SW • Olympia, WA 98502 • 360-754-5858 • 888-677-9757 • capitalmedical.com
Capital Medical Center is partly owned by some of the physicians who serve our patients. 12 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
©2015 BCI www.thurstonchamber.com
"Be Outrageous, Marny Bright." By Marny Bright was a shy child. It was safe and allowed me to be an observer and invisible. So, I am sympathetic when people tell me they hate networking because it fills them with a gutwrenching sense of dread every time they walk into a room full of strangers.
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My path from introvert to extrovert began when a close friend inspired me with four little words. She said, “Be outrageous, Marny Bright." So, fully armed with my new mantra, I began to network…..and networking helped build my career.
Networking: What is it? • Walking into a room full of strangers and making a positive, lasting impression in less than 60 seconds with as many people as possible without embarrassing yourself. • Walking into a room and collecting as many business cards as you can while passing out yours as quickly as possible so that when your boss asks why you need 1000 more cards you can say, “I’ve been networking."
• Oh those delicious hors d’oeuvres! Can you hold a plate in one hand, a glass in the other, and then eat and speak with grace? Probably not. • Develop your 30-second elevator speech. This is part of our networking culture. We want to convey who we are, what we do and why the person we are speaking to needs us. Here is what Inc.com has to say: When someone asks, "what do you do," start with a short statement designed to peak their curiosity. This statement should be confusing and not lead the listener to any preconceived notion. It should not include any details about how you do what you do. So a car dealer may say, "I get you were you need to go." A realtor may start with "I make sure you have a warm place by the fire." An investment counselor might begin with "I help you sleep well at night." Notice that none of these mention how they do what they do, but they will all lead the listener to ask "what do you mean," which is the beginning of your conversation. Focus on delivery here--because you really don't want this statement to sound too contrived.
Marny Bright • Walking into a room and carefully scanning it for the • Don’t forget to breathe. Then, ask a question and give one person you want to connect with because you have done time for a response. Listening is the most important gift you can your homework and they are your next client. give to another human being. It is also the best way to find out how to connect to another person. Networking is a very important part of our business environment. Most people who’ve never had to do it think Networking is one of the most valuable tools it is something to be afraid of, but those who’ve seen it work in your marketing toolbox find it is a fun and stimulating way to introduce yourself to your community and make valuable personal and professional If you have more time than money, as many new business relationships. owners do, it is a great way to develop professional relationships
It does no harm if you are young, vibrant and have pretty white teeth, or if your charisma illuminates the room the moment you walk in. But, what if you’re not young, beautiful and charismatic? How can you make networking work for you? Here is what the experts say: • Be prepared. Look presentable. Know your crowd and the event. Should you dress casual or formal? Do you want to fit in or stick out? Develop your look and own it. • Do unto others – what would be the best way for someone to engage you? If a stranger walks up to you and extends their hand to introduce themselves what is your reaction? If you are talking to two or three people and a body appears in the shadows do you feel invaded? Please remember that you are there to meet and engage new people so some of the regular rules of personal space and assertive behavior may need a little tweaking. www.thurstonchamber.com
that will serve you for a lifetime. It is an excellent way to engage in your community. If you believe in the power of networking, but are not seeing results, find a networking mentor. They’ll teach you how to make new connections and get results. Today, when I walk into an event where I don’t know a single soul, I look for that person standing in the corner who is terrified no one will talk to them—or that someone will—and I introduce myself. Who knows, they may become a new client, or my new best friend ● Marny Bright is Vice President of Member Services at the Thurston County Chamber, responsible for growing the membership base and engaging the members in Chamber activities. Marny sees her primary job responsibility as connecting people. Contact Marny at 360.357.3362 or at mbright@thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 13
Chamber & Labor Find Strong Public Support for Port of Olympia
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he Port of Olympia is one of the most important drivers of the local economy. But it’s not always clear whether Thurston County residents really understand the many ways it benefits the local community. How does the public view the Port of Olympia? That was a question the Thurston County Chamber and leaders from the International Longshore Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 47, sought to answer when they hired Elway Research, Inc. to conduct a public opinion poll in March of this year.
Landing, or takes their children to the Hands on Children’s Museum, those are all activities that depend on the Port of Olympia.”
“We wanted a better understanding of how the public views the Port of Olympia. What we discovered from our initial research is great news—that among people who know some things about the Port, it is viewed very positively,” says David Schaffert, President and CEO of the Thurston Chamber. While the research confirms that the public recognizes the Port as an economic development leader in the community, it also indicated that many people believe that the Port doesn’t really impact them personally. “We will be working to change the perception that some people have that they don’t benefit from the Port if they don’t work in the maritime industry,” Schaffert adds. “When someone buys green beans at the Farmers Market, or walks along Percival 14 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
The Farmers Market attracts residents and visitors to the Port's Market District.
www.thurstonchamber.com
The Chamber and the ILWU Local 47 hope that sharing information gleaned from this initial research will launch a community-wide conversation about the Port’s role as an important contributor to the economic, environmental and cultural health of Thurston County.
Companies operating within the Port of Olympia’s FTZ, which extends to Lewis, Mason and Kitsap counties, bring in $575 million dollars, a quarter which is directly attributable to FTZs. “It’s one more tool local businesses can use to compete nationally and internationally. If the Port went away, there would be no Foreign Trade Zones and those businesses would leave. It’s that simple,” Cade adds.
The Port of Olympia helps make Thurston County a cleaner place to live. In an area as committed to environmental quality as Thurston County, the Port’s contributions to cleaner water and land are important to local citizens. Seventy-one percent of people surveyed said that the Port’s clean-up efforts have a positive Port story continued on page 16
Key Findings from Elway Research, Inc.
A 9-hole golf course is among the businesses that lease Port real estate in Tumwater.
• The Port's economic impact should "carry the most weight" when making decisions about its future: Given a choice of 4 considerations, nearly half (46%) said economic impact should be considered over the Port’s “impact on the environment” (27%), return on taxpayer investment (18%) or “contributions to local culture and diversity” (4%).
The Port of Olympia is one of the most important economic engines in our community.
• 8 in 10 said the Port as a positive impact on the county: 26% said the Port has a “significant positive” impact, on Thurston County, while 55% said the impact was “mostly positive.” Only 8% said the Port’s impact was negative and 10% had no opinion.
Nine in ten people surveyed named at least one benefit of having the Port of Olympia in our community, with the most frequently named values being jobs, trade, business benefits and revenue generation.
•There was strong support for log exports. 79% of respondents agreed that log exports support important jobs in the region.
Michael Cade, executive director of the Thurston Economic Development Council, believes that there are a few misconceptions about the Port’s role as an economic driver in Thurston County. “Ports are the backbone of a strong economy. Economic drivers bring new dollars into a community, and exported goods are a driver. The Port is one of the few local economic engines that brings in new dollars into to our community, which is extremely important for job creation,” Cade explains. Cade also cites the Port’s Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) as an important regional competitiveness issue. While not well known or understood by the general public, FTZs administered by the Port are designated areas within a country where imported goods can be stored or processed without being subject to import duty. Cade explains, “FTZs bring the world to your door, leveling the playing field and allowing us to compete in an international market. Without FTZs, we could be priced out of that market.”
www.thurstonchamber.com
• 82% said the Port strengthens the county’s global ties; 79% agreed that the jobs it supports are a significant contribution to the county economy; 71% disagreed that Olympia no longer needs a marine cargo terminal; respondents were evenly divided over whether the port has an impact on them personally: 49% said it does and 48% said it does not. • 83% said the Port has a positive impact on culture and diversity of the county; 71% said the Port’s clean-up efforts have a positive impact on the environment; 70% said Port properties have a potentially positive impact on Downtown revitalization. • 9 in 10 respondents could cite a benefit of having the Port here. Only 5 in 10 could think of a single drawback. Report Summary: The dominant finding of this survey is that there is broad support for the Port and its many activities. The suggestion that knowledge of port operations and functions may not be as deep as might be desired is an opportunity and challenge. The opportunity lies in the fact that the more people know about the range of Port activates, the more they value it.
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 15
Port, continued from page 15
impact on the environment. Bill McGregor, a Port Commissioner says, “Not only does the Port improve the quality of life in the region as an economic powerhouse, but we are also working hard to clean up legacy pollution in the soil and waterways, as well as restoring local salmon runs. Just look at Mission Creek. We’ve cleaned up legacy pollution and are re-establishing the salmon runs there. We’re looking at a massive clean-up in Budd Inlet as well.”
Ed Galligan, the Port of Olympia’s executive director, comments on the Budd Inlet project, saying, “The Port is the lead agency to clean-up Budd Inlet, which has a two-fold benefit: it removes legacy pollution created in the 1930s, 40s and 50s and provides a foundation for ongoing maritime operations. No other agency has the incentive or capability to do that.” Galligan also notes that the Port has hauled away contaminated soils and revitalized the waterfront, including
cleaning up the land on which the HandsOn Children’s Museum and LOTT are now located. Planning is also underway to collaborate with the Black Hills Audubon Society to put up bird houses along the East Bay trail in order to attract exotic birds, Galligan adds.
The Port of Olympia adds greatly to the cultural richness and diversity of Thurston County. The opinion survey confirmed that local residents understand that the Port has a positive impact on the culture and diversity of the county.
Bring Clarity, Alignment and Action to What You Do. Let’s Get Started Today.
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING Local restaurants compete in the annual BoatSwap & Chowder Challenge at Swantown Marina.
PROCESS DESIGN EXECUTIVE AND LEADERSHIP COACHING BOARD DEVELOPMENT CAREER DISASTER RECOVERY TEAM BUILDING/CONFLICT RESOLUTION BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT TRAINING, MENTORING AND COMMUNICATION
360-789-3711 VERSORIAONLINE.COM
Terry Taylor, MA, MCC
16 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
Schaffert lists some of the reasons why: “The Port owns and operates the Farmers Market; community festivals like the Wooden Boat Festival take place on Port-owned property; and the Port plaza is a community gathering spot providing access to the waterfront. Finally, the active, working waterfront is an important part of the heritage of Olympia and Thurston County.” Robert Rose, secretary-treasurer of the International Longshore Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 47 knows that legacy first-hand. He feels fortunate that he can do the same kind of work that his grandfather and father did, and is even more so that his son is able to carry on
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this family tradition. Rose says, “This is one of the last vestiges of family-wage, blue collar work. We’re proud of what we do. We have a very strong bond with our employers because we’re in it together. It’s no secret that if we aren’t doing a good job for our customers and employers, then we aren’t going to have jobs. So it’s a team effort. We take a lot of pride in being safe, productive and carefully handling cargo.� There are currently 35 registered members of ILWU Local 47, as well as 15 additional on-call workers. They hope to add another ten people to that workforce over the coming months. “It is crucial that the Longshoremen and businesses have a strong working partnership. We’ve gone from 32,000 hours to 73,000 hours over the last couple years, and that is creating jobs in our community,� says McGregor.
Cade says, “Union jobs mean family wage jobs. Jobs like that are considered income multipliers. While the average multiplier is around two, these types of union jobs have a multiplier around 3.5. That is a nice multiplier.� Galligan has a long history working with ports all over the country, and he boasts that the Local 47 is one of the best group of longshoremen on the West Coast. “I don’t say that lightly,� he explains. “Not only is our union efficient, but they are safe. Their good work makes our Port competitive.�
Two-thirds of those surveyed said this represents a “very good� or “pretty good� value for taxpayers. Throughout its history, the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce has often taken on the role of convener, bringing people together to launch conversations on important community issues.
The Port of Olympia provides substantial benefits to all citizens of Thurston County.
Today, one such issue is the value of the Port of Olympia. Schaffert says, “Economically, environmentally and culturally, the Port of Olympia improves the quality of life in Thurston County. Our research confirmed that the public believes this too, but that the extent of that impact may not yet be fully recognized.
Thurston County taxpayers pay 18.4 cents per $1000 of assessed value in property taxes to help support the Port of Olympia. Most of that money goes to environmental clean-up efforts, with Port operations sustaining themselves by generating operating revenues.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to work with organized labor on this issue and to reach out to both decision-makers and the general public to ensure that the Port remains a healthy, contributing part of our community for decades to come.� �
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lease join us on June 16 as we honor and celebrate leaders who have made a significant impact within the health care industry. Working with the Thurston-Mason County Medical Society, the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce brings you the ninth-annual Health Care Champions event.
We will recognize the heroic acts, steadfast dedication, extraordinary service and professionalism that are seen every day in our community’s medical offices, clinics, hospitals, emergency services and related organizations. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Olympia Country & Golf Club, and will include honoree recognition, videos, hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar.
Presenting Sponsor:
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Foofaraw 2015!
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Saturday, August 1
Friday, September 11
Thursday, October 22
Port Plaza 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Last call, 8:00 p.m. For sponsorship information, contact the Chamber at 360.357.3362.
Island Home 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sponsorship to attend: $65 per civilian For sponsorship information, contact the Chamber at 360.357.3362.
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20 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
1.800.258.3115
www.thurstonchamber.com
Ribbon Cutting to celebrate Mantis Graphix's new facilities.
The Chamber Welcomes New Members from February and March Anonymously Yours Foundation
Omey Nandyal 360 561-3793
Computers - Software & Services
Dell Military
Jessica Lugo 253 219-1592
Computers - Sales & Service Arbonne International -
Apogee Healthcare Professionals, LLC
Claudia Fredericks Eveland 360 943-1045 www.apogeehcp.com
Home Health Services Building & Security Solutions
Stephanie Prosser 360 870-8881
www.buildingsecuritysolutions.com
Security Equipment & Service Campbell & Campbell Events
Mary Adams 360 259-1495 Event Facilities
Chehalis Sheet Metal
Sharon Tisler 360 352-1996
Heating & Air Conditioning Companies Copper Plumbing, Inc.
Kristy Davis 360 918-3375
Plumbing & Septic Contractors
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Donna Hammers 360 350-9151
Skin Care Harper’s Auto Sales
Sonny Harper 360 753-0200 www.harpersauto.com
Auto Dealers & Buying Services
Limeberry - Tumwater
Rick Villamil 360 688-7011
www.limeberryfozenyogurt.com Restaurants Matrix Infotech
Narasimha Varakantham 360 819-9719
Computers - System Designers & Consultants O’Neill And Sons, The Barn
Daniel C. O’Neill 360 352-1388
Nurseries & Garden Centers Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
Jeetu Chaudhry 360 491-7985 www.hiexpress.com/laceywa
Hotels & Accommodations Isogenix - Alejandro Romero
Alejandro Romero 360 561-4986
Health, Fitness & Nutrition Consultants
Legal Nurse Consulting
Jaime Erickson 360 878-1098 www.jlynandassociates.com
Medical Consultants
360 455-4105 www.9056931@allstate.com Insurance
Sidewalk
Phil Owen 360 515-5587 www.walkthurston.org Non-Profit Organizations
Tea Rations
Alysia Shelton 803 608-7363 www.tearations.com
Retail
On Q Financial
Chris Johns 360 870-4253 www.thejohnsteam.com Mortgages & Contracts
Perfectly Posh with Andi
Andrea Solberg 253 359-0832
www.perfectlyposh.com/AndiSolbert
Skin Care Sandstone Distillery
J Lyn & Associates, LLC
Shellie D. Haisch Insurance, Inc.
John Bourdon 360 239-7272 www.sandstonedistillery.com
Distilleries
Tenino School District
Joseph Belmonte Jennifer Bourke 360 264-3400 www.teninoschools.com
Schools - Public Toledo Tel
Fred Rider 360 864-2008 www.toledo.com
Telephone Service Wright Runstad & Company
Tim Putman 360 528-4020 www.wrightrunstad.com Real Estate Developers
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 21
22 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
Www.thurstonchamber.com
Leadership Thurston County Celebrates Class of '15 By Judy Reynolds, Program Coordinator
L
eadership Thurston County (LTC) and the Thurston County Chamber Foundation are pleased to recognize members of the Class of 2015. Sponsored by ANCHOR BANK for the 6th consecutive year, the graduation program will be held June 10 during the monthly Thurston County Chamber Forum. During the 10-month program, participants met with community leaders, learned about issues surrounding South Sound communities, expanded networks, and explored opportunities to get involved. Topics ranged from economic development and government budgets to environmental issues and health care. Field trips included visits to local businesses, schools and universities, public agencies, and non-profit organizations. MANY THANKS to Graduation Sponsor Anchor Bank, employers who sponsored participants, local leaders who contributed to the monthly sessions, LTC Sustaining Trustees, the Board of Regents, and the Thurston County Chamber for all their outstanding support during the past LTC year! LTC Graduation Forum – June 10, 2015, 11:30 a.m. Red Lion Hotel Olympia 2300 Evergreen Park Drive SW, Olympia Reservations for Chamber Forum are requested: www.thurstonchamber.com Graduation Sponsor:
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Leadership Thurston County Class of 2015 Kwabena Adu-Sarkodie, Brown & Caldwell Renee Bennett, TwinStar Credit Union Jessica Brandt, Intercity Transit Jessica Coen, Xerox Commercial Solutions, LLC Jackie Ferrado, Washington Student Achievement Council-Guaranteed Education Tuition Program (GET) Kelly Green, South Puget Sound Community College Phil Harlan, Keller Williams Realty Olympia Bob Heck, Kiley Juergens Wealth Management, LLC Monica Heuer, The Evergreen State College Michele Jorgenson, Port of Olympia Mina Kiive, Morgan Stanley Jennifer Kolb, City of Tumwater Police Department Chris Lanese, Washington State Attorney General's Office Susan Leyster, Saint Martin's University Carly Mattsen, Capitol City Press Rae McNally, WA State Department of Commerce and Junior League of Olympia Kim Parks, Anchor Bank Holly Paxson, Lacey Timberland Library Debbie Payne, Fairchild Record Search Stacey Ray, City of Olympia Community Planning & Development Mark Rentfrow, Thurston Economic Development Council Mindie Reule, Reule Consulting Justin Shahan, Puget Sound Energy Dan Shelfer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County Bill Sloane, MSGS Architects Tristan Steed, Morgan James, PLLC Heather Sundean, Thurston County Food Bank Todd Thoma, Thurston County Sheriff's Office Elyse Villanueva, Heritage Bank Ryan Waterman, Thurston First Bank Henry Williams, TAGS Awards & Specialties Kelly T. Wood, Phillips Burgess PLLC Vanessa Youckton, Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 23
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24 • May/June 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE
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Green Space Preservation & Innovation: Olympia Country & Golf Club is Ready to Welcome a New Generation By Natasha Ashenhurst
I
t was 1968 when Dr. Angela Bowen, a 30-something professional, left Virginia Mason Hospital to start her own practice in Olympia. This young woman with a soft Mississippi accent was new to Thurston County, and so — on the advice of one of her mentors — she joined the Olympia Country & Golf Club to meet people in the community and develop personal and professional relationships.
“In 1968, the club was a loosely-knit group of mostly business people,” said Bowen. “The common interest we all had was building relationships, which is still true today. “People grow up at the club. They attend holiday parties. They take part in longstanding traditions.”
Established in 1926 as a 9-hole golf course, the club sits on a waterfront parcel along Cooper Point Road, with clear views of Budd Inlet and Mount Rainier. In 1957, the club expanded to its current size of 100 acres, which increased the course to 18 holes. The club upgraded the grounds, added an outdoor swimming pool and deep-water dock.
Bowen thrived in Thurston County during the decades that followed. She formed and oversees two non-profits and three for-profit businesses, and has an unwavering commitment to the preservation of green space. “One of her non-profits is the Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation, which
Photo above: Dr. Angela Bowen and Troy McLaughlin, Superintendent of Washington Patriot Construction LLC www.thurstonchamber.com
Continued on page 26
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 25
Continued from page 25
Above, historic photographs of the Olympia Country and Golf Club taken in the 1930s.
— together with the Olympia Tumwater Foundation — helped fund restoration of the Tumwater Falls Park as well as other projects,” said long-time friend Ron Warren, president and COO of Angela J. Bowen and Associates. While Bowen’s career flourished, the club’s membership shrank and its finances suffered. Developers began circling, but Bowen stepped in and purchased the club in 2012. “I purchased it primarily to preserve it for its importance in the community,” said Bowen. “But I am also a big believer in open space and I wanted to preserve the land as well.” The purchase was made quickly without the normal process of due diligence. “Everything needed to be fixed: we needed to upgrade the golf course, improve the food, and install new management and equipment,” said Bowen. “We decided to approach it in three phases and so far we’ve accomplished two of them.” Since the purchase in 2012, her team has renovated the parking, the pro shop, the restaurant and lounge, updated the swimming pool, and improved the dock — which has open moorage to members and guests. Plans for a fitness room renovation are also underway. The restaurant menu has changed significantly and now features local and regional ingredients, Pacific Northwest wine pairings, as well as classic and creative house-made desserts and pastries. Bowen believes in the tradition of the club and preservation of land, yet she believes in innovation as well. For example, parking at the club has been a longstanding problem. If there was an event cars would have
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Top photo: The new clubhouse. Bottom: The restaurant has changed significantly . The menu features local and regional ingredients & Pacific Northwest wine parings.
to park all along the road, so Bowen built a parking garage.
$256,000 purchase of tools for golf course maintenance.
“She did that in a great way,” said Warren. “She had some of the pro-shop torn down and built a parking area in the side of the hill, then rebuilt the pro-shop and restaurant on top of that. Now, if it is raining you don’t get wet when you go to lunch.”
Almost 50 years after first joining the club, Bowen’s view of the club as a community pillar — a place to grow and expand both personal and professional networks — is unwavering.
Both Warren and Bowen appreciated all the help that the county and state gave them throughout the extensive renovations. “They have been a great help,” said Warren. “The permitting process is awesome, guiding our team at every step.”
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Bowen and her team are working hard to attract young families to the club and rebuild its membership. The Youth Golf Program has more than doubled since Bowen instituted discounts. Students from Saint Martin’s University’s and Capital High School’s Golf Team practice there. Bowen recently approved a
“I think the camaraderie and social interaction of the business leaders in the community is facilitated with institutions like the club and that is the role I see for it,” said Bowen. “It is a place where people bring their children, families, wives and husbands and ultimately it builds a very strong community.”●
Thurston County Chamber VOICE May/June 2015 27
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