Journal of Business - September 2020 by Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business/Senior Times

September 2020 Volume 19 | Issue 9

Popular eatery signs on to Park Place development By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Young Professionals

A specialty publication of the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business Page B1

Real Estate & Construction

POPP buys building in Pasco to offer spay, neuter procedures Page A11

Leadership Development

Kamiakin High athletic star shines on as an engineer, entrepreneur Page A31

NOTEWORTHY “He’s created a legacy

for future generations.” - Joe Schiessl, Richland parks and public facilities director, on retirement of chief arborist Page A7

Park Place, Richland’s prized gateway development, has landed its first tenant. Graze – A Place to Eat, a popular sandwich chain with locations in Kennewick, Richland and Walla Walla, will be the first retailer to move into the mixed-use complex under construction in the 600 block of George Washington Way, a spot long derided as the “pit.” Graze expects to move its Richland location to 1,800 square feet in the retail building at 610 George Washington Way by the end of 2020, said John Lastoskie, who owns Graze with his wife, Rebecca. It is a wonderful validation of the city of Richland’s long-held dream of using the site to anchor downtown redevelopment, said Mayor Ryan Lukson. “That’s exactly the sort of partnership we were looking for,” he said. “Hopefully we can do a socially distant, very small ribbon cutting for them.” The Lastoskies established Graze when they opened the original in Walla Walla in 2009. A second Walla Walla location followed in 2012. Kennewick opened in 2014 on Gage Boulevard and Richland in 2015 on The Parkway. Lastoskie said the high-profile Park Place offers a combination of visibility and parking it needs to woo the lunch crowd that represents 75% of its business. They loved spot at 735 The Parkway but found being a block away from George Washington Way and cramped parking hampered business. With the lease ending, they looked for new options. Location and visibility were two reasons to move to the more expensive retail space. Park Place itself was the third. The mixeduse development is anchored by a 104-unit apartment building. Graze is eager to serve the residents. “This seems like a reasonable risk,” he said. With some irony, Lastoskie said the Covid-19 pandemic helped the current RichuGRAZE, Page A15

Courtesy YMCA The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities serves about 150 children of working parents at four Kennewick elementary schools during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tri-City groups scramble to offer child care to working parents By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Steve Howland didn’t ask his employees at YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities how they unwound at the end of the first week of school. But he suspects it was with a big sigh of relief. The 2020-21 school year started Sept. 1 in the Tri-Cities with most students connecting through Chromebooks instead of attending in person. YMCA teamed with the Kennewick School District to care for a small number of students in four elementary cafeterias – Amon Creek, Fuerza, Southgate and Canyon View. About 150 are enrolled. Three sites are full, and one has a few remaining spots.

The program runs from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and overlaps with Kennewick’s inperson services for students who struggled last spring. Not all YMCA students spend the entire day at school but many attend virtual school from their YMCA cafeteria clubhouses. YMCA staff walked their charges through all the headaches of the first days of school – finding their school packets, navigating computer logins, internet issues and following teachers online in cafeterias equipped with student desks. “Right now, the word ‘chaos’ comes to mind,” Howland said. “I have a lot of respect for my front-line staff. How do you help a kindergartner who has never been online?”

uCHILD CARE, Page A8

Who is that Mask Man? Prosser winemaker pivots to PPE sales By Robin Wojtanik

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

From award-winning winemaker to N95 mask supplier, Ron Bunnell took a circuitous route to his new business venture, The Mask Man. Bunnell, co-owner of Prosser’s Wine O’Clock and The Bunnell Family Cellar, is using his contacts in China to meet the increasing demand for disposable masks, gloves, infrared thermometers and other personal protective equipment, or PPE. “I have learned a great deal about PPE technology and importation,” said Bunnell, who started the small business this spring, offering personal delivery of PPE to the Tri-Cities and the lower Yakima Valley. Bunnell’s link to China began back in 2016 when he connected with a Portland-

based exporter who was part of his wine club. On his first of three trips to China, Bunell’s wine won the grand prize at a trade show and he was able to make a number of new contacts during the multiweek visit. “There seemed to be a lot of interest in getting different products to the U.S.,” Bunnell said. Fast forward to 2020, when the demand for PPE began to ramp up with the outbreak of coronavirus, which leads to the deadly Covid-19. Bunnell leaned on the contacts he’d made who knew how to get exports moving quickly. This included one entrepreneur he described as having “an amazing talent for sourcing almost anything and seems to know a lot of people in the south of uBUNNELL, Page A3

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UPCOMING October: Food • Viticulture November: Retail • Labor & Employment The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly and delivered at no charge to identifiable businesses in Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Kennewick, Prosser and Benton City. Subscriptions are $27.10 per year, including tax, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of TriComp Inc. and can not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent. Opinions expressed in guest columns and by advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, other columnists or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by staff, columnists or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is correct; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

China in all areas of manufacturing.” The Mask Man had its early ups and downs almost immediately. Through a personal contact, Bunnell quickly received a large order valued at more than $20,000 for masks to supply employees at a mining company on the East Coast. Initially the masks were snarled up in customs. “What originally was a pretty simple transaction turned into a real mess because the Chinese government started to pull back on their exports and the customs aspect of the transaction became very difficult,” Bunnell said. “We had some shipments tied up for days and weeks. The Chinese were circumspect about releasing too much of their goods, and the Chinese wanted to start preserving all of their medical grade supplies for themselves.” Once Bunnell sorted out the customs challenge, there was a shipping bottleneck because fewer cargo planes were flying. Then, the national credit card processing company Bunnell had signed up with became suspicious of a new company registering large transactions and closed his account without explanation. After finding another way to process payments and racking up sales to personal contacts on the West Coast, Bunnell found he still was striking out in breaking into PPE sales to the health care industry “Because I’m not an existing supplier, they won’t return my calls. I may talk to a physician or even the head of surgery in a hospital, and they send me to the purchaser, and it’s a dead end,” he said. Bunnell went back to focusing on the local market, especially through fellow members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. “I decided to ... create a more personal service, which is why I do deliveries, to make it convenient,” he said. He promoted his new business in a weekly email distributed to chamber members. “I saw the email and called immediately,” said Vivian Terrell, owner of The Honey Baked Ham Company in Kennewick. “I was so excited to help another small business because we all know what it’s like to help each other stay above water.” Terrell ordered multiple packs of N95 masks. “They had become very difficult to

LET’S BE SOCIAL! /tcajob /tcajob /company/tcajob

Courtesy Ron Bunnell Winemaker Ron Bunnell started The Mask Man, a small business offering doorstop deliveries of personal protective equipment to Tri-City and lower Yakima Valley customers. The business provides disposable masks and other PPE to commercial and residential customers through contactless delivery, typically within 24 hours.

find and those allow you to use the mask consistently while you continue to work, talk and breathe,” Terrell said. She also knew her niece was in dire need of PPE at her work in the health care industry in another state, so she ordered protective gear from The Mask Man to send to her niece and her coworkers. “Here in the Tri-Cities, we’re helping people in Memphis, Tennessee,” she said. On Bunnell’s website, themaskman. net, Bunnell offers civil-grade N95 disposable masks, disposable masks in pink or blue for children, mask filters, plastic face shields, no-touch infrared thermometers and nitrile gloves. Delivery to a Tri-City or lower Yakima Valley doorstep is free with a $50 purchase. Bunnell said that because China makes 60% of the world’s PPE, it can control the market. This allowed the country to put limits on exports of medical-grade equipment, including N95s. Prior to restrictions, The Mask Man had imported a number of disposable N95 masks intended for the health care

industry which are now a top seller to local customers, like Terrell. “I went from trying to sell to complicated, larger organizations to trying to supply PPE to smaller companies,” he said. Bunnell also teamed up with a U.S. citizen who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is selling her handmade cloth fashion masks to benefit people in Africa on his website. Bunnell still sells other consumer goods from Asia and Africa through his other company, Serendipity Imports LLC. This includes wine tools and winemaking equipment, consumer electronics and handmade jewelry. Previously the winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle and Col Solare, Bunnell and his wife continue to operate The Bunnell Family Cellar and the Wine O’Clock brand through the Prosser wine bar and bistro. Orders for PPE and other supplies can be placed at themaskman.net or by calling Bunnell at 509-948-2610.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

OPINION Interior opens 4 million acres of federal land to public use Hunters, fishers, and farmers are the original conservationists. Growing up in Central Washington, I have been Dan Newhouse surrounded by Congressman agriculture my GUEST COLUMN whole life. As farmers and ranchers work to feed the world, we also recognize the importance of conserving our precious natural resources and native species. The same goes for sportsmen, many of whom hunt or fish in order to honor generational traditions or provide for their families. Without responsible land use, resource development, and local conservation efforts, hunting, farming and fishing as would cease to exist. The values and merits of these trades and ways of life have been realized by those who came long before us. Today, rural communities across the country and in central Washington appreciate the benefits of caring for our lands, emulating past generations while also advancing practices and technology to better serve present needs. The United States is home to some of the most beautiful public lands in

the world. Our national forests, grasslands and landscapes rely on our contributions of active management and responsible use to maintain and preserve these lands for current and future generations. Our farmers and sportsmen understand this, which is why I have been proud to support our locally-led conservation and species management efforts. I have worked alongside the Trump Administration to modernize and clarify existing land use regulations. I have worked directly with landowners and ranchers in our district to help achieve the shared goal of ensuring our land continues to serve our agriculture industry, recreationists, and native species. The president-elect of the National Association of Conservation Districts, Michael Crowder, is a resident of Central Washington, and he works each and every day to advocate for local conservation projects across the country while representing our district with pride. Now, the federal government has taken further action to empower sportsmen and women to continue their important conservation and species management efforts. U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt recently announced the largest expansion of uNEWHOUSE, Page A10

Washington lawmakers shouldn’t put off dealing with state budget issues When the coronavirus swept our state this year, Washingtonians got to work. Employers adapted and kept critical supplies flowing to our communities, from groceries to masks and gloves. Essential workers put in long hours to make deliveries and care for the sick. And families made big adjustments to online school, remote work and less child care, all at the same time. These Washingtonians stepped up and did what needed to be done, despite the enormous challenges and disruptions from the pandemic. It’s time for Washington lawmakers to do the same. Today, our state budget faces a $9 billion shortfall through 2023. The shortfall through June of next year is about $4.5 billion. And a recent analysis by the nonpartisan Washington Research Council indicates that with each month that passes it becomes more difficult to fix the problem. The depth of the budget cuts vary dramatically depending on when they act. These cuts could be as low as 3.5% if lawmakers act immediately and enact across-the-board spending cuts. Or, the cuts could be as high as 28% if they wait until next year and protect areas like basic education and retirement. Waiting only makes the problem worse. And the same concept applies if

lawmakers resort to tax increases to fill the deficit. The longer they wait, the greater the tax hit will have to be, and the Kris Johnson more damage Association of those increasWashington es would have Business on an already GUEST COLUMN damaged economy. Washington businesses are hurting. In a recent survey of Association of Washington Business members, 62% reported reduced revenue and nearly a quarter have laid off employees. When asked how the state could help businesses during this downturn, 44% said that a business and occupation tax reduction is the best way for the state to help businesses now. Twenty-three percent listed a freeze on unemployment insurance rates, and 16% said a holiday on workers’ compensation insurance. Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrat leaders in the Legislature say they want to wait until after the election or next year to reconvene. Some hope the federal government will provide more funding, or free up relief funds already allocated to the states. We shared that hope, but ConuJOHNSON, Page A10

Badger Club: Discussing the issues that shape our future We’re delighted! Our new partnership with the TriCities Area Journal of Business will be an important part of our shared future. It means that we will be able to reach Journal readers in a way that brings them into conversations that matter. The Columbia Basin Badger Club is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community forum for civil discourse created in 2008. Since then, we have regularly informed our members about the important international, national, regional and local issues of the day by presenting informed speakers, often with differing opinions, at monthly luncheons. Our members question our speakers directly. Like so many other organizations in our community, the coronavirus pandemic has presented the Badger Club with many challenges and opportunities. We were forced to cancel or postpone our February, March and April forums for the safety of those who attend.

Months earlier we had scheduled Gen. James Mattis for June. We were just not going to waste that opportunity; we had to find a way to deliver Kirk Williamson his presentation to our membership. With some trepidation, we decided to hold our first virtual forum. More than 1,000 people from the U.S. and several foreign countries registered and viewed Mattis’ presentation entitled, “Leadership in Times of Crisis,” and the question-and-answer session that followed. By the time Gen. Mattis finished his remarks, we knew we had a winner! We presented two very timely Badger Forums in July, the first with former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper, live from his home in the San Juan Islands.

Stamper’s bestseller, “To Protect and Serve,” gave our viewers plenty to chew on. We followed that two weeks later with local C. Mark Smith perspectives featuring the voices of Leo Perales and Jordan Chaney, along with Pasco Police Chief Ken Roske. The August Badger Forum was a mid-summer update on reopening and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic in our own community, featuring Pasco School Superintendent Michelle Whitney, Benton-Franklin Health District Officer Dr. Amy Person and Tri-City Development Council Chief Executive Officer Karl Dye. All were conducted on the Zoom platform. When we can at last meet in person,

we will be in the Holiday Inn Express in Pasco next to HAPO Center. The new venue is set up for presenting teleconferences in its meeting rooms, opening the potential for “hybrid” Badger forums using Zoom to bring panelists and speakers from other places to interact directly with attendees in the room. Demonstrating the power of a virtual platform, our Sept. 17 forum, “State of the State’s Economy,” will feature Lisa Brown, Washington’s secretary of commerce, and Kris Johnson, CEO of the Association of Washington Business, both via Zoom. The event is free. Advance registration is required, visit our website, columbiabasinbadgers.com, to register and learn about future Badger forums. Kirk Williamson is a founding member of the Badger Club and is serving as the club’s president. Author and historian C. Mark Smith is the club’s vice president of programs.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 uBUSINESS BRIEFS Tri-City tech plays starring role in new Adidas shoes

Carbon technology developed by Carbitex, a Tri-City tech firm, plays a starring role in the latest sneaker release from Adidas. The X Ghosted soccer shoe was released Sept. 1 and retails online for about $225. The X Ghosted boasts a Carbitex “Speedframe,” or carbon plate in the sole. The plate provides a dynamic surface that gives the futuristic soccer cleats a faster profile. Sneakerheads can learn more about the new soccer shoe, or “football boot,” at bit.ly/XGhostedCarbitex. Carbitex formed in 2012 to commercialize flexible carbon material originally tested at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. Its products are used in athleticwear and other applications.

More Covid relief funds available for business

The Benton-Franklin Economic Development District has received $1.4 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance funds to help local businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic. The money was awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Association. Businesses may apply to the revolving loan fund. Go to bfcog.us/benton-franklineconomic-development-district-eda-rlfcares-loan-fund for details or contact Rick Peenstra, 509-943-9185, rpeenstra@bfcog.us

Sandvik Special Metals lays off 50 workers

Sandvik Special Metals, a Finley manufacturer, will permanently lay off 50 workers in late October. Sandvik notified the Washington Employment Security Department of the pending layoffs under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification act. Sandvik produces advanced metal products such as tube, strip and wire.

Vance to give Hanford update via Zoom

Brian Vance, recently appointed to lead the Hanford site cleanup by the U.S. Department of Energy, will give an update on the status of the cleanup and related activities at a free luncheon organized by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Zoom program is from noon-1 p.m. Sept. 23. Register individually at bit.ly/BrianVanceLuncheon.

Covid forces closure of Tender Care Village

A Kennewick-based nonprofit which offered aging-in-place initiatives by pairing seniors with volunteers has closed.

Tender Care Village, which was part of a national network of community “villages,” closed Aug. 31. It had been in operation since spring 2018. “Sadly, Covid was one battle we couldn’t survive. The constraints of the virus limited our already scarce volunteer base, our ability to recruit new members and restricted what we could offer our members,” said Traci Wells, director and president of the nonprofit. For an annual fee, village members could tap into a network of screened volunteers for non-medical assistance, like rides to the grocery store or doctor’s appointments, light home maintenance, seasonal yard chores or companionship. “I am hopeful another nonprofit

agency can create a similar program in order to fill that gap between needing a little assistance and needing assisted living, there is such a need in this community. We definitely did not have a problem finding members who were searching for affordable and safe assistance so they could age in place,” Wells said.

STCU buying four rural Umpqua Bank branches

Spokane-based STCU and Portlandbased Umpqua Bank are seeking regulatory approval to convert four rural Umpqua Bank branches to STCU. The branches are in Medical Lake, Ritzville, Coulee City and Othello. They operated as Sterling Bank branch-

es prior to Umpqua’s acquisition of the Spokane-based bank in 2014. If approved, the deal will give the Spokane credit union its first locations in Adams and Grant counties. An estimated 5,000 Umpqua bank customers would be converted to the credit union. Umpqua employees will be offered jobs with the credit union. The acquisition must be approved by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, the National Credit Union Administration and the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. It is expected to close by late 2020 or early 2021. Umpqua was founded in 1953 to serve timber workers in Canyonville, Oregon.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

DATEBOOK

VISIT TCJOURNAL.BIZ AND CLICK ON EVENT CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS

SEPT. 12-20

• 2020 Virtual Parade of Homes Tour. Details: tricityparadeofhomes.com.

SEPT. 15

• Online forum on racial disparities in school, 6:30 p.m., Humanities Washington online event with Daudi Abe, Seattlebased professor, writer, historians. Details: humanities.org.

SEPT. 16

• Shred Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Community First Bank & HFG Trust, 8131 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. • CHILL Encounters by BlessedbyKess open house: 5:30-8 p.m., 450 Williams Blvd., Richland.

SEPT. 17

• Badger Club, State of the State’s Economy: noon to 1 p.m. Register: bit.ly/zoombadger. • Virtual Built Green Conference: 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Register: builtgreen.net.

SEPT. 18

• Drive-Thru Sausage Fest: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Details: facebook. com/CKSausageFest. • Chaplaincy’s Heart of Healing: 5:30-9 p.m. Details: chaplaincyhealthcare.org/event/ heart-of-healing-2020. • Glow Ball Golf Tournament benefiting Rascal Rodeo: 6-11 p.m. Details: rascalrodeo.org.

SEPT. 19

• CHILL Encounters by BlessedbyKess open house: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 450 Williams Blvd., Richland.

SEPT. 21

SEPT. 22

SEPT.26

SEPT. 23

SEPT. 29

• Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details: co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details: co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx • Hanford update: noon to 1 p.m., free virtual Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon with Brian Vance. Register at bit.ly/ BrianVanceLuncheon. • Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, Virtual Networking Event: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Details: 509-735-2745.

• Ask the Experts: Managing Virtual Teams: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Meeting link: us02web.zoom. us/j/89989060081

SEPT.24

SEPT. 21-25

SEPT.25

• Washington’s 69th annual (virtual) Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference. Agenda and registration: bit.ly/ safetyhealthconf.

• Port of Pasco Commission: 10:30 a.m. Details: portofpasco.org/ about-us/port-commission. • Washington Policy Center Annual Dinner: 7 p.m. Details: washingtonpolicy.org/events.

• Junior Achievement of Washington’s Dare to Dream Virtual Fundraising Event and Auction. Details: juniorachievement.org/web/jawashington/dare-to-dream. • Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details: co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php. • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details: co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx. • Confident Compliance Workshop Double-Header: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register: tricityregionalchamber.com/ confident-compliance

SEPT.30

• Fuse Virtual Happy Hour: 4-7 p.m. Details: fusespc.com/ event/virtual-happy-hour.

OCTOBER 1

• Tri-City Cancer Center, Cancer Crushing Virtual Run: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Register: cancercrushingchallenge.org.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

Woman-led law firm building $2.5M ‘forever’ home By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

A prominent Tri-City divorce attorney is building a new office at a prominent intersection on the Kennewick-Richland border for her growing family law practice. Jennifer LaCoste, principal for LaCoste Law in Pasco, bought an undeveloped site on Steptoe Street near Gage Boulevard from Jacobs RR LLC in a deal that closed Sept. 2. The property is nearly 1 acre, according to county tax records. LaCoste plans to build a permanent home for Jennifer LaCoste her six-woman office, with other space for tenants. The firm installed a “Future Home” sign in early September. In choosing the location, on the Kennewick side of the boundary, LaCoste becomes the most recent entrepreneur to claim a spot at the busy Gage and Steptoe intersection, which is best known for the Gesa building on one corner, a Rite Aid on another, and a McDonald’s restaurant and gas station on another. Other new neighbors include Bravo Ventures LLC, owners of Prodigy Homes, which completed a $1.2 million, one-story stucco office building with nearly 3,600 square feet of Class A space at 2055 Steptoe St., and Elite Investment Grp LLC, which completed a $2.8 million, 10,700-square foot office on Tucannon Avenue just south of the intersection. LaCoste is finishing the design, which includes choosing between a one- or two-building configuration, said Donni Bricker-Garcia, director of administration for LaCoste Law. The project could be one large building or two smaller ones of 4,500 to 5,000 square feet each. LaCoste Law will ocuLA COSTE, Page A10

Longtime arborist says goodbye to Richland and its 5,800 trees By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

It was a hot August afternoon and Ruben Rojas was three days away from retiring as Richland’s chief arborist — the man in charge of the 5,800 trees that dot city parks and properties. It was fitting that he took a final interview at Howard Amon Park, social distancing at a picnic table not far from the Lee Boulevard turnaround. A silver maple with a trunk more than three feet across cast a wide shadow. The maple is an impressive specimen occupying pride of place in the city’s premier park. It’s not his favorite species, but he pronounces the tree healthy. It’s also a marker of Rojas’ legacy in Richland. The towering maple survived a 1989 windstorm that toppled trees across the city. Plenty did not survive and the resulting mayhem led Rojas and his team to replant the city’s parks with more durable varieties than the ones available to the people who originally planted elms and black locusts that split and drop branches. The storm battered Howard Amon and the shelterbelt and much of the city. A commercial roof landed on George Washington Way. A sailboat crashed into an intersection. Trees fell everywhere, he recalled. Wind events are not tracked as well as other types of storms, but it appears a major one rolled through the Tri-Cities on May 18 that year. Winds topped 60 miles per hour at the Tri-Cities Airport, according to National Weather Service and Tri-City Herald reports. Rojas, assigned the only city vehicle that could communicate both with dispatchers and multiple departments, spent the day routing cleanup crews to blocked streets. Once emergency routes were cleared, they turned their attention to parks. Howard Amon was an unwalkable jumble of fallen trees and limbs. The shelterbelt too. “I had trees literally picked up by the

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Ruben Rojas, Richland’s chief arborist, retired Aug. 28 after 42 years with the city. Rojas oversaw the city’s 5,800 trees and replanted Howard Amon Park with the durable trees the public enjoys today after a damaging 1989 windstorm. Above, he stands by a row of oaks that were planted in anticipation of removing a pair of aging elms.

roots and thrown around,” he said. Someone had the idea to invite the public to cut up fallen trees for firewood. People showed up, but when they started cutting down live trees, the invitation was revoked. When the debris was cleared, Rojas was left with the municipal equivalent of a blank canvas: A park in need of trees. “That gave me an opportunity to be more selective about trees,” he said. A Federal Emergency Management Association grant paid for replacements. Saplings arrived by the truckload. The city set up a makeshift nursery. Today, those young oaks, red maples and other durable species tower alongside the silver maple. Rojas is also a devoted experimenter, eager to plant modern hybrids if they suit a location. He’s less fond of the cottonwoods that were widely planted across Richland. They grow fast but they die back fast

too. Limbs fall — heavily — from great heights. Rojas, who turns 65 in October, said he’ll climb up to 80 feet in a tree. With cottonwoods, there’s still 20 to 30 feet overhead. “You don’t want to put in cottonwoods,” he said. Rojas, who has served on the state urban forestry council, helped launch the Mid-Columbia Community Forestry Council, which posts advice about what to trees work best in a desert at trees4you.org. “The right tree for the right location” is the philosophy that guides what is planted and where both in parks and at city facilities. Rojas lends his expertise to developments across the city. Richland’s new City Hall has specially selected varieties he said will grow and age well with the structure. Howard Amon is Exhibit A for the uROJAS, Page A23

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

CHILD CARE, From page A1 One week into the school year is too soon to measure the impact the pandemic is having on not only students, but working parents and their employers. But the outlook is worrisome. Many workers with children, particularly women, will leave their jobs because they don’t have good child care options, according to a report commissioned by the Washington’s Child Care Collaborative Task Force and co-chaired by Amy Anderson, government affairs director for the Association of Washington Business. The report was released in late August and is posted at bit.ly/WashingtonChildCareReport2020. Its key finding: Access to child care will drive the economic recovery.

According to the study, 61% of young children in Washington live with parents who work but there is only capacity to serve 41% of them. Even before the pandemic, more than 500,000 did not have access to licensed child care. The department followed it up by awarding grants totaling $1.4 million to nonprofits to expand child care around the state. None are in the Tri-Cities, but there will be additional rounds. In short, the pandemic upended everything. Howland said the YMCA scrambled to put together a program to help working parents through the crisis. “It’s been tough to figure out the needs,” he said. “Parents have to think about sending kids to a group setting. Right now, that’s a challenge for a lot of

parents.” The YMCA shut down for two days early in the pandemic after an employee was exposed to the virus outside of work. Howland considers the organization fortunate it wasn’t worse and notes it follows health guidelines to prevent further spread. Local employers are responding. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is rolling out resources to help parents – and their managers – during the pandemic. It won’t discuss specifics until they’ve been shared with staff, but the goal is to supply flexibility. “We know this is a difficult time for staff who have children in school and have virtual learners at home. The challenges come in many shapes and sizes rang-

ing from household technology issues to single parents and dual working-parent situations,” said Jim Blount, deputy director for human resources, in response to a Journal of Business inquiry about how virtual learning is affecting operations. About 1,200 staff work on campus most weekdays, with the balance of its 4,100 Tri-City workers working remotely. August unemployment rates weren’t released in time for this story, but they have been well above average since April, after Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order took effect. It reached nearly 11% in July, twice the pre-pandemic level of March. It crested at 13.5% in April and has hovered around 10% ever since. The back-to-school chaos could be blunted by the number of people still working from home as Benton and Franklin counties linger in a modified version of Phase 1 of Washington’s Safe Start program. That’s the most restrictive and reflects infection rates that are still above the goal for curtailing the spread of the virus. Ajsa Suljic, regional labor economist for the Washington Employment Security Department, said the YMCA and other entities are providing a needed outlet for struggling parents. But the impact is limited. “It depends on how resourceful families are and if they’re able to afford nanny care or outside or YMCA services,” she said. “I know not everybody can do that. There are families who are struggling.” Even when care is available, not all parents are worried. A spring survey by Care.com, an online service catering to nannies, home health aides and other in-home workers, found 63% of families were “uncomfortable” with the idea of placing children in day care even as states reopened. Hiring a nanny, which is allowed under Washington’s coronavirus rules, is cost prohibitive to most. The average cost to hire a nanny for two preschool aged children in the TriCities topped $600 a week, according to Care.com. Here are some of the other options available to local parents: • Kennewick Parks and Recreation and Skyhawks are offering Fall Day Camp for the children ages 5-12 of working parents. The camp meets during school hours and features trained staff to support children through the virtual school day. Visit KennewickRecreation.com or call 509-5854293 for information. Financial assistance is available. • Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties offers full-day day care at its locations in the Tri-Cities and Prosser. Clubs provide staff support to students during the virtual school day. Go to greatclubs.org/covid for details. • The Richland School District began in-person instruction for students receiving special education services on Sept. 16. The part-time return to school was approved after Richland moved to the next phase of its Return to School Plan. Students can spend up to two days a week in school working with teachers and other staff.

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JOHNSON, From page A4 gress recessed for the summer break without reaching a deal. Our state can do better than betting on federal relief to balance the state budget and provide necessary services to help people weather the pandemic. Even if this relief comes through, it likely won’t be enough to close the state’s budget gap. The idea of cutting state services to balance the budget during an election year surely makes many lawmakers uncomfortable. Of course, the virus is indifferent to this discomfort. Washington faces the greatest ecoNEWHOUSE, From page A4 hunting and fishing access in our nation’s history. By opening up over 4 million acres of public land to our sportsmen and women – including seven refuges and hatcheries in Washington state – more Americans will now have the opportunity to utilize the lands that belong to us. As U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) Director Aurelia Skipwith stated, these outdoor activities “epitomize our American heritage.” This historic move by Secretary Bernhardt will go a long way toward fulfilling our nation’s long-standing conservation and species management objectives. Additionally, four of the largest national agriculture and sportsmen advocacy groups recently came together to pledge their partnership and collaboration for conservation of our public lands. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Public Lands Council, Ducks Unlimited, and Safari Club

nomic crisis seen in this country in nearly a century, with widespread job losses and severe economic retractions. Recovery will take years. Employers are committed to working with policymakers as they face these difficult challenges and strive to build a stronger economy that works for every community in Washington. Addressing this challenge will not be easy. But waiting makes it worse. It’s time for state action. Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.

International signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the USFWS, demonstrating an impactful commitment to private and voluntary land conservation. By honoring the cultural and historical significance of our public lands, empowering rural communities to continue locally-led conservation efforts and educating the public on the importance of grazing and hunting on public lands, the MOU promotes responsible use of the lands we love and rely on. As a strong advocate for conservation of our natural resources, I support the hunters, fishers, and farmers of central Washington and throughout the United States. I will continue to work in Congress to ensure these activities and traditions — generations in the making – remain strong as we work together keep America and her public lands beautiful, bountiful, and thriving. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, represents Washington’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Jennifer LaCoste, principal for LaCoste Law in Pasco, plans to build a new office with space for other tenants on this undeveloped site on Steptoe Street near Gage Boulevard in Kennewick. The project will cost about $2.5 million, including the property, with occupancy expected in about a year.

LACOSTE, From page A7 cupy part of the space and the rest will be available for lease. Either way, the building or buildings will be two stories. The project will cost about $2.5 million, including the property, which is north of McDonald’s on the northbound side of Steptoe. The architect and contractor have not been confirmed. Bricker-Garcia said the move to Gage and Steptoe will place LaCoste in the heart of the Tri-Cities and closer to the Richland and Kennewick homes of most of its employees. The location offers easy access to freeways and the Benton County Justice Center, a frequent destination for attorneys. Bricker-Garcia said LaCoste intended to buy the land as an investment after

regularly driving by a “For Sale” sign near the high-traffic intersection. She decided to build sooner after looking at the firm’s growth. The building should be ready for occupancy in 12 to 18 months. The firm will give up its leased quarters near the Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco. Bricker-Garcia said the new building will serve as the firm’s “forever” home as well as an investment for its owner. The all-woman office includes LaCoste as well as two paralegals and other support staff. The team worked together at another Tri-City firm before joining LaCoste when she created the family law practice in 2018. The practice is growing with the addition of support staff. Bricker-Garcia said she is currently looking to hire a paralegal.

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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION Richland grain facility expands commodities storage at Horn Rapids By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Central Washington Corn Processors is expanding its massive north Richland grain shed to better accommodate a key commodity used for livestock feed by the region’s dairies, feedlots and other operations – soy meal. The $4.3 million project will extend the CWCP “flat house” to 916 feet long, about a third longer than the original 616 feet. At 155 feet wide, the extension will boost the its footprint to nearly 142,000 square feet. “This makes us more efficient,” said Dennis Kyllo, one of CWCP’s five principal owners. CWCP receives shipments of commodities such as corn, canola, dried distillers’ grain, whole cotton seed and soy meal by rail and stores it in the massive flat house. It dispatches loads to customers in Eastern Washington, northern Oregon and beyond. The extra room accommodates the soy meal that arrives from the Midwest in smaller batches – two to three rail cars a day. It lacked room to store it inside, so the soy was transferred to trucks and sent to customers, creating challenges around timing deliveries. On-site storage gives it the option to keep it covered along with the other feed materials that come in by train. CWCP’s Richland operation opened in late 2016 after Kyllo and his partners invested $7.9 million to build the rail side facility at Horn Rapids Industrial Park, off Logston Boulevard. It is served by an 8,600-foot rail loop used by both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The city-owned rail connects to the Port of Benton line and from there to the Class A tracks that crisscross the nation. Horn Rapids is

POPP buys building, aims to end pet overpopulation By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

File photo Officials with Central Washington Corn Processors pound in ceremonial rail spikes to celebrate the opening of their multimillion-dollar facility in this November 2016 file photo. The company is expanding its Richland footprint again this year.

one of the few spots in the U.S. served by two Class A rail lines. That’s why the owners chose to build here, Kyllo said. “It’s very important to the local feed industry, more so than they realize,” he said. The city is pleased to see CWCP succeeding and expanding, said Kerwin Jensen, director of community development. Receiving commodities by rail removes trucks from city streets. And CWCP’s success inspires others. “It’s good for us out there in the industrial district. We’ve got more people looking at similar projects because of what Central Washington Processors has done,” he said. BNSF and UP trains arrive at the CWCP loop and are turned over to the company’s small local crew for unloading. The processing facility can handle about 4,000 rail cars annually. It takes

minutes to unload a hopper car filled with corn. CWCP receives the ingredients that go into animal feed, but it does not blend it. Dairies, feedlots and others blend their feed to suit the needs of their operations. “Fully loaded cars come to us, we unload and then send to users,” Kyllo said. The Richland grain facility is the reverse of a grain elevator. Elevators combine grain from individual producers for shipment to central locations. CWCP receives shipments, breaks it down and dispatches it to the final destination. Industrial Systems & Fabrication of Spokane is the contractor for the expansion. Footings were poured in late August. The addition should be complete by the end of the year, Kyllo said.

A Tri-City nonprofit aims to turbocharge its efforts to end pet overpopulation after buying a former dental office in Pasco to serve as a spay and neuter clinic. Pet Overpopulation Prevention Tri-Cities, or POPP, paid $325,000 for the medical building at 1502 N. Road 40 in a deal that closed Aug. 17. It is converting the space to a clinic focused on spaying and neutering cats and dogs. It recently completed a donation drive to pay for the cost of a chute-shaped surgical table. Supporters can help out by going online to sponsor specific items such as scissors, forceps, clamps, IV stands and other surgical items through a bridal registry-style link at popptricities.org. With the new clinic, POPP flips its old model of subsidizing the cost of spaying and neutering pets for those who couldn’t afford the $200 and more that local veterinarians charge. Instead of providing vouchers to pay for private services, POPP and its staff veterinarian will do the work themselves, said Christina Coughlin, office manager and veterinary assistant. Dr. Ashley Rice, who has a background in high volume spay and neuter programs, has joined POPP as its new veterinarian. With the new approach, POPP aims to beat the 700 spay and neuter procedures it underwrote last year, Coughlin said. “Our focus is always going to be spay and neuter,” she said. Erin Vasquez, development and community outreach coordinator, said the clinic has been a dream since the nonprofit launched in 1995 to combat pet overpopulation. uPOPP, Page A14

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uBUSINESS BRIEFS Wind farm plan adds solar, battery energy storage

Scout Clean Energy recently announced plans to add solar and battery storage components to a proposed wind farm it plans to build just south of the Tri-Cities in Benton County. The 600-megawatt wind farm south of Kennewick will combine wind energy, solar energy and battery energy storage in the same location, making more renewable energy available to customers during lower wind periods, and for short durations when the sun is not shining, and the wind is not blowing, according to the company. Project development began in late 2016 with leasing, land acquisition and environmental surveys conducted by both Scout Clean Energy and Wpd, a Portland, Oregon-based wind energy developer that holds lease agreements in the Jump Off Joe area. Scout recently acquired additional wind farm assets from Wpd which will enable the company to scale up to 850 megawatts of combined wind, solar and battery power. Scout and Wpd will continue to cooperate in the development of the Horse Heaven project. The companies will seek project permits in phases: Phase 1: up to 350 megawatts, anticipated to begin operations in 2022 Phase 2: up to 500 megawatts, anticipated to begin operations by 2024. The relative wind-solar-battery storage ratios may change depending on the

preferences of an eventual purchaser of a power from the Horse Heaven energy facility. For example, additional solarbattery storage could be constructed with correspondingly fewer wind turbines. Regardless of the final configuration, Federal Aviation Administration & Department of Defense agreements will limit the project design to a maximum of 235 wind turbines.

Journal of Business, Senior Times office moves

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business and Senior Times office has moved, though it remains closed to the public during the pandemic. The Kennewick office moved Sept. 1 from its longtime 8919 W. Grandridge Blvd. location less than a half mile to a space on Pittsburgh Street. Readers can pay for and renew subscriptions online at tcjournal.biz. Advertisers can pay invoices online at tcjournal.biz by going to “About” in the menu and then “Pay invoice.” The newspapers’ new mailing address is: 8524 W. Gage Blvd., #A1-300, Kennewick, WA 99336. The office email and phone numbers remain the same: info@tcjournal.biz, 509-737-8778.

AgriNorthwest replacing potato sheds

AgriNorthwest, a Kennewick-based agricultural producer, is replacing a pair of potato sheds in rural Benton County. Contractor Teton West is building

Real Estate & Construction

two sheds with a combined capacity of 28,000 tons at 32198 Highway 14 in the Horse Heaven Hills. The new sheds have a construction value of nearly $5 million. Each has two bays that hold 7,000 tons each.

Clore Center closes tasting room, focuses on campus rentals

The Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center in Prosser temporarily closed its tasting room because of the impacts of Covid-19. Throughout the pandemic, the Clore center said its business model has continued to evolve. The closure began Aug. 30 and a focus has been placed on event and Clore campus rentals, with protocols in place to follow Covid-19 safety guidelines. For more information about the rental space, call 509-786-1000 or email deb@ theclorecenter.org.

Parade of Homes showcases homes online with 3D tours The 2020 virtual Parade of Homes runs through Sept. 20. This year’s event, organized by Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, presents eight homes featuring the latest in construction, architectural trends, design and decor in the Tri-City area. A 3D tour and photo gallery are available for each home. Most of the 2020 parade homes also will be available to physically tour by special appointment. No tickets will be

required, but in-person tours will be limited in number and appointments filled on first-come, first-served basis. All current Covid-19 protection rules and restrictions must be followed while visiting the homes. Individual builders also may have additional safety requirements in place. The Chefs on Parade event typically held in tandem with the Parade of Homes has been canceled. For more information, go to tricityparadeofhomes.com.

HBA cancels annual Fall Home Show

The Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities has canceled its annual Fall Home Show. The cancellation stems from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to HBA. Exhibitors who registered for the early October show will receive refunds or may choose to roll payments over to the 2021 Regional Home & Garden Show. Last year’s event was held in February. The HBA also canceled its Chefs on Parade event held in conjunction with its fall Parade of Homes event, which has moved to an online format.

Tri-City rental assistance available until funds run out

Help is available to Tri-City renters who are unable to pay rent because of Covid-19 job losses The Tri-Cities Home Consortium received $700,000 in Federal HOME funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and is accepting applications now. The consortium consists of the cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland in partnership with the Benton Franklin Community Action Committee. The program runs through Dec. 31 or when funds are exhausted. The money is available to help lowincome individuals to maintain housing. Once approved, money is paid directly to the applicant’s landlord on their behalf. Call 509-545-4042 or email info@ bfac.org for information. Visit hbfcac.org/home-base/housingservices for more information about housing services.

Oregon, Washington agree to honor electrician licenses Electricians will have an easier time working across the Oregon-Washington border after the two states agreed to allow general, journey-level professionals who have a license in one state to work in the other. The reciprocity agreement means qualified electricians can fill out a form, provide documentation and pay a fee rather than take an exam to qualify to work in the other state. The agreement took effect Aug. 17 and was inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic, which demands more flexibility. Oregon and Washington share a 400-plus-mile border.

Real Estate & Construction

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Proof Gastropub serves enhanced pub fare at locations in Kennewick and now Pasco By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Serial restaurateur Michael Miller knows a good dining spot when he sees one. Miller, founder of Stick+Stone WoodFired Pizza in Richland and Proof Gastropub in Kennewick, spied restaurant seats for sale outside the short-lived Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on Burden Boulevard in Pasco. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant itself was idle. Dickey’s opened in 2018 and closed in 2019 with its two peers after franchisee Dan Pelfrey ran into financial difficulties. Miller bought some of the Dickey’s equipment and then, buoyed by the success of the original Proof Gastropub, signed a lease for the like-new space on March 1. The timing wasn’t great, he said. Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order hit just a few weeks later. The stay-home order closed “nonessential” business, including restaurants, to curb the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19. In mid-September, Benton and Franklin counties remained in a modified version of Phase 1 of the recovery, the most restrictive, because of high local infection rates. As Miller’s team transformed Dick-

ey’s into a pub with bar and night spot, the original Proof Gastropub, 924 N. Columbia Center Blvd., was in survival mode. Unable to host in-person dining at its third-story perch, Proof pivoted to pickup and delivery service. It’s not sustainable in the long term, but the trickle of business keeps the lights on and workers employed, Miller said. The business received a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program that helped preserve its 50 or so jobs. The Pasco restaurant opened in August, working under the modified Phase 1 requirements in effect in Franklin County. It offers pickup service and outdoor seating on the sidewalk and a converted parking lot. Miller is negotiating for delivery service as well.

Courtesy Michael Miller, Proof Gastropub Proof Gastropub opened its second location in Pasco. The new restaurant is running under social-distancing requirements of the state’s Safe Start reopening plan at 6627 Burden Blvd., the former home of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit.

When restrictions lift, it will shift to a more typical mode of operating, with indoor seating, bar and a 21-and-over late-night gatherings around a pair of karaoke rooms. Miller, who is partners with his parents in both Proof Gastropubs, said it cost about $200,000 to open the new Pasco location. He split his team and is actively looking to hire workers. Hiring in a pandemic has been tricky, he said. “It wasn’t as easy to find people this time. But we are still hiring here and there,” he said. The new Proof spot is the second time

Miller and his team have taken over second-generation restaurant space, meaning it was built out before they moved in. The Proof Gastropub on Columbia Center Boulevard was partly built but never occupied. The plumbing, wiring and other costly gear were already in place though. After building Stick + Stone WoodFired Pizza from scratch, he was grateful to avoid the upfront cost. “You save a ton of money when you uPROOF, Page A14

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Real Estate & Construction

Columbia Center owner buying J.C. Penney out of bankruptcy By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Coutesy Pet Overpopulation Prevention Tri-Cities Pet Overpopulation Prevention Tri-Cities bought a former dental clinic at 1502 N. Road 40 in Pasco for a spay and neuter clinic. The nonprofit animal welfare charity is seeking donations for surgical equipment and other supplies.

POPP, From page A11 The former dental clinic must be refitted as a veterinary clinic before it can operate. Wave Design Group in Kennewick donated design services for the project, and POPP is looking for a contractor to put in walls and other upgrades. When it opens, the POPP clinic will serve local animal shelters and rescue operations. That’s partly because the Covid-19 pandemic restricts how many people can visit at a time. With rescues, a single person can bring in a group of animals at the same time. In time, it will be open to the public. POPP has not set prices, but they will be “reasonable,” it said. POPP runs on a modest budget. It raised $182,000 in 2017, about half from contributions and the balance from services and government grants, according to its most recent report to the IRS. Expenses totaled a little more than $200,000. It ended the year with a little more than $600,000 in assets. POPP spent two decades raising money to buy a building. A state grant helped push it over the top. POPP also organizes yard sales, lemonade stands, a car raffle, its annual FurBall

and Santa Paws and other events which, coupled with the grant, made its dream a reality. The 2020 FurBall has been scrapped because of the pandemic. It is also a member of the WoofTrax community, a charitable app for dog-owners and walkers that directs donations to animal-related causes when they exercise. It is available on the Apple and Android platforms. POPP was set up in the mid-1990s to tackle the growing problem of cat and dog overpopulation by organizing affordable spay and neuter services to help pet owners who couldn’t afford it otherwise. It also organizes adoption events and promotes pets available for adoption on its Facebook page. “There are only so many homes for these pets,” Coughlin said. “Spay and neuter is an easy way to stop euthanasia.” POPP is separate from the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter and Control Services facility at 1312 S. 18th in Pasco, which serves as the home for animal control services for Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, as well as a nonprofit shelter. It is slated for replacement but has been delayed several times.

Simon Property Group, parent of Kennewick’s Columbia Center mall, is partnering with a real estate firm that specializes in redeveloping tired shopping centers to buy the retail and other assets of J.C. Penney Co. out of bankruptcy. Simon and Brookfield Property Partners announced their intent to purchase the retailer’s assets in a $1.75 billion cash-and-debt deal, CNN reported Sept. 9. Plano, Texas-based J.C. Penney filed for protection under Chapter 11 on May 15. The company said it would close 137 stores, though the Kennewick location wasn’t on the list. The Simon deal will give Columbia Center and its parent ownership of a greater share of its property because J.C. Penney owns its building and much of the parking lot around it. In 2019 the retailer sold a pad fronting Columbia Center Boulevard, which

PROOF, From page A13 find a spot that’s more than a vanilla shell,” he said. Stick+Stone is now owned by an employee who helped Miller get it started. The Pasco edition of Proof Gastropub shares a menu with Kennewick, though the distinct restaurants will have their own weekly specials. Proof’s niche is serving pub fare – burgers, steaks, salads, fish and chips – made from high quality ingredients. The restaurant caters to young fami-

is being developed as a strip mall with Starbuck’s, MOD Pizza and a burger chain as tenants. Analysts hailed the deal as a way for Simon to keep a major anchor store open in its malls. But the involvement of Brookfield Property Partners, among the largest owners of real estate properties in the nation, could signal redevelopment of the massive property in the future. In 2018, Brian Kingston, Brookfield’s senior managing partner and chief executive officer, outlined the steps the company has taken to revive flagging malls by adding multifamily development in a presentation to investors. At the time, Brookfield had just closed a deal to buy GGP Inc., a Chicago-based mall operator, for $15 billion. The deal, the company noted in its investor presentation, gave it 125 “development sites” across the country. A transcript of the presentation is posted at bit.ly/BrookfieldMallPresentation.

lies and couples on date nights in west Pasco, as well as visitors using the nearby sports complex and HAPO Center. “Pasco is booming. It’s got a ton of people and not a lot of Proof-type dining options. We saw it as a good opportunity,” Miller said. Miller also owns Power Up Arcade Bar next to the Kennewick Proof. It is closed because of the pandemic but will reopen when it is allowed under the state’s Safe Start program. Online: proofgastropub.com

Real Estate & Construction

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Duportail gets a spruce up as Richland preps its new bridge By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Two high-profile intersections on Duportail Street in south Richland are getting makeovers as the city prepares to open its new Yakima River span to through-traffic this fall. Granite Construction Co. began a $1.3 million project to add turn lanes at the intersections with Queensgate Drive and Keene Road after winning the contract in July. Granite Construction, which is based in Watsonville, California, and specializes in infrastructure development, is using a vacant 11-acre site at Duportail and Keene as a staging area for the work. Its construction gear is highly visible to passersby, prompting curiosity about what was happening. Granite got off to a bumpy start when it accidentally struck a Cascade Natural Gas line that crosses the site on Aug. 18. The resulting gas leak temporarily closed Queensgate businesses, snarled traffic and prompted a regionwide emergency alert to avoid the area. GRAZE, From page A1 land location by thinning demand for parking at The Parkway. The restaurant closed for more than four weeks because of the pandemic in the spring. It reopened to strong demand for pickup orders as Richland customers realized it was easier to park at The Parkway in a pandemic. The couple signed the Park Place lease only 19 days before Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. All four locations endured long closures because of the pandemic. The main kitchen shut down for more than a month after a feared exposure. Since reopening, business has returned to 90% to 95% of normal. Lastoskie hasn’t estimated the pandemic’s impact on annual revenue, but he isn’t complaining. “We feel very lucky,” he said. The Park Place apartment and retail complex was originally set to open in July. But construction fell more than six weeks behind schedule when the stay-home shut down most private construction. Lastoskie expects it will take six to eight weeks of construction to complete the interior. The space includes an outdoor patio as well.

The staging site is not being developed, according to the Kennewick Irrigation District, which owns it. The Duportail Corridor Improvement Project will add turn lanes at both intersections to ease changing traffic patterns when the $32 million Duportail Bridge opens this fall, linking central Richland to Queensgate. The city’s bridge contractor, Apollo Inc., has completed the bridge project and is completing a second phase to connect it with Highway 240 to the east. Neighboring residents are using the bridge, but it is inaccessible to throughtraffic until it ties to the bypass highway. The Keene-Duportail intersection will gain a northbound turn lane to Duportail. The Queensgate-Duportail intersection will add a northbound lane from Duportail to Queensgate, and an eastbound lane from Duportail to Queensgate. The work will wrap up in November, after the bridge opens, said Pete Rogalsky, Richland’s public works director. The city engineer estimated the corridor improvement work would cost about $900,000. Granite Construction submit-

He’s hesitant to pin down an exact opening date, citing the unexpected developments of 2020. Graze will occupy part of the more southern of the two retail pads at Park Place, said Mark Lambert, president of Crown Group, the Chicago developer that partnered with Richland-based Boost Builds to develop Park Place at Richland’s entrance. It is one of the region’s most prominent construction projects and Richland is hanging its dreams of a vital central city core on its success. Both retail buildings have space for lease, not surprising as the pandemic slowed all leasing activity, Lambert said. He expects interest to pick up when the complex opens, and the parking lot is ready for guests. There is 1,560 square feet of space available next to Graze in the 610 building. Neighboring 620 George Washington Way has 3,360 square feet, which can be divided down to about 1,000 square feet. Details are posted at ParkPlaceRetail. com The team also is signing leases and taking deposits on rental units in the four-

1304 E. Hillsboro St., Pasco, WA (509) 545-8420 • skoneirrigation.com

TCAJOB photo Granite Construction Co. began a $1.3 million project to add turn lanes at the intersections with Queensgate Drive and Keene Road after winning the contract in July.

ted the low bid of $1.1 million. Apollo Inc. of Kennewick bid $1.36 million and Goodman & Mehlenbacher Ent. Inc. of Kennewick bid $1.14 million. The $1.3 million budget includes costs

associated with design and right-of-way acquisition. It is being paid for with a combination of real estate excise taxes and the traffic impact fees Richland collects from developers.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Graze – A Place to Eat will move its Richland location to Park Place, 610 George Washington Way, by the end of the year. It is the first tenant to lease retail space in the prominent mixed-use development at the city’s entrance.

story elevator-served residence with underground parking and Class A amenities. Rent starts at more than $1,000 a month for studio units. The high-profile Park Place property was a flashpoint in Richland politics for years after a failed development left the site partially excavated. The city, which owned the property, wanted a development befitting the city’s entrance. In 2016, it reaffirmed its commitment to Crown and a version of its mixeduse vision when it rejected a popular pro-

posal to install a public market there. The Crown Group and Boost Builds broke ground on the $20 million development in early 2019 after they closed the deal to buy the land from the city for $836,000. The project is financed by a private loan backed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development. Apartment rental information is posted at parkplacerichland.com. Fowler General Construction of Richland is the general contractor. TVA Architects of Portland is the designer.

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Real Estate & Construction

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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Bravo Ventures LLC has completed a one-story stucco office building with nearly 3,600 square feet of Class A space. Suite 110 at 2055 Steptoe St. in Richland will serve as the home office for Prodigy Homes Inc. The other side of the building, Suite 120, includes 1,647 square feet of space available for lease. Asking rent is $22 per square foot plus triple net, an agreement where the tenant agrees to pay all real estate taxes, building insurance and maintenance. Knutzen Engineering designed the project. Prodigy Homes Inc. served as general contractor. Leasing is managed by Jazmine Murillo of NAI Tri-Cities, 509-792-0428 or jazmine@naitcc.com.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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Boost Builds is completing a remodel of 1100 Jadwin Ave., part of the Tri-Cities Professional Center and a key to urban renewal in central Richland. The $4 million remodel is refashioning the five-story, 52,000-square-foot office building, Richlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest privately-owned office structure. It is expected to be complete in September. Jenna Coddington of Paragon Equity Management is the leasing manager. She can be reached at jenna@paragonm.com or 509-5398048. Chervenell Construction of Kennewick is the general contractor. MMEC Architecture of Kennewick designed the project.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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DermaCare Tri-Cities, a medical spa, dermatology and aesthetics clinic, has opened in a new location at 1295 Fowler St. in Richland. The 30,000-square-foot medical office building and spa was developed by Familia Smith LLC, with W McKay Construction LLC serving as general contractor. Gesa Credit Union financed it. The DermaCare team is led by Dr. Sidney Smith, a board-certified dermatologist. Smith opened DermaCare of Tri-Cities on Pittsburgh Street in 2007 and moved to Gage Boulevard on 2009. Smith bought the 2.5-acre Fowler Street site in 2011.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

Port of Pasco seeks new economic development director By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

The longtime head of economic development for the Port of Pasco has a new job. Gary Ballew joined Greater Spokane Incorporated as vice president for economic development on Sept. 8. The Port of Gary Ballew Pasco is reviewing applications for his old job, director of economic development and marketing, which has an annual salary range of $94,250 to $132,500. The deadline to apply was Sept. 7. In Spokane, Ballew joins an organization that represents 925 businesses and serves to promote business and economic development. Ballew said it is comparable to his Pasco job, but on a larger scale in a larger city. GSI is equivalent to a combination of the Tri-City Development Council and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, he said. In his new role, Ballew works with economic development officials across Spokane County to recruit and retain business.

Ballew joined the Pasco port as director of economic development and marketing in 2013. Prior to that, he held positions with the Wine Science Center Development Authority, the city of Richland and Benton County. Ballew said he’s proud of the work the Pasco port has done to market the Tri-Cities Airport, which is owned and operated by the port. Prior to the pandemic, it posted rising passenger levels as it worked to convince the region’s residents to fly local instead of driving to larger airports on the west side. He said he’s also proud of securing 300 acres of farmland for the future Reimann Industrial Center, named for the late port Commissioner Ron Reimann. The site, about a mile north of Pasco Processing Center in north Pasco, will provide much needed room to expand the region’s industrial land base. While he considers himself a TriCitian, Ballew has ties to the Spokane region. He is a Washington State University graduate. And as a child, his family lived in Canada where his father worked on hydroelectric projects. Every year on the Fourth of July, he would bring the family to Spokane to celebrate the Fourth and remind his children that they were Americans.

ROJAS, From page A7 benefits of taking a long view. To ensure a mature canopy, the city routinely plants young trees near aging ones. He prefers larger saplings — three inches or more across — because they can stand up to the damaging curiosity of children. The city seldom loses a newly planted tree because it takes care to put them in the right spot, with the right water. When their old friends must be removed, the young trees have matured enough to take on their place. Rojas said the city tries to be transparent about tree maintenance. It posts notices when trees are set for removal. The area near the tennis courts, south of Lee Boulevard, is a good example of how pairing new with old has paid off. Four oaks quietly matured near two towering elms along the eastern fence. When the elms had to be removed, a mature line of trees was already in place and the elms were not missed. The urban forestry program Rojas leads is a big part of Richland’s great network of parks, said Joe Schiessl, who leads the parks and recreation system. “He’s created a legacy for future generations. It’s something he should be very proud of,” he said. Rojas is mindful too that Richlanders love their trees and are quick to object to them being cut down. Once, when the city hosted a tree care conference, several trees were marked with yellow ribbons as part of the program, triggering alarmed calls.

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Rojas is no fan of removing trees. But he will not shy away from the job either, pointing out several spots where trees once stood. “I don’t like taking down trees though,” he said. He credits the diligent scrutiny and a commitment to tree health, which includes removing hazardous trees, for the overall health of Richland’s urban forest. Rojas said he’s most proud that there have been no falling limb injuries during his tenure as chief arborist. Rojas, one of two certified arborists with the city, inspects trees prior to major events such as the Art in the Park. He’s confident the attention to the city’s trees will continue when he’s gone. The city will name a new chief arborist, Schiessl said. Rojas moved with his family to the Tri-Cities in 1963. He went through Pasco High School and took courses at Columbia Basin College and Washington State University to become a certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. He joined the city in 1978 as a temporary maintenance worker. He soon landed a full-time job and held a series of positions in parks, then the landfill and then energy services before becoming the parks maintenance lead in 1989 — the year of the storm — and lead arborist in 1994. “It’s been a good ride,” he said.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

7,271 Washington businesses got free pandemic advice and yours can too As businesses deal with a new reality and “business as usual” takes on an entirely new meaning, most businesses need to rethink and retool how they do business to survive. A pivot plan is critical. Being a small business owner can often feel lonely, with the world, clients and employees weighing on their shoulders. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) want one message to ring clear for businesses figuring out a pivot plan: You are not alone. The SBDC network is the largest resource partner funded by the SBA and provides one-on-one business advising at no cost to entrepreneurs. Whether it’s creating a resiliency plan, navigating options for financing, reworking a marketing plan or establishing new operations systems, SBDC-certified advisers walk business owners through their options so they can confidently make tough decisions about their business. If they haven’t already updated their business plan, business owners should be taking these three steps now: • Determine how customers’ needs and wants may have changed due to the pandemic, and respond accordingly. • Evaluate business operations to find opportunities to work smarter and more cost efficiently. • Review financials, short-term goals and long-term goals to have a viable plan to move forward. SBDC advisors are actively helping Washington businesses with these things already. In fact, 7,271 small businesses have received technical guidance from the Washington SBDC since March in the form of confidential one-on-one advising and public training webinars. Plus, SBDC advisers helped 1,044 Washington small businesses get approved for more than $38.9 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, SBA COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and EIDL Advances. Working together with local partners, SBA staff and SBDC advisors educated small businesses about the financing programs and helped guide business owners through the process. And both of our organizations continue to guide businesses through the PPP forgiveness process and SBA Debt Relief programs, among other coronavirus business support. Thanks to additional funding from the CARES Act, the SBA provided the

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Washington SBDC with additional funding that has been used to offer indepth technical guidance to small business Jeremy Field that employ U.S. Small more than Business 104,386 fullAdministration time jobs and GUEST COLUMN 55,822 parttime jobs. For example, when panic started to set in for the owners of Pure Bliss Desserts in Bellingham, they turned to their SBDC advisor who helped them identify and focus on the most productive actions they could make for their business. With his guidance, they focused on three channels of service: grab-and-go orders, whole cake pre-orders and dessert delivery service. He helped them through the PPP application process, and, with help from the PPP and their SBDC advisor, owner Andrea Vann says her business is back on track for long-term sustainability. This is not the first obstacle small businesses have had to face.

It will not be the last either. One thing is for certain though: for decades, the SBA and Washington SBDC have Duane Fladland been there to Washington Small Business empower small Development Center businesses to weather the GUEST COLUMN storm and we’ll continue to do so through every stage of a business’ life cycle. Jeremy Field is the regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration Pacific Northwest Region which serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. The SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses with resources to start, grow, expand or recover. Duane Fladland is the state director of the Washington Small Business Development Center, an SBA-funded Resource Partner. The SBDC network provides management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses.

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uBUSINESS BRIEF Energy Northwest records third-highest generation record

Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station, which produced nearly 9.6 million megawatt-hours of carbonfree electricity during its last fiscal year, recently recorded its third-highest generation record and demonstrated its flexibility. Earlier this summer, the Bonneville Power Administration asked Energy Northwest to reduce power generation for several days for economic supply and demand management. That changed in August, however, when BPA requested a “no touch” order for Columbia for nine consecutive days and again this month. Bonneville, which markets the electricity produced at Columbia, asked for the restriction due to an increased demand for electricity due to high temperatures. The order limits any maintenance activity that would either require a reduction in power or pose a risk to sustaining 100% generation. A “no touch” order is occasionally requested by BPA when unusually hot or cold weather increases demand for electricity. Columbia has the capability to produce 1,207 megawatts, which is enough electricity to power about a million households, or a city the size of Seattle and much of its metro area. It is the third largest electricity generator in the state.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 uBUSINESS BRIEFS Hanford transitions to Phase 2 operations

Hanford workers transitioned to Phase 2 operations on Aug. 31 as they continue through the phased ramp up of operations on the nuclear reservation. This transition reflects community conditions as well as a commitment to preventing the spread of Covid-19 on the site, through continued use of face coverings, frequent hand washing and social distancing. Site leadership will continue to assess community conditions, including health care system capacity, testing availability and site conditions. During Phase 2, work scope includes field work that may require larger work teams and more extensive personal protection equipment use. Information about the remobilization plans and activities is posted on Hanford’s Covid-19 intranet page at rl.gov/page.cfm/ COVID-19.

United Way launches campaign kickoff month

In lieu of its annual campaign kickoff luncheon event, United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties is conducting a virtual kickoff throughout the month of September. This year’s campaign theme is “United, we shape the future” and events feature daily information and resources on how the community can unite to improve the lives for everyone via video discussions with representatives from local agencies providing critical services in education, job skills training, mental and behavior health, and health care access. Also expect to hear from local supporters about why the nonprofit’s mission is important and how people can get involved through virtual volunteering and how to double their donations through matching opportunities. At the end of the month, United Way will announce a new slate of funded partners that will be receiving grant funding through the end of 2021. Follow United Way on Facebook and Instagram or go to uwbfco.org/campaignkickoff-month.

Tri-Cities Wine Festival canceled

The 42nd annual Tri-Cities Wine Festival has been canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The event, which typically draws more than 1,000 attendees, was set for Nov. 14 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Ted Davis, president of the Tri-Cities Wine Society, said the board concluded it would not be possible to hold the event because of restrictions on gatherings. The wine festival includes a judged competition and public tasting event. It is the longest continuously judged wine festival in the Northwest dating to 1979. Updates will be posted at tricitieswinesociety.com.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 State business survey finds majority managing downturn

Working from home inspires colleagues to form new Tri-City marketing agency By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

60%

of businesses report they are suffering because of pandemic

of businesses say they are struggling and may not survive

23%

of businesses report they are largely unchanged by pandemic

Source: AWB

Survey finds Washington employers hit hard by pandemic By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

A statewide survey finds a majority of employers are managing their way through the downturn despite significant declines in revenue, supply chain disruptions and other challenges. It found that 60% of respondents said business has suffered as a result of the pandemic, but they are finding ways to manage through the challenges, while 7% said their business is struggling and may not survive. Nearly a quarter of respondents, or 23%, reported business is largely unchanged by the pandemic. The survey of 457 Washington employers was conducted by the Association of Washington Business over the course of two weeks in August. Some of the ways businesses are responding to the challenges include laying off staff, delaying new hires and participating in aid programs such as the federal Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Sixty-five percent of respondents reported receiving funds through the PPP and 18% reported using Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Six percent said they have used the state of Washington’s SharedWork program. Nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) reported laying off workers as a result of the pandemic and 27% said they delayed hiring. However, most employers don’t anticipate further layoffs in the short term. Sixty percent said they are not planning to lay off workers in

the next 30 days, compared with 4% that said they will need to lay off additional workers during the next month. Another 7% said they plan to reduce hours for employees or contract workers. When asked about ways the state could assist employers during the economic downturn, respondents strongly favored a reduction in the business and occupation tax. Forty-four percent said they believe a B&O reduction would be the best way for the state to help businesses recover, followed by an unemployment insurance rate freeze (22%) and a workers’ compensation rate holiday (18%). With school underway throughout the state in a virtual format, child care is significant workforce concern for many employers. More than half of respondents (54%) said they have employees who are either “somewhat concerned” or “definitely concerned” about access to affordable, high-quality child care, and 9% said child care is a major issue for their business. The vast majority of survey respondents were small businesses, with 80% employing fewer than 100 people. Thirty-seven percent of survey respondents employ 10 or fewer people. Respondents came from a broad crosssection of industry types, with services or professional representing the largest portion (27%) followed by manufacturing (20%), construction (10%) and retail (8%) with the remaining 35% coming from various sectors.

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Barrett Pryce and his peers worked together for years, doing brand development and web design, first in Pasco at ImageWorks and then through a series of businesses after that folded into a larger company, Vivid Learning Systems. “We developed our skills over the last eight years working together. We dreamed of working together with our own business,” Pryce said. Now, courtesy the Covid-19 crisis and the need to work from home, they’re making it a reality. In August, Pryce together with Chris Collier, Josh Pratt and Seth Burnett – all under the age of 40 - launched Swing, a Tri-City creative marketing firm that takes its name from a baseball swing as well as a sense of freedom. Pryce said Swing aims to build a national profile. There’s no reason to leave the growing Tri-Cities to make it happen. “We’re here because we’re natives. We have families here. This is where we choose to raise our families,” he said. “We want to bring an agency presence that is every bit as talented and ambitious as an agency on the west side.” Pryce jokes that he can enjoy brunch on the west side if he leaves early enough. The rest of the time, “I don’t have to do a 45-minute commute.” “There’s just a tremendous amount of opportunity here,” he said. The team has secured a federal tax ID and business license and launched a website, weareswing.com in early September. The temporary placeholder on the site until they build it out? A GIF of a pug in a swing, a nod to the company’s name.

The big challenge is to get noticed. How, Pryce wondered, do you hold a launch party in a pandemic? While they will focus on web development and design, copywriting and content creation, they will take on anything. “The thing we’re best at is business to business lead generation and demand generation. That’s the thing we really do. All the disciplines feed into that,” he said. As a small firm, Swing aims to be “scrappy” and take on projects that delight customers. Pryce left his former job and is working at Swing full time. His three partners are keeping their current positions. There will be no physical office for the time being. Pryce is a Pasco High School graduate who attended the University of Washington then graduated from Eastern Washington University. He worked in Olympia until he married and came home to raise his family in the sunshine. Josh Pratt, from Finley, is another Eastern Washington graduate with nearly 20 years of experience building websites, including many for local entities. Chris Collier specializes in digital advertising and search engine optimization. He is a Washington State University graduate and is the “super connector” of the group. “He knows everybody,” Pryce said. Seth Burnett, a Kennewick native, is another WSU graduate. He specializes in digital design and has worked locally for years. “We’re midcareer professionals who are wanting to go out and do our own thing,” Pryce said. Reach Swing at hello@weareswing. com or 509-531-4747.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Survey: Tri-Citians expect to return to skies soon

Nearly half of Tri-Citians either continued to travel by air during the pandemic or expect to return to flying within three months, according to a passenger survey conducted for the Port of Pasco, which owns and operates the Tri-Cities Airport. The survey was conducted online in June and July and drew 468 responses. • 8% reported they never stopped flying, 40% expected to resume flying in one to three months and 28% expected to resume in four to six months. Only 18% said they wouldn’t fly within six months. • The survey revealed people feel they’re most at risk of exposure to the vi-

rus that causes Covid-19 when they’re on the plane, followed by exposure to other passengers and restrooms. • The most popular airport services included availability of grab-and-go meals, water-filling stations and rental cars as well as taxies and ride-share pickup areas. • The majority want to see airport workers and employees wear masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment. The survey showed 80% of respondents said they felt “comforted” by the use of protective equipment and 11% said it made them nervous. Not all results add up to 100% because some respondents didn’t answer all questions. Survey results are posted at bit.ly/TriCityAirTravelSurvey.

RiverFest 2020 heads online

The 2020 edition of the annual RiverFest will be held online from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 10. The celebration of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima rivers is hosted by the city of Richland, Visit Tri-Cities, the Tri-City Development Council and a half dozen more civic organizations. Details will be posted on the RiverFest 2020 Facebook page.

Chaplaincy Health event will be held online

Chaplaincy Health Care’s annual “Lighting the Path” fundraising breakfast will be held online this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be held at 8 a.m. Nov. 4. The

event provides support to Chaplaincy Health Care and those it helps with hospice, grief, crisis and related services. Table hosts are organizing guests to watch the event together. Contact Heather Filbin, development coordinator, at heatherf@chaplaincyhealthcare.org.

Kreidler extends 2 emergency coronavirus orders State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically-necessary diagnostic testing for Covid-19 are both extended until Sept. 27. Kreidler’s order waiving cost-sharing applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term limited duration medical plans. The order on surprise billing applies to both in-state and out-ofstate laboratories, when a provider orders diagnostic testing for Covid-19.

Children’s Development Center has envelope for you

The Children’s Development Center has pivoted from its traditional fundraiser to an online “Envelope Challenge” it hopes will raise $45,000 to support disabled children. The nonprofit is offering 300 envelopes online with dollar values ranging from $1 to $300. Supporters claim an envelope that corresponds to their donation. The electronic envelopes will be swapped for physical ones. Supporters will receive random gift cards provided by TriCity businesses. Go to envelopechallenge.org/cuisine2020/ for details. The challenge replaces the annual Cuisine de Vin at Terra Blanca Winery, which had to be canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Auction of Washington Wines raises $1.74M

The 33rd annual Auction of Washington Wins charity event raised $1.74 million for charity after moving to an online format the week of Aug. 11-15 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The online auctions and livestreamed gala generated funds for Seattle Children’s, Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology Program research and for the auction itself. The prepandemic event raised a record $4.5 million in 2019. Top auction items included a postpandemic pool party hosted by Seattle rapper Macklemore, a trip to London for the premier of the next James Bond movie and a chance to explore Napa, California with Karen MacNeil, the auction’s honorary chair. “We are so grateful for the incredible show of support for the Washington wine industry, which is such a key part of the overall Washington state economy,” said AWW board president Beth McCaw. Seattle Bank was the presenting sponsor for the 2020 event.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Kamiakin High athletic star shines as engineer, entrepreneur EDIT Editor’s note: This Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business feature, Tri-City Connections, is part of a series of occasional profiles of Tri-City natives and former Tri-Citians who have excelled in the world of business. If you have one in mind, let us know at info@tcjournal.biz. By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Khadidja Toure shines on so many fronts that it’s only natural her battle with acne would inspire the Tri-City native to launch a skin care line. Toure, 26, was an unquestioned standout at Kennewick’s Kamiakin High School – in the classroom, on the basketball court and on the track. The 5-foot-9 point guard and her younger sister, Sira, attracted attention for their fast moves and competitive play. As a basketball player, Toure averaged 21.2 points per game and shattered Kamiakin’s 27-year scoring record when she scored 48 points in a lopsided win against Yakima’s West Valley High in 2012, the year she graduated. She racked up player-of-the-year awards and was named to countless all-star teams, including the Tri-City Herald’s All Area Girls Basketball Most Valuable Player in 2012 and the Columbia Basin Big Nine 3A Player of the Year for both 2011 and 2012. Toure, the daughter of Bourama Toure and Aissata Sidibe, excelled off the court too, said Don Schumacher, Kamiakin’s now-retired athletic director. “She was a wonderful girl. She was an outstanding student. She was an outstanding all-state basketball player,” he recalled. Kamiakin’s former basketball coach, Tammy Hutchison, agreed. “Whatever she does, she goes all out to do her best,” said Hutchison, who is now assistant principal at Kennewick’s Desert Hills Middle School. For all the admiration she inspired, Toure agonized in private about the persistent acne she would conceal under makeup. Not that she didn’t try to clear her skin. She used the traditional African creams her mother and aunts prepared in their kitchen. The remedies left their home smelling

Khadidja Toure

pleasantly of cocoa butter and shea butter, but the acne persisted. She worried her classmates were looking at her acne, not her. Peers matured into acne-free adults. She didn’t. Her skin problems persisted through college. She lays at least part of the blame on her athletic career, first at Oregon State University and then following a transfer, at East Carolina University. She played Division 1 basketball through college. Her punishing schedule started with pre-class practice and left little time for a skin care regimen. High-quality skin care products were beyond her college student means. Her woes persisted after she graduated with a degree in biomedical engineering, following the family’s engineering tradition. She began a job that required flying two to three times a week, often overseas. If anything, the constant travel worsened her acne, even as she experimented with promising products and treatments. She remembers coming home and looking at her mother’s unblemished face. “We’re going to start investing in my skin,” she recalled thinking. She learned that a big price usually did not translate into performance when it comes to skin care products, which are unregulated. Commercial brands contain the same ingredients as household cleaners. “Marketing isn’t your friend,” she said. She focused her academic skills on re-

searching how different ingredients affected the skin. She used her globe-trotting career to conduct on-the-ground research into traditional African and Asian skin care practices. She traveled regularly to India, often spending weeks at a time in the country. She used weekends to explore the region, taking cheap flights to far flung quarters in search of the kinds of local information she’d learned from her mother and aunts in their Kennewick kitchen. She said she would just ask about local expertise at hotels and invariably found people were eager to talk about local practices. She learned about African cocoa butter and how Sri Lankans use cinnamon. In China, she learned that cupping — using heated glasses to create a vacuum that draws toxins out of skin — isn’t just for bodies. It can be used on faces too. Her journey led her to create her own skin care line in partnership with a contract manufacturer in Los Angeles, where she lives and works as a senior business analyst for Cognizant. The vegan, cruelty-free Kubra Kay Skin Care line launched in July 2019. Toure specified the mix of ingredients she wanted and worked with a chemist to produce the textures she wanted. The manufacturer sources ingredients, with instructions from Toure to follow fair trade practices to ensure vendors are not taken advantage of. Her mission and passion are to give men and women products that are natural and give confidence. Her young brand has been featured in national media, with write-ups in popular magazines. Yahoo Lifestyle touted her as

a biomedical engineer turned entrepreneur “whose beauty products will make your skin glow.” She wrote a first-person account of her journey for Women’s Health. Kubra Kay is as small as it is young. Toure and her newly hired assistant are the lone employees. She contracts with the Los Angeles manufacturer and with a marketing agency and a graphics firm. She is more interested, she said, in formulas and performance, than in designing packages. She is committed to using recycled materials. For that, she imports bottles from China. She hopes to add a retail to her business and dreams of making it a full-time occupation. But for now, she’s keeping her engineering job.

She’s mindful that the acne that once tortured her as a girl inspired her to become an entrepreneur. “I am very shocked that I would go into skin care. For some reason, I thought I would go into fashion. But everything I did led me to this point,” she said. If she could speak to her younger self, she would encourage her to hold on. “Keep on going girl!” is what she would say. Her product line includes creams as well as skin care tools such as face-friendly cupping devices, a facial massager and a dermal roller and are available at kubrakayskincare.com. Hutchison, her high school coach, isn’t surprised that the hard work is paying off. “I’m very proud of Khadidja and the line she put out there,” she said. “I knew she would succeed at whatever she tried.”

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Leadership Development

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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Investing in the next generation fosters trust As we look around our community and marvel at how far we’ve come in such little time, it is essential to reflect on our own personal development and examine whether a similar transformation has taken place. The Tri-Cities has truly become a metropolis, with schools, restaurants and new housing developments popping up around every corner. We should be proud to have contributed to its progress. While buildings, parks and homes are important features of a great community, the foundation remains its people. As our community grows, it is imperative that leaders pass down more than a building and a name. The virtues that contributed to their true success – the power of hustle, teamwork and patience – also should be inherited by the next generation. Coach John Wooden once said, “A role model is the most powerful form of educating. Too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living, they forget to make a life.” Similarly, managers and leaders often focus too much on the company’s year-to-year goals and spend little to no deliberate time nurturing their people or their environment. So, what can we do as leaders to foster better work environments for our teams? If you look carefully at

all successful organizations, you will notice a similar trait: They set and communicate clear goals that guide everyone toward a comWilliam Wang mon cause. What are you trying to achieve? Are you lending people money or helping them finance their dreams? Are you selling homes or building families? What does the company perceive as success and does each individual team member know the impact of their role? Most businesses have a single statement that spells out their vision but have page after page of rules and procedures in their employee manual. How can your team overachieve if they are told how to reach a specific goal more often than they’re told why it’s a goal worth reaching? The truth is we fixate on rules and procedures because they are easier to manage than people, but you don’t teach with rules. You teach by connecting with your audience. It all starts with knowing where you are going. In our business, we call it a “Just Cause,” a reason for our existence and a future state we hope to achieve one day.

This doesn’t mean you don’t track your sales numbers or set short-term goals. As a bank and trust company, we track many key performance indicators. The big difference is forgetting a ratio or missing a sales target will never send our business off course. Our “Just Cause,” however, is something we can never afford to lose. Second, create a safe place for open lines of communication up and down the organization. Communication is the Swiss Army knife that allows your team to handle the inevitable challenges you are bound to face. It fosters trust and encourages vulnerability. Famous author and leadership advocate Simon Sinek famously said, “A team is not a group of people that work together. A team is a group of people that trust each other.” Developing an environment where everyone can be honest takes time and a painstaking amount of patience, but if you are successful, you will find your employees are far more curious than you thought and add more value than you ever expected. In our business, we have instituted a book club that meets in organized roundtables where all team members, regardless of title or position, can read, learn and share new ideas that make their departments more effective. We also have a year-round internship

program with a dedicated internship director who builds their curriculum and owns their overall professional experience within our organization. These are just two simple ideas we have used to nurture both our new and existing talent. These programs have been instrumental in building trust because they force genuine communication. Leaders and managers learn to listen, and empowered team members develop the courage to use their voice. Finally, genuine care for others should be the bedrock on which all of humanity is built, not just business. Author Brené Brown once said, “Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.” After all, we are all imperfect and striving to be better for those we serve. Remember to offer others the same courtesy you were given as you transformed into the leader you are today. Invest in their development wholeheartedly and be courageously vulnerable with them. If we improve marginally each day, there is no doubt in my mind our community will be in great hands for generations to come, and our “Just Cause” intact for someone else to push forward. William Wang, a certified financial planner, is the president of HFG Trust in Kennewick.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

Leadership Development

Program aims to help you master your leadership style Ninety-two percent of U.S. employees say learning something new on the job makes them more motivated and engaged in their work, and 79% say that it’s important to them that their employer offers a formal training program. Yet 51% say their companies don’t offer soft-skills training, and only 17% say they’ve participated in management skills training. (Training, November/December 2019) LeaderLauncher, a Tri-Cities leadership development program for emerging leaders and young professionals, trains high-potential employees for taking the reins of positions above them in the near future. It is completing its first year this month. The idea was born after the Young Professionals of the Tri-Cities (YPTC) ran its course and ended a few years ago, after striving to form a community that focused on community involvement, nonprofit volunteerism and professional development. Who is the best fit for LeaderLauncher? It’s for those who are learners, those who seek to be mentored, and who want to increase their influence in their organization and their community. It’s for those who have had a “taste of leadership” and enjoy serving others enough that they aspire to positions where they can make a positive difference in fellow employees’ lives. There really isn’t an age-cap for those in the LeaderLauncher program. As long as you want to develop leadership proficiencies as part of your professional

development, LeaderLauncher is for you. The program’s registration fee covers 12 months. Current team leaders benefit Paul Casey from sending their people to LeaderLauncher. Most supervisors have, in their annual goals, some desire to develop their direct reports. However, the day-to-day duties of running a business or a department often get in the way of people development time. LeaderLauncher comes alongside bosses to assist in the training of their emerging leaders, some of whom might replace them in their succession plan when they move on to greater opportunities. How does the Tri-Cities benefit from LeaderLauncher? It raises the water level of leadership in our community, one stronger leader at a time, especially as the current generation of leaders retires in the next five to 10 years, leaving a huge gap for emerging leaders to fill. And they need solid training. The investment in the participants pays off when they leave LeaderLauncher sessions with an action plan to apply and discuss back at work with their supervisors and colleagues. LeaderLauncher has had to adapt to

the Covid world by shifting LeaderLauncher to the virtual Zoom world for most of its Tuesday afternoon trainings this year, after starting the 2019-20 inaugural year live in the training room of Retter & Company Sotheby’s International Realty on Kellogg Street, where the participants began forming relationships with each other. Networking with like-minded learners was one of the initial goals of the program. Josh Toner of Basin Pacific Insurance and Benefits commented that “I am always in a search for people that want to grow, and LeaderLauncher is an incubator for people at different levels of some sort of growth.” Toner is a millennial, a now-dominant generation group in the workplace, 65% of whom say they want more formal classroom training. (Read more about Toner on page B15.) Along with Basin Pacific, some of the first companies to enroll their emerging leaders were AccountSense, Lamb Weston, Columbia Basin College, Northwest Farm Credit Services, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Participants who are unable to attend a session may send a substitute to get the full value for their annual investment. Melissa Hall of Lamb Weston believes “LeaderLauncher has been a great resource for building leadership skills. I continue to pull useful techniques for optimizing team members and creating a

long-term vision for my team.” Dalton Cannon of Gravis Law also has grown from LeaderLauncher participation: “My interpersonal and workplace communication have improved directly from the courses I’ve taken with LeaderLauncher.” Cannon and the 26 others who joined LeaderLauncher in its first year have learned from topics ranging from personal development (avoiding burnout, time management, setting goals) to leadership development (navigating difficult conversations, casting vision, giving presentations). Though anyone can sign up in any month, year two will offer training on 12 more leadership proficiencies and will feature guest speakers throughout the year. There is potential for a board-ready program, too, similar to YPTC’s excellent program of recent years. LeaderLauncher has a big vision: All Tri-City young professionals understanding and mastering their leadership style, multiplying their positive impact to all who follow them. To learn more about LeaderLauncher as an emerging leader yourself, or if you are a supervisor wanting your team developed into leaders, go to leaderlauncher.com. Paul Casey is the owner of Growing Forward Services and lead trainer of LeaderLauncher.

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Leadership Development

Q&A

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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JAMES C. ALFORD

Owner/president JC Agriculture, In Season Produce, Premier Seed, 509 Custom Application, Desert River Farms

Employees you oversee: 40 Brief background of your business Multiple agricultural-based businesses providing seed and custom chemicals services along with an operational row crop farm and a direct-to-consumer produce stand. How did you land your current role? How long have you been in it? I am a third-generation farmer. I grew up on the farm and once I became involved out of high school, I started my own farm where I began to quickly expand and diversify outside of the family’s “potatoes only” business model. Why should the Tri-Cities care about agriculture? Farming, food processing and the industries that support it have a massive impact on our local and state economy in terms of revenue, jobs and taxes, but even more so, they are what our area was founded on. We are an area diversified in technology, innovation, food production, manufacturing, clean energy, but most of all, we are an area with a combination of good soils, large water supply and ideal climate to grow a multitude of crops which will only become more critical as the world population grows and resources become more scarce.

common sense, i.e. “safe spaces” and “snow-flakes.” If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your industry/ field? I would change the economics that would allow for a return to large margins in profit and a lower capital requirement in order to start farming. The next generation of farmers cannot survive in the current climate and that worries me. What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time? Get used to the discomfort of criticism because everyone has an opinion and loves to tell you what you are doing wrong. Who are your role models or mentors? I have many mentors and many role models. A short list of mentors would be my grandpa Clayton Alford, my dad Bryan Alford, and local farmer Frank Tiegs. My role models are Tim Ferris, Peter Attia, Ray Dalio and Mr. Money Mustache.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess? Humility.

How do you keep your employees motivated? I keep them motivated by assigning tasks that are complementary to their personality type and having very open dialogue. I am not a micromanager and most of my employees are self-starters who thrive in that environment.

What is the biggest challenge facing business owners/managers today? Growing movement of political correctness combined with a lack of

How did you decide to pursue the career that you are working in today? My entries into ventures such as In Season Produce and Premier Seed were

pure happenstance. I have never deliberately decided to jump into something, it more or less lands in my lap. How do you measure success in your workplace? When I can sense a positive vibe and a healthy feeling of team work, I know we are on the right track, but securing profits and avoiding losses is what keeps everyone employed. What do you consider your leadership style to be? My dad would call me an “over delegator,” but I honestly despise micromanaging. I prefer to help others grow by giving them all the tools they need to exceed, and being there for them when they end up in a situation that is beyond their skill level. You can explain a task to someone in the best of detail, but until they experience it first hand, they won’t truly understand. How do you balance work and family life? Very carefully. I move full speed in one direction, so for me, I am either 100% family or 100% work. I cannot multitask to save my life. What do you like to do when you are not at work? Learn. I am curious about all things in the world and get a huge kick out of the novelty in something new. I recently passed my wine sommelier course/

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James C. Alford

exam, I love random facts, and I have a long list of experiences and things that I would like to dive into over my lifetime. What’s your best time management strategy? iPhone calendar with time alert notifications for appointments. Best tip to relieve stress? Get at least 8 hours of sleep and practice some form of morning meditation to set your state of mind. What’s your favorite podcast? Favorite website? Favorite book? My favorite podcast is “The Drive” with Peter Attia. Favorite website is Barstool Sports and my favorite books are the “Four Hour Week” by Tim Ferris and “Principles” by Ray Dalio. Do you have a personal mantra, phrase or quote you like to use? “You can do anything you want, but you can’t do everything” and “Busy = out of control.”

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Forest fires aren’t pausing just because there’s a pandemic Not only is the world in the grasp of the Covid-19 pandemic, but America’s western wildlands are burning up as well. California Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters his state has dual crises: the massive wildfire complexes and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “At this time last year, California had seen 4,292 fires that burned 56,000 acres. So far this year, we’ve had 7,002 fires that have burned a whopping 1.4 million acres,” he said. California reports more than 660,000 coronavirus cases. In Washington, the gigantic Evans Canyon Fire burned more than 110 square miles between Naches and Ellensburg spewing thick smoke and ash northeastward. Wildfires threaten lives. Last year, an inferno swiftly swept through Paradise, California, killing 95 people. This September, National Guard helicopters swooped into the Mammoth Reservoir campgrounds east of Fresno just in time to rescue over 200 trapped campers. In 2017, the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge closed Interstate 84, delayed truck, rail and barge shipments, and added a thick layer of greenhouse gases, choking smoke and soot blanketing our region. Southwestern Washington’s air quality reached its highest hazard level in history prompting school closures. Mammoth forest fires have been around for centuries. In a single week in September 1902, the Yacolt Burn engulfed more than a half-million acres and killed 56 people in the Columbia River Gorge and around Mount St. Helens. The smoke was so thick that ships on the Columbia River were forced to navigate by compass and the streetlights in Seattle, 160 miles to the north, glowed

Don C. Brunell Business analyst

GUEST COLUMN

at noon. Forest fires are part of nature, but they are getting more dangerous and expensive to fight. As fires increase in size and intensity, suppression, environmental restoration and

mitigation costs soar. U.S. News reports the Department of Interior, most notably the U.S. Forest Service, spent an all-time high last year of more than $2.9 billion combating fires. That’s more than 12 times what was spent on suppression efforts in 1985. Insurance claims have topped $12 billion for the November 2019 wildfires in California, making them the most expensive in state history. That is a growing problem as our nation is being swallowed up by a skyrocketing national debt. It will soon will top $27 trillion thanks largely to the Covid-19 response meaning each American taxpayer would have to pony up $215,000 if our creditors called for immediate repayment. John Bailey, a professor of forest management at Oregon State University, told the Associated Press that megafires, those consuming 156 square miles, are increasing. He believes “part of the solution is thinning forests through logging, prescribed burns and allowing naturally occurring fires to be managed instead of extinguished.” Cutting diseased, dead and fire damaged trees is not new. In intermountain forests (eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia), loggers once salvaged beetle-killed trees and

sent them to rural sawmills to be cut into two-by-fours. That practice was severely curtailed 30 years ago, Knowing that mature trees are most susceptible to insects and disease, public forest managers once designed timber sales on small tracts as fire breaks. The logging and subsequent cleanup removed forest fuels which, in recent years, have been allowed to accumulate. Harvesting helped fund replanting and fire access road construction. Environmental mitigation techniques have dramatically improved resulting in clean water and unencumbered access for fish returning to natural spawning grounds.

Megafires are polluting our air, endangering our health and safety, and burning a bigger hole in our pocketbooks. By thinning, salvaging and logging, we could not only save expenses, but create jobs and bring in needed revenue to government. It really is time to revisit the way we are managing our forests. Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

Hanford treats over 2 billion gallons of groundwater

Workers at the Hanford site have marked the sixth consecutive year that Hanford has treated more than 2 billion gallons of groundwater to remove contamination from decades of past operations to produce plutonium The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and contractor CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company, (CHPRC), a Jacobs Company, have treated an average of 2.4 billion gallons of groundwater a year for the past five years. The agency and its contractor expect to reach that goal again when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

Hanford workers operate six treatment systems to remove radioactive and chemical contaminants from groundwater along the Columbia River and an area near the center of the Hanford site called the Central Plateau. This is where massive chemical processing facilities separated plutonium from fission products from the 1940s through the 1980s and discharged billions of gallons of contaminated liquids to soil disposal sites. Hanford has treated more than 23 billion gallons of groundwater and removed nearly 600 tons of contaminants since the first groundwater facilities began operating in the mid-1990s. The treatment systems have removed most of the chromium contamination along the Columbia River and hundreds of tons of

nitrates on the Central Plateau, as well as other contaminants of concern such as carbon tetrachloride, uranium and technetium-99.

Monical leaving as CEO of Pasco’s Lourdes Health

Rob Monical, chief executive officer of Pasco’s Lourdes Health since early 2019, will step down Sept. 22 to pursue another career opportunity. “I am honored to have been a part of Lourdes Health and the Tri-Cities area,” Monical said in a Sept. 11 statement announcing the move. “We have a wonderful team of dedicated employees, physicians and volunteers with a genuine commitment to advancing the health of their communities.”

Chief Operating Officer Chad Pew will serve as interim CEO, Lourdes said. Pew joined Lourdes in March 2019, coming from sister hospital, Trios Health in Kennewick, where he also served as COO. Monical was praised for his investment of time and energy at Lourdes. “During his tenure, Lourdes Health has continued to be recognized as a top orthopedics hospital in the state of Washington,” said Sandy Podley, western division president for LifePoint Health, which owns Lourdes and Trios. Podley called Monical’s departure “bittersweet.”

Royal Slope secures new AVA designation

A 156,389-acre swath of Grant County is Washington’s newest American Viticultural Area, or AVA. The Royal Slope AVA was designated Sept. 2 when the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau published the final rule to define it as a designated wine grape-growing region for its ideal topography, elevation and temperatures. Royal Slope AVA is contained within the preexisting Columbia Valley AVA. According to the Washington Wine Commission, there are 1,900 acres of more than 20 varieties of wine grapes planted within the area, where soils are formed from windblown silts, or “loess.” “The AVA is something of an island geographically that is surrounded on all four sides by very different lands,” said Alan Busacca, who co-wrote the AVA petition with Richard Rupp.

New CBC computer degrees transfer to four years

Columbia Basin College’s School of Computer Science is offering an associate in computer science degree that transfers directly to degree programs at public and private universities and colleges. The new degree is designed to help meet the local need for qualified programmers; currently there are more jobs for software developers than there are computer science graduates. “Computer science is a high-demand, high-wage field, and now local students will have an affordable option for completing their first two years of prerequisites here at CBC before transferring to a university,” said Rod Taylor, CBC’s dean for math, science and engineering. Washington universities honoring CBC’s include the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Gonzaga University, Heritage University and Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University and Whitworth University.

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uBUSINESS BRIEFS

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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No one wants to think about a will, but everyone needs a proper one Young families need wills. But, the legal profession has an admitted problem—the use of attorneys is expensive and can also be time consuming. It is also one of the many industries where technology has attempted to offer lower prices and better convenience. Probably the most notable example is the Do It Yourself will offered by various software providers. The idea of these DIY wills is that for a fraction of the price, you can create a will that is recognized by all 50 states and that offers the protection you and your family need. Regrettably, the end product can be more costly in the long run than simply having the will drafted by a competent attorney. Nonetheless, the young family should have a will. First, do you need a will? Yes. If you have more than an iPhone and pickup truck, you should have a will. If you have kids (and even if you only own an iPhone and pickup truck), you should have a will. In the unfortunate event of an unexpected death with a person doesn’t have a will, it means that the state dictates the distribution of assets. This means you don’t choose who is in charge of your estate, and it means that costs will be generally higher after death as your heirs work through the administrative details of settling your estate. You either get to create your own plan

or the state provides the default plan for you. One common myth is that the state gets your assets if you fail to Beau Ruff create a will. Cornerstone That is not Wealth Strategies true. The state GUEST COLUMN just says where your assets go (and they generally go to your family). Second, can you draft it yourself? A person is allowed to draft his or her own will without the help of an attorney. And, there is good software to assist. The problem is that too often, the drafter (you), doesn’t know how best to use the software. The drafter includes language that is ambiguous or implied that can cause massive problems after death. A common example is that a parent may want to leave money to a brother or sister for the care of the parent’s children. And, the parent neglects to include the proper trust language and instead creates a type of “implied trust” that requires court intervention to determine the appropriate terms of the trust that were left out. Sometimes, the drafter (you again) drafts a good will, but forgets to include other crucial documents (like a Commu-

nity Property Agreement), which again results in much higher costs. Sometimes, the drafter (yep, you again) fails to follow the required formalities to make the will effective (generally two witnesses and a notary signed in the presence of the testator – you). All told, in my experience, I think that most DIY wills end up failing in some material way. That is why it is hard to recommend that any person saves money by using a DIY software kit for his or her will. How do you include children in the will? Children under 18 generally can’t inherit your assets. Here again, the state offers some default rules to hold assets going to a minor in a custodial account. The better option is to include a trust in your will that specifies who is in charge (the “Trustee” of the trust), what the money can be used for and when the beneficiary child can have the money free of the trust. A common type of trust for a child would provide something like this: “all the assets will be held in trust for the benefit of my children until the oldest child attains the age of 30 at which point the assets will be distributed equally among my children.” Further, “until the time of distribution, the Trustee shall distribute assets for my children’s health, education, support and maintenance.” As you can see the trust protects the inheritance, but also provides necessary

funds to accommodate the children’s needs. One other piece to consider for your estate plan is term life insurance. If you’re not rich, you can nonetheless ensure that you can provide for your family by obtaining inexpensive term life insurance. It’s a great way to fund the trust for your kids. But, again, it needs to be set up the right way. The beneficiary on the term life insurance would often state that the primary beneficiary is the spouse (if married) and the contingent beneficiary is something like “the Trustee of the Trust established under Article _ of my Last Will and Testament.” This is how you can direct the insurance proceeds to the appropriate trust to benefit the kids. The alternative (simply naming the kids individually) leads to less advantageous results because it bypasses that trust that you thoughtfully established for the children’s benefit. This is a common mistake. Everyone, including young professionals, should have a will. Lean on your network to assist in determining good and reasonably priced attorneys to set up your plan. Beau Ruff, a licensed attorney, is the director of planning at Cornerstone Wealth Strategies, a full-service independent investment management and financial planning firm in Kennewick.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Residential adult family home bridges care gap between assisted living, nursing home By Laura Kostad

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

A nurse with a heart for geriatric care has transformed her former Kennewick home into an adult family home, realizing a longtime dream and goal that took shape after losing her grandfather. Called Cherry Creek Adult Family Home, the single-family house built in 2018 in the Cherry Creek Estates neighborhood east of Canyon Lakes has been converted to accommodate six adult residents. LeAnn Touchette, owner/administrator and resident manager, said the facility bridges the gap between long-term care and housing options for ailing family members who need more care than assisted living can provide, but who aren’t ready for the nursing home. Most residents will share a bedroom with one roommate in the well-appointed 2,590-square-foot home and have free use of the house’s living areas, landscaped yard and covered patio. Private room options are available. Though not the first facility of its kind in the Tri-Cities, Cherry Creek plans to offer best-in-class service. Touchette, a registered nurse, works in outpatient procedures at Trios. Prior to that, she worked as a nursing assistant providing one-on-one

Photos courtesy Cherry Creek Adult Family Home LeAnn Touchette, owner and resident manager, stands outside Cherry Creek Adult Family Home at 2616 W. 44th Place in Kennewick. The new facility will provide specialized care for six people in a homelike setting. It is scheduled to open in late September or early October.

in-home health care. “Cherry Creek will be set apart from other adult family homes because of the focus on building personal connections with each resident,” she said. Four full-time and two part-time caregivers will be employed, in addition to Touchette. The staff-to-resident ratio will always be 1-to-6 or better, compared to 1-to-50 in assisted living facilities, Touchette said. “I want families to come tour my home and leave here with a sense of peace,

knowing that their loved one will be taken care of the way they would want them to be. My goal is to give members of the geriatric population the respect, care, and attention that they deserve in order to make this difficult situation in their lives, and the lives of their families, easier,” Touchette said.

Grandpa encourages dreams As an adolescent, Touchette talked about going to school to become a nurse. She said her grandfather, with whom she was very close growing up, encouraged her dreams. “We would go to church on Sundays then go back to his house and play cards and then he would take me shopping,” she recalled. “We shared a love for horse racing and would watch the races at Sun Downs together. Every year we made sure to tune into the Kentucky Derby … When I turned 16, we traveled to Nebraska and Wisconsin together to visit family. We had a wonderful relationship and he meant the world to me,” she said. Touchette’s grandfather later would inspire her to become a nurse in an unexpected way. In 2010, he was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rapid onset degenerative brain disorder that is extremely rare, incurable and ultimately leads to death. “He went from being a full-time working electrician to being extremely confused. This all seemed to happen overnight. He was no longer able to live on his own or work,” she said. Her family began looking into care facilities, but their first choices had no openings. They eventually settled on an assisted living facility, but “he was only able to be there for a couple of days because he was so confused and needed more care than they could provide,” Touchette said. Touchette and her sister took turns caring for their grandfather in their own homes until they could find a more appropriate facility. He died within a few months of his diagnosis. “After going through this experience and losing my grandpa, I knew one day I wanted to become a nurse and own a care facility for the geriatric population,”

Touchette said. In 2017, she realized that ambition, graduating with an associate degree in nursing. “Now my dream is to own and operate a few of these adult family homes that are specific to each population such as dementia, mental health, and developmentally delayed,” she said.

Cherry Creek’s mission Cherry Creek will house residents of varying ages and health needs — there are no age restrictions and “no specific criteria for living at Cherry Creek,” she said. The facility also can accommodate hospice patients. Touchette has received additional certifications in the areas of dementia and mental health, and is working on obtaining certification for the care of those who are developmentally delayed. She said all staff will be trained in these areas as well. Cherry Creek is scheduled to open by the end of September or early October, pending a final inspection by the state, Touchette said. In the meantime, she has begun accepting resident applications and showing the house to prospective residents and their families. Touchette and her family previously lived in the single-story home with a loft — which will serve as the resident manager’s suite — until she realized its potential for easy conversion into an adult family home. The home features a wide-open floor plan, extra-wide hallways, three-foot wide interior doors, and no steps into the house, making it easy for residents with walkers or wheelchairs to move about. “There were minimal conversions that had to be done to convert this home,” she said. “The biggest things were the bathrooms. My husband converted the bathrooms with handrails and grab bars and also modified the showers. He took out an existing bathtub/shower insert and put in a shower that’s wheelchair accessible.” There will be staff on hand at all times to assist with the activities of daily living, including diabetic care, tube feedings, uCHERRY CREEK, Page A42

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BUSINESS PROFILE

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Former Tri-Citians return to sell their popular cookies By Jeff Morrow

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Ashley Meehan is a cookie connoisseur. She has special recipes for at least 12 types of cookies, all of them large and tasty. And for more than two years, she has been selling them to a famished public – from her car, her house, at pop-up stands. “Just to see the joy it brings people, it’s fun,” she said. “People love something I created.” Ashley will see her dream come true when she opens a brick and mortar Our Cookie House this month at 8530 W. Gage Blvd, Unit D, in Kennewick. The shop is in a strip mall next to The Local and Graze, and across the street from Costco. Not bad for someone who lives in Maple Valley on the West Side of the state. Huh? We’ll get to that. Ashley’s story is about someone doing what they love and building a business from word of mouth and the ground up. “When I was in high school, we had a neighbor who would come by and bring us chocolate chip cookies,” she said. “I loved them. He sent me into an obsession with these cookies.” At age 16, she spent hours in her family’s kitchen, trying to replicate those cookies. She eventually got the recipe down. “I was the oldest of four kids,” she said. “We lived on a trail around a lake, and we’d hand them out to people on the trail.” After she and her husband, Corey, married, they became apartment managers. Tenants would continuously come by

their apartment for free cookies. Ashley became known as The Cookie Lady, always giving them away for free. Fast forward to 2018. The Meehans and their four children lived in Kennewick. Brooklyn, their oldest daughter, now 17, was a member of the Kamiakin High School girls cross country team. Brooklyn wanted to go to the summer cross country camp in Montana, but it was a bit expensive. “We always made our kids pay for their camps. Teach them a work ethic,” Ashley said. “She was struggling to make the money for the camp. She babysat. She dog-sat. She finally came to me and said ‘Mom, please make your cookies, and I can sell them.’” Mom said absolutely not. “I didn’t want this to be on me,” Ashley said. So Brooklyn got into cake making and tried to sell those. Still, it wasn’t enough, and Ashley finally relented. As it turns out, Brooklyn can be quite the salesperson. “Brooklyn would sell them between classes,” Ashley said. “I thought maybe she’d get 60 cookies. But she was just determined, and she sold 160 cookies that first week.” Brooklyn took orders for the first few days of the week, and then Thursday would be the baking night in the family

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kitchen. Sometimes it would go on deep into the night. Friday would be pickup day. “We just did it on Friday, across the street and not on school property,” Photo by Jeff Morrow Ashley said. “The Our Cookie House owner Ashley Meehan, center, school was support- poses with daughters Brooklyn, left, and Haven in early ive. Kids would be September as they prepared to open up a storefront at running out of school 8530 W. Gage Blvd, Unit D, in Kennewick. after the bell to pick home,” she said. “Every Friday it would up their cookies.” As school let out for the summer, Ash- be it would be the high school kids, their ley began posting about her cook- teachers and other people.” Even administrators placed orders. ies on Instagram. “Brooklyn was really the hustle and “Four weeks later, heart of our team,” Ashley said. “She’s a we’re being comcookie hustler.” pletely bombarded But Ashley started realizing they might for graduation parbe on to something big when she started ties and family renoticing people she didn’t know were unions,” she said. placing orders with her. “People would “It was a social media-driven business. come to my doorThat’s the way times are,” Ashley said. step to pick up The family was getting ready for antheir cookies. I was other cookie Friday when Corey suddenly starting to think this lost his job. could be a thing.” “We knew we were going to be fine, So Meehan got a cotbut in May of 2019 he got a job in the tage industry license, a Seattle area, and we moved there,” Ashbusiness license, and she incorpoley said. rated. They found a home in Maple Valley, “A cottage industry license allows you where they still live. And they’ve got a up to $22,000 of revenue a year,” she small following over there. But nothing said. “After that, you can’t be working it like the Tri-Cities. out of your home.” So they would periodically do a pop-up As school started again in fall 2018, event in Kennewick, making the cookies the Meehans had their order forms and Thursday nights, and then driving over on Ashley kept using her Instagram posts. uCOOKIE HOUSE, Page A42 “People would come to our car or our

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

COOKIE HOUSE, From page A41 Friday to say, El Fat Cat near Kamiakin. High School and set up shop there. “We’d keep doing pop-ups in Kennewick, while planning to open a building in Maple Valley,” said Ashley, who says it took five months of paperwork to get ready to open a building there by March 1 of this year. “Then the pandemic hit. My husband said, ‘You can do it,’” she said. There was trepidation. Ashley had almost died 5 ½ years ago when a virus attacked her heart. She had sudden acute congestive heart failure, but recovered. But the family knew they had to take Covid-19 seriously because of her condition. The day the Realtor said the paperwork was ready to be signed, Meehan decid-

ed to walk away from the Maple Valley building. “I remember I was jumping for joy and crying at the same time. This was my dream,” she said. The Meehans continued the pop-ups in Kennewick in June – at one point with up to 3,500 cookies. “I had so many calls for graduation parties,” Ashley said. “I didn’t think the economy there was bad. Kennewick really is in a bubble compared to other places. There seems to be steady jobs there.” That’s when the Meehans realized their business was in the Tri-Cities. “We’ve grown the business there. Just week after week. We realized we needed to be there,” Ashley said. And because sales were exceeding the cottage industry limits, Meehan needed to

get a different business license. “All we know is we’re opening a business there and we’ll figure the rest out,” Ashley said. “We have no debt, no investors. But I’ve got enough grit, and we just decided to do it.” Ashley has a sister who lives in the area, so she has a place to stay. But there is plenty to figure out. Like how many employees she’ll need. “I’ve already got two ladies helping with the dough,” she said. And the family will still help. “Brooklyn is the assistant to the regional manager, she likes to say,” Ashley said. “Haven is 14, and she is the only person on Earth who can duplicate my recipes.” Son Sawyer is 11, and is the box builder, while 6-year-old Penny just roller skates.

“She can’t be working in the kitchen,” Ashley said. Our Cookie House continues to grow. It has already been featured in two wedding magazines this year. When the family first started in Kennewick, they used one conventional oven. In Maple Valley, they have two ovens with multiple racks. “We all take turns baking, she said. “I like to figure out oven hours. It’s about 22 hours a week.” At the new store, they already have four ovens. “We’ve been buying equipment and storing it,” Ashley said. It will not be a sit-down place. “Customers can order online, or we can help them when they come in,” she said. Cookies are about $4 each because they make them big. Of the 12 different varieties, she’s asked if chocolate chip are still her favorite. “I’ve eaten that same cookie for over 20 years. I’ve moved on — although my husband loves them,” she says with a laugh. “I love, love, love the cookie butter and the cinnamon roll cookies. But our No. 1-selling cookie has been the s’mores.” And she’ll keep making them all as long as people keep buying them. “I think it’s just doing something I’ve always loved doing. I’m in my happy place doing something I love,” Ashley said. “After my heart problems, I’m living on borrowed time to be able to do this with my family and girls. That’s something a lot of people don’t get to do.” Our Cookie House: 8530 W. Gage Blvd, Unit D, Kennewick; OurCookieHouse.com; 509-222-4399; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. CHERRY CREEK, From page A40 wound care and more. A certified nurse will be on-call 24 hours per day in addition to an emergency call system. Services include well-balanced, homecooked meals, laundry service, pet therapy, activities such as arts and crafts, puzzles, memory games, chair exercises, bingo, and, after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, live music for events such as holidays and celebrations. “The geriatric population loves live music and bands,” Touchette said. “They’re dancing and singing along, and they just come alive. It’s something I’ve always wanted in my facility.” Looking ahead, Touchette said that she has other properties lined up for the building of future adult family homes, and hopes to one day build a large facility for hospice residents too, though she says it all remains to be seen in light of current events. “I’m really excited to start this journey and meet all of my future residents and their families. This is the career I was designed for and I can’t wait to connect with people and show my home and passion to the Tri Cities community,” Touchette said, adding, “I look forward to making a difference in the lives of seniors in their final years because they deserve it.” Cherry Creek Adult Family Home: 509-396-9007, 509-551-3001, cherrycreekafh@yahoo.com, Facebook, Instagram, 2616 W. 44th Place, Kennewick.

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Tri-City preschool attendance lags compared to state, U.S. 80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

18 20

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15 20

14 20

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U.S. barely budges. How is this discussion connected to an economic recovery from the pandemic? For low-income parents who hold jobs that require out-of-home work, very much so. Child care may not be an option for their preschoolers. Consequently, leaving a job may be the likely course of action. Middle- to upper-income parents might be able to work from home or at least afford a preschool. The health of preschool centers likely will have long-term implications for the workforce. If families cannot afford preschool, then participation in the labor force, especially by women, will decline. In fact, it was the entrance into the labor market of millions of women in the 1980s that boosted the size of the labor force, and consequently, U.S. economic performance. And if workforce, both quality and quantity, is a driving factor for business

90%

GUEST COLUMN

4.1.1 Share of Children Ages 3 and 4 Enrolled in Preschool 100%

D. Patrick Jones Eastern Washington University

up by child care costs. Net costs for the OECD countries overall drop from about 28% to 15%. Switzerland’s share drops by over half and Germany and the Nordic countries decline a few percentage points. Yet the net share of the

Percent

The new school year has begun. Usually, this is a happy time, as it marks another beginning for students and their families. Obviously, this school start heralds a huge departure from the usual. The pandemic’s implications — whether our children will be safe, whether they might become carriers, whether they’ll be able to study remotely — are daunting. Although not a back-to-school concern, per se, the accommodation of preschoolers looms large as well. It has since the start of the pandemic and brings up short- and long-term questions As the pandemic spread, many child care centers were forced to reduce capacity, limit hours or even shut down. The implications for children and parents are many, not to mention those for the owners and operators of centers. A challenge preCovid-19 was and continues to be capacity. The data isn’t available to summarize the number of slots in Benton and Franklin counties. But it is likely that current slots are fewer than in January of this year. Benton Franklin Trends features an indicator that sheds some light on the usage of child care here. The accompanying graph shows that the share of 3- and 4-year-olds who attend preschool has consistently been below the state and the U.S. figures. For the most recently reported year, 2018, about 40% of children this age attended a preschool, compared to 47% for Washington and 48% for the U.S. Still, the trend has been moving in the right direction. Nearly 15 years ago, only 23% of this age group was enrolled. It will be a while — about a year — before the estimates for 2020 are released. My hunch is the share in the metro area will show a drop, as will its state and country counterparts. A second pandemic challenge is the ability of parents to afford child care. While providers try to keep the costs down, it is a people business and one now affected by the increases in the state’s minimum wage. Most young families have incomes below the median, and preschool costs can amount to significant share of family income. Economists at the OECD, an organization providing data and analysis for 26 developed countries, including the U.S., published a survey of gross costs of care, as a share of the average annual wage, in 2017. Specifically, the economists measured the share for two children, ages 2 to 3, attending a child care center full time. The U.S. ranked slightly above the OECD average, at 31%. Canada’s share was a bit higher, but the country showing the highest share of wages taken up by child care was Switzerland, at 70%. Most of the European Union countries showed shares lower than the OECD average, notably Germany at 10% and the Nordic countries even lower. The comparison becomes more interesting, however, when government policies are factored in. As some may know, most OECD countries subsidize child care in one form or another. Those policies reduce the share of the average annual wage taken

This graph was downloaded on 9/8/2020 from www.bentonfranklintrends.org

Benton & Franklin Counties - Share of 3 and 4 Year Olds in School Washington State - Share of 3 and 4 Year Olds in School United States - Share of 3 and 4 Year Olds in School

Courtesy Benton-Franklin Trends

expansion or attraction, the metro area will be at a disadvantage, relative to those communities where child care is more widely used. The very long-term and likely most significant effects of inadequate child care rest with the child itself. Numerous studies, including those of Nobel Prizewinning economist James Heckman, have underscored the critical role played by early childhood learning and development. For sure, some families are able to impart these skills at home, but many parents simply don’t have the background or resources to carry out homeschooling. So finding solutions to adequate and

affordable child care will cast ripples that will continue for many, many years. Is the current share of 40% of preschool children adequate? I’ll leave that to community discussion. For now, let’s hope that the pandemic hasn’t stopped preschool-going by too much. D. Patrick Jones is the executive director for Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis. Benton-Franklin Trends, the institute’s project, uses local, state and federal data to measure the local economic, educational and civic life of Benton and Franklin counties.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

uAWARDS & HONORS • Moses Jaraysi, a member of Leadership Tri-Cities’ Class VI, has been selected as the Leadership Tri-Cities 2020 Alumnus of the Moses Jaraysi Year. He was nominated for his commitment to numerous organizations in the Tri-Cities, in addition to Leadership Tri-Cities. Jaraysi has spent countless hours and games teaching his children and the community’s children, soccer as a coach for Tri-City Junior Soccer Association. He also has been part of the musical group Sons of Thunder, which plays at churches, funerals and homes for the elderly. Jaraysi has served on numerous boards, including Junior Achievement (2016-18), executive advisor for MidColumbia Leadership Development Association, Academy of Children’s Theatre (ACT) board and the Columbia Basin College Foundation board for the past 12 years, the past two years as chairman. Jaraysi’s service to Leadership Tri-Cities includes Hanford session director shadow, Hanford session director, board vice president, board president-elect, board president, class director and past president. • Petersen Hastings, which offices in Kennewick and Walla Walla, is included among Financial Advisor Magazine’s Top Registered Investment Advisors ranking with $769 million assets under management at the end of 2019. The magazine

annually compiles a list of the nation’s leading independent financial advisory firms based on their total discretionary and nondiscretionary assets reported on their Form ADV, a form used by investment advisors to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities authorities. • Gary Richberg, a registered nurse with a bachelor of science degree in nursing and the director of Ambulatory Surgery Centers at Kadlec in Gary Richberg Richland, has been recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of the top African American leaders to know in health care. Richberg became the director of Surgery Centers at Kadlec Clinic in January 2020. • Piton Wealth founder and Chief Executive Officer Michelle Clary has been accepted into the Stanford Graduate School of Business Leadership Series. The Michelle Clary Stanford Business Leadership Series is an executive program focusing on thriving during extraordinary times and strategic leadership during crisis. She has been in the financial industry for 20 years, advising clients around the country in

faith-based wealth management. • Lacey Lybeck of Sagemoor Vineyards in Pasco has been named to Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 list. She manages about 1,000 acres of grapevines and partners with about 100 winemakers. • Sarah Sherrill, an independent insurance agent and owner of Purple Tree Insurance in Kennewick, has been recognized by the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance. Sherrill is recognized and now included as part of the Association’s 2020 national directory of 1,000 leading local Medicare insurance agents. • West Richland Mayor Pro Tem Fred Brink and Councilman David Fetto earned their certificate of municipal leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. The program recognizes elected officials for accomplishing training in four core areas and provides them with the knowledge they need to effectively operate within the law, plan for the future, secure and manage funds and foster community and staff relationships

uBOARDS • Kennewick City Councilman Chuck Torelli has been elected to the Association of Washington Cities Board of Directors. He was elected during the organization’s Business Meeting on June 25. He serves District 2, which covers 34 cities in the counties of Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Walla Walla and Whitman. The board is comprised of 25 directors, 23 of whom are mayors or city councilmembers from Washington cities or towns, and two non-elected city officials

who also serve as the president and past president of the Washington City/County Management Association. • The 62 Toastmasters clubs of District 9, which covers eastern Washington, have three new leaders to guide them through the challenges of Covid-19 during the next year. The new District 9 director is Debra Kroon, a Distinguished Toastmaster, or DTM, of Yakima, a retired employee of the state of Washington Department of Ecology, and member of Toastmasters for 20 years. She is assisted by the new Program Quality Director Victoria Chadderton, DTM, of Wenatchee, a trainer, author and public speaker; and the new Club Growth Director Karen A. Mobley, DTM, of Kennewick. Mobley is the senior accountant with Amentum at the waste treatment plant being built at Hanford. A resident of Kennewick since 1981, she has been a member of Toastmasters since 2011. She belongs to Sun Country Toastmasters, as well as the advanced Faculty Club. Mobley is also a longtime member of the Institute of Management Accountants where she has previously served as chapter president. As club growth director, Mobley is responsible for all aspects of new club building and club retention within District 9, as well as marketing the Toastmasters’ Communication and Leadership Training program throughout the Inland Northwest. Mobley served District 9 as its administrative manager for one year, its finance manager for three years, and was its audit committee chair last year. Their terms will run through June 2021.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 uNEW HIRES • Prosser Memorial Health has hired a doctor couple. Board certified ear, nose, throat and allergy specialist Dr. Coral Tieu will be Dr. Coral Tieu treating patients at Prosser Ear, Nose & Throat Center and Prosser Allergy Center at 713 Memorial St. She received her bachelor’s at the University of South Florida in Tampa and medical degree at Rosalind Franklin University, Chicago Medical School. She completed her residency at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine in Springfield. She is a board-certified member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Her husband is board certified urologist Dr. Thomas Tieu who is joining the PMH at the new Urology Center in Prosser. He received his master’s in business administration at the University of New Mexico and bachelor’s Dr. Thomas Tieu at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He attended medical school in Chicago and completed his residency at the Southern Illinois School

of Medicine, Division of Urology, in Springfield, Illinois. He is a member of the American Urological Association. Most recently, the two doctors cared for patients in Lewiston, Idaho. • Columbia Basin College has hired Jay Frank as assistant vice president for communications and external relations. He will serve as the college’s public information officer and media relations contact. • Dr. Christopher O’Keeffe has joined Trios Medical Group as a nocturnist, an overnight physician. O’Keeffe will see patients at Trios Southridge Hospital, Dr. Christopher treating patients O’Keeffe who have been admitted to the hospital. He recently completed his three-year internal medicine residency with Trios. O’Keeffe attended Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine in North Carolina and then completed his residency at Trios. He also earned a post-baccalaureate degree in biology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and completed a master’s in medical science at the University of South Florida. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Internists. • Dr. Joshua Spendlove has joined Trios Medical Group as a urologist. He will see patients at the Trios Care Center

at Southridge fifth floor clinic, at 3730 Plaza Way in Kennewick. He treats patients for kidney and bladder stones, male and Dr. Joshua female incontiSpendlove nence, prostatitis, bladder, kidney, prostate, testicular and penile cancer, erectile dysfunction, hematuria, adrenal gland disorders, pelvic prolapse, elevated PSA, recurrent urinary tract infections and more. He is board certified and studied at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, where he completed a bachelor’s in microbiology with a minor in chemistry. He then completed medical school at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, followed by his residency in urology at the University of Colorado in Denver. He is fluent in Spanish. • Candice Smith, a senior certified professional-Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional, joined Community First Bank and HFG Trust as the company’s new human resources director in July. Candice Smith She brings 15 years of HR

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experience with her, including previous roles in small business startups and later held positions overseeing employees in the United States and across Europe. Prior to joining the Kennewick-based local community bank and wealth management firm, her most recent role was with the e-commerce site, Wayfair, where Smith was the company’s global director of talent management. • Piton Wealth, an affiliate of Thrivent Financial, has hired Trixy Glasgow as assistant director of operations. She has a master’s in business administration from Trixy Glasgow Washington State University with an emphasis on human resources, as well as over 16 years of management and consulting experience. Her professional focus is on repeatable standards and process replication during business growth and expansion. At Piton Wealth, she will help to devise strategies and policies to ensure that the company meets its goals. Piton Wealth is currently expanding its operations with the launch of a new office in Kalispell, Montana. • Ahmed Bur, who has held a variety of financial-related positions at various organizations, has been named the chief financial officer at Seattle-based Treehouse, a nonprofit which works with youth in foster care statewide.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

uDONATIONS • Gesa Credit Union donated more than $227,000 from the 2019-20 school year earnings of it Co-Branded Affinity Debit Card Program to several school districts during a Zoom reception on Aug. 24. The program supports local schools by earning money for partner districts to use toward academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular programs. To date, Gesa has donated more than $500,000 through this program to Washington schools. With every swipe of a branded debit card, Gesa makes a small donation to that particular school district. • Hayden Homes, along with First Story, the company’s philanthropic arm, donated $25,000 to Second Harvest. The donation will support Second Harvest’s strategic organizational initiatives to provide healthy food healthy

food to those in need through partner food pantries and meal programs. • Battelle, which operates the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, donated $50,000 to science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, tourism via Visit Tri-Cities. As a global leader in STEM-related disciplines and scientific discoveries, Battelle becomes the official partner of STEM tourism in the Tri-Cities. This partnership will help support, elevate and establish the Tri-Cities as the STEM tourism capital of the Pacific Northwest, according to Visit Tri-Cities.

uGRANTS • Washington State University Tri-Cities received a $35,000 grant from Battelle, which operates the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific North-

west National Laboratory in Richland. The grant will be used to provide relief to students experiencing hardship amid Covid-19 and to support technology needs for instruction and academics. • The Building Industry Association of Washington awarded six grants to organizations offering programs in construction-related fields of study, residential construction career training, continuing education, and apprenticeship and skills assessment services. This year’s grant recipients are the community boat project in Port Hadlock; the Darrington School District in Darrington; the Grays Harbor College carpentry program in Grays Harbor; Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County in Port Angeles; Kitsap Building Association in Bremerton; and Perry Technical Institute in Yakima. • The TRIO Student Support Services program at Washington State Univer-

sity Tri-Cities received a $2.53 million grant to support student services over the next five years. The program provides support, tutoring and mentorship to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. To qualify for the program, students must be a first-generation college student, from an economically disadvantaged background or have a documented disability.

uSCHOLARSHIPS • Signe Questad of Pasco and Cayden Tanasse of Richland received education scholarships from the Building Industry Association of Washington. BIAW awarded $40,377 in scholarships and grants to students and programs across the state. The scholarship winners are continuing their education with future careers in the homebuilding industry.

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Eisenhower dedicated McNary Dam 66 years ago this month, called water a ‘natural legacy’ By East Benton County Historical Society

It was a no school day on Sept. 23, 1954, in east Benton County and surrounding areas. The bright, beautiful, sunny early autumn day remained, however, a day of education and history. Students from grade school up didn’t get a day’s learning at their desks carved with inkwells and pencil canals. They didn’t solve a problem in long division. They didn’t dissect a sentence on the blackboard, identifying pronouns, verbs and adjectives. It was an education derived at a structure comprising 1.8 million cubic yards of concrete. It was the dedication of McNary Dam 66 years ago this month on the Columbia River near the little east Benton County community of Plymouth, and 30,000 were on hand to see it, and hear the remarks of the man dedicating McNary, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States. For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see their president up close. Local participation was not lacking. The Richland, Kennewick and Pasco high school bands, under their respective directors, Gordon W. Pappas, Hampton Wines and John J. Fitzpatrick, all performed. Hermiston High’s band under Ted Marshall, and Umatilla High’s under Robert M. Lennebille, also were part of entertainment, headlined by the Navy’s precision flying team, the Blue Angels. The Tri-City Aqua Acrobats, under the late Dale Metz, longtime owner of Metz Marina on Clover Island, gave three water show performances. Washington Gov. Arthur B. Langlie, Oregon Gov. Paul L. Patterson and Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay also spoke. On the presidential dais were J. T. Bettinson, a Benton County commissioner, and J. M. Doyle of Plymouth. Eisenhower awakened at the Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla where he spent the night in modest but comfortable accommodations that included an outer room to relax and host, and an adjoining bedroom and bathroom separated by a door. His bedroom window, several stories up, looked south onto the city of Walla Walla, and his living room window looked east toward the Blue Mountains. He traveled to McNary by car via Pendleton and it was said that the 55 miles he traveled to the dedication was (and perhaps still is) the longest presidential motorcade in history. His address at the powerhouse still resonates. “This structure symbolizes the purpose of using, for the benefit of all our people, the tremendous natural legacy with which the almighty so abundantly endowed our land,” Eisenhower said. “Wisely and providently we must use and develop these resources, so that each

succeeding generation of Americans may share in their benefits. “It is for us to see that they shall not be wasted or neglected or denied to generations yet to come.” Water, he said, is a “blessing” when used properly. “It is essential that every drop of water, from the moment that it falls upon our land, be turned to the service of our people,” the president said. “Thus we will save our soil and make it more productive; thus we will develop power, prevent floods, improve navigation and supply our tremendous and growing domestic and industrial water needs.” Following his dedication address at 10:30 a.m. that Thursday, President Eisenhower returned by car to Pendleton where his plane “Columbine,” named by his wife Mamie, awaited. Air Force One became the official designation in 1962. McNary Dam was named for Oregon Sen. Charles L. McNary, a 1940 Republican Party nominee for vice president of the United States and a well-liked 28-year member of the U.S. Senate. He died in 1944. On April 15, 1947, Cornelia Morton McNary, his widow, turned the first earth in ground-breaking ceremonies. She was joined by Janis Paige, a well-known Warner Brothers actress in the 1940s and 1950s who was born in Tacoma. She was named “Miss Damsite.” Also attending

Courtesy East Benton County Historical Museum/The Tri City Herald Collection President Dwight D. Eisenhower toured McNary Dam on Sept. 23, 1954. “Wisely and providently we must use and develop these resources, so that each succeeding generation of Americans may share in their benefits,” he said during the dedication ceremony.

was Oregon Gov. Earl Snell. During Eisenhower’s dedication the late senator’s widow shared the platform where he paid personal tribute to her. McNary Dam is 292 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River, 7,365 feet long and stands 183 feet over the riverbed. Its multiple purposes include hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, navigation, recreation and wildlife habitat, and it is one of 14 dams, including three in Canada, on the main stem of the Columbia. McNary has two fish ladders for

salmon and steelhead, one each on the Oregon side and the Washington side to aid salmon in reaching their spawning grounds. An 86-foot wide, 683-foot long navigation lock on the Benton County side can lift boats 75 feet, including tugs and barges navigating the river with cargo. Extending behind McNary Dam is a reservoir named Lake Wallula extending 64 miles back to the Tri-Cities to Hanford and up the Snake River to Ice Harbor Dam.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

Tuesday, October 20 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Southridge Sports & Events Complex 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick The 2020 Senior Times Fall Expo is a drive-thru-only event this fall because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Get a goody bag filled with vendor products and information in our drive-thru loop. We’ll be masked and gloved up with your safety in mind.

Limited to first 1,000 people. For more information, call (509) 737-8778.

FREE Drive-thru

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

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PUBLIC RECORD uBANKRUPTCIES Bankruptcies are filed under the following chapter headings: Chapter 7 — Straight Bankruptcy: debtor gives up non-exempt property and debt is discharged. Chapter 11 — Allows companies and individuals to restructure debts to repay them. Chapter 12 — Allows family farmers or fishermen to restructure finances to avoid liquidation for foreclosure. Chapter 13 — Plan is devised by the individual to pay a percentage of debt based on ability to pay. All disposable income must be used to pay debts. Information provided by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Spokane.

Chapter 13 Michael J. Cole and Dana L. Cole, 1418 Hazelwood Ave., Richland. Maria Perez Calderon, 906 N. Cleveland St., Apt. C, Kennewick. Leticia Cervantes, 1913 Everest Ave., Richland. Travis Jon Detering, 2607 W. 41st Ave., Kennewick. Chapter 7 Katelyn Marie Hedrick, 8215 Camano Drive, Pasco. Diogenes C. Rodrigues-Garcia, PO Box 83, Paterson. Zachary Allen Rhodes, 2555 Bella Coola Lane, Apt. 250, Richland.

Geoff Green, 5236 Christ St., West Richland. Stefan Daniel Valcich, 6028 Beechwood St., West Richland. Isaias Verduzco, 604 S. Hawthorne St., Kennewick. Cathy Ann Gonzalez, 492 Tanglewood Drive, Richland. Jasmine Kay-Lee Hansen, 10305 Chapel Hill Blvd., Apt. C2017, Pasco. Joshua Andrew Gray and Rachel Lynne Gray, 1930 George Washington Way, Apt. 220, Richland. Shakila W. Kelly, 3208 W. Ella St., Pasco. Mitchell Delano Newhouse, 4502 S. Tacoma Place, Kennewick. Robert Joseph Miller, 2513 Duportail St., Apt. B212, Richland. Georgio Amador Rodriguez and Roselinda Rodriguez, 1932 W. Opal St., Pasco. Joseph Oscar Mader, 1310 Road 36, Pasco. Jeremy David Norris, 2200 W. Shoshone St., Apt. B25, Pasco. Ryan Paul Kynaston, 100 N. Irving Place, #K106, Kennewick. Kira Marie Witkowski, PO Box 5533, Pasco. Raquel Mendoza Avinion, 2550 Duportail St., Apt. O186, Richland.

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uTOP PROPERTIES

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BENTON COUNTY

509 Road 52, Pasco, 3,577-squarefoot, single-family home with 1.13 acres. Price: $1.4 million. Buyer: Christine M. Robisch. Seller: R.E. and Tarene Collingham. 12507 Eagle Reach Court, Pasco, 3,125-square-foot single-family home. Price: $1.2 million. Buyer: Michael & Stefanie Monroe. Seller: Jeremy M. Hales (Trustee). 8008 Bayberry Drive, Pasco, 2,324-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $530,000. Buyer: Laura J and Danny R Henry. Seller: Sean R. and Diana N. Michel. 9804 Schuman Lane, Pasco, 4,652-square-foot, single-family home with 0.63 acres. Price: $902,000. Buyer: John Robert and Valerie Sue McCain. Seller: Gloria C Scott (et al). 8823 Sandifur Parkway, 11,920-square-foot veterinary clinic and 1.10 acres. Price: $2.3 million. Buyer: Tanda At Sandifur LLC. Seller: C & J Coleman Properties LLC. 6500 Gallatin Road, Pasco, 2,743-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $642,000. Buyer: Darrell & Holley Sowards. Seller: Hammerstrom Construction Inc. 225 McDonald Drive, Pasco,

4101, 4201, 4401 Leslie Road, 101 Reata Road, Richland, multiple parcels, 10 acres. Price: $2.8 million for each parcel. Buyer: Croskrey Properties. LLC. Seller: Aspen Properties LTD Partnership. 2505 Saddle Way, Richland, 2,943-square-foot, single-family residence. Price: $720,000. Buyer: Max and Jessica J. Schneider and Rex C. and Nancy Stratton. Seller: David B. Van Leuven. 3166 Willow Pointe Drive, Richland, description not available. Price: $563,700. Buyer: Tracy R. Veronte. Seller: Weyerhauser Village LLC. 6672 Collins Road, West Richland, description not available. Price: $612,400. Buyer: Kenneth David and Kristen M. Daugs. Seller: Alderbrook Investments Inc. 215111 E. Bryson Brown Road, Kennewick, 3,326-square-foot, single-family home plus pole buildings and land. Price: $720,000. Buyer: Derek and Stacie Lathim. Seller: Victoria L. Kile. 466 Piper St., Richland, description not available. Price: $522,000. Buyer: Kyle J. and Madisen Somsen. Seller: Viking Builders LLC.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

4,104-square-foot single-family home. Price: $975,000. Buyer: Cody & Lindsay Grant. Seller: John E. & Mary K. Schierman. 1935 W. Court St., Pasco, 16,951-square-foot commercial building. Price: $1.4 million. Buyer: Leo D. Marchand (TR). Seller: Starmark Real Estate III LLC. 2000 N. 22nd Ave., Pasco, 52,519-square-feet of residential institutional lodging on 2.4 acres (multiple parcels in sale). Price: $2.8 million for each parcel. Buyer: Greenlake Pasco LLC. Seller: Tri-Cities Retirement LLC.

uBUILDING PERMITS KENNEWICK

ME & CE LLC Everstar, 6810 W. Rio Grande Ave., $35,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Aarnieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Construction. Hedrickson Fir Gr, 1305 W. Fourth Ave., $75,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Masec Network Solutions. Highlands Center, 117 N. Ely St., $54,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Gretl Crawford Homes. Tri-Cities Periodontist, 7409 W. Grandridge Blvd., $9,000 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: M. Campbell & Company. City of Kennewick, 1600 S. Union St., $18,000 for commercial construction. Contractor: Owner. Maxey Investors, 3708 W. Clearwater Ave., $6,600 for heat pump/ HVAC. Contractor: Apollo Sheet

Metal. Kamiakin RV & Boat Storage, 5402 W. Hood Ave., $2.1 million for new commercial. Contractor: LCR Construction LLC. City of Kennewick, 825 S. Date St., $11,200 for new commercial. Contractor: Steves Install LLC. David Watkins, 17 N. Auburn St., $10,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Glass Nook Inc. Kennewick School District, 3520 Southridge Blvd., $10,000 for commercial construction. Contractor: Bouten Construction Co. PASCO Pacwest Machinery, 1249 N. California Ave., $6,500 for commercial addition. Contractor: NorthWest

Handling Systems. CMJ Properties LLC, 2920 Travel Plaza Way, $10,400 for heat pump/ HVAC. Contractor: Bruce Mechanical Inc. Wireless Connections, 2205 Frontage Road, $150,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Elite Construction and Development. Kenyon Zero Storage, 5701 Industrial Way, $17,000 for fire system. Contractor: Moon Security Services Inc. Kenyon Zero Storage, 5812 Burlington Loop, $63,600 for fire system. Contractor: Fire Protection Solutions. Singh, Bali & Neera, 2805 E. A St., $400,000 for new commercial. Contractor: LCR Construction LLC. Whitten Family Investments, 2212 N. Commercial Ave., $5,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Owner. U.S. Government, 2503 Sacajawea Park Road, $13,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Gillespie Homes Inc. Port of Pasco, 1404 E. Ainsworth St., $7 million for commercial remodel. Contractor: TBD. Barnes Dutch Bros., 6609 Burden Blvd., $10,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Elite Construction & Development. Simplot-RDO LLC, 1825 N. Commercial Ave., $100,000 for commercial addition. Contractor: CommTech. Pasco Housing Authority, 1518 E. Adelia St. $22,000 for residential remodel and repair. Contractor: Zion Restoration Inc. City of Pasco, 7510 Sandifur Parkway, $16,600 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Interwest Technology. Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Ave., $20,000 for grading. Contractor: to be determined. Port of Pasco, SE Road 21, $625,000 for commercial addition. Contractor: LPG Specialties LLC. Frank Tiegs LLC, 1445 E. Foster Wells Road, $12.7 million for new commercial. Contractor: Teton West of WA LLC. RICHLAND Port of Benton, 2445 Stevens Drive, $10,500 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Bruce & Company. Port of Benton, 2105 Butler Loop, $315,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Booth & Sons Construction. Central Washington Corn Processors, 3900 Logston Blvd., $4.3 million for tenant improvement. Contractor: Industrial Systems & Fabrication. In Slide Out LLC, 3200 Duportail St., #104, $100,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Hummel Construction & Development. Richland School District, 504 Wilson St., $30,000, tenant improvements. M&D Property Holdings, 2470 Henderson Loop, $750,000 for new commercial. Contractor: M&D Property Holdings. City of Richland, 2572 Clubhouse Lane, $53,500 for grading. Contractor: Premier Excavation. WSU Tri-Cities, 2710 Crimson Way, $16,500 for plumbing. Contractor: uPUBLIC RECORD, Page A51

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 Atlas Boiler/Equipment. Ben Franklin Transit, 1000 Columbia Park Trail #B, $6,300 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Bruce Mechanical Inc. Timbers Apartment, 1900 Stevens Drive 807, $5,400 for heat pump/ HVAC. Contractor: All Climate Services LLC. Columbia River Eye, 475 Bradley Blvd., $6,300 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: M Campbell & Company. Lamb Weston Corp., 2013 Saint St., $$37,400 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: M Campbell & Company. Washington Plaza, 1825 George Washington Way, $800,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Baxter Construction LLC. Energy Northwest, 350 Hills St., $60,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: DGR Grant Construction. WEST RICHLAND Circle K Stores Inc., 1501 Bombing Range Road, $225,000 for new commercial. Contractor: owner. Bush Car Wash, 3220 Kennedy Road, $6,500 for fence/retaining wall. Contractor: owner. BENTON COUNTY Chris Ravage, 9705 Badger Road, $166,400 for ag building. Contractor: owner. Chervenell Construction, 107422 E. Detrick PR SE, $1.1 million for new commercial. Contractor: Chervenell Construction.

FRANKLIN COUNTY Franklin Fire District 3, 8271 Selph Landing Road, $8,800 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Americool Heating & A/C.

uBUSINESS LICENSES Pasco and Richland business licenses were not available at press time. KENNEWICK Comcast Business Class Security, 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Fl. 32, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stagecraft Industries Inc., 5051 N. Lagoon Ave., Portland, Oregon. F P I Management Inc., 800 Iron Point Road, Folsom, California. Kustom Us Inc., 14523 169th Drive SE, Monroe. Amigo 2, Ride, Quick Ride, Ride on, 203 N. Huntington St. Kenmore Team LLC, 9025 W. Tucannon Ave. Country Club Lawn Care Inc., 5709 W. 14th Ave. Spirit Halloween, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Jesse’s Overhead Doors, 1001 W. Fourth Ave. Apt E204. MSO Associates, 7401 W. Hood Place, Suite 200. Karen Whooley Designs, 609 S. Huntington Place. Rim Genie LLC, 4645 W. Metaline Ave. HGS, 1800 E. Seventh Ave. Custom Carpeting LLC, 1621

George Washington Way, Richland. Dynamic Decks Inc., 5013 E. Ballard Road, Colbert. Media Mason, 419 Broadmoor St., Richland. Northwest Integrative Medicine, 135 Vista Way. Parker Corporate Services Inc., 636 Valley Mall Parkway, East Wenatchee. Clean-R-Us LLC, 6350 W. Brinkley Road. Emprecision LLC, 1407 Valentine Ave. SE, Pacific. The Black Woodpecker Inc., 2021 Mahan Ave., Richland. American Drywall and Paint, 21403 S. Haney Road. TK Construction, 1409 Onyx Ave., West Richland. Prieto Landscaping LLC, 3526 E. A St., Pasco. Jackson Ventures LLP, 2339 Cottontail Lane, Richland. Postivoi Handyman Services LLC, 3711 El Paso Drive, Pasco. Moonika Co., 8 N Quincy St. TC Excavation LLC, 3621 Road 96, Pasco. Erin Casch, 123 Gage Blvd., Richland. Grand-E Construction, 1300 Totten Ave., Richland. Unparalleled Construction LLC, 309 S. Morain St. Eric Haan Painting LLC, 1520 W. 41st Ave. Elite Choice Concrete, 1519 W. Yakima St., Pasco. Affordable Landscaping, 1125 Thayer Drive, Richland.

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Taqueria Oaxaca LLC, 7425 W. Clearwater Ave. Hernandez-Bruno Landscaping LLC, 1753 N. 22nd Ave., Pasco. Falcon’s Landscaping, 2216 S. Rainier St. HV Homes, 729 W. Margaret St., Pasco. Sunrise Painting, 4136 W. Grand Ronde Ave. Impastables Fresh Pasta, 3710 W. 19th Court. Grizzly Handyman LLC, 6101 W. First Ave. Flave, 725 N. Center Parkway. Desert Winds Wireless, 9501 W. Clearwater Ave. Nail’s by Thuy, 7303 W. Canal Drive. Land Home Financial Services Inc., 1030 N. Center Parkway. Rated-R Fries, 212 W. Kennewick Ave. Leahs Lashbar, 10121 W. Clearwater Ave. His & Hers, 19 S. Cascade St. Transcendence Therapeutic Massage, 703 S. Penn Place. NIT Logistics, 2627 W. Sixth Place. Unraveled LLC, 830 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite B2. Shutterfly Lifetouch LLC, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. La Mariposa Properties, 4611 S. Tacoma Place. The Loft Apartments, 11980 NE 24th St., Bellevue Salon Beliz, 101 N. Union St. Emily Richman, LMHC, 8927A W. Tucannon Ave.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 Brussels Sprouts Personal Training, 2532 W. Fourth Place. Siri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 8508 W. Gage Blvd. Todd’s Treats LLC, 2365 Coppperbrook Court, Richland. Allusions Face & Body Art, 911 S. Rainier St. T-Mobile West LLC, 830 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Green Horizon, 1830 Terminal Drive, Richland. T-Mobile Financial LLC, 830 N. Columbia Center Blvd. T-Mobile Leasing LLC, 830 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Cook E Royale, 4007 S. Anderson St. LKC 06 LLC, 445 N. Volland St. Tri-City Dermatology, PLLC, 84827 Jenna Lane. Reyes Tile Design & Home Remodel, 2105 N. Steptoe St. Columbia Basin Benefits, 8382 W. Gage Blvd. Innovative Natural Health Solutions, 320 N. Johnson St. Vaka Negra LLC, 4111 W. Clearwater Ave. R H Transport LLC, 2200 N. Rhode Island Court. Farias Tech Services, 3503 W. 46th Ave. Candy Cones Washington LLC, 510 N. Neel St. Tostie’s Boutique LLC, 210 S. Olson St. The Lybbert Company LLC, 4307 S. Olson St. Hair by Kym, 09 W. Clearwater Ave. Liquidity “The Art of Hair”, 8915 W. Bonnie Ave. AJ’s Office Services LLC, 202 E. Third Ave. Berman Tech, 3121 W. Hood Ave. Felix Painting Company LLC, 1548 N. Edison St. Hamlet_Unhinged, 25 N. Kent St. Met Yo Match Entertainment, 6824 W. First Ave. Massage with Lynna French, 6855 W. Clearwater Ave. Salikh Delivery, 2931 W. Hood Ave. Kit Kelley, 5602 W. First Place. RLMBW. Holdings Inc., 1933 S. Hartford Place. OREO1819 LLC, 1819 W. 19th Ave. Titanio Automotive Supplies, 2605 S. Keller St. Peak Networks LLC, 7401 W. Hood Place.

Y&L Logistic LLC, 1503 W. 27th Ave. A.J.A.N Adult Family Home LLC, 935 S. Huntington St. NL Transport LLC, 51 N. Edison St. Artist Katie Small, 3011 W. Hood Ave. Uhair, 5501 W. Hildebrand Blvd. DLP Cleaning, 508 W. 11th Ave. Geo’s Specialty Products, 1124 W. 14th Ave. AVD, 1115 E. Sixth Ave. Silver Black Tattoo LLC, 5009 W. Clearwater Ave. Elevate Barber Studio, 116 W. First Ave. Missing Links Genealogy, 4911 S. Auburn Place. California Surface Works, 555 Birch Court, Colton, California. Jive Communications Inc., 2570 W. 600 N., Lindon, Utah. Stone Roofing Co. Inc., 730 N. Coney Ave., Azusa, California. Window Covering Outlet, 5236 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise, Idaho. Mint Mobile LLC, 1550 Scenic Ave., Costa Meca, California. Nextiva Inc., 8125 N. 86th Place, Scottsdale, Arizona. NW Extreme Installers, 8800 SE Sunnyside Road, Clackamas, Oregon. Lexicom LLC, 1901 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, Illinois. Elemental Energy, 1339 SE Eighth Ave., Portland, Oregon. California All Steel Carports Inc., 85 Santa Fe Ave., Fresno, California. Vivid Learning Systems Inc., 333

W. Canal Drive. Kopping Trucking LLC, 1617 W. 38th Place. Quality Restoration Solutions LLC, 2331 W. A St., Pasco. Aldrich & Associates Inc., 810 240th St. Se, Bothell. Sawby Construction, 4411 Rosencrans Road, West Richland. South Sound Sitework LLC,15020 Canyon Road East, Puyallup. Creekside Dental Kennewick, 216 N. Edison St. KR Construction and Excavation Inc., 56504 N. 31 PR, Benton City. BCS Construction Services, 22908 E. Kennedy Road NE., Benton City. Francois Forgette, Consultant, 7x7, 901 S. Jefferson St. D & L’s Leathercrafts & Boots, 2527 W. Kennewick Ave. Steelhead Communications Inc., 28120 State Route 410 E St., Buckley. Daniel Miranda, 481 Orchard Road, Pasco. Three Rivers General Contractors LLC, 4606 W. John Day Ave. Sno Valley Process Solutions Inc., 3302 McDougall Ave., Everett. The Children’s Reading Foundation of The Mid-Columbia, 1229 W. 22nd Place. Natural Works Carpet Care, 1509 W. 27th Place. Dream Dinners, 1509 W. 27th Place. Get In Where You Fit In LLC, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Northwest Empire, 205 Whalen

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Loop Road, Woodland. Snarky Cancer LLC, 3311 W. Clearwater Ave. Bargreen Ellingson, 6425 W. John Day Ave. Tru-design Construction LLC, 1406 Fries St., Richland. Steve’s Install, 6422 Timber Drive, Nine Mile Falls. Pioneer Landscaping & Fencing Services LLC, 617 S. Elm Ave., Pasco. Big D’s Powersports Rentals LLC, 200 Second Ave., Burbank. Solterra Massage, 5219 W. Clearwater Ave. Van Zaltbommel Educational Design Solutions, 6409 W. Sixth Ave. Grace and Sage LLC, 7603 W. 13th Ave. Gavin Financial Inc., 10121 W. Clearwater Ave. Custom Touch LLC, 30 Michelle Road, Pasco Captain’s Cod Company, 2303 30th St., Bellingham. Marvelous & Meticulous Flooring LLC, 5412 Pimlico Drive, Pasco. Earth Moving Veterans, 70202 N. Foxhill Drive, Benton City. Rodas Laminate & Tile, 8304 Quadra Drive, Pasco. Silva’s Contractors LLC, 198610 E. 2013 PR Se. House Surgeon LLC, 1209 W. 19th Ave. Advent Remodeling Company LLC, 2101 Steptoe St., Richland. uPUBLIC RECORD, Page A54

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Western Refining Retail LLC, 104 W. Second Ave., Spokane. Built Right Inc., 17 Nuclear Lane, Richland. End Line Fire, 3706 S. Johnson St. Mad Minnis Mx, 1606 S. Roosevelt Place. T-Mobile Leasing LLC, 4311 W. Clearwater Ave. T-Mobile West LLC, 4311 W. Clearwater Ave. T-Mobile Financial LLC, 4311 W. Clearwater Ave. T-Mobile Financial LLC, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. T-Mobile West LLC, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. T-Mobile Leasing LLC, 1321 N . Columbia Center Blvd. Masala Indian Express, 8524 W. Gage Blvd. Action Towing, 400 E. Kennewick Ave. Mario’s Construction LLC, 195 Geiger Drive, Pasco. Dirty Werx LLC, 318 E. First Ave. R Kingdom Praiseware, 2701 S. Zillah Court. Casa Rosita, 311 S. Columbia Center Blvd. Golden Eagle Construction, 2204 Road 48. All Pro Roofing Technologies, 1108 S. Kellogg St. 360 Landscaping LLC, 505 S. Olympia St. Double E Truck and Equipment Inc., 65205 E. Solar PR NE, Benton City. Innovation Cleaning Services, 8918 W. Arrowhead Ave.

Cherry Tomato Creations, 505 S. Olympia St. Warrior Pallets LLC, 1615 E. Chemical Drive. Catones Cleanup, 508 Sanford Ave. Western Refining Retail LLC, 2707 S. Quillan St. Panefully Clear, 728 S, Elm St. Columbia Coast Outfitters, 1101 E. Fourth Ave. Western Refining Retail LLC, 5208 W. Clearwater Ave. Critterattic.Com, 109 S. Wilson Court, Evergreen Coffee Company North, 2802 W. 10th Ave. Tek Ranch LLC, 1313 N. Young St. Quicksilver Constructs LLC, 10251 Ridgeline Drive, Bella Day Spa, 3180 W. Clearwater Ave. Try-City Clean LLC, 2014 W. Fourth Ave. Washington State Vocational Institute LLC, 401 N. Morain St. DM Foot and Ankle, 711 S. Auburn St. C S Doggy-dos, 526 S. Anderson St. Sara’s Cali Tacos & Mariscos, 1548 N. Edison St. Maquis House Cleaning Services, 18 S. Rainier St. Segou Shea, 1100 N. Buchanan St. Supreme Auto Tint, 4023 W. Clearwater Ave. Stacks Mobile Bistro, 815 W. Columbia Drive Never Lost LLC, 1209 S. Olympia Place, USA-Home Inspections, 4104 W.

20th Ave. Ibarra Distribution LLC, 3215 W. 13th Ave. Mastersanitation LLC, 320 N. 10th Ave. Play House Rental LLC, 5501 W. Hildebrand Blvd. Eric Thoma, 1409 North Pittsburgh, JMJ Logistics LLC, 1922 W. Second Ave. The Booty Poppin Place, 10251 Ridgeline Drive. Dev Transport LLC, 2604 S. Keller St. Stullski LLC, 6725 W. Clearwater Ave. Community Child and Family Counseling, 1409 North Pittsburgh. Proscape Professional Landscaping, 3549 W. 11th Place. TC Clean LLC, 7213 W. Sixth Place. KV Cleaning, 1114 W. 10th Ave. Hopewell Watersports & Rentals, 451 Westcliffe Blvd., Richland. Raptor Express LLC, 3309 W. Hood Ave. Cellco Partnership, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Inland Ocean LLC, 5615 SE Scenic Lane, Vancouver. Lindsey Southam, 8797 W. Gage Blvd. Jimmyz, 705 N. Johnson St. Roldan’s Cleaning, 2105 N. Steptoe St. Husted Insurance Services LLC, 5101 W. Clearwater Ave. Swift Focus, 4326 S. Anderson Place, TCN Transport LLC, 4114 S. Gum St.

Avila Massage, 920 W. Canal Drive, Interruptionapparel, 25704 S. 1005 PR SE. Big D’s Powersports, 9312 W. 10th Ave. Poutine, Eh!, 3902 W. Clearwater Ave. Tahiti Adventures, 2413 W. 51st Ave. Taqueria El Sazon, 4115 W. Clearwater Ave. Hardwick Engineering, 418 N. Kellogg St. Eclipse Tutoring, 8906 W. Bruneau Ave. Happy Vista, 1004 S. Zillah Court. Rachel Robles, 5208 W. Clearwater Ave. Sarah Kalena, 504 D Buchanan Place. WEST RICHLAND Requirements Management Infrastructure LLC, 398 Northview Loop. Nextiva Inc., 740 Florida Central Parkway, Longwood, Florida. Olin Homes LLC, 9301 NE 117th Ave., Vancouver. Northwest Custom Exteriors LLC, 5215 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick. Golden Eagle Construction, 2204 Road 48, Pasco. Quicksilver Constructs LLC, 10251 Ridgeline Drive, Kennewick. Miss Darcy’s Piano Studio, 4601 Candy Mountain Ave. Dino Drop-In, 4001 Kennedy Road.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 Mastersanitation,LLC, 320 N. 10th Ave., Pasco. Absolute Perfection Mobile Detailing, 9335 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco. Tru-Design Construction LLC, 1406 Fries St., Richland. Dry Creek Engineering and Geospatial Services, PO Box 5406. Rodas Laminate & Tile, 8304 Quadra Drive, Pasco. Silva’s Contractors LLC, 198610 E. 2013 PR SE, Kennewick. Servpro, 14224 Pioneer Way E, Puyallup. Stargazer Deluxe Services, 379 S. 41st Ave. Usa-Home Inspections, 4104 W. 20th Ave., Kennewick. Windy River Homes LLC, 94704 E. Reata Road, Kennewick. Swenson Excavation LLC, 253 Valley Chapel Road, Walla Walla. Take Action Physio LLC, 1548 Desert Springs Ave., Richland. Mario’s Construction LLC, 195 Geiger Drive, Pasco. 360 Landscaping LLC, PO Box C, Pasco. Double E Truck and Equipment Inc., 65205 E. Solar PR NE, Benton City. Sunbeam Construction, 42603 E. Ridgecrest Drive NE, Benton City. The Zen Den Massage and Body Sculpt, 4507 Holly Way.

uJUDGMENTS The state can file lawsuits against people or businesses that do not pay taxes and then get a judgment against property that person or business owns. Judgments are filed in Benton-Franklin Superior Court. The following is from the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.

Johnny On The Spot LLC, unpaid Department Of Labor And Industries taxes, filed Aug. 6. Hugo Garcia, unpaid Department Of Labor And Industries taxes, filed Aug. 19.

uLIQUOR LICENSES BENTON COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS Lucky Seven Food Mart, 22 Goethals Drive, Richland. License type: grocery store-beer/wine. Application type: assumption. El Tequilas la Casa de las Micheladas, 109 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick. License type: spirits/beer/wine restaurant lounge; catering. Application type: new application. Iconic Brewing, 2470 Henderson Loop, Richland. License type: microbrewery. Application type: new application. Caterpillar Café, 227 Symons St., Richland. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only; beer/wine restaurant; beer/wine off premises. Application type: added/change of class/in lieu. Sun Market, 2607 Kingsgate Way, Richland. License type: grocery store – beer/wine. Application type: new application. Four Feathers Wine Estates, 101 Benitz Road, Suites C&F, Prosser.

License type: microbrewery. Application type: New application. FRANKLIN COUNTY Fondita Ilucion, 2125 E. Hillsboro St., Pasco. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only; spirits/ beer/wine restaurant lounge+. El Charrito Restaurant, 130 N. 10th Ave., Pasco. License type: beer/wine restaurant-beer. Application type: new application. BENTON COUNTY APPROVED Moonshot Brewing, 8804 W. Victoria Ave., Suite 130 & 140, Kennewick. License type: microbrewery. Application type: added/ change of class/in lieu. Lep-Re-Kon Harvest Foods, 471 Wine Country Road, Prosser. License type: grocery store – beer/ wine. Application type: new application. Whitstran Brewing Co., 710 Sixth St., Prosser. License type: microbrewery. Application type: new application. PacificNorthwestWines.com, 4278 W. Van Giesen St., Suite C, West Richland. License type: direct shipment receiver-in/out Washington. Application type: new application. Holiday Inn Richland Riverfront Hotel, 802 George Washington Way, Richland. License type: hotel. Application type: added/change of tradename. Maharaja, 8110 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick. License type: spirits/ beer/wine restaurant lounge+. Application type: assumption. A Tipsy Chick’s Favorite Picks, 701 Sixth St., Prosser. License type: beer/wine specialty shop. Application type: new application. Power Up Arcade Bar Inc., 1022 N. Columbia Center Blvd., #210, Kennewick. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only. Application type: in lieu. QuikTrip Gas & Food, 33 Goethals Drive, Richland. License type: grocery store – beer/wine. Application type: added/change of trade name.

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Proof Kitchen and Bar, 6627 Burden Blvd., Suite C, Pasco. License type: spirits/beer/wine restaurant lounge. Application type: new application.

Axe KPR Axe Throwing, 8425 Chapel Hill Blvd., Suite C104, Pasco. Business offers axe throwing at indoor and mobile outdoor range Contact: axekpr.com, 509-730-5278.

BENTON COUNTY

ADDITIONAL LOCATION

DISCONTINUED A Tipsy Chick’s Favorite Picks, 701 Sixth St., Prosser. License type: beer/wine specialty shop. Application type: new application.

STCU Commercial Banking Center, providing commercial banking and lending services, is open at 9001 W. Tucannon Ave., Ste. 210, in Kennewick.

uMARIJUANA LICENSES

MOVED

BENTON COUNTY

Travel Leaders has moved to 515 Lee Blvd., Richland. Contact: 509943-4686, TravelLeaders247.com. Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business and Senior Times have moved to a new office on Pittsburgh Street in Kennewick. The office is closed to the public. Contact: tcajob.biz, info@ tcjournal.biz, 509-737-8778. DermaHealth Dermatology & Dermasurgery has moved to 1295 Fowler St., Suite 1B, Richland. Contact: dermahealthderm.com, 509783-2004.

APPROVED Green2Go Wellness, 419 W. Columbia Drive, Kennewick. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only. Application type: new.

uBUSINESS UPDATES NEW BUSINESSES Our Cookie House, 8530 W. Gage Blvd., Suite D, Kennewick. The shop bakes and sells giant gourmet cookies. Contact: 509-222-4399, ourcookiehouse.com À La Mode Spa and Salon, 1295 Fowler St., Suite 2A, Richland. The salon offers massage services and packages, hair, Aveda hair color, manicures, pedicures, spray tanning. Contact: 509-940-2772, alamodespaandsalon.com.

CLOSED Pure Yoga & Fitness at 1950 Keene Road, Building I, Richland has closed. Tender Care Village, a nonprofit pairing seniors and volunteers, has closed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY APPROVED

We rock. Shop the full line of Haworth FERN chairs in store or online at www.brutzmans.com

We roll.

2501 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Richland, Washington

509-735-0300 www.brutzmans.com

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 2020