Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business -- August 2017 by Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business/Senior Times

August 2017

Volume 16 • Issue 8

Commercial real estate brokers expect continued growth BY JESSICA HOEFER

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Local News

Benton City label company expands to serve wine industry Page 9

Commercial Real Estate & Construction

Community First Bank, HFG Trust to move into shared building Page 15

Diversity

Certifications aim to help women-, minority-owned companies page 49

She Said It “If you’re going be a small business, give yourself every opportunity to get a hand up and not a hand out.”

Page 54

uGROWTH, Page 32

PLEASE DELIVER TO CURRENT Occupant

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business 8919 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. A1 Kennewick, WA 99336

- Salina Savage, owner of Apogee Logistics

Rusty Morse has been a part of the TriCity commercial real estate scene for a quarter of a century, and while he’s seen plenty of growth in the area, he said the last five to 10 years have been phenomenal. “It just continues to grow,” said Morse, managing broker at Coldwell Banker Commercial. “I look at my production, and it’s just growing and growing every year. It’s quite amazing.” Morse said the growth reflects a long career built over time, but also is an indication of the commercial real estate activity and deals happening in the Tri-Cities right now. In the last year, Morse sold three properties in the $4 million to $5.5 million range. One was a $4 million medical office building in Kennewick, another was a three-story building with a basement in Richland that sold for almost $4.5 million. “More often than not, what I’m involved with are investors looking for property with leases in place with cash flow so they can buy that with investment opportunity,” Morse said. “And I work a lot with sellers. I tend to focus on listing properties.” Morse currently has about $20 million in listings, including 86 acres of land west of Steptoe Street in Kennewick that he plans to break into parcels that vary in sizes to meet the needs of individual businesses. He doesn’t expect his work to slow down. And while it’s impossible to predict the real estate market’s future, the Tri-Cities is inching toward the 300,000-population mark, which will lead to big changes. “For our metropolitan statistical area, once you get to 250,000, you’re literally and figuratively on the map,” Morse said. “So instead of a little black dot on the map, you have a bigger dot. And it makes a difference because a lot of large retailers and service providers, they have to have a demographic and population base before they even consider going to that metropolitan area. And we’re really close to that number. I’m sure we’ll hit it within the next five years or so.”

State sales of marijuana have topped $1.7 billion, but marijuana remains classified as an illegal Schedule I controlled substance under federal law — the highest and most serious tier. This presents tax and banking challenges for business owners. (Courtesy Michael Schroeder of AgingEnt.com)

Thriving marijuana businesses face sober financial realities BY MICHELLE DUPLER

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Marijuana retail sales were a nearly $1.7 billion business in Washington in the 2016 fiscal year, but business owners who are still technically breaking federal drug laws are left to ponder, “What do we do with the money?” For Steve Lee, owner of Finley-based Green2Go, the answer is to re-invest some of the profits from his recreational and medical pot shop back into the local community. “Really, the only strategy is sit on it and wait for the laws to change, or use cannabis money to start businesses,” said Lee, whose

Finley’s Green2Go will double capacity and add staff with its expansion.

uSee page 29. latest venture — aside from his campaign for a seat on the Kennewick City Council — is an investment in the Gourmet Grub food truck. Recreational marijuana was legalized in Washington when voters approved Initiative 502 in 2012, and medical marijuana has been legal in the state going back to the late 1990s. uMARIJUANA, Page 4

Areva continues to invest in its Richland manufacturing plant BY JEFF MORROW

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

The Areva NP plant in Richland has been investing an average of $7 million a year into its nuclear fuel manufacturing company for the last decade. It’s a trend that appears to be continuing. In the past four months, the nuclear fuel manufacturing plant has announced: • Plans to build a new $12 million scrap uranium recovery facility. • The addition of $560 million in fuel contracts for four different nuclear energy facilities. • Plans to begin developing advanced nuclear fuel assemblies to allow operators more time to respond in emergencies. Ron Land, manager of the Richland

plant, might agree that the company is on a roll, but he has another opinion. “Our philosophy is to invest in the future,” he said. “We’ve not stopped investing. We continue to invest.” Areva supplies fuel and fuel-related products for commercial pressurized water reactors and boiling water reactors. Last year it manufactured more than 2,300 fuel assemblies and more than 92 million fuel pellets. Areva bought the current Richland facility in 2001. The plant has been at its Horn Rapids Road location for 45 years, but Land said Areva has upgraded the entire plant in stages since 2001. It’s among the biggest manufacturers in the Tri-Cities. “We’ve been upgrading our facility for the last 15 years,” he said. Much of it is automated. uAREVA, Page 33

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Capital budget impasse ties up several Mid-Columbia projects BY JOHN STANG

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Plans to speed up construction of a new Washington National Guard center in the Horn Rapids area have stalled because state lawmakers can’t resolve an unrelated water rights dispute. That water rights impasse also has slowed work on upgrading a Highway 395 interchange in south Kennewick, building a science center at the LIGO site, constructing a new academic building at Washington State University’s Tri-Cities campus, providing more irrigation water for area farmers, bringing Kennewick’s water meter reading into the 21st century, among other Tri-City projects. Washington Senate Republicans opted not to vote on the state’s $4 billion capital budget bill because of a deadlock between the GOP and Democrats on how to deal with a 2016 Washington Supreme Court ruling on water rights. Here is what happened. At issue is dealing with a 2016 Washington Supreme Court decision — the so-called Hirst ruling— that blocks landowners from digging new wells without proving they won’t threaten nearby stream levels needed for fish. The ruling has essentially halted construction of homes and businesses in many rural areas. After six months of talks to find a compromise to help landowners and rural communities without harming fish, both political parties could not reach an agreement when the 2017 session ended July 20 after three 30-day special sessions. Meanwhile, the GOP Senate caucus said it would not pass a $4 billion capi-

tal budget — both sides agreed on actual projects and appropriations — without a permanent solution to the rural-wells problem. Senate Republicans are sticking to that stance, said Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, chairman of the Senate Capital Budget Committee. “If we’re not holding up the capital budget, there will be no Hirst solution,” he said. The House Democrats proposed a short-term compromise to put a twoyear delay on enforcing the Hirst ruling on well diggers while the two sides work more on a final solution — meaning wells could be dug regardless of the stream implications during those two years. The GOP rejected that offer. “That just kicks the can down the road. We need a permanent solution,” Honeyford said. Gov. Jay Inslee said: “At this point, a 24-month delay is the best approach to give the Legislature time to evaluate a permanent fix while giving suffering property owners immediate relief.” In response, Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, the lead GOP negotiator on the Hirst issue, said, “Access to water is a basic human right, and finding a solution to Hirst that allows families to build on their property with a reliable source of water is not only a necessity — it is a moral obligation for elected officials in this state. … The House offered a proposal to temporarily delay implementation of the Hirst decision, but not only is this legally questionable, it fails to address the real issue – no bank will be willing to lend money on property where no guaranteed source of water is available.” uBUDGET, Page 13

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Washington is America’s top state for business in 2017 BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF

Washington state jumped into the top spot in the annual CNBC Top States for Business rankings. Work force, infrastructure, business costs, economy, quality of life, technology and innovation, education, business friendliness, access to capital and cost of living are scored by CNBC to come up with its annual ranking of America’s Top States for Business. Washington moved up from sixth place last year. “Why did we top the list? Because we’re the most talented state, the most connected state and the most innovative state in the union,” said Gov. Jay Inslee in a statement. “My top priority as governor is to contin-

ue to nurture our thriving economic climate that spurs job growth and keeps us at the top eschelon for years to come. We know that a cleaner planet, happy and healthy workers and a growing economy can go hand-in-hand.” Other states that led America’s Top States for Business list were Georgia at No. 2, Minnesota at No. 3, Texas at No. 4 and North Carolina at No. 5. According to CNBC, the ranking is based on 10 qualities that states “deem most important in attracting business” and draws mostly from publicly available data to analyze how each state performed in those areas. There were 2,500 points possible, and Washington received 1,621.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

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DEPARTMENTS

Around Town................................... 71 Networking...................................... 42 Business Profiles........................ 60-61 Public Record.................................. 65

CORRECTIONS

CloudSigns.TV can be reached at 503-893-8873. The wrong area code was listed in a July story. Rep. Bill Jenkin, R-Prosser, voted against the paid family leave bill. His name was inadvertently left out of a July story.

UPCOMING

September Focuses: • Science & Technology • Education & Training October Focuses: • Culinary • Young Professionals 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 by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, other contributors or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by staff, contributors 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.

MARIJUANA, From page 1 However, marijuana remains classified as an illegal Schedule I controlled substance under federal law — the highest and most serious tier of controlled substances, putting marijuana in the company of drugs like heroin, LSD and ecstasy in federal policy terms. Todd Arkley, a Seattle CPA who has built a practice on advising marijuana business owners about tax and financial matters, said marijuana’s continued federal classification as an illegal controlled substance presents both tax and banking challenges for business owners. Owners of legal marijuana businesses are unable to get merchant accounts to process credit or debit cards, which means they must always deal in cash, Arkley said. Additionally, it can be difficult and costly to find a bank where cash can be deposited. “Theoretically, the DEA could come in … and say you’re laundering drug money,” Arkley said. Owners of cannabis-related businesses now engaging in state-legal activities are in the precarious position of relying on the federal government to continue its policy of looking the other way and agreeing not to prosecute marijuana retailers in states where the drug is now legal. The Justice Department in 2013 issued what’s known as the “Cole Memorandum,” which laid out a more-or-less “hands off” policy regarding cannabis activities legalized by states. Instead, the department and federal prosecutors were directed to focus on interstate trafficking, marijuana, preventing cannabis money from funding cartels and organized crime, and other

federal issues. That policy remains in effect, despite a change in administration to one vocally less friendly to legal marijuana. Arkley said there is some concern in the industry that Attorney General Jeff Sessions could direct the Justice Department to disregard the Cole Memorandum and resume prosecutions. But he noted there appears to be sufficient support for states’ rights to regulate their marijuana policies among Republicans in Congress that he doesn’t foresee a significant backslide anytime soon. But technically, marijuana retailers in Washington state continue to be “drug dealers” under federal law, and when they deposit cannabis money into a bank or invest it, that can be considered money laundering, Arkley said. “The fact is this has always been illegal, even under the Obama administration,” he said. Lee said that many banks won’t touch money from cannabis businesses for that reason. “Anything over $20,000 cash is evidence of a plan to commit a conspiracy. Almost any big pot business does over $20,000 per day,” Lee said. There are a handful of banks and credit unions in Washington where owners of businesses like Green2Go can deposit cash, but the only accounts available are non-interest bearing and fees can be significant. “We can’t put it into a CD or a savings bond,” Lee said. “We can’t earn interest on it. The only thing we can do is buy stuff. You can buy stuff you like or you can buy stuff that earns you income that

isn’t cannabis income.” Arkley said without the ability to deposit cash into a bank where it’s secure, cannabis businesses often become the target of break-ins or employee thefts because of the amount of cash they have on hand. Lee said Green2Go, which state records show does more than $1 million per month in retail sales, has daily armored car pickups to avoid a cash buildup, and the transfer of cash is monitored on video and documented every step of the way. Another issue Lee encounters as a business owner is how the federal tax code views his trade. Revenue from his marijuana shop must be declared as income, but the tax code prevents him from taking deductions for business expenses like rent or utilities for income derived from trafficking a Schedule I drug. Arkley said pot shop owners are allowed to take adjustments to revenue for the cost to get goods sold. For example, if a shop does $1 million in sales and it cost the business $500,000 to acquire the products, then it could declare income of $500,000. But then it has to pay tax on that full $500,000 without taking deductions that other businesses are allowed to take. “It is a huge problem for cannabis retailers,” Arkley said. “There’s not a whole lot you can do in Washington to get around it. The reality is that I just try to get people to be cognizant of it and then plan for it.” Lee said his strategy of investing in other local businesses is taking a longterm view. He hopes to eventually realize profits from those businesses, but also to solidify Green2Go’s presence as a productive and positive part of the local community. “While our assets are restricted, the good we can do in the community is we can make jobs that add to the net pot in the community,” Lee said. In addition to providing seed money for startups like Gourmet Grub, Lee has used Green2Go profits to support local political campaigns — including his own. Lee estimated that he’s spent more than $50,000 on his campaign for Kennewick City Council. Typical spending in local city council races a few thousand dollars. The net result for Lee was a second place showing in the Aug. 1 primary that puts him on the general election ballot in November in the race for Ward 2, Position 2. Lee earned 979 votes, or 35 percent, to incumbent Greg Jones’ 1,077 votes, or 39 percent. A third candidate, Shane Fast, earned 727 votes, or 26 percent, and will not advance to the general election. “To have gotten less than a 5 percent difference against the incumbent is a really big achievement,” Lee said. Lee noted that he has contributed to the campaign of any local candidate who asked, regardless of party. He believes that more and more marijuana business owners will become involved in campaigns in the future because it’s one place where they can use their money, and potentially influence future policy. “That narrative is going to play out over the next 10 years,” he said.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017 uBUSINESS BRIEFS Kennewick wood-fire pizza restaurant closes

Fire & Brimstone Wood-fired Eatery in Kennewick has closed. Owners Jessie and Jennifer Verduzco announced the closure to staff and on the restaurant’s Facebook page in July. The restaurant, known for its woodfired pizzas, was located across the parking lot from Lowe’s off Columbia Center Boulevard. “While keeping the specific details of the abrupt closure private, we can merely share that the end of this beautiful endeavor was something that was entirely unseen at this time,” the Verduzcos wrote on their page. The couple apologized to employees for the sudden notice and financial constraints the closure placed on their families. “We are reeling ourselves. But, please...know, how incredibly sorry we are. Thank you for your service,” they wrote.

Gordon Estate Restaurant and Wine Bar closes

Financial challenges forced the closure of Gordon Estate Restaurant and Wine Bar in Pasco. Its last day was July 15. The restaurant and wine bar, located in the Broadmoor Park outlet mall on Outlet Drive, opened in April 2013. “Unfortunately, in our current location the ‘new/walk-in business’ just

wasn’t enough to keep the employees paid and the lights on (at least not at the same time),” said Stephen James Hartley, owner and general manager, in a Facebook post. Restaurant’s gift cards will be honored at the winery for wine purchases, said Hartley, who started as a server, then a wine bar manager before taking over operations in January. The venue started as a wine bar and then evolved into a restaurant, Hartley said. It offered regular live music. Gordon Estate Winery at 671 Levey Road will continue operations in Pasco, said Vicki Gordon, founder and owner, in a post shared to the restaurant’s Facebook page. “Your support has meant the world to us. The only thing that would make this even sadder is if I thought you wouldn’t visit us at the winery or attend future events out there. We will take some time to get our feet on the ground,” Gordon stated. The family-owned winery is the oldest estate winery in the state, producing wines since 1983.

National business group reports increased optimism

The National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly Index of Small Business Optimism, showed a 1.6 percent increase in July. The advocacy group attributes the increase to significant gains in hiring activity. “Strong consumer demand is boost-

ing small business optimism,” said NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan. “Small business owners are feeling better about the economy because their customers are feeling better about the economy. This is a good trend that we hope continues.” Among the 10 components that make up the index, seven improved, two declined and one remained unchanged. The biggest gains were: job openings (+5); job creation plans (+4); and sales expectations (+5). Business owners cited “lack of specific skills” as the main reason they can’t find qualified workers, according to NFIB research included in the report. Other common reasons include: work history, social skills, wage expectations and attitude. Nineteen percent of small business owners listed lack of qualified workers as their No. 1 problem, second only to taxes.

County. The company said it will produce 149,000 tons per year of market pulp and 95,000 tons per year of a carbohydrate-lignin co-product. The pulp from the mill can be used in the manufacturing of sustainable, tree-free paper and packaging products. The state Economic Development Finance Authority will provide $133.6 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance the project. Columbia Pulp anticipates construction will begin this month and be completed in late 2018. Columbia Ventures Corp. is the lead investor in the $36 million equity financing that closes simultaneously with the bond offering. CVC, a private equity family office in Vancouver, has previously invested in the international aluminum manufacturing sector as well as the global telecommunications industry, including a small telecom company headquartered in Walla Walla.

Dayton’s Columbia Pulp secures financing

WSU Regents approve coming year’s tuition rates

Columbia Pulp of Dayton has secured the financing to build the first pulp mill in North America to produce market pulp for papermaking without using trees. The facility is designed to take straw, a waste product from wheat and seed alfalfa farms, and convert it into pulp. The new $184 million facility will be located on a 449-acre site near the Lyons Ferry Bridge in Columbia

Washington State University’s Board of Regents approved a 2.2 percent tuition increase for the coming year. Undergraduate resident students will see an increase of $103 per semester, raising full-time annual tuition to $9,530. This is the first time it has increased tuition in the past four years. The rate of the increase is tied to the average annual growth in median hourly wages in Washington.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory Director Liyuan Liang, right, shares a laugh with former EMSL Director Thom Dunning during a two-day celebration earlier this month recognizing 20 years of scientific achievements at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. (Courtesy PNNL)

EMSL celebrates 20 years of scientific achievement BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF

A unique user facility in Richland that has helped scientists around the world shape their ideas and find answers to some of the most challenging scientific questions celebrated two decades of achievement this month. Scientists, community leaders and others gathered Aug. 3-4 to celebrate the first 20 years of the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, or EMSL. About 100 people attended. EMSL covers an area bigger than four football fields and is filled with instruments for molecular environmental science and a production computing system, all designed to help scientists answer questions about the environment, biology and energy. It is home to more than 150 scientists, many with unique expertise. “Scientific user facilities like EMSL bring together the resources, the tools, and most importantly the people to solve some of the most difficult scientific challenges,” said Liyuan Liang, EMSL director, in a release. “Scientists from academic, industry and laboratories across the world join forces to tackle problems that otherwise might go unaddressed simply because they are too complex and challenging for any one scientist. We bring teams of scientists together to enable discovery.” Using EMSL resources, scientists worldwide have authored more than 6,000 scientific manuscripts which have

garnered more than 200,000 citations as other scientists build on each other’s work. EMSL is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility located at DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. EMSL was proposed by former PNNL director William R. Wiley — Wiley Elementary School in West Richland is his namesake — to explore connections at the molecular scale between the physical, mathematical and life sciences. While much of its initial focus was on environmental challenges, such as the fate and transport of contaminants beneath the surface, the laboratory’s scope has grown. EMSL resources have contributed to findings about the environment, atmospheric processes, biofuels and bioproducts, microbiology and life sciences, catalysis, energy storage, clean fuels and other topics. A constant throughout EMSL’s years has been the creation of new ways to monitor what’s happening at the molecular level in a range of materials and organisms. One of EMSL’s most widely-known contributions is the creation of NWChem, an open-source high-performance-computing software package that helps scientists understand problems in the realm of molecular chemistry and biochemistry. The software, which helps scientists simulate molecular structures and reaction mechanisms, has been downloaded more than 70,000 times.

Please recycle the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business when you are done reading it, or pass it on to a coworker.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

DATEBOOK

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

AUG. 18

• Washington Hispanic Education Summit: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. Register ewu. edu/WHES. • HAPO Golf Classic and Dinner: 11:30 a.m., Canyon Lakes Golf Course, 3700 W. Canyon Lakes Drive, Kennewick. RSVP 509-7373373. • 10th annual Cuisine de Vin: 7 – 10 p.m., Terra Blanca Winery, 34715 N. DeMoss Road, Benton City. RSVP childrensdevelopmen talcenter.org.

AUG. 19

• Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers’ 5th annual Drink Some Wine and Solve a Crime: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Southridge Sports Complex, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP 509-5821351.

AUG. 22

• The Price is Right – Or is it?, presented by Time to Profit: 4 – 6 p.m., Connect Workspace, 8350 W. Grandridge Blvd., Suite 200, Kennewick. RSVP mytimetoprofit.com.

AUG. 22 – 26

• Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo: 9 a.m., Benton County Fairgrounds, 1500 S. Oak St., Kennewick. Bentonfranklinfair.com.

AUG. 23

• Tri-City Regional Chamber luncheon: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. RSVP 509-736-0510.

AUG. 24

• Tri-City Regional Chamber Business Development University “Sales Machine: Tech Tools for Closing the Deal:” 8 – 10 a.m., Tri-Cities Business and Visitor Center, 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP 509-736-0510.

AUG. 26

• Prosser Beer & Whiskey Festival: 5 – 10 p.m., Prosser Wine and Food Park, 2880 Lee Road, Prosser. Tourprosser.com.

SEPT. 6

• National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association lunch meeting: 11:30 a.m., Red Lion Hotel, 1101 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick. Visit narfe1192.org.

SEPT. 7

• Proposal Development for Government Contractors, presented by Washington PTAC: 10 a.m. – noon, Tri-Cities Business & Visitor Center, 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP 509-4913231.

SEPT. 8

• Cultural Traditions Community Meeting, hosted by Humanties Washington: 10 a.m. – noon, Mid-Columbia Libraries, 1620 S. Union St., Kennewick. Humanities.org. • Books & Vines, benefit for the Children’s Reading Foundation of the MidColumbia: 5:30, Bookwalter Winery, 894 Tulip Lane, Richland. RSVP 509-2227323. • Clams and Blues on the Columbia, a fundraiser for Three Rivers Community Foundation: 5:30 – 9 p.m., Clover Island Inn, 435 Clover Island Drive, Kennewick. RSVP 509-735-5559.

SEPT. 11

• Pasco Chamber luncheon: 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pacso. RSVP 509-547-9755.

SEPT. 12

• American Society for Quality Section 0614 dinner meeting: 5:30 p.m., Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock Blvd., Richland. RSVP panda_2@charter.net

SEPT. 13

• West Richland Chamber luncheon: noon – 1 p.m., Sandberg Event Center, 331 S. 41st Ave., West Richland. RSVP 509-967-0521.

SEPT. 14

• Tie One On, a benefit for My Friend’s Place: 5 – 8 p.m., Safe Harbor Support Center, 1111 N. Grant Place, Kennewick. RSVP 509-7835734.

SEPT. 15

• DVSBF Golf Tournament, benefiting Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties: 8 a.m., Canyon Lakes Golf Course, 3700 W. Canyon Lakes Drive, Kennewick. RSVP dvsbf.org. • Fall Harvest Gala, a benefit for Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity: 6 – 10 p.m., Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock St., Richland. Habitatbuilds.com/ fall-auction.

SEPT. 16

• TEDx Richland: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Uptown Theatre, 1300 Jadwin St., Richland. Tickets tedxrichland.com.

SEPT. 19

• Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber luncheon: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. RSVP 509-542-0933.

SEPT. 21

• Take ACTion Luncheon, a benefit for Academy of Children’s Theatre: noon – 1 p.m., CG Public House, 9221 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick. RSVP Jeremy@ kenmoreteam.com.

SEPT. 23

• Time of Remembrance Candlelight Vigil: 7:30 p.m., Columbia Park Veterans Memorial, Kennewick. Information timeofremembrance.org.

SEPT. 24

• Time of Remembrance Ceremony: 10:00 a.m., Flat Top Park, 4705 W. Van Giesen, West Richland. timeofremembrance.org.

Parent / Child Golf Tournament GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT AND GOLF FOR YMCA KIDS

Join Us for an afternoon of golf with your family and friends at Tri-City Country Club! The Parent/Child Golf Tournament will return this year on September 23rd at the TriCity Country Club! This unique tournament features a 9 hole scotch ball golf tournament including dinner and rafﬂe! For 12 years, we have brought parents and children together for a day of golf, fun, and most importantly, valuable family time…..So moms, dads, sons and daughters dust off your golf clubs and come celebrate with the Y!

For more information on this event, how to sign up, or to become a sponsor contact us at 509-374-1908 or online ymcatricities.org. Thank you to our sponsors

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Cable bridge to be lit teal to raise cancer awareness

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center has partnered with Ovarian Cancer Together to light the cable bridge teal for the month of September to create greater awareness of Ovarian cancer. The community is invited to attend the free event at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at Clover Island Inn in Kennewick. There will be teal drink and food specials and a social gathering from 7 to 9 p.m. At dusk the bridge will be lit teal to kick off ovarian cancer awareness month. The name of every survivor present and every woman lost, this year and in the past, will be read. If you have someone to honor, email

details to aracellyg@tccancer.org. This year’s bridge lighting is in memory of Kay Kerbyson and Karla Schliep.

Kalan Railroad Bridge being repaired after malfunction The Kalan Railroad Bridge near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers is undergoing repairs after it became stuck in the down position in mid-July. The U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Waterways Management Branch is monitoring the progress while Union Pacific Railroad works on the repairs. There is a potential risk to recreational and commercial vessels depending on water level with about 10 to 12 feet of

clearance under the bridge. The Coast Guard reports that it is working with the railroad company to address the maritime traffic and restore the passageway.

Richland company lands $9.9 million Corps contract

Sealaska Technical Services recently was awarded a $9.9 million environmental consulting contract from the Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District. STS, an Alaskan native small disadvantaged business with principal offices in Richland, is a full-service engineering, technology integration and environmental consulting company with a worldwide reach in the areas of

water and energy management, national security, systems engineering, data management and analytics for both federal and commercial customers. Its technical support for Corps projects will consist of studies dealing with fish, plant and wildlife species and habitat surveys, sediment collection, chemical and biological testing including toxicological interpretation, associated environmental coordination and preparation. The contract will be executed with partners Freestone Environmental Services and SWCA Environmental Consultants.

Cascade Natural Gas requests price increase

Cascade Natural Gas has filed a price increase request with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. If approved, residential customers would see an average increase of $2.12 per month. Driving the request is capital investment in pipeline replacement projects that will enhance safety and integrity, and increased cost to operate and maintain that system. The proposed increase is for $5.9 million over current annual revenues and if approved would be the first increase since December 2015. Cascade Natural Gas serves more than 210,000 customers in 65 Washington communities.

Chief Executive Officer Columbia Industries seeks an accomplished, strategic, passionate and collaborative leader with a business minded outlook to effectively manage resources to provide impact and support to the organization’s mission. This position leads a team committed to serving our clients and customers with excellence. Columbia Industries is a nonprofit organization providing workforce training, job placement assistance, socialization and advocacy for individuals with disabilities or barriers to employment. The CEO will work directly with the Board of Directors, lead, supervise, coach and collaborate with the staff of the organization, establish and maintain relationships with organization’s throughout the community and state. Strong character, integrity, leadership, interpersonal, management, marketing, strategic planning, financial acumen, communication, programs and fundraising skills required. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, advanced degree preferred. Ten years management experience required. Drug and alcohol testing and background checks required. Submit cover letter, resume, portfolio and application to: Director of Human Resources Columbia Industries, P.O. Box 7346 Kennewick, WA 99336. Applications available at columbiaindustries.com or at our office at 900 S. Dayton Kennewick WA. AA/EEO Employer. Position #1404.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Columbia Label expands to better serve Northwest wine industry Benton City label company invests $2M in new presses BY JESSICA HOEFER

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Columbia Label recently installed its first of two $1 million dollar machines to help better meet the needs of Northwest wineries. The company provides labels for more than 75 wineries, including Tagaris and Badger Mountain Vineyards, as well as specialty food clients. Its new Indigo WS6800 Digital Press is the top digital wine label printer available to own, said Steve Hall, owner of Columbia Label. The second machine, a finishing press known as the ABG Digicon 3, will be installed in January. “It’s one of the most sophisticated machines Hewlett-Packard has built for the West Coast wine industry,” he said. Unlike other big-city labeling companies with skyscraper views, Columbia Label is in the heart of Eastern Washington’s wine region at 1580 Dale Ave. in Benton City. Its proximity to American Viticulture Areas such as Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills and Rattlesnake Hills make it easy for Hall’s sales team to meet with clients face-toface. “Some wineries are currently getting labels made 200 to 900 miles away in

Seattle or the Napa area,” said Hall, who said using a company so far away means owners have to wait for a label to be mailed to see the final product. “I can’t imagine the trouble between mailing a label and seeing a label.” Columbia Label isn’t new to the industry. Hall said his company has been making wine labels for about a decade, first with digital roll label machinery and eventually a digital wine label press. Investing in the new Indigo, which is 25 feet long, and the ABG Digicon, which will be 35 feet long when installed, will allow the company to take on more clients and bigger jobs. “We wanted to be more efficient,” said Hall, explaining the new press will allow embellishments such as raised text and embossing to be done in one pass. “For the Indigo, we print the label and then we’ll run it through the Digicon. (The Digicon) can hot stamp and it’s able to put a coating on the label. In a lot of labels, you see shiny spot coating.” Hall said the new Indigo can create about 300 bottle labels per minute. The current machines in place, which are older versions of the Indigo and Digicon, run at about half that speed. uLABEL, Page 10

Columbia Label owner, Steve Hall, stands next to a new $1 million digital press inside his Benton City company. A second machine, the 2018 Digicon finishing press, will arrive in January. The business provides labels for more than 75 wineries, including Tagaris and Badger Mountain Vineyards, as well as specialty food clients.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017 LABEL, From page 9 Katii Deaton, director of sales and production, said the increased efficiency will benefit customers in several ways. “With that speed and technology and not having to do multiple passes—the price is going to follow that. We’re trying to help keep money in (winery owners’) pockets,” Deaton said. “The price looks like it’ll drop in half.” Even when the new Digicon arrives this winter, the 2006 Indigo and 2009 Digicon are still operational and will continue to be used. Hall said they’re one of the few label companies on the West Coast that will have two Indigos and Digicons. “We just want to be more efficient and amplify our customers’ success,” Deaton said. “Over the last few years, more and more of our public and private businesses recognize the rapid growth of the wine industry. The wineries need supporting businesses.” Columbia Label sent a team to train with Hewlett-Packard and Hall said the buzz is already out with winery owners eager to learn about the machine and what the company can do to meet their label printing needs. “They’re excited. We talked to one large winery and more and more wineries are getting into digital. Once we have everything in, they want to do testing with us,” Hall said. “We’re hearing that a lot lately. They’d like to come down and take a tour and see what we’re doing. And that’s pretty exciting because of lot of these companies don’t have that opportunity (to stop and take a tour) if they’re having their labels made in Portland or Seattle.” Columbia Label expanded its facility from 9,300 square feet to 16,200 square feet to accommodate the printing machinery, which takes up about half the building’s space. “And we have another three acres,” said Hall with a laugh. Columbia Label has grown to 37 fulltime employees, including a three-person team sent to Hewlett-Packard to train with the person who built and created the infrastructure to operate the digital machines. “They stayed for about 10 days for operations and a week for free press, getting files ready to run,” said Hall. “They go through the entire machine—the hardware, the maintenance, and how to troubleshoot it.” Hall said they have a contract with Hewlett-Packard to maintain the press and that technical support will fly in as needed. Columbia Label expects the Digicon to be up and running soon after it arrives, and if all goes as planned, they could land new contracts with wineries. “In the wine industry, word travels quickly,” he said. “Pretty soon everyone will know what we’re doing here.” For more information, call 1-888-7919590, visit columbialabel.com or the company find on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Send us your business news info@tcjournal.biz

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Northwest Cancer Clinic’s parent company files chapter 11 bankruptcy BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF

The parent company of Northwest Cancer Clinic in Kennewick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month. Patients served by the clinic at 7379 W. Deschutes Ave. won’t be affected by the court action. The Fort Myers, Florida-based 21st Century Oncology filed for bankruptcy protection July 20. It operates 179 treatment centers, including 143 in the United States and 36 in Latin America. The company cited lower reimbursement rates and higher denials of coverage among the events leading to its request for Chapter 11 protection. The Kennewick clinic is the only one 21st Century Oncology operates in the Northwest. The Kennewick site’s estimated number of creditors affected is less than 50; its assets are between $1 million to $10 million; and its estimated liabilities are $1 billion to $10 billion, according to court documents. Drs. Sheila Rege and Brian Lawenda work at Kennewick’s Northwest Cancer Clinic. The bankruptcy filing is expected to reduce the company’s debt by more than $500 million. Company officials said there will be

no change in the way patients are treated. Treatment facilities remain open and are operating on normal schedules, and patients’ appointments, treatment schedules and physician partners remain the same, according to a news release from the company. Meanwhile, the company’s primary lenders have agreed to provide $75 million in cash to allow business to function as usual. “Operationally, very little, if anything, should change during the Chapter 11 process,” said interim CEO Paul Rundell in a statement. “Our ability to continue to operate as usual and have no disruption to patients was a critical factor in our decision to use chapter 11 to implement this debt restructuring.” The company called the bankruptcy filing a “positive development” for employees, health care partners and patients. “We are a fundamentally strong and profitable business; however, we simply have too much debt given the size of the business and the way industry dynamics, particularly the challenging reimbursement environment, have affected our ability to maximize revenue in the aftermath of these unprecedented, ongoing changes,” Rundell said. Northwest Cancer Clinic provides radiation therapy treatment.

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Vineyard robot highlight of FutureFarm Expo

A virtually operated robot is making its debut at the FutureFarm Expo in Pendleton on Aug. 15-17. The ROVR, or Remote Operated Vineyard Robot, uses virtual reality for human operation and opens the door to remote work. The robotic worker system bypasses technical challenges of machine learning and intelligence by having a human operator via a virtual reality interface. The interface increases the manual dexterity of the ROVR but also opens the possibility for workers to telecommute. The expo, an annual technology summit of the Oregon FutureFarm Project, brings together cutting-edge technology with agriculture professionals. The ROVR demonstration, along with a showing of automated machines and the latest drones, are part of this year’s comprehensive look at optimizing farm practices and how to implement advanced technology. Admission is $125 and includes presentations, expert panels, a trade show along with lunches, a pancake breakfast and dinner at Sno Road Winery. For more information or to buy tickets, go to futurefarmexpo.tech or contact Jeff Lorton, director of

FutureFarm Expo, at 503-989-6933 or jeff@dukejoseph.com.

AG fights for agricultural worker compensation

Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a brief arguing agricultural workers who are paid on a piece-rate basis by what they pick also are entitled to compensation for time they spend on other aspects of their jobs. In the amicus brief filed Aug. 1 in a case before the Washington State Supreme Court, Ferguson argued activities not related to picking such as meetings, trainings, travel between orchards and transporting equipment should be paid time. The case, Carranza and Martinez v. Dovex Fruit Co., is centered around Dovex’s use of a software program that divides an employee’s weekly piece-rate wages by the total number of hours they worked and compares that average hourly wage to the state’s minimum wage. If the workweek average is below the state’s minimum wage the company augments the worker’s wages to bring their average up to minimum wage. Alternatively, workers whose average piece-rate pay exceeds the minimum wage receive no additional pay. Ferguson argues agricultural workers should be compensated separately for each hour of non-picking work.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Group wants to hear about cultural traditions

Humanities Washington will hold a series of meetings to get input on a new program launching in the fall. The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions aims to highlight the many different cultural communities in Washington. The group would like to hear from the public on the cultural traditions in communities that will help create strong partnerships and programming. Area meetings will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Walla Walla Public Library and from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 8 at the Mid-Columbia Libraries’ Kennewick branch. For more information, contact Kristin

Sullivan at Kristin@humanities.org or 206-682-1770 ext. 107.

banks throughout Benton and Franklin counties.

Gleaning group gathers two million pounds of produce

Benton PUD considering rate increase effective Oct. 1

More than two million pounds of fruits and vegetables have been donated to the community through Fields of Grace gleaning group volunteers. The nonprofit organization that began in 2006 recently hit the milestone with the help of more than 15,000 volunteer hours since its inception. More than six million individual servings of produce have been provided. Volunteers harvest produce donated by growers and residents from May through November and pick up donations yearround. All food gathered is either donated directly to Second Harvest or to food

An informational meeting about a proposed Benton PUD rate increase is planned for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15. Benton PUD is considering a 1.9 percent retail rate increase to all customer rate classes effective Oct. 1. The increase is directly attributed to the Bonneville Power Administration’s 5.4 percent average wholesale rate increase, effective the same day. BPA is the primary provider of power to Benton PUD and its customers. For a Benton PUD residential customer, the proposed increase would be applied to the residential daily system charge which would increase from 55 cents per day to

62 cents per day. The residential rate per kilowatt-hour will remain the same. For an average Benton PUD residential customer, this would result in an increase in the average monthly bill from about $113.40 to $116.50. The median monthly residential bill for comparable Northwest utilities is $122. For all other customer classes, the proposed increase would apply to daily system charges or demand charges, where applicable. Benton PUD’s last overall revenue increase was 4.9 percent in September 2016. The customer rate meeting will provide more information about the proposed rate increase. The meeting will be at Benton PUD Auditorium at 2721 W. 10th Ave. in Kennewick.

uPIANO, Page 16

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017 BUDGET, From page 3 So far, no apparent decline in local rural construction has occurred because the legislative issue has been up in the air, said Jeff Losey, executive director of the Homebuilders Association of the Tri-Cities. It is too early to speculate on what the impasse’s effects will be on rural construction, he said. Inslee and legislative leaders voiced hope that a Hirst agreement might be reached later this year, with the governor then calling a special legislative session to pass both a Hirst compromise and a capital budget. “We’re still waiting to see what the Legislature will do,” said Kennewick City Manager Marie Mosley. This unresolved issue has a couple potential political blowbacks for Republicans. One is that Republican legislative districts would lose out on construction money as much as the Democratic districts. Secondly, there is a November special election for a senator to permanently replace the late Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, in the 45th District. Whichever side wins that election will have a 25-24 majority in the Senate. If the Democrats win in the 45th, that would mean control of the House, Senate and governor’s office — and the Senate GOP wouldn’t have the clout to renew any Hirst negotiations. Still, Republicans have been straightforward about their view of the need for a solution to the wells question before they release the capital budget. A major sticking point in the final talks was that Democrats wanted tribes or the

uBUSINESS BRIEF Banner Corp. records strong second quarter growth

Where do we go from here?

uSee Washington Policy

Center column on page 40.

state Ecology Department to have the power to veto any well-digging project if formal objections are raised, including concerns by environmentalists or more senior water rights owners, which would include the tribes. “Otherwise, you could put in new wells without a limiting mechanism. … There has to be some accountability,” said Rep. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell, one of the Democratic leaders on this topic. Inslee supported this stance. That was a deal-breaker for Republicans. The GOP proposal was if objections were formally raised to Ecology, the state could cut off any state money to the project, but would not be allowed to veto it. As a sweetener, Republicans offered to increase well-digging permit fees or allocate another $10 million for fish mitigation work. Here is a rundown of some MidColumbia projects stalled without a capital budget: • Delays to upgrading the intersection of Highway 395 and Ridgeline Drive serving south Kennewick. • The stalled capital budget included $69.5 million for water supply projects in the Yakima and Columbia river basins. The state ecology department said in a written statement that the situation will delay construction and cost-sharing opportunities for water conservation and

supply projects. These include projects to provide Columbia River water to farmers in the Odessa Subarea. And they cover projects to improve water collection and storage in the upper Yakima River basin that will ultimately affect the availability of irrigation water in western Benton County. Projects also include fish passages and habitat improvements for fish along the Yakima River basin. • Design work for a 40,000-square-foot center for an Army infantry Stryker company with 180 to 200 people, 16 Strykers, plus support vehicles. The state has already bought 40 acres in the Horn Rapid area for $1.6 million. Although plans and bids are still not tackled, the National Guard expects the project to cost roughly $3.8 million in state capital funds, which are needed to receive another $11.4 million in federal money. The National Guard had hoped to speed the completion date from 2020 to 2019. But since $300,000 for design work is in the stalled capital budget, that acceleration is gone, and the finish date appears to be headed back to 2020, said Lt. Col. Adam Iwaszuk, facility management officer of the Washington National Guard. • The stalled capital budget has $9.7 million that was earmarked for expansion and fix-it work at Richland’s Jefferson Elementary School. However, the school district has more than that stashed away in its own capital project’s fund, so work will begin on schedule on the Jefferson site — with the local fund to be reimbursed when the state capital money finally gets allocated.

• The stalled budget included $3 million to build labs, classrooms and offices in the middle of the WSU Tri-Cities campus — originally expected to take less than two years to do. • A 9,000-square-foot new building to hold classrooms, exhibits and offices for student outreach at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. This is part of the LIGO outreach to schools. The site received 8,000 visitors last year. “This would increase the number of students to the site,” said Mike Landry, LIGO’s Hanford director. The building has a preliminary estimated cost of $5.6 million. The state capital budget would have allocated $411,000 to the project, which currently has no target date for construction. LIGO is exploring several sources of revenue for this project. • The city of Kennewick was supposed to receive $6 million to upgrade its watermeter-reading system from using workers walking from home to home to instead transmitting all the information electronically. Area public utility districts already tackle this chore electronically. Once given a green light, Mosley expects the upgrade to take several months. • The North Franklin School District was to receive a capital fund appropriation to build a new bus center. Details on the costs and timetable were not readily available. The state is supposed to pay for most of that project. Also, the school district already has an older bus parking and maintenance center, which will stay open until the new center is tackled.

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Continued revenue growth helped Banner Corp. end the second quarter with a strong showing. Banner Corp. is the parent company of Banner Bank and Islanders Bank. Banner reported a second quarter finish with a net income growth of 7 percent to more than $25 million compared to $21 million second quarter 2016. Banking operations revenues also added to the increase with a 48 percent growth from $4.6 million in first quarter to $6.8 million.

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Reading foundation gives books to children

The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia is helping students retain reading skills throughout their summer break with free books. A grant provided by Bechtel National, Inc., has created funding for the foundation to provide two books to each of the 2,700 preschool through fourth-grade children participating in the Feeding Summer Minds Program. “We’ve learned that many children in our community do not have books at home,” said Sara Schwan, executive director. “Our program provides kids their very own books, chosen by them, to encourage them to read every day.”

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Grants help fire district stretch tax dollars

Benton Fire District 1 has topped $1.1 million in grant awards in the past two years. Among the awards it has received was a grant for $426,420 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with a 5 percent internal grant to replace 60 self-contained breathing apparatus. Awards for training, equipment and supplies have come from state and local agencies including the Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Washington State Department of Health and the Franklin and Benton County Emergency Management, in addi-

tion to area business that have given financial support. The fire district has about 90 volunteer, part-time and full-time firefighters and EMTs who serve 17,800 people throughout the Mid-Columbia.

Numerica Credit Union donates iPads to students

The charter class of 60 students arriving this month at Washington State University’s new Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine will receive iPads through a donation from Numerica Credit Union. As the health care environment becomes increasingly digital and mobile, medical students are utilizing technological devices to prepare for the field. The iPads support a digital-first and textbookfree learning experience.

CBC offers academy for food truck entrepreneurs

Those interested in taking a love of food trucks to a new level can join Columbia Basin College’s Food Truck Academy. The training program gives students the skills to operate a food truck business in two courses that are 10 weeks each and include interactive lab sessions and field trips. Marilou Shea, creator of Food Truck Friday in Pasco and former director of Pasco Specialty Kitchen, will teach the course. For more information, email mmann@ columbiabasin.edu or call 509-542-4443. To register, email mfreytag@columbiabasin.edu or call 509-542-4804.

Triticale crop insurance now available

Growers of triticale, a cross between wheat and rye, in Washington, Oregon and Idaho can now insure their crops through a new insurance plan. The plan provides coverage for damage resulting from naturally occurring events and uses a producer’s actual production history to establish the insurance guarantee. A list of crop insurance agents is available at U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Centers or through the Risk Management Agency agent locator at rma.usda.gov/tools/ agent.html. Sales closing date for the 2018 crop year is Sept. 30. For more information, go to rma. usda.gov.

State unemployment remains at record low

Washington’s unemployment rate in June remained at a record low of 4.5 percent set the month before. The state’s labor force increased 6,400 from May with 2,800 of those positions employed by government. Wholesale trade and other services were among the other top areas to gain jobs. June 2016 to June 2017, not seasonally adjusted, saw the largest gains in employment in government, construction and retail trade.

Conover Insurance, Benefit Partners Unlimited merge

Two Kennewick insurances agencies have merged. Conover Insurance acquired Benefit Partners Unlimited, which provides employee benefits and insurance plans to small- and mediumsized companies in addition to individual plans. Conover specializes in commercial and personal insurance, employee benefits and financial services. “We chose to join Conover because of their excellent reputation in the area,” said George Mackie, president of Benefit Partners Unlimited. The combined team will allow customers to have a one-stop shopping option and offer a broader range of complementary products, said Conover Insurance CEO Brad Green.

Solar Incentives Job Bill OK’d in state Legislature

The state Legislature voted in the solar incentives job bill, which opens the door to customers participating in the cash-back solar incentive program. The bill will provide incentives to new solar system owners until 2030 and continue incentives for current systems through 2020. Consumers with local utilities get credit on their bill for what their solar system produces at their current power rate. Payouts will be either up to eight years or 50 percent of the installed project costs — whichever comes first. Cash rebates will start at 15 cents per kWh for the next fiscal year and decline 2 cents per year over the next four years.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Community First Bank headquarters, HFG Trust to move into shared building Sister businesses plan move to Grandridge Boulevard after renovating offices BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz

Community First Bank will mark 20 years in business this year by moving its headquarters to a new building. The locally-owned bank, which opened in 1997, will be moving its administration team as well as its sister company, HFG Trust, to 8131 W. Grandridge Blvd. in Kennewick. Community First Bank paid $2.8 million to buy the building, previously owned by a group of individual investors, and expects to make up to $500,000 in renovations, said Eric Pearson, the bank’s CEO and president. “We looked long and hard and considered constructing and it came down to the size of investment we are willing to make on a building. … We wanted a statement location and liked the idea of building, but quickly realized it was not the best stewardship of our shareholders’ money,” Pearson said. Being centrally located was a key factor, too, said Pearson, who’s served as

CEO since 2009. The Grandridge Boulevard location fit the bill and is the closest to what Pearson calls the Tri-Cities’ financial district. “The bank has grown tremendously. The economic downturn was for good for us. We’re still in business,” Pearson said. But after the crisis, the banking world got more competitive, he said. That got Community First Bank thinking about augmenting its services with revenue from non-interest sources, Pearson said. “We felt we needed to provide a new service, and investment services was one thing we knew we’d always like to do,” he said. The bank acquired HFG Trust from Ty Haberling in 2016. The move allows both businesses to better serve their customers, especially when it comes to trust services, Pearson said. “We take care of clients with each other. We wanted it to be the right fit. We’re good at what we do and so are they. It’s been very successful … it’s a win for clients,” Pearson said.

Community First Bank’s administrative team and HFG Trust will renovate a building at 8131 W. Grandridge Blvd. in Kennewick and move into it later this year and next. (Courtesy Community First Bank)

HFG Trust has “been growing like crazy and have been since the merger and they’ve been running out of space,” Pearson said. Community First Bank employs 69 people and operates four branches in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and Connell. HFG Trust has 19 employees. Community First Bank’s administrative team moved out of its Clearwater Avenue branch and into a leased office in

a nearby strip mall two years ago. “We’d like to have the same building and share space,” Pearson said. Pearson said the bank and HFG Trust are working to accommodate current tenants in their new building as they begin renovations. The building currently has three tenants: Tri-City Title and Escrow, WilburEllis, NAI Tri Cities. uBANK, Page 16

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

BANK, From page 15 The HFG Trust team will move out of its Edison Street offices and into the new building once NAI Tri-Cities real estate moves out. The timeline isn’t firm but it could be by November or December, Pearson said. Pearson said Tri-City Title and Escrow will be leaving the building next year, which will provide more space. The bank administrative team of nine would move in early 2018, after the escrow company leaves. More space might be available for the deposit operations group, which handles electronic banking, and other departments or another tenant could move in later in the year, Pearson said. Renovation work will include exte-

rior cleanup, enlarging windows on the north side, stucco work, painting and bathroom improvements. “The building will feel like an HFG location to clients,” Pearson said. Community First Bank’s offices in the new building will be chartered as a branch, but it won’t be a full-service facility. Bank employees will be able to assist HFG clients in the building, Pearson said. The bank and financial services’ company have grown in tandem with the Tri-Cities. Community First Bank’s assets total $287 million. Fifty years ago, the Tri-Cities was a very small place, but it’s grown rapidly and may exceed the population of

Commercial Real Estate & Construction Spokane in “our children’s lifetime,” Pearson said. “I’m really bullish on the Tri-Cities. O b v i o u s l y. We’re here. Eric Pearson We’re less Community dependent on First Bank Hanford than we’ve ever been,” Pearson said. He also pointed to the area’s population approaching 300,000 and the area’s central location, ample land, cheap housing, power availability, good roads and decent weather as pluses.

There’s a subset of younger customers who never “step foot in the bank and we can take care of them but we’re not targeting them as a client,” Pearson said. “We’re working for a client who wants a relationship, not just a bank, and who values the actual service and expertise that we’ve invested in,” Pearson said, adding that teaming up with HFG Trust helps educate customers about “how to manage finances for long haul” as a “successful long-term investor.” “Our common theme is caring. Clients who want someone who is there and looking out for them,” Pearson said.

uBUSINESS BRIEF Fundraiser supports ACT theatre expansion project

The Academy of Children’s Theatre is raising $300,000 to more than double the size of its Richland theatre. To date, the expansion project has raised $250,000 in grants, donations and pledges. Once the goal is reached, ACT will begin an initial renovation phase for an expanded 300-seat teaching and performance theatre for use by local students, families and other community organizations at 213 Wellisan Way. To support the fundraising campaign, a Take ACTion luncheon is planned for noon Sept. 21 at CG Public House in Kennewick. The onehour lunch will include details about the project and feature entertainment by ACT student performers. Cornerstone Wealth Strategies is sponsoring the complimentary luncheon. Guests will be asked to consider a minimum donation of $100 to attend, with all of the proceeds benefiting the project. The need for the expansion project is driven by the growth of programs offered by ACT. In addition, frequent sell-out crowds attending performances at the existing 120-seat theatre support the need for an expanded facility. The new theatre will allow for more classes, performances, instruction and events to be held at ACT. To attend the fundraising luncheon, contact ACT Managing Director Anne Spilman at 509-943-6027 or email anne@actstaff.org. The Academy of Children’s Theatre also recently received a $2,500 grant from U.S. Bank Foundation to support the 2017-18 performance season. The money will help support performances that include “Beauty and the Beast,” “Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Frosty the Snow Man,” “Akeelah and the Bee,” “Peter & The Star Catcher” and “Curious George and the Golden Meatball.”

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Kennewick building owner shares entrepreneurial spirit with tenants Center Towers Shopping Center features mix of national, local stores BY JESSICA HOEFER

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Jeremy Mansius spent his adolescence helping his dad run a HobbyTown franchise in Portland. When he went on to pursue a degree in finance, he thought he’d left the radiocontrolled cars and science kits behind him. “I grew up thinking, ‘I’m never going to work at this store. I’m never going to work at HobbyTown.’ And now I own one,” Mansius said with a laugh. Mansius and his father, who acts as a silent partner, bought Center Towers Shopping Center at 1360 N. Louisiana St. in Kennewick last year for $2.4 million. It’s located behind Olive Garden. “Right when we bought it, the previous owner had just filled (up the spaces),” Mansius said. “Including me, there’s eight tenants.” The businesses include companies such as a nail shop, hair salon, restaurant, insurance company, CPA and bakery. Mansius’ father owns several HobbyTown stores throughout the Northwest, including in Vancouver, Everett, Silverdale and Redmond. “My dad always wanted to open up a store in the Tri-Cities, so we looked in the area,” Mansius said. Although his father grew up in Kennewick, Mansius knew little about the area. But the Tri-Cities’ economic growth was evident, and in 2004 he opened HobbyTown at the Center Towers in Suite G. After several years as a tenant, Mansius contacted the building owner about buying the complex. “He wanted too much for the building,” said Mansius, who explained the previous owner had ties in Seattle. “Nobody bought it, and he held onto it, but he finally wanted out bad enough that he dropped the price $500,000, which was enough for us.” Though HobbyTown is a national franchise with more than 150 locations, Mansius said he is surprised at the number of businesses in his shopping center that are family owned and unique to the TriCities. “I have always been impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit here,” he said. “All the owners here are hard workers and take pride in their individual stores.” Edgar Arechiga and his wife, Janette, opened a Mexican restaurant called Tomatillo in the Center Towers Shopping Center in January 2016. He said being in the retail center has brought in a large pool of potential customers, which is the ideal environment for growing their business. “Me and my family have been part of the Tri-Cities for over 15 years, and being able to create something that can entice customers from all over Washington and into the Tri-Cities is really something worth being part of,” he said. Most of the spaces in the Center Towers Shopping Center are about 1,400 square

feet, said Mansius, although HobbyTown takes up three of the units, or about 4,200 square feet. But HobbyTown isn’t the only business Mansius owns in the complex. In May 2017, he bought Cartridge World from the previous owner who wanted to retire. The transaction included a Walla Walla location. He said being a tenant and not just a landlord has helped him better connect with his fellow business owners. “I have a vested interest, and I have businesses here too,” he said. “It’s nice because I talk to the tenants at least once or twice a month. I’ve developed a relationship with them.” Mansius said he enjoys eating at Tomatillo and raves about the macarons made at Artfetti Cakes in Suite F. The locally-owned bakery opened in May 2016 and specializes in macarons, cupcakes and cakes with a creative twist. “This is our first business venture, which we decided to start after years of making cakes for friends and family,” said Jose Garcia. “Many people would say, ‘You should start a cake business.’ The business, we figured, was what we would spend all our savings on and make sacrifices to make it happen. Many tears and sleepless nights later, we are running a successful business.” Garcia said some people drive from

Center Towers Shopping Center in Kennewick is at full capacity and the new owner of the retail center located behind the Olive Garden said his tenants work to support one another. Rents range from $18- to $19-a-square-foot.

Yakima just to buy the macarons and head straight back home. “It’s an amazing feeling,” he said, giving his wife, Silvia, credit for the talent and artistic touches she’s done on the walls, gift boxes and windows of the store. “Silvia has always been very artistically inclined. She has a vision and it’s amazing how she can make it come to life. This business is the perfect fit for us.” Crystal and Matt Gray bought New Image salon in June 2015 when Crystal Gray was recovering from breast cancer. The past two years have been great for the owners who value the support they receive from their business-center family. “We love the location we’re in and enjoy being surrounded with other local entrepreneurs,” Crystal Gray said, adding

they hope to expand in the future. Garcia said the businesses in the complex complement one another. For instance, Tomatillo runs a Tuesday special on tacos, and Artfetti also runs a deal, offering two macarons for $2. “So you can get a three-taco, twomacaron (meal) for $5 on Tuesdays,” Garcia said. And it’s not just food specials that make the stores work so well together. “Some guys go to HobbyTown and the wives sometimes come over to hang out at our place while their husband splurges a bit,” Garcia said. “It’s really great to be here and know the owners and support each other. We are grateful to be here and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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STARBUCKS

2411 WEST COURT STREET• PASCO Starbucks recently opened at 2411 W. Court St. in Pasco, making it the 15th store in the Tri-Cities and the second one in Pasco. Located inside a former Dairy Queen restaurant, the 2,700-square-foot store features a drive through and a Starbucks café. It opened in June. “This is our second Starbucks in Pasco, and we are excited to serve customers in a new neighborhood and show them what the Starbucks experience is all about,” said

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Jason Ostrer, Starbucks regional manager. Hogback Development Co. of Yakima oversaw the shell and tenant improvements. James Heizer of Starbucks in Seattle oversaw the project. Brandon Smith of Associated Construction Incorporated in Spokane was the general contractor. GPD Group of Seattle was the architect. Designers were Noriko Tanaka and Wendy Wu of Starbucks.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Richland marketing company moves to larger office

WinSome Design Inc. also begins offering grant writing services BY AUDRA DISTIFENO

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

During the past 10 years, WinSome Design Inc. staff have called an 800-square-foot basement their office space. It was the place they brainstormed, collaborated and created to improve others’ business outcomes. The team recently moved from Riverwood Street in Richland to 1201 Jadwin Ave., Suite 101, and more than doubled its work space. “It’s awesome because there’s a huge conference room upstairs to use if needed and there’s opportunity for growth within the building,” said Jane Winslow, creative director, graphic designer and owner. The company moved in June. WinSome Design’s focus is to improve business outcomes for economic development, health care and science and technology organizations through full-service brand development and marketing strategies. Staff members create logos, websites, print advertising, brochures, annual reports, direct mail campaigns, social media campaigns, package designs and more. Community members helped celebrate the move with a ribbon-cutting earlier this month, complete with tours,

a meet and greet session with staff, prize drawings and displays of WinSome’s work. Winslow decided it was time to move in May and contacted the owner of the new building, a location she’d looked at three years ago. The rest is history, as soon after, WinSome opened its doors there. “It’s given us the ability for everyone to have their own office or share with just one person, which really cuts down on disruptions,” Winslow said. “There’s a better production area for printing and binding, a dedicated meeting space, and because we collaborate a lot, the extra space gives everyone more room to spread out.” One of the previous challenges was that the addition of a fifth employee raised the volume substantially, Winslow said. “Cara Thomas joined us to offer grant writing services, but she’s loud like I am. I’ve always been the loudest and when I added another person who brainstorms out loud like I do, it was obvious we needed a bigger space,” Winslow laughed. “And with five people coming into my house with animals and kids out of school for the summer, it was chaotic.” After 20 years in business, Winslow

The WinSome staff includes, back row, from left, Cara Thomas, Lynette Fransen, owner Jane Winslow and Alysha McManus, and front row, from left, Amy Andrus, Vanessa Guzman and Dani Smart. The full-service brand development and marketing firm recently added grant writing and administration to its services, made possible through the company’s move to a new office at 1201 Jadwin Ave. in Richland. (Courtesy WinSome Design)

said the company continues to grow. In addition to the five employees, there are three others off site who work remotely. The nearly 2,000-square-foot new office also enabled WinSome to add two high school summer interns. “We were physically out of space, so the move also created room for them,” Winslow said. The business owner attended a Delta High School intern fair with “what was supposed to be one summer internship available.” She increased the opportunity to two intern-

ships. “We had 12 applicants interested in graphic design. We chose two really talented young ladies and they’ll ideally work throughout the upcoming school year and next summer,” Winslow said. Both will attend college to pursue graphic design. “I love teaching young designers; it takes a lot of time, but they’re really creative and helping us a lot,” she said. uWINSOME, Page 22

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business â&#x20AC;¢ August 2017

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

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Kadlec Birth Center rooms to receive $2 million in improvements in each room’s available space, O’Brien said. The rooms won’t be bigger but they’ll The rooms used to welcome babies into be “getting a nice facelift,” she said. the world at Kadlec Regional Medical Nursing staff will benefit from new Center in Richland will be remodeled and nurse server carts in each room. Supplies updated as part of a more than $2 million for IVs, Foley catheters, gauze, tape and project. other items will be stored in the new With nearly 2,800 babies born at the wheeled carts. The carts also will have a Richland hospital last year and a room locked drawer to store patient medication. remodel completed 23 These items are curyears ago, it’s time, rently kept in fixed “We are looking at said Melanie O’Brien, cabinet drawers and Birth Center manager. are difficult to get comfort and safety Each of the 18 labor into, O’Brien said. for patients and and delivery rooms Nurses will be will receive a facelift visitors, and able to pull out the that includes updated new carts from ergonomics for finish materials and underneath a counter nursing staff and color schemes, new and move them to a sleeper sofas, convenient area, doctors.” improved procedural O’Brien said. lighting, updated bath“We are looking at - Melanie O’Brien, rooms and new radiant comfort and safety Kadlec’s Birth warmers used for for patients and visiCenter manager tors, and ergonomics resuscitation and thermoregulation of the for nursing staff and infant. doctors,” O’Brien said. The Birth Center’s four antepartum The rooms also will look more modern. rooms, where pregnant patients required to More modern gray tones and a robin’s be on bed rest may stay longer, also will egg blue accent color will replace the Birth see improvements. Center’s outdated peach and green color The rooms were last remodeled in 1994. scheme, O’Brien said. The design challenge was working with“We’re going away from green and

BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz

uBUSINESS BRIEFS

orange colors to more modern popular colors,” she said. A significant portion of the remodel includes updating all the ceiling lights used when new moms deliver their babies. This includes replacing the controls on the walls and the lights themselves. O’Brien said Birth Center staff were directly involved in providing input to design and plan the room improvements. The Birth Center has 120 staff and 20 physicians. “We’re super thankful for this project and I know that our patients will really appreciate it as well,” she said. Remodeling begins Aug. 14 on the first room, Suite 3. When it’s finished, the staff will use it for a couple of weeks to determine how the improvements are functioning before proceeding with the rest of the project. “If there are no issues, we’ll take two to three rooms out of service at a time,” O’Brien said. Each group of rooms will take between four to five weeks to complete. “We’re hoping to be done probably by spring or early summer next year,” O’Brien said. Bouten Construction of Richland is the general contractor and KDF Architecture of Yakima is the architect for the remodel work.

State seeks nominations for those who employ people with disabilities

The Washington State Governor’s committee on Disability Issues and Employment, which advises the governor, Legislature and state agencies on policies that affect people with disabilities, and the Washington State Business Leadership Network are now accepting nominations for employers and individuals who make extra efforts to recruit, hire, advance and retain employees who have disabilities. The Governor’s employer awards program honors those employers who make diversity and inclusion practices that correlate with high performance and increased profits. The application is available on the GCDE’s website, its Facebook page or by emailing GCDEawards@esd. wa.gov. Nominations are due by Aug. 31.

Wine & Dine fundraiser set SIGN Fracture Care International’s Wine & Dine with SIGN fundraiser is Oct. 21 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. The event raises money to help heal thousands of SIGN surgeons and patients worldwide. For event sponsorship information or to purchase tickets, call 509-3711107 or visit signfracturecare.org.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

WINSOME, From page 19 In addition to products, WinSome Design staff provide graphic design, programming, writing and editing, photography, illustration and printing services, including offset, screen, litho and web printing. It has owned Secret Print Source, an online printing company, for the past eight years, and Secret Promo Source since February. Secret Print Source (secretprintsource.com) specializes in business cards, brochures, postcards, vinyl banners, signage, marketing materials magnets, bumper stickers and more. Secret Promo Source (secretpromosource.com) offers businesses promotional items for their customers – items from calendars to ice scrapers to fly swatters and sports bottles, all to help promote an event,

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

new location or business. WinSome’s newest niche is grant writing and grant administration services, made possible with the hiring of Thomas, Columbia Industries’ former marketing coordinator. While at CI, she worked with the leadership team to secure funding for a variety of CI projects, including a kitchen for the CI Community Center. “We have long helped nonprofits develop programs. For example, we might have an organization say, ‘We want to reach Hispanic women with baby and toddler care,’ and we’d help them develop a program to do just that. Now, instead of just giving the ideas back to them, we can say, ‘And we’ll help identify funding sources, help you write the grant, and/or administer the

grant,” Winslow said. Thomas has vast grant writing and administration experience, Winslow said, which allows WinSome Design to “close the loop” — from creating a program, to designing, printing, marketing and promoting, and then finally to helping secure funding for the program. The process includes a meeting with the nonprofit to discuss program desires and vision. WinSome staff then research local, regional and national funding sources for four to six weeks, providing the nonprofit with a list of actionable funding prospects. The nonprofit then decides how much help it would like from Thomas from that point forward. Thomas will offer a free grant services networking meeting from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Sept. 19 for nonprofits and grant

writers at WinSome Design. Participants are asked to make reservations in advance. Winslow reinforces the business’ core belief to “inspire innovation in our team and expect a commitment to daily excellence.” “I love what I do, and I’ve been blessed with great clients. Every day is an adventure,” she said. WinSome Design hosts the Leprechaun Limbo, a mother-son event, each March. It is currently soliciting business sponsorships for it. Those interested in sponsoring the event or attending the grant workshop should call WinSome Design at 509946-5755. More information at winsomedesign.com or on Facebook.

BENTON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 1500 SOUTH OAK STREET• KENNEWICK

Most Tri-Citians know the month of August means fair and rodeo time The Benton-Franklin Fair & Rodeo runs Aug. 22-26 in Kennewick. This year visitors can enjoy more than $1.6 million in improvements at the Benton County Fairgrounds, located at 1500 S. Oak St., off 10th Avenue. The project consisted of a complete remodel of Building 2 and 3 with the addition of a new heavy timber pavilion. Building 2 is 15,000 square feet and Building 3 is 8,800 square feet. Building 3 has a new catering station and both buildings feature polished concrete floors, LED lighting, wifi and full heating and air. The buildings will be used for public and private events, conventions, trade shows, concerts and meetings. The project was funded solely by Benton County. The county’s goal was “to create an affordable, user-friendly facility for weddings, meetings, company parties, etc. In addition, we are working hard to become the hub for family-friendly public events that can be attended and enjoyed by the entire community.”

G2 Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor. CKJT Architects of Kennewick did the design work. Key officials overseeing the project were Benton County Public Services Administrator Fred Bowen,

Benton County Project Manager Larry Hueter and Fairgrounds Office Manager John Donley. For more information about renting the facilities, contact Donley at 509-222-3751 or john.donley@ co.benton.wa.us.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION uBUSINESS BRIEFS Second Harvest receives $25,000 grant

Second Harvest received a $25,000 grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation to support the food bank’s fresh produce program. The money will be used to increase the food bank’s ability to access, transport and store fresh produce, and provide fruits and vegetables for local residents.

WSU student group to raise money for cancer society

The Associated Students of Washington State University Tri-Cities are organizing a hike to raise money for the American Cancer Society at 9 a.m.

Oct. 21 at the Candy Mountain Trail in Richland. The purpose of the Pink Path fundraiser is for students, faculty, staff and the community to come together and continue the raise awareness about breast cancer. Registration is $15 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12. A free Pink Path T-shirt is included with every registration. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Individiuals are encouraged to sign up to participate prior to the event at goo.gl/ JiAQqZ or at the base of the trail on the day of the event. For more information, email adriana. mckinney@tricity.wsu.edu.

Annual beer, whiskey fest set for Aug. 26 in Prosser

The fourth annual Prosser Beer & Whiskey Festival is scheduled from 5 to 10 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Prosser Wine and Food Park on Lee Road. Thirty Northwest breweries and distilleries are scheduled to provide visitors with a wide selection to taste. The tasting event is well attended and continues to grow each year, organizers said. The Prosser Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Port of Benton and Tour Prosser have organized the festival. The event features live music, local food vendors and a cigar lounge to complement the beer and spirits available. Shuttle service is available from all local Prosser lodging locations to the

event and back, with vehicles provided by Tom Denchel Ford Country. Tickets cost $40 for general admission, which includes entrance and a logo glass. A $75 VIP ticket includes an hour of VIP exclusive tasting as well as an event glass, T-shirt and swag bag, and access to the VIP lounge sponsored by Milne Fruit. Five hundred pre-purchase VIP tickets are available, and VIP tickets are not sold at the gate. Tickets may be purchased by visiting prosserbeerandwhiskey.com, Berchman’s Brewing Company in Yakima, Bombing Range Brewery in Richland, or by calling the Prosser Chamber of Commerce office at 509786-3177.

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NEW HORIZONS HIGH SCHOOL 2020 W. ARGENT ROAD• PASCO

Students who attend Pasco School District’s alternative high school will arrive for classes in a newly remodeled $2.5 million building when the school year starts Aug. 29. New Horizons High School at 2020 W. Argent Road spent nearly three decades housed in a series of portables on the west end of Columbia Basin College’s campus. The newly remodeled school at 2020 W.

Argent Road is 32,000 square feet. The old CH2M Hill Technology building on the CBC campus was remodeled for the new school. It is located at the corner of 20th Avenue and Argent Road. CBC plans to use the area where the old New Horizons was for expansion and construction of new buildings. The building will house classrooms, cafete-

ria, library, computer lab and staff workroom and will be ready for students at the start of the 2017-18 school year. The school district’s capital projects department oversaw the project. JB Arbogast is the construction manager. The contractor was Siefken & Sons of Richland. CKJT Architects of Kennewick did the design work.

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uBUSINESS BRIEFS WSU College of Nursing receives $1.3M grant

Washington State University College of Nursing received a $1.3 million grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to help train nurse practitioners and address a shortage of primary-care providers in Eastern Washington rural areas. The two-year WSU-ANEW grant creates a formal partnership between the nursing school and the Community Health Association of Washington in which a nurse practitioner faculty in residence will use real-world challenges faced by CHAS providers to enhance the College of Nursing’s curriculum. It also will provide traineeships to 15

Commercial Real Estate & Construction

to 30 WSU nurse practitioner students. They will receive tuition reimbursement and stipends if they agree to be trained primarily in rural health clinics or clinics providing care to underserved populations.

flooring, plumbing and more. The store at 303 Wellsian Way, Richland is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a full list of items accepted, go to habitatbuilds.com/thehabitatstore.

Habitat Store accepting sports equipment

Trios Health Boston Marathon qualifier event set for Oct. 29

Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity’s thrift store, Habitat Store, is now accepting sports equipment donations. The store supports the work of Habitat for Humanity. Donations of new and used items are resold to the public and proceeds help build and repair homes for qualified families. In addition to sports equipment, the store accepts appliances, furniture,

The 37th annual Trios Health TriCities Marathon and Relay is scheduled for Oct. 29. The event offers a full marathon, half marathon and three relay formats—twoperson, three-person and four-person— on a course that starts at the Shilo Inn in Richland. The flat course winds along the Columbia River, over bridges and

through Richland, Pasco and Kennewick. Fees are $80 for individual racers or $30 per person for relay teams; cost includes shirt, bib, medal and goodie bag. Register at 3rrr.org/events. In addition to Trios Health, which is the Kennewick Public Hospital District’s system of care serving the greater TriCities, sponsors include 3 Rivers Road Runners, the City of Richland, Shilo Inn and Visit Tri-Cities.

Corps confirms suspected oil leak at dam

The Army Corps of Engineers operations officials at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam investigated and confirmed a suspected oil leak in hydroelectric generator unit number 2 on Aug. 8. A follow-up report confirming the suspected oil leak was sent to the Environmental Protection Agency — Region 10 and the Washington Department of Ecology. Maintenance workers at the dam are preparing to remove remaining oil from the turbine hub, preventing any additional unintended release of oil into the water. The unit will remain out of service until it can be un-watered to conduct repairs. The suspected leak was first reported Aug. 3, and the generator unit was shut down when maintenance workers detected a discrepancy in the mass balance of turbine oil at the dam’s powerhouse. Corps staff investigated the suspected leak and were able to confirm that a slow leak had allowed oil to enter the water. An estimated 742 gallons of oil slowly leaked from the unit during about a seven-month-long period. The Corps’ oil accountability program led to the decision to take unit 2 out of service while staff investigated to conclusively determine if there was an oil leak from the turbine runner into the water. However, all six units’ oil systems are interconnected, making it very difficult to quantify the amount of oil in an individual unit. “Because unit 2 is the primary generator at (the dam), it is constantly in operation, a slow leak like that, releasing a very small volume of oil per hour, wouldn’t likely be very noticeable in the water during normal operations,” said Don Redman, the Corps’ Walla Walla District environmental compliance coordinator. “We take our responsibility seriously to maintain and operate these dams in an environmentally sound manner, adhering to all federal and state regulations. We always strive to prevent pollutants from entering the river and will be taking action to help prevent this from happening in the future at all of our facilities.”

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION uBUSINESS BRIEF State’s apple forecast dips compared to last year

This year’s Washington state fresh apple crop will be slighty smaller this year, according to a recent report from the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. The 2017 forecast is for a crop of 130.9 million standard 40-pound boxes of fresh apples. This is down 1.2 percent from 2016’s 132.9 million box crop. “The 2017 Washington state apple crop looks to be slightly smaller than last year’s crop but will still deliver an ample supply of tasty apples for consumers to enjoy this year,” said Jon DeVaney, association president. “Harvest is starting a few weeks later than last year, and growers anticipate a crop of good quality fruit.” Consumers will have many varieties of Washington apples to choose from. While Red Delicious remains the most numerous variety with a projected 24 percent of production, Gala is close behind at 22.5 percent, followed by Fuji at 14 percent and Granny Smith at 13 percent of total production. This forecast is based on a survey of association members and represents a best estimate of the total volume of apples that will eventually be packed and sold on the fresh market (excluding product sent to processor). Apple harvest typically begins this month and continues into November, and as a result this forecast is still subject to several months of variable weather, which can affect the final harvest total.

Corps accepting public comment on Duportail Bridge project

Public comment is being accepted on the city of Richland’s plan to build a bridge over the Yakima River to connect Duportail Street. The bridge would be on Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District-managed federal land adjacent to the Yakima River. The Corps is seeking public comment due to proposed changes to the original action regarding construction method alterations and design refinements. Specifically, the bridge has been redesigned to allow for construction without needing a work bridge to access pier location and launch girders, but rather gravel work pads for crane access would be placed in the river temporarily. Written comments will be accepted until Aug. 21. All information and comments received will become part of the permanent public record. Electronic comments may be filed directly online at usace.army.mil/ environmentalComplianceComment, or by emailing to NEPANWW@ usace.army.mil, noting “Duportail Street Bridge” in the subject line.

Finley pot shop moving to larger space

Green2Go doubling capacity, adding staff with expansion July — a spot it’s held since February. Lee hopes that the move, additional cash registers and more employees will The legal marijuana business is allow for even further growth. booming for Finley-based Green2Go. “Hopefully, the new building will The retail shop soon will move to a help us get past the gap and get us to larger space where it can accommodate No. 2,” he said. more cash registers and more customHe said remodels and the addition of ers. cash registers in the current shop have Green2Go obtained a $78,200 build- resulted in spikes in sales and led to the ing permit for a combusiness’ growth. mercial remodel of “Directly the roadthe property at block to doing more Green2Go 214307 E. Highway business is not Green2Go owner Steve Lee. 397. Owner Steve enough cash register is ranked (Courtesy Rich Breshears, Breshears Lee said the property space,” he said. Photography) in the state is an old truck stop Green2Go had across the street Lee said the target for a move is now planned to move into for marijuana from Green2Go’s sometime in August, with a grand openthe new space in sales as of July. current shop and will ing event planned in September. June, but the remodel provide the retailer has fallen behind with more square schedule. footage and a better layout for its operation. “We have outgrown our current building,” he said. Green2Go is leasing the truck stop building and performing a complete remodel to transform it into a marijuana retail shop. The new space will allow Green2Go to add five more cash registers, doubling its current capacity, and 15 employees. The employees will primarily be bud tenders at a wage of $15 per Warehouse Space for Lease Medical Building for Sale hour plus tips and benefits, Lee said. 5,000 s.f. of warehouse for lease at the $3,630,000 (6.75% Cap Rate): The business also plans to hire one or north end of Oregon Avenue. NNN Lease 11,949 s.f. building comprised of four suites. two managers to work in the new loca$0.55/p.s.f. for warehouse; $1.10/p.s.f. for 89% occupied and seller to guarantee rent for tion. ofﬁce. Contact Charles Laird for 18 months for the remaining 11% vacancy. The remodel also includes installing more information. Seller to lease back on a 10 year term upon date of sale. The other two suites are leased more cameras, additional security and to a single medical tenant. For more new lighting. information contact Kirt Shaffer. “When it gets opened, it will be a world-class, super safe, well-lit, comfortable weed store,” Lee said. 2815 St. Andrews Loop, #F • Pasco Green2Go’s business has been steadily increasing, with monthly sales of $215,198 reported in June 2016 growCommercial & Agricultural Real Estate Broker ing to $1.16 million by July 2017, To view all listings in more detail go to: according to data from the Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board. The retail shop ranked third in Washington state for marijuana sales in BY MICHELLE DUPLER

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

3rd

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

BURBANK PUBLIC LIBRARY 875 LAKE ROAD• BURBANK

High ceilings, a state-of-the-art lighting system, study area, community room with projector and dropdown screen and expanded computer, teen and children’s areas are among the new features at the newly remodeled Burbank Public Library. The recent construction project added 2,000 square feet of space to the one-story building. The $919,522 project included remodeling the interior and building the addition. The 5,675-square-foot library at 875 Lake Road, near the crossroads of Ice Harbor Drive and Lake Road, provides library services to patrons in the Burbank and surrounding Walla Walla County areas. Construction was completed July 28. The branch’s soft opening is planned before Sept. 1, with a grand

opening scheduled for a later date. G2 Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor. Brad Boler was the project manager, and Tyler Hatcher was the project superintendent. FFA Architecture and Interiors of Portland did the design work. Other key officials involved in the project included the district’s Executive Director Rhonda Gould, board Chairman Dave Dahlin and Burbank branch Supervisor Terri Jeffrey. The Burbank Public Library is a neighbor of the Tri-Cities, sitting on its outskirts in nearby Burbank. In the late 1980s, a Burbank branch was created in the Burbank schools and was later moved to another building on the west side of Highway 12. In the mid1990s, a plan to build a standalone library in Burbank Heights was formed. That build-

ing was completed in 1996. In 2016, a plan to expand and remodel the Burbank library was set into motion to allow larger programming space, a community meeting room, reading areas and more working space for library staff. The library enhances and expands literacy offerings and programming to the broader Tri-City community. Walla Walla County Rural Library District owns and operates the library. The district was established in 1972 with a permanent tax base and operates as an independent municipal corporation under state law. The Walla Walla County Commission appoints members to the Library District Board of Trustees, each with a five-year term. With an annual budget of $1.1 million, the district serves the 17,000 rural residents of unincorporated Walla Walla County and the city of Prescott with five community libraries and many online services offering digital content.

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION uBUSINESS BRIEF Kennewick preschool program expands for 2017-18 school year

The state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program of the Kennewick School District will welcome dozens of additional preschool students for the 2017-18 school year after the state awarded additional funding to the program. The district received enough funding to add 64 additional preschool-age children to its afternoon sessions for a total of 286 students served through the program. The additional spots are part of an effort to expand free access to early childhood education across the state as part of the recently-approved state budget. Eight additional staff, including classroom teachers, assistant teachers and family support specialists, will also be hired to teach and support the new students. A recent study estimates that the number of unserved eligible students in Kennewick is 660. “The need is great in Kennewick and the program expansion means more children will benefit from the program’s educational offerings, resources and services,” said Program Manager Linda Crowner. “It’s not just preschool, we serve the whole family.” ECEAP prepares 3- to 5-year-old children from low-income families and those most at need. The program’s classrooms are located at Amistad Elementary and the Fruitland Building with a two-and-a-half-hour morning session and a three-hour afternoon session starting Sept. 11. The program, transportation, meals and snacks are provided at no cost to families. Families interested in enrolling their child must apply in-person at the ECEAP office in the KSD Administration Center at 1000 W. Fourth Ave. Questions can be answered by calling 509-222-5027. Those interested in working in the ECEAP program should visit www.ksd. org to learn about job opportunities in its classrooms.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Gov. Jay Inslee met with state agency directors on July 26 to discuss efforts to maintain and grow rural employment. The meeting included representatives from the state Department of Commerce, Employment Security Department, and Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, as well as local government and business leaders. Maintaining rural employment is among nearly 200 metrics being tracked by Gov. Inslee’s Results Washington initiative, launched in 2013. Inslee meets monthly with agency directors to review data, progress and improvement strategies. (Courtesy Office of the Governor)

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

GROWTH, From page 1 Dirk Stricker, a designated broker, has helped facilitate commercial sales and leasing in the Tri-Cities since 1990 and also expects continued growth in the region. “I’ve seen a lot of younger people making the move to establish a franchise and growing it,” said Stricker, who added that people are moving to the area because of the job opportunities that come with commercial real estate growth. Commercial real estate development supported 3.3 million U.S. jobs in 2016 and contributed $465 billion to Washington state’s gross domestic product, according to the National Association of Industrial Office Parks. But there are business sectors in the Tri-Cities that can’t grow as quickly because of limited inventory. The market that’s in the most demand with the fewest amount of buildings is industrial, Stricker said. “We’re not an industrial town. There are mid-level service companies that are looking for space, and we just don’t have it. For plumbers and HVAC and contractors, there’s nowhere for them to go and nothing to buy. You go out to King City in Pasco and you see all the development and warehouses out there getting leased up right away and getting sold,” Stricker said. “There’s plenty of retail. There might be room for an upscale grocery store in Richland or Kennewick west.” SVN Retter & Company’s Scott Sautell would love to see the Tri-Cities get a Trader Joe’s, a grocery store chain based in California and owned by a German

private equity family trust. He agreeds that the Tri-Cities is lacking in industrial space and said good cash-flowing, income-producing properties are a little harder to get your hands on here. “A lot of investors are looking for a deal around here, and that’s where they lose the edge to folks looking from the west side. Everything we have is a deal compared to what they see over there,” said Sautell, who has been in the commercial real estate business for seven years. “So if you want it, you need to act quickly.” Sautell said many of his investors are leaning toward real estate because it’s a tangible asset, but multi-family homes, such as duplexes and apartments, are a hot commodity right now and typically don’t stay on the market for long. With the market as strong as it is right now, Sautell said many tenants are making the transition to landlords as banks are more willing to lend. “Banks are out there wanting to loan money right now,” Sautell said. “Typically someone getting into business, just starting up, they don’t have the wherewithal to own. They lease until their business looks good enough on paper. That’s the key—business is great. Businesses are succeeding. Regular businesses, a contractor, an accountant, or whatever it may be, they’re doing well enough in their day-to-day operations that they’ve become real estate investors. It’s a pleasure to serve and facilitate for those who look to better their businesses in our community.”

Commercial Real Estate & Construction

SVN Retter & Company’s Scott Sautell stands in front of one of his current listings. The $8.9 million investment property is at 1446 Spaulding Ave. in Richland.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION AREVA, From page 1 load advanced fuel assemblies developed The new building, which will be through the U.S. Department of Energy’s 11,000 square feet, will be used to Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel propurify previously contaminated uranium gram in Unit 2 at Georgia’s Vogtle materials. That will allow the uranium, Electric Generating Plant. That loading is once stripped of contaminants, to be scheduled for the spring 2019. used again. The program comes about in reaction “This new process will purify urani- to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in um,” Land said. “We think it’s the green- Japan. est site in the world. We keep it from The Richland team will load four being contaminated and it’s used again. advanced lead test assemblies, which feaAnd we can offer this service to the ture chromia additions to the fuel pellets world.” and a chromium coating to the fuel rod Land said operations in the new build- cladding. ing won’t start for a few years. “The chromia-doped fuel pellets have “The new building is going up this a higher density and help reduce fission year,” he said. “Next gas release in the year all of the elecevent that the reactor tricity hookups and loses cooling,” “We think it’s the infrastructure will go according to a comgreenest site in in. By the middle of pany news release. 2019, operations Had the operators the world.” should begin.” had this type of fuel Areva’s new conavailable to them at - Ron Land, tracts – announced in Fukushima, it could manager of AREVA NP have given them late June – are the plant in Richland more time to react result of a successful bidding process that and possibly avert a began a few years disaster, officials ago, and while they are for three fuel con- said. tracts, they are also for four facilities. Areva said it will begin manufacturing That work won’t begin until 2020, but the chromia-doped fuel pellets in Richland all fuel assemblies for the contracts will later this year. be fabricated at the Richland plant. “This is an accident-tolerant fuel,” “A typical fuel contract lasts five to 10 Land said. years,” Land said. That’s another part of the Areva misHe said that it doesn’t necessarily sion: finding new products that make mean the new deals will create new jobs. improvements in the nuclear energy This can vary from workflow and sea- industry. sons. “We’re just coming out with the nextBut the contracts should establish a generation products,” Land said. “We’re steady workflow for years to come for the a global company, and we do global roughly 550 employees who work at the research and development. We’re in this Richland plant. for the long haul.” “Our backlog is strong,” Land said. Land stressed that Areva believes in Meanwhile, Areva is still bidding for nuclear energy, and it needs to be a leader other upcoming contracts, Land said. in that industry. “We’re always looking to expand our “You don’t ensure success by being a portfolio of customers,” he said. follower,” he said. Areva announced plans last month to

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Construction is under way at Areva NP’s new $12 million scrap uranium recovery facility on Horn Rapids Road in Richland. (Courtesy Areva NP)

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

CBC STUDENT HOUSING 20TH AVENUE• PASCO

Columbia Basin College is opening a three-story, $7 million student apartment housing facility, located just off 20th Avenue across the street from the CBC Pasco campus, this fall. The college is anticipating the construction of three buildings, depending on demand. CBC will provide the property management and residence life programming, and a private developer will build and maintain the facility on the fiveacre campus. The 26,800-square-foot facility will have furnished 44 apartment units and 126 beds for single, double, triple and quadruple occupancy, each with private bathrooms, kitchen and dining space. The estimated rent, which includes utilities, for a single occupancy unit is $950 per person. Double occupancy rooms are anticipated at $700 per person; triple occupancy rooms, $635 to $676 a person; and suites for four people, $535 a person. Each air-conditioned suite will include a couch, desk, chair, bed, dresser, dining table, refrigerator, cooktop, oven, microwave and private bathroom. Amenities will include open lounge areas and access to outdoor activity space facing the adjacent Sun Willows Golf Course, free parking, coin-operated laundry facilities, high-speed bandwith,

lounge and study areas, resident assistants and vending machines. Chervenell Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor for this project. Rustin Hall of ALSC Architects in Spokane, a CBC graduate, is leading the project. The college made the decision to seek student housing after a survey showed a large number of students would be interested in living at the hous-

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Selling property with a real estate contract is powerful tool BY BEAU RUFF

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

If a person proposes to sell real property (land, house, buildings, etc.), the best option is to receive a full cash offer. In this case, whether some or all of the purchase price is financed, the seller still receives all of the value of the property at closing and the seller’s risk of nonpayment is non-existent. But, in many circumstances, the buyer cannot obtain traditional bank financing, or any other kind of financing to buy the property. Or perhaps the buyer can get traditional financing, but for only a portion of the total purchase price. In this less-thanperfect scenario, the option for the seller is to agree to finance a portion of the purchase price. In the event the seller agrees to do so, the seller needs to ensure that the seller is protected against the buyer’s default and risk of non-payment. First, a couple of thoughts on terms of the seller-provided financing. It is reasonable for the seller to charge an interest rate higher than traditional banks as the seller is taking on additional risk. If the banks won’t loan to the buyer at the bank’s preferred rates, then neither should the seller. Also, generally the seller wants the repayment period to be as short as possible to reduce the risk to the property and to reduce the risk of non-payment. Finally, the seller should require a sizeable down payment to be

able to handle any enforcement actions. Anytime the seller agrees to finance a portion of the purchase price of the seller’s property, the seller needs to ensure that the seller can be made whole in the event of non-payment. This is accomplished by taking a security interest in the asset (land) being sold. This can be accomplished through one of three main ways: mortgage, deed of trust or real estate contract. Keep in mind that each security interest is not available in every case (e.g. can’t use deed of trust for agricultural property). Let’s focus on the real estate contract. Although a seller should always work with an attorney, the state’s Limited Practice Board provides a wonderful starting point for a seller interested in selling property on a real estate contract with the example Form LPB 45 Real Estate Contract (available through www. wsba.org). The contract is a powerful tool for sellers for many reasons. It provides robust rules and restrictions on the buyer to effectively protect assets until the buyer is paid in full. Do you want to ensure the buyer makes no alterations to the property without seller’s permission? It’s in the contract. Do you want to ensure the buyer pays all taxes and assessments and if the buyer fails to pay, ensure the seller can pay and demand reimbursement from buyer? It’s in the contract.

Need to hire an attorney to enforce the provisions of the contract? The contract provides that the buyer pays the seller’s attorney Beau Ruff fees in any Cornerstone enforcement Wealth Strategies action. The biggest fear for any seller is the buyer’s nonpayment of the amounts owed. If this should occur, the seller wants to be in a position to quickly act to protect the seller’s balance owing. The real estate contract allows the seller to not only sue the buyer for delinquencies, but also provides the important right to seize the collateral which secures the debt (i.e., take back the property that was sold). Perhaps the biggest reason to use the contract is the speed with which the seller can take back the property in the event of default. This procedure is called forfeiture. Real estate contract forfeitures are governed by Washington law under RCW 61.30. As a prerequisite to taking the property back through forfeiture, the following are required: the contract must be recorded; there must be a breach of the contract; and the contract must contain a forfeiture clause. The first step after the prerequisites

have been met is to give the notice of intent to forfeit. The notice must be recorded, and it must also be served upon the buyer and potentially others. Generally, it would take about 90 days after the notice is recorded to cancel the real estate installment contract with a declaration of forfeiture. The buyer has the opportunity to cure the default within the 90-day period by paying all costs itemized on the notice of intent to forfeit, which includes all amounts delinquent plus the costs of enforcing the seller’s rights. If the buyer fails to cure, then the general effect of a forfeiture is that it terminates the real estate contract, ends both parties’ rights and duties under that contract, and allows the seller to retain any payments received before forfeiture. The seller is authorized possession of the premises 10 days after the declaration of forfeiture is recorded. All this means the seller can take back possession within as little as 100 days. While that might seem like a long time to some, in the world of lawsuits, it is lightning quick. And, the faster the seller can take back the property the better. Attorney Beau Ruff works for Cornerstone Wealth Strategies, a full-service independent investment management and financial planning firm in Kennewick, where he focuses on assisting clients with comprehensive planning.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

CORWIN FORD QUICK LANE 1225 NORTH AUTOPLEX WAY• PASCO

Corwin Ford Tri-Cities’ new Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center eliminates the need for appointments for most common car services. Customers can get their service while they wait at 1225 N. Autoplex Way in Pasco. The new center, which features 10 stalls, offers tire buying, care and maintenance, brake and oil change services, battery testing and inspections of cooling system, belts, transmissions and hoses. It opened in July. Quick Lane can service all make or model and uses parts from brands like Motorcraft and tires from Goodyear, Continental Tire, Michelin and more. LCR Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor. There are more than 650 Quick Lane locations nationwide. Call 888-422-3642 for more information or visit corwinfordtricities.com/service/quick-lane. htm and click on Service Center. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Quick Lane is closed Sundays.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Where do we go from here to provide a Hirst fix to Washington families? BY MADILYNNE CLARK

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

“Where do we go from here?” seems to be the question at the top of everyone’s minds, after the failure of the Legislature to find a solution to the problems caused by the Hirst decision. The third special legislative session concluded unceremoniously on July 20 and our elected officials left Olympia without a capital budget and without a Hirst fix. Stemming from a Washington state Supreme Court decision in October 2016, the Hirst decision has effectively stopped rural development throughout Washington. Many landowners, con-

struction workers and rural communities have looked to the Legislature to provide a “Hirst fix” Washington state citizens affected by this ruling, that is described by Justice Stephens in the dissenting opinion as, “This is not a policy decision we (the court) are at liberty to make.” Hoping to provide a much needed and requested Hirst fix to Washington state families, Senate leadership promised the capital budget would not be passed unless a fair compromise was reached on Hirst between the two chambers and the governor. The capital budget is a $4.2 billion dollar funding source passed every biennium and is

part of the normal state budgeting process. The capital budget would fund major infrastructure investments and projects in communities throughout Washington like school construction, housing and water projects. However, a compromise was never reached for Hirst even after three special sessions. Rumors abound on what the next few months have in store for these issues. The possibilities boil down to three main options, and it is unclear which the Legislature and the governor will choose. No. 1. The governor’s office will recall the House and Senate to provide a capital budget and Hirst solution. If

the governor were to call another special session this would make the fourth special session he has called this year, and would be Madilynne Clark for a 30-day Washington period. Policy Center However, the governor’s repeated minimization of the impacts of Hirst, as just a water issue, makes it unlikely that he will place as much emphasis on the need for a permanent solution. Instead, it is more likely he will pressure Republicans that this “water issue” can be dealt with by postponing the ruling for a couple years in exchange for passing the capital budget. No. 2. Leadership from both the House and Senate could call a special session. However, for legislators to call a special session, the motion must be supported by two-thirds of each chamber. Supporters of this theory believe leadership will only request a special session if an agreement is close to being reached. The House and Senate would likely only call the session for a short period of time to pass a solution to Hirst and adopt the capital budget. No. 3. No special session is called and decisions on Hirst and the capital budget are postponed until the 2018 legislative session, which is only five months away. This may be attractive to some Democrats who hope the special election in the 45th District Senate race will give them a majority in that chamber. However, the capital budget requires a 60 percent vote to pass the bonds. Any capital budget would require some Republican support. Additionally, some agencies rely on funding from the capital budget for operational expenses, so state government positions would be unfunded for at least a quarter of the new biennium. As we wait for a decision, both rural and urban Washingtonians need to move past the partisan rhetoric designed to minimize the impact of Hirst and realize this is more than a water issue. The consequences of Hirst will impact funding for the very services in rural communities pushed for in the two-year capital budget, because many of these rural services are funded through property taxes. As property values decline due to lack of water and development slows in rural communities, the services funded by property taxes are shifted to a smaller tax base. Washington’s rural communities, already lagging behind since the recession, will struggle to fund basic community services like schools, police, fire, libraries and parks. Widening the gap between rural and urban Washington is more than a water issue, it is about homes and families. Madilynne Clark is the agriculture policy research director at Washington Policy Center.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Recent retirees can network for fun in newcomers club BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz

It’s not always easy to ﬁnd new friends when moving to a new place. But the Tri-Cities Newcomers Club strives to make this challenge easier for women new to the community by offering a ready-made group of friends, activities and outings. The club, which is 121 members strong, recently changed its name from the Three Rivers Newcomers Club to the Tri-Cities Newcomers Club so it would be easier to ﬁnd. It also launched a Facebook page and designed and distributed rack and business cards as part of its outreach efforts. The club’s president, Karen Thorson, discovered the group from a woman who attended her church when she moved to town from Minnesota four years ago to be closer to family. “It’s been great for me,” she said. Thorson said she hopes the new promotional materials and name change will result in more people discovering the group. “Our name just hasn’t been out there,” she said. “We’re hoping now that we can get things going a little bit. And have our name out there in the Tri-Cities instead of being hidden.” Thorson called the group a busy one with a diverse membership. “We have a lot of members who are retired. It’s amazing how many people have moved here from all over the nation — from Denmark, England, Norway — all over the world and across the U.S. That makes it really interesting,” she said. Club treasurer Cheryl Hoffman of Richland has been a member for about 13 years. No one knows exactly when the group started but Hoffman said she knows of one member who joined in 1968 when there were separate newcomer clubs in Richland and Kennewick. The two groups merged in 2005, Hoffman said. One member who joined in the 70s said the Richland club used to be part of a Welcome Wagon group before splitting off into a newcomers club. “Some people join for a year or two until they get their bearings in town and get involved in church and move on, and others join our group and decide this offers what I’m looking for and just stay,” Hoffman said. “It’s lifelong friends that are made in the group.” Jane Rickel of Kennewick was looking for new friends when she moved to the Tri-Cities from Beaverton, Oregon, last August to be closer to family. She was a member of a newcomers club in the Portland area for 16 years and was active in all its activities for nine years. During the last 12 years there, Rickel led a weekly power walk that included 12 regulars. When she moved to the Tri-Cities, she said “she knew how important it was to connect to other women when you don’t have children to introduce you to other people. It’s a good way to make friends.” She searched for a newcomers group but didn’t have any luck tracking one down until talking with someone who

worked at Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. Rickel now is serving as the club’s publicity chairwoman. Thorson said the club offers many activities and is thinking about adding more, including an exercise group. “We’ve got a book club that’s fabulous. We have good readers who enjoy discussing books. We have monthly luncheons, coffees and chick ﬂicks, which are movies that men don’t especially like that we go to. That’s been fun,” she said. “We just have an amazing amount of things.” Linda Hamilton of Richland has been a member of the group since moving to the Tri-Cities from Edmonds 10 years ago. She launched the group’s Facebook page and serves as the editor of the club’s monthly newsletter and chairwoman of the ladies’ bridge group. “I think that it’s just a wonderful tool for the community and new people coming in. It’s a great way for them to know their newcomer group and their neighbors,” she said. New members are critical to keeping the club going, Hamilton said. “When I moved here, we had quite a membership. Over time, we have some of these bridge groups — they’re kind of an aging group. We’re trying to encourage newer people, trying to change up some of the activities a little bit and encourage more couples’ things, too,” she said. There’s no age requirement to join the group but those who belong are typically retirees and seniors who have the time to participate in the activities.

Members of the Tri-Cities Newcomers Club recently met for lunch at Ann’s Best Creole and Soul Food Café in Richland. Pictured, left, front to back: Diane Weddle, vice president; Kathy Reed, Kari Allen, Lori Lieske, Anne Stamm and Gloria Cullins. On right, front to back: Margaret Dukes, bunko too chairwoman; Karen Thorson, president; Pat Jordan, Jean Wheaton and Marlene Kelley. (Courtesy Margaret Dukes)

The club’s six-page newsletter is ﬁlled with activities ranging from coffee dates at members’ homes, a monthly wine and dine event in which members bring their signiﬁcant other to share a dinner, a monthly luncheon, two bunko groups, a needlework group, a pinochle group, a cooking group, a gardening group, a book

club and three bridge groups. The club’s board is rolling back annual membership dues from $25 to $20 this year. Dues must be paid in September. If interested in joining the club, email TriCitiesNewcomers@gmail.com, write to PO Box 1001, Richland, WA 99352, or like the group on Facebook.

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uNETWORKING Walla Walla company selected for Facebook council

Handmaid Cleaning of Walla Walla been selected to serve on the Facebook Small Business Council, a group of entrepreneurs who share a common belief in the importance of serving their customers, communities and each other. Kevin and Grace Reynolds are the founders of the cleaning service business company. They were new to the city in 2013 when they decided to launch it. The couple decided to invest $30 in a Facebook ad targeted to Walla Walla residents. The strategy worked. Today, Handmaid Cleaning employs 17 people

Valle-Chimal joins Pasco School District

Gracie Valle-Chimal joined the Pasco School District as a community outreach supervisor. Valle-Chimal will serve as a liaison to the Pasco School Gracie District comValle-Chimal munity focusing especially on the district’s underserved and underrepresented communities.

She will coordinate activities, events and other outreach for families, patrons and district staff, and promote the vision and mission of the Pasco School District. Valle-Chimal previously served as the community solutions manager for United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties.

Trios family medicine providers change offices

Two Trios Medical Group Family Medicine providers soon will begin seeing patients in their new practice space at the Trios Care Center at Chavallo, located at 7211 W. Deschutes Avenue, Suite B in Kennewick. The practices of Dr. Mark Flesher and Christine Acker, advanced regisPaid Advertising

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Instead of committing yourself to putting away this type of money, take a holistic approach to saving for your children’s higher education. After all, you probably won’t be the only one to help pay for college. Depending on your income and assets, your family might be eligible for some needs-based financial aid awarded by the college. Also, you should encourage your children to apply for as many scholarships as

possible — but keep in mind that most scholarships don’t provide a “full ride.” Here’s the bottom line: Don’t assume you will receive so much aid that you don’t need to save for college at all, but don’t burden yourself with the expectation that you need to pick up the full tab for your children’s schooling. On a practical level, you may want to commit to putting a certain amount per month into a college savings vehicle, such as a 529 plan. You can generally invest in the 529 plan offered by most states, but in some cases, you may be eligible for a state income tax incentive. Also, all withdrawals from 529 plans will be free from federal income taxes, as long as the money is used for a qualified college or graduate school expense of the beneficiary you’ve named. (Withdrawals for expenses other than qualified education expenditures may be subject to federal and state taxes and a 10% penalty on the earnings.) By starting your 529 plan early, when your children are young, you’ll give the investments within the plan more time to grow. Plus, you can make smaller contributions on a regular basis, rather than come up with big lump sums later on. And by following this approach, you may be in a better financial position for investing in your IRA and your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. Obviously, it’s to your benefit to contribute as much as you can to these plans, which offer tax advantages and a wide range of investment options. If you’re investing in a 401(k) or similar employer-backed plan, try to boost your contributions every time your salary increases. At the very least, always put in enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered. And once your children are through with college, you can discontinue saving in your 529 plan (although you may want to open another one in the future for your grandchildren) and devote more money to your retirement accounts. It can certainly be challenging to save for education and retirement – but with discipline and perseverance, it can be done. So, give it the “old college try.” Member SIPC

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tered nurse practitioner, will close at the Trios Urgent Care Center-Columbia Center with Primary Care on Aug. 16 in preparation for the move. Beginning Aug. 21, their practice phone number will change to 509Dr. Mark Flesher 221-6930. Their relocation is part of an ongoing improvement initiative focused on centralizing primary care services and consolidating practices for better patient access, cross coverage among complementary specialties, and provider teamwork and conChristine Acker sultation. The Chavallo location, which is not far from where the providers currently practice, has recently been remodeled as a multispecialty practice space. Trios Health is notifying patients of these practice moves and will provide reminders ahead of appointments to ensure a smooth transition.

Baker Boyer hires new trust advisor in Walla Walla Becky Kettner is the newest trust advisor in Baker Boyer’s Walla Walla office. She will help community members by serving as a resource for trust administration, financial planning and managing investments. Kettner has 19 years of marketing and business strategy experience.. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with marketing concentration and a bacheBecky Kettner lor’s in communications with a public relations concentration from Walla Walla University.

MSA volunteer program gives assistance to Second Harvest

Mission Support Alliance’s employee engagement program MSA Cares recently held a volunteer event at Second Harvest. The event was one of several this year in which more than 100 MSA volunteers have sorted 50,000 pounds of produce, helped package more than 4,000 weekend food supply kits for elementary students and helped to provide 60,000 meals to those in need.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

CBC narrows presidential search to three candidates BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF

Three finalists seeking to serve as the president of Columbia Basin College are scheduled to visit the campus this month for interviews with students, staff and the college’s Board of Trustees. They are seeking to fill the position formerly held by Rich Cummins, who resigned as president of the college in March after 27 years at CBC. He served as president for nine years and left to take a position at Western Governors University, an online university. Former CBC president, Lee Thornton, is serving as interim president during the search process. CBC officials said they hope to have a new president on board by the start of the fall classes on Sept. 18. The three finalists for the position include Barbara Hanson, chancellor at Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe, Louisiana; Rebecca Williamson, interim vice president of instruction at Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington; and Rebekah Woods, provost at Jackson College Barbara Hanson in Jackson, Michigan. Hanson’s other recent positions include vice president for learning at the Central Campus at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas; and vice president for instruction at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is scheduled to visit Aug. 17-18. “I want to be part of an institution that is so obviously committed to preparing its citizenry for meaningful participation in

the social, political, economic and aesthetic aspects of community life,” Hanson said in a statement. Williamson’s other recent positions include vice president of instruction at Community Colleges of Spokane; and dean of instruction at Green River Community College. She visited Rebecca CBC in early Williamson August. “I am interested in joining your college because I share your strong commitment to student success. My belief is that the greatest asset of CBC is the people who work there and regularly demonstrate unwavering commitment to the students. I look forward to building on this strong foundation and providing a high quality education that is focused on changing the lives of CBC’s students,” Williamson said in a statement. Woods’ other recent positions include executive dean of instruction, dean of instruction of arts and sciences, and special assistant to the president, all at Jackson College. She also was dean for student and academic support and strateRebekah Woods gic enrollment management at Lansing Community College in Lansing, Michigan. She is scheduled to visit Aug. 23-24. “I am drawn to the presidency at

Columbia Basin College because of the school’s obvious commitment to student success and its unwavering support of its core mission. I am also encouraged by the diverse student population CBC serves and the way it provides educational opportunities for many individuals who would otherwise not have them,” Woods said in

a statement. More information on the candidates, including their resumes and their schedule when they visit CBC, is available at columbiabasin.edu/presidentialsearch.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

uNETWORKING PNNL awarded for effort in building energy codes

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory received the 2017 National Leadership in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Award by the International Code Council & Institute for Market Transformation. The award recognizes PNNL’s work during the past 20 years developing and implementing more effective building energy codes and bringing attention to the cause of energy conservation. PNNL has found better building codes could save $126 billion between 2010-40, or enough energy to power 340 homes in the U.S. The award recognizes Bing Liu, who leads PNNL’s building energy codes

team, along with Rosemarie Bartlett, Mike Rosenberg, Reid Hart, Todd Taylor, Rahul Athalye, Pam Cole, David Conover, Mark Bing Liu Halverson, Vrushali Mendon, Bob Schultz, Jian Zhang, Eric Richman, Yulong Xie and Yan Chen.

Stephenson relocates, accepting patients

Trios Medical group provider Kelli Stephenson has relocated her practice to Trios Care Center at deBit at 320 W. 10th

Ave., Kennewick. Stephenson has recently transitioned to providing full-time, appointmentbased primary care and midwifery. She joined Trios in late 2014 and previously proKelli Stephenson vided urgent care at the Trios Urgent Care Center – Columbia Center. She received board certified in family medicine and received her certification in midwifery this year. She has worked in family medicine since 2010. Appointments can be made by calling 509-221-5910.

Energy Northwest elects officers to executive board

Energy Northwest Executive Board elected officers at a public meeting in Portland. Sid Morrison, of Zillah, will remain chairman of the board; Jack Janda, of Hoodsport, will remain as vice chairman; Lori Sanders, of Kennewick, will continue as board secretary and Linda Gott, of Shelton, will remain assistant secretary. They were elected to one-year terms. The executive board sets the policies that govern the operations of the organization. It has five members elected from the board of directors, three appointed by the board from outside Energy Northwest, and Washington’s governor appoints three.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017 uNETWORKING Mid-Columbia auctioneers win awards

Several members of the Booker Auction Company earned awards during the annual National Auctioneer’s Convention in Columbus, Ohio, which featured participants from across the world. Chantel Kimball of Connell was first runner up in the International Auctioneer’s Championship’s Women Division. The 30-year-old is a third-generation auctioneer. Another third-generation auctioneer, 15-year-old Cotton Booker of Colfax placed fourth in the International Junior Auctioneer’s Championship. His dad, C.D. “Butch” Booker was an auctioneer champion in 2008. Daxton Rettig, 7, participated in the National Auctioneer’s Foundation Kids auction as an auctioneer and bid assistant. The Pasco boy is the son of Camille Booker, who was an auctioneer champion in 2011. Booker Auction Company is based in Eltopia and has been in business for 35 years.

Columbia Center mall hires new director of marketing

Meredith Reed has been hired as Columbia Center mall’s new director of marketing and business development. She will manage various functions including event planning, social media, guest services, public relations and

advertising. Reed has been with the Columbia Center’s parent company Simon since 2015. She has worked in Indianapolis and Massachusetts. She completed the director of marketing and business development training program last year. She has a bachelor’s Meredith Reed degree in communications.

Rivas joins Petersen Hastings

Tri-City native Bailey Rivas was hired as an associate wealth advisor at Petersen Hastings, a registered investment advisor in Kennewick. Rivas, a graduate of TriCity Prep, will Bailey Rivas offer financial planning and investment management services. He has a bachelor’s in business administration with a focus on finance from Seattle Pacific University.

Yakima lawyer named among top state attorneys

Matthew Kaminski was honored by

the National Trial Advocates as one of the Top 40 Attorneys Under 40 in Washington. Kaminski is the managing partner of the Ashby Law office in Yakima. He joined Ashby Law, which also has a Kennewick location, in August 2016. He has been practicing law since 2009 and relocated to the Northwest in 2011. He previously had his own practice in Belltown area of Seattle. He has volunteered with the King County Bar Association Housing Justice Project; Kinship Care Solutions Project which provides free services to lowincome clients; and Legal Voice, a women’s rights group.

Regional chamber hires for two newly created positions

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce has made two hires for newly created positions. Karen Livas was chosen as the smallbusiness programs director. Livas served on the board for the former Tri-City Area Chamber in 2001 and has been a chamber volunteer for many years. She has previKaren Livas ously worked at Boise Cascade, ConAgra Foods, Bookwalter Winery and CH2M Hill. Rubén Peralta was hired as the community inclusion and outreach director,

the first position of its type in any Washington chamber of commerce. He will be tasked with creating and executing an Rubén Peralta inclusion strategy that will ensure the chamber represents and is actively engaged in the TriCities’ diverse business community. He is a Pasco native with decades of business and teaching experience.

Herr-Waldroup joins Ashby Law office

Sara Herr-Waldroup has joined Ashby Law’s Kennewick location as an attorney specializing in family law. HerrWaldroup has been practicing law since 2011 after graduating from Gonzaga Law School. Before practicSara ing general and Herr-Waldroup family law in the Tri-Cities she worked at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Away from work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

uNETWORKING Lustig hired at Trios to give outpatient care

Trios Medical Group-Internal Medicine hired nurse practitioner Tabitha Lustig. Lustig will provide primary care to adults with a specialization in geriatric care at Trios Care Center at Vista Field at Tabitha Lustig 521 N. Young St., Kennewick. Lustig has a bachelor’s and master’s

in nursing and is a board certified family nurse practitioner. She most recently worked at Healthcare Partners Nevada and has worked at Las Vegas Urology and United Healthcare: Family Home Health Services.

Richland Police team tops healthy employee challenge

A team from Richland Police Department took first place in the Good Health is Good Business Spring Wellness Challenge. Ryan Miller, Jeff Muai, Bree Muai and Matt Nelson were on the winning team. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce has been coordinating the Good Health eight-week program since 2012. It was developed to be an inspirational way for employees to make

positive choice to change their lives in a healthful way.

Alex Dieffenbach hired as American Red Cross CEO

The American Red Cross — Northwest Division has named Alex Dieffenbach as its newest chief executive officer. He will oversee operations in seven Alex Dieffenbach chapters across Washington and five North Idaho counties. Dieffenbach has more than 20 years

working with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and was vice president of the Mountain West Division. He was raised in Edmonds and earned a degree from San Diego State University.

Kennewick names principal for dual language school

Jaime Silva will be the first principal of Kennewick’s Dual Language Elementary #17, the future home of the school district’s Dual Language Program elementary students. Silva will join the district this fall, a year before the new school opens at the former site of Desert Hills Middle School at 6011 W. 10th Place. He will spend part of the 2017-18 school year office as a dual language instructional coach before planning for the school’s opening. His duties will include helping with the transition of dual language elementary students, families and staff currently at Edison and Hawthorne elementary schools. “We’re excited to have Mr. Silva as the principal of our district’s first dual language elementary school,” said Greg Fancher, assisJaime Silva tant superintendent of elementary education. “He brings a unique background of both personal and professional experience that has prepared him for this position.” Silva most recently served as associate principal at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Vancouver, Wash. Before that he spent more than 20 years working in the Pasco School District as a teacher and administrator. All of his teaching experience was in bilingual and dual language classrooms in grades K-5. He was named Educational Service District 123 Regional Teacher of the Year in 2012. Silva holds an associate degree in arts and science from Columbia Basin College and a bachelor’s of arts in education with endorsements in K-12 Bilingual Education and K-8 Elementary Education from Washington State University Tri-Cities. He also earned a master’s of education in professional development and an education administration certification from Heritage University. Dual Language Elementary #17 is one of three district construction projects paid for by a $51.1 million K-3 Class Size Reduction Grant from the state. The grant is aimed at reducing class sizes.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Rural Washington business would benefit from manufacturing tax relief

uNETWORKING

BY KRIS JOHNSON

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Top row, from left: Jonathan Quinonez, Maria Niemuth, Christopher O’Keeffe, Kalyn English, Helena Pang. Bottom row, from left: Megan Bensing, Jennifer Muong, Kim Vanatta, Kayla Winkle

Trios Health welcomes new medical residents

A class of nine first-year medical residents has joined Trios Health. The doctors joining the hospital in family medicine are Drs. Megan Bensing, Jennifer Muong, Maria Niemuth and Kayla Winkle who will see patients at the Trios Residency Clinic – Family Medicine at 216 W. 10th Ave., Suite 204, Kennewick. Those who joined in internal medicine are Drs. Kayln English, Christopher O’Keeffe, Helena Pang, Jonathan Quinonez and Kim Vanatta. They will see patients at the Trios Residency Clinic in Suite 202. Trios Health is also celebrating the three graduates from the first class of medical residents trained at Trios Health who passed their board certification exams on first attempt. Drs. Maria Persianinova, Minh- Triet Vo and Shahla Walizada completed their three-year residency programs in family medicine and internal medicine, graduating in June 2016. Persianinova, Vo, and Walizada were the first physicians to complete their post- graduate training locally, and the first to receive post- residency board certification.

The state Legislature took longer than anyone wanted to finish its priority project – the two-year state operating budget. None of us wanted to see that, but good results came of that extra time: a bipartisan budget and tax plan that not only put record amounts of new dollars — $7.3 billion over four years — into K-12 education, but also gave roughly 10,000 small manufacturers across the state business and occupation (B&O) tax relief in an effort spur job creation. In addition to the strong bipartisan support for the proposed budget, the tax relief negotiated as part of the $43.7 billion budget was a welcome surprise, particularly to rural communities relying on the manufacturing sector to provide good-paying careers. It would have helped manufacturers in the Tri-Cities. Even as Seattle’s economy is red-hot, many small communities are still waiting for some sign that an economic recovery is headed their way. But, the hope offered by the tax relief was dashed when Gov. Jay Inslee used his line-item veto to undo it. In our view, the governor’s decision to veto part of a bill that was agreed upon in good faith by a bipartisan group of legislators and passed with a bipartisan super-majority in both chambers is a missed opportunity to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers in rural parts of the state that are still struggling. Any small-town leader will tell you

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that the economic ripple effect of manufacturing jobs is worth the small investment in their health and growth. In fact, for every worker in manufacturing, there are another three Kris Johnson employees Association of hired elseWashington where. And, Business there are a lot of counties in the state with chronic high unemployment that would welcome that kind of return on investment. Washington’s manufacturing sector has lost more than 50,000 jobs since 2000. Much of that has to do with Washington being a high-cost state for employers with businesses paying 58 percent of all state and local taxes. Reducing the B&O tax burden for manufacturers would have provided a modest and long-term stimulus to help job creators invest in their employees and communities. We understand that important services and other state priorities must be funded, which is why the agreement in the Legislature was balanced.

Lawmakers voted to increase and create new taxes along with the targeted investment in Washington’s crucial manufacturing sector – not the big operations, but the small- and medium-sized ones across the state. The silver lining is that the governor’s move restarted a conversation that AWB began in March at our firstever Rural Jobs Summit on the need to expand the central Puget Sound economy to small cities and towns across the state. Manufacturing tax relief would be a good start. On behalf of our nearly 7,000 employers, nearly 2,000 of which are manufacturers, we sent a letter to all four House and Senate leaders urging them to override the veto with the same strong, bipartisan vote with which they passed it. Unfortunately, lawmakers did not override the veto before adjourning last month. There are still many steps we can take to address the uneven economy, but giving our small manufacturers a fair break is a good first step. Kris Johnson is the president and CEO of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and designated manufacturing association.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business â&#x20AC;¢ August 2017

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

DIVERSITY In This Section

Certifications aim to help women-, minority-owned companies BY ROBIN WOJTANIK

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Diversity

Chaplaincy hospice team serves Hispanic families Page 53

Business Profile

Local dentist teams up with nephew to design neckties Page 60

An entrepreneurial spirit, combined with ingenuity and determination has helped Salina Savage grow her Richland-based business to the point where she may no longer be designated a small business. She’s had help along the way from the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises, or OMWBE. The Olympia-based office certifies businesses as woman-owned and minorityowned, among other federal certifications. Gigi Zenk, OMWBE communications director, said it’s not a designation intended to provide preferential treatment to women or minorities, but rather “to level the playing field” when it comes to public contracting and procurement. Having the certification is “one more tool in the toolbox for small businesses to grow and succeed,” Zenk said. Roughly 2,500 small businesses in the state of Washington hold a certification. This includes state designations as womanowned and/or minority-owned and federal designations as a disadvantaged business enterprise, an airport concessionaire disadvantaged business enterprise or a small business enterprise. Just under three dozen businesses in Benton and Franklin counties are certified, with most at the state level. Certified businesses may sign up for an email notification list to learn about

Business Profile

New wellness spa offers float therapy in Dream Pods Page 61

Mustang Sign Group in Kennewick is a state-certified woman-owned business. Owner Lauran Wang has completed one project because of the designation.

government contracts coming up for bid. Many of the contracts available are connected to the transportation industry. Because of this, OMWBE also works with the Washington State Department of Transportation, which awards a number of contracts connected to state highways and transportation, as well as contracts available through the Federal Highway Administration. In Savage’s case, a consultant with the transportation department encouraged her to apply for the Seattle Tunnel Partners Project. Savage’s company Apogee Logistics,

formerly known as Savage Logistics, landed the contract to haul massive concrete segments that were put in place as part of the tunnel drilled by a large machine known as “Bertha.” Due to extra time and delays on other portions of the project, Savage’s contract ended up worth $2 million to $3 million once the job was completed. She has since been awarded a contract on the federal level with the National Nuclear Security Administration, which Savage said is worth “hundreds of millions.” uOMWBE, Page 50

West Richland business grows with need for interpreters BY AUDRA DISTIFENO

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Around Town

Tri-Cities Cancer Center’s Dr. Guy Jones presents scholarship Page 71

HE SAID IT “(The 1978 Leonetti Cab) is the most significant wine ever made in Washington. It’s the pinnacle of Washington wines.” - Doug Charles, owner of Compass Wines in Anacortes

Page 64

As a Spanish interpreter traveling throughout the Tri-Cities and eastern Oregon for more than 20 years, Flor Garza Gutierrez noticed a distinct need for interpreters. During her decades of interpreting for several agencies, she made notes about these needs, names and phone numbers of associates and jotted down business ideas. She had a distinct feeling she’d one day own a business to meet the demands of a changing society – one made up of people from an array of places and speaking myriad languages. West Richland-based Ms. Flower’s Interpreters and Translators came to fruition in 2007 with 10 companies contracted for services. That number has grown to more than 115, with interpreting and translating services offered in 42 languages, including the rarer languages of Nepalese, Marshallese, Tagalog and Albanian. “The growth gives me goosebumps on a daily basis. I have constant surprises and a huge smile on my face each day,” Garza Gutierrez said. The entrepreneur said the growth and success of her business surprises her, but it doesn’t seem to surprise others.

Ms. Flower’s Interpreters and Translators owner Flor Garza Gutierrez, right, said her business can supply audio simultaneous interpreting equipment. The devices were used at the Benton Franklin PUD winter weatherization workshop last year. Simultaneous interpreter Veronica Mendez is pictured at left. The West Richlandbased company landed a state contract last October, boosting the company’s revenues 150 percent in 2017. (Courtesy Ms. Flower’s Interpreters and Translators)

“Something that sticks with me is that eight years ago, I was talking with another interpreter and one of our associates walked up and asked if I was the one who owned her own interpreting company. Before I could say, ‘No,’ my fellow interpreter said, “No, she doesn’t yet, but someday she will and it will be huge.’ I guess I didn’t see it in me. I was glad

to grow in small steps,” she said. Small steps didn’t last long, however. Last October, Garza Gutierrez hired a project manager to help her get a contract with the state Department of Social and Health Services, which very quickly made the business take off. uINTERPRETERS, Page 52

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

OMWBE, From page 49 The new assignment setting up radiation portal monitors around the world likely will increase her bottom line beyond the maximum threshold for what is considered a small business by the OMWBE. To graduate from the program, a small business cannot exceed $22.4 million in gross receipts over three years. Zenk said she is thrilled when she hears these success stories “because it means you can now be out there to help others who are smaller than you to grow their business as well.” Mid-Columbia businesses holding the certification include a wide swath of industries, including translation services, travel agents, engineering, counseling, painting and janitorial work. Not all serve the needs of a government contract, which

Diversity

is why many local entities on the list said they haven’t seen a measurable benefit from cerifying their company. Broker and owner of Kennewick’s Divine Realty, Willie Stewart, has been a certified womanowned business for at least six years. She said she doesn’t have a yardstick to directly measure whether she’s Willie Stewart had additional Divine Realty business driven her way due to her certification, but she deals with a lot of bank-owned properties and has found

a diversification certificate is important in those sales. “No one’s ever said, ‘We’re only going to hire you as a broker because you’re a woman-owned business,’ ” Stewart said. But she does wonder if she’d have gotten as much business as she has if she didn’t have the designation. She said she has known of other realtors who have diversified their efforts and targeted government contracts, but said it’s not a priority for her. “I am a small, woman-owned office, and I don’t have time to go through that bidding process. It would probably be a lot of money, but if you split your focus, you won’t do good at either area. If I’m trying to be a realtor and I’m trying to be a government bidder, you’re splitting your focus,” Stewart said.

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Applying for certification soon will be available online. Currently, the process is exclusively done by mail or in-person at the Olympia office. OWMBE expects online applications to be available Oct. 1. This will both streamline the process and provide more security for handling sensitive documents, versus sending them through the mail. Currently on the list as a minorityowned business, M. Semi Bird described the application process as “arduous.” As the owner of Richland-based Team Concepts Training Services LLC, Bird said he understands the office provides a qualification, so the certification process requires extra vetting. Bird’s company is also certified as a service-disabled veteranowned small business, a designation which allows him to apply for contracts with the federal government. Zenk’s office will certify businesses to make them eligible for either state or federal contracts. She said state certification takes about 45 days and federal designations can take twice as long. Costs range from $50 to $100, depending on whether the business is a sole proprietorship or a corporation. More than 600 small businesses were certified by the OMWBE in 2016. The owner of Mustang Sign Group believed certifying the Kennewick small business as a woman-owned entity would be a lucrative designation for the signmaking company. But owner Lauran Wang isn’t sure it was worth it. “I’ve only seen one or two (contracts) that are even applicable,” she said. Wang’s company completed two projects for the Washington State Lottery that were used at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. She learned about the lottery project through OMWBE’s email notification. Wang said she gets an email about once every three to six months notifying her of contracts that would be applicable to her expertise and company. “I tried a couple times to do bigger projects, like when they were buying highways signs for the entire state of Washington. I found out that there were companies from all over the country that were bidding on this same job, and they specialize in doing that sort of stuff. So it’s really hard to be competitive,” Wang said. Increasing visibility for a company is a goal of the OMWBE, said Zenk, even if it doesn’t always mean that government contracts are a frequent opportunity. As the only certifying agency for small businesses owned by minority, women and socially- and economically-disadvantaged persons, business owners looking to add an OMWBE certification must be prepared to provide extensive personal and professional documentation. “You don’t just call them up and say, ‘I’m a female, certify me,” Stewart said. “You’ve got to prove that you sign the checks.” Stewart said she found the process to be “pretty simple.” Some of the required documentation includes personal financial statements and net worth, federal income tax returns and an organizational chart to demonstrate as a woman and/or minority, you control 51 percent of the decisionmaking for the small business. uOMWBE, Page 54

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Diversity

Kennewick’s new Diversity Commission tackles complex issue Group formed a year ago to provide recommendations to promote inclusiveness BY MICHELLE DUPLER

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

After a year of discussion, the Kennewick Diversity Commission has an eye on making a report to the city council this fall on the state of diversity in the city and its recommendations for promoting inclusiveness. Commission Chairwoman Zelma Maine Jackson said the group recently concluded a citizen survey and is in the process of evaluating and interpreting results. Once that process is complete, the commission plans to meet with the council and present its findings. Jackson said the survey results were mostly positive about the idea that the city should promote diversity and inclusiveness, although some residents also indicated they were comfortable with the community as it is. Initially, commission members were concerned they might receive feedback from ethnic groups angry about the state of diversity and acceptance in Kennewick. “I don’t think that’s what we heard,” Jackson said. “People are appreciative of living in the city of Kennewick. They chose to live in Kennewick. There are three other cities.” The commission was created at the

recommendation of Mayor Steve Young in April 2016 in the wake of a social media storm sparked by an online comment made by Councilman Bob Parks. Parks shared a meme with an image of Bernie Sanders and the text, “I went to Yakima today. Now I know why Donald Trump wants to build a wall,” and added his own comment: “Wait until he sees Pasco.” The comment was the subject of backlash by some community members, who circulated their own memes showing images of Pasco’s natural beauty with the text, “Wait until you see Pasco.” Some community members also called out Parks and said his comment was racist and anti-Latino. Some even suggested Parks resign his position as a city councilman. Media reports show that Parks later said his intention was to comment on immigration, not Latinos as a group. Jordan Chaney, a poet and speaker who lives in Kennewick, was among the residents who went to the city council to speak about experiences with racism in the city and to ask the council to take action. He said he was heartened Young was willing to listen to what people had to say and explore whether Kennewick was an inclusive community.

“I do think when the mayor decided process she described as “storming and on that, that it was the right step. It was forming.” a great answer, whether it was a PR The group is made up of people with move or genuine, because it sent a varied backgrounds, including Native broader message to the community for American, African American, Hispanic, what the community stands for,” Chaney white, men, women, Kennewick natives said. “I’m glad the commission is cre- and transplants. They’re also varied in ated and the intention is there.” age and socioeconomic background. Young said he knew when the com- Some come from a multi-ethnic heritage mission was created and bring the perthat it would have a spective of strad“When you look at challenging and dling and reconcilthe economic point complex job. ing different culof view of ethnic “It’s a slow protures, Jackson said. cess and we knew it diversity, that whole Each of the memwould be,” he said. mix brings to any bers made a presenFirst, the commistation to the group community a variety of sion had to dig into about his or her own abilities, experiences the terms “racism” personal and ethnic and culture, and in it is and “diversity” and background to figure out what a level of productivity enlighten and eduthose meant — and and innovation and cate each other. what they meant for creativity.” Jackson, a black Kennewick. They’re woman, noted that terms not easily - Zelma Maine Jackson, she was educated in defined and that can Kennewick Diversity Germany and made have different meanCommission chairwoman her own presentaings for different tion in African garb people. while speaking in “There’s racism everywhere, but how German. Many of the other presentabad is it? How can we deal with it?” tions blended cultures in a similar way Young said. unique to each commission member. Jackson said the committee wasn’t Members include Nichole Banegas, without friction as it got up and running. Uby Creek, Ed Frost, Clarence Hill III, The group spent about four months just and Brenda Still. James Hempstead getting to know each other, and learning about each other’s cultures and back- serves as the facilitator. uCOMMISSION, Page 56 grounds and how to work together. It’s a

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

INTERPRETERS, From page 49 “That’s been growing like crazy. I’m always on the web trying to solicit interpreters throughout the state,” she said. Many of the interpreters she contracts with are certified in both interpreting (speaking and listening) and translating (documents). Her company’s services include on-site interpretation and telephonic interpretation of medical appointments, school meetings, legal proceedings and more, all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some services are planned in advance, others might as needs arise. “I received a call yesterday from a medical facility. They said, ‘We have an Arabic patient and we can’t understand or interpret what they’re saying.’ I responded that I could have someone there within 20

to 30 minutes. The interpreter got there in 20 minutes and was able to assist during the appointment,” Garza Gutierrez said. Spanish interpreting and translating comprises about 40 percent of her business, with 60 percent devoted to other languages such as Vietnamese, Arabic, Bosnian, Laotian, Korean, Russian and Somali, to name a few. Revenues grew around 110 percent in 2016, have increased 150 percent so far in 2017, and she projected to be at 200 percent growth by the end of 2018. The entrepreneur credits Ashley Coronado at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce as a wonderful resource who is “wonderful to work with.” Coronado serves as the business counselor for the state’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center, or PTAC, program,

Diversity which is designed to help businesses in all areas of selling to local, state, federal agencies and government prime contractors. “Ashley has been there for me so often. She helped walk me through getting contracts with area companies and has been so helpful,” Garza Gutierrez said. Coronado referred her to Joe Jacobs at The Small Business Development Center as well. “Joe and I emailed back and forth and spent hours on the phone; he helped me buy another business.” Garza Gutierrez said she also gains focus for her business day through morning meditation. “I strongly believe there’s a bigger force out there whom I draw wisdom and energy from. I wouldn’t be near as powerful without that. Everything is falling into place; I marvel at how my cup overfloweth,” she

said. Brian Kelly, vocational counselor for M2 Counseling & Consulting Inc. in Kennewick, has utilized Ms. Flower’s interpreting services for the more than six years. “She started by doing all of the interpreting herself. She was a one-woman show and did a really good job for me, so I kept calling back. Now, if I need interpreters here in Tri-Cities, in Wenatchee or even in Yakima, she’ll either travel there or find interpreters for me,” Kelly said. “She does a great job.” Ms. Flower’s Interpreters and Translators currently operates through emails, phone calls, texts and faxes. Potential clients make requests for help in the Seattle and Olympia areas, and Kittitas, Chelan, and Spokane counties. Garza Gutierrez then contacts interpreters in that specific area who specialize in the requested language. In the future, the service will be much more streamlined with an online scheduling service, she said. “Clinics, school districts, and any company will put a request on an online calendar. An immediate email and text alert will be sent to all interpreters for that particular language. The interpreters can immediately accept or reject from their phones or via email,” Garza Gutierrez said. She will set the system to send requests first to all interpreters who live within 10 miles of the location an interpreter is needed. Although the system promises efficiency, the sheer amount of information needing to be added to the system to get started is staggering, Garza Gutierrez said. “We have to input all of the data – interpreters’ names, addresses, rates of pay, language specialties, mileage, clinic and company addresses, distances from interpreter’s homes to our client addresses, and more. We have to establish passwords for each business so they’re able to access the online system to request services,” she said. “I’m very excited about it. Once the scheduling system is up and running, I’ll be able to spend more time on long-term goals. I have wonderful ideas of how to triple the business, but can’t do it until the scheduling is efficient,” she said. “I want to have it up and running by the end of August because the school districts will need it.” Kennewick School District, for example, utilizes her business for its interpretation needs. The new scheduling system will be able to handle 500 appointments per month and once it hits 501, the cost doubles. “We’ll hit that very soon,” she said. “We’re already getting requests in Montana, Idaho and other states, but I don’t have the interpreters in those places yet. My longterm goal is to fill requests and demands for up to 50 languages in all 50 states.” Despite having no employees, the business continues to grow as Garza Gutierrez contracts with interpreters and translators from 42 languages. “I contract with other small businesses for bookkeeping and other services. It’s very important for me to help small businesses because I started as a small business as well,” she said. The recent purchase of another local business doubled the worth of her business, Garza Gutierrez said. uINTERPRETERS, Page 54

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

DIVERSITY

Chaplaincy team serving more Hispanic families through hospice care Agency reports 2.5 percent year-over-year growth BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz

The hospice team members dispatched to assist Hispanic families caring for a dying loved one know they must use a different approach to earn their trust. The Chaplaincy Health Care team knows it’s best to seek out the patriarch of the family and use titles like “Señor” or “Señora” until given permission to use first names. They know they must honor the family’s desire to care for their relative at home, as well as their faith traditions.

BY THE NUMBERS

Percent of Hispanic hospice patients served u u u

2016 8 percent 2015 7.6 percent 2014 5.6 percent

Providing more bilingual and bicultural hospice services has long been a goal of the Kennewick agency that provides hospice, palliative, grief and behavioral health care to the Tri-City community. Five years ago, the agency formed a Hispanic Outreach Team, which includes a bilingual and bicultural nurse, social worker, chaplain and nursing assistants, to better

serve the area’s growing Hispanic community. The team knew it had a lot of work to do to earn the Hispanic community’s trust. Hospice is often seen as a place to “dump relatives to die by themselves, alone” in Mexico and South American countries, said Chaplain Victor Ortega, one of the team’s members. “Our purpose is to re-educate people that hospice here in the states is where we provide spiritual and physical and emotional care so patients can have quality of life while respecting and honoring their own beliefs and traditions,” he said. The group’s efforts are beginning to pay off. The agency has noted a 2.5 percent increase in serving the Hispanic population since it began focusing on outreach and education. In 2016, 8 percent of hospice patients served were Hispanic. That’s up from 7.6 percent in 2015 and 5.6 percent in 2014. Last year, hospice served a total of 79 patients. Nationwide, 7.1 percent of all hospice patients served in 2014 identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, according to a 2015 report from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. About a quarter of hospice patients nationwide identified themselves as minorities that

Chaplaincy Health Care’s efforts to provide hospice care to the Hispanic community are paying off with year-over-year growth. Chaplain Alberto Tass, from left, senior nurse case manager Anita Mundy, Chaplain Victor Ortega and Executive Director Gary Castillo show off the Latino Health Care Professional of the Year award they received from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their outreach efforts.

same year, the report said. Executive Director Gary Castillo knew outreach was a key part of educating the community about the services provided. The agency joined the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and began hiring bilingual staff. It formed an advisory board. Hospice material was translated into Spanish. Ortega said there’s no greater honor than helping a family help their loved one transition from life to death. “For me, it’s a privilege to hear people’s

life story and to be allowed into their homes and learn about themselves, about their humanity. It’s a privilege and honor to be there when they’re going to die. For me, those are sacred moments to be able to go into somebody’s home who isn’t related to you and provide some kind of support,” he said. Nurse Anita Mundy, who has been a bilingual case manager for Chaplaincy for 11 years, said her caseload used to be made up of four to five Hispanic patients, but today her caseload is 50 percent Hispanic. uHOSPICE, Page 56 DUST DEVILS BASEBALL… IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY!

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Diversity OMWBE, From page 50 Zenk said state entities looking to award contracts generally have “aspirational goals” for creating supplier diversity, and not always “mandated goals” to work with a woman-owned or minority-owned company. Mandated goals are more likely to be seen from federal agencies, like the U.S. Department of Transportation. OMWBE operates on a biennial budget of more than $4 million. Its goals of promoting equity are overseen by an advisory committee with members said to represent the interests of minority and female small business owners. When Savage was looking to become certified as a woman-owned small business back in 2009, she was mistakenly told by the state agency that she was required to have a commercial driver’s license to receive certification. So Savage underwent the process of doing so, only to be told later that it wasn’t necessary. But she has no regrets about the time and expense. “It was the best thing they

ever made me do,” she said. There have been instances she needed a truck driver to complete a project with her business, and she has been able to hop in the driver’s seat and tackle the assignment. Savage said she’s driven a truck to Portland, Maine and moved radioactive drums to Salina Savage Tennessee. Just as Zenk Apogee Logistics described it, Savage sees her designation as a womanowned and disadvantaged business as another tool in her route to success. “If you’re going be a small business, give yourself every opportunity to get a hand up and not a hand out,” Savage said. For more information about the state program, call toll-free 866-208-1064 or visit omwbe.wa.gov.

INTERPRETERS, From page 52 In June, Inna Korotkova contacted Garza Gutierrez with a business proposition. She owned Language, Passport & Travel Solutions and the two had collaborated for the past two years. “She called me, said she was moving out of the area and offered for me to buy her company. On July 1, I bought it. The acquisition doubled the size of Garza Gutierrez’s company. “I was so excited when she offered the business to me first; we were good busi-

ness associates. We had over 100 interpreters before, which grew to 151 after purchasing the business,” Garza Gutierrez said. “Because of the purchase, our net worth has doubled, but the figures are hard to pinpoint as we are still calculating the value of each contract that came with the company.” Businesses who need interpreting or translating services may call 509-521-8183 with requests. Online requests are also available by visiting msflowersinterpreters. com.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Potato dynasties supply world with unmatched varieties BY MARILOU SHEA

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Potatoes are a way of life around the Tri-Cities. Washington state potato farmers produce 23 percent of all potatoes in the nation, from the russet family where the Russet Burbank, Umatilla and Russet Ranger make up a good deal of the French fries in McDonald’s Happy Meals, to red and yellow varieties. U.S. farmers provided more than 36 billion pounds of potatoes to people around the world. It’s no wonder: people love their potatoes. Can you imagine Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes? A burger without French fries or a breakfast special without hash browns? The state’s potato industry statistics are staggering, too. Eighty-seven percent of the state’s potatoes are sold to local companies that produce frozen fries, instant mashed potatoes, crunchy potato chips and more. Every direct job in the potato industry supports an additional 5.1 jobs in the state’s economy. The industry contributes $1.83 billion of labor income to the state. And our spud growers generate — wait for it — $7.42 billion (that’s with six zeros at the end) — in total economic output. The industry provides jobs to 35,860 people. Thanks to Matt Harris at the Potato Commission and Perry Beale of the Washington Department of Agriculture for ensuring these numbers are straight. It takes farmers like Bart Connors, a third generation grower, to keep the potato industry humming along. He is a member of Basin Gold, a potato and onion co-op and the chief operating officer of Skone & Connors Produce. A co-op, or co-operative, is formed to create farming efficiencies and is a common scenario in the grower community. Consumers are the beneficiaries. Both entities are based in the Columbia Basin. Basin Gold is a co-op established in 1994 to enable consumers’ access to a year-round supply of potatoes. The co-op consists of growers who share the marketing, growing and shipping

responsibilities of producing a commodity like potatoes and getting it to market (they also produce onions) year-round. Basin Gold is made up of three members: Skone & Connors of Warden, Blue Sky Management of Royal City and Bud Rich of Hermiston. Skone & Connors’ co-op combines resources to operate staggered running schedules each month to source to two primary channels: food service channels (restaurants) that comprise 35 percent of sales and retail sectors (like Albertsons, Yoke’s Fresh Market, Winco and Kroger) that make up the other 65 percent of the business. The co-op also sells its fresh product into some of America’s favorite warehouse stores throughout North America, Mexico and Canada. What does it take to get potatoes to market? Lots of work. Planting starts in early March through May. Growing season is March through September, depending on the variety. July through October is harvest season. In early September, potatoes are shipped off to storage facilities. Harvest is finished up in mid-October and just as with other commodities, such as apples, old and new crops of potatoes are rotated out of storage and sent to packing facilities. On average, potatoes can be in storage for eight to nine months, but every month several thousand tons of potatoes are taken out of storage and shipped to the retail market and consumers’ favorite

grocery stores in five-, 10- and 20-pound bags. The most popular ranked in order of quantity grown are russets, reds and then yellows. Just how big is a potato famiMarilou Shea ly business? Food Truck Basin Gold Academy ships several million 50-pound cases of potatoes and onions per year. That’s a lot of fresh potatoes by any stretch of the imagination, yet its production costs are below market rate. It’s simple economics: too much supply and not enough demand. The co-op prices potatoes and onions every day. Prices can be set for a day, week, month, or year, depending on the customer. Connors, however, is more optimistic about the pendulum swinging above the market rate this year. Fresh acreage and production should decrease in the Northwest, which means more demand and less supply. Acreage is declining because prices have been poor for the last three seasons. Consolidation has been a factor in rightsizing the fresh potato acreage. Connors doesn’t think consumers will see price increases at the retail level in the near term—thank goodness. Connors also said he doesn’t think the

demand for sweet potatoes will match Americans’ demand for russets, despite consumers’ recent love affair with them for their health benefits. However, he does think it’s part of the reason there’s been an over-supply of potatoes for the past few years. Consumers are looking for a different product than is being produced or grown. Why would someone take on the many roles it takes to be a grower of any kind of commodity? Connors laughed and said it’s a great question. It’s a good way to make a living and raise a family, he said. His wife Christan has made a teaching career in the Tri-Cities and the couple have raised their two sons here. Being a grower offers a lot of flexibility, especially in the winter months, he said. On the downside, there are inherent risks in farming. The weather and market shifts can affect profitability. Since fresh potatoes are like other commodities and traded on the open market, prices can fluctuate, which means less profit per pound for the grower or co-op. It’s important for consumers to understand potatoes don’t come from grocery stores. Skone & Connors and many others in the Mid-Columbia run family businesses with real people behind their products, whether they’re harvesting in the field, packing in the warehouse or marketing to food brokers. uPOTATOES, Page 56

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

COMMISSION, From page 51 Once the commission jelled as a group and had a deeper understanding of members’ own perspectives, they could start to extrapolate more broadly and think about the demographics that make up Kennewick, Jackson said. They also looked at how other cities in Washington had tackled similar work and found a model to build upon in Bellevue, which has had a city commission that considers diversity issues for decades. Ultimately, the goal for Kennewick is to have a thriving, prosperous community — and diversity and inclusiveness are a foundation for that, Jackson said. She noted many economic studies have shown businesses are attracted to cities with a diverse population and inclusive attitude.

“When you look at the economic point of view of ethnic diversity, that whole mix brings to any community a variety of abilities, experiences and culture, and in it is a level of productivity and innovation and creativity,” Jackson said. “I am almost positive and feel very confident the city of Kennewick is going to embrace having diversity addressed as a part of city government and inclusion in what they do in the city.” Chaney, who has participated in forums and given talks on racism in various venues in and around the Tri-Cities, said he believes the public conversations about racial and ethnic diversity in the Tri-Cities have brought some change over the past year. For example, the recent primary election saw several diverse can-

didates running for city council positions. “We have seen more people of color running for those positions,” he said. “I think there is definitely more motivation and people wanting to take on leadership roles themselves, because we’re seeing the importance of getting involved in our local governments because otherwise we become a victim of it.” But he’s also seeing some changing attitudes in general as the Tri-City area grows and the population changes. “(Kennewick) is definitely changing. It is definitely a different place to live. It is a little more comfortable,” Chaney said. “But we can’t sit down. We have to keep moving, have to keep going, have to keep having these conversations.”

POTATOES, From page 55 The state Potato Commission reports 99 percent of the state’s potato growers are family farms. Connors doesn’t know whether his boys will follow his farming footsteps—one is headed to college and the other may sit for the certified public account exam — but he does know farming potatoes in the Basin has built a good life for them. And it’s resulted in plenty of tasty potatoes for us. Food Love columnist Marilou Shea is the creator of Food Truck Fridays and adjunct faculty at Columbia Basin College’s Food Truck Academy. HOSPICE, From page 53 Mundy, who also serves on the team, said using the correct language with families is important, but more important is understanding Latino culture. “We’re very mindful of that,” she said. “We will do our best to provide quality of life and respect their traditions,” Ortega agreed. Oretega also said it’s not easy work. “We have to work a little harder because a good number are undocumented and they’re not knowledgeable of our services. It creates more work,” he said. No one is ever turned away from services because of inability to pay, Castillo said. That’s why community support of Chaplaincy Health Care is so important, he said. “We appreciate the community’s financial support,” he said. Chaplain Alberto Tass said the team’s efforts are making a difference. “I’m seeing we are making progress and we can see that second generation is more acceptable to move toward hospice in a good sense and positive way. This is something starting to happen now with the second generation. They are learning new things here,” he said. The program has expanded to include grief services after a loved one’s death. “It’s a great experience touching people who have lost someone. Sometimes it can be a baby, brother, mother, sister, father — we never know. Once the loss hits the family, they need the support,” Tass said. Tass said the team will continue to stand ready to help in the days ahead. “In time of distress and time of crisis and time of anything like that can be challenge for them, we are here for them. We are in the community and part of the community and don’t hesitate to call us and support you,” he said. For more information, call 509-7837416 or visit chaplaincyhealthcare.org.

Send us your business news info@tcjournal.biz

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Sudden deaths take trio of state’s business, ag leaders BY DON C. BRUNELL

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

So far this year, a trio of unexpected deaths has shocked Washington business and agriculture. Melanie Dressel, Ron Reimann and Jeff Brotman leave behind large shoes to fill. They came from vastly different backgrounds and political perspectives, yet it was their diversity, ingenuity and drive that makes our state and nation great. Dressel, president and CEO of Tacoma-based Columbia Bank, died suddenly of heart disease in February. She was 64. She was born and raised in Colville, a small farm and timber town, but stayed in Seattle after graduating from the University of Washington in political science. Dressel was a longtime banker in metropolitan Puget Sound and went on to guide Columbia Bank’s growth into the second largest Washington-based banking company by market value. She told Seattle Business Magazine, which named her 2013 CEO of the Year: “I told my parish priest at age 6 that I wanted to be president of the United States…I grew up in the age of great politicians like Maggie (Warren G. Magnuson) and (Henry) Jackson. I planned to go to law school, then go into politics after college, but thought I should work for nine months first. I wanted weekends free so I could spend time with my husband. That’s how I got

into banking.” Dressel served on many banking, business and community boards and was awarded the 2011 American Banker Association Community Banker of the Year. Seven times ABA named her one of the 25 most powerful women in banking. The second tragic death came on July 30 when prominent Eastern Washington farmer and Port of Pasco commissioner, Ron Reimann, 74, was killed when his farm vehicle was hit by a van near Kahlotus. Reimann was raised on a dryland farm in Ritzville. Following graduation from Eastern Washington University with a degree in business, he enlisted in the Army. After his military service, he joined his wife’s twin brother, Ralph Thomsen, in forming T & R Farms in Moses Lake. In 1973, they moved to the Pasco area to begin what has become a totally irrigated farm growing a variety of row crops, fruit trees and grains. T & R Farms is a leader in the advancement of irrigation technology and water resources management. Earlier this year, Reimann and his wife were honored at the Oregon/ Washington Potato Conference with the 2017 Industry Leadership Award. As president of the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association, he was a tenacious advocate for agriculture water rights.

Finally, on Aug. 1, Jeff Brotman, 74, Costco’s cofounder and chairman of its board, died in his sleep at his Medina home after attending a dinner with Don C. Brunell 2,000 store managers from around the world. Brotman, who was born and raised in Tacoma, opened Costco’s first warehouse with Jim Sinegal in 1983 in Seattle. The company now operates 736 warehouses around the world, including 511 in the United States and Puerto Rico. Costco was ranked as the world’s second largest retailer behind Walmart until Seattle-based Amazon surpassed both. Brotman was more of a behind the spotlight philanthropist. He completed

his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Washington and was appointed to the school’s board of regents. Brotman was a large contributor to Children’s Hospital, UW medicine and Tacoma’s Temple Beth El preschool and daycare. Both Brotman and Sinegal actively funded Democrats and Sinegal was chosen to address the Democratic Convention in 2012. Dressel, Reimann and Brotman leave behind families and unmatched legacies. They were largely successful because they took risks, worked hard, were driven and innovated. Those are the common threads that bind American entrepreneurs together. Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver, Washington. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Kennewick man donates rare wine collection to charity auction Proceeds to establish scholarship for migrant workers’ children to study at Wine Science Center BY ANDY PERDUE

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

A complete vertical of Leonetti Cellar’s legendary Cabernet Sauvignon — including perhaps the single most important wine ever made in Washington — will go up for bid at the 30th annual Auction of Washington Wines. The Auction of Washington Wines takes place Aug. 17-19 on the grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. The gala auction, where this one-of-a-kind lot will be sold, takes place Aug. 19. Hank Sauer, a retired educator who grew up in Walla Walla and built his career in Kennewick, is donating his collection of Leonetti wines to the auction. He hopes they’ll do more good for the world through the auction than they are collecting dust in his custom-built basement wine cellar. Dating back to the infancy of Leonetti the early 1980s when the Walla Walla producer rose to prominence nationally — Sauer began to collect the wines. It wasn’t necessarily because he thought the wines were great, but because he and Gary Figgins, owner and founding winemaker for Leonetti, were childhood friends. They lived down the road from each other, prowled around town together, got in trouble together. When Gary started making wine, Hank began buying it. Year after year he accumulated it, to the point that now he has a collection that includes every single red wine ever made by Leonetti Cellar. This isn’t about wine, it’s about enduring friendship. “Gary and I grew up together,” Sauer said. “We were 10 houses apart. We were very close.” He still remembers the old neighborhood and every kid who lived there. “If you ask me, the story in the neighborhood was the good food over at the Figgins house - Italian. But if you ask Gary, he’ll tell you the good food was the German food at the Sauer house.” The legend goes that Gary’s Italian heritage led to winemaking. Walla Walla has a long heritage of Italian immigrants arriving with their traditions, including vineyards and wines. The first winery in Walla Walla opened in 1876 by Frank Orselli, who had immigrated from the Tuscan town of Lucca. Upon arrival, he did what came naturally, he planted grapes and made wine. Figgins’ family — particularly the Leonetti side — also made wine. Gary followed suit. Sauer remembers the first Leonetti weekend vividly. “The word on the street was that Gary was making wine, so (my wife) Nancy and I decided to check it out,” Sauer said. Little did Sauer realize that he was witnessing the beginning of a phenomenon. It was 1981, and Figgins had just publicly released his first red wine, the 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon. It had won a gold medal in summer 1980 at the Tri-Cities Wine Festival, an award that earned it entrance into a 1981 competition staged by

Winestate Wine Buying Guide, a nationally circulated publication out of California that today is a top periodical based in Australia. That same year, Wine & Spirits magazine named the Leonetti Cab the best in the nation, sealing the upstart winery’s reputation and raising the bar for all who followed. Figgins told the Tri-City Herald he almost didn’t enter the judging because he didn’t want to give up two bottles of his wine. The Walla Walla wine was competing against gold medal winners from 55 California producers and 13 from elsewhere in the United States. Figgins’ 1978 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon won best of show at the judging — essentially becoming the best wine in the country — and that became a seminal moment in the Washington wine industry. Suddenly, attention was drawn to the state as a red wine producer, paving the way for a Walla Walla wine industry that until that moment didn’t exist. By the time of that first release weekend, Figgins had just 42 bottles of this award-winning Cab left. He had raised the price from $15 a bottle to $50, according to the Tri-City Herald. “I’d been drinking wine since 1969,” Sauer said. “So it was an opportunity to grow from rosés to reds. Nancy was still into whites, but that’s OK. So we went to Gary’s house, there wasn’t a lot of wine, but the crowd was nice and everybody knew everybody because it was a hometown crowd. You went down into their basement, which was the size of a closet. Three people could go down at a time.” Hank and Nancy bought three bottles, a sizable investment for two young teachers who weren’t big on red wine. “That was how it all started,” Sauer said. It was the beginning of his now overflowing cellar. Through the years, Sauer’s collection of Leonetti has grown. He typically buys the full allotment each year — about three cases — and takes his greatest joy in sharing it with others. Nancy will attest to the fact that when they go out to dinner and bring a bottle of Leonetti, Hank is prone to wandering the dining room, providing

Hank Sauer of Kennewick has been collecting Leonetti Cellar’s Cabernet Sauvignon for 37 years. He’s donating a rare vertical flight to the Auction of Washington Wines. The proceeds from the auction lot will establish a scholarship in Hank and Nancy Sauer’s name to help children of migrant workers attend Washington State University’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center in Richland to study viticulture and enology. (Courtesy Andy Perdue/ Great Northwest Wine)

tastes to other patrons. That outgoing personality and giving heart have never diminished. Sauer’s civic work led to his selection as the 2008 Kennewick Man of the Year. This year marks the 40th anniversary of

Leonetti Cellar, and the Auction of Washington Wines was looking for a way to celebrate the anniversary when Sauer approached Executive Director Sherri Swingle about donating his vertical. uWINE, Page 62

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Business Profile

Kennewick dentist finds niche designing for men’s fashion industry Owner of Tri-City Dental Care also designs, sells neckties with nephew BY JEFF MORROW

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Richland’s Antonio Lopez-Ibarra runs a relatively new dental practice, Tri-City Dental Care, in the Southridge area. The 32-year-old dentist also has a wife and three children. And the busy entrepreneur runs a small necktie company with his nephew, Noel Lopez. Called Town+Co, the business started in July 2015. Lopez-Ibarra and his nephew sell neckties featuring woven iconic images from several countries and states: the France tie features a tiny Eiffel Tower, the Brazil tie boasts an image of the Christ The Redeemer statue, the red-white-andblue USA tie has the Statue of Liberty and the Mexico tie features the Pyramid of Kukulkan. The idea for the polyester ties emerged after the two men were talking a few years ago. They knew ties could serve as conversation starters to break down barriers. Both Lopez-Ibarra and his nephew, Noel Lopez, served their Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints missions in Uruguay, although at separate times. They noticed fellow missionaries returning from Uruguay with a souvenir

tie featuring the country’s soccer logo on it. “We wondered what we could do to target LDS missionaries,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “So we thought of different countries’ symbols. I’ve learned a lot about business over the years. The biggest thing is to start with a niche. For us, that’s the LDS missionaries. We understand that niche.” It took the pair eight months from idea to actual product to sales. “We had to contact manufacturers, get some prototypes,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “It’s hard to find good quality.” They finally found a company in China that met their standards. Coming up with an icon for a country can be tough, they said. “It’s not easy,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “A lot of countries don’t have a big icon. We could have gone with national birds or flowers, but we wanted to pick out the most important icon.” Sometimes, Lopez said, “we go through six or seven designs before we decide on one.” Recently, they added a few states, including Washington and Utah. “Some are easy,” said Noel. “For Washington, we had green and blue (Seahawks colors), and the Space Needle. But Idaho was tough. At one time we’d

thought about the potato. But we set it aside for a while. Eventually we came up with a salmon because of the Salmon River.” They’re also trying to get into the university market. They have a contract with Utah Valley University, where Noel attends as a digital marketing major. He also works another job and is married. “Licensing is probably the biggest obstacle with universities,” Lopez-Ibarra said. The geographical distance between the two men hasn’t been a problem for the business. “I would say we spend at least an Dr. Antonio Lopez-Ibarra, a Kennewick dentist, shows off hour a day on the some of the neckties he and his nephew design and sell. phone,” Lopez said. He and Noel Lopez own Town+Co, which sells ties showcasing different nations’ and states’ icons. “My nephew is 24, so we’re more like brothers,” Lopez-Ibarra said. Right now, Town+Co ties are sold in “Antonio is the youngest of five broth- Ex-Officio airport stores at SeaTac, JFK ers,” Lopez said. “He was closer to the in New York, and in Atlanta. kids our age. So he hung out with us.” In addition, their ties are sold in every When the men connect on phone or via Deseret Book store, which numbers 44 FaceTime, they “go over designs. We get strong in nine different states. prototypes. If we don’t like something, The ties can be bought locally at we change it,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “When Fountain Books in Kennewick at 8508 W. Noel comes up here, we spend a lot of Gage Blvd. C-103 or online at thetowntime together. We find the time to carve andco.com. out throughout the day.” “Our best response has been from the Tie sales have been strong. missionaries, their girlfriends and famiWhile neither man would reveal exact lies,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “The biggest revenue figures, Lopez said the company sellers are Argentina, Brazil and Peru.” sold roughly 1,000 ties the first year. For Lopez-Ibarra, the Mexico and “But we’ve sold about 7,500 this year,” United States ties are his favorites. he said. “I’m a U.S. citizen, but I’m Mexican The ties retail for about $25 each, by blood,” he said. Lopez-Ibarra said. The uncle-nephew team want to take It’s helped that Lopez-Ibarra was able the company to a new level. to get Town+Co’s foot in the door with ExOfficio, a retail store located in almost uTIES, Page 62 every major airport in the world.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Business Profile

Kennewick spa’s float therapy offers new way to heal, unwind Float Euphoria offers zero-gravity floats in space-age pods BY ROBIN WOJTANIK

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Somewhere between a bath tub, a hot tub and the Dead Sea lie the sensory deprivation tanks at Float Euphoria that allow visitors to float the real world away for up to 90 minutes at a time. The new wellness spa recently opened in Kennewick in the former Twin Rivers Optical building, next to Skippers. The wellness spa offers floats, massages, cupping and sound therapy. Read The float reporter tanks are the Robin only one of Wojtanik’s their kind in the Tri-Cities, firsthand with the next account closest option of float being Spokane. therapy The business is a family affair, uSee operated by page 63. married couple, Ryan Wright and Bethany MacLean. Wright’s parents helped with the building’s remodel and will assist with both operation and services. The space-age looking tubs, called Dream Pods, are filled with warm, salty water dense enough to allow a person to float at the surface, eliminating the pull of gravity. The hatch door can be closed to immerse the floater in darkness, silence and weightlessness. But those who have claustrophobia may leave it open. MacLean said people generally visit a

float spa for one of three reasons: to seek relaxation, a spiritual or meditative connection, or relief from any of a number of chronic conditions. Floating prices are on-par with many massage therapy services offered at local spas. Prices start at $65 for a 60-minute float and discounts are offered for combining services or pre-paying for a minimum of three floats. Despite their futuristic, sleek appearance, the pods were invented long ago, MacLean said. “They originally started back in the 50s. There was a doctor named John Lilly, who was a neuroscientist. He was originally doing experiments with people in the pods, just studying their reactions. Throughout the years of doing that, they found that there’s huge benefits with fibromyalgia, insomnia, PTSD and even people on the autism spectrum because they don’t have that stimulation that is hard for them.” A long list of other advertised benefits include enhanced immune function, acceleration of healing from injuries and even a boosting of academic or creative focus. The pods each contain half a ton of magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salt, equivalent to a full pallet of 50-pound bags in each pod. This creates a salinity of 35 percent, slightly higher than the 33.7 percent salinity of the Dead Sea, known as one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. The magnesium sulfate is dissolved in water kept at 93.5 degrees. This exact temperature is chosen because it is considered “skin-receptor neutral,” creating a seamless transition from where skin

Ryan Wright and Bethan MacLean recently opened Float Euphoria in Kennewick. The wellness spa offers floats in float tanks called Dream Pods, as well as massage, cupping and sound therapy.

ends and the water begins. Both the lack of gravity and the immersion in the Epsom salt are promoted as being beneficial to visitors’ bodies. The sheer feeling of weightlessness provides an opportunity to release the typical muscle and joint strain that occurs just from standing, sitting or holding up the head. Physicians may recommend an Epsom salt bath to relieve muscle aches, joint swelling or even relief from a sun burn. The water is not changed out entirely

between each floater, which can raise a concern of cleanliness for some consumers. MacLean allayed that fear with an explanation of the filtration process: “Between each person it goes through a filter that cleans every drop of water three times. It uses a UV light and then ten micron filter, which is five times smaller than a human hair, so it catches everything. Not to mention it’s salt, so nothing can really grow in the salinity.” uFLOAT, Page 62

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

FLOAT, From page 61 Floats are not scheduled back-to-back to allow for a 20-minute filtration between each visitor, providing an individualized experience in the water. “A public pool has to use chlorine and bromine to kill the pathogens. We don’t have to worry about that because the salt is a natural disinfectant. We put a little hydrogen peroxide in with the salt and that takes care of it. When you’re in a public pool or hot tub, you’re sharing that water with other people, whereas this water goes through its own filtration system just for you,” said Wright. Each float suite includes a shower to wash away any products from a visitor’s hair and body. Two buttons inside the pod adjust the lights or sound an alarm if a visitor experiences an emergency. The

pods are spacious and do not lock, which are intended to ease feelings of claustrophobia. Audio options include soft, relaxing music playing throughout the duration of a float, music at just the beginning and the end, or complete silence throughout. Wright said the pod encourages theta waves in the brain, which is the first stage of sleep. Many people fall asleep during their float, the owners said. When the float time is up, visitors can use the shower again to remove the salty water from their body. Hot tea then awaits in the lobby to complete the spa experience. MacLean said it may take up to four visits to truly appreciate the full benefits of floating, though she said one client felt immediate relief from her fibromyalgia

after a first float, a freedom from pain she had not experienced in years. Floats are done in private and the suites are not set up for an experience as a couple. In the future, MacLean and Wright intend to remodel the basement of the building to include float rooms that won’t be enclosed like a pod to allow two people to float together. Besides floating, additional spa services are available. MacLean and her father-inlaw, Danny Wright, are both licensed massage therapists and offer Swedish, deep tissue, sports and hot stone massage. Danny Wright spent 32 years as a driver for Dial-a-Ride before retiring last year. He became a certified massage therapist more than 15 years ago, and it was through his work as a massage therapist that he met MacLean, and she eventually met and mar-

ried his son, Ryan. Danny Wright also studies the practice of sound therapy. He said he has one of the largest collections of tuning forks in the Tri-Cities, using the devices to align frequencies in the human body to promote healthy organ function, positive chakra or psychic atunements. MacLean also offers cupping therapy, including fire cupping. The procedure uses a suction to drawn skin into a cup, which is said to treat pain and inflammation and may be considered a form of massage. Float Euphoria, located at 3221 W. Kennewick Ave., is open seven days a week, by appointment only. Services are available 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. For more information: call 509-9401888, visit floateuphoria.com or find on Facebook. TIES, From page 60 “Right now we’re doing new designs,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “About every four months new ones come out. Next, our big push is to try to get into big retail stores, like Nordstrom’s and Macy’s.” In addition, Noel is planning a trip to Italy in August, when he’ll visit a number of factories to find one to help Town+Co develop a higher-end necktie. Lopez-Ibarra can’t go to Italy with his nephew as the dentist will be working at his new Kennewick clinic. “It’s a passion for us,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “We want people to express how they feel about their nationality and identity.” The tie venture also has allowed Lopez-Ibarra and his nephew to express their creativity together. “I always have known Noel was going to do something great,” Lopez-Ibarra said. “I want to surround myself with people like that. We’re family, and we can do it.” WINE, From page 59 “We are honored that Hank and Nancy Sauer have entrusted the Auction of Washington Wines with such an amazing offering,” Swingle said. “This lot will establish a legacy and provide opportunity for members of our industry with big dreams and a passion for our industry. This offering is symbolic of Washington wine — blending friendship, hard work and patience for something that will be simply legendary.” The proceeds from the auction lot will establish a scholarship in Hank and Nancy’s names that will help children of migrant workers attend Washington State University’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center in Richland to study viticulture and enology. To own a 37-year vertical of Leonetti — every Cab ever made — is remarkable, said Doug Charles, owner of Compass Wines in Anacortes. “I’ve only seen it once,” he said. “It was a vertical I put together for a customer several years ago.” Charles pointed out it was equally rare the wine has been stored correctly since it was purchased from the winery, so each bottle’s provenance can be accounted for. uWINE, Page 64

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

Reporter finds zen in float pod, until her nose itches BY ROBIN WOJTANIK

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Journalism usually requires the reporter to stay out of the story, but sometimes you can’t explain a new experience without experiencing it yourself. That’s why I packed a swimsuit for the first time on an assignment. I wanted to climb into the float pod to offer a firsthand perspective from someone who had never floated before. It’s a personal decision whether you float in the buff or in a swimsuit, or in this case, what you might call a floatsuit. At Kennewick’s Float Euphoria, operated by married couple Ryan Wright and Bethany MacLean, each suite contains a robe, shower, ear plugs and detailed instructions on how to prep for the experience. A caution sign reserves the right to issue a hefty fine for those who do not follow posted instructions, resulting in the need for a pod to undergo extensive cleaning outside of its normal filtration. But the instructions are not difficult to follow, as the goal is to strip your body of any chemicals or products before you climb into the salty water. Visitors are required to shower and remove all make-up, lotion, hair products and deodorant. It’s not recommended you shave the day of a float, or the salty water may sting the skin. Two styles of ear plugs are provided, along with petroleum jelly to rub on any minor cuts or scrapes. Once I was prepped, it was time to step in. It’s a unique experience to raise the large lid of this space age-looking capsule and climb into the silky, smooth water. Soft, neon lighting illuminated the pod, gradually changing colors from purple to green to yellow. There’s a little basket positioned on the inside wall with a spray bottle of fresh water and a

washcloth to use, if needed. Otherwise there are just two buttons: a green button to turn the lights on or off, and a red button if you panic or experience an emerRobin Wojtanik gency while inside. The lid cannot lock and easily pulls down and reopens with the assistance of a hydraulic strut. Visitors are free to leave the door open or closed during their personal float experience, but don’t expect full sensory deprivation with the lid open. The pod is roomy enough to sit up in without hitting your head on the top. End to end, the space is more than six feet so visitors aren’t likely to touch either wall while floating flat in the water. I closed the lid and chose to initially leave on the lights. MacLean told me other visitors had described the muted lights as feeling “like you’re in a rainbow.” Soft, relaxing music played and I felt comfortable enough to turn the lights off after a few minutes. It was quite effortless to relax and feel simply enveloped by the warm water and weightless sensation. My float was programmed to shut the music off after ten minutes, and then turn it back on during the final five minutes to rouse me back to reality. Visitors have the option of playing music during their entire float or not using music at all. The current audio choices include three soundtracks, with the plan to add more. As I floated peacefully, I tried to remain conscious of relaxing my neck. I had read ahead of time that this is the biggest adjustment for your body in the water. It’s a natural tendency to support

your head with your neck since you do this all day long, normally. But in the pod, the water easily supports your head for you and the buoyancy won’t allow your face to fully submerge. A foam halo is provided for those who want extra assistance in releasing their neck muscles. It wasn’t difficult to quickly relax in my warm, silent and pitchblack surroundings. Wright explained the pod encourages theta waves in the brain, which are the first stage of sleep. While I did not fall asleep during my float, many people do. Floating feels quite different than soaking in a bathtub or hot tub. The water is cooler, yet you’re not cold. You can stretch out completely, yet only

part of your body is immersed. It wasn’t long before I noticed I had shut off the thoughts that swirl in my head, from a looming deadline, to a sink full of dishes, to the shrinking percentage of space on my DVR. My heightened state of relaxation switched off like a light when I made a rookie mistake: I itched my nose. I quickly learned why the spray bottle of fresh water was posted inside the pod. Instead of remaining zen and ignoring the itch, I dripped water into my eyes, which quickly made me aware of just what 35 percent salinity feels like on your pupils. (Hint: fire.) uFLOAT REPORT, Page 64

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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017 FLOAT REPORT, From page 63 As I grappled in the dark for the water bottle and tried to furiously spray it into my eyes, I somehow managed to drip water into my mouth. It’s not a pleasant taste and much worse than typical salt water. I managed to eventually ease back into a prone position and found the sensory deprivation quickly returned me to a state of calm and relaxation, and a newfound respect for letting itches lie. When the float time is up, visitors must shower again to rinse off the salty water. I noticed a sense of lightness as I exited the spa, a lingering sense of weightlessness that had me relaxed, and even a touch drowsy for the remainder of the afternoon. I would consider going back as a form of relaxation and would recommend a float to someone looking for a unique gift or a way to pamper themselves.

WINE, From page 62 The last time Charles saw the 1978 Leonetti Cab was several years ago when he was having two bottles recorked at the celebrated Walla Walla winery. “They were absolutely spectacular. They were just stunning,” he said. Charles got into the wine business the same time that wine was released. He was working at the legendary Oyster Creek Inn on Chuckanut Drive, a windy, scenic road that skirts the coastline south of Bellingham. He was running the wine program, and they had the 1978 Leonetti Cab on the list for $125 per bottle. Astonishingly, it had no problem selling out, even though Leonetti and Washington reds had no track record. “We sold all that we had, about a half-dozen bottles,” he said. “Nobody was ever disappointed.” Now as a wine shop owner and buyer and seller of rare wines, Charles still considers that 1978 Leonetti the iconic wine in Washington history. He puts it on a pedestal with the Bordeaux First Growths and the 1973 Cab from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars that shocked the Judgment of Paris in 1976. “(The 1978 Leonetti Cab) is the most significant wine ever made in Washington,” Charles said. “It’s the pinnacle of Washington wines. I think it deserves that rarified air. I don’t hesitate to say this wine stands out.” That it is coming up for auction should be exciting to Washington wine geeks. “This is one of those fantasy wines,” he said. The auction, ranked among one of the largest charity wine auctions in the country, supports Children’s Hospital in Seattle and Washington State University. This is the first time Hank and Nancy Sauer will be attending the semi-formal gala, and they’ll be sitting with Gary and Nancy Figgins. Those who can’t attend the event may designate an auction representative to be a proxy bidder. For more information, contact Sherri Swingle at 206-9493372 or sswingle@washingtonwine. org by 5 p.m. Aug. 18.

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

PUBLIC RECORD uBANKRUPTCIES Bankruptcies are filed under the following chapter headings: Chapter 7 — Straight Bankruptcy: debtor gives up non-exempt property and debt is charged. 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 7 Christopher M. McCauley and Tarren M. Timmons, 15 S. Irby St., Kennewick. Shirley K. Franson, 2416 Pullen St., Richland. Thomas L. and Mia A. Carver, 524 E. Third Ave., Kennewick. Jennifer A. Linhoff, 204405 E. Schuster Road, Kennewick. Raymond P. Case, 1523 W. Howard St., Pasco. Randall S. Nundahl, 2611 W. 15th Place, Kennewick. Andrew G. Morris and Shannon R. Turnidge, 804 S. Volland St., Kennewick. Peggy L. Johnson, 1304 Babs Ave., Benton City. Shari J. Matthews, 207 Crestwood Drive, Richland. Katrina M. Richardson, 631 N. Waldemar Ave., Pasco. Judith A. Stellwagen, 103 N. Buntin St., Kennewick. Hector and Carmela J. Lopez, 8504 Desota

Drive, Pasco. Gibraham H. and Nicole D. Ceron, 1105 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. Annette J. Merrill, 1073 N. 59th Ave., West Richland. Manual and Elena Montijo, 428 N. Beech Ave., Pasco. Giovanni Vasquez, 6602 Morrison, West Richland. Jeffrey A. Liner Jr., 250 Gage Blvd., Richland. Jonathan and Alexis Vetter, 620 Skyline Drive, Richland. Carlos M. and Maricela O. Enriquez, 1927 W. Hopkins St., Pasco. Roxann M. Fisk, 2311 Mark Ave., Richland. Viraphonh T. and Latdavanh D. Kongdara, 5502 Springfield Drive, Pasco. Tawnee M. Gutzmer, 42202 S. Morton Road, Kennewick. Blanca E. Campos, 931 N. Douglas Ave., Pasco. Phillip M. and Jessika N. Gatewood, 8508 Tucker Court, Pasco. Willian C. and Catherine K. C. Jawili, 511 S. Kingwood St., Kennewick. Kevin S. Edinger, 8003 Madeira Drive, Pasco. Marcellous J. Walker Jr., 1908 Crab Apple Circle, West Richland. CHAPTER 13 Tiffany L. Abrams, 9918 Vincenzo Drive, Pasco. Augustine M. and Liza M. Gonzales, 5304 Montague Lane, Pasco. Lee and Charissa Oswald, 2787 Katie Road, Kenewick. Scott Langlois, 200804 E. 479 PRSE, Kennewick.

uTOP PROPERTIES

Top property values listed start at $400,000 and have been rounded to the nearest hundred figure.

BENTON COUNTY 5100 W. 18th Ave., Kennewick, 2,665-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $429,000. Buyer: Kari Angeil-Petersen. Seller: Troy & Amy Ayres. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, 5 commercial properties. Price: $1,245,000. Buyer: Ritchie Properties LLC. Seller: Sparks Family Rentals LLC. 2308 W. 51st Ave., Kennewick, 2,203-square-foot, single-family home. Price; $507,400. Buyer: Julio & Judith Rodriguez. Seller: Prodigy Homes. 4525 Highview St., Richland, 3,350-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $445,900. Buyer: Darrin & Angela Henderson. Seller: New Tradition Homes. 6644 Cyprus Loop, West Richland, 2,587-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $504,000. Buyer: William & Margaret Shelton. Seller: Alderbrook Investments. 336 & 326 Chardonnay Ave., Prosser, 8,313 and 5,152-square-foot commercial buildings on 2.3 acres. Price: $7,000,000. Buyer: Prosser Ventures LLC. Seller: PPC LLC. 1620 Molly Marie Ave., Richland, 3,466-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $529,000. Buyer: Amit & Hatti Habbu. Seller: Richard & Romona Wilson. 1738 Meadow Hills Drive, Richland, 3,036-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $505,000. Buyer: Ray & Tracy Harney. Seller: James & Ruth Ann Dart. 73003 E. Landon Lane, Kennewick, 2,122-square-foot, single-family home on 0.6 acres. Price: $427,800. Buyer: James & Anita

Griffin. Seller: Viking Homes. 4721 W. 12th Ave., Kennewick, 1,838-square-foot, single-family home on 1.5 acres. Price: $405,500. Buyer: Robert & Erica Gale. Seller: Scott & Kelly Anderson. 331 N. Fillmore St., Kennewick, 5,194-square-foot multi-family building. Price: $413,000. Buyer: LuAnn & Glen Davison. Seller: 331 N. Fillmore LLC. 202008 E. Terril Road, Kennewick, 3,775-square-foot, single-family home on 2.3 acres. Price: $450,000. Buyer: Roberto & Carmen Ramirez. Seller: Carol Hakkinen. 902 S. Washington St., Kennewick, 28,800-square-foot commercial building on 1.5 acres. Price: $745,500. Buyer: Nellis Properties. Seller: Duzan’s Land Management. 86202 E. Sagebrush Road, Kennewick, 2,377-square-foot, single-family home on 0.6 acres. Price: $429,900. Buyer: Richland & Gina Miller. Seller: P&R Construction. 104355 E. Kash Loop, Kennewick, 2,652-square-foot, single-family home on 1.6 acres. Price: $430,000. Buyer: Karl & Vanessa Pazdernik. Seller: Mary Hawaaboo. 16722 S. Fairview Loop, Kennewick, 2,497-square-foot, single-family home on 0.6 acres. Price: $482,500. Buyer: George & Kellie Hamilton. Seller: Pamela & Whitlow Kirkpatrick. 5800 Glenbrook Loop, West Richland, 3,489-square-foot, single-family home on 0.9 acres. Price: $570,000. Buyer: William & Robin Mays. Seller: Deverne & Catherine Dunnum. 1499 Badger Mountain Loop, Richland, 3,703-square-foot, single-family home on 0.6 acres. Price: $426,000. Buyer: Jason & Emily Crofts. Seller: New Tradition Homes.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 66

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business â&#x20AC;˘ August 2017

PUBLIC RECORD, From page 65 3038 Bluffs Drive, Richland, 3,180-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $525,000. Buyer: Martin & Katherine Klotz. Seller: Robert & Harley Wickemeyer Trustees. 5209 W. Fifth Ave., Kennewick, 3,629-square-foot commercial building on 2.7 acres. Price: $425,000. Buyer: Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus. Seller: King of Kings Lutheran Church. 5843 W. 38th Court, Kennewick, 3,078-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $438,800. Buyer: Hollie & Bryce Logan. Seller: Riverwood Homes. 2621 Quarterhorse Way, Richland, 3,970-square-foot, single-family home on 0.8 acres. Price: $625,000. Buyer: Celeste & Tom Nelson. Seller: Richard Bond & Patricia Johnson. 4255 Maple Lane, West Richland, 1 lot of undeveloped land. Price: $419,400. Buyer: Marc & Kerry Dehart. Seller: Varsity Development. 93005 E. Chelsea Road, Kennewick, 3,325-square-foot, single-family home on 2.5 acres. Price: $580,000. Buyer: Keith & Mary Sorensen. Seller: Jason & Traci Repko. Undetermined location, 6.6 acres of land. Price: $500,000. Buyer: Rieve Realty. Seller: Kevin Tucker. 3209 W. 47th Ave., Kennewick, 2,663-square-foot, single-family home on 0.9 acres. Price: $412,000. Buyer: Wendi & Marc Van Ditto. Seller: Dana Buck. 3858 Eastlake Drive, West Richland, 3,237-square-foot, single-family home on 1 acre. Price: $550,000. Buyer: Michael & Ronica Bishop. Seller: Max Tanninen. 2432 Saddle Way, Richland, 1,747-squarefoot, single-family home on 0.6 acres. Price: $457,500. Buyer: Joel & Ashley Evans. Seller: Eric & Lauralie Patterson. 1132 Bridle Drive, Richland, 2,511-squarefoot, single-family home on 0.6 acres. Price: $427,700. Buyer: Lee & Erin Colclasure. Seller: Michele Heinrickson. 2403 Lariat Lane, Richland, 2,422-squarefoot, single-family home on 1.4 acres. Price: $518,000. Buyer: Ramiz Gunkalli. Seller:

Richard & Pornchanok Forman. 504 S. Pittsburgh St., Kennewick, 2,360-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $495,000. Buyer: Brent & Jodi Gillipie. Seller: Ben & Debra Hovley. 343-369 Columbia Point Drive, Richland, 14 lots of undeveloped land. Price: $700,000. Buyer: Green Plan Construction. Seller: Cherry Creek Properties. 206 Sitka Court, Richland, 2,913-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $415,000. Buyer: Eric & Amber Christensen. Seller: Paine & Glenda Garvie. 1604 Verona Lane, Richland, 2,594-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $565,000. Buyer: Danny & Erin Birch. Seller: Solferino Homes. 824 Meadows Drive S., Richland, 3,194-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $444,000. Buyer: James & Erin Herbert. Seller: Hayden Homes. 97405 E. Kaitlyn Drive, Kennewick, 1,797-square-foot, single-family home on 0.7 acres. Price: $435,000. Buyer: Patrick & Rebecca Kilroy. Seller: Jared & Sharee Wolfley. 1618 Sicily Lane, Richland, 2,588-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $545,000. Buyer: Kirk & Kelly Harper. Seller: Ralph & Tara Erath. 88604 E. Sagebrush Road, Kennewick, 2,176-square-foot, single-family home o 0.8 acres. Price: $435,000. Buyer: Jay & Julie Petersen. Seller: Dennis Sawby Construction. 2531 Falconcrest Loop, Richland, 2,495-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $475,000. Buyer: John Hansens. Seller: Bauder Homes. 84905, 84506 & 84704 E. Wallowa Road, Kennewick, 2.2 acres of undeveloped land. Price: $426,800. Buyer: Hammerstrom Construction. Seller: Tri-City Development Corporation. 3747 S. McKinley St., Kennewick, 1,755-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $412,000. Buyer: John Groner. Seller: Septan Homes. 334 Columbia Point Drive, Unit 102, Richland, 3,352-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $594,500. Buyer: Deborah & Bruce Hendrickson. Seller: Kerry & Kathleen

Lawrence. 12508 S Grandview Lane, Kennewick, 2,341-square-foot, single-family home on 0.6 acres. Price: $542,000. Buyer: Kerry & Kathleen Lawrence. Seller: John & Victoria Moon. 2377 Eagle Ridge Court, Richland, 2,268-square-foot, single-family home on 0.5 acres. Price: $507,000. Buyer: John & Victoria Moon. Seller: Ronald & Judy Hanson. FRANKLIN COUNTY 3212 Chardonnay Drive, Pasco, 2,170-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $450,000. Buyer: Nikolay & Nadezhda Nikitchuk. Seller: Michael & Felisha Benavidez. 3020 Road 61, Pasco, 2,290-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $420,000. Buyer: Robert & Scarlett Pflugrad. Seller: Jeff & Amanda Hendler. 70 Schultz Road, Pasco, 2,392-square-foot, single-family home on 5 acres. Price: $529,900. Buyer: James & Patricia Jarrett. Seller: Kathy Johnson. 5113 Steele Place, Pasco, 2,200-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $432,600. Buyer: Lauri & Jacqueline Lahtinen. Seller: Sandhollow Homes. 52 E. Vineyard Drive, Pasco, 6,096-squarefoot, retail store on 2.9 acres. Price: $812,000. Buyer: TSK 2017 LLC. Seller: Brent Preston. 6627 Whetstone Drive, Pasco, 2,128-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $404,300. Buyer: William Garber. Seller: Hammerstrom Construction. 5909 Road 90, Pasco, 1,038-square-foot, single-family home (13 total) on 4.7 acres. Price: $850,000. Buyer: Columbia Cove LLC. Seller: Rapture Cove LLC. 11530 Mathews Road, Pasco, 2,574-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $530,000. Buyer: Judd & Haley Fitzgerald. Seller: Jason & Tia Moser. 6915 Kohler Road, Pasco, 2,980-square-foot, single-family home. Price: $496,400. Buyer: Rodney & Michelle Baugher. Seller: AAA Renovation & Construction. 7113 W. Pearl St., Pasco, 2,984-square-foot, single-family home on 0.87 acres. Price:

$480,000. Buyer: Tyler & Danielle Andre. Seller: Michael & Carissa Aeling. 7115 Maxim Court, Pasco, 2,378-squarefoot, single-family home. Price: $412,900. Buyer: Glenn & Madelyn Grabiec. Seller: P&R Construction. 11919 Harris Road, Building B, Pasco, 10,000-square-foot commercial building, 6,020-square-foot warehouse, 1,200-squarefoot storage warehouse and 2,200-square-foot office building on 13.5 acres. Price: $720,000. Buyer: American Rock Products. Seller: American Leasing LLC.

uBUILDING PERMITS

Building permit values have been rounded to the nearest hundred figure.

BENTON COUNTY Zirkle Fruit, 56206 S. Sload Road, $9,900 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Ste Michelle Wine, 239653 Canoe Ridge Road, $295,300 for new commercial construction. Contractor: owner. Jay Brantingham, 105106 Wiser Parkway, $746,800 for new commercial construction. Contractor: CRF Metal Works. Coventry Vale Vineyards, 51705 Wilgus Road, $5,000 for a gas line. Contractor: Apollo Inc. Amos Properties, 106006 E. Wiser Parkway, $279,600 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Amos Construction. BWR Holdings, 1115 S. Clodfelter Road, $612,600 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Apollo Sheet Metal. Kerley Agricultural, 233807 E. Straightbank Road, $7,800 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Apollo Sheet Metal. FRANKLIN COUNTY Bejo Seeds, 6560 Columbia River Road, $142,800 for an agriculture building. Contractor: G2 Construction.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 67

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017 PUBLIC RECORD, From page 66 BENTON CITY Ron Bogner, 110 Babs Ave., $5,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: owner. KENNEWICK Keller Supply, 6509 W. Deschutes Ave., $75,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Superior Quality Installation. Walmart, 2720 S. Quillan St., $5,300 for a sign and $68,300 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractors: Quality Signs and Source Refrigeration. Columbia Mall Partnerships, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., $31,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Premier Builders. TTGNY, 2404 W. Kennewick Ave., $9,400 for a commercial remodel. Contractor: owner. Hughes-Pratt, 6818 W. Kennewick Ave., $6,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Don Pratt Construciton. Kennewick Association Limited Partnership, 7303 W. Canal Drive, $9,800 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Bruce Heating & Air. LAIC, 6401 W. Clearwater Ave., $5,7100 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Bruce Heating & Air. Sunstar Properties, 8232 W. Grandridge Blvd., $11,800 for plumbing. Contractor: Cray Plumbing. Grandridge Kennewick, 406 N. Georgia Place, $6,500 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Eclipse Heating & Air. Metropolitan Investments, 1009 N. Center Parkway, $179,000 for commercial remodel and $13,500 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractors: S&C Maintenance & Construction and Bruce Heating & Air. Kennewick Public Hospital District, 3810 Plaza Way, $165,700 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Apollo Sheet Metal. Wicked Development, 9312 W. 10th Ave., $5,000 for mechanical. Contractor: Accurate Plumbing Design. Gray Trustees, 1001 S. Washington St., $100,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: LK Porter Construction. Grandridge Kennewick, 425 N. Columbia Center Blvd., $5,700 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Adelman Trustees, 200 S. Union St., $16,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: A&A Roofing. Basin Investment Group, 818 W. Vineyard Drive, $6,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Bosch Construction. Chehalis Garden, 955 W. Fifth Ave., $503,000 for commercial remodel, $72,800 for mechanical and $12,000 for plumbing. Contractor: Precision General Commercial Construction. KRG Building, 660 E. Bruneau Ave., $26,400 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Engineered Products. Double T&S Real Estate, 1720 W. Fourth Ave., $8,000 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Americool Heating & Air. Highlands Center, 101 N. Ely St., $7,600 for mechanical. Contractor: Divco Inc. BWR Holdings, 1207 W. Columbia Drive, $80,000 for a sign. Contractor: YESCO. GVD Commercial, 1103 N. Columbia Center Blvd., $8,000 for a sign. Contractor: Shoreline Sign & Awning. Vista Field Industrial, 6416 W. Hood Place, $2,800,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: O’Brien Construction. PASCO Rowand & Associates, 1925 E. James St., $3,641,800 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Garco Construction. Pasco School District, 1915 N. 22nd Ave., $15,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: to be determined. Pasco School District, 5706 Road 60, $20,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: to be determined. JMC Leasing, 1224 S. Ninth Ave., $833,800 for tenant improvements. Contractor: owner. Pasco Coke, 1225 Road 34, $954,700 for a commercial addition. Contractor: O’Brien Construction. Tri-Cities Prep, 9612 St. Thomas Drive, $10,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1320 W. Henry

St., $25,100 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Sohal Truck Wash, 3508 N. Capitol Ave., $158,700 for tenant improvements. Contractor: G2 Commercial Construction. City of Pasco, 5427 Road 76, $15,000 for an antenna/tower. Contractor: to be determined. Volm Companies, 5702 Industrial Way, $116,000 for a commercial addition. Contractor: owner. Port of Pasco, 2105 E. Ainsworth Ave., $55,000 for a commercial remodel. Contractor: Banlin Construction. Church of God, 1915 Road 84, $8,600 for tenant improvements. Contractor: owner. McCurley Subaru, 1230 Autoplex Way, $461,600 for a commercial addition. Contractor: Real Centric Solutions. State of Washington, 127 W. Clark St., $400,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Apollo Sheet Metal. Department of Natural Resources, 7202 Burden Blvd., $10,000 for a fire alarm/system. Contractor: Mansfield Alarm Co. Tumbleweed Properties, 1016 N. Oregon Ave., $100,100 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Clark Electric. Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Ave., $18,000 for a fire alarm/system. Contractor: Moon Security. Pasco Coke, 1225 Road 34, $9,400 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Chinook Heating & Air. City of Pasco, 4803 W. Octave St., $6,100 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Elite Construction & Development. Connell Oil, 815 W. A St., $97,300 for demolition. Contractor: Pacific Environmental Services. Patterson Family 2000, 5238 Outlet Drive, $6,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. Tri-City Investors, 6215 Burden Blvd., $9,800 for commercial addition. Contractor: Jacobs & Rhodes. Extreme Diesel, 2202 Garland St., $433,800 for new commercial construction. Contractor: CRF Metal Works. Aroma, 524 N. Third Ave., $20,700 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Western Equipment Sales.

Northwest Farm Credit Union, 9915 St. Thomas Drive, $6,500 for a sign. Contractor: Cascade Sign & Fabrication. Roberto Ramirez, 1819 W. Court St., $6,000 for a sign. Contractor: Cascade Sign & Fabrication. City of Pasco, 4803 W. Octave St., $16,600 for fire alarm/system. Contractors: Blue Mountain Fire Protection and Advanced Protection Services. PROSSER Prosser Properties and Rentals, 260 Merlot Drive, $100,000 for a sign. Contractor: Cascade Sign & Fabrication. Mline Fruit Products, 2200 SR 221, $323,800 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Puterbaugh Construction. TFP Limited Partnership, 102 Merlot Drive, $100,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: owner. Port of Benton, 2880 Lee Road, $8,600 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Mline Fruit Products, 804 Bennett Ave., $16,000 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Apollo Sheet Metal. Tab Enterprises, 1346 Rohman Drive, $7,800 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Tab Enterprises. Department of Transportation, 2385 Sales Yard Road, $450,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Saybr Construction. Meadows 166, 1215 Meade Ave., $50,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Atlas Construction. Prosser School District, 2001 Highland Drive, $102,700 for mechanical. Contractor: Apollo Sheet Metal. Zirkle Fruit Company, 101 Benitz Road, $9,500 for mechanical. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Mercer Wine Estates, 3100 Lee Road, $75,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Mountain States Construction. LK Porter Construction, 102 Merlot Drive, $25,000 for a sign. Contractor: LK Porter Construction.

RICHLAND Three Hinge, 474 Keene Road, $40,300 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Blankenship Construction. Lamb Weston, 2013 Saint St., Building C, $58,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Fisher Construction Group. Columbia Valley Medical, 900 Stevens Drive, Suite 103, $17,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Don Pratt Construction. ADSG, 1363 Columbia Park Trail, $5,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. American Rock Products, 2090 Robertson Drive, $8,200 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Kadlec Regional Medical Center, 888 Swift Blvd., $400,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Bouten Construction. Port of Benton, 2780 Salk Ave., $11,500 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Columbia Center North, 2602 N. Columbia Center Blvd., $11,400 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Bruce Heating & Air. Lamb Weston, 2420 Snyder St., $86,000 for plumbing. Contractor: Fisher Construction Group. Kadlec Regional Medical Center, 888 Swift Blvd., $750,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Bouten Construction. Alffled, 57 Columbia Point Drive, $5,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: T20 Nails and Spa. Butler Loop Mini Storage, 1985 Butler Loop, $8,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Total Energy Management. North Stone Richland, 2704 Village Parkway, $13,000 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Mahaffey Enterprises. Browman Development Company, 2768 Duportail St., $500,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Vandervert Construction. MWSH Richland, 1800 Bellerive Drive, $46,700 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Mountain West. Charles Frenzel, 99 Lee Blvd., $18,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Rick’s Custom Fencing.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 68

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

PUBLIC RECORD, From page 67 Gary Christensen, 1060 Jadwin Ave., $125,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: MH Construction. Port of Benton, 2200 Airport Way, $331,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: owner. Port of Benton, 2240 Airport Way, $305,600 for new commercial construction. Contractor: owner. CKM Enterprises, 1731 George Washington Way, $61,500 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Linn-Douglas Construction. Richland School District, 1600 Gala Way, $6,500 for commercial addition. Contractor: Dream Builders. Browman Development Company, 2941 Queensgate Drive, $6,000 for plumbing. Contractor: Riggle Plumbing. Kadlec Regional Medical Center, 888 Swift Blvd., $395,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Anderson Roofing Company. Washington Square Apartments, 2455 George Washington Way, $40,000 for siding/

windows. Contractor: Roberts Construction. Port of Benton, 2221 Airport Way, $305,600 for new commercial construction. Contractor: owner. Port of Benton, 2345 Stevens Drive, $219,900 for commercial reroof. Contractor: JR Swigart Co. West Side United Protestant Church, 615 Wright Ave., $28,700 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Royal Roofing & Siding. WEST RICHLAND William Wiley Elementary, 2820 South Highlands Blvd., $63,000 for a commercial remodel. Contractor: owner. City of West Richland, 3801 W. Van Giesen St., $8,600 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Chinook Heating & Air. Mountain States Construction, 8060 Keene Road, $50,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Mountain Heights Construction.

uBUSINESS LICENSES At press time, business licenses for the city of Kennewick and Pasco were not available.

RICHLAND Anderson Roofing Co., 5885 NW Saint Helens Road, Portland, Oregon. Avent, 2211 S. 47th St., Phoenix, Arizona. Sound Solutions Northwest, 450 N. Quay St., Suite A., Kennewick. Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, 713 Jadwin Ave. Northwest Engineering Service, 7000 SW Redwood Lane, Tigard, Oregon. Sears Home Improvement Products, 3425 S. 116th St., Suite 109, Tukwila. Lifetouch Church Directories, 11000 Viking Drive #460, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. C&M Knives & Swords, 4908 Hilltop Drive, Pasco. Layfield Environmental Systems Corporation, 2500 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Suite 110, Spring Valley, California. Quality Structures One, 6908 W. Argent

Road, Pasco. Bales Custom Homes, 8007 Hudson Drive, Pasco. Terra Vinum, 56204 NE Roza Road, Benton City. Spunky Monkey Childcare, 1923 Pike Ave. Amanda Neyens, 480 Keene Road. Bird Capital Management, 1005 Allenwhite Drive. Universal Childcare and Preschool, 1542 Larkspur Drive. The Lodge at Columbia Point, 530 Columbia Point Drive. Envision Construction, 1609 Jadwin Ave. A+ Masonry, 11606 Pheasant Court, Pasco. Blankenship Commercial Builders, 8905 W. Gage Blvd., Suite 209, Kennewick. Columbia Basin Construction & Painting, 3523 W. Hood Ave., Kennewick. Growth Leasing, 3019 Duportail St. Iron Mountain Enterprises, 1846 Terminal Drive. Kevins Handyman, 1220 W. First Ave., Kennewick. Ricky’s Construction, 701 S. Volland St., Kennewick. Gunpowder Creek, 894 Tulip Lane. BNB Mechanical, 2001 W. 29th Ave., Kennewick. Reclaimed Construction, 4728 Daisy St., West Richland. Open Door Travelers, 272 Meadow Ridge Loop. MG Fencing, 415 S. G St., Toppenish. Wrinkle in Time Photography, 218 Barth Ave. Amongst Greats Athletic Skill Development, 2100 Bellerive Dr. Dugzz Automotive Specialties, 8801 Saint Thomas Drive, Pasco. EAFES, 350 Hills St., Suite 112. Apline Landscaping, 6405 Glacier Peak Drive, Pasco. T-Mobile, 1731 George Washington Way. Berkey Engineering, 2600 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 208. K-Wat Services, 144 Sherman St. Kona Ice of Pasco, 4003 Monterey Drive, Pasco. American Carpentry and Woodworks, 9215 Oliver Drive, Pasco. Columbia Basin Drywall, 111 N. Lincoln St., Kennewick. Diamond N’ Shine Cleaning Services, 518 S. Anderson St., Kennewick. Sanchez Construction, 1211 S. Second Ave., Yakima. New World Order Linguistics NWOL, 1950 Bellerive Drive. Gourmet Soul, 1775 Columbia Park Trail. Virtel Flooring Services, 1114 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. Art & Music Ad Lib, 514 Franklin St. Kimberly Glass Photography, 1810 Talon Court. Paradise Installed, 3110 N. 543 OR. NE, Benton City. Handyman Services, 3538 Waterford St. F&J Drywall, 3404 Canter St., West Richland. Mind Over Muscle, 710 George Washington Way, Suite A. Pure Green Consulting, 451 Westcliffe Blvd. Quality Flooring & Carpeting, 227 E. Fourth Ave., Kennewick. Better Windows with Ben, 652 N. 59th Ave., West Richland. J.V.E. Construction, 2021 Mahan Ave. Lanzatech, 8045 Lamon Ave., Suite 400, Skokie, Illinois. AV Interpreting, 3310 W. Hood Ave., Kennewick. 7-Eleven #14428G, 415 Wright Ave. Inspection Connection, 1339 S. Country Line Road, Grandview. Lighthouse Lawn Care, 4011 Meadow View Drive, Pasco. Almond Asphalt, 98403 E. Sidibe PR SE, Kennewick. Fair Cape Consulting, 2146 Hudson Ave. Mohammed Y Aljabouri, 425 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Studio E Interior Design and Restyle, 308 Bernard Ave. CT Hewitt Consulting, 5714 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. Supplies United, 2157 Hoxie Ave. Astute Auto Brokers, 718 Jadwin Ave. Karin Rasmussen, 5000 S. Desert Dove Loop, West Richland.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 69

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017 PUBLIC RECORD, From page 68 Madison Maners, 1309 W. 21st Ave., Kennewick. Lifestyle Homes, 8220 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick. Tri-Cities Cosmetic Laser and Skin, 1950 Keene Road, Building J. Leaders and Learning, 8180 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick. Innovative Solutions Construction, 48312 N. River Road, Benton City. Double Diamond Masonry, 305 Fortaleza Lane, Pasco. Make It So Assistance Network, 2103 Symons St. Altered Image Films, 1220 Fontana Court. Quality Landscape Maintenance, 28503 E. Valley Drive, Benton City. Communication Hackers, 214 Orchard Way. Jerry Johnson Photography, 4009 S. Olson Place, Kennewick. KJA Vertical Consultants, 85 Richmond St. W., Toronto, Ontario. Michael Howard, 12843 Castle Bend St., San Antonio, Texas. T20 Nails & Spa, 57 Columbia Point Drive. M. Niebuhr Estate Services, 1601 Davison Ave. WEST RICHLAND Iron Mountain Enterprises, 1846 Terminal Drive, Richland. Tangles, 4601 Norma St. Better Windows with Ben, 652 N. 59th Ave. VM General Construction, 1743 S. Cascade St., Kennewick. Admas Data, 5705 Aloha Court. Washington Self Storage Company, 4334 Fallon Drive. F&J Drywall, 4504 Canter St. Kaya Consulting, 4460 Rosencrans Drive. Dynamic Sports Construction, 301 Sonny Drive, Leander, Texas. Sears Home Improvement Products, 3425 S. 116th St., Suite 109, Tukwila. Adaptive Technology Providers, 2011 SE Portola Drive, Grants Pass, Oregon. Susan Mae Dahl Agency, 4034 W. Van Giesen St., Suite D. Kristie L. Boyd, 5913 Kona Drive. Quality Flooring & Carpeting, 227 E. Fourth Ave., Kennewick. Almond Asphalt, 98403 E. Sidibe PR SE, Kennewick. Double T Construction, 1243 Reser Road, Walla Walla. Alden Plumbing, 105 Newtown Road, Walla Walla. Applus RTD USA, 2011 Robertson Drive, Richland. Quality Landscaping Maintenance, 28503 E. Valley Drive, Benton City. Smitty’s Paradise #6229, 1400 Bombing Range Road. Columbia Basin Construction & Painting, 3523 W. Hood Ave., Kennewick. Diamond N’ Shine Cleaning Service, 518 S. Anderson St., Kennewick. Double Diamond Masonry, 305 Fortaleza Lane, Pasco. Deacy Mechanical, 45605 E. Ruppert Road, Benton City. Aspen Landscape Construction, 2865 Jacob Court, Kennewick.

Inspection Connection, 1339 S. Country Line Road, Grandview. T20 Design, 3003 Hermandt Court. Cedar Ridge Development, 2204 Enterprise Drive. Rapid Power, 15 Beale St., Quincy, Massachusetts. Daisha-Vu Nail Salon, 3106 S. Highlands Blvd. R&T Project Services, 5500 Glenbrook Loop. Better Built Structures, 58602 N. Demoss Road, Benton City. Yakima Interiors, 230 S. Mitchell Drive, Yakima. The Southwestern Company, 2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, Tennessee. Koncrete Industries, 502 N. 13th Ave., Walla Walla. Served Kitchen, 395 Wright Ave., Richland. Dartlet, 3801 E. Lattin Road.

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.

Dominick S. Furino, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Cheyanne I. Meredith, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Arturo G. Perez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Michael C. Wetherell, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Juan C. Contreras, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Saul Martinez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Jeff Bultena, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Anthony B. Montano, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Adrian Lemus, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Courtney L. McCrea, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Spencer Murray, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3.

Fernando Sierra, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Jose M. Dubon, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Francisco Rivera, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Jose M. Dubon, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Eric R. Perez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Raymond Robles, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Renae J. Ehrhardt, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Maricela Ruiz, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Jose M. Herrera, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Jason C. Huels, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Juan M. Contreras, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Eric Knight, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Estanislao Becerra, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Lori K. Winston, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Juan de La Torre, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 3. Clemente Morfindeniz, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 3. Dvorak Funeral Home, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 3. Darla M. Maling, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 10. Michael Clopton et al, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 10. Northwest Grinding Co, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 10. Carlos Gonzalez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Lael D. Morgan et al, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. 3 Cities Landscaping, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 10. Armando D. Villa, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Jose O. Gomez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Ruperto Magallon et al, unpaid Department of

Labor and Industries taxes filed July 10. McCary Meats et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 10. Maria Montes, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Jennifer Garcia, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Gerardo V. Balderrama, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Saul Sandoval Romero, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Crystal C. Chavez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Chris A. Borunda, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 10. Ryan D. Homer et al, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 13. Abraham Balderas et al, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 14. 3 Cities Landscaping, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 14. Quality Restoration Solutions, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 14. Merielem Bueno, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Sue Wilcox, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Gerardo M. Rodriguez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Lyubov P. Ponomareva, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Ruben H. Avita, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Shawn T. Driscoll, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Crystal L. Sapp, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Merary Dalderon, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Melissa A. Martinez, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Amado R. Pacheco, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Jorge L. Lemus, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Celina Ramirez Martine, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 14. Rojas Builders, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 17.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 70

Residential • Commercial • International Moving Kits & Boxes • Packing Services Short or Long-Term Storage

509-547-9788 BekinsMovingAndStorage.com 1100 Columbia Park Trail • Richland, WA

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

PUBLIC RECORD, From page 69 Alex B. Najera, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 17. Willys Mexican Restaurant, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 17. Agri Power Transport, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 17. Precision Restoration & Co, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 17. Rodrigo A. Avellanoza et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 24. Speedy Angeles Concrete, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 24. Javier Garcia et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 24. Brookside, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 24. Social Webnet, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 24. Jose A. Contreras, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 26. Sylvia A. Hinojosa, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 26. Alex Mata, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 26. Kevin J. Rankenfield, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 26. Felix R. Larios, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 26. Justin L. Valentine, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 26. Kevin L. Shearer, unpaid Employment Security taxes filed July 26. Social Webnet, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 28. Isidoro G. Martinez et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 28. 3 Cities Landscaping, unpaid Employment

Security taxes filed July 28. MM Stucco et al, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes filed July 31. Columbia Memorial Park, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 31. Maria del R Morales et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes filed July 31.

uLIQUOR LICENSES BENTON COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS Double Canyon Vineyards, 8060 Keene Road, West Richland. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters. Application type: change of location. Smitty’s Paradise 6229, 1400 Bombing Range Road, West Richland. License type: grocery stores beer/wine. Application type: assumption. Lieb Foods, 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters. Application type: new. Long Rifle Winery, 840 Alderdale Road, Prosser. License type: domestic winery >249,999 liters. Application type: new. Sun River Vintners, 9312 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters, direct shipment in Washington only, farmers market wine sales and beer/wine restaurant. Application type: change in class. Castaway Cellars, 500 Merlot Drive, Prosser. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters. Application type: new. Ginkgo Forest Winery, 357 Port Ave., Suite D, Prosser. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters. Application type: new. McCorkle’s Market, 14601 N. Rothrock Road, Prosser. License type: grocery store beer/ wine. Application type: assumption.

Focus

APPROVED Eastside Market, 335 Wine Country Road, Prosser. License type: direct shipment receiver in Washington only. Application type: new. Airfield Estates Winery, 560 Merlot Drive, Prosser. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters. Application type: added/ change of class. DISCONTINUED Rumor Lounge, 6515 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite 400, Kennewick. License type: spirits/ beer/wine restaurant lounge. FRANKLIN COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS Taqueria el Pajaro Loco, 720 W. Lewis St., Pasco. License type: spirits/beer/wine restaurant lounge. Application type: new. Swaddee Thai, 5109 N. Road 68, Suite B, Pasco. License type: beer/wine restaurant. Application type: new. El Dorado Night Club, 218 S. Fourth Ave., Pasco. License type: direct shipment receiver in Washington only and night club. Application type: new. APPROVED Grand Central Coffee Station, 2205 W. Court St., Pasco. License type: grocery store beer/wine. Application type: change of corporate officer. Billares Plaza, 528B W. Clark St., Pasco. License type: beer/wine restaurant. Application type: new.

uMARIJUANA LICENSES BENTON COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS

Construction + Real Estate in the Tri-Cities

Glossy magazine coming in October

Archangel Botanicals, 236006 E. Legacy Drive SE., Kennewick. License type: marijuana producer tier 3 and marijuana processor. Application type: change of location. Green2Go, 214307 E. SR 397, Kennewick. License type: marijuana retailer and medical marijuana endorsement. Application type: change of location. GRN, 15505 N. Webber Canyon Road, Suite G, Benton City. License type: marijuana producer tier 2. Application type: change of location. RMNP, 57406 N. Thomas Road, Suite B, Benton City. License type: marijuana producer tier 2 and marijuana processor. Application type: assumption. American Cannabis Company, 15505 Webber Canyon Road, Suite C, Benton City. License type: marijuana producer tier 3. Application type: assumption. APPROVED Inland Desert Concentrates, 65710 N. Hysler Road, Suite A, Benton City. License type: marijuana processor. Application type: new.

For advertising information call 509-737-8778

Randolph and Mortimer, 15505 Webber Canyon Road, Benton City. License type: marijuana producer tier 3. Application type: change of corporate officer. Sapphire Meadows, 15505 Webber Canyon Road, Suite F, Benton City. License type: marijuana producer tier 2. Application type: change of location. FRANKLIN COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS Emerald City Cronics, 20 Radar Hill Road, Othello. License type: marijuana retailer and medical marijuana endorsement. Application type: new.

uBUSINESS UPDATES NEW BUSINESSES Float Euphoria has opened at 3221 W. Kennewick Ave. in Kennewick. The business offers floatation therapy, professional massages and sensory REST (restricted environmental simulation therapy). Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Contact: 509-9401888, floateuphoria.com, Facebook. Water from Wine Winery and Tasting Room has opened at 220407 Sandpiper Drive in Paterson. The nonprofit winery produces and sells wine, with the proceeds going to other nonprofits addressing the global water crisis. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Contact: 509-875-2211, waterforwine.org., Facebook. ADDITIONAL LOCATION Fade2Perfection has opened a second location at 1212 N. 20th Ave. in Pasco. Contact: 509-947-4341, fade2perfection.com, Facebook. Ginkgo Forest Winery and Tasting Room has opened a new tasting room at 357 Port Ave. in Prosser. Contact: 509-786-1509, ginkgowinery.com, Facebook. MOVED The Glass Punty has moved to 6818 W. Kennewick Ave., Suite D in Kennewick. Contact: 509-942-9569, theglasspunty.com, Facebook. Home Instead Senior Care has moved to 8113 W. Quinault Ave., Suite 100 in Kennewick. Contact: 509-591-0019, homeinstead.com/787, Facebook. Sage Design Group has moved to 8524 Grandridge Blvd., Suite 200 in Kennewick. Contact: 509-980-1313, sagedesigngrouppllc. com, Facebook. CLOSED Gordon Estate Wine Bar at 5236 Outlet Drive in Pasco has closed. The Wooden Spoon at 5215 W. Clearwater Ave. in Kennewick has closed. Quail Crossing, 515 Ninth St. in Benton City has closed.

89.7fm NPR NEWS & 89.1fm CLASSICAL

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • August 2017

AROUND TOWN

Gesa Credit Union recently presented $46,087 to representatives from the Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and College Place school districts and Delta High School. The money donated is a result of a partnership between Gesa and the school districts, which allows community members to raise money for students while also showing pride for their favorite area high school on their Gesa Visa debit card. Pictured, from left, are: Angie Brotherton, Gesa community relations manager; Delta High principal Jenny Rodriguez; Glenda Cloud, deputy superintendent, Pasco School District; Dave Bond, superintendent, Kennewick School District; Claudia Cooley, director of career and technical education, Richland School District; Heidi Wells, director of public relations and marketing, College Place School District; and Brian Griffith, Gesa’s assistant vice president of marketing. (Courtesy Gesa Credit Union)

This year’s Leadership Tri-Cities class has kicked off its year of community service and leadership development. Class 23 is made up of Mark Harper, Jesus Melendez, Bob Anderson, Ben Arrigoni, Jill Adcock, John Suing, Jason Altman, Misty Ovens, Mike Streeter, Jacob Skeels, Janice McIntyre, Lupe Mares, Brandon Cortes, Mark Haag, Salem Snowdy, Jordan Vannoy, Angela Pashon, Maren Ohaks Katzaroff, Buck Taft, Kody Flannery, Claudia Jimenez, Iris Anderson, Tara Jaraysi Kenning, Kristina Lord and Robyn Burt. Class director is Danette Layne.

Andy Slipper, vice president/affinity relationship manager for HomeStreet Bank, and Janet Rodgers, senior mortgage consultant for HomeStreet, present a $3,000 check to Martín Valadez, vice president of business development and external affairs for Tri-Cities Community Health, as part of its Vote Your Heart campaign, in which the public voted for competing local organizations to decide where HomeStreet would allocate charitable sponsorships. My Friends Place received $10,000 and Martha’s Cupboard won $5,000.

Columbia Basin College, the Port of Kennewick, city of Kennewick and Benton County received the 2017 Governor’s Smart Communities Smart Partnerships award for their work implementing a comprehensive plan for the Columbia Drive Urban Revitalization project. From left are: Kedrich Jackson, chairman, Columbia Basin College Board of Trustees; Skip Novakovich, president of Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners; William Simpson, senior planner, state Department of Commerce; Kennewick Mayor Steve Young; and Benton County Commissioner James R. Beaver. (Courtesy Port of Kennewick)

Tri-Cities Cancer Center’s Dr. Guy Jones presented a $2,500 scholarship in memory of his father to Sanjay Philips, a recent Delta High School graduate. Jones’ father, R. Guy Jones was a criminal defense attorney who saw the best in everyone and believed everyone deserved a second chance, Dr. Jones said. In the spirit of his father, the radiation oncologist offered the scholarship to a local student pursuing higher education who described in a 700-word essay a time when they were given a second chance. Other criteria included academic performance, work experience and extracurricular activities. (Courtesy Tri-Cities Cancer Center)

A ribbon cutting was held Aug. 4. at the Gathering Place, an area designed to share the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s history, culture and tradition of gathering Tule reeds within Anwas, the area in and around what is now known as Clover Island in Kennewick. Pictured are representatives from the Board of Trustees and members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners and staff, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership, Sen. Patty Murray’s Office, Army Corps of Engineers, C2 Resources, JF Engineering, Big D’s Construction and Nixyaawii Dance Troop. (Courtesy Port of Kennewick)

Email Around Town photo submissions with captions to editor@tcjournal.biz

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business â&#x20AC;¢ August 2017