December 2016
Volume 15 • Issue 12
Tri-City housing market boasts double-digit growth BY JESSICA HOEFER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Year in Review
Tri-City economic development experts highlight year’s growth Page 11
Real Estate & Construction
Cost Less Carpet expands with $5.5 million distribution center Page 23
Family Owned
Owners cite advantages of working with family page 39
he Said It “The most gratifying thing is to see fellow business owners succeed.” - Zak O’Brien, vice president and general manager of O’Brien Construction in Kennewick Page 40
The Tri-Cities appears to be beating national and state averages in the residential building market. The region saw growth with new residential building permits up 26 percent over the same time period last year with more than 1,300 new single-family home permits. Pasco recorded the highest number of permits and is experiencing growth similar to 2011, officials say. Pasco issued 360 single-family permits through Nov. 30 with Kennewick following with 307. Richland issued 254 and West Richland 74. This year also proved to be a good year for national growth. The number of building permits for single-family homes was up eight percent from January through September 2016 compared to the same period last year. At the state level, there were 16,801 building permits issued for single-family homes over the same time period, an increase of 16 percent over 2015. The year-to-date total for all building permits in Benton and Franklin counties totals more than $909 million. Altogether, the single-family permits for 2016 through Nov. 30 totals more than $378 million in new growth spending in Benton and Franklin counties. But while the economy is on the mend, Jeff Losey, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, said he doesn’t expect the surge to continue in 2017. “Depending on the interest rate increase that the feds are talking about—although it’s not supposed to be significant—we don’t believe the Tri-Cities will continue with (a similar) increase. Somewhere between 1,100 to 1,300 new residential permits seems to be what a good number is for the Tri-Cities, and we believe it will stay the same — which means growth and opportunity for jobs still,” said Losey, who has been the face of the association for more than a decade. uHOUSING, Page 30
Construction is underway on the Port of Kennewick’s Columbia Gardens Wine Village on Columbia Drive. Palencia Wine Co. of Walla Walla and Bartholomew Winery of Seattle plan to headquarter their wineries there. Port of Kennewick commissioners accepted them as the first tenants.
2 wineries plan to move into new Kennewick wine village BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
The vision for a vibrant riverfront wine village in Kennewick that’s been a decade or so in the making now includes two wineries. It’s closer to reality after Port of Kennewick commissioners gave the goahead Dec. 13 to pursue tenant agreements with an award-winning Walla Walla winemaker who grew up in Prosser and a Seattle winery known for using unique grape varieties. The two wineries—Palencia Wine Co. of Walla Walla and Bartholomew Winery of Seattle — will be the first tenants in the Port
of Kennewick’s 5.4-acre Columbia Gardens Wine Village. They both plan to move their winery headquarters to Kennewick and open tasting rooms facing the river and riverfront walking trail. Port CEO Tim Arntzen said the wineries will turn the planned wine development into something special. “Take Cedars. It’s just a building but when you have Cedars in it, you have the finest restaurant in our community. When you have superb tenants, it becomes the wine village,” Arntzen said. “Victor Palencia and Bartholomew Winery each in their own right are top-shelf wineries.” uWINE VILLAGE, Page 6
More co-working space to open in Kennewick BY JESSICA HOEFER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
The trend of offering flexible office space for those on a shoestring budget is gaining traction in the Tri-Cities with the opening of Connect Workplace in Kennewick. The co-working movement allows people to rent shared office space in a collaborative environment. “Let’s say you’re an insurance agent, financial planner or attorney,” Scott Gearheart, president of Connect Workplace, said “with us, you come in, have your office, conference room, kitchenette and lounge—and all of that is shared with everyone in the club.” Blue Cougar Properties’new 12,000-squarefoot $2.5 million building opens this January
at 8350 W. Grandridge Blvd. The first floor is home to Advanced Family Chiropractic, with the second and third floors reserved for those who don’t need office space full time. The Connect Workplace office décor is a mixture of glass, metal and wood with lively colors that are not too trendy, said Gearheart, who is also one of Blue Cougar Properties’ four owners. “It’s going to be fun, but not super eclectic,” he said. Club memberships vary from executive office suites to co-working environments and even virtual office packages. uCO-WORKING, Page 20
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
State Legislature may tackle topics affecting Tri-City region
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Retail pot, small modular reactors, funding for college projects among items of local interest BY JOHN STANG
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Local governments in Benton and Franklin counties could find their bans and moratoriums on selling retail marijuana revoked in 2017. There’s also a chance that building small modular reactors in the Tri-Cities could get another chance in the Washington Legislature. Budget watchers could end up looking for money for a new culinary institute in Kennewick and a new academic building at Washington State University’s TriCities campus. These are a few of the items Tri-Citians may want to keep an eye out for when the state Legislature begins its 2017 session Jan. 9 in Olympia.
More retail pot in region?
Benton County has a moratorium on allowing new retail pot dealers beyond the four currently allotted by the state. That includes one in Finley and three in Prosser. Franklin County, Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and West Richland have outright bans on growing, processing and selling marijuana. On Dec. 6, the Benton City City Council voted 3-2 to allow marijuana retailers, growers and processors to operate — under specific zoning requirements — within city limits starting May 1. Legislation to end local government bans on selling retail marijuana likely will show up in the 2017 session, possibly in an omnibus bill containing all the latest tweaks to the state’s fledgling system for controlling legal marijuana, said Rep. Cary Condotta, R-Wenatchee, and one of the House leaders on those adjustments. Such a bill likely would still allow city and county governments to continue to ban marijuana growers and processors, but not retailers. Removing local power to ban retailers is part of the Legislature’s efforts to make the legal marijuana competitive with the black market, Condotta said. Another likely piece of legislation would be reduc-
ing the excise tax on retail marijuana from 37 percent to 25 percent, he said. “We believe more sales will offset (the lower tax rate),” Condotta said. Last June, Steve and Jessica Lee expanded their medical marijuana shop in Finley to include selling recreational pot. Steve Lee supports the state allotting more marijuana licenses in the Tri-City area and removing local governments’ power to ban them. More local marijuana shops cut into black market pot dealers’ business, he said. “The black market is dangerous. That was a primary consideration of Initiative 502 (which legalized recreational marijuana in 2012),” Steve Lee said. Lee said while any business does not like paying taxes, he supports the state levying some taxes on marijuana operations. Paying taxes makes a marijuana business a legitimate member and financial contributor to a community, he said. More conservative community members understand and accept the idea of a taxpaying business contributing to the good of a town or county, he said. “We love paying taxes. … We pay for being allowed to be in a community,” Lee said. Statewide, the retail price of marijuana has dropped dramatically. In 2014, the average retail price was $21.23 per gram. Today, it averages $8.61 per gram, according to Washington Liquor & Cannabis Board figures. The current figure appears close to the black market’s prices, which is roughly $6 per gram, said Rep. Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, who has been Condotta’s counterpart on the House marijuana regulation. Hurst retires from the Legislature at the end of this year. Lee’s company, Green2Go, sells some marijuana for $120 an ounce. With 28 grams in an ounce, that translates to about $4.25 a gram. A 30-second survey of customers at Green2Go showed black market prices from $120 to $240 per ounce, or $4.25 to $8.50 per gram. Liquor and cannabis board figures also show that the state’s legal retail sales have grown from $260 million in fiscal 2015
Tri-City Regional and West Richland chamber officials celebrate the opening of Green2Go in Finley with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Legislation to end local government bans on selling retail marijuana likely will show up in the 2017 legislative session, possibly in an omnibus bill containing all the latest tweaks to the state’s fledgling system for controlling legal marijuana. (Courtesy TriCity Regional Chamber of Commerce)
(which runs from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015) to $972 million in fiscal 2016, to being on track to reach about $1.2 billion in fiscal 2017. That has translated to $65 million in tax revenues in fiscal 2015, $164 million in fiscal 2016, and an estimated $330 million in fiscal 2017. For the past couple years, legislators have grumbled about whether local governments banning the sale of pot should be allowed to receive income from marijuana taxes collected in other areas. So far, those rumblings have not resulted in actual bills. Last session Hurst and Condotta floated the idea of forbidding local bans on retail marijuana, arguing such bans don’t stop the sales of black market pot. They pointed to two teen boys allegedly killing a third teen boy over pot this year in Federal Way, which bans retail marijuana. Since about 65 percent of Washington’s marijuana is sold illegally, adding stores will help cut down on illegal traffic, they said.
Will push for modular reactors be revived?
Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, has been the leader on pushing for the development of small modular reactors. Brown could not be reached for comment to see if she plans to revive the legislation as she was traveling in Asia. Carl Adrian, president of the Tri-City Development Council, hopes she will. Small modular reactors are prefab reactors whose parts are manufactured in one location, and then transported to the reactor site for final assembly. A modular segment would be a mini-reactor of 50 to 300 megawatts. Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station in Richland produces more than 1,190 megawatts of electricity, equal to about a tenth of the state’s energy needs. Small modular reactors are supposed to be designed so extra modules can be added as needed — with 12 modules being the theoretical maximum. uLEGISLATURE, Page 34
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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Upcoming January Focuses: • Legal & Taxes • Health Care
February Focuses: • Banking & Finance • Viticulture The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business accepts original columns from local professionals, educators and business leaders. The goal of these pieces is to share useful business tips and knowledge with other area professionals. It is best to contact the TCAJoB office for a copy of contributor guidelines before submitting anything. Although we cannot publish every submission we receive, we will keep columns that best fit the mission and focus of the TCAJoB for possible future use. All submissions to the TCAJoB will be edited for spelling, grammar, punctuation and questions of good taste or libel. If there is news you’d like the TCAJoB staff to report on, or if there are any topics you’d like to read about, please contact the TCAJoB at editor@tcjournal.biz. 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, 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.
BY KRISTINA LORD
editor@tcjournal.biz
Can’t get in to your primary care doctor but don’t have symptoms that warrant a trip to the emergency room? Then make an appointment at Express Care. Kadlec has plans to open two Express Care clinics to treat common illnesses and injuries in Kennewick and Richland this month. Kadlec Express Care Queensgate was scheduled to open Dec. 12 at 2564 Queensgate Drive in the strip mall near Fujiyama restaurant. Kadlec Express Care Canyon Lakes is set to open Dec. 19 at 4008 W. 27th Ave., Suite 103, near Home Depot. The cost to get the program up and running, including staffing, is about $850,000. These strip mall clinics near retail stores are convenient for patients, said Randy Hartman, administrative director for Kadlec’s primary and urgent care clinics. “As we have grown and expanded and had so much demand, it’s hard to keep up with all that with respect to primary care growing exponentially,” Hartman said. “Sometimes patients can’t get in for a same-day appointment.” Kadlec’s primary care providers offer same-day availability but “there are some times that all same-day appointments are taken during flu season and they don’t have enough availability,” he said. The Express Care clinics won’t have X-rays or laboratories and instead will offer treatment for minor cuts and bruises,
Signs are being installed at the Kadlec Express Care Queensgate clinic at 2564 Queensgate Drive in the strip mall near Fujiyama restaurant. Care providers at Kadlec’s new clinics will be able to treat common illnesses and injuries. A second location is to open this month in Kennewick.
ear/nose/eye infections, headaches or dizziness, urinary tract infections and sports physicals, Hartman said. They’ll be staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants along with medical assistants and will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week with same-day and walk-in scheduling. Patients can book appointments via a smartphone app, website or phone call that same day. Those who walk in without first scheduling an online appointment will be directed to use a clinic kiosk to schedule a
time. If it’s an hour wait, they can head over to the nearby retail center to “take a little breather in between,” Hartman said. A menu on the wall highlights flat fee pricing so “they know exactly what they’ll have to pay” when they arrive, Hartman said. An office visit costs $139 with additional testing and screenings ranging from $9 to $40. Procedures such as ear wax or skin tag removal cost $40. Vaccines and immunizations are $30. Sports physicals are $50. All locations accept insurance as well. Those who suspect they have strep throat can get a rapid strep test, thanks to “state-of-art tech equipment that will provide results right there,” Hartman said. The clinics also will have a device to check cholesterol levels, for $40. Other available tests include mono tests, urinalysis, pregnancy tests and STD screenings. Another benefit for Kadlec patients is that their electronic medical records will be available to Express Care staff and their primary provider also can see what treatment they received there for “wrap-around care coordination,” Hartman said. The Express Care clinics have been in development for about eight months, Hartman said. Providence Health Services has 33 of them on the west side of the state as it has a lot more competition in that area. Kadlec affiliated in 2014 with Providence, a not-for-profit health system comprised of 34 hospitals in five western states. Hartman said too many people who don’t need emergency care go to the ER when they need help. Kadlec’s Urgent Care clinics — it has three of them — are for walk-in appointments to take care of more advanced issues, Hartman said. They have full X-ray machines and laboratories for tests. “If it’s more urgent and they need sutures or fracture care, they’d want to go to urgent care,” he said. Find more information, including pricing, visit www.expresscare.kadlec.org.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 uBUSINESS BRIEFS Pasco School Board holding roundtable forum
The Pasco School District’s Board of Directors will hold its second board forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at Ochoa Middle School, 1801 E. Sheppard St. in Pasco. The forum on increased parental and family involvement will be presented in a roundtable format. Board members will sit at different tables and participants will be able to rotate through and talk with individual board members.
Donation provides equipment for CBC’s Planetarium
A recent $20,000 donation made by an anonymous donor to the Columbia Basin College Foundation has provided a new technology called SciTouch for the Bechtel National Planetarium at the Pasco college. The new equipment allows control of planetarium shows from anywhere in the theater and for students to be involved in interactive lessons. Learn more at columbiabasin.edu/planet.
MSA completes 30 Days of Caring, donates to charities
Mission Support Alliance held its 30 Days of Caring program Nov. 1-30. All MSA and subcontractor employees were eligible to participate and nominate a nonprofit. Every day during November one employee was randomly chosen and MSA made a donation in their name to the nonprofit of their choice. Donations were made to more than 20 organizations, including Meals on Wheels, Chaplaincy Health Care, Benton Franklin
Humane Society, Union Gospel Mission, Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition, Second Harvest, Wounded Warrior and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Nominations sought for Man, Woman of Year
Nominations are being sought for Kennewick Man or Woman of the Year. Nominees must live or work in the city of Kennewick and prioritize public service for which no compensation is given. Consideration also will be made for professional merit and activities. Honorees rarely know of their nomination, so discretion when gathering background information about nominees is advised. The winners will be announced at the annual Kennewick Man and Woman of the Year banquet Feb. 28 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Nominations are limited to 1,000 words. No letters of support or other materials are necessary. The event is presented by Soroptimist International of Pasco-Kennewick and the Kennewick Past Men of the Year Club, and Sun Pacific Energy is the title sponsor. Visit kmwoy.com for more information. Submit nominees by Dec. 30 to P.O. Box 3905, Pasco, WA 99302 or kennewickmen_ women@charter.net.
Federal court temporarily blocks overtime rule
U.S. District Court Judge Amoz Mazzant put on hold the U.S. Department of Labor’s new rule that doubles the minimum salary of employees who are eligible for overtime pay on Nov. 22. The rule was set to take effect Dec. 1, and according to the Department of Labor, it “updated the standard salary level and pro-
vided a method to keep the salary level current to better effectuate Congress’ intent to exempt bona fide white collar workers from overtime protections.” The court’s order was based on its determination that the labor department had exceeded its delegated authority by increasing the minimum salary level without congressional approval. The agency disagreed with the court’s decision, stating its new rule is the “result of a comprehensive, inclusive rule-making process.” The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of Labor, filed a notice Dec. 1 to appeal Mazzant’s preliminary injunction to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
L&I to increase workers’ compensation rates in 2017
The average premium for workers’ compensation rates in Washington will go up an average of 0.7 percent in 2017. The state Department of Labor and Industries noted the increase will cost employers about $10 more a year per employee, and most workers will not see an increase in what they pay. L&I sets workers’ compensation rates every fall for the following year. The premiums help pay for wage and disability benefits, as well as medical treatment of injuries and illnesses. The new rates take effect Jan. 1. Visit lni.wa.gov/rates for more information.
State apple harvest forecast increases by 3.4 percent
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association has revised its forecast for the 2016 Washington state fresh apple crop from 132.9 million standard 40-pound boxes to 137.4
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million boxes. The increased forecast is based on updated data received from association members through Oct. 31. The total represents harvested total volume of apples that will eventually be packed and sold on the fresh market, excluding product sent to processors. The estimated total may be revised during December.
$50,000 grant to help WSU Tri-Cities with jet fuel research
Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities received a $50,000 National Science Foundation I-Corps grant to explore the market potential of their biojet fuel research. The team has successfully demonstrated a new, water-based process for deconstructing and recovering lignin from biomass and converting it into jet fuel-range hydrocarbons. These could be certified as jet fuel in the future. Lignin, a polymer that makes plants woody and rigid, is a waste product in the biofuels production process. Bin Yang, WSU Tri-Cities associate professor of biological systems engineering and principal investigator for the grant, holds a patent on the process. Commercial airlines are facing pressure to reduce emissions, which is why they may have an interest in seeing a lignin-derived alternative fuel brought to market, said Libing Zhang, WSU Tri-Cities postdoctoral research associate and entrepreneurial lead on the project. Zhang said the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program helps leading researchers develop a business platform for their research and technology by recreating processes and strategies already working well in the industry.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
WINE VILLAGE, From page 1 Port commissioners authorized staff to draft a non-binding letter of intent to the winery owners so they can move forward with their plans to open in 2017. The port will charge the wineries 65 cents per square foot to lease the space. Palencia Wine Co. will be in 3,888 square feet with a 600-foot loft and Bartholomew Winery will be in 4,525 square feet with a similarly sized loft. Both will share a 3,888-square-foot barrel storage and case goods building. “The wineries … are going to be a real asset to our whole project at Columbia Drive,” said Skip Novakovich, president of the Port of Kennewick commissioners. Palencia — recognized as a top winemaker in the state — produces more than 1 million cases of wine per year at his day job overseeing J&S Crushing’s high-volume, custom-crush operation in Mattawa, according to Great Northwest Wine. The company also owns Jones of Washington
uBUSINESS BRIEFS Benton Fire District 4 passes 2017 budget
Benton Fire District 4’s Board of Fire Commissioners recently passed its 2017 budget with the district’s increasing demand for service in mind. About 50 volunteer and career firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics respond to an average of 1,400 calls per year and call volumes have increased more than 46 percent from 2010-15. Spending priorities for the new year include an emphasis on fire prevention edu-
where Palencia is head winemaker. Palencia’s weekends are dedicated to his own small winery in an incubator building at the Walla Walla Regional Airport. Port commissioners asked a lot of questions about Bartholomew Winery since they weren’t familiar with the Seattle operation. Port Commissioner Tom Moak wanted to know why the winery wanted to move to the Tri-Cities. Winemaker Bart Fawbush, 43, of West Seattle, told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business he looks forward to moving his family and winery to Kennewick. He said he’s excited to come to a place “with open spaces, less traffic, more sunshine days.” Fawbush plans to move to the Tri-Cities with his wife Chona and their eighth-grader this summer. He and his wife sat down for their annual goal-setting in 2015 and decided it was time to take their business to the next level: Find a winery first, buy a cation, funding emergency personnel, apparatus and facilities maintenance. Benton Fire District 4 provides fire and emergency medical service to 17,000 people over 52 square miles, including West Richland.
March of Dimes Tri-Cities auction raises $62,000
The March of Dimes Tri-Cities raised $62,000 at its Signature Chefs Auction on Nov. 4 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. The money raised will be used to support the mission of improving the health of babies in the Tri-Cities.
vineyard and live near the grapes. The timing is perfect, he said, so their son can start high school in a new place as a freshman. “We’re moving the winery and household and the only thing we’re leaving behind is the tasting room,” he said. The winemaker makes his wines in a West Seattle warehouse and pours them in the former Rainier Brewery facility along Interstate 5 in Seattle. The nine-year-old winery sources its grapes from the Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, Snipes Mountain and Rattlesnake Hills. It annually produces 2,000 to 2,500 cases. Fawbush plans to keep the tasting room in Seattle as he launches production in Kennewick. His goal is to continue to make “really good wine for a really good price, focusing on varieties people haven’t thought of or aren’t familiar with,” he said, citing such wine grapes as Carmenere, Aligote, Verdot and Souzao. The Kennewick winery will have a fulltime employee as well as part-time staff to help with all the Eastern Washington operations, Fawbush said. He expects to create three to four new jobs in the first 24 months. Fawbush doesn’t consider his company a boutique winery but a microwinery working with limited quantities. He’s the sole winemaker doing everything from picking up grapes, transporting them to West Seattle, making the wine, barrel aging it, topping, blending, filtering and bottling — with the help of a cadre of volunteers. “We’re just really excited about this opportunity … and to come over there and
be a rich success,” he said. The port began buying property along Columbia Drive in 2007 and demolished seven structures in 2015 to clear the way for the village. One of the structures was in the old Cable Greens property next the cable bridge and six were in the Columbia Gardens redevelopment property. The port launched an “aggressive marketing effort” to attract boutique wine production operators to the wine village and received three applications. The third applicant, who has not been named and who has its production site elsewhere, is interested in placement opportunities for the second phase of the project. The commissioners agreed to allow staff to continue negotiating with this potential tenant. The second phase of the project hasn’t been approved by the port or Kennewick City Council, Arntzen said, but it’s expected to move forward in 2017. The idea is to build a small loop road near the wineries that will connect three or four parcels of land that could someday be home to other complementary businesses or more wineries. Also planned is a picnic area with space for four food trucks. The intention for one of the larger parcels is for a custom 16,000-square-foot grape-crushing facility that could accommodate five to six wineries. The city of Kennewick is committed to the installation of a wine-effluent pretreatment system as well as streetscaping, sidewalks, street lighting and additional work on the scenic nature trail by Duffy’s Pond near the wine village.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
CLASSES • SEMINARS • WORKSHOPS Dec. 15 1 – 3 p.m. Business Development University Tri-City Regional Chamber 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick RSVP 509-736-0510
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS BY ATTENDING
Suite E, Pasco RSVP 509-546-0462 Jan. 3 Noon Chamber Luncheon Prosser Chamber of Commerce Brewminatti 713 Sixth St., Prosser RSVP 509-786-2269
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Building Bridges Sandberg Event Center 331 S. 41st, West Richland 509-967-0521 7 – 8 p.m. Tri-Cities Community Lecture Series “WSU Wine Science and the Washington Wine Industry” Richland Public Library 955 Northgate Drive, Richland 509-942-7454 Dec. 27 9 a.m. – noon De-escalation Skills for Managers BBSI 9825 Sandifur Parkway,
DATEBOOK
Jan. 3 – 4 Eastern Washington Ag Expo TRAC 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco easternwaagexpo.com Jan. 4 11:30 a.m. Monthly lunch meeting National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Red Lion Hotel 1101 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick narfe1192.org
Noon – 1 p.m. Membership Luncheon West Richland Chamber of Commerce Sandberg Event Center 331 S. 41st Ave., West Richland RSVP 509-967-0521 January 9 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Membership Luncheon Pasco Chamber of Commerce Red Lion Hotel 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco RSVP 509-547-9755 Jan. 10 – 11 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cropping Systems Conference Three Rivers Convention Center 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick directseed.org Jan. 17 7 p.m. Tri-Cities Community Lecture Series
Thank you for your continued dedication to helping Veterans! Thank you to our community partners who honor and support our veterans. Your sponsorship and donated items, as well as the many volunteers who gave their time, made the 2016 Veterans Fair & Stand Down a tremendous success.
We appreciate for our Community Partners:
VIERA’S BAKERY
Veterans Opportunity Center Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition 509-545-6558 • veteransopportunitycenter.org 1600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, WA 99301
COMMUNITY EVENTS • CHAMBER MEETINGS
“Visual Analytics: Storytelling through Human-Centered Design” Richland Public Library 955 Northgate Drive, Richland 509-942-7454 Jan. 18 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Community Organizing: Tiny Victories, Pragmatic Strategies Fuse SPC 710 George Washington Way, Richland 509-572-3820 Jan. 18 – 19 Washington State Hay Growers Association Expo Three Rivers Convention Center 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick wa-hay.org Jan. 19 5:30 p.m. 2017 Ag Hall of Fame Pasco Chamber of Commerce
Pasco Red Lion 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco 509-547-9755 Jan. 20 6 p.m. Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo Auction Gesa Carousel of Dreams 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick 509-222-3749 Jan. 25 8:30 a.m. – 5p.m. Women in Business Conference Tri-City Regional Chamber TRAC 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco RSVP 509-736-0510 Feb. 1 11:30 a.m. Monthly lunch meeting National Active and Retired Federal Employees Red Lion Hotel 1101 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick narfe1192.org
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 uBUSINESS BRIEFS WSU offers dryland farming email service
Washington State University Extension’s small grains team offers updates of research-based information about dryland farming through a free email subscription service. Farmers and crop consultants can sign up at smallgrains.wsu.edu/subscribe to receive emails from researchers about trending agricultural topics and perspectives. Contact Blythe Howell at 509-335-1719 or blythe.howell@wsu.edu for more information.
Meals on Wheels in need of kitchen, driving volunteers
Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers to help at dining site locations in Pasco, Kennewick and Richland. Volunteers, who will be asked to obtain food handlers’ cards, are needed to package, serve, set up and clean up, typically one day per week from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteer drivers also are needed one day a week and on a substitution basis, typically from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., to deliver warm, balanced meals to seniors who are homebound. In 2016, more than 350 volunteers have helped serve and deliver 170,000 meals throughout the community, giving more than 24,000 hours and driving more than 84,000 miles to help more than 1,800 people. Background checks are required for volunteers. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Melanie Blatman at 509-7351911 or mblatman@seniorliferesources. com.
Reach Museum offers winter break ‘Ice Age Days’ event
The Reach Museum is offering an Ice Age Days event from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 27-29. Each day will provide both indoor and outdoor activities for families to learn about life during the Ice Ages. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for military, seniors and students; those age 5 and under, as well as Reach members, are free. Call 509-943-4100 or go to visitthereach. org for more information.
IRS launches online application to help taxpayers
The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new and secure online tool at irs.gov that allows taxpayers to view their IRS account balance. The new feature complements existing online payment options. The IRS plans to continue adding online capabilities to give taxpayers more ways to quickly and conveniently take care of their tax obligations. Before accessing the tool, taxpayers must authenticate their identities through a twostep process. Visit irs.gov for more information.
Habitat for Humanity seeks volunteers, resources
Tri-County Habitat for Humanity is working on its $2 million capital campaign to build 21 more homes in its Whitehouse Addition in Pasco during the next two years. The nonprofit is looking for individuals willing to help find resources—volunteers, financial donors and vendors — to help build homes at discounted prices. Visit habitatbuilds.com or call 509-943-5555 for more information.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
9
Cancer survivor prompts Department of Licensing policy change BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
Every time I looked at the bald-headed woman with no eyelashes or eyebrows on my driver’s license I got mad. And it happened whenever I had to pull out my license — at the bank, airports, stores, picking up my children from an after-school program. I always felt like I needed to explain the photo: “You get to see my chemo photo,” I’d say. The strangers who asked for my ID didn’t know how to respond. It made them uncomfortable. It just made me angry. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. In the wake of the terrifying diagnosis at age 43, I had three surgeries, five months of brutal chemo and 33 zaps of radiation. In the middle of my chemo treatment, my driver’s license needed to be renewed. I called the state Department of Licensing office in Olympia to ask if it was possible to keep my current photo as I didn’t particularly want my bald head featured on my license for the next six years. The unsympathetic soul at the other end of the line said I could have gotten my replacement license a year before it expired, before I lost my hair. He also told me I could do a $10 retake when my hair grew back. When I showed up at the Department of Licensing office in Kennewick, I asked
two people if I could reuse my old photo and was told no. They said I could wear my head scarf in the photo as that’s allowed for religious reasons. I cited medical reasons. They weren’t to be swayed. By then I was so frustrated that I whipped off my head scarf for the photo. And the bald cancer patient photo with the reluctant smile followed me around like a dark shadow for the next 20 months — until the Department of Licensing changed its policy. When I finished my cancer treatment, I circled back with the DOL to see if there was a way to prevent other cancer patients from having a similar experience. When I told my story to Pamela Byrd, DOL’s district manager for a large region in Eastern Washington that includes Kennewick, she was aghast. “I definitely felt you gave a great point and honestly we should not have photographed you bald,” Byrd said. She apologized and then got to work. She submitted a request for a statewide policy change to prevent it from happening again. It reads: “Customers undergoing medical treatment that affects their appearance, such as hair loss, who are at the LSO (Licensing Service Office) to obtain a PLO (Photo License Only), duplicate, or renew their license may request that their previous photo in PV (Photo Verification) be used as long as they are still identifiable.” It took more than six months to get reviewed and approved, but it’s already having an effect, Byrd said.
Kristina Lord shows off her new driver’s license photo and the one she took while doing chemotherapy outside the Department of Licensing office in Kennewick. The state agency adopted a policy that allows customers undergoing medical treatments affecting their appearance, such as hair loss, to use their previous photo. (Courtesy Bob Brawdy/Tri-City Herald)
“We’ve used it in this district twice. It really has proven to be helpful to folks. Both of those cases, similar to yours, are where the customer had lost all their hair and asked for their previous photo to be used,” Byrd said. Those who have faced down cancer know a small thing — like this policy change — has an important ripple effect. “Cancer tries to rob a person of every-
thing, including their dignity. Now our fellow warriors will no longer be forced to relive the physical battle scars every time they pull out their driver’s license,” said Misty Ovens, president of Warrior Sisterhood, a Tri-Cities Cancer Center group that threw its support behind the cause by encouraging me to stand up to the state agency. uDOL, Page 22
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Energy Northwest named Employer of the Year BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF
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Richland’s Energy Northwest was named Employer of the Year for its commitment to serving its 1.5 million customers as well as supporting employees and surrounding communities by the Association of Washington Business. The public power agency operates four electricity generating stations, including the Columbia Generating Station in Richland. AWB noted Energy Northwest adopted an “excellence model” to select and retain the right people, including a focus on military veteran recruitment. The agency in north Richland recently received kudos from the state Employment Security Department for creating job opportunities for veterans. Of its 1,089 employees, 300 are veterans, and 35 percent of the company’s new hires in 2016 are veterans. CEO Mark Reddemann accepted the award in Seattle on behalf of the company. “We have a focus on selecting, developing and retaining the right people, and I believe this award certainly reflects those efforts,” he said. “This award also acknowledges the importance of promoting workforce diversity through hiring programs, such as internships and veteran hiring. “As a 24/7 operation, I especially want to thank the family members of our workforce for their understanding and support.” The Employer of the Year award recognizes an employer that has implemented innovative job retention, creation and compensation plans that foster a thriving work
environment. The AWB also recognized Energy Northwest’s outreach to students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “Many of our team members volunteer in the community,” Reddemann said. “They demonstrate our commitment to inspiring and supporting the next generation of workers who will develop the energy technologies of tomorrow, and who will create the jobs that drive our economy. I’m very proud to be a part of the Energy Northwest team.” Twenty employers from across the state were honored Nov. 30 and six took home top awards in AWB’s first-ever Evening of Excellence awards program. Each employer was recognized for exemplifying the community spirit and stewardship that make Washington a great place to live and work. “We have so many great employers around the state doing great things, building community and being good stewards of our natural resources and work force talent,” said AWB President Kris Johnson in a statement. “We’re honored to recognize six of them, understanding they represent a small fraction of the thousands of Washington businesses that harness innovation, invest in employees and embrace the community spirit that drives our economy and supports our families.” Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland was a finalist for AWB’s Achieve Award, which recognizes an employer that has excelled in creating, implementing or supporting a high-caliber education or work force development system.
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Energy Northwest was named Employer of the Year by the Association of Washington Business at a Nov. 30 awards ceremony in Seattle. From left are AWB Board chairwoman Wendy Sancewich with the Energy Northwest team, Mark and Marty Reddemann, Brad and Kim Sawatzke, Steve and Janal Lorence, Darla Johnson and Angel Rains. (Courtesy AWB)
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
YEAR IN REVIEW
11
TRIDEC points to successes as it looks ahead to 2017 BY ELSIE PUIG
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
The Tri-City Development Council has seen an uptick in companies interested in doing business in the Tri-Cities in 2016. “We’re responding to inquiries all the time,” said Carl Adrian, president and CEO of TRIDEC. “In fact we’ve received more inquiries in the last six months than we have in the 12 months prior. Whether that continues or why it’s happening I can’t predict, but there is activity and new projects here all the time.” Those inquiries come from corporations interested in moving — or expanding — to the Tri-City area and total more than $640 million in capital investments and more than 1,000 jobs. Adrian said the likelihood that all those will end up coming here is slim, but it speaks to the growing popularity of the area. “It’s a pretty broad range (of industries) but the majority has been food processing, which fits with what our targets are,” Adrian said. AutoZone’s new distribution center and truck maintenance facility was one of
One of the Tri-Cities’ biggest economic development wins was the nearly $200 million LambWeston/ConAgra Foods investment for a second French fry processing line at its food manufacturing plant in Richland.
2016’s big accomplishments, Adrian said. Work on the 440,000-square-foot center began earlier this year at 3733 Capital Ave. near King City in Pasco. The new business will create more than 200 jobs in the Tri-Cities once it’s fully operational in the second quarter of 2017, Adrian said. The company paid $3.6 million for the
93-acre site and its building permit was valued at $38.9 million. “It’s a large capital project and a pretty big deal for the community. They’ll distribute to retail stores across the Pacific Northwest,” Adrian said. “It really puts us on the map as a location for distribution of products. We believe that other retail companies that have similar retail patterns
will see this and look to the Tri-Cities as a result.” TRIDEC played an integral role in site selection for the project in 2015 after the Washington Department of Commerce contacted the organization early in 2015. AutoZone had been scouting locations from Yakima to Pendleton. “The state has a program called strategic reserve funds to provide incentives for site investigation and to defer initial costs of the project. TRIDEC was the lead in investigation,” Adrian said. Another big economic development win was the nearly $200 million LambWeston/ConAgra Foods investment for a second French fry processing line at its food manufacturing plant in Richland. When it is completed in 2017, the expansion will add 128 jobs to the 500 jobs already at the existing Richland plant. TRIDEC assisted in creating the incentive package for the expansion. “They had been evaluating other plants and selected Richland for the expansion,” Adrian said. “It really puts us on the map for the food processing industry.” uTRIDEC, Page 14
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Year In Review
New restaurants dominate Journal of Business’ top web stories in 2016 BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
New restaurant stories dominated the list of the most-read stories on the TriCities Area Journal of Business’ website, tcjournal.biz, in 2016. News about Sterling’s Famous Steak & Salad Bar, Panera Bread, LU LU Craft Bar & Kitchen, Dupus Boomer’s and The Original Pancake House were among our most popular online stories. But it wasn’t all about food. A new Kennewick night club, a new business featuring a gathering space for creative workshops and a list of Tri-City holiday bazaars also proved popular with our online readers. Here are the top stories of 2016, according to readers of tcjournal.biz. 1. New Kennewick night club opening in old TS Cattle Co. building (http://bit. ly/RumorLoungeKenn): The August story about Joey Casados and Elias Correa’s new night club easily topped our list. The business partners overhauled the old TS Cattle Co. steak restaurant on Clearwater Avenue into an upscale lounge and bar featuring luxe white leather couches, trendy wire fixtures and blue and pink lights. 2. New Kennewick business encourages Tri-Citians to drink, gather, create (http://bit.ly/BlankSpaceSouthridge): The August story about BlankSpace, a new business featuring a juice and tea bar, natural light studio and gathering place for creative workshops, ranked No. 2 for our most-read stories.
A March story about Richland’s LU LU Craft Bar & Kitchen at 580 Columbia Point Drive was among the most popular stories on the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business website. (Courtesy Larry Kuga, Dream Home Services)
3. Richland welcomes Dupus Boomer’s, Taco Time, Go Green Salads (http://bit.ly/DupusBoomer): Journal of Business readers love new restaurant news, as evidenced by this story about three new restaurants at the corner of Jadwin Avenue and Swift Boulevard in Richland in this March story. 4. New restaurants to serve up breakfast all day in Kennewick, Richland (http://bit.ly/pancakehouse): The Original Pancake House plans to open restaurants in Kennewick and Richland. The 4,500-square-foot Kennewick eatery will open in early 2017 near Bob’s Burgers & Brews, Hampton Inn and Trios Southridge Hospital off Highway 395. The August
story also indicated the franchise owners were close to securing a location in Richland. 5. New Columbia Point restaurant to open in a few weeks (http://bit.ly/ LULUCraft): Restaurateur Cindy Goulet’s latest project, LU LU Craft Bar & Kitchen, was just weeks away from opening when we ran this March story. The restaurant at 580 Columbia Point Drive in Richland overlooks the marina and Columbia River. 6. Panera Bread, Party City coming to Richland (http://bit.ly/paneraRichland): Construction on the chain restaurant known for its fresh bakery items, soups and sandwiches is set to begin in March. It will be located next door to Kentucky Fried
Chicken at the corner of Queensgate Drive and Duportail Street in Richland. Also coming to the busy Vintner Square development is Party City, which sells birthday and theme party supplies, baby shower favors, Halloween costumes. 7. Young entrepreneur gives new retail life to old sneakers, sports clothing (http://bit.ly/GetInWhereYouFitIn): Travis Higbee and business partner Mike Rorie opened Get In Where You Fit In at 3311 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite D214, in Kennewick. It sells sneakers, old sports jerseys and other clothing. 8. Holiday Bazaars (http://bit.ly/ TCbazaars): Tri-Citians loved our online list of area holiday bazaars to plan their holiday shopping. 9. Richland’s Queensgate commercial center seeing another growth spurt (http://bit.ly/Queensgategrowth): Readers care about the growth in the Queensgate Drive area of Richland. This April story announced the opening of Ross Dress for Less, a new car wash and Home2 Suites by Hilton 10. Sterling’s to start construction on new restaurant on George Washington Way (http://bit.ly/sterlingsGway): This March story announced that construction was expected to begin in April on a new Sterling’s to replace an aging building on George Washington Way. The new restaurant is at the east end of the current parking lot to take advantage of the view of the park and river.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
YEAR IN REVIEW
13
Tri-City ports celebrate year’s accomplishments BY SEAN BASSINGER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Expanded job growth, a multi-million dollar airport remodeling project and additional commercial retail developments are among the year’s top accomplishments cited by Tri-City port officals. Port officials say they hope to continue to draw more businesses and increase tourism as they move into 2017. Here’s a roundup of their economic development highlights in 2016.
Port of Benton
The Port of Benton recently received a large federal land transfer. Of the 1,341 acres received for the city of Richland, about 760 will go to the Port of Benton, said Diahann Howard, director of economic development for the Port of Benton. The port receives about $2.3 million in taxes each year, which is used for critical community projects, she said. This year, the port has invested more into the Richland and Prosser airports. The Richland airport will see about $4 million in improvements for 2017. “They’re going to be doing existing maintenance on the existing runway,” she said. The Port of Benton also will update the master plan for Prosser’s airport in the next couple of years, Howard said. The port-managed Crow Butte State Park, located off Highway 14 west of Paterson on the Columbia River, will see several expansions in the next year. This year, the port invested $250,000 in playground equipment. Port officials plan $850,000 in improvements at the docks and marina at the island park, Howard said. “We’ve seen a lot of use and a lot of success there,” she said.
Port of Pasco
The Tri-Cities Airport is looking to wrap up part of a 2 1/2-year, $41.9 million airport expansion. “Being able to bring this new airport into the community is really exciting,” said Gary Ballew, director of economic development and marketing for the Port of Pasco. Airport and Port of Pasco officials say the expansion was needed to accommodate an increase of passengers in the past two years. In 2015 about 250,000 passengers came through the airport. The expansion includes the addition of new concourses, remodeled ticketing counters and relocation of Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, screening areas. Another area that saw continued success in 2016 was growth at the Foster Wells Business Center off Highway 395, Ballew said. Sixty-three acres were divided into 12 building sites suited for manufacturing, packaging, distribution and goods and services providers. The area is located in the northwest corner of the Pasco Processing Center. The Port of Pasco also wants to increase opportunities for recreational activities such as wine tasting. “The ability to bring business people in creates new investments in the community and creates new jobs,” Ballew said. Working side-by-side with the city of Pasco, Franklin County and several other partners, the port will continue work on the Greater Pasco Area Economic Strategic Vision, a long-term plan addressing the next 20 years of community growth. This will involve the Port of Pasco and the city assessing their present economy while working with Tri-City regional officials. Port and city officials also will look at external markets throughout the Northwest and U.S., Ballew said. “There’s always a lot of work that goes
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The kids’ playroom at the Tri-Cities Airport is taking shape. The airport is looking to wrap up a 2 1/2-year, $41.9 million airport expansion. (Courtesy Port of Pasco)
into each one of those successes,” Ballew said. “It’s more of a factor versus time.” Other future goals include searching for ways to involve more community members who may not be able to attend all public meetings and enhance bilingual communications since 55 precent of the city’s population is Latino. “That’s really the future of our community,” Ballew said.
Port of Kennewick
Port of Kennewick officials continue to work on a new wine gardens project following a groundbreaking that took place in
2016. (See story on front page) Phase one of the project totaled about $1.2 million from the port, with the city of Kennewick investing another $3.4 million in the first three or four buildings in the area, said Skip Novakovich, president, Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners. Columbia Basin College’s future 20,000-square-foot culinary school, which will sit along the waterfront of the Columbia River, will be another point of pride for the Port of Kennewick and city when it gets built, Novokavich said. uPORTS, Page 17
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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YEAR IN REVIEW TRIDEC, From page 11 “We work to create an atmosphere so that companies can grow and prosper in the community. Attracting new companies creates a multiplier effect. Not only is hospitality experiencing a positive impact but also service industries are able to expand,” Adrian said. This year TRIDEC hosted its second annual food and beverage expo, FABREO, which stands for Food and Beverage Retention and Expansion Opportunities, and sponsored a startup boot camp to give local food and beverage companies an opportunity to present to brokers and buyers. “We’re mindful of the growing entrepreneurial network in the community and we look at ways of supporting that,” Adrian said. Advocating for responsible use of land for economic development, TRIDEC finalized a significant deal to transfer 1,641 acres of unused Hanford land from the Department of Energy to the Port of Benton, city of Richland and Energy Northwest in 2016. “The idea is to develop the land for industrial uses. Master planning is currently underway,” Adrian said. He said Energy Northwest is considering using 300 acres to build an energy park. “They’ve expressed interest in opening a solar project there. It would be like a utility scale energy demonstration project for energy storage and solar energy. It will not likely be used for wind or biofuels,” he said. Next year TRIDEC will continue its work to advocate on land use issues. TRIDEC is already backing the return of Columbia River shoreline land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers to the city governments. The Corps acquired the land after the major flood in 1948. Gary Petersen, vice president of federal programs for TRIDEC, is working closely with retired U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings and former Kennewick Mayor Brad Fisher on the initiative. A provision in a proposed National Defense Authorization bill would require the Army Corps of Engineers to disclose what rivershore property it owns and how much they paid for it. Then the group would need to convince Congress to transfer the land to the community. “If it passes, it would give the community time to assess whether it makes sense to pursue a land transfer,” Adrian said. “There is no saying what kind of recreation amenities would occur, but the whole issue is that local control is better — at least the local community makes decisions on the land instead of federal government and I agree with that.” TRIDEC also has been vocal about keeping the four Lower Snake River dams in place. In late November, Adrian spoke at a public hearing after several environmental groups and a U.S. District Court judge asked that dam deconstruction be considered to protect wild salmon runs. “Our position right now is that the economic cost to the region, increased power costs and transportation costs far outweigh benefits. TRIDEC has been very active in keeping the dams since the 1990s,” Adrian said.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Year In Review
15
Cities cite new development projects, prospects as wins for year BY SEAN BASSINGER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Business continues to boom in the TriCities even as 2016 winds down. City officials in Pasco, Richland, Kennewick and West Richland have seen several signs of continued economic development throughout each city in what’s considered to be the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state. There’s lots to brag about in 2016: AutoZone building in Pasco. SCC North America manufacturing facility under construction in West Richland. ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston French fry processing plant opening in north Richland. Here is a roundup of the year’s most notable economic accomplishments:
Pasco
Pasco saw continued growth of industrial development in the city. This was one of city council’s main goals for 2016, according to Rick White, community and economic development director for the city. This helped the city increase its tax base and lessen its reliance on residential property taxes. There were several new manufacturing and distribution properties added to help support an already heavy agricultural industry in the area, White said. “A lot of it is in response to the food industry,” White said of the growth. The city’s most concentrated area of growth continues to be along Oregon
Construction continues on the large $38.9 million AutoZone distribution center on Capitol Avenue north of the King City truck stop in Pasco. The center will add more than 200 jobs to the area.
Avenue and Highway 395. One of the biggest projects launched in 2016 was the AutoZone distribution center on Capitol Avenue, just north of the King City Truck Stop. The center, with a building permit value of $38.9 million, will add more than 200 jobs to the area, White said. Pasco had more than $200 million in permitted values in October 2016, a new record for the city that includes the new AutoZone center, agricultural facilities and other small businesses that opened around town. “These kinds of small businesses, they support pretty solid job growth,” White said. “If you have 5 to 10 employees and you’re looking to 20 to 25 projects a year, that’s a lot of employees.” Pasco city officials will look to continue development along the Highway
395 and Oregon Avenue corridor well into 2017, White said.
Richland
The new ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston French fry processing plant in north Richland and completion of the Kadlec tower in central Richland were among the city’s largest economic development accomplishments of the year. The nearly $200 million Lamb Weston facility added about 160 jobs to the community, said Zach Ratkai, economic development manager with the city of Richland. The Kadlec tower has made Richland a medical hub for the entire Tri-Cities. It’s a prime location since the medical center faces several key shopping districts and restaurants in town. Ratkai commented on the strengths of
Richland as an export economy as well, saying several goods in the Tri-City area often get shipped out to Seattle and Tacoma and to other countries. In addition, a new $7.9 million Central Washington Corn Processors facility, at 3334 Longston Blvd. in north Richland, was completed to become the largest building of its kind in the area, Ratkai said. It serves as a transload hub for the corn, dairy and poultry industries. The city also has seen continued support for several local businesses, primarily in the Uptown Shopping Center. “They’re kind of looking for more of those interesting, unique shops,” Ratkai said. “It’s created a bit of what we call a retail support community.” Some larger retailers, including Ross Dress for Less, have moved into new pad sites in the area off Queensgate Drive’s Vintner Square development. Additional businesses will include MOD Pizza, Party City and Mattress Firm. A Panera Bread is planned next door to Kentucky Fried Chicken at the corner of Queensgate and Duportail Street. “We’re pretty excited,” he said. “We’re planning for some additional support and marketing in the next coming year. It’s a pretty exciting time to be involved with the city of Richland.”
Kennewick
Kennewick had successes in several areas throughout the city. uDEVELOPMENT, Page 16
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
uBUSINESS BRIEFS More than 4,500 employers have used L&I program
Stay at Work, a program of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, has provided more than $50 million to participating businesses and helped more than 20,000 workers to date. The program helps support light-duty jobs after workplace injuries by paying employers for part of the costs associated with offering light-duty jobs to injured workers. It also helps defray some of the expenses so businesses can allow eligible employees to keep working during their recovery and stay connected to their workplace. To date, more than 4,500 employers
have used the program to help workers return to light duty work as soon as medically possible as part of their recovery from a workplace injury or illness. Programs such as Stay at Work, as well as efforts to ensure quality medical care and other improvements to the workers’ compensation system have saved an estimated $700 million in wage replacement, disability and medical costs to Washington employers and workers. The Department of Labor and Industries encourages employers to establish return-to-work programs at their worksites. Visit lni.wa.gov/stayatwork for more information.
YEAR IN REVIEW DEVELOPMENT, From page 15 “To me, there’s no one sector,” said Emily Estes-Cross, economic development manager for the city of Kennewick. “We have really built a diverse economy in Kennewick that we’re pretty proud of.” Officials issued a total of 52,000 business licenses well into October, with more than 1,200 of those being brand new businesses. An increase of infrastructure projects in 2016 was the main catalyst of economic development, Estes-Cross said. These include the widening of Edison Street, road construction in the Southridge area near Highway 395 and Ridgeline Drive and continuing construction of the $7.7 million Bob Olson Parkway project. “It’s these infrastructure projects that have facilitated a lot of this growth,” EstesCross said. Southridge and the Columbia Center shopping areas continue to see new growth in the form of retailers and small businesses. A new home decór store, HomeGoods, that opened at Columbia Center added 48 new jobs to the area as well, Estes-Cross said. Next year, the city will continue to work with the Port of Kennewick to enhance the historic Columbia Drive streetscape. Kennewick is committed to a wine-effluent pre-treatment system to support the Columbia Gardens Wine Village in 2017. The city will then enter the higher education scene by supporting the completion of Columbia Basin College’s $10 million culinary school around 2018.
West Richland
The smallest of towns in the Tri-City area had significant gains in the wine industry.
Double Canyon Winery opened a 40,000-square-foot facility and the city of West Richland invested in a wine wastewater pretreatment facility, which takes wine effluent and processes it during harvest. The facility was a $2 million investment for West Richland, said Aaron Lambert, community development department director for the city. The proximity to Red Mountain and completion of what they call the iPlant will continue to increase their presence in the wine market, he said. In addition, West Richland will now have access to Interstate 82 with new construction approved. This will provide better access to the community, allowing wineries to bring in more customers, Lambert said. City officials are also excited to see the recent rebirth of the SCC North America facility project that is expected to put West Richland on the map in the car world. Founded by Jerod Shelby in 1999, SCC North America is a supercar company that would compete with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Koenigsegg, according to the company’s website. “They’re a multi-million dollar automobile that’s sold to individuals that want the best of the best in the supercars,” said Brent Gerry, mayor of West Richland. The city council recently heard an update from Shelby on the company’s plans for the manufacturing plant, planned for Keene Road and Belmont Boulevard. Work continues with construction and could be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017, Gerry said. The facility will include a museum dedicated to the supercar, manufacturing space and work viewing area.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
‘Vintage’ trolley buses now rolling through Tri-Cities BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF
Buses retrofitted to look like vintage trolleys began rolling through Tri-City streets on Nov. 16. Ben Franklin Transit decided two years ago to replace three aging vehicles with low-floor buses designed to look like trolleys. The trolley replica package outfits a modern Gillig transit bus with solid oak seats, brass-colored stanchions, a lighted cupola on the roof, front cowcatchers and a vintage paint scheme. Named for the region’s three rivers — The Yakima, The Snake and The Columbia — the 35-foot $1.67 million trolleys are running routes in Pasco, Richland and Kennewick. The Snake is on routes 64 and 65 in Pasco, The Yakima is on routes 23 and 26 in Richland and The Columbia is on routes 41 and 42 in Kennewick. In addition to the three Tri-City routes Monday through Friday, Ben Franklin Transit is also working the trolleys into rotations on Saturdays on the 120, 225 and 170 routes. Beyond the daily service, BFT is working with community partners to leverage the trollies as a tool to promote tourism and growth within the region. “They’re different, fun to ride and people enjoy the nostalgia. As partners in our community, we see them adding to the visions of our local leaders to revitalize our urban cores, encourage
Ben Franklin Transit rolled out three new trolley buses which began their regular routes Nov. 16 in Kennewick, Richland and Pasco.
people to shop at local businesses and further our reputation as a tourist destination,” said Kurt Workman, Ben Franklin Transit spokesman. Each trolley cost $556,670, including tax and licensing. Of that total, $87,913 was the cost of the trolley replica package. A federal grant paid 80 percent of the total cost of the trolleys, or about $1.34 million, with BFT paying for the remaining 20 percent, or $334,002, from its capital budget, which is supported by a portion of sales tax revenue. The transit’s board of directors approved buying the trolleys in 2014.
“We’re really excited to be adding these trolley buses to our community,” said Gloria Boyce, Ben Franklin Transit’s general manager. “Our board of directors saw the value in investing in them to support the economic development of our region.” BFT’s vehicles typically last between 14 to 16 years and travel about 50,000 miles per year – so when averaged out, the trolley package will cost about 10 to 12 cents per mile more than a standard bus, transit officials say. Trolley transit fares will be the same as any of the other buses.
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PORTS, From page 13 The $10 million facility will have three kitchens, event space and a student-run restaurant. Officials are now trying to figure out how to finance the joint project. Spaulding Business Park welcomed more tenants as well. The Port of Kennewick recently sold land to Northwest Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine for a 36,000-square-foot medical facility with 16 orthopaedic suites set to open next year. The business center, located between Highway 240 and Columbia Center Boulevard, is nearly complete, Novokavich said. Also in the center is a new 6,000-square-foot Support, Advocacy and Resource Center, or SARC, facility that employs about 10 new staff members with salaries of about $50,000 a year. The 30-acre Spaulding Park was a $37 million investment in the private sector, with more than 200,000 square feet of buildings. They’ve provided more than 425 professional jobs to date, Novokavich said. There’s one space left to sell in the Spaulding Park development, which has taken time to reach its potential, Novokavich added. Meanwhile, he believes the new Vista Field development is going to be greatest success story the port has ever seen. “It’ll be huge,” he said. “But again, it’s going to take time.”
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
19
Richland surgeon, SIGN make connections across globe BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
Stainless steel nails manufactured in north Richland mend and connect broken bones and improve lives all over the world. The Richland doctor who invented the implants also works to forge similarly strong connections by mentoring the surgeons who place the rods into the bodies of the injured poor in developing countries. Dr. Lewis Zirkle, 76, founder and president of SIGN Fracture Care International, and CEO Jeanne Dillner recently returned from a two-week trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh where the orthopedic surgeon helped with about 30 surgeries between the two south Asian countries. He also spoke and mentored young surgeons and identified emerging surgical leaders among them who will train others in the SIGN technique. “Once they’re trained, they’re reaching out to others to foster a mentor relationship,” Zirkle said. The surgeries aren’t usually routine because the “high energy fractures” shatter the bones into many pieces. “We are not second rate. We offer the best implants, though I’m biased, than anyone in the world,” Zirkle said. The fractures are common when the typical mode of transportation is a rickshaw or wheelbarrow piled high with goods maneuvering down busy, danger-
ous streets. The World Health Organization reports that between 20 million and 50 million people worldwide suffer injuries as a result of road traffic crashes, with many incurring a disability. About 1.25 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes with half of those dying on the world’s roads being “vulnerable road users,” such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. “Road traffic injuries have been neglected from the global health agenda for many years, despite being predictable and largely preventable,” WHO said. The alternative to the SIGN surgery is a life of disability and pain when walking. It also means people can’t work, causing whole families to spiral into poverty, Zirkle said. Zirkle typically makes four overseas trips a year to teach, mentor and reenergize SIGN doctors. Other U.S. surgeons travel throughout the year to do surgeries for long bone fractures and other orthopedic care. The SIGN program is now in 50 countries around the world. The Richland company’s humanitarian work isn’t possible without continued community support, Zirkle said. “We have many volunteers and their funds and gifts are so important. We get many small gifts and to me, a small gift of $5 is just as important as a big one because it’s more of a sacrifice,” Zirkle
Dr. Lewis Zirkle, 76, founder and president of SIGN Fracture Care International in Richland, reviews an X-ray in Bangladesh during a recent trip to the south Asian country. (Photo courtesy Jeanne Dillner of SIGN)
said. Zirkle also pointed out that SIGN is “a force for peace because we’re in all the conflict areas in the world,” he said. All of SIGN’s medical-grade nails and screws and many of the surgical tools are made at the nonprofit’s north Richland manufacturing facility. The company expects to make 26,000 nails this year and it donates a majority of them. SIGN also responds to the call for help after natural disasters around the
world. The nonprofit requires its surgeons to report SIGN surgeries in a database and “we’re the only nonprofit with a surgical long bone database in the world,” Dillner said. The database helps SIGN to develop better implants and tools by reviewing cases around the world. For more information about how to donate to SIGN, go to signfracturecare. org or call 509-371-1107.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
CO-WORKING, From page 1 The two- to four-person office package is $800 to $1,600 a month and provides access to a furnished suite 24/7 with internet, mail and address service, access to meeting rooms and five monthly guest passes. The one-person office package — at $700 to $950 a month — also allows 24/7 entry with three guest passes. A cheaper alternative is the office day pass, which allows people—such as remote sales representatives—to rent an office by the day or the hour from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost for two hours is $25. A full-day rental runs about $75. For those who don’t need a private office, co-working plans start at $25 a day and provide members with access to cubicles in a shared workspace. The $229 co-working plan includes one guest pass, as well as four hours of meeting room access. Meeting room usage is increased by six hours for the co-working-plus plan and gives members 24/7 access to the space. Virtual office plans range from $55 to $225 a month. They’re designed to provide club members with that “big business feel” even if a person is working from their kitchen table. “Some people might still want to work from home, but they want an address where if someone Googled their company name, it doesn’t show their house. They can use our address as their address, so someone sees it’s a real company, which gives them a little more prestige. And if someone wants to sound a little bigger by
Connect Workplace marketing manager, Claire Kitt, and owners Mike Stoker and Scott Gearheart, review marketing plans. Connect Workplace is accepting memberships with occupancy planned in mid-January.
having someone answer their phone, the person calling doesn’t realize it’s a oneman show,” said Gearheart, adding that users can pick an option that includes personalized call answering. For levels that include access to meeting space, an automated software system allows members to log in, check availability and book one of two rooms for brainstorming sessions, presentations and informal gatherings. The small conference room accommodates up to six people and includes a phone, flat screen, writing wall and internet, while the large conference room can hold up to 20 people. All on-site membership packages have access to the lounge/break room with views overlooking the Columbia River. The
lounge area doubles as a conference event space with a capacity of 20 to 25 people. “You’re really only paying for the office space, and everything else is shared, even a shared receptionist,” said Gearheart, who went on to explain that while telecommuting is beneficial, many employees and business owners thrive in traditional work environments.
Popularity of co-working
Roughly 10,000 co-working spaces were available globally in 2016, according to Deskmag, an online magazine about co-working environments. Fuse, a co-working space that opened at 710 George Washington Way in Richland in 2014, is growing “fantastically,” said
Brett Spooner, co-founder and chairman of the board for Fuse. “We started the year with about 50 members and we’re over 100 now,” he said. “We have about 6,000 square feet of space, and we’ll be expanding to a total of 10,000 square feet by the end of next year.” Spooner said more co-working options in the Tri-Cities “isn’t a bad thing.” “You go to Seattle and there’s 40 to 50 co-working spaces. Our community of members is very focused on technology,” he said. Fuse also offers monthly membership levels of private offices, private desks and floating desks, which are first-come, firstserve. “One of the things that you’ll find is that 20 years ago people worked in big buildings and nobody worked from home. Then they started having people work from home and found that people were becoming less efficient because they needed interaction. People look for a sense of belonging,” Gearheart said. The collaborative aspect of co-working is what makes it appealing, Spooner said. “There’s a healing component of co-working, running into people and socializing. I think what we do at Fuse is critical to the Tri-Cities, because we’re the nexus of young leaders. (Co-working space) lets people come together where they would have never met otherwise, and they collaborate and start new projects — and if you’re having continuing engagement, exciting things happen,” Spooner said. uCO-WORKING, Page 22
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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Report: Job outlook calls for more qualified workers BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF
More than half of the projected 740,000 job openings expected in the state of Washington in the next five years will be jobs requiring higher skills. But only a third of the state’s students are prepared for most of these job opportunities, according to a recent Partnership for Learning report called, “Washington Kids for Washington Jobs.” The Seattlebased nonprofit is focused on improving K-12 public education. State job growth is expected to exceed the state’s historic average and nearly triple the projected national growth rate, the report said.
70% of Washington
students should earn a post-secondary degree by the age of 26 by 2030 —a goal set by Washington Roundtable Among its key findings are: • Thirty-five percent of projected job openings are classified as “career jobs.” These are higher skill, higher compensation jobs with a salary range of $60,000 to more than $100,000. More than nine in 10 workers who fill these positions will have a post-secondary credential or some college. About 260,000 jobs are expected to open in the next five years in this category. • Forty-five percent of projected job openings are classified as “pathway jobs” with salaries of $30,000 to $45,000 per year and offering a route to a career job. Nearly two thirds, or 64 percent, of pathway jobs will be filled by workers who have a post-secondary credential or
some college. About 330,000 jobs are expected to open in the next five years in this category. • Twenty percent of projected job openings will be entry-level positions with an annual salary range of $20,000 to $30,000 and offer limited opportunities for upward mobility. Nearly half of these jobs will be filled by workers with a post-secondary credential or some college. About 150,000 jobs are expected to open in the next five years in this category. The top jobs in the career category in the next five years include software app developers, registered nurses, accountants and auditors, sales representatives for wholesale and manufacturing, general and operations managers, elementary school teachers and computer programmers. The largest number of pathway job openings in the coming years will be in retail and customer service, freight processing and logistics, office administration and carpentry, the report said. The report said the jobs outlook is strong, with the majority of the state’s openings in the next five years needing to be filled by workers with a post-secondary credential, which could be an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree or an industry-recognized certification or apprenticeship program. But the nonprofit’s concern is that only 31 percent of Washington students go on to earn such a credential. “To better prepare Washington kids for the jobs of the future, we need to more than double the post-secondary attainment rate for students growing up in our state,” the report said. Washington Roundtable has set a goal of getting 70 percent of Washington students to earn a post-secondary degree by the age of 26 by 2030. The nonprofit is composed of executives of major private sector state employers focused on public policy issues supporting economic development;
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Partnership for Learning is the education foundation arm of this group. The report called for action in four areas: • Improve school readiness, with an emphasis on low-income children and traditionally underserved student populations. • Improve the performance of the K-12 system to ensure more high school students graduate career- and college-ready, with an emphasis on raising achievement among at-risk students and low-performing schools and students. • Increase participation of Washington students in post-secondary education, with a focus on delivering degrees, certificates and other credentials in fields that
will be in high demand. • Help students, beginning in elementary school, develop better awareness of the careers that will be available, inspiring them to think about their futures, the skills necessary for the jobs that interest them and how to get those skills. “Washington employers are creating exciting job opportunities that offer excellent wages and strong potential for upward mobility. These jobs should go to students from Washington whenever possible,” the report said. The study was done in partnership with The Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting firm. To read the full report, visit waroundtable.com/wa-kids-wa-jobs.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
DOL, From page 9 The American Cancer Society’s Jody O’Connor, health systems manager for hospitals, and Chris Friend, manager of the society’s political action network in Seattle, also pledged to help me if needed. It turns out all it took was the phone call to Byrd for the state to reconsider its policy. Byrd waived my $10 photo retake fee and snapped the photo herself when I went to get my replacement photo this month. “You, my dear, fostered change,” Byrd told me when she called to tell me about the proposed policy change. The state is lucky to have such a caring public servant in Byrd, who’s worked for the state for 36 years, 20 of them at DOL. My new driver’s license now features a Pamela Byrd, state Department of Licensing district manager for a large region in Eastern Washington, snaps a new driver license photo of Kristina genuine smile and looks like me. Lord at the Kennewick office. (Courtesy Bob Brawdy/Tri-City Herald)
uBUSINESS BRIEFS Social Security, VA partner for disability decisions
The launch of a new partnership between the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs now enables all Social Security disability case processing sites to receive medical records electronically from the VA. This means veterans will receive a faster decision on their Social Security disability claim, speeding them and their dependents through this new process, according to a release from Social Security. Both agencies will save time and money with an automatic request through the eHealth Exchange. The new program was tested successfully at Social Security offices around the country and went live nationally on Veterans Day to all Social Security disability case processing sites. Social Security requests nearly 15 million medical records annually from health care providers and organizations to make medical decisions on about three million disability claims, according to the Social Security release. Historically, the agency obtained medical records through a manual process (mail, fax, secure mail). This new national initiative puts in place an automated process to obtain medical records electronically without human intervention. The partnership adds the VA to Social Security’s more than 50 other partners. Social Security said its goal is to continue expanding the number of health care organizations and federal agencies providing electronic health records. To learn more, visit socialsecurity.gov/disabilityssi/hit.
Kadlec offers free Medicare informational classes
Kadlec Healthy Ages is offering a class twice a month at the Kadlec Healthplex to inform attendees about Medicare, Medigap and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans available to those who live in Benton and Franklin counties. Call 509-942-2700 for a schedule and to reserve a spot.
CO-WORKING, From page 20 Co-working isn’t a completely new concept, Gearheart said. When he started Pinpoint Consulting Inc., in Charlotte, North Carolina 20 years ago, he worked in a shared workspace much like the one he’s operating with partners Mike Stoker and Ron Carlson. “I’m that classic customer who’s going to come in here,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of people who need a co-working space: writers, counselors, attorneys. Walk through Starbucks and see people at their computers for two to three hours with coffee, or McDonald’s.” Along with Stoker and Carlson, Gearheart owns Blue Cougar Properties with one additional partner, Milo Thurber, who operates the chiropractic business on the first floor. Connect Workplace began accepting office memberships in late November with occupancy planned for mid-January. “We’ve had a lot of inquiries,” Gearheart said. “We’ve already been contacted by a couple of counselors who need space. And let’s say a large corporation—a manufacturer’s rep who comes to the TriCities for a couple of days—needs to bring people to an appointment. Those are the people we’re looking to serve.” For more information about Connect Workplace, visit connectwp.com or call 509-572-9004.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
REAL ESTATE
23
Cost Less Carpet rolls out plans for new $5.5 million expansion BY JESSICA HOEFER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Randy Rupp and his family didn’t plan to get into the carpet business when they bought more than 200 bank-repossessed apartment units in the late 1980s. The units were in poor condition and needed work from top to bottom, including floor coverings. “Of the items needed, carpet was one of the largest expenses. So, we decided to fly to Georgia,” said Rupp, who explained the Southern state is where most of the world’s carpet is produced. “We purchased two truckloads of carpet from the mills. We got home and started using the carpet and found out it was pretty easy to sell to other apartment owners. So we decided to put up a building and started selling carpet and vinyl.” They named the business Cost Less Carpet and opened the first store in Pasco in 1993. A year later, they opened a store in Boise, Idaho. By 2015, they added five more stores in Washington—including Richland, which serves as the main retail store and corporate headquarters—as well as outlets in Bend and Hermiston, Oregon, and Columbia Falls, Montana.
Concrete has been poured for the new Cost Less Carpet distribution center, located directly behind the retail store on Fowler Street in Richland. The 62,000-square-foot building is scheduled to be completed in April 2017.
Business has been good — even during the economic downturn in the early 2000s when Cost Less Carpet experienced double-digit growth, said Rupp, president of the company who for 23 years has overseen all aspects of company operations. Across their markets, Rupp said business didn’t wane, which is why the company is building a new $5.5 million corporate office and distribution center
adjacent to the current headquarters at 1925 Fowler St. in Richland.
More space needed
The new distribution center will be nearly 62,000 square feet and enable Cost Less Carpet to function more efficiently since it has outgrown its existing 30,000-square-foot warehouse in Pasco. “The distribution center will house most
of our product lines, as well as excess slab inventory. It will service all of our existing store and wholesale business,” said Rupp, adding that roughly 5,000 square feet of the new building will serve as the company’s corporate headquarters. The Richland retail store is about 24,000 square feet and serves as the hub for transfers between stores. It’s also where all of the slab and carpet trucks unload. Construction of the new distribution center and corporate office is underway with concrete poured in early December. Cost Less Carpet is serving as the general contractor on the project, although it has teamed up with several local contractors to do portions of the work. The building is to be complete by April 2017, and Rupp said there will be several new positions opening up, as well as some added warehouse staff and commercial drivers. All of the positions will be full time.
Showcasing inventory
Removing the offices from the current Richland building after construction is complete will free up showroom space to highlight new and staple items in stock. uCARPET, Page 26
Small business loan programs available! From micro loans up to $500,000 loan capability.
s y a d i l o H Happy
“Running a Ski and Snowboard Resort these days can be a risky business. We are winter farmers relying on Mother Nature to provide us a bountiful crop of snow each year. All of our income happens in 5 months. As one of the largest employers in Columbia County, countless families and businesses rely on us opening just as soon as the snow flies. For Bluewood to be ready to open each fall, a lot of work is required in the summer season. Benton Franklin Council of Government listened and recognized not only our need for short term capital financing, but also our impact on the surrounding communities during the slower winter months. Working with the staff at BFCoG to process a micro loan was smooth and easy. This short term loan provides the capital we need to make sure we are ready when Mother Nature blesses us with snow.” -Kim Clark, General Manager Bluewood Ski Resort
joyous a u o y g n i h Wis rous e p s o r p a d holiday an new year! s at from all of u
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1622 Terminal Dr. • Richland www.bfcog.us Regional Revolving Loan Fund (RRLF) Columbia Regional Economic Development Trust (CREDiT) Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee (HAEIFAC)
24
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Building industry feeling pinch of qualified workers BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF
A drive through the Tri-Cities will show you there’s plenty of construction going on, from new apartment complexes and schools to warehouses and office buildings. But there’s a shortage of something that might not be as apparent: workers. That’s according to a recent industry-wide survey from the Arlington, Virginia-based Associated General Contractors of America. “Few firms across the country have been immune from growing labor shortages in the construction industry,” said Stephen Sandherr, CEO for Associated General Contractors, in a release. “The sad fact is too few students are being exposed to construction careers or provided with the basic skills needed to prepare for such a career path.” Construction employment declined or was stagnant in a third of metro areas across the country between October 2015 and October 2016 amid diminishing public-sector investments in infrastructure and other civil works, according to a recent analysis of federal employment data by AGC. Of the 1,358 survey respondents, 86 percent said they are having difficulty filling hourly craft or salaried professional positions. Nationwide, 79 percent of respond-
uBUSINESS BRIEFS CBC to offer degree in nursing
Survey: Jobs Washington contractors have most difficulty filling • Pipelayers (83 percent)
• Truck drivers (50 percent)
• Superintendents (60 percent)
• Equipment operators (cranes, heavy equipment) (44 percent)
• Carpenters (78 percent)
• Concrete workers (50 percent)
• Laborers (48 percent)
Source: Associated General Contractors of America ing firms are having a hard time filling one or more of the 21 hourly craft professional positions, particularly carpenters (73 percent of firms that employ carpenters report difficulty), sheet metal installers (65 percent) and concrete workers (63 percent). More than 50 percent of firms are having a hard time filling salaried professional positions, especially project managers/supervisors (listed by 55 percent of firms that employ them), estimators (43 percent) and engineers (34 percent), noted AGC’s chief economist, Ken Simonson. In Washington state, 70 percent said they have difficulty filling hourly craft positions, with the positions most difficult to fill listed as pipelayers (83 percent); carpenters (78 percent); superintendents (60 percent); concrete workers (50 percent); truck drivers (50
percent); laborers (48 percent); and heavy equipment operators (44 percent). Statewide, the most difficult salaried slots to fill are project managers/ supervisors (56 percent); engineers (47 percent); and estimating personnel (30 percent). More than 60 percent of Washington contractors expect it will be difficult to hire hourly craft workers in the next year, according to the survey. And that’s despite more than 40 percent saying their firm increased base pay rates. The Building Industry Association of Washington told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business the agency is making it a priority to work with legislators, businesses and schools to find solutions.
Columbia Basin College will begin a bachelor of science in nursing degree in spring quarter 2017. The first CBC RN-BSN class will be for 25 students. Applications are available at columbiabasin.edu/nursing through Feb. 1, and classes begin April 3. The addition of the degree is in response to state and national recommendation to increase the number of nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level or higher. The CBC degree is a completion degree and those with an associate degree in nursing are eligible for the program. The program can be completed in as little as four quarters and much of the coursework is completed online. The program has been approved by the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and is seeking new applicant status through the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education accrediting body.
Pet food drive through Dec. 20
Because many seniors are on a fixed income, Changing Places, a company that helps seniors to move or downsize their homes, is sponsoring donation sites to drop off pet food of any kind so seniors can feed their furry companions. The drive runs through Dec. 20. Pet food can be dropped off at any of the following locations: Retter & Company Sotheby’s International Realty, 329 N. Kellogg St., Kennewick; Century 21 Tri-Cities, 89 Gage Blvd., Richland; Life Care Center, 44 Goethals Drive, Richland; Coldwell Banker, 8836 Gage Blvd., Kennewick; Paw’s Natural Pet Emporium, 8551 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick; Doggie Divaz Salon, 210 N. Perry St., Kennewick; Brookdale Canyon Lakes, 2802 W. 35th Ave., Kennewick; and Blylee’s Natural Pet Food and Supplies, 8823 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco.
MARTINEZ TECHNICAL INSTITUTE 2202 GARLAND ST.• PASCO
A longtime Pasco trucking company has opened up a new school, Martinez Technical Institute in Pasco, to provide commercial driver’s license certification. Martinez Trucking’s school at 2202 Garland St. in Pasco will be used for training and education. The building is scheduled to be finished in December. The single-story, 1,800-square-foot building features 10-foot walls, cathedral ceilings, a custom epoxy floor and a front exterior that’s stucco-wrapped with stone accents.
Martinez Technical Institute Offering Class A and B CDL courses and endorsements in hazmat, doubles, triples and tankers.
It features classroom space, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and three office rooms. The building cost $120,000 and the land was $175,000. The owners of Martinez Trucking have been in the trucking industry for 35 years. They have four fulltime employees. Zenaido Martinez III, Stephen Martinez and Nathan Martinez are the supervisors. For more information, call 509-545-4575, visit mti. live or find the company on Facebook.
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Real Estate & Construction
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
25
Apartment complexes popping up in Tri-Cities BY DORI O’NEAL
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
It’s good to live in Southeastern Washington. The Tri-Cities is among the top 10 areas in the nation growing by leaps and bounds — so much so, the housing market is having a tough time keeping up with the demand. “The affordable cost of living combined with great schools, low crime, favorable weather, minimal traffic, recreational activities and a comfortable quality of life make the Tri-Cities an attractive place to live and do business,” said Emily EstesCross, economic development manager for the city of Kennewick. “This is especially the case for the aging population that rely on a fixed income and young families just starting out.” She said that Kennewick has diversified its economy over the years, creating job opportunities for people with various skill sets. “It makes sense for people who can’t afford to live in major metropolitan areas like Portland or Seattle to head three hours east for a job, house and the sunshine that accompanies it,” Estes-Cross said. Kerwin Jensen, director of community development for the city of Richland, agreed: “At a statewide level, we are a desirable area to live. We have great shopping opportunities, little traffic congestion, terrific schools, nice weather and sunshine, plenty of outdoor recreation and a low crime rate. And, we continue to
have a very stable and improving economy.” Each city has stretched its boundary from its downtown area to create new neighborhoods and business districts, which has resulted in a boom of construction both in apartment dwellings and singlefamily homes, Jensen said. “The economy in the entire Tri-Cities region continues to strengthen,” Jensen said. “In Richland, we are seeing more single-family construction than we had last year, (and) commercial growth continues to increase throughout the city, especially in the Queensgate area.” Richland has four major apartment complexes in the works: Innovation Center Apartments, a $14 million site with 147 units; Home 2 Suites, a $9 million site with 120 units; The Lodge at Columbia Point, an $8 million site with 82 units; and, Columbia Point Apartments, another $8 million site, with 94 units. In Kennewick, the $8 million Badger Canyon Apartments on Ridgeline Drive will include 642 units in 14 buildings on 46 acres staggered on a slope with sweeping views of Badger Canyon. The city of Kennewick has issued six apartment building permits for a total of 264 units. Two of these six buildings have been finalized, with 96 available currently units. The complex is expected to be completed next year. And Pasco’s Road 68 area continues to swell with new homes and apartments springing up around a bustling business district, though no apartments were
The first phase of Badger Canyon apartment complex on Ridgeline Drive in Kennewick features 168 units and was completed earlier this year by Michigan-based Edward Rose & Sons, a real estate development and management company. When the complex is finished sometime next year, it will feature 642 units staggered on a slope with sweeping views of Badger Canyon along Ridgeline Drive.
permitted in Pasco this year. “I am not aware of any pending permit applications either,” said Rick White, Pasco’s community and economic development director. Pasco has issued 360 single-family building permits through Nov. 30, that’s up from the 220 issued for all of 2015. Student housing projects also are planned at Washington State University Tri-Cities in Richland and Columbia Basin College in Pasco.
Multi-family housing inventory, 2015 Benton County: 23,352, up 4.8 percent over 2010 u Franklin County: 8,206, up 5.9 percent over 2010 u
Source: Washington Center for Real Estate Research
26
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
CARPET, From page 23 The first Cost Less Carpet location in Pasco began carrying carpet and vinyl. In the late 1990s, the company brought in ceramic tile containers, followed by hardwood and laminate. Glass and stone mosaics came next. “Around 2005, we started bringing in natural stone containers from Turkey, as well as slabs from Brazil and India,” Rupp said. “Today we have full lines of hardwood, tile, laminate flooring, natural store, vinyl plank, and even exterior stone—besides carpet and vinyl.” Cost Less Carpet buys product from all over the world. The United States, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Turkey and China are most common. “We don’t buy from distributors like other flooring stores. We buy full containers
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
or truckloads only, and by buying this way, we are able to offer our customers lower prices,” Rupp said. “We are able to do this because we remove at least one middleman, and sometimes two. We actually sell to other flooring stores in markets we don’t have physical locations.”
The new Cost Less Carpet distribution center will be
62,000
Customers benefit from Cost Less Carpet’s large inventory, he said, adding that buyers are able to walk away with product the same day without having to order anything. If they don’t have a product a customer needs, Rupp said they can get it. And while the business doesn’t sell warranties like some others, he said its huge volume of carpet mills can promptly handle claims. “When you combine the highest quality products with the lowest prices, and then add great customer service, it’s a home run for our customers and us,” he said.
More stores planned
In addition to the growth in the Tri-City market, Cost Less Carpet is expanding in the north. The store just entered into a contract in the Spokane Valley on a
square feet.
30,000-square-foot building on the corner of Sullivan Road and Sprague Avenue. The owners also are looking at locations on the Interstate 5 corridor in Oregon and Washington, and said another store might open in Idaho. “We want to be, and have been, the lowprice leader,” said Rupp, who credits customers with their success. “We look forward to exceeding their expectations long into the future.” For more information about Cost Less Carpet, including applying for future positions, product selection and photos, visit the store website at costlesscarpetrichland.com Store hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
NORTHWEST ORTHOPAEDIC AND SPORTS MEDICINE 1351 FOWLER ST.• RICHLAND
Northwest Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine is planning to consolidate its practices at 1351 Fowler St. in Richland in the Spaulding Business Park in the first quarter of 2017. The clinic will offer outpatient health care services, including clinical, surgical, imaging and therapy. The new building is 36,000 square foot in size. The first floor will feature an outpatient surgery center
Thank you Leone & Keeble!
with three operating rooms, an imaging center and outpatient therapy space. The second floor will have an outpatient orthopedic clinic with 15 exam rooms and a procedure room. The project cost, including land, is $12 million. Spaulding Surgeons LLC, a group of orthopedic surgeons who own Northwest Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, owns the new building.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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Pasco Senior Center to close, programs to move to new building BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
The regulars at the Pasco Senior Center building soon will be 3- to 5-year-olds instead of those over 60. The city of Pasco sold the building to the Pasco School District for $1.26 million and will be out of it by Dec. 30. City officials say declining use of the senior center at 1315 N. Seventh St. over the past 15 years prompted the sale. Senior programs will now share space with other city recreation programs inside a triple-wide modular building at 505 N. First Ave. Meals on Wheels and foot care clinics along with other senior recreation programs will be located there. “We’re not going to dedicate any space just for seniors. It’s just not successful anymore. Assisted living places provide (activities) for them now, or they just aren’t coming anymore and are more active,” said Rick Terway, the city’s director of administrative and community services. The majority of the senior center’s programs will be moved to the newly remodeled triple-wide previously used for city storage and offices. The building adjacent to the Greyhound bus and Amtrak station is expected to open in mid-December. “User populations have shrunk over the years. We’ll have senior programs but the facility won’t be specifically for seniors,” Terway said. “Our long-term plan is we are going to build a community center on the west end of town.” The city will spend about $160,000 to renovate the modular building, which doesn’t have a name yet. The city council approved the sale of the senior center, built in 1981, in June 2015. Over the years, the city tried to hold youth events there, but Terway said “they don’t want to come there because it said
Workers from Ray Poland and Sons prepare the parking lot for paving at the new modular building on First Avenue near the Amtrak and Greyhound bus station in Pasco that will house most of the city’s senior programs, including Meals on Wheels and its foot care clinics. The building is expected to open in mid-December. The city sold the senior center on Seventh Avenue to the Pasco School District.
‘senior center.’” Joseph Diaz, 74, of Pasco, spends about four hours a day at the senior center playing card games like rummy or spades. He’s been a regular for the past six years, and said he’ll continue to play cards at the new location, even though it’s farther from his house. “Things have been slowing down and I don’t know why,” Diaz said of the center. He said part of it is the center’s fault for cutting some programs — like the gift shop and dances — a few years ago. “That place used to be packed. Every single day,” he said. Barb Whitten, 79, of Pasco, called the sale of the building “a shame” but admits she doesn’t use the center any more. She used to regularly attend senior foot care clinics but stopped going when she learned she no longer qualified for the treatments. “I just really haven’t done much there,” she said. She’s one of the busy seniors Terway referred to. Instead of socializing at the center, she meets up with a group of about 20 senior
citizens for morning coffee at McDonald’s on Road 68 three times a week. She also recently joined the Red Hat Society social group and attends a monthly coffee klatch at Spudnuts in Richland. Lucilla Castillo, 80, who has lived in Pasco for 55 years, visits the senior center every six to eight weeks for the foot care clinic, a habit she’s kept up for the past three years. “I’m happy with the place I go now,” she said. She noted the Tri-Cities’ growth over the years when talking about the sale of the senior center. “I lived happy in Pasco for so many years. All the Tri-Cities is a nice place to raise a family. The schools are excellent,”
she said. The city’s sale of the senior center to the school district will play a role in continuing this educational excellence by housing its early learning program under one roof, school officials say. The Pasco School District plans to spend about $4 million to renovate the senior center into an early learning center for preschoolers ages 3 to 5. The work begins in January and is expected to take a year, with preschoolers beginning classes there in January 2018, said Kristi Docken, the district’s director of special services and early intervention. The early learning center — which has yet to be named — will be able to accommodate about 280 children. The district enrolls 148 special education preschoolers and 120 preschoolers in its Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, or ECEAP, an income-based, state-funded preschool program. “Between those two programs, they’re using several classrooms in our elementary sites throughout the district. By putting the preschool programs in the center, we will help provide classroom space in our elementary schools, and the preschool center will provide inclusion opportunities for our preschool-age students,” Docken said.
uSENIOR CENTER, Page 35
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
HOUSING, From page 1 Losey was working in the insurance and financial fields when he became involved with the agency that supports the residential construction industry and related businesses. He started as a member before getting elected to the board in 2004 — but he never got a chance to serve. “I would have started in 2005, but the executive director decided to retire, and the staff said, ‘Maybe you should consider applying,’” he said. He said his financial background has been an asset. “Everything that touches the housing industry falls back to interest rates, labor and land. Having a mortgage background helps with understanding the industry and where it’s going,” said Losey.
Labor concerns
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Labor is one of the key reasons the Tri-Cities housing market is unlikely to continue growing at the rate it saw this year, Losey said. He said the construction work force lost more than a million workers across the country in 2008, and a third of those workers didn’t come back after the construction industry picked back up. Couple that with the industry continuing to lose workers to retirement and a shrinking labor pool and it takes a toll. (See story on page 24) “A lot of expectations for kids is to get a four-year degree and go out and find a job, and most of those four-year degrees are not in the trades,” Losey said. “To a certain degree, it’s looked at as a step back than some of the white-
collar jobs, which is unfortunate because it’s a rewarding industry for those who have a skilled craft.” To get future employees excited about the construction industry again, Losey works with area schools. For instance, Walla Walla has a carpentry program for students and Pasco has a vocational building program. “Those classes are critical to make sure that as our construction work force ages, we have people ready to fill those positions,” he said. “For those who are wired, who like to create, in construction, their work will be there for decades. It leaves a lasting impression.”
Educating students
The Building Industry Association of
Washington, or BIAW, is also working to curtail the labor shortage seen not only in the Tri-Cities, but also across the state. BIAW’s Jennifer Hayes said the association has made it a priority to work with legislators, businesses and schools to find solutions. “BIAW is a member of the Washington team of the National Governor’s Association Policy Academy on Workbased Learning,” she said. “Washington is one of six states participating in the academy to help 16- to 19-year-olds learn about and pursue careers that use science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as other industries that use these skills.” uHOUSING, Page 31
PASCO POLICE COMMUNITY SERVICES BUILDING 215 W. SYLVESTER ST.• PASCO
The new Pasco Police Community Services Building triples the size of the current police station. The $8 million project at 215 W. Sylvester St. involved the construction of about 38,000 square feet of space. The building sits on 7.7 acres east of the City Hall parking lot, between Nixon and Sylvester streets. The opening has been delayed until late December or early 2017, pending inspection. It has an industrial look with pre-cast concrete panels and Corten metal panels interspersed on the
front and oversized concrete blocks making up both ends of the building. The building has open ceilings, polished cement floors, LED lighting and zone heating. Wainscoting is placed on the walls four feet up from the floors. The facility has two separate basements and a 3,100-square-foot second floor. The bigger and better multipurpose space for the department will include room for administration, patrol, investigation, records, evidence room with separate secured room to store high-security weapons and explosives, a large garage where stolen and impounded vehicles can be stored, a large squad room and community meeting room that can seat about 120
people. There will be designated security camera parking spots to allow for “online purchase” exchanges to be done more securely. The new building was designed to serve the community for many years and to grow with the city of Pasco. Total Site Services of Richland is the general contractor. Kevin Stevens is the project manager, Scott Schurman is superintendent and Kyle Hintz is professional engineer. Design work was completed by Terence L. Thornhill Architect in Kennewick. For more information about the project, contact Kent McCue with the city of Pasco at 509-545-3444.
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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION HOUSING, From page 30 Hayes said careers in the construction field offer good family wages, with the average carpenter earning $50,020 annually in Washington state. Drywall installers bring in roughly $54,000 annually, and plumbers earn an average of nearly $68,800, according to the National Association of Home Builders. In 2017, BIAW will be involved with the Career and Technical Education Showcase, a competition that gives students — from high school to skills centers and colleges — an opportunity to show off their building expertise. Teens and young adults will create and build modest homeless shelters on the Capitol campus in Olympia. “Ultimately our education system, which has minimized training for blue collar work and strongly encouraging students to become college prepared, must change and again provide things like shop classes and skill training,” Hayes said.
Available land
But even if a construction company has a full crew to work with, land availability also comes into play, and Losey said the Growth Management Act is a hindrance. The law was designed to identify and protect critical areas and natural resource lands by designating urban growth areas. When it was adopted by the Legislature in 1990, Losey said the goal was also to prevent urban sprawl. However, he believes the law artificially restricts the amount of available property. “Put a circle around the city, and all the homes have to build inside that circle,” he
said. “The problem is, the growth management hearings board, they’re all government appointed, so whatever decision they make, they only answer to the governor. So local control gets trumped by the will of the governor. So you take the city of Kennewick that wants to plan for the future, and they’ve targeted areas out by (Highway) 395 and Hildebrand, but because of the GMA, it doesn’t allow for them to (build there). “Schools have been arguing to build outside of the urban growth boundaries too. You restrict the amount of land that’s available to build on and it causes the price to go up.” The concern over available land extends well beyond Benton and Franklin counties. In the Puget Sound region, Hayes said King County has seen a significant jump in home prices, increasing 14.5 percent in year-over-year prices, and that most urban markets will continue to experience regulatory based scarcity-driven appreciation—which ultimately affects a family’s ability to buy a home. “By defining land as underutilized, it encourages the demotion of single-family homes for apartment complexes, running counter to the GMA’s own goal of preserving housing stock,” Hayes said, adding that BIAW will be working with legislators in 2017 to address the effects of the GMA at the local level. “The buildable land analysis needs to provide more real data to policy makers and be expanded beyond the six Western Washington counties to all GMA counties.”
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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Rep. Dan Newhouse speaks with Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities Executive Director Jeff Losey during an awards presentation Oct. 13 in Kennewick. The HBA presented Rep. Newhouse with the National Association of Home Builders’ Defender of Housing Award, which recognizes federal legislators who have demonstrated strong support for housing and NAHB positions on key issues facing the building industry.
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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
ALMOND ORTHODONTICS 8305 W. QUINAULT AVE.• KENNEWICK
Almond Orthodontics’ new clinic is scheduled to be completed Dec. 23 and open for business Jan. 3 at 8305 W. Quinault Ave. in Kennewick. The new office, adjacent to Great Harvest Bread Co. and Costco, will allow for better accommodations and parking for patients and their families, and it will be twice as large as its former location on Gage Boulevard in Richland. The 8,500-square-foot building features 6,000
square feet on the upper floor for Almond Orthodontics, 2,500 square feet below for storage and 1,800 square feet for a future tenant. Almond Orthodontics was founded in 2007 by Brian Almond and his wife and orthodontic assistant Rachel. It since has grown and a new partner — Brian’s older brother John — joined in 2014. John had practiced in Puyallup for 18 years in his own successful
orthodontic practice. Almond Orthodontics’ goal has always been to give its patients excellent service, exceptional results and a wonderful value. The contractor is W McKay Construction in Kennewick and the designer is Harms Engineering of Pasco. For more information, visit almondsmiles.com or call 509-628-0110.
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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION uNETWORKING PNNL’s Baker receives ACS Rising Star award
Erin Baker, a bioanalytical chemist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is one of six winners of the American Chemical Society’s Rising Star award. The ACS Erin Baker Women Chemists Committee gives the national honor to up to 10 exceptional early to mid-career women chemists. Baker is a senior research scientist in PNNL’s biological sciences division. Her
specialty is studying biological systems by using ion mobility spectrometry in conjunction with mass spectrometry. She has a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate in chemistry from Montana State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, respectively. Baker will be recognized with the other recipients at an ACS award symposium in April in San Francisco.
Trios Health receives initial accreditation status
Trios Health has received initial accreditation status as a sponsoring institution of graduate medical education by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. ACGME is one of two accrediting bodies for medical residency programs in the U.S.; the other is the American Osteopathic Association. Trios Health’s residency programs are
accredited under the AOA. The AOA and ACGME are in the process of unifying under ACGME, requiring all AOA accredited programs nationwide to now seek ACGME accreditation. All residency programs require an institutional sponsor to become accredited. Trios Health applied to be its own institutional sponsor, which is allowed under ACGME. Trios Health’s initial accreditation status confirms its application substantially complies with the requirements. Trios Health is the Kennewick Public Hospital District’s system of care serving the greater Tri-Cities.
Tanke earns AIF designation from Fiduciary360
Ben Tanke, associate retirement plans adviser with Petersen Hastings in Kennewick, has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation from Fiducia-
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ry360. The Fi360 organization offers training, tools and resources to promote a culture of fiduciary responsibility and improve the deciBen Tanke sion making process of fiduciaries. The designation signifies knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care. Petersen Hastings is a registered investment adviser in Kennewick and has nine AIF advisers.
TRI-CITIES COMMUNITY HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Tri-Cities Community Health’s administration and support programs expect to move into a new building at 800 W. Court St. in Pasco during the first quarter of 2017. The health agency recognizes the need to expand medical services and a way to accomplish this is to remove all non-clinical staff from the 515 W. Court St. location to allow for greater clinical options. The building at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Court Street will be for the agency’s executive, administrative, financial, purchasing and information technology departments and board members. The facility’s interior features nearly 22,000 square feet of space with more than 70 dedicated parking stalls for staff and visitors. The removal of these administrative groups from the Court Street building will provide greater expansion options for the medical clinic and provide more patient
800 W. COURT ST.• PASCO
and staff parking. Developing a better one-stop shopping concept for patients is the objective. The greater the service variety options, the more convenient it is for those seeking medical, dental or behavioral health services. The total remodeling cost will be more than $1.8 million for construction and furnishing with the final amount to be determined. Elite Construction & Development in Kennewick is the general contractor. The owners are Trini Garibay and David Magana, lifelong friends with a strong sense of quality and commitment to those they serve. Angelo Ciulla is the project manager. This is the seventh project Elite Construction has done for Tri-Cities Community Health. N2K Design of Richland is the architect. TCCH officials say “they have done an amazing job of design and project design oversight.” The building was designed
with future growth in mind. The TCCH executive leadership team is overseeing the project, with Chief Operating Officer Rick Ballard chairing the committee. The existing and future vision of TCCH is directed by new CEO Jennifer Robinson. With more than 30 years of experience in health care, she is passionate about improving care for patients and improving the process in which TCCH provides health care.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
LEGISLATURE, From page 3 In 2015, Brown’s bill to study putting such a manufacturing plant in Washington — probably at Hanford — stalled in the House. The Senate easily passed it, and it received strong bipartisan support from the House Technology & Economic Development Committee before ending up in the end-of-session limbo that stopped numerous bills. Brown did not revive the bill in 2016, which had a short housekeeping 60-day session in which both sides more or less decided not to push any serious legislation because of the fall elections. The 2017 session is expected to last from four to six months with major bills being pushed. Also, 2017 will be the earliest that the designers of the nation’s first small modular reactors are expected to decide whether Washington is a good place to build a plant for manufacturing reactors’ components to assemble elsewhere. NuScale of Corvallis, Oregon, is looking at several states scattered across the nation as potential manufacturing sites. The prime manufacturing site likely will be a place near where utilities are ordering a significant number of small modular
reactors. Tri-City officials hope it will attract a manufacturing plant and at least one small modular reactor to a partlybuilt reactor site in southern Hanford. But numerous questions must be addressed before nuclear-oriented TriCities will know whether it will get either a small modular reactor or a manufacturing plant. The initial cost estimate to take the project from design to the first Idaho Falls reactor is roughly $1 billion. In recent years, the deep-pocketed global giant Fluor Corp. bought NuScale. NuScale, Energy Northwest, the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (a Utah version of Energy Northwest) and the U.S. Department of Energy facility at Idaho Falls have agreed to build the first such reactor in Idaho by 2023. NuScale submitted its design to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2015, hoping for a green light in late 2018 or early 2019. Critics cite the lack of any track record on cost or safety for small modular reactors, plus concerns over the nation’s lack of a permanent place to store used nuclear fuel. No one has built a commercial small modular reactor yet.
Real Estate & Construction Another wrinkle is that a 1981 state law requires a public utilities group conduct a public ballot on any significant energy generation project is likely to increase utility rates. Consequently, a public vote stretching from Seattle to Kennewick could lurk in the future of a small modular reactor project if Energy Northwest’s rates might be affected.
Culinary school in Kennewick
A recent TRIDEC survey showed local interest in setting up a $10 million culinary school in Kennewick, along Columbia Drive, Adrian said. Columbia Basin College proposed a school for 70 to 80 potential students, is eyeing the state as a potential source of several million dollars for it, Adrian said. He has not yet talked specifically to local legislators about seeking the money, but he plans to do so in the near future.
Spokane medical school funding could reach Tri-Cities
The new Washington State University medical school in Spokane could eventually send fourth-year and possibly thirdyear students to work in Tri-City hospitals, Adrian said, if the Legislature allocates money for such work. Adrian said many medical students tend to stay in the areas where they did their training.
New academic building at WSU-Tri-Cities
A new academic building is in the works for the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus in Richland with a
potential completion date of 2019. So far, $400,000 in state money has been allocated for pre-design work for a building of possibly 40,000 square feet. A bigger 2017 appropriation would enable the predesign work to tackle additional phases of that project. Adrian said additional phases translate to more building space. Adrian said the new buildings likely will be used for science, technology, engineering and math classes.
Can local revitalization funding be expanded?
Adrian hopes the Legislature will expand the money appropriated for a statewide revitalization fund, which first went into effect in 2009. The program makes annual appropriations to 18 projects statewide, including two in the TriCities. But the program needs the fund increased for enough money to become available for another Tri-Cities project. Kennewick receives $500,000 annually from this pot of money to help pay off work on streets in the Southridge area, plus construction of an indoor sports pavilion. As of 2014, this work has been linked to creating 94 new jobs, according to a 2014 state revenue department report. Richland receives $330,000 annually from the same fund with credit for 80 new jobs as of 2014. Kennewick has eyed this fund as a way to pay for infrastructure improvements in the Vista Field area.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 uNETWORKING Gastroenterologist joins Trios Medical Group
Dr. Tegpal Atwal has joined Trios Medical Group’s gastroenterology team to provide patient care at Trios Care Center at Vista Field in Kennewick. Atwal previously practiced gastroenterology at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Dr. Tegpal Atwal Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and an advanced gastroenterology fellowship in pancreatology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Atwal received his medical degree from Dayanand Medical College in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, and completed residency training in internal medicine at Lincoln Medical Center Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. He is board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. Trios Health is the Kennewick Public Hospital District’s system of care serving the greater Tri-Cities.
WSU Tri-Cities named military-friendly school
Washington State University Tri-Cities, which enrolls about 1,800 student veterans, earned the 2017 Military Friendly School designation from Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, STEM Jobs and Military Spouse magazines. First published in 2009, Military Friends is a resource for veterans selecting a college, university or trade school to receive education and training to pursue a civilian career. Institutions earning the designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from Victory Media’s proprietary survey. WSU Tri-Cities will be showcased with other schools in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools, special issues of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse and at militaryfriendly. com. About nine percent of WSU Tri-Cities’ student population are veterans. For more information about WSU Tri-Cities’ commitment to supporting military students, visit tricities.wsu.edu/veterans.
Hawley, Johnson re-elected to CBDL board
The Columbia Basin Development League, a water group that supports the Columbia Basin Project and future development by protecting its water rights and educating the public on the renewable resource and multiple purpose benefits of the project, recently named its board members. Two Franklin County residents were among them. Orman Johnson of Connell and Matt Hawley of Pasco were re-elected as trustees to three-year terms. Johnson is president of Johnson Agriprises, a diversified farming operation in Adams County. He also serves on the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District board and is the current CBDL board chair. Hawley works for Lamb Weston/ConAgra Foods’ farming enterprises and has responsibilities surrounding different facets of corporate water right interests.
STEM Like ME! program receives $5,000 grant
The Mid-Columbia STEM Network’s STEM Like Me! program, which connects
students in underrepresented STEM fields with STEM professionals engaged in environmental remediation at the Hanford nuclear reservation, recently was awarded a $5,000 FieldSTEM Career Connected Learning grant from Washington STEM and Pacific Education Institute. The grants will allow the program to increase the number, reach and impact of career learning opportunities. Career connected learning is a continuum of awareness, exploration and work experiences where students develop skills to support their future career success.
Raymond appointed to state forensic council
Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond of Pasco was recently appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to the state’s Forensic Investigations Council. His term expires in August of 2020.
Bradshaw named Benton REA general manager
Michael J. Bradshaw has been named the new general manager/executive vice president of Benton Rural Electric Association. Bradshaw has been acting as the interim general manager since February. Bradshaw has 35 years of experience in the electric utility industry, includMichael Bradshaw ing 27 with Benton REA. He was previously manager of finance and special services for the cooperative.
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SENIOR CENTER, From page 27 Young children with disabilities will benefit from interactions with the other preschoolers, Docken said. The district’s four ECEAP and seven special education teachers also will benefit from the new center as they’ll be able to better collaborate and participate in professional development opportunities, she said. It also puts the district’s additional resources together for special education such as speech services and occupational and physical therapy, Docken said.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
FAMILY OWNED
39
Family-owned businesses find it’s relatively easy to work together BY JESSICA HOEFER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
For many people, co-workers are an extension of family. They share stories around the water cooler, celebrate birthdays with office cupcakes or luncheons, step up to help when times get rough and exchange gifts around the holidays. But for some employees, like those working at Brutzman’s Office Solutions in Richland and Tippett Company in Pasco, co-workers literally are family. Bob Tippett was attending Boise State University when his father, Robert Tippett, called to say he’d be in town and wanted to have dinner. “And he explained to me that his company was growing more than he could handle, and he wanted to know if I wanted to come to work with him,” he said. “My wife knew I had an itch to be in business that had to be scratched, so (my wife) Meri Lee said, ‘Let’s do it and stick it out two years whether it’s good or bad.’ And it turned out Dad was a great mentor.” Tippett Company launched in 1969 with Robert Tippett acting as a mortgage loan correspondent for a major life insurance company. He specialized in large
Family members Bob Tippett, Charles Laird, Ashley Tippett-Laird and Kirt Shaffer enjoy the support that comes from working with relatives at Tippett Company in Pasco.
irrigation farm projects, and with Bob Tippett’s education in accounting, the father-son team quickly diversified into orchards, vineyards, dairies and cattle ranches. “For a young guy, my dad gave me a lot more responsibility,” said younger Tippett. “I had to learn a lot of things pretty fast, things that I depended on him for. I was never worried working with Dad. We got
along and never had a difficult relationship.” Robert Tippett died in 1979, but as Bob and Meri Lee’s children grew, so did their family’s involvement in the business. “I have always worked for my dad in some capacity, from pulling weeds at his properties to getting my real estate license the summer of 1995, to my current role in property management in accounting,” said Ashley Tippett-Laird, whose father
brought her into ownership in 2007. “I always knew I would either work for him or we would work together in some aspect.” Tippett’s son, Kirt Shaffer, joined the company in 2004. He specializes in commercial property sales and leasing, agricultural property sales and leasing, investment analysis, project management, real estate and business consulting and property development. Like his sister, Shaffer became an owner in 2007. Next, Tippett-Laird’s husband, Charles Laird, became part of the family team in 2006, and an owner in 2010. He specializes in many of the same areas as his brotherin-law and said one of the best parts about working with family is that it’s a safe environment to grow in. “There’s not a limit to what we can do. If we work well together, we can go into other business ventures, and that’s a pretty exciting prospect,” Laird said. But because they’re around each other so often, it’s natural for shoptalk to seep into conversations at family gatherings. “My mom will say, ‘That’s enough of that,’” Tippett-Laird said. “That’s a struggle, but it’s also one way we relate, it’s common ground. It’s good and bad.” uFAMILY, Page 44
40
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Family Owned
Family-owned Kennewick construction company stays focused on service BY JEFF MORROW
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Zak O’Brien knows how important it is to take care of customers. If you don’t do that, you’re not in business very long. O’Brien Construction Company Inc. has always understood this fact. It’s a reason the Kennewick company has been in business for close to 44 years. “My dad started this business in 1973,” said Zak, the company’s vice president and general manager, as well as co-owner with his father, Tom O’Brien. “It was really out of necessity.” The elder O’Brien grew up in Prosser. But by the time he was 19 years old, he was living in Hermiston and working on farms. “Hermiston in the early 1970s was booming,” Zak said. “And agriculture got him going.” But Tom O’Brien also saw a demand for construction, especially in the agricultural business. So he founded the company and today is the president. Zak, who runs the day-to-day operations of the company, said agriculture is still a key component to the business. “We’re a design-build general contractor,” Zak said. “We design for commercial, agriculture and industrial.” Besides Tom and Zak, Mickel den Hoed, Zak’s sister, is the company’s marketing and public relations director,
Zak O’Brien, left, and Tom O’Brien of O’Brien Construction in Kennewick head up the family-owned business that has been operating in the Tri-Cities for almost 44 years. (Courtesy O’Brien Construction)
making it a bigger family affair. But how does a small family business with 24 employees last so long? “The key has been planning for the worst, hoping for the best,” Zak said. “We’ve always been frugal or conservative with cash. Dad was always paying off his equipment, and when there was an economic downturn, we were able to weather the storm.” But there are other reasons for their longevity. “It’s also about taking care of your customers,” Zak said. “When you are
doing work with a customer, you do a great job, and you stand behind that job. When there are down times, we’ve also done follow-up that we’re not paid to do.” It’s making sure the customer is always happy, he said. And it helps if you love what you’re doing. “It’s really fun,” Zak said. “We listen to what customers want. Ask key questions. Then we go out and get it done.” O’Brien Construction uses mainly a design-build concept, in which the firm
designs and then builds the project. “This helps us streamline things,” Zak said. But he’s quick to add that the business still works with many architects outside the company. He also won’t pick out one single project as a favorite. “Every one of our design-build projects is special,” he said. Yet some will be familiar to TriCitians. O’Brien Construction built the Toyota of Tri-Cities complex on West Canal Drive in Kennewick. The company impressed Dwight Marquart of Toyota of Tri-Cities. “We employed O’Brien Construction in 2006-07 to construct our 43,000-square-foot Toyota dealership in Kennewick,” said Marquart in a testimonial. “We were very happy with the timeliness and attention to detail in getting this project completed and would have no reservations recommending O’Brien Construction.” Zak sees the company doing more and more of the design-build process down the road, as well as bid-build projects. “I see us growing into doing more of our own site work, our own excavation,” he added. O’Brien Construction isn’t just successful in business. The company also works hard to be a good community supporter. uO’BRIEN, Page 47
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
FAMILY OWNED
41
Richland Bell Furniture spans three generations at same location BY DORI O’NEAL
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Three generations of the Carroll family have made Richland Bell Furniture the go-to Tri-City store for quality home furnishings and good old-fashioned customer service. When Joe Carroll first opened his store 68 years ago, his son Pete was a youngster. By the time Pete hit high school, he was working in his dad’s store. Today, 70-year-old Pete is still selling furniture in the same store, in the same location at the Parkway in Richland and with the same customer service philosophy his late father taught him. “We’ve always been a family-friendly store with good customer service and lowpressure sales,” he said. “When I began working for my dad, he had me start at the bottom working in the stock room and helping with deliveries because he wanted me to learn all aspects of the business. Selling furniture is all this family knows and we love it.” That same work ethic was passed on to Pete’s son Anthony, who now handles most of the day-to-day operation at the furniture store. “I started at rock bottom just like my dad, learning all about the business, from deliveries to sales, and starting out making just $3.50 an hour,” said 38-year-old Anthony. “I didn’t like the low wage back then, but I loved the business and didn’t want to disappoint my grandfather or my dad.”
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Anthony’s own kids — ages 8 and 11 — help in the store these days, whether it’s cleaning up the stock room, dusting furniture or helping with deliveries. So how has a family-owned furniture store been able to survive into the 21st century competing against the internet and discount furniture stores. Pete is pragmatic about it all. “You get what you pay for,” he said. “We’ve certainly had some tough years, but we survived.” He also believes the reason Richland Bell Furniture survived for 68 years is because of the store’s commitment to friendly service to customers, along with offering top-of-the-line, quality merchandise, such as La-Z-Boy, Flexsteel and Stressless brands. “Good customer service never goes out of style. If our customers have a problem with a piece of furniture they buy from us, we take care of it,” Pete said. “There’s no corporate home office to deal with. And our deliveries are always free within the Tri-City area.” Bell Furniture also offers in-house financing for customers. There are six employees, counting Pete and Anthony, some of whom have been working at the store for decades, like Laurel Surplus, who has worked for the Carrolls for almost 30 years. “I enjoy working with people,” she said. “And with Pete and Anthony, you couldn’t ask for better bosses.” Another aspect of Richland Bell Furniture that the Carrolls are proud of is
Pete Carroll stands among a selection of the popular Stressless brand chairs sold at Richland Bell Furniture. The three-generation furniture store opened in 1948 and is still operating in the same location at The Parkway in Richland.
that their inventory doesn’t come from China. It’s all American-made furniture, except for its Stressless brand that comes from Norway. It’s that superior quality, as well as customer service, that encourages many of Richland Bell’s customers to return year after year. Dave Stewart, who lives in rural Benton County, has been shopping at the store for years. He prefers the locally-owned furniture store for several reasons. “The quality of the furniture is excellent,” he said. “Once we even bought a couch and love seat and had a few issues with the pieces after they got them home. Anthony replaced the pieces, no questions asked. Now that’s amazing customer service to me.”
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As for the Carrolls, they hope to add a fourth generation to Richland Bell Furniture’s long-standing presence in the Tri-Cities and someday pass the torch to Anthony’s children. And though Pete has turned over most of the duties of running the store to his son, he doesn’t see himself retiring either. “I still enjoy this business and helping people find the right furniture,” he said. “And I like being a part of this community. But I would like to find more time to play golf.” Store hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Richland Bell Furniture is at 714 The Parkway. For more information, call 509943-9111 or visit richlandbell.com.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
FAMILY OWNED
Strong leadership contributes to Richland company’s 41 years of success BY JEFF MORROW
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Continuity can be a key to long-term success. It seems to be the case for Abadan TriCities, a Richland company going strong since 1975. “It’s cross-generational. I’m the fourth owner,” said Tyler Best, president and general manager. “Each leader, from John Wells, the original owner, to Lee Pinnell, to my dad, has been great at passing down knowledge.” It all combines for a family-owned business that continues to succeed, Best said. “It’s ever-changing, and it’s great to work with awesome people and employ-
ees,” said Best, who has been with Abadan Tri-Cities for 15 years. Abadan was founded in 1953 in Spokane, selling and servicing office equipment. Best’s father, Bob Best, was working for Bonneville Blueprints in Boise, Idaho, while going to college in 1973. “He heard about Abadan in Spokane and went there in 1974,” his son said. “He spent a year there. Lee Pinnell liked him and asked him to start a branch in the TriCities.” Bob Best was general manager of the Abadan Tri-Cities branch for 12 years, from 1975 to 1987. In 1987, Bob Best bought the Tri-Cities branch from the Spokane owners and has
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owned it since. In 2005, he built a large building in Richland to better serve customers. “Our goal is to take care of people,” said Tyler, who is a co-owner with his father today, and is in the process of buying the business from his dad. His brother Chris has joined the company and is a technician, while his sister Nicole has been with the company for 13 years and works as office manager. Abadan also has 39 full-time employees. “So we have a big Abadan family of 39,” Tyler said. In an ever-changing world, people still use paper products, he said. “We still do pretty well. People still heavily use paper,” Tyler said. Abadan’s 26,500-square-foot facility in Richland offers copiers and printers, service technicians, equipment, supplies and parts. And Tyler says it’s important to stay on top of the latest technology. “There are print expos every other year,” he said. “We have to go to them because the competition does it. And I want to make sure we always take care of the customer.” But Abadan is more than just paper. “We’re starting to go toward more solutions, to the software and app side,” Tyler
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said. “We work very closely with IT. Connectivity is important right now. And our future could be managing service IT and servicing robotics.” But as long as people need paper products, Abadan Tri-Cities will be ready to help. “The key to being in business so long, is we’ve had some really great leaders and great employees,” said Tyler. “And it’s caring about our employees and our customers. My dad’s philosophy has always been, ‘If it’s good for the customers, the employees and Abadan, it’s going to work.’” Another key to long-term success is local involvement. “Our company donates prints or work we do in the copy center,” said Tyler. “That reduces local charities’ costs.” The company is involved with Junior Achievement, United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties, Ignite Youth Mentoring and Tri-Cities Pregnancy Network. “I have a tough time saying no,” said Tyler. “This is a great community.” Abadan Tri-Cities is at 79 Aaron Drive in Richland. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Call 509-946-7693 or visit abadantc.com for more information.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
43
Cancer forces Kennewick man to close his business, reassess future BY SEAN BASSINGER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
David Nansel’s life took a turn for the worse last year. The Kennewick man was diagnosed with cancer, lost his job and struggled with depression. As he approaches the age of 50, he’s looking ahead to a future he never expected to have. The former dairy industry veteran and software development consultant had to shut down his business because he lost the ability to stand for long periods of time, a side effect of the chemotherapy that likely saved his life. As he emerges from a year of transitions and change, he landed a seasonal job with Amazon in Kennewick, which has given him a new lease on life and new hope. “You’re only limited by yourself as far as what you want to do and what you can do,” he said.
Work after cancer
After closing his own dairy industry consulting business in December 2015, Nansel’s job search started shortly after his chemotherapy treatments for stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma ended in March. He didn’t have much luck at first as he didn’t have a college degree. “That’s huge when you’re going to look for a job,” he said. Born and raised in Western Washington, Nansel spent the majority of his early life
David Nansel, 49, of Kennewick, sits on the front wheel of an antique tractor he bought about six years ago. Nansel, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma a year ago, painted his tractor pink to help promote cancer awareness. After his cancer diagnosis, he lost his job and sense of purpose until he landed a seasonal job at Amazon that’s helped him to refocus his career goals.
working for family-owned dairy operations. His grandfather was a farmer in Nebraska, a tradition his family has since continued on several farms. He graduated high school and joined the Army and when he got out, he went back to work in the dairy industry. His cancer treatment regimen left him struggling with blood clots in his legs, which affected his ability to stand for long periods of time and caused partial vision loss. “I just couldn’t do what I did in the dairy industry anymore being on my feet 12 hours a day,” he said, explaining why he
had to close the business. Changing how prospective job seekers view their work history can aid in the job search, experts say. People believe they’re only qualified to do one job or set of jobs, but several commong skills are needed in more jobs than most may think, said Bill Watson of WorkSource Columbia Basin. “What we really do counsel people on is taking account of their transferrable skills,” Watson said. It’s easier for employers to teach new workers the technical aspects of the job. Finding those experienced with softer
skills, such as interpersonal communication, customer service and punctuality, can be difficult, Watson said. Nansel’s own 16 years of customer service experience in the dairy industry fit into what he needed for a seasonal job at Amazon. Companies like Amazon, Dollar Tree, Target and Lowe’s frequently seek out seasonal workers in the Tri-Cities. At least 300 job seekers and 38 employers attended a WorkSource career fair event in October. Nansel started training several weeks ago and expressed interest in staying with the company. He said he loves working with customers and doing whatever he can to make them happy. “That’s easy for me,” he said. “That’s second-hand.” And when he’s not working, he continues to share his own cancer experience with the community. “David is far from done. He’ll rise to the next opportunity and challenge with the same grace and spirit that he handled cancer and the demise of his business. I think his journey is an inspiration to others who may be hanging on to businesses or career dreams while facing cancer or another serious illness. All is not lost…it’s in the attitude. Nowadays more people successfully battle what would have been a terminal diagnosis only decades ago,” said Lisa Teske, director of marketing and business development for Trios Health. uNANSEL, Page 44
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
NANSEL, From page 43
Spreading awareness
Though now separated, Nansel and his wife, a breast cancer survivor, worked to get the word out about breast cancer awareness and prevention. One idea Nansel had was less conventional than most — it involved an antique tractor. “I’ve had a fondness of antique tractors since (rebuilding them in high school),” he said. “I have the mechanical ability and I love tinkering with stuff.” Now referred to as his “survivor tractor,” Nansel found the antique Ford tractor
FAMILY, From page 39 Keith Brutzman is a third-generation employee at Brutzman’s Office Solutions, and he understands what it’s like to let work follow him home. “If you had a bad day at work, it’s harder to leave it at the shop,” he said. Keith and his siblings, Ken and Kathy, all started working for Brutzman’s Office Solutions as teenagers, doing janitorial work and stocking shelves. Their grandfather, Hal Brutzman, started the business in 1946, and his son, Tom, joined ten years later, with Tom’s wife, Mardelle, following in 1976. “We started out selling office supplies and added the Remington Rand typewriter line a couple of years later. We even sold fine stationary and greeting cards back then,” Ken Brutzman said. The company briefly ventured into the copy machine business, but rapid changes in technology prompted it to leave the copy
in an old barn about six years ago. He bought it for $300 and planned to put about $400 to $500 into repairs so he could use it on his five-acre property in Snohomish. After discovering he had to take it apart and rebuild it, he decided to paint it bright pink for breast cancer awareness. He dubbed it the Pink Pearl. “My intent then and still today is to turn heads and have people ask why so I can raise awareness,” he said. Nansel’s last chemotherapy treatment was on his birthday in March. After his infusion, he bundled up and drove his bright pink antique Ford tractor four miles across Kennewick to show his oncology
staff. As he put it, he celebrated his way. Since then he’s brought the tractor to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event at Columbia Park and Rising Above Cancer walk up Badger Mountain in Richland. He plans to add several multi-colored ribbons to the Pink Pearl to represent different types of cancer.
business to focus more on commercial office supplies. “Our relationship with Remington Rand evolved into filing systems and filing equipment division and storage, which includes movable shelving and automated vertical carousel equipment,” Ken Brutzman said. The Brutzman children started working full time for the business one by one, with Kathy Brutzman-Webber first in 1979. Ken joined in 1980, followed by Keith in 1985. “Being a part of a small family business that has been around for three generations has its trials, but the rewards more than make up for that—and we wouldn’t change it for the world,” said Kathy BrutzmanWebber. Her advice for entrepreneurs planning to work with family: “Be prepared to work a lot of hours and that you might be the last one to get paid.” “Make sure you have a relationship with
each other that you can handle 24/7,” Keith Brutzman added. “Have an in-depth discussion with the one you share a roof with, all the ins and outs of what you’re trying to accomplish. Then discuss it again…then discuss it again.” While Mardelle Brutzman retired in 2015, there are still a handful of Brutzman family members at the helm. Along with Mardelle’s children, Brutzman-Webber’s husband, Neil Webber, is a furniture installer, and sister-in-law, Kim Pullicino, works as a sales clerk. Ken Brutzman’s niece, Hannah Herom-Cobb, works in deliveries. “We get along really well together, which makes it easy to work together,” said Ken Brutzman. The family at Tippett Company feels the same way about their working relationship. Tippett-Laird wouldn’t be surprised if they, too, become a third-generation business. “My kids already help me with stuff. So when I go out to do my property management and inspections, my kids come with me and I pay them for their little jobs. They’ll pull weeds, they help me file,” she said. “The way my dad approached things, he always made me feel like it was totally a possibility to work for him or he’d partner with me to do something I wanted to do. And I’d like to do that for my kids.” Krista Patterson of Pasco said growing
New outlook on life
Nansel tries to look at the bright side as much as he can. He said he’s realized life is too short to be indirect with himself and those around
him. If something’s on his mind, he’ll say it. If he wants to do something, he’ll push for it. Nansel said he will continue to try to be a positive influence for others as he looks after his 15-year-old son, attends more community events for cancer awareness and begins planning for retirement. “I can change the future,” Nansel said. “I can’t change the past.” So he’s looking forward. “I’ve felt more alive now than what I’ve felt my entire life,” he said.
up around a family of business owners and risk takers helped inspire her to open up Northwest Paddleboarding. “Just seeing them succeed is really cool,” she said of her family. “It makes you think a little more that you can do it, too.” Her grandfather, Chuck Kadinger, started Kadinger’s Painting in 1978 with his late wife Joyce. His sons, Patterson’s uncles, also own businesses: Jesse Kadinger runs Jesse’s Lawn Maintenance in Kennewick and his brother operates Jeff’s Color Chart. Their sisters, Patterson’s aunts, Jackie Stout, started Richland Industrial, a hardware sales company, in 1990, and Casey Conserriere runs Casey’s House Cleaning. Patterson started her business, which offers stand-up paddleboarding lessons, rentals and yoga, with her mom, Cathie Hobson, about a year ago in Richland. Hobson, who helped with bookkeeping at previous jobs, works on the business end while Patterson manages sales, events and community outreach. The popularity of their free yoga in the park class, held at Howard Amon Park in the summer, attracts up to about 200 people, Patterson said. Eventually she and Hobson would like to open a store. Freelancer Sean Bassinger contributed to this report.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Uber to launch Dec. 15 in Kennewick BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF
Uber will be making its Tri-City debut on Dec. 15. The internet-based rideshare company is making its service available to drivers and riders in Kennewick, West Richland and throughout unincorporated parts of Benton and Franklin counties. “With the addition of Uber, we’re pleased residents and visitors have even more options to get around our city,” said Kennewick Mayor Steve Young, who is scheduled to be Kennewick’s first rider once the service goes live. “Multi-modal transportation is important for the sustainability of Kennewick, and Uber’s forward-thinking technology and business model is one more amenity that supports Kennewick’s top priorities of community safety and high quality of life.” Uber pickups are not possible in Richland, Pasco or at the Tri-Cities Airport until further action is taken by the cities of Richland and Pasco and the Port of Pasco, according to a release from Uber. Yakima County service begins Dec. 16. Area law enforcement, including the Franklin, Benton and Yakima county Target Zero teams — who focus on reducing traffic fatalities — anticipate the positive effects of the safe transportation option, Uber said. “DUI reduction teams around the state have worked with Uber to provide those who have become impaired a safe ride alternative available within minutes,” said Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg. “As we approach the holidays, we ask people to make the smart choice and choose alternatives other than driving themselves if they are
going to drink.” To kick off local service, Uber will offer half off rides — up to $10 — originating in Kennewick, West Richland and the unincorporated parts of Benton and Franklin counties from 4 p.m. Dec. 15 until 3 a.m. Dec. 17. For those interested in driving with Uber, activation can be completed entirely online at uber.com/drivenow. For those who need assistance signing up to become an Uber driver, in-person onboarding support will be offered throughout the day in Kennewick on Dec. 15. Those who sign up online will be given details about in-person onboarding. Uber operates in more than 540 cities around the world. Since arriving in Seattle in 2011 (Seattle was Uber’s third launch market, after San Francisco and New York), the company has expanded operations throughout the state. “We are extremely excited that Uber is available throughout much of the state,” said Brian Gebhardt, regional general manager for Uber. “People in Washington wine country and beyond are now able to connect with a safe, reliable, convenient ride at the touch of a button.” A Kennewick Uber launch event is planned at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Nomad Lounge, 1101 N. Columbia Center Blvd, Kennewick. The event includes big screen TVs to watch the Seahawks game, free food and a chance to win free rides and meet the Uber team. Details at http://t.uber.com/UberLovesTriCities. “Uber will make the entire region more accessible, opening up additional safe and reliable transportation options for locals and visitors,” Gebhardt said. “Our arrival in both communities will also create more economic opportunity.”
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Kennewick senator named vice chair of Ways and Means Committee State Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, was named a vice chairwoman of the key Senate budget-writing committee – Ways and Means – as the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus set committee rosters for the 2017 legislative session. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is the Senate’s primary fiscal committee, which has responsibility for developing both the operating and capital budgets, as well as considering bills related to tax and pension policy. Brown, who has served on the committee since 2014, said one of her priorities will be passing a fiscal-reform measure to establish a new approach
for looking at economic effects of largescale revenue measures. “Fiscal notes, which are prepared by the governor’s budget office, currently only ask agencies to determine their actual cost of implementing a bill,” Brown said. She will continue serving on the Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee and the newly restructured Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee. Brown begins her new committee duties when the 2017 Legislature convenes Jan. 9.
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Removing Columbia, Snake river dams is unwise BY DON C. BRUNELL
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
There are dams that should come down and those that shouldn’t. Hopefully, as the Army Corps of Engineers conducts its review of the 14 federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers, that will become abundantly clear. Here is the difference. Demolishing the two dams on the Elwha River west of Port Angeles was a good thing. The dams were built in the early 1900s to bring electricity to the Olympic Peninsula at a time when salmon and steelhead were plentiful in other
Pacific Northwest rivers. Neither dam had fish ladders. On the Elwha, the issue was clear: removing the dams allowed salmon and steelhead to move upstream to spawn. But breaching the four Lower Snake River dams is entirely different. For one thing, the billions of dollars paid by Bonneville Power Administration ratepayers to improve fish passage and spawning habitat throughout the Columbia/Snake river system is now paying off. Salmon are returning from the ocean in record numbers. It wasn’t always that way. In 1992, a single male sockeye salm-
on, dubbed Lonesome Larry, managed to swim 900 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River to Redfish Lake in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains. By 2011, the Idaho Don C. Brunell Fish and Game Department reported that 1,070 sockeye returned to Redfish to spawn. Since 2014, more than 2.5 million salmon and steelhead passed Bonneville
Dam, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers wrote. That is the highest return since 1938 when we started counting. Of the 13 salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia Basin listed under the Endangered Species Act, only four migrate through the Lower Snake River dams. The bigger problem has been young fish swimming downstream to the ocean, but the cooperative work of federal, state, tribal and private groups and lots of money resulted in significant enhancements to migrating runs. Northwest River Partners reports survival through the Snake River dams for young salmon averages 97 percent. It is even better for juvenile steelhead at 99.5. While the Elwha dams produced very little electricity, the four Snake River dams can provide enough electricity for 1.87 million homes when generating at full capacity. On average, they contribute five percent of the Northwest’s electricity supply. Replacing their power output would take two nuclear plants, three coal-fired generators or six-gas fired electric facilities and it would be hugely expensive. In 2015, BPA estimated it would add 12 to 15 percent to household and business electric bills. According to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, removing the Snake River dams would add between 3 and 4.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to Northwest skies each year. That’s because the carbon-free power these dams provide would have to be replaced, in large part, by carbon-emitting, gas-fired facilities. The network of dams is the marine highway created on the Columbia and Snake rivers. It is the most environmentally friendly way to move cargo from Lewiston, Idaho, to Astoria, Oregon. A tug pushing a barge can haul a ton of wheat 576 miles on a single gallon of fuel. In specific, those barges allow 3,700 regional farmers to ship grain to the lower Columbia for export, Walla Walla’s Union-Bulletin reported. Ten percent of all Northwest exports pass through the four lower Snake River dams. They generate $20 billion in trade, commerce and recreation income. Water from their reservoirs nourishes thousands of farms, orchards and vineyards. “In the end, when the latest study and public hearings are done, the conclusion should be the same as the previous efforts: The Lower Snake River dams must remain,” Walla Walla’s Union Bulletin concluded in a recent editorial. Our efforts should be directed on how to improve, not remove, those dams. 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, Wash. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 uNETWORKING Rajayer joins Trios Southridge Hospital
Dr. Salil Rajayer has joined Trios Health’s hospitalist team to provide dedicated care to admitted patients at Trios Southridge Hospital. Rajayer completed his medical residency at Woodhull Medical Center, New Dr. Salil Rajayer York University School of Medicine in Brooklyn, New York. He completed two years of surgical residency at Harlem Hospital Center, Columbia University School of Physicians and Surgeons in New York and worked as a post-doctorate research fellow at the Hofstra North ShoreLIJ School of Medicine in Manhasset, New York. Rajayer attended medical school at Manipal University in Karnataka, India. He completed the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination and is board eligible in internal medicine. Trios Health is Kennewick Public Hospital District’s system of care serving the greater Tri-Cities.
Tri-Cities branch of Right at Home receives award
The Kennewick franchise of Right at Home, a home care company, recently received the Right at Home corporate “Rising Star” award for its performance and growth over a 52-week period. The Kennewick location is owned by Shana Duncan and Adam Loomis. Each Right at Home office is individually
owned and operated and offers a number of services including laundry, light housekeeping, medication reminders, transportation, meal planning and preparation, and bathing assistance. Right at Home was founded in 1995 in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2000, the company started franchising and has grown to more than 500 locations in the U.S. and internationally.
KSD staff raises record amount for United Way
Kennewick School District employees participated at their highest rate and contributed more money than ever in the district’s annual fundraising campaign for United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties. Together, KSD donors raised $43,369 to help fund United Way programs, which include education- and health-related efforts. Staff at every school and district building contributed to the effort.
PNNL researchers in top one percent of citations
Six Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers, Richard Easter (geosciences), Steven Ghan (geosciences), Philip Rasch (geosciences), Janet Jansson (microbiology), Jun Liu (chemistry, materials science) and Yuehe Lin (chemistry) are among the most influential in the world, ranking in the top one percent of cited scientists on the 2016 Highly Cited Researcher list by Clarivate Analytics. The list, which includes 3,100 researchers with global and scientific impact, features scientists from around the world whose citations rank in the top one percent within 20 subject areas. Citations accrue when newly published scientific papers refer back to previously published research findings. Clarivate analyzed publication and citation statistics between
2004-14.
Bruggeman named BBB marketplace manager
Anna Bruggeman has joined the Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest as its marketplace manager. Bruggeman was previously with Century 21 Tri-Cities. In her new role with BBB, she will host and attend community and private sector events, provide Anna Bruggeman educational workshops and act as a liaison for BBB to the local community, businesses and media.
Pasco School Board earns top state honor
The Pasco School District Board of Directors recently was named Board of the Year in the large district category by the Washington State School Directors’ Association. The program honors school boards demonstrating effective use of the Washington School Board standards, including being accountable to the public, seeking divergent perspectives in decision making, adopting a collaboratively developed district plan focused on learning and achievement, employing and supporting quality staff, and providing professional development. The board was also named a board of distinction in 2014, and in 2009 it was named a WSSDA board of the year. The 2016 boards of the year were chosen from a field of 24 school boards of distinction.
O’BRIEN, From page 40 It’s involved with the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, TRIDEC, Benton-Franklin Humane Society, Tri-City Union Gospel Mission, Toys for Tots and Second Harvest. “We try not to overcommit. We concentrate on two or three things at the most,” Zak said. “This area is taking care of O’Brien Construction, and O’Brien Construction has taken care of this area. It’s really important to give back.” Expect the O’Briens to keep up their mission. “My father is still a consultant,” Zak said. “He’s still involved in the business. It’s a really great partnership between us. It’s very enjoyable.” Not just because of working together, but also because of what they do, he said. “In Eastern Washington, what we have here is unique and very special,” Zak said. “The most gratifying thing is to see fellow business owners succeed.”
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
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 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 Yesenia D. Diaz, 4707 Santa Fe Lane, Pasco. Edelmira Aleman, 2405 W. Albany Ave., Kennewick. Mark E. and Desiree R. Pickard, 900 W. 42nd Ave., Kennewick. Myrna Y. Johnson, 5724 Ochoco Lane, Pasco. Emelita R. Genita, 2237 Copperleaf St., Richland. Cody M. and Jamie Welch, 4713 W. Livingston Road, Pasco. Anthony C. and Susan M. Franklin, PO Box 7047, Kennewick. Angelica M. Segovia, PO Box 1112, Pasco. Chad W. and Melissa M. Lettrick, 919 S. Dawes St., Kennewick. Tammy L. Cushman, 5715 Saddle Creek, Pasco. Loretta Q. Lopez, 506 Stanley St.,
Richland. Ignacio I. Zaragoza, 1918 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick. Scott D. Saltz, 460 N. Arthur St., Apt. C205, Kennewick. Erick G. Lapiers, 1529 Columbia Park Trail # F147, Richland. Brice S. and Carly R. Coburn, 2200 W. Shoshone, Unite C22, Pasco. Ruben H. and Maria L. Esquivel, 1024 W. Henry St., Pasco. Adella M. Jensen, 1101 S. Belfair St., Kennewick, Melissa L. Torres, 5106 W. Third Ave., Kennewick. Oralia G. Cerrillo, 1708 W. Octave St., Pasco. Carmen R. Laws, 26 S. Yelm St., Kennewick. Jose M. and Leslie Villarreal, 4515 W. Imnaha Ave., Kennewick. Melyssa M. Leavitt, 4203 W. Kennewick Ave., Apt. 3, Kennewick. Bradley E. Day, 6119 Oriole Drive, Pasco. Leon J. and Dominique G. WrightJackson, 6315 Dodger Drive, Pasco. Andi J. Ellis, 9811 Norfolk Drive, Pasco. Javier and Maricela M. Elizondo, 4603 Baja Drive, Pasco. Jesus and Lilla Paredes, 505 Cascade Court, Prosser. William Finn, PO Box 492, Prosser. Amanda S. Montes, 1619 S. Dayton Place, Kennewick. Lorinda L. Yanke, 96606 E. Reata, Kennewick. Robert M. McCourtie, 3219 S. Quincy Place, Kennewick. Winston and Jaimie L. Smith, 14401 N.
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Albro Road, Prosser. Raquel Mata, PO Box 605, Pasco. Shane M. and Diana K. Benjamson, 3016 N. Road 52, Pasco. Anna M. Dorton, 1903 W. Irving St., Pasco. Holly Elizabeth Grace Ramirez, 813 Abbot St., Richland. Kyle J. and Ashley R. Hissam, 4111 Minorca Lane, Pasco. Sandra M. Tate, 5303 Paddington Lane, Pasco. Kealani D. Bartley, 601 Cascade St., Richland. Delia M. Baltazar, 1703 W. 34th Ave., Kennewick. Jasmine Rose Marie Brown, 312 S. Zinser St., Kennewick. Joann Garcia, 818 W. Margaret St., Pasco. Celinda Verdin, 705 N. 25th Court # 3, Pasco. Valentin and Gwendolyn M. Espinoza, 1003 Birch Ave., Richland. Jose and Carmen Barragan, 52 Log Lane, Richland. Arnold Haag, 3818 S. Buntin Loop, Kennewick. Keith R. Hekking, 19505 E. Bumgarner Road, Benton City. CHAPTER 13 Nam Quoc and Nouansavan Troung, 5605 Sidon Court, Pasco. Roger E. Gervais, 5104 Montague Lane, Pasco. Teresa Bevan-Church, 2602 W. Acord Road, Benton City. John J. David, 302 N. Underwood, Apt. 9,
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Kennewick. Diana L. Dotson, 4003 Messara Lane, Pasco. John K. and Mischelle Russell, 3570 W. 10th Court, Kennewick. Christobal M. Rios, Jr., 1108 S. Olympia Place # D, Kennewick. Manuel de Jesus Carillo, 614 Esperanza Court, Pasco. Jacob J. Schmid, PO Box 4730, West Richland. Ray D. and Angela J. Whitworth, 48 Galaxy Lane, Richland. Steve L. and Dore L. Peterson, 6200 Petrina St., West Richland.
uTOP PROPERTIES
Top property values have been rounded to the nearest hundred figure.
FRANKLIN COUNTY Description: 61 acres of undeveloped land, undisclosed location. Price: $2,791,600. Buyer: Big Sky Developers. Seller: Chubby Cherries LLC. Description: 4,844-square-foot, singlefamily home on 22.79 acres of agricultural land, 5100 Elm Road, Pasco. Price: $685,000. Buyer: Chris and Andrea Lee. Seller: Shanna French. Description: 3,082-square-foot, singlefamily home on 4.62 acres, 220 Gemini Drive, Pasco. Price: $490,000. Buyer: Jeremy and Lori Seeliger. Seller: Joseph and Cle Ella Sapp.
uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 50
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
PUBLIC RECORD, From page 49
BENTON COUNTY
Description: 1,717-square-foot, single-family home, 10800 W. Court St., Pasco. Price: $565,000. Buyer: Fae Holdings 469413R. Seller: Joseph and Colleen Lane. Description: 1,118-square-foot, single-family home on 92.8 acres, undisclosed location. Price: $1,245,000. Buyer: Herrman Land and Holdings. Seller: 4440 Farms. Description: 2,837-square-foot, single-family home, 4707 Shoreline Court, Pasco. Price: $500,000. Buyer: Wayne and Suzanne Grunow. Seller: Joyce Steele. Description: 8.64 acres of undeveloped land, undisclosed location. Price: $1,598,900. Buyer: Hogback Sandifur. Seller: FBA Land Holdings. Description: 75 acres of agricultural land, 2781 N. Bellevue Road, Eltopia. Price: $715,000. Buyer: Desert Gold Farm. Seller: Lemko-Revere Ventures.
Description: 2.49 acres of undeveloped land, 140 S. 58th Ave., West Richland. Price: $525,000. Buyer: Adam and April Jivelekas. Seller: Alderbrook Investments. Description: 8,446 square-foot, commercial building on 3.87 acres, 901 Aaron Drive, Richland. Price: $1,700,000. Buyer: Zenitram Properties II. Seller: John and Linda Damrell.
uBUILDING PERMITS
Building permit values have been rounded to the nearest hundred figure.
BENTON COUNTY US Cellular, Kelley Road, $50,000 for commercial construction. Contractor: owner. Finley School District, 213504 E. Cougar Road, $150,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Hoburg Enterprises. Sabre Industries, 23401 S. Lincoln Road
SW, $131,000 for a tower/antenna. Contractor: Crown Castle. Coventry Vale Vine, 159902 E. Evans Road, $253,600 for commercial addition. Contractor: Ken Bierlink Construction. AT&T, 67417 S. Finley Road, $15,000 for commercial construction. Contractor: General Dynamics Info. KENNEWICK Port of Kennewick, 415 N. Quay St., $55,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Patio Covers Unlimited. James Carey, 7521 W. Deschutes Ave., $140,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: D&S Installers. RKSC LLC, 2620 S. Williams Place, $9,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. Canyon Lakes Retail, 4008 W. 27th Ave., $12,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. JC Penney Properties, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., $38,000 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: McKinstry Co. Niko Wannarachue, 20 S. Auburn St., $5,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Servicemaster Building Maintenance. Sun Ridge Properties, 3711 Plaza Way, $11,900 for a sign. Contractor: Yesco LLC. Loren K. Sharp, 4123 W. 24th Ave., $150,000 for tenant improvements, $15,000 for heat pump/HVAC and $6,000 for plumbing. Contractors: owner and Bruce Heating & Air. Kennewick Baptist Chuch, 2435 W. Bruneau Ave., $10,100 for heat pump/ HVAC. Contractor: Dayco Heating & Air. PM2 West Limited Partnership, 8551 W. Gage Blvd., $75,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: DA Bentley Construction LLC. Benton County, 7102 W. Okanogan Place, $192,700 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Booth & Sons Construction. Gary Long LFIC LLC, 1022 N. Columbia Center Blvd., $18,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. Gary Long LFIC LLC, 924 N. Columbia
Center Blvd., $10,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. RKSC LLC, 2620 S. Williams Place, $30,000 for a sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. Benton County, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, $1,578,100 for commercial construction. Contractor: MG Wagner Co. Benton County, 7102 W. Okanogan Place, $237,600 for commercial construction. Contractor: MG Wagner Co. Benton County, 7110 W. Okanogan Place, $51,600 for commercial construction. Contractor: MG Wagner Co. James Carey, 7521 W. Deschutes Ave., $13,600 for commercial construction. Contractor: Innovation Roofing & Siding. Highlands Center, 2803 W. Clearwater Ave., $6,000 for a sign. Contractor: owner. Port of Kennewick, 101 Clove Island Drive, $33,000 for demolition. Contractor: Big D’s Construction. Tilden Hawaiian Village, 1105 W. 10th Ave., $200,300 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Tri-City Glass. PASCO Twin City Foods Inc, 5405 Industrial Way, $4,593,700 for a commercial addition. Contractor: Trico Companies Broadmoor RV, unlisted, $24,300 for a fence/brick/retaining wall. Contractor: Frontier Fence. Tri-Cities Community Health, 800 W. Court St., $23,500 for a fire alarm/system. Contractor: Interwest Technology. Pasco School District, 1102 N. 10th Ave., $9,600 for a fire alarm/system. Contractor: Interwest Technology. Okran Moon, 2221 E. Lewis St., $972,200 for new commercial construction. Contractor: owner. Inland Empire Distribution Systems, 1316 E. Baker St., Bldg. A, $83,500 for a fire alarm/system. Contractor: Patriot Fire Protection.
uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 51
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 PUBLIC RECORD, From page 50 King City LLC, 5515 Industrial Way, $16,900 for a fire alarm/system. Contractor: Moon Security. Columbia Basin LLC, 2021 N. Commercial Ave., $6,000 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Bruce Heating & Air. Port of Pasco, 1011 E. Ainsworth Ave., $12,600 for a fire alarm/system. Contractor: Moon Security. J&V Property Inc, 1212 N. Fourth Ave., $41,600 for tenant improvements. Contractor: owner. CBC Student Housing, 2901 N. 20th Ave., $32,300 for fire alarm/system. Contractor: Cascade Fire Protection. McDonald’s Corp, 2202 W. Court St., $20,000 for commercial addition. Contractor: Contemporary Woodwork. Pasco Commercial Investment, 5025 Road 68 Suite B and C, $12,000 for commercial addition. Contractor: TTAP Construction. Tri-Cities Community Health, 515 W. Court St., $50,000 for fire alarm/system. Contractor: Camtek Inc. Autozone Parts Inc, 3733 N. Capital Ave., $70,000 for fire alarm/system. Contractor: Moon Security. Red Lion Pasco, 2525 N. 20th Ave., $9,600 for a water heater. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Tesoro Logistics, 2900 Sacajawea Park Road, $6,500 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: Campbell & Company. Benton Franklin Community Action, 710 W. Court St., $8,500 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Silver Bow Roofing. NW Farm Credit Services, 9915 St. Thomas Drive, $3,030, 400 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Yost Gallagher Construction. Port of Pasco, 3604 Stearman Ave #69, $21,400 for commercial reroof. Contractor: JR Swigart Co. Port of Pasco, 1110 Osprety Point Blvd.,
#106, $72,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Banlin Construction Co. Circle K Stores, 4823 Broadmoor Blvd., $15,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: TLM Petro Labor Force. Port of Pasco, 2305 W. Argent Road, $15,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: TLM Petro Labor Force. Circle K Stores, 44805 Road 68, $15,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: TLM Petro Labor Force. Circle K Stores, 3109 W. Court St., $15,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: TLM Petro Labor Force. PROSSER Port of Benton, 320 Nunn Road, $266,200 for new commercial construction and $117,100 for commercial addition. Contractor: Puterbaugh Construction. St. Michelle Wine Estates, 660 Frontier Road, $6,000 for a heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: owner. City of Prosser, 1311 Bennett Ave., $21,700 for commercial remodel. Contractor: MH Construction. The Hogue Cellars, 3090 Wittkoph Road, $20,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Romm Construction. Catholic Charities, 415 Petra Ave., $446,200 for plumbing and $289,300 for heat pump/HVAC. Contractor: MC Lundgren. RICHLAND Port of Benton, 2620 Fermi Drive, $305,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Ron Enterprises. ADSG LLC, 1363 Columbia Park Trail, $3,045,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Siefken & Sons Construction. Port of Benton, 2345 Stevens Drive, $30,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Booth & Sons Construction.
Arsen Avetisyan, 76 Wellsian Way, $35,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: owner. Liberty Christian, 2200 Williams Blvd., $20,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Palmer Roofing Co. TestAmerica Labs, 2800 George Washington Way, $14,000 for commercial construction. Contractor: Paradigm Contracting. Einans Desert Memorial, 915 Bypass Highway, Suite B, $19,800 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Palmer Roofing Co. AREVA, 2101 Horn Rapids Road, $85,700 for tenant improvements. Contractor: MH Construction. Stevens Dr LLC, 975 Smartpark St., $24,900 for fence/brick/retaining wall. Contractor: Huesitos Co II LLC. WEST RICHLAND Jayne Steelman, 4400 S. 47th, Suite 201, $103,200 for commercial addition. Contractor: owner.
uBUSINESS LICENSES At time of press, Kennewick and Richland business licenses were not available. WEST RICHLAND Mindful Millwork, 1431 Judson Ave., Richland. Legacy Excavation, 4201 S. Vancouver St., Kennewick. J&T Integrity Services, 6537 Marble St. Ceptec Polygraph Services, 6216 W. Eighth Ave., Kennewick. Meraki Objectives, 4111 Riverhill Drive, Pasco. Jamin’s Home Repair & Handyman Services, 1320 S. 38th Ave. Utility Services Associate, 19655 First Ave. S, Suite 101, Normandy Park. Refrigeration Plus, 874 Pikes Peak Drive.
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Melanie Wells Real Estate Services, 5212 E. Rail Court. Absolute Comfort Technology, 7 S. Fifth Ave., Yakima. Blue Mountain Fire Protection, 710 W. 26th Ave., Kennewick. Speedy Angeles Concrete, 519 W. Shoshone St., Pasco. Sculpt, 8656 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick. PASCO Mi Tierra Real Estate Investments, 812 S. Myrtle Ave. Mi Escuelita, 3503 W. Sylvester St. Dayla Marie Smith, 6605 Burden Blvd., Suite E. A&A Valdiva dba A2A Construction, 728 W. Park St. Pro Go Transportation, 4214 Sahara Drive. Sodexo America, 2004 N. 22nd Ave. The Garden, 2609 W. Octave St. Top Nails, 2016 W. Court St. Contemporary Woodworks, 15616 233rd Ave E., Orting. Amanda Martinez, 316 N. 20th Ave. Nichole A. Milne, 10002 W. Court St. Mindful Millwork, 1431 Judson Ave., Richland. Lake City Engineering, 3909 N. Schreiber Way, Suite 4, CDA, Idaho. Propak Logistics, 3295 E. Ainsworth Ave. Able Construction, 7520 N. Argonne, Spokane. Future Link Communications, 3711 First St., Yakima. LBS Electric, 207503 E. Cochran Road, Kennewick. Olberding Seed, 641 Fairchild St., Bldg. 40. Tere’s Beauty Salon, 1207 S. 10th Ave. A. Post Construction Cleaning, 4509 Desert Plateau Drive. Marla’s Cookie Co, 5516 Dundas Lane. Barney & Worth, 1211 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 2330, Portland, Oregon.
uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 52
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 PUBLIC RECORD, From page 51 Cervantes Electric Service, 190 Summit Drive, Grandview. I&V Homes, 1827 W. 11th Ave., Kennewick. KBA Inc, 11201 SE Eighth St., Suite 160, Bellevue. Flat Works WA, 5880 Alder Road. Atlas Boiler & Equipment, 1620 E. Salt Lake St. A. Clean Image, 11 E. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick. Russell Crane Service, 1008 N. First St., Yakima. Bearproof Professional Hardwood Floor, 4013 W. Court St. Western Mechanical Contractors, 1030 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way. 2F Enterprises, 2601 S. Oak St., Kennewick. Frasier Homes, 2819 Copperbutte St., Richland.
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509-735-1497
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 and Franklin Superior Court. The following is from the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.
Maria D. Palacios et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 4. Desert River Restaurants, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 4. Jak Ventures, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 4. Arnold S. Molina, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 4. Brookside, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 4. Dennis M. Mutuma, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 4. Donaciano B. Antonio et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 4. Maritza Rios, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 4. Stealth Development, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 7. Pedro Arguello, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 7. Elite Tile Solutions, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 7. Adventures in Technology et al, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 7. La Pinata Payaso, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 7. Turner Bros Construction, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 10. J. Elizondo Transport, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 14. Norma Angelica Gutierrez, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 14. Taqueria Mexico, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 14. Lonestar Innovations, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 14. Rackley Brian Andre, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 22. Maria Del R. Morales et al, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 22. Bryan Matthew Schoeppner, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 22. Roberto Garza et al, unpaid Department of Licensing taxes, filed Nov. 28. JSC Concrete Construction Corp, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 28. Jak Ventures, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 28. Lozanos Empire, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 28. Ronald W. Bradley et al, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed Nov. 28. Heather J. Alexander, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29.
uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 53
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 PUBLIC RECORD, From page 52 Michael A. Walkup, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Janthone J. Srisuwan, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Melissa R. Klug, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Adrian Farias, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Rafael Villafan, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Siobhan J. Trunnell, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Jose I. Torres, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Mario Zungia, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. James D. Smith, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Jesus M. Ayala, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Teresa H. Rivas, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Lucia Montes, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Anthony Deleon, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Sabrina M. Patino, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Christopher R. Solis, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Emanuel Cardenas, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Mathias A. Chavez, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29. Jose B. Lugo, unpaid Employment Security Department taxes, filed Nov. 29.
uLIQUOR LICENSES BENTON COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS Gangnam Style Korean BBQ, 7935 W. Grandridge Blvd., Suite T, Kennewick, has
applied for a spirits/beer/wine restaurant bar application. Barracuda Coffee Company, 320 N. Kellogg St., Suite B, Kennewick, has applied for a direct shipment receiver Washington only and a snack bar license. Holy Mac Steak and Spirits, 3801 S. Zintel Way, Ste. 110, Kennewick, has applied for a spirits/beer/wine restaurant bar license. Northwest Cellars, 28126 N. Hansen Road, Suite C, Prosser, has applied for a change of location domestic winery <250,000 liters and farmers market wine sales application. APPROVED Sun River Vitners, 9312 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick, has been approved for a domestic winery <250,000 liters license. Longship Cellars, 404 Bradley Blvd., Suite 100, Richland, has been approved for a domestic winery <250,000 liters license. FRANKLIN COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS Carniceria Los Toreros, 2115 E. Lewis St., Pasco, has applied for a grocery story beer/wine license. APPROVED Hacienda Del Sol Mexican Restaurant, has been approved for a spirits/beer/wine restaurant lounge license. DISCONTINUED Don Antonio’s Mexican Restaurant, 528 W. Clark St., Pasco, spirits/beer/wine restaurant lounge license has been discontinued.
Golden Wok, 5024 N. Road 68, Suite C, Pasco, beer/wine restaurant license has been discontinued.
uMARIJUANA LICENSES BENTON COUNTY NEW APPLICATIONS #1 Pot Shop, 140 Gage Blvd., Suite 204, Richland has applied for a marijuana retailer/medical marijuana license. Hypeherbally, 7903 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick, has applied for a marijuana retailer/medical marijuana license. FRANKLIN COUNTY APPROVED The Lucky Leaf, 3411 N. Capital Ave., #A, Pasco, has applied for a marijuana retailer license.
uBUSINESS UPDATES NEW BUSINESSES BioLife Plasma has opened at 7430 Wrigley Drive, Pasco. The facility collects life-saving plasma from qualified donors. For an appointment contact: 509-545-3008, biolifeplasma.com. The Crazy Crab Pot has opened at 131 Vista Way, Suite A, Kennewick. The restaurant serves an assortment of seafood including crab, shrimp, mussels and clams. Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Contact: 509-396-9312, Facebook. Frankenburger’s Fry Lab has opened at 1022 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick. The restaurant serves burgers, fries and shakes. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Contact:
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509-579-0292, Facebook. Fur on the Floor Dog Grooming, has opened at 8 N. Cascade St., Kennewick. The business offers nail trims, haircuts and other grooming services for dogs. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Contact: 509-531-9639, Facebook. Indian Cuisine Express has opened at 8524 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick. The restaurant serves traditional Indian food in a quick food service setting. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Contact: 509-5790722. Kiemle & Hagood Company has opened at 8121 W. Quinault Ave., Suite F201, Kennewick. The business offers commercial sales and leasing services, property management, tenant representation, development and consulting and other facility services. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact: 509-7837663, khco.com, Facebook. Paws, Claws & Hooves Veterinary Center has opened 4900 Paradise Way, Suite 100, West Richland. The office is a full-service veterinary center that treats dogs, cats, horses and other small animals. They offer high quality, low-cost vaccines. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Contact: 509-578-1729, pchvet.com, Facebook. Sport Clips has opened at 1811 George Washington Way, Richland. The business provides haircuts and styles for men. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Contact: 509-5781145, haircutmenrichlandwa.com, Facebook. Soy Bella Hair Salon has opened at 507 W. Fourth Ave., Pasco. The salon offers haircuts, styles and color for women and men. For an appointment contact: 509987-4824, Facebook.
uPUBLIC RECORD, Page 54
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016 PUBLIC RECORD, From page 53 Tri-Cities Tap & Barrel is now open at 112 Keene Road, Richland. The restaurant features self-serve wine, northwest craft beers and tapas menu. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Contact: 509-987-4561, tricitiestapandbarrel. com, Facebook. ADDITIONAL LOCATION Barracuda Coffee Company has opened a second location at 320 N. Kellogg St., Suite B, Kennewick. Hours: 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Contact: Facebook. MOVED
Colorado St., Kennewick. Contact: 509-3927011, apgmp.com. CLOSED Apricot Lane in Columbia Center has closed. Green Dot Sub Shop at 612 Gage Blvd., Richland has closed. Lepice Spice Kitchen at 127 Gage Blvd., Richland has closed. Lucky Bridge Casino at 101 S. Gum St., Kennewick has closed. Physzique Fitness at 2909 S. Quillan St., Suite 134, Kennewick and 4201 Kennedy Road, West Richland has closed. Toeshi Teriyaki & Korean at 7903 W. Grandridge Blvd., Suite T, Kennewick has closed. Value Village at 731 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick has closed.
Apogee Group has moved to 636 N.
uNETWORKING Atwood joins Desert Canyon Mortgage
James Atwood has joined Desert Canyon Mortgage in Kennewick as a licensed mortgage loan officer. Atwood spent 12 years as a retail banker before transitioning to mortgage lending this fall and has worked James Atwood in the Tri-City community since 2013.
Wine Tourism Council board of directors named
The Mid-Columbia Wine Tourism Council, a program coordinated by Visit Tri-Cities, has established a new board of directors to promote the interests of Tri-City region vineyards and wineries through research and marketing. The elected board members include: Deborah Barnard, Barnard Griffin Winery; Kristine Bono, Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard and Winery; Michel Clarke, Kiona Vineyards and Winery; Kathy Cortembos, J. Bookwalter; Tara Divers, Prosser Wine Network; Amy Johnson, Purple Star Wines; Jenn Nance, Red Mountain AVA Alliance; April Reddout, Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center; Shelbey Sawyer, Chandler Reach Vineyards; Kaury Balcom, Ste. Michelle Estate WSU Wine Science Center; and Kathy Moore, SpringHill Suites by Marriott.
Lashbaugh joins D.S. Baker Investments team
Keri Lashbaugh has joined the D.S. Baker Investment team of Baker Boyer Bank’s Kennewick office. She has been with the Walla Walla office since 2002, specializing in working with and advising high net worth clients to Keri Lashbaugh define and quantify their financial needs and wants. Lashbaugh holds a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi University for Women and a master’s degree in personal financial planning from the College for Financial Planning.
She is an investment professional and holds Series 7 and 66 registrations, as well as life, disability and long-term care insurance licenses.
Telquist honored by AIOPIA for client satisfaction
George E. Telquist, with TZMC Law— Telquist, Ziobro, McMillen and Clare, Attorneys at Law—in Richland has been honored by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as Two Years 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys for Client Satisfaction and exceptional performance. The institute is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list of the Top Ten personal injury attorneys in each state. Attorneys who are selected to the “10 Best” list must pass an election process based on client/peer recommendations, research and independent evaluation.
Mulhausen joins Cornerstone Wealth Strategies
Katie Mulhausen has joined Cornerstone Wealth Strategies in Kennewick as a client services specialist. She is a certified financial planner and graduated magna cum laude from Washington State University Tri-Cities with a Katie Mulhausen bachelor’s degree in business administration. Mulhausen will work with the Cornerstone team to build client financial plans and assist in other administrative responsibilities.
PNNL’s CENATE receives editor’s choice award
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Center for Advanced Technology Evaluation, or CENATE, was recently honored with a 2016 HPCwire Editor’s Choice award for Best HPC Collaboration between government and industry. Launched in 2015, CENATE is a central place for government and industrial developers of advanced, next-generation supercomputers to evaluate the potential and guide the design of early technologies. It is supported by the Department of Energy’s Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research and directed by Adolfy Hoisie, who is also PNNL’s chief scientist for computing.
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • December 2016
AROUND TOWN
An eight-and-a-half-foot statue of Walter Clore, considered the father of Washington wine, was installed and dedicated Nov. 12 in front of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser. The Prosser Rotary Club spearheaded the fundraising effort for the bronze statue, created by artist Malcolm Phinney of the Phinney Gallery in Joseph, Oregon. Clore was a longtime Rotarian. (Courtesy Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center)
Tri-Cities Cancer Center senior leadership and board members kicked off the grand opening of their newly renovated and expanded state-of-the-art clinic with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Exceptional Past and Extraordinary Future reception on Nov. 17. (Courtesy Tri-Cities Cancer Center)
American Ironworks workers held a “topping out” ceremony at Columbia Basin College on Dec. 2 for its new Wortman Medical Science Center in Richland. A topping out event is a builder’s rite held when the last beam or its equivalent is placed atop a structure during construction. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of May. The $17.7 million medical center is set to open in 2018. In addition to training CBC health care professionals in nursing, paramedic, EMT, medical assistant and fire science, the facility will be a functioning medical clinic treating patients through the Kadlec family medicine residency program. It will include 32 examinations and an X-ray room suite. The 72,000-square-foot medical center will include classrooms, simulation labs and computer labs. Kadlec donated $3 million toward the project. (Courtesy CBC)
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Hanford vitrification plant employees and Marines donated thousands of toys and nearly $29,000 for children in need through the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots campaign on Dec. 8. Vit plant workers with contractors Bechtel National and AECOM designated $11,000 of the money to the Local 598 pipefitters’ annual Bikes for Tikes campaign to buy 500 bicycles and helmets for Toys for Tots. (Courtesy Bechtel National)
The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual elected leaders reception was Nov. 16 in Pasco. Those in attendance included: Top row, Jeff Losey, executive director, Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities; Pasco Mayor Matt Watkins; Brad Peck Franklin County commissioner; Lori Mattson, president and CEO of the regional chamber; Richard Bloom, West Richland councilman. Middle row, Mike McWhorter, commissioner, Kennewick Public Hospital District; Al Yenney, Pasco councilman; Rebecca Francik, Pasco councilwoman; John Hansens, Benton County coroner; Matt Boehnke, Kennewick councilman; Andy Miller, Benton County prosecutor; 9th District Rep. Mary Dye, 16th District Rep. Terry Nealey; Shawn Sant, Franklin County prosecutor. Bottom row, Lori Sanders, Benton PUD commissioner; Josh Lozano, district representative for Congressman Dan Newhouse; David Reeploeg, regional director for Sen. Maria Cantwell; Bob Hoffmann, Pasco councilman; Brenda Chilton, Benton County auditor. (Courtesy Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce)
The Kennewick Fire Department’s 2016 annual awards were presented last month to Ann Smith, EMT of the Year, from left; Eric Nilson, Officer of the Year; Ben Singley, Paramedic of the Year; and Tracy Rutledge, Firefighter of the Year. Award recipients were nominated based on their commitment to and demonstration of the city’s core values of integrity, inclusiveness, stewardship and communication. (Courtesy city of Kennewick)
Email Around Town photo submissions with captions to editor@tcjournal.biz
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Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business â&#x20AC;˘ December 2016