A special publication of the Yakima Herald-Republic
➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ PAGE 25F
Risk Takers
stories of Yakima Valley entrepreneurs
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Pearl O’Dell is in her 80s and still runs her orchard in Wapato. She also turned a feed lot into a mobile home court for agricultural workers. By LEAH BETH WARD
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
WAPATO — When Pearl O’Dell left Colorado for the Yakima Valley in 1948 to homestead 1,500 acres of sagebrush — sight unseen — she had a moment of disbelief. “I stepped out into the dust and thought, ‘What have I done?’” But O’Dell, 85, never looked back. Instead, with enormous grit and a knack for turning ideas into reality, she became a force in the orchard business, a tireless legislative champion of farmers and something of a real estate developer, building a small, wellmanicured neighborhood for her farm-worker employees that still stands today — 40 years later. Did O’Dell take risks? “Oh my word. But you don’t know it at the time. You just do it.” In the beginning, O’Dell and her husband, Bud, ran cattle and grew hay seed on their vast holdings. But in the ’50s and ’60s, they increasingly turned to fruit, at one point putting in 90,000 dwarf apple trees, believed to be the largest U.S. planting at the time. O’Dell did a little of everything at the ranch-turnedfarm, and then some. She kept the books, did her own tractor work, studied business and real estate at Yakima Valley College and worked as a supervisor at the old Libby pear canning plant on Yakima’s Fruit Row.
Hard work, innovation Along the way, she became a kind of marketer for a California-based company that sold orchard windmills and “apple gobblers,” her name for forklifts that can grab up to four bins at a time. Although she’s downsized to about 40 acres now, O’Dell still awakens in the wee hours to light the smudge pots with her crew when frost threatens the crop. “I keep the frost alarm in my house. I’m happy to do it,” she said. But by far her biggest accomplishment was turning an old feedlot into a mobile-home court, providing much-needed housing for about 40 farm workers. Her husband didn’t much like the idea, so he wouldn’t finance it. No matter. O’Dell started sewing uniforms for police and other professionals in her spare
O’Dell Orchards Owner: Pearl O’Dell Product or service: Apples,
cherries
Location: Kays Road,
Wapato
Length of ownership: 63
years
Number of employees:
Varies with the season, 40 at peak
Average number of hours worked by owner each week:
40-60
time, staying up until 2 a.m. and saving up for the project. She had read in the Wall Street Journal in the late ’60 how mobile homes were becoming a growth industry in Florida and decided it was a good idea. “I always loved the Wall Street Journal. It’s saved my skin
a few times,” she said. O’Dell bought her first mobile home from a man in Parker, bargaining him down to $150 from $200 and hauling it home with her pickup. O’Dell oversaw the construction and the installation of utilities. In time, she had 10 homes nestled in the trees at the edge of an orchard. Her very first tenant took occupancy in 1971 and he still lives there today. “I think the thing I treasure most is building that mobile court.” After her husband died in 1978, O’Dell managed the entire orchard enterprise, sticking with Red and Golden Delicious while others shifted to new varieties and shunning trellises in favor of “a good, strong root.” She could be a maverick at times. Against the advice of her spray man, she wouldn’t spray
➤ INSIDE THIS SECTION ➤
➤
➤
Love of math and computers made this a natural venture.
Success is a sweet sound for this family.
Life is a great performance.
Page 26F
Page 29F
Page 30F
Alar, the fruit enhancer, not because she feared its potential as a carcinogen, but because she didn’t like the way it made the fruit look. When the state started a pesticide monitoring program for farm-worker health, O’Dell embraced the concept while other growers resisted it. Her biggest obstacle is a simple fact of farm life: “Mother Nature, because she doesn’t negotiate,” O’Dell said. But in the final analysis, it’s been one long, wonderful adventure. She has two daughters she treasures and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom are learning the value of hard work. “Eighty-five? That doesn’t bother me. Look at what I’ve gained. Look at what I’ve packed into 85 years.”
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
PAGE 26F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
Software business adds up By LEAH BETH WARD
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
When as a college student in the late 1960s John Estep learned the groundbreaking computer language known as APL, he knew he had discovered math on steroids. And he was hooked. The programming language, which requires the ability to think in the abstract — arrays, vectors, functions — contributed largely to IBM’s domination of the computing industry in the ’60s and ’70s. Estep, 61, used APL to parlay his love of math and computers into a successful career writing software for major manufacturing companies seeking to improve their ability to forecast demand and control inventory costs. “Applying computers to manufacturing and distribution really fascinated me and I realized there was a lifetime worth of work I could do and really be satisfied with,” the Yakima native says. After founding E/Step Software Inc. near Boston in 1983, Estep moved the sole proprietorship in 1989 first to Tieton and subsequently to a location off Summitview Road, west of Yakima. Among his more than 100 past and present clients are General Electric, Siemens, Gillette, Caterpillar and Kaiser Aluminum. Locally, he has consulted for Tree Top. His trademarked software, The Finished Goods Series, allows manufacturers to take the guesswork out of forecasting demand for their products so they don’t overstock costly parts. It all translates into customer service and profits, he says. Estep was destined for success after graduating from Naches Valley High School, where he was the valedictorian. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and graduated cum laude from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania in 1971.
TJ MULLINAX/Yakima Herald-Republic
John Estep, founder of E/Step Software Inc., stands in his office in West Valley on March 7. Estep’s software, The Finished Goods Series, allows manufacturers to predict demand for their products so they don’t sit on shelves too long or are understocked. His early career took him to some of the most pioneering technology companies of the time near Boston, including Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN Technologies), a legendary research and development firm that invented the ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, and email. Estep honed his ability to write complicated computer code at major insurance companies in the early 1980s while completing graduate work in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Massachusetts in
Amherst. He struck out on his own around the same time the personal computer leapfrogged the old mainframes, which only the largest companies could afford. “Suddenly, these enormous barriers disappeared and I bought my first PC for $5,000 and started writing code,” Estep recalls. Six months later, he had his first customer in GE Locomotive and he still recalls the elation he felt with his first successful product. “The first time I saw my software on their project, it was an enormous high.” Estep’s client list grew mostly
by word of mouth, which is a good thing because “I am not a salesman,” he says. While he is optimistic about the future competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing, Estep decries what he calls “our math phobic” society. “Some people brag about not being good at math.” But Estep is doing his part to solve the problem: He volunteers to teach APL to top Advanced Placement calculus students in Yakima-area high schools. And if he has any time left in his typical 60- to 70-hour work week, Estep goes flying. He’s an instrument-rated pilot.
E/Step Software Inc. Owner: John Estep Product or service: Software
consulting
Location: Summitview Road, west of Yakima Length of ownership: 27 years Number of employees: 1 Average number of hours worked by owner each week:
60-70
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Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
Salon co-owner Stacy Burns looks over an appointment book.
YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ PAGE 27F
Salon suits their styles
By MAI HOANG
Salon at Lakeside
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
After 10 years as a hairdresser, Amanda Burns got an opportunity to run her own full-service salon and spa. The location was the thenbrand-new Lakeside Business Park off 40th Avenue and U.S. Highway 12. Deciding to take a risk wasn’t easy, but owning a business was a longtime goal for her husband, Stacy, who had a business degree from Washington State University. Owning a salon seemed to be a natural step for Amanda. “After a long discussion and a lot of prayer, we decided to give it a shot,” said Stacy, 41. When the salon opened in February 2001, it was only the second building at Lakeside Business Park. Startup costs were about $100,000 and were funded by a mix of lines of credit, credit cards and bank loans. During the startup process, Salon at Lakeside co-owner Amanda Burns works on a client’s hair on March 9. the couple learned of a different kind of development — Burns Instead, the salon built a loyal have the funds for a professional was pregnant. Balancing an clientele over a decade of business. janitorial service. infant daughter with a new The recent economic downturn But they managed to make it. business made the first two years has caused a decline in business. After a year-and-a-half, Stacy was challenging. People skipped regular haircuts able to quit his job and work full Stacy still worked full time as a time at the salon. Family members and made downgrades on their warehouse manager for Lil’ Brown took care of their daughter, now hair color treatments, but overall Smoke Shack while keeping up customers remain steady, Amanda 9, and later their two younger with the salon’s books during the said. children when things at the salon off-hours. Money was tight. The The salon also offered deals. got busy. couple spent every other Sunday For instance, it would buy retail “You do what you have to do,” after church doing a deep clean products in bulk and pass the Stacy said. “We knew failure was of the salon because they did not savings to customers, Stacy said. not an option.”
Owner: Stacy and Amanda
Burns
Product or service: Fullservice salon and spa Location: 1405 Lakeside Court, Yakima Length of ownership: 10 years Number of employees:
6, plus 10 independent contractors based at the salon
Average number of hours worked by owner each week: 40-
50 hours each
Photos by ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic
“I credit his business and management skills,” Amanda said of her husband. “He doesn’t run the business on emotion.” Amanda, 37, plays the role of “great motivator” and focuses on training those who work in the salon, Stacy said. “It’s always a changing business,” Amanda said. “You’re constantly trying to stay on the new trends.” After all, the salon’s hairstylists
and estheticians are a core part of its success, Amanda said. The salon doesn’t hire people right out of beauty school and a potential employee may have two or three interviews before they’re hired. Most salons usually rent out space for their hairstylists. Salon at Lakeside employs new hairstylists and estheticians and guides them through a four-year process designed to help them build their own clientele. Once the process is complete, those employees become independent contractors running their own business within the salon. A low turnover has created strong bonds between the Burnses and their employees and independent contractors. Regardless of their age, they’re often referred to as “the girls.” Likewise, Amanda and Stacy are often “Mom” and “Dad.” “It makes coming to work more enjoyable,” Stacy said.
15.837774.RSK.M
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
PAGE 28F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
Southern grit fuels Grill By MIKE FAULK
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
Byron Underwood spent years in restaurant management before deciding to open his own diner in 2003. Unbeknownst to him, that’s where his learning curve would start. He and his wife struggled to get financing, they had to do significant repairs on the building they purchased and undertook a long search to find a reliable staff. “The first four or five months I thought it might not work,” Underwood said. “After that it just became a lot of grit and determination.” The inspiration for Underwood’s restaurant has roots in Birmingham, Ala., where he grew up and worked at his dad’s cafe as a teenager. He moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1974 and worked at restaurants all over the region, learning something new about restaurant management at each stop. Underwood, 60, said the industry’s highly competitive nature makes running a restaurant a huge challenge even after eight years. Serving good food, keeping the restaurant in shape and providing quality service are day-to-day tasks that can’t be overlooked, he said. “There’s always a million details, any one of which could be fatal if you don’t manage it correctly,” Underwood said. Underwood said his wife (and business partner) Heather helped him most during the struggle to establish his business. Running up credit card expenses and taking out an extra mortgage on their house tried her nerves, he said, but her faith in her husband never faltered. “She was willing to take the risk with me,” he said. It took about two years of long days and financial hardship before Underwood says he really thought the business
Photos by TJ MULLINAX/Yakima Herald-Republic
Powerhouse Grill owner Byron Underwood moves a sheet of fresh biscuits that are based on family recipes that have been handed down to him.
powerhouse grill Owner: Byron Underwood Product or service: Home-cooked meals Location: 3807 River Road Length of ownership: Eight years Number of employees: 45 Average number of hours worked by owner each week: 50
would last. Along the way there were breakdowns, such as when he had to pay about $8,000 to replace the air-conditioning system. More recently the recession has hurt business. Still, profitability has improved so far in 2011. The restaurant offers dishes that can’t normally be found around Yakima, Underwood said, such his signature country eggs Benedict with sausage and gravy and a hamburger with fresh cooked jalapenos on top.
Some seafood dishes are also baked and served on a wood slab in the traditional American Indian style. He said he’s found his passion in offering homecooked meals made from his own recipes that attract a loyal customer base. Searching for the right ingredients and dishes to cater to local tastes is part of the fun for him, he said. “It’s that Southern thing,” Underwood said. “You take a lot of pride in producing things from scratch.”
Greta Mullan from Selah, left, and Ruby “Sue” Homer from Yakima, talked about how much they enjoy the food at Powerhouse Grill in Yakima.
➤ MIND YOUR BUSINESSES Mama J’z Restaurant
330 South St., Mabton Owners: Raquel and Miguel Juarez Age of business: 16 Length of ownership: 16 What the business does: Fast food Number of employees: 3 For more information:
509-894-4900
4001 Summitview Ave., No. 10, Yakima Owner: Brent Hodson Age of business: 28 years What business does: Fine jewelry, custom designed jewelry, wholesale diamonds, two certified goldsmiths for design and repair Number of employees: 8 For more information: 509-9662828 or www.parryjewelers.com
Today and again next Sunday, Risk Takers — Stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs will profile dozens of Central Washington residents who own and operate their
Roxy’s Shoes In the Valley Mall Owner: Roxanne Jolley Age of business: 33 years Length of ownership: Jolley took over about five years ago What the business does:
Specializes in comfort shoes and doctor recommended shoes Number of employees: 4 For more information: 509-2483696
own businesses. Was it possible to cover every deserving business? No, of course not. For every business owner we wrote about, there are scores of other
FIAT• FORD • GMC • HONDA • HYUNDAI • INFINITI • JAGUAR • JEEP • LAND ROVER •
Felix Rifa, Owner
29 Years Experience
After 29 years of working in the automotive and tire business, I finally decided to open my own business and it has been a great first year. You can always count on Friendly Automotive & Tire for trusted service and repair. You’ll be pleased with our quality service at a fair price.
Many other sizes available, call for details. Some sizes limited to stock on hand.
FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-5:30 pm, (509)452-7373 Sat. 8:00am-2:00pm Corner of Nob Hill & 5th Ave.
15.837505.RSK.M
PEUGEOT • PLYMOUTH • PONTIAC • PORSCHE • SAAB• SUBARU • TOYOTA • VW • VOLVO
The Haberdasher
Instant Press
811 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima Owners: Steve and Christine Goodwin Age of business: 13 years Length of ownership: Same What the business does: Better menswear and tuxedo rentals; custom tailoring Number of employees: 2 For more information: 509-2489862
805 Summitview Ave., Yakima Owner: Terry R. Powell Age of business: 37 years Length of ownership: 36 Years
entrepreneurs also worthy of attention. That’s why we’re asking for your help. Starting in mid-April, you will be able to nominate locally owned
What the business does:
Printing
Number of employees: 11 For more information:
509-457-6195 or www.instantpressinc.com
businesses for inclusion in the online presentation of this project. Visit www.yakimavalleyrisktakers. com/submitbusiness for information on how you can submit your business.
We’re a Family, Caring For Families... ...since 1955
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SUBMIT A BUSINESS
Parry Jewelers
1955 Great care has been taken to ensure that the facility not only provides comfort and convenience, but also complements the beauty of the surroundings. The cemetery also provides many options for memorialization of cremains in private columbariums, benches, logs, boulders, niches and an Ossuary.
2011 Capturing the splendor of the surroundings of the cemetery the unprecedented service of the staff makes this the finest cemetery in the Valley.
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ PAGE 29F
Family business sounds right By ERIN SNELGROVE
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
Sousley Sound & Communications in Yakima is a low-key retail store selling telephones and sound equipment. But the business’s reputation isn’t based on its products. Rather, Sousley has made its name by the services it offers. “The truth is, we are really problem solvers,” said co-owner Leo Lee, 62. “We do a lot of different things.” Originally called Sousley Sound, the business began by installing offices with MUZAK, paging, intercom and sound distribution systems. In 1980, after the deregulation of telephone companies, Sousley began working with business telephone systems. From there, Sousley Sound & Communications — led by husband and wife owners Leo and Karen Lee — diversified in still other ways. “People end up here when they exhaust their possibilities,” Leo said. “We try to make people glad they hired us to do work for them.” Leo, a Hong Kong native, got his start in the
Sousley Sound & Communications Owner: Leo and Karen Lee Service: Paging, intercom, telephone and sound
reinforcement and distribution systems, MUZAK delivery and video surveillance Location: 1005 Tieton Drive, Yakima Length of ownership: 29 years; opened in 1968 under different ownership and was called Sousley Sound Number of employees: 12
Average number of hours worked by owner each week:
Leo works 50-plus; Karen works 40 communications industry at Radio Shack. In 1976, he took a job with Jack and Betty Sousley of Sousley Sound and purchased the business from them four years later. Worried about how Sousley Sound & Communications would continue if anything happened to him, Leo brought his wife on board. He became general manager, while Karen, a third-generation JapaneseAmerican from Idaho, oversees sales and customer service. Today, the Lees install video surveillance systems in homes and businesses — including industrial plants and jails — up and down the Valley. They outfit schools and sports stadiums with sound systems, and put PA systems in churches. They have more than 3,000 active customers. Still, the Lees said they aren’t immune from the economy’s ups and downs, adding that last year was the most challenging.
“It was like Mount St. Helens. We didn’t know when the ash would stop falling,” Leo said. “But on Jan. 3, it was like somebody turned on a waterfall. Now, we need more time (to do the work).” Characterizing their business as low-key and their employees as loyal, the Lees said their employees are like extended family members who work hard and have fun. “We don’t crack a whip behind them,” Karen, 60, said. “It would do no good. They call me Mom.” When not working, the Lees enjoy dancing, wine, traveling and spending time with their two adult children. They’re also active in the community — Karen in the Yakima Youth Awards and Leo as a Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce board member. “We live here,” Karen said. “If you don’t participate, I feel you don’t help make it into a better place.”
Photos by TJ MULLINAX/Yakima Herald-Republic
TOP: Leo Lee talks with a customer about phone systems for the hearing impaired. MIDDLE: Technicians Steve Moss, left, and Shawn Colligan install speakers in the Yakima Valley SunDome on March 8. BOTTOM: Karen Lee talks on the phone to a customer, while product brochures hang on a rack outside her office door at Sousley Sound & Communications.
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Locally Owned – Jim Riley and Ray Jenson 5 North 6th Ave., Yakima — engravingsunlimited@gmail.com — 509.575.1682
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PAGE 30F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
Setting the stage for success By ERIN SNELGROVE
Melody Lane Performing Arts Academy
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
Tony Akin wanted to become a famous actor. To that end, the Yakima native attended Brigham Young University, where he majored in music, dance and theater. But while there, he met his future wife, Amy, and brought her back to Yakima, where they settled down and had four children. Somewhere between college and becoming a father, Tony’s dream changed. “I’ve always loved the performing arts growing up. It was always a part of my life,” the 39-year-old said. “I ended up purchasing this business from my mom.” The Akins bought Melody Lane Performing Arts Academy in Yakima about six years ago. The business, established by Tony’s mother, Peggy, opened in 1981 with a small performing group. Today, about 300 students now take classes at the academy and participate in everything from jazz and hip-hop to singing and ballet. The typical cost for four, onehour sessions is $52. Amy, a Utah native, teaches dance for several hours a week, while Tony teaches singing and one drama class. With their backgrounds in the arts, the couple admits that learning how to run a business was daunting. But they persevered and got guidance from fellow studio owners. With that help, the Akins added classes, including piano and guitar. Two years ago, they also opened the Akin Center Theatre, a 120seat community theater, next
Owners: Tony and Amy
Akin
Service: Dance, drama and singing lessons for youth Location: 2610 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Suite A, Yakima Length of ownership:
Six years; business opened in 1981 and was first owned by Tony’s mother, Peggy Akin Number of employees: 13
Average number of hours worked by owners each week: Tony: 20;
Amy: eight
to the studio. The Akins say they’re different from other studios in that they teach dance, singing and acting in one location. They pride themselves in the professionalism of their teachers, adding that many of their students — who hail from throughout the Yakima Valley — go on to perform in Broadway tours and with Los Angeles-based dance companies. “I enjoy watching the growth of the students over the years,” Tony said. “It’s fun to be a part of their lives.” Amy agrees, saying she has the ideal job. Not only can she stay home to raise her children — who range in age from 1 to 12 — she also teaches and has a say in the artistic direction of the studio. “It’s the best of both worlds,” said Amy, 35, adding that her autistic son has inspired her to start a program for children like him. “It’s still very much a brainchild, but it will happen.” In the meantime, the couple balances work and family. When not working, Amy enjoys sewing and baking, while Tony fly-fishes, watches baseball and rides his motorcycle. In the future, they hope to
Photos by TJ MULLINAX/Yakima Herald-Republic
Amy Akin teaches ballet to her students at Melody Lane Performing Arts Academy. Akin and her husband, Tony, own and operate the academy that teaches youngsters how to dance, sing and act.
“
This is their happy place, a place where they are confident and can grow. Tony Akin
”
own, rather than rent, their studio space, and they want to continue offering classes that appeal to local youths. “Some students are here six days a week,” Tony said. “This is their happy place, a place where they are confident and can grow.”
Mary Gehlsen looks up at her ballet teacher Amy Atkin during the grade 1-2 class at Melody Lane Performing Arts Academy.
➤ MIND YOUR BUSINESSES Magic’s Pizza Shack 309 S. First St., Selah Owners: Debbie and Jackie McLain Age of business: 34 Length of ownership: 34 What the business does:
Pizza, sandwiches, salads Number of employees: 15-18 For more information:
509-697-4441
McKinney Glass Inc.
Advanced Life Systems
221 S. First St., Yakima Owners: Mike and Amy McKinney Age of business: 5 years. (We share an office and shop with McKinney’s Auto Glass, which has been in Yakima since 1958.) Length of ownership: 5 years
2106 W. Washington Ave., Suite 3, Yakima Owners: William “Woody” and Billie Woodcock Age of business: 15 years Length of ownership: 15 years
What the business does:
Specializes in home window and door replacement and also provide and install shower doors, mirrors and repair broken windows Number of employees: 6 For more information:
www.mckinneyglass.com or 509-248-2770.
SUBMIT A BUSINESS
Today and again next Sunday, Risk Takers — Stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs will profile dozens of Central Washington residents who own and operate their
What the business does:
Ambulance service in Yakima County, transportation for 9-1-1 calls and facility transports all over the state Number of employees: 50-55, depending on time of the year For more information:
www.advancedlifesystems.com or 509-574-8444
own businesses. Was it possible to cover every deserving business? No, of course not. For every business owner we wrote about, there are scores of other
Yakima Orthotics and Prosthetics 313 S. Ninth Ave., Yakima Owner: Michael Brockway Age of business: 43 years Length of ownership: 13 years What the business does:
Jack-sons 432 S. 48th Ave., Yakima Owners: Steve and Dana Swanson Age of business: Opened 28 years ago, moved to current site about 22 years ago Length of ownership: 19 years
Prosthetics, artificial limbs, diabetic What the business does: shoes and orthopedic braces Restaurant, bar, nightclub, comedy Number of employees: 12 venue, banquet facilities, catering For more information: www. Number of employees: 35-40 yakimaoandp.com or 509-248For more information: 5098040 966-4340; also on Facebook, first name Jack, last name Sons
entrepreneurs also worthy of attention. That’s why we’re asking for your help. Starting in mid-April, you will be able to nominate locally owned
businesses for inclusion in the online presentation of this project. Visit www.yakimavalleyrisktakers. com/submitbusiness for information on how you can submit your business.
Over 41 years ago Howard Morton started a small business bagging bark and selling it from a little office building at Boise Cascade. Ten years later he moved the business to it’s present location, which was an old slaughter house along the Yakima River in Terrace Heights. When Howard retired in 1987 his son, Dick, assumed the family business. The rest is history! Thank you to all our loyal customers. We couldn’t have made it without you! You can always count on Morton & Son’s for quality materials!
Dick & mike morton
the valley’s major wholesaler & retailer of bark L ANDSCAPING MATERIALS • R.R. Ties • Landscaping Bark & Red Rock • Aged Mulch • Steer Manure • Top Soil • Soil Blends
Terrace
• Livestock Bedding • Concrete Stepping Stones • Lawn Edging • Landscaping Fabric • Rocks & Boulders
ailable Delivery Av Heights
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jose
Dave
2105 Terrace Heights Drive - Yakima (Located by the Yakima River)
M-F 8AM-5PM • SAT 8:30AM-2:30PM
15.837770.ANN.M
575-8886
15.837827ANN M
contemporary fashion for her • 811 W. Yakima Ave.
Darrell
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ PAGE 31F
15.837552.RSK.M
PAGE 32F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
15.837911.RT/M
A special publication of the Yakima Herald-Republic
➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ PAGE 33F
Risk Takers
stories of Yakima Valley entrepreneurs
For restaurateur, big dreams mean long hours Kitty Li, owner of China Grove restaurant in Sunnyside, welcomes customers on Feb. 18. As owner, Li says she does a little bit of everything, from seating customers to paying bills to carrying food from the kitchen. Below, Li bags a takeout order in the kitchen. Photos by SARA GETTYS/ Yakima Herald-Republic
By ROSS COURTNEY
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
SUNNYSIDE — Kitty Li works every day of the week, from morning until close at 9:30 p.m. or later. Her only friends are her employees and customers at her China Grove Restaurant. She is not married and does not have children. And though Sunnyside’s movie complex looms shouting distance away, she has never seen a film there. “I don’t intend to do it forever,” the 37-year-old business owner said of working such hours. “I would melt down.” In spite of the grinding schedule, Li smiles a lot, greets customers excitedly and considers herself a happy woman. “I try to put on a happy face,” she said. Li, born in the small, farming town of Tai Shan in southern China, has overcome severe shyness and limited English skills to keep her restaurant running through a sluggish economy and the arrival of more competition. The restaurant, known for traditional Cantonese and Sichuan-style dishes, has grown into a popular spot for Lower Valley residents on their way to and from movies, as well as truckers
and travelers taking a break from nearby Interstate 82. Li has learned how to throw idioms around while riffing philosophically on the American Dream: “Life’s too short.” “You can’t measure wealth in money.” And the line that could earn her a professional sports coaching job, “I just take it one day at a time.” Li’s childhood was one of hard work — watering crops, picking vegetables, feeding cattle. She later studied business English at a college in Guanzhou. In 1996, she moved straight to Sunnyside to begin work at China Grove, then owned by her husband’s family and located on Yakima Valley Highway near the Sunnyside Law and Justice Center. She became a U.S. citizen in 1999. She bought the restaurant in 2002 after a divorce and built her new location on Picard Place near Yakima Valley Grand Cinemas two years later. She serves as the hostess. Her parents and brother, who moved to the United States in 2003, cook. She hires her wait staff locally. Her employees all get days off, and she hopes to start taking Mondays off soon when she hires and trains more help. Li enjoys her work at the restaurant, she said, and has made friends through her customers. But business is slow. She estimates revenue is down 25 percent since the economy started to slide in 2008. Meanwhile, five new Chinese restaurants have opened in Sunnyside and Prosser
since her 2004 move, though some of them later closed. Still, she considers her restaurant work temporary. She has been reading books about interior design and real estate and aspires to go back to college. She may even open a nightclub. “Maybe there’s a Miss Kitty nightclub someday,” she said with a laugh. And she hopes to someday travel at will between China and America, both of which she calls home.
CHINA GROVE Owner: Kitty Li Product or service: Chinese food Location: 3210 Picard Place, Sunnyside Length of ownership: 9 years Number of employees: 10 Average number of hours worked by owners each week: 90
➤ INSIDE THIS SECTION ➤
➤
➤
A care for hair is at the root of beauty supply business.
Fresh is the key to firm’s success.
From waste to want: Leftovers are the start of this business.
Page 34F
Page 35F
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Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
PAGE 34F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Pat L’Heureux, owner of Yakima Beauty Supply and Wig Co., works on an order at the store’s counter on March 9.
Caring at the root of business
everything from jewelry to purses. The wigs, After more than 26 years though, have of running a hair salon, Pat become L’Heureux knew she had the chops L’Heureux’s calling to work for herself. So she found a card. Ranging in place and opened Yakima Beauty price from about Supply and Wig Co. seven years $50 to more than ago. $300, the synthetic “It’s a wonderful business,” wigs are made said the 71-year-old. L’Heureux, throughout Asia. who now focuses on sales and wig L’Heureux said fittings. “I really like the people. some people buy You really get to know them and wigs for fun, but their families.” most buy them to Over the years, L’Heureux has cover hair loss remodeled her salon and doubled from chemotherapy and radiation the number of hair-care products. She also created a boutique section treatments. “I can almost tell, when I see two years ago, which features someone, what they want,” she
said. “If you buy a wig, you need one that looks like you.” L’Heureux, a married mother of three adult children who also has seven grandchildren, said finding qualified employees is the most challenging part of running a small business. She believes successful hairdressers must be talented, friendly and professional, but
finding all three qualities in one person is a struggle. “What I find is they’re either good or they shouldn’t have gone to beauty school to begin with,” said L’Heureux, who counts her granddaughter as one of her talented employees. “It’s rough.” Many of her customers are local business people, but for wigs, some
come from as far away as the TriCities and Seattle, L’Heureux said. She depends on word of mouth to remain successful, and she’s found that straying clients never stay away for long. “Everyone checks out the competition and comes back,” she said. “I know what I’m doing.” When not working, L’Heureux said she enjoys riding horses on her 20-acre ranch in Kittitas County, hiking and working in her garden. The Bellingham native hopes her business will continue to expand, but one of these days, she said she will get around to retiring. “I’d like to see it continue to grow, with or without me,” she said. “You just go with the flow.”
Mustang Grill and Skating
Panda Bear Child Care and Learning Center
By ERIN SNELGROVE
Yakima Beauty Supply AND Wig Co.
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
Owner: Pat L’Heureux Service: Beauty salon and retail store selling wigs and hair-care
products
Location: 609 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima Length of ownership: Seven years Number of employees: 2 Average number of hours worked by owner each week: 40-plus
➤ MIND YOUR BUSINESSES Central Valley Glass
Knobel’s Electric
Blue Moon Tavern
30 W. Mead Ave., Yakima Owners: Ward Jackson and Les Riel Age of business: 31 years Length of ownership: 31 years
801 Tennant Lane, Yakima Owner: Cliff Knobel Age of business: 55 years Length of ownership: 55 years
624 E. Edison Ave., Sunnyside Owners: Mike and Doug Pecheos Age of business: 21 years Length of ownership: 21 years What the business does: Tavern food and drink Number of employees: 5 For more information: 509-8379286
What the business does:
Residential and commercial glass and glazing; offers wood and vinyl windows, storefronts, mirrors, shower doors, screens, skylights, deck rails, commercial toilet partitions. Number of employees: 11 For more information: www. centralvalleyglass.org or 509-4536326.
SUBMIT A BUSINESS
What the business does:
Commercial and industrial electrical contractor Number of employees: 22 For more information: 509-4529157
Today and again next Sunday, Risk Takers — Stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs will profile dozens of Central Washington residents who own and operate their
own businesses. Was it possible to cover every deserving business? No, of course not. For every business owner we wrote about, there are scores of other
602 Seventh St., Prosser 320 N. Sixth St., Sunnyside Owners: Paul and Wendy Owner: Socorro Bazaldua Paeschke Age of business: 10 years Age of business: 6 years Length of ownership: 10 years Length of ownership: 6 years What the business does: Child What the business does: Food, care and learning center including breakfast, lunch and Number of employees: 14-15 dinner, skating, entertainment, plus For more information: 509-839host birthday parties, weddings 6500 and reunions Number of employees: 6 For more information: 509-7863515
entrepreneurs also worthy of attention. That’s why we’re asking for your help. Starting in mid-April, you will be able to nominate locally owned
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businesses for inclusion in the online presentation of this project. Visit www.yakimavalleyrisktakers. com/submitbusiness for information on how you can submit your business.
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Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ PAGE 35F
Outstanding in their fields By JANE GARGAS
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
WAPATO — Tomatoes bursting with juice, watermelon sweet as gumdrops, corn that melts in your mouth. That’s Imperial’s Garden. A fixture in Wapato for the past 22 years, the farm stand, located about 10 miles southwest of Yakima, has greatly expanded since its first days of selling produce from its 40-acre farm. “We just keep growing and growing,” reports Manuel Imperial, 42. Now farming 800 acres, the Imperial family does a robust business from its first offering, asparagus, in mid-April, to its last pumpkin in late October. They’re farmers, retailers and shippers. Four other Imperials run the business with Manuel: brothers Marlo, Mel and Marcello, and sister, Virginia. A second generation of teenagers also help out during the height of the summer. Hot and sweet peppers, zucchini, 20 varieties of sweet corn, cabbage, peas, green beans, cucumbers — well, you get the GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic idea — there isn’t much the family Imperial family members working at Imperial’s Garden include, from left: Virgie Imperial, Marcelo Imperial, Manuel Imperial and Nellie Imperial. doesn’t grow, although they have yet to plant potatoes, grapes or says he learned more Spanish than lettuce. English at the time, but that’s also Imperial’s Garden The Imperials also sell fruit, been helpful in his work, he notes. such as cherries grown by neighOwners: The Imperial family, headed by Manuel Imperial A Wapato uncle, Frank Arreola, bors, but they don’t own orchards. Product: Fresh produce A tomato grown in sponsored the Imperials as new “We’re dirt farmers not highLocation: 4817 Lateral A Road, Wapato arrivals, and farmer Ken Inaba society farmers,” jokes Manuel. this Valley is one of Length of ownership: 22 years helped the family start farming. No one crop is the largest seller, Number of employees: 100 during the summer They began modestly (“It started the best you can eat, says Manuel, noting that corn, Average number of hours worked by owner each week: Manuel slow,” Manuel says), but each year asparagus, beans, bell peppers and Imperial says he gets about four hours of sleep a night during the springbar none. they’ve increased their acreage, tomatoes “all balance out.” to-fall season produce offerings or equipment a They set aside 40 acres of veglittle bit. Manuel Imperial etables by mid-July for U-pick, to “We own everything except our One of their biggest customers, reasons. let people harvest produce on their other than tourists and local fans, new building,” he reports. The family came to the Valley own. The hours are long: “When is WinCo Foods, a Northwest grofrom the Philippines in 1983, led by As they keep expanding — last you’re sleeping I’m there at work,” cery chain. parents Antipolo and Memerto. year they moved two miles south but the rewards are, let’s say, juicy. Although the recession has been Having grown up speaking a to a location with more room “I love tomatoes. I love growing somewhat challenging, Manuel Filipino language called Ilokano, — they’ve also built a cold storage tomatoes,” Manuel says. terms last year’s business “good” Manuel knew no English when he and sorting facility. “A tomato grown in this Valley and expects this year to be even arrived here — he was 14 — so he “Every year we increase a little is one of the best you can eat, bar better. was placed in an English as a Secbit,” says Manuel. “People have to eat,” he ond Language class at school. He none.”
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PAGE 36F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
Leftovers the seed for new venture
AprésVin products, including oils, flour and soaps are made from the discarded grape seeds from the wine industry.
By ROSS COURTNEY
AprésVin
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
PROSSER — Eric Leber and Lori Ramonas didn’t have to buy equipment to open their small varietal grape seed product business. Their raw material grows all around them. They don’t need to hire employees. And they’ve already spent a lifetime on research. “It just seemed like everything was right,” Ramonas said. With relatively little up-front cost and risk, Leber and Ramonas have piggybacked on the Lower Valley’s wine and fruit industries to start AprésVin, a small Prosser business that makes and sells varietal cooking oil, flour and soap from discarded grape seeds. AprésVin, French for “After the Vine,” distributes about 2,000 gallons of oil — the bulk of their SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic business — to restaurants Lori Ramonas and her husband, Eric Leber, pose with a bottle of Riesling oil, which is pressed from discarded grape seeds from the and boutique stores. Last summer, the QFC grocery wine industry. store chain in Puget Sound put them on the shelves. been known to burn people. jellies. Leber, 61, and Ramonas, But they wanted to try The married West Leber and Ramonas run Conveniently, Leber and 59, officially started the it in the real world. The Richlanders, who both the pomace through a screen Ramonas use FruitSmart’s business in 2007, but they Yale-educated couple have hold chemistry doctorates, that filters out the seeds, equipment, facility and really began at least four worked in government, harvest seeds from grape which they press into oil employees. They purchased years before that when conducted private research pomace, the leftover mush of and mill into flour. The less their own oil press, but then Leber taught organic and helped draft scientific skin, seeds, twigs and leaves toxic skins are then used as sold it to FruitSmart. chemistry at Heritage policy for U.S. congressional after winemakers crush. fertilizer. In all, the couple spent University in Toppenish. members. Normally, the They extract the seeds about $300,000 of their In what they called the Eco But one thing was always winemakers would have to on contract at FruitSmart savings and on credit cards Vino lab, Leber and his missing: “We’ve never really pay upward of $40 per ton Inc., a Prosser specialty fruit to start up. If they had built students experimented with been the boss,” Leber said. to haul it to a landfill. It can ingredient company. Among from scratch, the investment making paper, skin cream, Ramonas grew up in be dangerous. Firefighters sometimes deal with FruitSmart’s products are would be more than $2 paints and biodiesel from Boston, while Leber is from smoldering piles that have seeds used in jams and million. grape waste. Seattle, with family roots
Owner: Eric Leber and Lori Ramonas Product or service:
Varietal grape seed oil and flour Location: Prosser airport
Length of ownership:
Five years 2
Number of employees:
Average number of hours worked by owner each week: 60-70 each
during harvest from September-December, 30-35 each at down times in the state’s wine industry with Associated Vintners. They are the parents of a 25-year-old son in graduate school at the University of California-Irvine. The biggest challenge has been convincing customers, Ramonas said. Many have heard of grape seed oil, known for its antioxidants and resistance to high cooking heats. It’s more common in Europe. But few businesses, if any, market them by variety — merlot, chardonnay, etc. They also flavor the oil with spices and herbs. “We don’t have competitors yet,” Ramonas said. They have been growing about 10 percent a year despite the recession. They expect to break even this year and make a small profit. And they’re having fun. “It’s better than just going fishing and hanging around with the remote on the couch,” Leber said.
➤ MIND YOUR BUSINESSES R.S. Excavating
P.O. Box 4063, Yakima; 302 McCormick Road, Yakima. Owners: Ron and Brenda Stiles Age of business: 17 years Length of ownership: 17 years What the business does: Full service excavation contractor and general contractor Number of employees: Average 7, but sometimes as many as 23 For more information: 509-9665943
SUBMIT A BUSINESS
Famous Burger and Teriyaki Sandwich 401 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima Owner: Steven Som Age of business: 5 years Length of ownership: 5 years What the business does:
Burgers, teriyaki chicken, rice, sandwiches, soup. Number of employees: 3 For more information: 509-8533222
Today and again next Sunday, Risk Takers — Stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs will profile dozens of Central Washington residents who own and operate their
Inklings Bookshop 5629 Summitview Ave. Yakima Owner: Susan Richmond Age of business: 10 years What the business does: Sells books and gifts Number of employees: 12 For more information: www. inklingsbookshop.com or 509-9655830
George’s Wok & Grill
Colonial Lawn and Garden
1210 S. 80th Ave., Yakima Owners: Yuk and Pui Lee 1118 W. Washington Ave., Age of business: About 20 years Yakima Length of ownership: Same Owner: Lance Forsee What the business does:
Chinese restaurant
Number of employees: 8
Age of business: 25 years Length of ownership: 25 years What the business does: Full
service landscaping
Number of employees: 30 For more information: www.
coloniallawn.com or 509-966-1655
own businesses. Was it possible to cover every deserving business? No, of course not. For every business owner we wrote about, there are scores of other
entrepreneurs also worthy of attention. That’s why we’re asking for your help. Starting in mid-April, you will be able to nominate locally owned
businesses for inclusion in the online presentation of this project. Visit www.yakimavalleyrisktakers. com/submitbusiness for information on how you can submit your business.
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Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ PAGE 37F
➤ MIND YOUR BUSINESSES
Stokes Burger Ranch 706 Yakima Valley Highway, Sunnyside Owners: Dean Stokes, David Stokes and Kristi Jongsma Age of business: 35 Length of ownership: Dean has owned it since 1976. David and Kristi joined him as co-owners five years ago What the business does:
Fast food
Number of employees: 16 For more information:
509-837-3003
Stegeman Electric P.O. Box 248, Grandview Owners: Chuck Stegeman and Kim Stegeman Age of business: 1971 Length of ownership: Took over from their father What the business does:
Commercial and residential electrical contractor Number of employees: 10 For more information:
509-882-3800
Silverheels 16 N. Second St., Yakima Owner: Ralph Proudfoot Age of business: 25 years Length of ownership: 25 years What the business does:
Sell and repair shoes
GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic
The Golden Bull Restaurant was the only Chinese restaurant in Selah when Franky and Suzanne Lee opened it nearly 15 years ago.
Bringing Chinese food to Selah
Number of employees: 1 For more information:
www.silverheelsinfo.com or 509-453-0958
Affordable Funeral Care 101 E. Second Ave. Ellensburg Owners: Dick Knautz and Janet Roy-Knautz Age of business: 11 years Length of ownership: 11 years What the business does:
Funeral Home
Number of employees: 1 For more information:
www.afcmemorial.com or 509-925-2902
By PHIL FEROLITO
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
Golden Bull Chinese Restaurant
SELAH — When Franky Lee opened Golden Bull Chinese Restaurant with his wife, Suzanne, Owners: Franky and Suzanne 20-hour days were the norm. Lee “That was for a couple of Product or service: Chinese months,” he said. food But the excitement of having the Location: 106 N. First St., only Chinese restaurant in a town Selah of 7,147 residents outweighed the Length of ownership: 14 long hours and any fears of starting years their first business. Number of employees: 3 We were “kind of in awe,” he Average number of hours said. “(It was like) keep going, keep worked by owner each week: going,” 70-plus That was nearly 15 years ago. “At that time, the economy was United States about 20 years ago by really good,” he said. “Everybody family already living here. had money to go out, shopping, “When we came here, looking eating.” around, there were no Chinese The couple was lured to the
restaurants in Selah,” he said. Today, his restaurant is still the only Chinese restaurant in town. “We’re still here,” he quipped. “We do OK.” Perched on First Street, its exterior is covered in a beige stucco. Inside, brown shades cover large windows and golden chandeliers hang over every table. Everything from steamed and fried rice to vegetables, beef and chicken cooked in sweet and spicy sauce is served. Lee and his wife split duties of running the restaurant. “Family, you know — both kind of know the whole thing,” he said. “Paperwork — she knows how to do the paperwork, I know how to do the paperwork. Cook — she knows how to cook, I know how to
cook.” The couple has three children, ages 12, 14, and 20, but like to keep family details private. “We’re a simple, quiet family,” he said. The lunch hour is usually busy and weekends are good, he said. “People like it,” he said. He’s open seven days a week. “Restaurant business, you have to spend a lot of hours,” he said. “You have to stay open seven days a week. People want to come every day.” Although business isn’t bad, he said he did feel the economic slump brought on by the Great Recession. “Everywhere it’s slowed down,” he said. “We hope it’s going to go back to normal.”
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Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
PAGE 38F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
➤ MIND YOUR BUSINESSES Snipes Mountain Microbrewery and Restaurant 905 Yakima Valley Highway, Sunnyside Owners: Gene and MaryAnn Bliesner Age of business: 14 years Length of ownership: 14 years What the business does: Full service restaurant and microbrewery Number of employees: 20-25 For more information:
www.snipesmountain.com or 509-37-2739
Major’s Restaurant 1705 W. Lincoln & 1902 S. Third Ave., Yakima Owners: Bob Lockbeam and Steve Calhoun Age of business: Third Avenue: 11 years Lincoln Avenue: 10 years Length of ownership: Bob was an original owner. Steve 10 years. What the business does: Burgers, fish, salads, sandwiches, ice cream Number of employees: 45 For more information: Third Avenue: 509225-6444; Lincoln Avenue: 509-225-1775 Photos by ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic
Sergio Márquez prunes trees on part of his Wapato orchard on March 10.
Once a laborer, now an orchardist By JOSEPH TREVIÑO
FOR THE YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
If the future of Yakima Valley Latino farmers have a face, it could be Sergio Márquez. The 48-year-old owner of Márquez Farms in Wapato has become a fixture among Yakima’s small but emerging Latino upper class. His farm, a tidy 106 acres of rows of Honeycrisp apples, Fujis, Galas, Cameos and other apples — plus another 90 acres he rents — employs about 50 workers during peak harvest months. Farmers like Márquez are the future of Yakima’s agricultural industry, says Juan Marínez, the director for Michigan State University Extension’s Hispanic Farmers Program. “It benefits the United States as a whole to have new farmers, because it will sustain food production in our country,” Marínez says. But Márquez’ work doesn’t stop at the farm. In Olympia, he’s lobbied legislators for driver’s licenses for undocumented workers. He heads the Latino Farm Workers, a nonprofit organization that lobbies to improve the lives and business opportunities of Hispanic farmers. And he serves on the boards of public Spanishlanguage Radio KDNA and Congreso de Católicos — the
Márquez Farms Owner: Sergio Márquez Product or service: Apple
orchardist
Location: Wapato Length of ownership:
Seven years 50
Number of employees:
Average number of hours worked by owner each week: 80-plus
Márquez checks the fuel level on one of his wind machines at his Wapato orchard on March 10. biggest Catholic Charismatic event in the Pacific Northwest. And Márquez and his wife, Lilia, are frequently seen at trendy gatherings. But the convivial Márquez was not always the man. In fact, he admits that few would have bet on him when he arrived in Wapato. It was a cold winter night in 1978 and he was an undocumented 15-year-old who crossed the Tijuana border with an aid of a “coyote,” a human smuggler. During his first year in Wapato — a town that he says he loves dearly and believes it is the prettiest city in the Valley — Márquez lived in a small trailer the size of a bedroom with 16 other migrant workers. There were only three chairs, a small lavatory and a tiny kitchen. Despite the hardships, he recalls those times fondly. “We were happy,” he says. “We were here to work and that is what we did. There was no time to squander money or anything else.” Márquez quickly found
work in the apple orchards, learning the intricate, often artistic art of pruning. His companions spoke only Spanish and often pushed the young but ebullient teen to interpret for them. “I did not know any English at all,” says Márquez, who never went past the fourth grade in his native Pajuacarán, a city in the Mexican state of Michoacán. “I did not know it then, but by pushing me to learn English, they were really helping me.” He quickly became a foreman for a local company where he stayed for 16 years. He also became a citizen after marrying his first wife, an American. Eventually, he left his earlier job to work eight years in the orchards of Yakima businessman John Hunter, the late owner of Lil’ Brown Smoke Shack. Over the years, the Hunters came to consider Márquez and his family as an extended family. They even mentioned them in their official obituary card when
John Hunter died in October 2007. In 2004, Hunter helped Márquez to buy his Wapato apple orchard. Márquez managed to get a $200,000 loan, while Hunter financed the rest of the $400,000 (a bargain price) that he paid for 106 acres, a home and ranch equipment, Márquez said. He says that he is grateful to the Hunters and believes that without their help he might never have become a farm owner. He still has a close relationship with the Hunters, who live about a quarter mile from his Wapato home. Still, Márquez believes that hard work and discipline are key to running a business (he still puts long hours). He says that over the years he has learned the recipe of successful business ownership: have good credit, if married, be willing to work as a husband and wife team and have an aggressive, can-do attitude. He says: “You have to make a decision. The rest will be added unto you.”
Residential Melissa Maggard
Patty Maggard-Prediletto
Quality Consignment Furniture Store Manager
(509) 454-9725
(509) 575-5575
Owner/Designer
Van Wingerden Landscaping 1291 Cemetery Road, Sunnyside Owner: John Van Wingerden Age of business: 50 years Length of ownership: 25 years What the business does: Full scale landscaping, residential and commercial Number of employees: 4 For more information: www. vanwingerdenlandscaping.com or 509-8305593 or 509-837-5593
Birchfield Manor Gourmet Restaurant and Inn 2018 Birchfield Road, Yakima Owner: Brad Masset Age of business: 31 years Length of ownership: Brad bought the business from his parents 15 years ago What the business does: Serves multicourse gourmet dinners (Reservations required) There’s also an 11-guest room inn. Number of employees: 14 For more information: birchfieldmanor.com or 509-452-1960.
Miner’s Drive-in 2415 S. First St., Union Gap Owners: Lee and Lois Miner Age of business: 63 years Length of ownership: 47 years What the business does: Burgers, salads, sandwiches Number of employees: 75 For more information: 509-457-8194
Vickie’s Tieton Cafe 802 Wisconsin Ave., Tieton Owner: Victoria Ennis Age of business: 43 years Length of ownership: 43 years What the business does: Offers breakfast, lunch and coffee Number of employees: 1 For more information: 509-673-2881
McDonald’s of Yakima and Kittitas counties Offices at 110 S. Fourth Ave., Yakima, 98902 Owners: Jan and Greg Luring Age of business: McDonald’s started in 1955 Length of ownership: Lurings have been franchise owners since 1980 What the business does: Ten restaurants in Yakima County and two in Kittitas County serve up fast food. Greg Luring says they now sell more chicken than beef and more beverages than hamburgers Number of employees: Around 602, with 10 percent more in the summer. For more information: 509-248-2176
FRUIT STAND
The Magic Kitchen and Gift Shop is open year round! Residential Fruit Stand opens in April!
15.837485.RT/M
15.835486.RST.M
From start to finish… Helping you make your house a home!
Ellwood and Arla Crosier opened Residential Fruit Stand in 1960. They moved to their current location at 3rd Ave. and Nob Hill in 1963. Their produce stand opens in April when fresh local asparagus is harvested and stays open daily through October. Their second stand, located in the Nob Hill Plaza, opens in mid-July. Ellwood makes daily trips to the Lower Valley for fresh local produce. They also offer Walla Walla Sweet onions, berries from the Westside, and locally grown blueberries. Their daughters, Lanette Hooper and Jenell Crosier, have worked in the family owned business for years. Their grandsons Kaden, Joren and Tegan currently work for their grandparents. The Magic Kitchen gift shop and luncheonette, which serves homemade food, are open year round.
S. 3rd Avenue & Nob Hill Blvd. – Yakima, WA – 509.575.5358
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ PAGE 39F
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PAGE 40F ➤ SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 ➤ YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC ➤ YakimaValleyRiskTakers.com
Risk Takers ➤ stories of Yakima Valley Entrepreneurs
The more twists and turns, the better the tale.
The new 2011 Legacy. A novel take on driving. A SUBARU BOXER® engine provides balance. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive provides grip. The result is an unparalleled, dynamic drive with an endearing 31 mpg*. After that first corner, you’ll never want the story to end. LOVE. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
Legacy®. Well-equipped at $19,995†
*EPA-estimated hwy mpg for 2.5i CVT models. Actual mileage will vary. †MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title and registration fees. Dealer sets actual price. Legacy 2.5GT Limited pictures has an MSRP of $31,395.
STEWART SUBARU
506 Fruitvale Blvd. • 248-5494 www.stewartsubaru.com
15.837719.RT/M