Klc biz 8 15

Volume 7, No. 8

August 2015

Business Kelso Longview

Connection Chamber of Commerce

Calendar Saturday

August 1 – 9 a.m.

The Color Dash Three Rivers Mall

Tuesday

August 4 – 1 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting Rescued Paws 1240 Commerce Ave., Longview

Thursday

August 6 – 7:30 a.m.

Ambassador Committee Canterbury Park 1335 3rd Ave., Longview

Chamber CEO Bill Marcum snaps a photo of a dad who pulled his sleepy kids out of the car one morning to pose with the Visitor Center's Bigfoot.

Tuesday

August 11 – 5:30 p.m.

Business After Hours Southwest Washington Regional Airport 2222 S. Pacific Ave., Kelso

Tuesday

August 18 – Noon Board of Directors Longview Country Club 41 Country Club Dr., Longview

Wednesday

August 19 – 11:30 a.m.

Ribbon Cutting Jessica Mickens State Farm 314 S. Pacific Ave., Kelso

Thursday

August 20 - 5 p.m.

Joint Business After Hours Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce Toledo Tel 183 Plomondon Rd., Toledo

Every Wednesday

Chamber Connections KEDO/1400 AM – 3 to 4 p.m.

Stream live at www.threeriversradio.com Local guest and current events

Sasquatch luring visitors to center

By Brenda Sexton For the Kelso Longview Chamber On any given day at the Kelso Longview Visitor Center someone is mugging for the camera with Harry, or Hairy, the spelling has yet to be determined.

Since the 8-foot, taxidermy-like Sasquatch, who as near as anyone can be sure is the spitting image of the ape-like creature believed to inhabit forests in the area, minus the nasty smell, took up residence at the Visitor Center people have been flocking to have a photograph taken with him.

“They come from all over – Australia, Japan, here in the United States,” Chamber bookkeeper Amy Hallock said. Even the locals drop by for a photo op. “They stop just to have their picture taken.

“Everybody loves him. It’s a lot of fun.”

The Visitor Center saw an uptick in foot traf-

fic to see the Sasquatch after he was featured in the Chamber’s 2015 Visitor Guide. To add to the fun, Chamber staff plans to paint a Sasquatch shadow on the wall with the words “I Believe” and post the photos there.

What started as a lark has become somewhat of a local phenomenon.

The Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot, was the focal point of the Woodford Commercial Real Estate office in Kelso. A couple years ago when the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce and the Visitor Center joined forces and moved to its current location off I-5 in Kelso, staff thought the Sasquatch would look great in their office.

After some pleading with the Woodford folks, the Chamber was able to purchase and relocate the creature.

Not an easy feat. After grappling him away from the real estate company, Chamber staff

Please see Sasquatch, page 3

Quarterly Membership Luncheon Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Location: Cowlitz Regional Conference Center Time: 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 advance/$35 at door Join us for the third quarter membership luncheon and meeting! Hear from our Kelso and Longview city officials and mayors on current projects, progress and challenges .

David Futcher Mayor of Kelso

Steve Taylor City Manager, Kelso

Don Jensen Mayor of Longview

Dave Campbell City Manager, Longview

Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Sasquatch, from page 1

Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, bfro.net, website and see many Bigfoot sightings are concentrated in the Pacific Northwest.

Not to mention, a host of other websites dedicated to tracking and sightings, along with television shows, documentaries, books and movies.

had to transport him and wrestle him in the standard-size door of the building.

The attraction? Well, Harry/Hairy does have a certain rugged appeal. Tall, dark, brooding, with big, brown eyes, tousled mane and shrouded in mystery.

In addition to photos, visitors are snapping up the Chamber’s inventory of Sasquatch field guides, children’s books, T-shirts, bumper stickers, survival kits, and yes, Bigfoot poop (chocolate/peppermint flavored).

Hoax? Folklore? Spirit? Who knows, but word is a real Sasquatch is between 6 and 9 feet tall and can weigh around 500 pounds. The Visitor Center version seems to be created to scale, right down to its sole – Sasquatch gets its Bigfoot nickname from its – big feet, approximately 24 inches long and 8 inches wide.

In the future, the Chamber would like to bring the believers together for a summit or convention so they can share the stories of sightings and encounters with a group larger than Visitor Center staff.

Sasquatch’s popularity in Kelso and Longview is not a huge surprise. The area is home to the Ape Caves. Glance through the

What’s eerie? “They all describe the sound he makes exactly the same,” Hallock said.

3

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

CEO’s Message

Selling your business on Chamber’s Boot Camp

By Bill Marcum CEO – Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

you can make sure your staff is helping your business and helping the customer find the products they need.

Wow, hard to believe it is August! We have had a beautiful summer and the fall is coming fast. That means Boot Camp, and our fall series is on retailing. All classes are at the Lower Columbia College Admin Building in the Heritage Room, 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 – Purchasing Strategies. Do you have a plan?

Jerry Petrick with the Small Business Development Center will be working with you in the next two classes as we discuss purchasing strategies, followed by pricing strategies. He will help you figure out a pricing plan so you have an idea of how you are going to price those new products in the market you are doing business.

We have a great series of classes planned. Below is a brief description: Sept. 11 – Appearances. What does your window and storefront say to customers? Does it invite them in to your store? Does it have flyers and banners on it? Or do this/don’t do that statements? Bob Green with RW Green and Associates out of the Puget Sound will be here to take you on a tour of businesses that look inviting – and some that do not. This is a great kick off to the series, giving you something you can take back that morning to do your own evaluation on your storefront.

Oct. 9 – Promotional Strategies. We will continue with the third P, promotional strategies. I will be hosting this class as we take a look at advertising and strategies for marketing your business, products, staff and ultimately, YOU. Oct. 16 – Facing Facebook. This is our final class of the series and it asks the question, how do I get in the Facebook game? How much does it cost? Can it help my business? Where can I find help?

I’ve invited Tom May with a Seattle media group to help you understand the answers to all those questions.

Sept. 18 – Employee Training. Are your employees trained to help the customer, or just ring up a sale? Do they understand selling, upselling? Kevin Hunter with“The Business Forum Show” will be facilitating this class. He will be giving you suggestions on how

Our final Boot Camp class of the year will be Oct. 23. It will be a free, bonus class for anyone who has attended a class during this past year. Chris Bailey, president at LCC, will be talking about problem solving and critical thinking. He has done this class each of the past two years and the reviews have been outstanding. Chris gives you simple, yet proven examples, of problem solving and how to work those problems into successful situations for your business. Again, this is a FREE class if you have attended any of the previous 18 classes during the past year.

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Karen Sisson, Project Manager Amy Hallock, Bookkeeper

Cost of the Fall Boot Camp series on retailing is $100 for Chamber members and $160 for nonmembers. You can bring up to three people from your business, making the cost to attend about $5.50 per person. You can select individual classes for $25, members, and $35, nonmembers. Sign up today at kelsolongviewchamber.org or call the Chamber at 360-423-8400.

Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce.

105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or e-mail bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month.

Bring your staff and come prepared to gain some valuable information that can help your business immediately.

4

L FAL15 20

L FAL15 20

2015 Small Business

BOOT CAMP

2015 Small Business 2015 Fall Series begins Friday, September 11

BOOT CAMP

Friday Mornings ★ Lower Columbia College

7:30 am - 9 am ★ Heritage Room at LCC - Admin. Bldg.

RETAILING Six Pack 11 2015 Fall Series begins Friday, September Sept. 11 What does your window and your store say to customers?

Friday Mornings ★ Lower Columbia College Talking about window displays, store displays, signage in the store,

dust on Room the items, poor 7:30 am - 9 am ★ Heritage at lighting LCCetc.- Admin. Bldg.

Facilitator: Bob Green, RW Green and Associates.

Sept. 18 Employee Training – Are your employees trained to help the customer

or just ring upSix a sale? Kevin Hunter, The Business Forum Show.

RETAILING Pack

Sept.

25 window Purchasing Do you have a plan?

Sept. 11 What does your andStrategies your store– say to customers?

Facilitator: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor SBDC Talking about window displays, store displays, signage in the store, Oct. 2 Pricing Strategies – Cowlitz County dust on the items, poor lighting etc.

Facilita tor: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor SBDC Facilitator: RW Strategies Green and–Associates.

Oct. 9Bob Green, Promotion Advertising: mail, radio, online, print.

Sept. 18 Employee Training – Are your trained to helpChamber the customer Facilitator: Bill employees Marcum, Kelso Longview or just Oct. ring up Hunter, The Business Forum Show.

16 a sale?

OnlineKevin Sales?

Facebook?

How to get in the game!

Sept. 25 Purchasing Strategies – Do you have a plan?

Facilitator: Tom May, May52 Inc.

Facilitator: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor SBDC Oct. 2 Pricing Strategies – Cowlitz County

Facilita tor: Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Advisor SBDC $ Oct. 9 Promotion Strategies – Advertising: mail, radio, online, Members print. $ Facilitator: Bill Marcum, Kelso Longview Chamber Non-Members Oct. 16 Online Sales? Facebook? How to get in the game!Register at: Facilitator: Tom May, May52 Inc. www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

100 160

❝

❝

100 Members 160 Non-Members $

Now this is Truth in Advertising ‘Tools you can use to help you immediately’. The Kelso Longview $ Chamber of Commerce hit the nail on the head with their most recent Business Boot Camp. As an administrator and business owner with over 25 years leadership experience, I walked Register at: away every week with new tools, inspiration, motivation and a desire to strive to improvewww.kelsolongviewchamber.org my business by leaps and bounds. The courses were well planned, the content was interesting, relevant, informative, inspiring,, thought provoking and challenging. I can not say that I have ever spent so little and received so much. I can not wait until the next series.

Now this is Truth in Advertising ‘Tools you canbusiness use to help you immeThe best investment in my I have ever made.

Barbara A. Sudar Administrator diately’. The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce hit•the nail on theLongview Urology head with their most recent Business Boot Camp. As an Owner/Partner: administrator Estetica Day Spa

❞

and business owner with over 25 years leadership experience, I walked away every week with new tools, inspiration, motivation and a desire to strive to improve my business by leaps and bounds. The courses were well planned, the content was interesting, relevant, informative, inspiring,, thought provoking and challenging. I can not say that I have ever spent so little and received so much. I can not wait until the next series.

The best investment in my business I have ever made. www.kelsolongviewchamber.org Barbara A. Sudar • Administrator Longview Urology Owner/Partner: Estetica Day Spa

360-423-8400

❞

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council

Manufacturers can connect with future workforce through Business After School

By Julia Maglione Communications Manager – Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council Manufacturing, one of the highest growth industries in the region, is facing a serious workforce shortage over the next five to eight years. With 30 to 50 percent of manufacturing workers heading into retirement and a lack of trained emerging workers, our region will have a large labor gap to fill.

Business After School (BAS) was launched in early 2015 by the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC) and partners at the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce, Cowlitz Economic Development Council, Lower Columbia College and corresponding organizations in Clark County, to focus on sparking career interest in young adults, by allowing them to explore in-demand industries.

The BAS program highlights a different in-demand industry each quarter. In honor of National Manufacturing Day, the manufacturing industry will be the focus of our next program week, coming Oct. 5-7. The program has previously featured engineering and health care, and will end the year with technology in December.

Each industry week is framed to meet two specific goals: • To give young adults the opportunity to explore career options in a growing industry; sparking interest in jobs that are new, different or unfamiliar to them.

• To showcase growth industry businesses, in an effort to connect them with our future workforce; possibly leading to interns, summer or part-time employees and ideally and ultimately to full-time permanent workers.

Business After School Manufacturing Week is open to young adults (ages 16-24) interested in exploring manufacturing careers. Registration is required for this no-cost program, and space is limited. An adult must accompany participants under 18 years of age.

Sponsors are the key to making the nonprofit BAS program successful. Businesses may choose to sponsor an entire program year for $2,500 or an industry week for $500 or $250. Sponsors provide an onsite, two-hour visit for participants. These visits include a company tour, a hands-on activity, discussion regarding the types of jobs available, the education and training required, salary ranges and upcoming job opportunities.

Manufacturing is often viewed as an industry with little earning or growth potential. In reality, manufacturing is one of the driving forces of our economy, offering a large variety of highly-skilled, well-paying jobs and growth opportunity.

Sponsoring Business After School will allow your business to take part in inspiring and shaping our community’s emerging workforce and dispel the myths surrounding the manufacturing industry.

For more information, interested businesses may contact Cass Parker, SWWDC’s Program Coordinator, at cparker@ swwdc.org or 360-567-1076.

Julia Maglione is communications manager at the SWWDC. She can be reached at jmaglione@swwdc.org or 360-567-3176.

6

BARK BABBLE

July 17, 2015

In Memory of John Editor's Note: We are sharing a tribute to John that was recently printed in Longview, Vancouver, Seattle and Centralia newspapers.

Flying was John Leber’s passion so it seems appropriate to think of him leaving as he lived, flying.

He took to the skies one last time on July 10, 2015, departing from Southwest Medical Center, surrounded by his devoted ground crew of family and hospital caregivers.

John was born to Albert and Irene Leber in Seattle, WA in 1944, and was the oldest of six siblings – three brothers and three sisters. He was a lifelong learner, earning multiple degrees including a BA in accounting from St. Martins and a MBA from the University of Portland. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served as a Lieutenant during the Vietnam War. Upon moving to Longview, John planted his roots deep. He was a thirty-six year member of the Longview Rotary, a member of the International Fellowship of

Flying Rotarians, sat on several boards, and contributed much to the community.

John’s past business ventures include farming with his father in Kent, WA and founding a successful CPA firm in Longview.

In 1994, he purchased Swanson Fuel.

After changing the company name to Swanson Bark & Wood Products, Inc., John expanded the business to include 84 acres and 150 people. He always said that he was just an old farmer and that Swanson was just another way for him to play in the dirt with really big toys.

John is survived by his wife Joy Leber, daughters Pandora, Squeek, Amy, Katie and Christina and many grandchildren.

A celebration of John’s life took place Sunday, July 19, 2015 at Journey SeventhDay Adventist

Church

in

Kelso,

WA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s honor may be made to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Trauma Center at PHSW Foundation, PO Box 1600, Vancouver, WA 98668. Please include a note indicating that your contribution is for the ED in memory of John Leber.

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Lower Columbia College

Going back to school isn’t just for kids

By Chris Bailey President – Lower Columbia College

• Lower Columbia College has dramatically increased the opportunities available for students to earn credit for prior learning.

Things like work or military experience can translate to credits that count toward a degree or certificate.

• If you or someone you know is over 21 years of age and hasn’t finished high school yet, we have a new portfolio-based program called High School 21+ that is offered at a very low cost. For just $25 a quarter (with scholarships available), adult students can work toward finally obtaining that high school diploma.

• For a flat fee of $20 per quarter (or just $6.67 per month), LCC students have access to a new state-of-the-art fitness

This is the time of year when families start to gear up for the start of a new academic year, but going back to school isn’t just for kids. There is no better time for adults to think about starting or returning to college. Some things to consider: • For the first time in Washington state, the legislature rolled back tuition for residents. This past session, the legislature passed a law to reduce the operating fee portion of student tuition by 5 percent. There were a few inflationary adjustments in building and service and activities fees that are also set by the legislature, so the net savings to students is actually about 4 percent at the community college level.

• In order to encourage people to apply, Lower Columbia College has waived the usual $30 admission fee through Aug. 13. Students planning to start in fall quarter should apply by that date to ensure that financial aid processing gets completed on time.

Please see LCC, page 9

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Diane Craft, President Koelsch Senior Communities

Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College

Michael Julian Kelso Theater Pub

Julie Rinard, President Elect Community Home Health & Hospice

Clayton J. Bartness, DC Longview Chiropractic Clinic

Bianca Lemmons Cowlitz County Title Company

Lance Welch, Vice President PeaceHealth

Ken Botero Longview City Council

Frank Panarra Foster Farms

Joel Hanson, Past President KLOG/KUKN/The Wave

Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds

Tom Rozwod NORPAC/Weyerhaeuser

Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank

Linda DiLembo Three Rivers Mall

Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching

Wendy Hutchinson Millennium Bulk Terminals

8

Steve Taylor Kelso City Manager Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Lower Columbia College LCC, from page 8

Call 360-442-2311 or visit us online at lowercolumbia.edu today to start planning your next chapter.

center that features equipment used by the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers. The facility also features a rock climbing wall.

• The LCC choir performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in May, and has been asked to return during the 201617 academic year. This is just one of the many opportunities related to the fine and performing arts available at LCC through the support of a generous endowment provided by the estate of Ken and Pat Hanson.

• LCC has partnered with five universities to offer 11 bachelor’s and two master’s degree programs on the LCC campus, including a Master’s of Business Administration program offered by Eastern Washington University. Visit LCC’s University Center webpage for more information.

TUNE IN every Wednesday Your Chamber Connection

KEDO AM 1400 – 3 to 4 p.m.

Contact the Chamber to schedule YOUR 10-minute business spotlight

9

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Business Toolbox

How to profit from small improvements

By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser

+1+1-1-1=45 Profit improvement calculator 1 Your Figures

There has always been a debate about what approach to use to improve profit/process in business.

One school of thought is to select the area/product/service with the highest potential for cost reduction; sales improvement; price increase and leap feet first into that area.

This becomes an opportunity to rally the organization around a focused effort and thus seems simple and aligning.

A competing approach is to work more broadly at making incremental improvements across multiple lines of activity (sales, costs, overhead, margins, profits) to create smaller, sustainable improvements and process changes.

Because the highly focused ‘all hands on deck’ approach is so dependent on your specific situation and goals I won’t attempt to address or depict it here – rather, I will show a simple example of what an incremental approach might do for your business. Please keep in mind that these initiatives are not mutually exclusive, they do prove to be rather confusing to your organization in implementation.

So, what if we started with a simple set of goals: 1. Increase prices 1 percent 2. Increase volume sold 1 percent 3. Reduce direct costs 1 percent 4. Reduce overhead costs 1 percent Don’t laugh, although these goals seem ridiculously easy, how many businesses have actually implemented even one of them?

What if you actually focused on doing them all simultaneously?

Well, here is an example of what just a 1+1+1+1 program of profit improvement steps can achieve.

As you can see in the sample, the results can be much more meaningful than you might imagine. The way the combination of small improvements works is similar to the concept of compound interest.

No matter your industry or market, the math works the same way. Try it…you will become a fan!

10

2 What If

Sales Cost of Sales Gross Profit Total Overheads Net Profit

Increase Price Increase Volume Reduce Direct Costs Reduce Overheads

Ratio

250000 175000 75000 62500 12500

0.7 0.25

per $100 100.0 70.0 30.0 25.0 5.0

% change 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0%

3 Your New results - (all other things being equal) Sales Cost of Sales Gross Profit Total Overheads Net Profit Increase in profit

255000 175000 80000 61875 18125 5625

0.686 0.243

100.0 68.6 31.4 24.3 7.1

45%

Calculations Sales

Direct Costs

Overheads

Original Price Increase Volume Increase

250000 2500 2500

Original Reduction in cost Volume Increase

175000 -1750.00 1750.00

Original Reduction in cost

62500 -625

255000

175000

61875

Go ahead and do the calculations with your own figures for your own business. This is powerful and easy to implement TODAY! For planning purposes, just take your most recent quarterly financial results and see what they would have looked like if you had implemented the 1+1+1+1 approach. What would your 1+1+1+1 = ?? 10 percent/15 percent/22 percent/45 percent?? More?

If you want help looking at your own situation drop me an email and we will schedule time to review your own situation and develop some projections and a plan.

Enjoy your summer.

This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, Certified Business Adviser, MBA, SPHR with the Business Development Center in Longview. Petrick provides no-cost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via e-mail at jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Ambassadors of the Month

Reetz makes it two in a row For the second straight month, Jason Reetz has been selected to receive the Ambassador of the Month award.

Reetz, who was also June's top Ambassador, applied to be an Ambassador for the Chamber because he thought it would be a great way to network with local business owners and their employees, while offering him an opportunity to give back to the community.

It would seem to be working for him.

“What a pleasurable experience this has been,” said Reetz, who has been with Pacific Tech Construction since June 2006. “Since becoming an Ambassador, I have literally met hundreds of new people through the monthly Business After Hours events, the ribbon cutting ceremonies that I have attended, volunteering at the Chamber golf tournament and amongst my fellow Ambassadors.”

Reetz is also a board member for the Lower Columbia Professionals and the Lower Columbia Contractors Association. In his down

time he enjoys hunting, fishing, spending time outdoors and tasting different wines and local craft brews.

Chamber Ambassadors, known as The Red Coats, are an integral part of the Chamber of Commerce. The AmJuly bassador team is made up of active Jason Reetz Chamber volunteers whose responsi- Pacific Tech Construction bilities include meeting and greeting at Chamber events, welcoming new members and assisting at ribbon cuttings and community events. Ambassadors juggle busy professional careers while making time to assist the Chamber at a variety of events year long.

If you would be interested in wearing a red coat and representing the Chamber, contact CEO Bill Marcum at the Chamber office.

EstatE Planning & EldEr law

Attorney Michael A. Claxton

Our estate planning / elder law attorneys provide advice and a variety of estate planning services and issues involving the elderly, including: • Abuse of Vulnerable Adult • Asset Protection • Community Property Agreements • Durable Powers of Attorney • Guardianships/Conservatorships • Healthcare Directives/Living Wills • Medicaid and Long-Term Care Issues • Probate • Tax and Retirement Planning • Wills • Will Contests

11

WALSTEAD MERTSCHING AT TO R N E Y S AT L AW

A Full Service Civil Law Firm for 89 Years CIVIC CENTER BUILDING, 3RD FLOOR 1700 HUDSON ST., LONGVIEW, WA

(360) 423-5220 Longview www.walstead.com

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Setting goals and the standards for their achievement

By Chuck Nau Retail Consultant and Sales and Management Trainer Murray & Nau, Inc.

vidual sales people, your staff overall, yourself and your business or service? New product or service offerings and programs?

Is there another segment of the population or market (social media? mobile?) you would like to develop or enhance?

Identify what is missing between where you are and where you want to be.

In this ongoing economic uncertainty, staying focused, committed and upbeat continues to be an everyday challenge for you and your staff. Coupled with the ongoing efforts to retain client, customer and revenue or service commitments, your staff ’s self-confidence and solid footing may be easily undermined and on shaky ground.

How can you best help them, and in the process help your small business and yourself?

Consider pausing for a moment, stepping back and disconnecting from the constant flow of information, and taking a renewed look at your staff, from top (e.g. you) to bottom. No matter the size or the experience of your staff, your people will want to know how they're doing, where they stand. Are they doing well? How can you tell when and how it needs to be better?

• What Needs to Happen? What must occur to move you from where you are to where you want to be? Enhancing your website? Contacting and selling a larger number of your best customers? What about other small retailers, service providers, or businesses as a possible new target customer market? Launching a new niche product? Establishing a quarterly sales training program? Will enhancing available resources generate the results desired? Making a part time sales support position full time?

Or do new resources and support systems need to be identified, designed and implemented? What benchmarks need to be put in place to identify desired outcomes and results that move you toward your short term or long term goals? What red flags or midcourse adjustments need to be identified to assure success, reduce unexpected slow downs and prevent failure?

• Where Are You? Identify what you have on hand, today.

Carefully review your staff, assessing their strengths, weaknesses, and various talents in relation to your current market positions. What support systems are in place within the entire business or service? What products and pricing programs currently exist? Which of them are growing? Which are shrinking? What are your business or service’s strongest selling points? What's your overall competitive advantage? What do you do better than others, both competitors and other small businesses in your market?

• Measure and Reward. Are your benchmarks clearly defined as measurements for attaining or not attaining your business or service's objectives? Are they challenging (e.g. a stretch) but not impossible? Are they fair and equitable? Has your sales staff and your staff overall been asked and encourage for some input?

Careful!! Do not clutter your measurements of success with unimportant parameters. Will quarterly or monthly revenue goals, average transactions or quarterly ‘team’ achievements be your sales benchmark or should you develop other crite-

• Where Do You Want To Be? What are your business objectives, in terms of profitability, sales, growth and overall market expertise, both short term and long term? What opportunities, threats, or obstacles lie in you and your staff ’s path? How do you envision further developing your indi-

Please see Nau, page 13

12

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Nau, from page 12

goals. Clear and well-developed benchmarks help you and your staff stay focused on the ‘big picture’ and on track and on time to achieve it. Good luck!

ria? How will those individuals in support and non-revenue areas be able to measure successful goal achievement? Are you measuring what you want to accomplish?

Likewise, are you rewarding your staff for the desired outcomes in a timely and consistent fashion? Do your rewards allow for continued growth and achievement (sell more, earn more)? Do your rewards also take into account excellent customer service, reduced sales adjustments, new creative ideas or strategies, and individual personal career growth in addition to revenue goal attainment?

© Murray & Nau, Inc. Chuck Nau of Murray & Nau, Inc. is a retail consultant and sales and management trainer. He has been a speaker for and conducted advertising and marketing workshops with retailers, chambers of commerce, community marketing groups, and retail organizations throughout North America. Based in Seattle, Nau is a 25-year veteran of advertising, sales, media and management, who knows and understands the everyday challenges of starting up, growing, and surviving in today’s ever changing retail climate.

Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed to Chuck via e-mail: murnau@nwlink.com or at 425-603-0984.

• Eyes To See, Ears To Hear. Do you continue to fine tune, enhance and develop your resources? Do you encourage your staff to ask their customers, clients, vendors and each other how your small business and its various products or service might consider and subsequently implement ongoing changes to meet the needs of your market? Are you listening to your staff to tell you what YOU can do to fine tune, enhance, and grow the business?

More importantly, are you asking your staff what needs to be done to enhance their success, both internally (systems and environment) and externally (training, sales tools, resources)?

Do you continually observe the way your goals are achieved in order to prepare for forming new goals and objectives, so that you can continue the process of growth and development at your business or service in the future?

• Give Honest Feedback. Tell sales staff how they are doing, sharing equally in success and failure, on a timely and consistent basis. Communicate to them so they can understand where you are, where you want to be, and how you are going to get there. Encourage and support them as you implement midcourse corrections to keep on target. Support an open dialogue for ideas, suggestions, and observations. Let them know when they have arrived.

Your staff needs appropriate, carefully considered benchmarks to measure their achievement, thereby giving them an opportunity to make adjustment to their efforts quickly and responsibly by themselves or with assistance from you (and your management team). Setting appropriate, well-thought out ‘points of reference’ enables you to measure staff performance and the progress being made toward the achievement of those

13

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Council of Governments

CWCOG and its role in a brief history of transportation planning

By Bill Fashing Executive Director – Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments

TEA-LU) in 2005, and the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) in 2012. Congress is currently considering the next transportation package called the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act. As written, the legislation will fund surface transportation programs at $278 billion, boosting overall funding by an average of 3 percent annually over current levels for the six years of the Act. The Act will impact funding levels for the Surface Transportation Program (STP) which provides funding for local distribution for priority projects. STP funds have been used on most large projects in the region in the recent past. The Act will also affect the amounts allocated to MPOs including the funding ratios between larger and smaller MPOs like ours and address a variety of issues from performance measures to transparency in transportation projects.

The results of this legislation will impact our region and our ability to move forward on a transportation agenda to meet the current and future transportation programs necessary to support economic development. If you want additional information on transportation planning and its impact on the region, I welcome your e-mail on the topic. You can reach me at bfashing@cwcog.org. You can find additional information at the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations website.

The COG/MPO recently approved it required 2015-16 Unified Planning Work Program, the 34th iteration of the work plan, and is currently working on the 2016-2019 Regional Transportation Improvement Program and the 20 Year Metropolitan and Regional Transportation Plan. The Plan will identify the vision, major goals and policy direction along with a listing major projects anticipated to be developed or needed during the 20 year planning window.

Updates on local transportation planning efforts can be found at www.cwcog.org.

Transportation planning as we know it has its roots in the 1960s.

As the Interstate system was beginning to dominate the movement of people and freight the federal government began to look at longrange transportation planning. In 1962, the year after the CWCOG was formed, Congress passed the Federal Aid Highway Act which outlined the need for continuing, comprehensive and cooperative planning regarding transportation.

The act outlined the requirements for the larger metropolitan areas to participate in the planning process. By 1965 Planning Organizations were required to provide this planning function. This was the beginning of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

The CWCOG serves as the MPO for the Kelso/Longview/Rainier area. As such, the COG is responsible for a number of functions relating to transportation in the metro area as well as the lead agency for the larger five-county Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO).

In the ‘80s new regulations required a transportation plan, a transportation improvement program (TIP) including an annual element, and a unified planning work program for all larger communities. Legislation has changed how the focus and process of the overall planning, but has maintained the emphasis of regional planning as an integral piece of the overall transportation system.

The COG approved its first Unified Planning Work Program in 1982 for long-range transportation planning.

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) legislation strengthened the metropolitan planning process. It addressed a stronger role for local elected officials, and required stakeholder involvement. It also created movement toward a more integrated, modally mixed approach directed at enhancing transportation system efficiencies. The first non-motorized commuting trail was built under the ISTEA legislation in Minneapolis.

ISTEA was followed by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in 1998, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFE-

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Mind Your Own Business (at the Library)

Fail fast or win big, spark change with these interesting titles

By Chris Skaugset Director – Longview Public Library

stead of finished products and the ability to learn from these early failures; and finally an openness to listen to customer feedback.

The world is changing. While it is true that the world has always been changing (that’s the nature of reality), it’s also true that the world is changing more and more rapidly. The world of entrepreneurship and starting your own business is changing as well. While the ideas, passions, and ambitions of the men and women entering this world have not changed, the realities of the modern marketplace have altered how the modern entrepreneur ultimately succeeds or fails. To aid the budding businessperson I’ve included some recent additions that not only address this bigger reality but also a series of titles that discuss some specific businesses and what it takes to make those dreams come to reality.

While these are in many ways very different from the advice of the past, it’s clear that today’s budding entrepreneur is in a very different world than all of their predecessors and that the same old methods were not designed with this new world in mind. Schroeder then fills the rest of the book with fascinating real-life examples of entrepreneurs who have taken the chance of failing fast but ended up winning big. This is an excellent book for anyone with an idea and the passion to see it come to fruition.

Entrepreneur Press has recently published a series of books

Risk is always a part of entrepreneurship. It’s all about calculated risk and when to start. “Fail Fast or Win Big: The Startup Plan for Starting Now” by Bernhard Schroeder takes a slightly different look at the traditional model of starting-up a new business or producing a new product. This model focuses on spending a lot of time creating, and perfecting, a business plan and finding investors before the entrepreneur launches their enterprise. Schroeder, the director of the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center at San Diego State University, believes that the speed of the world, and especially the constantly changing marketplace, makes this model not only antiquated but downright costly. Schroeder embraces the idea that entrepreneurs need move quickly and connect with real customers in order to determine whether they need to continue pursuing their idea, move in a different direction, or drop it all together. His model’s framework has four factors: a reliance on at-hand resources; knowledge and understanding of the market, trends, and consumer behavior; a willingness to use prototypes in-

about starting many different types of businesses. These books are filled with a great deal of good, practical advice in making those businesses come to life. They begin with “Start Your Own Business: The Only Start-Up Book You’ll Ever Need” which is a good general guide to getting your business going and which I mentioned here a few months ago. Since that time we’ve added “Start Your Own Event Planning Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success”, “Start Your Own Food Truck Business”, “Start Your Own Microbrewery, Distillery, or Cidery: Craft Brews, Craft Spirits, Artisan Hard Cider”, and last, but not least, “Start Your Own Retail Business and More: Brick-and-Mortar Stores, Online, Mail-Order, Kiosk”.

You can find these, and much, much more at the Longview Public Library. Come in, or visit us online, and see what we can help you do today.

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Kelso

Longview

State session beneficial to Kelso citizens

Longview’s 2015 federal agenda

By Mayor David Futcher

By Councilmember Mary Jane Melink Every year the City of Longview develops a federal legislative agenda. This document is the culmination of input from our citizens, City staff and council members to identify important challenges facing the community, develop solutions and determine what resources and support the City needs from our federal officials to help us address these needs.

Back in my January column, I mentioned some of the needs Kelso had for the upcoming state legislative session. It took them a while to wrap things up, but I’m pleased to share that the 2015 legislative session was very fruitful for Kelso citizens.

Our top priority project was the replacement of 90-year-old reservoirs on Minor Road. The $5 million project would update leaking tanks that would likely fail with even a small earthquake. We received an allocation of $1.5 million from the state to help build new tanks. While it’s not the entire project cost, it’s the best result we had hoped for, and works out to saving around $125 for every Kelso citizen. Staff is working on funding the remaining project cost, and we hope to see the project kick off in 2016.

Longview’s legislative agenda is used as our road map when we connect with our federal elected officials and federal agencies.

Highlights of Longview’s 2015 federal legislative agenda include: • The Longview Fire Department submitted two grant applications (one regional and one local) to secure funding to replace self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and other critical fire equipment. Replacing SCBAs is necessary because the existing equipment is obsolete, and technological changes have been incorporated into current equipment standards which increase the health and safety of firefighters.

We also asked for $900,000 to begin developing plans for a new bridge to allow access to properties like the Three Rivers Golf Course on the west side of the railroad in south Kelso.

The bridge would cross at Hazel Street, and allow additional development to occur in that area, where access has long been limited. Instead of the $900,000 planning grant we requested, the legislature funded the full $25 million construction cost over the next several years.

• Longview supports a new, long-term, robust federal transportation package that provides options for local governments to access critical infrastructure funding for the Industrial Way/ Oregon Way (SR432/433) intersection project. SR 423/433 is a state route that connects industrial areas in Longview, unincorporated Cowlitz County and northwest Oregon (including the Port of Rainier) to I-5. This project will reduce truck and rail traffic conflicts and enable freight to move more quickly and safely. The intersection of Industrial Way and Oregon Way is one of the five highest truck tonnage intersections in the state.

Additionally, the legislature funded $85 million for the important SR 432/433 corridor expansion project, which will provide additional capacity to allow for industrial growth at the port and other waterfront properties without negative impacts to local traffic. The opportunities this project would afford will help to fuel our local economy for the next generation.

• The City of Longview operates RiverCities Transit in the Longview/Kelso urban area. In response to citizens in the area voting to increase sales tax funding for public transit, RiverCities Transit increased service in August 2013. Doing so required increasing the size of the fleet and staffing by 60 percent, which left the existing transit support facilities inadequate to meet the current needs of the system. A new transit facility is needed.

None of these successes would have been possible without the dedication of our 19th District legislative delegation: Brian Hatfield, Dean Takko and Brian Blake. They, along with our 20th District friends, championed these priority projects and made them a reality.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to these legislators from me, and from the other councilmembers in Kelso.

Please see Longview, page 17

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Longview, from page 16 • The City of Longview is seeking funding to complete our downtown streetscape project on Commerce Avenue.

Improvements will attract more visitors and customers downtown, encourage investment in private property and draw businesses back to the city’s commercial center. The project has broad support from the community and local businesses. Construction of the first three blocks was completed in December 2014. The City has already secured funds for the construction of another block in the summer/ fall of 2015. We are now seeking funds to complete the final block of improvements next year. The total cost is $881,000 and the City will be seeking $400,000 in federal funds.

Recently, several staff members and I had the opportunity to meet with our federal officials and agencies to review Longview’s 2015 federal agenda and ask for support of key initiatives and grant projects. The meetings went well, but only time will tell how successful we were!

The Sky is the Limit!

We started in a garage in April 2007. Twin City Bank has provided us the necessary funding to grow our business into a multi-million dollar company.

By early fall Twin City Bank will help us move into our new 15,000 square foot facility with room to continue our growth.

Jon Hansen General Manager Fabricast Valve

729 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 1-800-319-2265 | 360-414-4101 twincitybank.com

Creating products to fuel the world

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

PeaceHealth

New lab prices now available Saving money is always a priority in good business practices.

PeaceHealth wants to help businesses and people in our community do that. We know competitive pricing is important and we want to be able to provide services to you at a rate you can afford right at home.

Our lower pricing may reduce your out-of-pocket expenses and extend your health care or business dollars. Go ahead and compare our costs to others and we think you’ll find we offer thousands of tests at fair and transparent prices. Of course, what you pay out-of-pocked depends on your individual insurance plan.

Effective Aug. 1, PeaceHealth Laboratories is now offering lower prices on medical tests with payment options right in our community. We’re offering

What else is new? Our new phone number for billing questions: 800-826-3616 For your convenience, we offer two locations to welcome walk-in patients for a wide variety of medical laboratory testing needs as requested by your health care provider. We call them Patient Service Centers but you can call them draw sites if you'd like:

• Access to lower outpatient pricing • EasyAccess discount program for uninsured patients • Payment options include:

• Flexible installment plans • Online payment

Please see PeaceHealth, page 19

Get Healthy.

Stay Healthy.

www.peacehealth.org/healthy-you

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

PeaceHealth, from page 18 • Lakefront Clinic, PeaceHealth Medical Group

“Helpful Downto-Earth Staff” “I have banked with Fibre Federal for over 18 years. The helpful down-to-earth staff have always given us 100%. Fibre Federal always has very competitive loan rates so we have never had to check anywhere else. Their staff is easy to work with and their knowledge is exceptional.”

1718 E. Kessler Ave. 360-414-5859 Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed noon-1 p.m.)

• PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center Physician's Office Building, First Floor 1615 Delaware St. 360-414-2308 Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Smart businesses and smart shoppers choose their services wisely and support their local community and economic development. Our lower lab pricing is just one way to add up savings for you. Visit www.peacehealthlabs.org/prices to compare.

- Heather L. Brady, Insurance Agent

Join us!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Sept. 8. PeaceHealth is hosting the September Chamber After Hours. Join us as we share the Spirit of Health.

Bring your business to Fibre Federal for Business Plus Checking, Business Online Banking, remote deposit, low-cost loans, and incredible member service.

360.423.8750 1.800.205.7872 www.fibrecu.com

Federally insured

by NCUA

Banking made easy

•

Learn about our services

•

Meet providers

•

See our new mobile unit

•

Tour our beautiful Kearney Breast Center

•

Sample delicacies from our 1615 Bistro

•

Much more!

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Chamber Connection

Rock Star

Reprographics owner Tom Gunn promoted the July 18 Solid Rock Cruisers Car Show with Karen Sisson and Lonnie Knowles on the Chamber’s Happenings radio broadcast at Bicoastal Media (KLYK KEDO KBAM).

Stream live at www.threeriversradio.com Local guest and current events

“Your Chamber Connection” EVERY Wednesday Hosts of the Show: Carey Mackey, Red Canoe Credit Union ; Lonnie Knowles, Stewart Title, and Karen Sisson, Kelso Longview Chamber.

Would you like an opportunity to be on Your Chamber Connection or to have more information about the qualifications of an open house or ribbon cutting? Contact Bill or Karen at the Chamber 360-423-8400

Lori Horner and Earl Grubb, owners of Paddle Flatts Kayaking, a mobile business specializing in kayaking and paddle rentals.

Jeff Petersen, Three Rivers Law Center, joined Lonnie to talk about his nonprofit practice working with estate planning, wills, trusts and family law.

Longview Parks and Recreation recreation coordinator Karry Williquette talks about Summer Concerts at the Lake Series.

Russ Meder and Nate Yanez with My Agency and ASAP Business Solutions.

Randy Rodahl with the Columbia River Corvettes 23rd Annual Bow Tie Car Show.

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Welcome New Members

Chamber membership has its privileges Celebrate new Chamber members with us

Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, special events and committee participation.

* Woeller Financial Services, LLC * Rescued Paws

• Annual Meeting and Banquet • Networking Events • Committee Participation • Business Contacts • Quarterly Membership Meetings • Civic Representation

• Legislative Representation

• Monthly Business After Hours

• Issues Tracking and Information

Business Services include marketing for your business, referrals and access to Chamber publications and research data.

• Task Forces • Candidate Forums

• Mailing Labels

• Legislative Update Breakfast

• Membership Window Decals

• Demographics Publication

• Member Referrals • Ribbon Cutting

Packages

• Website Links

Basic Membership Package – $275 or $26 per month.

• Member to Member Discounts

Bronze Membership Package – $500 or $46.66 per month.

• Membership Directory

Silver Membership Package – $1,000 or $86.33 per month.

• Tax Deduction

Gold Membership Package – $2,500 or $211.33 per month.

• Newsletter

Platinum Membership Package – $5,000 or $416.66 per

• Business Card Display

month.

• Use of Chamber Logo

Diamond Club Membership Package – $10,000 or $834 per month.

Representation through action committees, candidate forums and up-to-date action alerts.

Nonprofit Package – $180 or $18 per month.

Join today! Call 360-423-8400 21

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Ribbon Cuttings

Two in One

Chamber Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of My Agency, above, with owners Russ Meder and Nate Yanez, and the grand re-opening of ASAP Business Solutions, below, with owner Yanez, located at 1324 and 1322 Vandercook Way, respectively, in Longview July 11. My Agency handles advertising, branding, marketing, print and collateral, product photography and websites. ASAP Business Solutions is a temp employment agency.

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Ribbon Cuttings

Off to a Clean Start

Chamber Ambassadors officially welcomed Dawn and Steve Gregg, owners of The Soap Factory, into the fold with a ribbon cutting July 9. Dawn has been making handmade olive oil soaps, lotions, lip balms, and even doggie shampoo for 15 years.

Selection at the shop, 1227 Commerce Ave., Longview, is constantly changing so visit often to see what Dawn has created.

Happy Anniversary – Celebrating 100 Years ToledoTel joined the Kelso Longview Chamber to aid its expansion into retail and commercial lines in the area. ToledoTel representatives take a cut at the ribbon with Chamber Ambassadors.

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2015

Welcome Back!



We at the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce would like to give a SHOUT OUT and a big THANK YOU to the following loyal members for renewing their partnership with us.

*American Medical Response *Beacon Hill Sewer District *Cascade Title Company *CCS *City of Kelso *City of Longview *Comcast Spotlight *Costco Wholesale *Cowlitz County *Cowlitz County CASA *Cowlitz County P.U.D. *Cowlitz County Title Company *Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments *David E. Houten, DDS *Diamond Showcase *Document Management Archives *Dorothy Bain Hanson *Emerald Kalama Chemical *Express Employment Professionals *Freddy’s Just for The Halibut *Gordon Sondker *Interwest Benefit Consultants *KapStone *Koelsch Senior Communities *L.G. Isaacson Company *Longview Memorial Park, Funeral Home & Crematory *Lower Columbia College *Miller Paint *onthemark associates *Pacific Tech Construction, Inc. *Port of Longview *Rodman Realty, Inc. *Steel Painters/Railco *Swanson Bark & Wood Products, Inc. *The Golden Palace

*The Red Hat *Three Rivers Eye Care *Walstead Mertsching, PS *Watkins Tractor & Supply Co. *Acupuncture Northwest *Budget Blinds of Longview *Columbia Bank *Columbia Funeral Service *Columbia River Carpet One *Columbia River Mill Outlet *Compendium Consulting *Continental Investors Services, Inc. *Cowlitz County Guidance Association *DeFrancisco Lampitt and Brado PS *DSU Peterbilt *Estetica Day Spa *Fire Mountain Grill & Summerland Catering Services *G L Booth – JG Davis & Associates *Green Hills Crematory – Cascade NW Funeral Chapel *Kay Green *Signature Transport, Inc. *State Farm Insurance – Scott Fischer *Teague’s Interiors *Diamond Residential *Applied Application *Broderick Gallery *American Legion *Coleman Cellular *Port of Woodland *Advanced Dental Services *All Out Sewer & Drain Services *Baker Lumber Company *Brusco Tug and Barge *Carl’s Towing Service & Repair *Carlson’s Heating & Air Conditioning

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*Cascade Natural Gas Corporation *Coldwell Banker Bain *Cole’s Appliance Repair *Comfort Inn *Community Home Health & Hospice *Cowlitz Credit Union *Cutright Wholesale Plumbing Supply *Family Health Center *Industrial Packing *Interiors Plus *Life Works *Longview Housing Authority *Longview Orthopedic Associates *Longview Public Schools *McDonald’s of Longview *Pacific Fibre Products *Nipp & Tuck *Paperback Galore *Rush Insurance/Financial Services *Schlecht Construction *Somerset Retirement Home and Assisted Living *T.C.’s RV and Mini Storage *United Finance *Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company *Wasser & Winters Company *William (BJ) R. Boatsman *Errand Girl *American Family Kari-Ann Botero *Guild Mortgage *Interstate Wood Products, Inc. *Lower Columbia CAP *M & R Painting, Inc. *Mint Valley Federal Credit Union *Newrock Homes, Inc. *Northwest Auto Specialist, Inc. *Retirement Strategies

Kelso Longview Business Connection

July 2015

Welcome Back! *Simpson Timber Company *Superior Tire Service, Inc. *The OM Home *Triangle Bowl *Cowlitz County Chaplaincy *Biggs Insurance Services *Clay Bartness *Comcast *Dick Hannah Toyota *Fred Meyer, Inc. *Heritage Bank, Kelso *Heritage Bank, Longview

*Humane Society of Cowlitz County *Life Mortgage *Music & More D.J.s *Noelle McLean PS *Pacific Lumber & Shipping Co. *Papé Machinery *PNE Corp *Pro-Caliber Longview Motorsports *Red Canoe Credit Union *Red Canoe Credit Union 30th *Red Canoe Credit Union Washington Way *Safway Services, Inc.

*Hometown National Bank *Island Sun Tanning, Inc. *Kemira Water *Longview Engineering and Design *McCord Bros. Nissan Dodge *Millennium Bulk Terminals *Minuteman Press *Professional Communications Services *Servpro of Longview/Kelso *Sierra Pacific Mortgage *Sterling Insurance *Twin City Bank *U.S. Cellular *Waste Control Recycling, Inc. *Woodford Commercial Real Estate *United States Army *Lexi’s Pizza *B & B Air Conditioning & Heating – Entek Corp. *Bicoastal Media dba KLYK/KRQT/KEDO/ NEW COUNTRY *Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts *Community Health Partners/Cowlitz Free Medical Clinic *Craig Stein Beverage *Dahl McVicker Funeral Homes *Frontier Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center *Gibbs & Olson, Inc.

*Searing Electric & Plumbing *Steel Chapel Longview Memorial Park *The Dog Zone *Utilize I.T., Inc. *Wal-Mart *Red Leaf Coffee *BA Design *American Red Cross

OUR LATEST RENEWING MEMBERS *Animal Health Services *Suzanne Arnitz *Baxter Auto Parts *Behrends Body Shop *Bob’s Sporting Goods *Burger King *Collins Architectural Group *Country Village Nutrition Shoppe & Café *Day Wireless Systems *Esteem Salon *Ethnic Support Council *Fiesta Bonita Mexican Grill & Cantina *Foster Farms *Gallery of Diamonds *Global Images Graphic Design & Marketing *Hilander Dental *Hydraulic Service, Inc. *Kelso Rotary *Les Schwab Tire Center *Northwest Motor Service *Overhead Door Company of Southwest *Washington *Peter C. Wagner, D.M.D., PS *ProBuild *Propel Insurance *Shamrock Tavern *Shirley L. Smith *Stirling Honda *Sweet Spot Frozen Yogurt *Taco Time *The Daily News *The Roof Doctor *Twin City Glass Co. *Twin City Service Co. *Weatherguard, Inc. *Wilcox & Flegel Oil Company *Workplace Wellness *WorkSource Cowlitz/Wahkiakum

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

In the News

Free LCC Foundation seminar focuses on Putt with a purpose at the Community planning for health-related life expenses Charity Care Golf Challenge The Lower Columbia College (LCC) Foundation is hosting a series of free educational seminars this summer and fall focused on “aging wisely.”

The third seminar Aug. 11, “Life Insurance at My Age?! Yes, Health Insurance and Long Term Care Insurance, Too” will focus on planning for major life expenses related to health and agingrelated issues.

The seminar panel will be moderated by retired certified financial planner Colin (Ben) Coombs, and feature content expert panelists, including: Don Rodman, Realtor; Steve Fuller, Certified Financial Planner; and Larry Hansen, Insurance Specialist.

The Aug. 11 panel will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Lower Columbia College’s Health and Science Building, Room 123.

The event is free to the community on a space-available basis.

Since 1982, Cowlitz County Title has been the trusted company the community turns to when buying, selling or refinancing a property.

Whether you need title, escrow or property search information, come in for our exceptionalservice. Leave with the secure confidence that your real estate investment is properly insured and protected.

Title Insurance Escrow Service ■ Residential & Commercial ■ 1031 Exchange ■ Locally Owned

All proceeds from the tournament are donated to the charity care program at Community Home Health and Hospice (Community). Community is a community-based, local, nonprofit health care agency serving Washington and Oregon families since 1977. They care for people wherever they live by providing private-duty home care, home health, hospice and grief support services.

The tournament format will be a four-person scramble. All players tee off. Choose the best tee shot. All players hit their next shot from this location. Each team must use a minimum of two drives from each player during the 18-hole tournament.

The driving range and registration open at 11 a.m. Shotgun start is set for 1 p.m. Dinner and awards ceremony follows at 5 p.m.

We look forward to handling your next real estate transaction.

Our Escrow Team…

Why Our Service is the Difference!

Putt with a purpose at the 2015 Charity Care Golf Challenge Aug. 28 at Three Rivers Golf Course, 222. S. River Rd., Kelso.

Team registration is $400; individual registration is $100. The cost includes 18 holes of golf, unlimited driving range balls before tee off, a golf cart and dinner during the awards program.

Registration is available through Community's website at www.chhh.org.

Bianca Lemmons VP/Manager/LPO

Please see News, page 27

Deanna Cornelison Escrow Officer

Shelby Caufman Escrow Officer

Linda Comley Escrow Officer/LPO

Leah Stanley Escrow Assistant

Rita Lawrence Escrow Assistant

Kristy Norman Escrow Assistant

Looking for staff? Express can help!

Express can help you find, screen, test, hire, train & motivate your employees.

■ ■

360.414.1200 • www.expresslongview.com

1159 14th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632 ■ Phone: 360.423.5330 ■ www.cowlitztitle.com

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

In the News

Kelso revs up weekend fun with annual Kelso residents encouraged to participate Iron Horse motorcycle rally Motorcycles, music, merchandise and more await those who in National Night Out Aug. 4 rumble in for this year's Iron Horse Kelso Rally and Ride Aug. News, from page 26

It’s that time of year again to meet your neighbors and fight crime. This year will be the 32nd annual National Night Out crime prevention event. More than 37 million people in 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases around the world will be involved. On Aug. 4, residents in Kelso are invited to join forces to promote police-community partnerships; crime, drug and violence prevention; safety; and neighborhood unity from 6 to 8:30 p.m. For information, visit the city of Kelso website at www.kelso.gov

29 and 30.

Festivities begin at noon and run to 8 p.m. at 214 S. Pacific Ave. Aug. 29. The Iron Horse ride will take place the following day, Aug. 30. Kickstands up at 10 a.m.

Vendor space may still be available for $50. Contact amy@ lafavorites.com for information or to reserve. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/highlanderironhorse.

Head Back to School in Style!

Summer is flying by, and it’s almost time for the school year to start!

Stop by Three Rivers Mall for the latest Back to School fashions from Cutting Edge Clothing, JC Penney, Macy’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Don’t forget to pick up some new kicks too at Famous Footwear and Payless Shoes!

THREERIVERSMALL.COM ROUSEPROPERTIES

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Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Business After Hours

Dorin Brebeck and Chamber board member Tom Rozwod

Cheers!

Brewmaster Art Stiltner pointed out the finer points of handcrafted beer to Dan Frazier, who was one of the more than 100 Chamber members at Five Dons Brewing July 21 for a spirited evening of networking at the Chamber’s Business After Hours. Grounds for Opportunity provided yummy eats, and, of course, Five Dons provided handcrafted beer.

Thank you gentlemen for an fabulous event!

Sean Heiner, one of the Five Dons’ owners, explaining the brewing process.

28

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

ShastaBloom entertained guests.

t a s r & B , P s l r a e n g e r s u !

B Busin

s r ess After Hou

Southwest Washington Regional Airport 2222 S Pacific Avenue, Kelso, WA Tuesday, August 11th Q 5:30pm – 7:30pm Cost: $15 advance/$20 door

Fasten your seatbelts for a fun evening!

Q Airplanes on the ground and in the air!

Q Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 111 and the Civil Air Patrol Cadets will be present Q Tour a corporate jet Q Raffle for a 30 minute plane ride

Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Longview Downtown Partnership

Businesses move to sidewalks for sale Summer Sale

also be made online at http://www.myldp.org/p/christmas-down-

The Longview Downtown Partnership announces the annual Summer Sidewalk Sale downtown along Commerce Avenue Aug. 15. Businesses will put their merchandise out on the sidewalk not just on Commerce Avenue, but on the surrounding side streets as well. All businesses are encouraged to participate. Free sidewalk permits are available at City Hall. For information, visit the website www.MyLDP.org

town.html For information, phone Dawn at 360-751-8525.

Bag It! Order Downtown Shopping Bags at www.MyLDP.org for your business. Fifty tote bags for $15 or 250 tote bags for

Christmas in July

$75. These vintage-themed

Donation jars are conveniently placed in two dozen stores downtown to help raise money to purchase new lamp post decorations and twinkle lights for this coming holiday season. Donations may

bags are made of paper made in Longview! All proceeds go to buy new Christmas decorations for our downtown lamp posts.

Parade Needs Leader Longview Downtown Partnership is looking for a parade coordinator. Our beloved coordinator of MANY YEARS has retired.

LeeRoy Parcel Manager/LPO leeroy@cascade-title.com

We are needing one chairperson and two or three helpers. If you are interested, please contact Dawn at 360-751-8525

Facilitating Growth Through Leadership and Action

Alison Peters Bonnie Woodruff Diane Kenneway Dennis Bird Escrow Officer/LPO Escrow Officer/LPO Escrow Assistant Senior Title Officer alison@cascade-title.com bonnie@cascade-title.com diane@cascade-title.com dennis@cascade-title.com

Lindsey McTimmonds Marketing/Recording recording@cascade-title.com

1425 Maple St. Longview, WA 98632 360.425.2950 www.cascade-title.com

We are a membership based not-for-profit organization.

Join us today!

Resources • Access • Partnerships

Connie Bjornstrom Receptionist/Typist connie@cascade-title.com

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1452 Hudson St. • US Bank Building Suite 208 • Longview, WA 360.423.9921 www.cowlitzedc.com

Kelso Longview Business Connection

August 2015

Color Dash

A Dash of Fun Temperatures were in the 90s and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but there was a rainbow of colors, and smiles, drenching the more than 500 runners and walkers who turned out for the Chamber’s Aug. 1 Color Dash at Three Rivers Mall. The family-friendly 5K was a first-time fundraiser for the Chamber.

Thank you to photographer Lloyd Smith, who took these great shots and shared them with us.

See more photos on the Chamber’s Facebook page or click here.

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