The Wenatchee Business Journal
2
IN THIS ISSUE Pesticides .................................... 6 Tour of Homes ............................. 13 Opinion ..................................... 21 Data ........................................ 22 People ..................................... 26
BILL FORHAN
CAROL FORHAN
Publishers publisher@leavenworthecho.com
Sales Director carol@leavenworthecho.com
SHAWN GOGGINS
LIANNE TAYLOR
Advertising Sales sgoggins@wbjtoday.com
Advertising Sales ltaylor@wbjtoday.com
LINDSAY TIMMERMANS
NANNETTE VAUGHN
Advertising Sales Graphics lindsay@cashmerevalleyrecord.com nvaughn@wbjtoday.com
LEE FEHRENBACHER
ALLISON INT-HOUT
Reporter lfehrenbacher@wbjtoday.com
Editorial Intern ainthout@wbjtoday.com
THE WENATCHEE BUSINESS JOURNAL 304 S. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA 98801 TELEPHONE (509) 663-6730
Business Journal joins NCW family By Bill Forhan
Co-publisher
I
ts old news now that NCW Media, Inc., our publishing company, bought the Wenatchee Business Journal from Sound Publishing. NCW Media is well known outside of Wenatchee but certainly not a household name in the core Wenatchee/East Wenatchee community. My wife Carol and I, together with our partners Jeff and Audrey Walter of Brewster and the previous owners of The Leavenworth Echo, Jeff and Elizabeth Gauger of North Canton, Ohio own NCW Media. Over the last eleven years we have grown our little publishing company to the second largest newspaper company in North Central Washington exceeded only by the Wenatchee World in circulation. With this latest acquisition our combined circulation of just over 18,000 rivals the Wenatchee World’s. The Wenatchee Business Journal will give us a significant presence in the Wenatchee market for the first time. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with our company we publish 4 community newspapers; The Leavenworth Echo, Cashmere Valley Record, Lake Chelan Mirror and Quad City Herald in Brewster. We publish 3 visitor guides; Sonnenshein auf Leavenworth, Lake Chelan Summer Magazine, and the North Central Washington Winter Recreation Guide. We also publish a regional classified advertising newspaper, NCW Bargain Hunter’s Guide, which is distributed in racks and by mail in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan County. We have our own printing facility in Chelan including a web press for printing our newspapers and a small digital commercial printing press. We also maintain 4 active web sites for our four
www.WBJToday.com ©2011 NCW Media Inc. The Wenatchee Business Journal, USPS # 009-301 is published monthly for $24 per year by NCW Media Inc. at 304 S. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA 98801. Bulk Postage Paid at Wenatchee, WA 98801, with additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wenatchee Business Journal Circulation, PO Box 37, Brewster WA 98812
newspaper publications. Our business is targeted to the needs of small business customers and local community news. The Wenatchee Business Journal fits our business model perfectly. We are excited about this opportunity to serve the business community of Wenatchee and North Central Washington. Many of our friends often ask if we have been reincarnated from the decks of the Titanic. In today’s media world it seems like a fair question. The news is often filled with stories about the death of newspapers. The closure of the Seattle PI is just one local example of the challenges to the modern printed word. But in the immortal words of Mark Twain, “rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Newspapers are not dead and the Internet is not driving them out of business. In fact, the Internet is a tremendous tool to newspaper companies like ours. It increases our frequency and gives us the ability to provide news with all of the color, sound, motion and emotion that our competitors have been touting for years. In other words, it levels the playing field and restores the value of competition in providing information in a complex world. We are looking forward to the opportunity to put our own touch on The Wenatchee Business Journal. The Business Journal has a rich history spanning nearly 25 years. It was started by two well known, local entrepreneurs, Jim Corcoran and Mike Cassidy. We look forward to refreshing their vision and adding a bit of our own. In the months ahead you can expect to see many changes in WBJ. We will expand the coverage area to include more of North Central Washington since we all rely on each other to some extent in building our regional economies. You will see a new and revamped
Bill and Carol Forhan web site and you will see the return of many of the features and articles that provided its distinctly local flavor. Long time WBJ reporter and editor Nevonne McDaniels’ byline will once again be appearing on the WBJ pages, and you will also see an expanded and much more aggressive opinion section. Traditional American capitalism is under attack across this country. It is important that business leaders take a strong stand in reminding all Americans that it is the private business sector that has built this economy into the most powerful and productive in the world. We intend to provide that forum to educate fellow business associates as well as our political leaders about the truth regarding the private sectors role in rebuilding our economy. Finally, you will see a revamped and upgraded web site that will provide new tools to businesses for promotion and communication. We are excited about the future of the WBJ and we hope that you will share with us your concerns and your praises as we work to make the publication an important tool in managing your business.
Bill Forhan can be reached by email at publisher@leavenworthecho.com or by telephone at 548-5286.
Looking for a better future?
Then you need to consider this exceptional opportunity!
FAX (509) 663-4599
CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS The Wenatchee Business Journal is published on the first Monday of each month. $24 / 1 year or $35 / 2 years for Chelan/Douglas $28 / 1 year, outside Chelan/Douglas $48 / 1 year, out of state 1-888-838-3000 | www.wbjtoday.com
September 2011
Is now taking applications for
Advertising Sales Executives
The perfect candidates are outgoing, motivated, self-starters who enjoy great autonomy and self-direction and can work with customers to design marketing packages that will build their businesses. NCW Media owns The Leavenworth Echo, Cashmere Valley Record, Wenatchee Business Journal, Lake Chelan Mirror and the Quad City Her-
ald. NCW Media also publishes regional tourism magazines, including Sonnenschein auf Leavenworth, Lake Chelan Summer Magazine and North Central Washington Winter Recreation Guide. All of our newspapers have dynamic modern websites. We also publish a regional classified advertising product, North Central Washington Bargain Hunter's Guide that is distributed by mail and racks throughout Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan Counties. In summary, we are now the second largest media company in North Central Washington and growing. Our sales staff earn a substantial commission that rewards success while preserving strong customer/
sales representative relationships. If you are looking to join a winning team of dedicated professionals look no further. Contrary to what you may have heard, print is not dead. In fact our readership is growing. Let us show you the future of media. Don't miss this opportunity. Bilingual a plus. Send a cover letter, resume and any other supporting documents to carol@leavenworthecho.com; mail to The Leavenworth Echo, PO Box 39, Attn: Carol Forhan, Leavenworth, WA, 98826; drop by The Leavenworth Echo office at 215 14th Street, Leavenworth, or Fax to 509-5484789, Attn. Carol Forhan.