When Trent and Katie Breland envisioned their own eco-friendly salon, OlyFed responded with encouragement, advice and support. “We knew we had a long-term partner because of their community commitment and positive reputation among Thurston County business leaders.” Trent and Katie understand what local entrepreneurs have known for 116 years: OlyFed is all about putting real relationships above the bottom line.
ThurstonChamber.com and click on the Events Calendar for the latest information regarding Chamber events.
Join our host, The Evergreen State College, on Thursday, December 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Historic Lord Mansion & Coach House, 211 21st St SW, Olympia, WA 98501 for the Thurston Young Professionals (TYP) monthly networking event. Enjoy bites and beverages as you expand your network and get to know other young professionals in the community! All are welcome! Feel free to invite other 20-30 year-olds. Thurston Young Professionals is sponsored by Cash Oasis/Media Drive
Join our Morning Mixxer host, Thurston County Food Bank, on Tuesday, December 6 at 7:30 a.m. at 2260 Mottman Rd SW, Tumwater, WA 98512, for hot coffee and delicious bites! Morning Mixxer is a free event held the first Tuesday of each month and is a great way to meet new business connections. Chamber Ambassadors help facilitate introductions and networking. All attendees are eligible to win exciting door prizes! MIXX 96.1 proudly sponsors Morning Mixxer.
Join us for December Forum on Wednesday, December 14 at 11:30 a.m. at The Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake, at 2300 Evergreen Park Dr SW, Olympia, WA 98502. The Chamber is pleased to announce the winners of the annual "Boss of the Year" Recognition and Celebration. In partnership with Express Employment Professionals, this award recognizes outstanding individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in the workplace through innovation, communication, vision, and performance. Networking at 11:30 a.m., Lunch at 11:45 a.m., and Program at noon. The cost in advance is $30 for Chamber Members, $35 Non-Members; the cost will be $35 for Chamber Members, $40 Non-Members at the door. Forum is sponsored by Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, truit, and Saint Martin's University.
Join our Business After Hours host, Olympia Furniture Company at 2302 Harrison Ave Ste 101, Olympia, WA 98502 on Thursday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m., for mingling and networking with other Thurston County business professionals, beverages and appetizers. Business After Hours is a great opportunity to expand your network, and is proudly sponsored by ROXY 94.5 and PacificSource Health Plans.
The VOICE is FSC® Certified.
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), is a non-profit organization that sets certain high standards to make sure that forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible and socially beneficial manner.
Fed Up with Crime p. 6
Local Business Owners Speak Up About Increases in Crime in Thurston County
Finding Your Path at the Career Hub p. 14
The Olympia Career Hub is a free training program and resource portal for skilled workers and job seekers.
Boss of the Year p. 17
Join the Chamber in celebrating its 2022 Boss of the Year honorees, as voted on by their teams.
Caught in the Lens p. 19
Keep up with the latest Chamber happenings and see the great smiles that make up our membership!
PUBLISHER
Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
EDITORIAL David Schaffert 360-357-3362 dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com
CONTRIBUTORS David Schaffert Natasha Ashenhurst Kathryn Millhorn
ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing: Krystal Barkus Elizabeth Bretschneider Ashley Chandler SUBSCRIPTIONS 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com DESIGN Ben Hawkes Mosaic Marketing Studio
COVER Dr. Suneet Bath, Photo by Shanna Paxton Photography.
PRINTING Print NW
CONTACT THE CHAMBER 809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com
by David Schaffert, President/CEO, Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
In this issue of the VOICE, we share information in one powerful story with two main areas of emphasis. First, we look at the impacts of increasing crime incidents on businesses. Next, we look at the community's response.
Crime is having a direct impact on business operations and is creating stress for employees and consumers.
According to "The Index," a quality-of-life indexing effort by the Seattle Chamber started in August 2021, our region is not alone in its increasing concern about crime and public safety. In Seattle, crime is number two in community concerns following homelessness.
The threat of physical harm and witnessing crime puts an enormous strain on employees' mental health. Consumers feel the impacts of higher prices as businesses try to make up losses to balance their business model. These higher prices come during a time of unprecedented inflation.
At our November Forum, we hosted Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Renée Sunde, CEO of the Washington Retail Association (WRA). Together, they shared data demonstrating the growing impacts of organized retail crime. Then they shared what efforts are being undertaken by the AG and WRA to reverse the upward trend. For this story, we talked to Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim and Olympia Police Chief Rich Allen. They shared the impacts of COVID on the workforce, which is the primary root of the challenges we are facing today.
We are in unprecedented times; businesses are being targeted like never before. Workforce challenges will impact our criminal justice system for the foreseeable future. We need to bring these issues into the community conversation to work on solutions. We will continue to work with and support efforts to decrease the current trends and advocate for people, our community and business.
COPYRIGHT All material appearing in the VOICE Magazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. The VOICE Magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. ©2022 VOICE Magazine, Thurston County Chamber.
by Natasha Ashenhurst
Every year, Dr. Suneet Bath and volunteers help close to 100 people who need dental work but can’t afford to pay for it. They treat adult patients, providing fillings, extractions and cleanings. Dr. Bath also participates in a dance and singing show to raise money for the Union Gospel Mission. Dr. Bath is a compassionate man. He rolls up his sleeves to give time and money to those in need—especially to houseless individuals. Today, though, compassion is turning to heartbreak and disbelief. He is trying to make a difference in his community, but his business has become a target of crime, and he is fed up.
He said it was minor acts at first. “We noticed people loitering in the parking lot. This made both my staff and patients uneasy. Next, we found folks sleeping under the awning at our office entrance. We had to hire a security service to patrol at night. At one point, someone turned off the power to the lights outside, so we installed locks on the meters,” he said.
figure out how to be more secure, and I don’t feel we should have to do that.
-Dr. Suneet BathNext, they noticed that people were bathing at the outdoor faucets, so he had to lock those too. The expenses started to add up.
Then there were disturbances inside the office. Once, a woman brandished a knife outside the operating room while he had a patient in surgery. Other folks barged in, and he had to escort them out. Last week someone took art from the lobby. Another individual found their way into the office and stole a purse.
“When we call the police, we’re told their response time will be delayed. We have a lot of police officers as patients. We support our police departments—but we also know that they are understaffed,” he said.
At the end of the day, Dr. Bath is tired. "We are on heightened alert to secure the building and keep our patients and staff safe. We are trying to figure out how to be more secure, and I don’t feel we should have to do that.
We should have a safe place to conduct business," he said.
He believes that people know police can't respond immediately. That they can go into a business and do whatever they want.
Kevin Stormans, with Ralph’s and Bayview Thriftway, has a similar experience.
“We're seeing both property and violent crimes rising. Folks come into our stores, grab a hand tote, fill it up and walk out the door. We see this almost every other day. They are bold and, often, threatening. When we call the police, they come about 10% of the time,” he said.
Stormans said he instructs his employees not to engage with shoplifters. He prioritizes the safety of his employees over the money the stores lose. The solution? Hire a full-time security officer trained at apprehension at both stores 24
hours a day, seven days a week. A costly solution that he is not sure is worth it.
Instead, they lock up the more valuable items—alcohol, pregnancy tests, and medicine. They post photos of shoplifters to keep employees informed about repeat offenders.
“We’ve always had shoplifting,” he said, “but it has amplified in both frequency and aggressiveness in the last few years.”
How can law enforcement and the criminal justice system help?
“I understand they have pressures and lack resources, but I need followup,” he said.
Are Dr. Bath and Stormans’ experiences isolated incidents? Is this only a Thurston County problem? When did it begin, and why?
"We are on heightened alert to secure the building and keep our patients and staff safe. We are trying to
We should have a safe place to conduct business."
"We've always had shoplifting, but it has amplified in both frequency and aggressiveness in the last few years. I understand that [law enforcement] have pressures and lack resources, but I need follow-up."
- Kevin Stormans
"Washington State is facing a staggering increase in retail theft and organized retail crime. In our state, retail theft is a $2.7 billion issue."
– Renée Sunde Washington Retail Association
To answer these questions, we turn to data presented at the Thurston Chamber Forum on November 9. Attendees heard about the impacts of crime on business from Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Renée Sunde, President and CEO of the Washington Retail Association.
According to Sunde, Washington State is facing a staggering increase in retail theft and organized retail crime. In our state, retail theft is a $2.7 billion issue. These statistics cause, in turn, increased concern for public safety.
Sunde cited contributing factors, such as:
• less “eyes on the street” thanks to COVID
• growth of online marketplaces to resell stolen goods
• police reform legislation
• and COVID requirements restricting jail capacity.
According to a recent National Retail Federation Security Survey, eightyseven percent of retailers perceive a risk of theft. Fifty-seven percent have seen a rise in organized retail crime (ORC). And while retail theft and organized retail crime are not new issues, they have reached new levels. Fifty-four percent of small business owners have seen an increase in theft.
THURSTON COUNTY SCANNER'S TWITTER FEED (SEPT. 19 – OCT. 4)
“They usually don’t take anything, but they cause incredible damage. The attempts also cause disruptions to customers because...the machines take months to replace. This year alone, we saw 23 crimes in Thurston and Pierce counties.”
More alarming is the rise in ORC. In 2021, retailers saw a 26.5% increase in ORC incidents, and eight out of ten retailers surveyed reported increased violence and aggression associated with ORC incidents. ORC cases are more sophisticated than typical theft or shoplifting—they are often multijurisdictional and often involve years-long investigations.
Joseph Lanham of Wells Fargo Bank has seen direct impacts of ORC. He said that his bank has experienced millions of dollars in theft throughout the state this year alone. The bank has also seen an increase in attempted ATM robberies. “They usually don’t take anything, but they cause incredible damage. The attempts also cause disruptions to customers because, due to supply chain issues, the machines take months to replace. This year alone, we saw 23 crimes in Thurston and Pierce counties,” he said.
Consumers and business owners are absorbing the costs amid rising inflation. Additionally, as Dr. Bath, Kevin Stormans and Joseph Lanham understand, there are tremendous impacts on employee mental health and increased costs associated with protecting people and property.
Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim was in attendance at the Forum, and I had the opportunity to speak with him afterward.
“This is a whole criminal justice system issue...It will take time and resources to return to any sense of normalcy...When COVID set in, we had to reduce our jail population by over 30% in two weeks. This meant making significant decisions about who could stay and who could leave. Before COVID, the jail population was close to 400. Today it is 215."
– Jon Tunheim Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney
“This is a whole criminal justice system issue. COVID affected the entire system and we are only starting to dig out now. It will take time and resources to return to any sense of normalcy,” he said.
He explained how COVID caused chaos. First, COVID meant a quick and dramatic reduction in jail populations. “When COVID set in, we had to reduce our jail population by over 30% in two weeks. This meant making significant decisions about who could stay and who could leave,” he said.
Before COVID, the jail population was close to 400. Today it is 215.
Retailers surveyed reported an increase in violence and aggression associated with organized retail crime incidents
Meanwhile, COVID also caused courts to shut down. “We had no way to manage social distancing and do jury trials. We built courtrooms for people to be in close proximity to one another. There was no way to try a case, yet cases were still coming in, and no cases were going out, so they built up. Also, we had cases where people couldn’t be arrested or booked. We would get a referral, but our court had a priority where we would only hear cases where someone was in custody. Right now, I have over a year backlog,” he said.
Now the courts are opening up again as the Health Department has lifted its distance restrictions so they can do more than one trial at a time.
Also, remember that the Great Resignation hit the criminal justice system hard. “I lost lawyers to Pierce County, to the State’s Attorney General’s office and the private sector. Now we are struggling to stay staffed. For every person I hire I lose a person. I would take this personally, but my peers throughout the state are experiencing the same thing,” he said.
So, the equation looks like this. Big case backlog. Not enough workforce = just trying to get by. So, they focus on violent crime.
Are there other factors at play? “Absolutely. Fentanyl, meth and substance-use disorders, mental health and co-occurring conditions. We can’t talk about crime without talking about these issues," said Tunheim.
"The Olympia Police Department was also impacted
by the Great Resignation," said Olympia Police Chief Rich Allen. "We had to temporarily reduce the number of officers in our Traffic, Walking Patrol and Detective units just to ensure adequate staffing levels in our patrol division. Our Hiring unit has been working very hard at filling our vacancies, and we are slowly rebuilding those impacted units.
"We have had successful partnerships with local merchants regarding organized retail thefts. In cooperation with Home Depot, we have run several operations with their store security and have made arrests. Stores need to be proactive in their efforts, and we can work with them regarding crime prevention strategies," he said.
He added that in regard to the sense of insecurity, "That is a much larger, regional conversation. This region lacks the appropriate facilities to treat persons experiencing substance addiction and/or mental health crises. We can have crisis response teams, peer navigators and mobile outreach teams, but their effectiveness is limited when necessary facilities and support systems are inadequate or nonexistent."
Renée Sunde advocates for a multi-pronged approach to address the issues. She believes business owners like Dr. Bath and Kevin Stormans must share their experiences. Next, we need passage of the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act (INFORM). We also need to coordinate efforts with the Washington State Organized Retail Crime Association (WAORCA). She encourages
"Washington is the 10th state with an organized retail crime task force. [Its focus is on] increasing coordination and collaboration throughout the state, putting workers' voices at the center of the issue, ensuring research is informing best practices, and increasing law enforcement resources.
– Bob Ferguson Washington State Attorney General
everyone to vote in favor of laws to support and fund law enforcement. She advocates for increased resources for small and mid-sized businesses. She wants to generate support for the Washington State Retail Crime Task Force.
According to Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Washington State is the 10th state with an organized retail crime task force.
The goals of the task force include:
• increasing coordination and collaboration throughout the state
• putting workers’ voices at the center of the issue
• ensuring that research is informing best practices
• increasing law enforcement resources
"What I want everyone to hear," said Tunheim, "is that this is a whole system issue. COVID shut down courts and jails and led to the Great Resignation. We are only starting to dig out now and it will take time and resources," he said. "Talk to your policymakers. Crime was not in the public discourse because people were feeling safe. We have to get this into the broader conversation with the funders. For me, it is about finding the workforce. We'll solve this by convening, prioritizing resources and having a proactive approach."
For ORC and other public safety resources for your business, see the Washington Retail Association website at www.washingtonretail.org or scan the QR code.
September 22
Meanwhile, Olympia faces a housing shortage. These new buildings will provide needed housing. Thus the issue—unless we have skilled workers, we can’t build the housing. Housing that will serve a growing population.
“The City of Olympia understands that workforce development and economic development go hand-in-hand,” said Megan Fiess, Vice President of Workforce and
Strategic Initiatives at the Chamber.
“The City is investing in skill development so our local business community and people can continue to grow opportunities for success.”
One of the ways the City is investing in workforce development is the creation of the Olympia Career Hub. The Hub is a free training program and resource portal for job seekers. It
also serves those looking to change paths, return to the marketplace or advance up the ladder.
The City funds the Hub and the Thurston County Chamber’s Hired Workforce Solutions team manages the Hub. Project Manager Micah Pong explains it is open to:
• residents of Olympia
• Squaxin Island Tribal members
• and Thurston County employers
Take a walk around downtown Olympia and you can’t miss the number of new buildings rising from vacant lots. The often missing and essential ingredient of these gorgeous new buildings? Builders state that the number one business challenge is finding skilled workers.Kathryn Millhorn
The Olympia Career Hub provides learning and networking opportunities to benefit individual career builders and local businesses alike.
One of the programs rolling out soon is the Construction Cohort. The Construction Cohort is a no-cost, multi-week registered pre-apprenticeship program. Students earn their OSHA-10 safety, flagger, and forklift certifications. The program ends with a hiring event.
“We want to connect students with employers, so grads go to work the Monday after they finish,” says Pong. And once they go to work, they’ll have the support of the Chamber’s Business Services Team. The first cohort will begin on January 23. Another will run during the summer for youth 18 years and older who are still in school.
What if someone isn’t interested in pursuing a career in the construction industry?
The Olympia Career Hub holds Career Map Meetups weekly. Meetups help folks explore new fields, network with industry professionals and hiring businesses. “All ages and experience levels are welcome at the Meetups,” says Pong. From recent high school graduates to folks eager to try something new. Meetups occur every week and focus on a different career each session.
“Come learn about new opportunities,” says Pong, “It’s an excellent program, especially if you want change.”
Meetups cover topics such as:
• salaries and benefits
• work/life balance
• goal setting
• how to get started in that particular field
Stay up to date on all Olympia Career Hub events by going to the Thurston Chamber’s online events calendar.
The Hidden Talent Pipeline is a Hub program for employers that focuses on:
• resources, tools, and best practices for hiring often overlooked candidates.
• tax credits and bonding programs available to employers
“It’s common to hear leaders of successful companies state that their staff are the backbone of their organizations and the reason their business is thriving,” said the City of Olympia’s Economic Development Director Mike Reid. “At the City we believe that to be true about our residents. We know that if we can support our residents in growing their workforce skills and identifying pathways for career growth, we will strengthen not only our local economy, but we can lift up our residents to a higher quality of life.”
The Thurston County Chamber is proud to announce the annual Boss of the Year Recognition and Celebration. Co-presented by Express Employment Professionals, this award recognizes outstanding individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in the workplace through innovation, communication, vision and performance.
Nicole Andres, Nicole’s Bar
Dana Hanson, Thurston County Juvenile Probation
Bob Iyall, Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation
Heather Burgess, Phillips Burgess Law
Jim Larson, Morningside
Dave Nickerson, Tumwater Valley Golf Course
Kevin Johnston, Capital Mall
Rozanne Garman, RHD Enterprises
Ed Galligan, Port of Olympia
Ron Bruchet, GHB Insurance
Melissa Jenkins, The Olympian
Meagan Darrow, TOGETHER!
Steve Hall, the City of Olympia
Dr. Yong Liu, State Department of Agriculture
Rae-Lynn Bidon, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates
Joseph Di Santo, Panorama
Heidi West, America's Credit Union
Dr. Terrence Hess, Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates
Steve Brooks, Lacey Fire District 3
Jessica Jensen, Jessica Jensen Law PS
Joe Ingoglia, Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County
Mariella Cummings, Physicians of Southwest Washington
Robert Coit, Thurston County Food Bank
Mike Harbour, Intercity Transit
Bruce Cramer, O Bee Credit Union
John Setterstrom, Lucky Eagle Casino
“For over ten years, we’ve recognized outstanding leaders in the workplace. What makes this award unique is that nominations come from the leader’s direct reports. In the lab of actual workplaces, around 25 students from Saint Martin’s University are examining a dozen finalists to uncover what makes these bosses excel in leading their teams. The student’s analysis is incorporated into the selection process for the 2022 Boss of the Year Awards,” says Reid Bates, Owner at Express Employment Professionals.
This year, Boss of the Year Honorable Mentions are: Austin Sutherland, The Landal Group LLC
Carly Colgan, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity
Jeremy Scott, Lincoln Creek Lumber
Congratulations to the 2022 Boss of the Year Honorees: Elizabeth Cooper, HomeStreet Bank
Michael Strub, LOTT Clean Water Alliance
Terrence “TJ” O’Reilly, South Sound Behavioral Hospital
Join us in recognizing these six at the Chamber’s Forum on Wednesday, December 14 at the Olympia Hotel at Capital Lake, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr SW, Olympia, WA 98502, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a lunch buffet and recognition program starting at 12 p.m. To make a reservation to attend, register online at www.thurstonchamber.com.
Boss of the Year is presented in partnership with Express Employment Professionals. Thank you to our sponsors, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, truit, and Saint Martin’s University.
Keep up with the Thurston Chamber happenings – ribbon cuttings and the networking events. Find more at the Chamber's Facebook page –fb.com/thurstoncountychamber.
The Thurston County Chamber sends a BIG "Thank You" to ALL of our investors. With members like you, we are able to provide a sustainable business community in Thurston County as well as foster growth and positive change. Only through your support can we continue to fund important community initiatives and lead the way for business.