A U G U S T
T H U R S T O N
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C O U N T Y
C H A M B E R
Fresh Flavors Downtown
Iron Rabbit’s new sister restaurant, Cynara, brings Mediterranean-inspired flavors to downtown's Market District
On the Mend
Providence SW CEO, Darin Goss, on Navigating a Pandemic and the Future of Health Care
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August 2021
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER VOICE MAGAZINE
Visit ThurstonChamber.com and click on the Events Calendar for the latest information regarding Chamber events. Join our Morning Mixxer host, Kelley Connect, in-person, at 8300 28th Ct NE, Ste #100, Lacey, WA, on Tuesday, August 3 at 7:30 a.m. Morning Mixxer is free to attend and is held the first Tuesday of each month, from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. These networking events are great for making new business connections within the community. MIXX 96.1 proudly sponsors Morning Mixxer. Join our host, The Cider Barrel, at 168 4th Ave W, Olympia, WA 98502 on Thursday, August 5 at 5:30 p.m. for the Thurston Young Professionals Monthly Networking Event. Enjoy bites & beverages as you expand your network! All are welcome – make sure you invite other 20 to 30-year-olds so they can expand their networks and get to know all the fantastic Young Professionals in our community. The Thurston Chamber invites the community to attend our August Forum 'Workforce Summit' on Wednesday, August 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake (formerly Hotel RL). Attendees will hear from PacMtn Workforce Development Council CEO, Cheryl Fambles, who will also facilitate a panel discussion. A resource fair will also help highlight community organizations that support workforce efforts.
Afters Hour
Business After Hours in-person is back! Join our host American Workforce Group on Thursday August 19, 5:30 p.m. at 4250 Martin Way E, Suite #103, Olympia, WA 98516, for mingling and networking with other business professionals, playing games, beverages and appetizers. Mark your calendar for the Health Care Champions Recognition Event, Tuesday, August 31, at 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Olympia Country & Golf Club. A partnership between the Thurston Chamber and Thurston Mason County Medical Society, Health Care Champions showcases our region's hardworking healthcare workers. After a year that saw them fight valiantly against the COVID-19 pandemic, we will recognize their sacrifices and honor their contributions to our community's overall health.
In This Issue... On the Mend p. 7 Providence SW Chief Executive, Darin Goss shares insight into how to navigate a pandemic and what the future of health care looks like.
Fresh Flavors in Downtown Olympia's Market District p. 11 Iron Rabbit's sister restaurant, Cynara brings Mediterraneaninspired flavors downtown.
EVENTS: August Chamber Forum p. 17 Join the Thurston Chamber for a Workforce Summit and Resource Fair at our August Forum at the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake (formerly Hotel RL).
Facing Up To Chronic Homelessness p. 19 Homelessness is one of the greatest challenges facing our community. Let's take action!
Caught in the Lens p. 22 Keep up with the latest Chamber happenings and see all of the great smiles that make up our Chamber membership!
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magazine PUBLISHER Thurston County Chamber of Commerce EDITORIAL David Schaffert 360-357-3362 dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com CONTRIBUTORS David Schaffert Alison Bailey Heidi Smith Doug Mah ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing: Krystal Barkus Elizabeth Bretschneider Ashley Chandler SUBSCRIPTIONS 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com DESIGN Ben Hawkes Mosaic Marketing Studio COVER Cynara, Photo by Heather Harris, Elements Photography PRINTING Print NW CONTACT THE CHAMBER 809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com
Bon Appetit! by David Schaffert, Thurston County Chamber President/CEO
While you can work online and shop online -- it is pretty challenging to eat online. During the pandemic, plenty of us ordered takeout, curbside or home delivery, but what we really missed was that secret ingredient— eating together at a restaurant, whether inside or out—one of life's delights, no matter how you slice it. Our cover story in this month's VOICE Magazine is the story of Cynara Restaurant & Lounge. Cynara opened during the middle of the pandemic, a remarkable undertaking in an industry that has been hit hard by months of shutdowns and restrictions due to COVID. As I read the story of this exciting addition to our regional dining offerings, I had a few insights I'd like to share with you. First, we all need to look for reasons to spend more time in our community's restaurants, cafes, pizza parlors and breweries. Reserve a table at a new restaurant. Schedule a breakfast meeting. Consider taking your team out to lunch. Take advantage of the incredible outdoor seating that many restaurants now offer. Second, let's examine the concept of 'returning to normal' and what that means
for the hospitality industry and restaurants such as Cynara. Dining habits have changed since the pandemic began and have created a new normal or a pause. For example, before COVID, I would routinely have early morning breakfast meetings at restaurants or cafes several times a month, socially doing business and connecting with people before the workday began. This routine has not returned for me or others I used to meet with. If you multiply my breakfast meeting example across our community, it means substantial financial impacts on restaurants. It is helpful to recognize that there is stress in looking to return to how things were before the pandemic. We do not simply flip a switch and return to our interactions and habits. Researchers have identified COVID stress as a significant occurrence brought on by change and the unknown. So, as we all look at re-engaging, we need to recognize that how we go about our daily activities directly impacts businesses in our community, especially those in the hospitality industry. Think about what habits in your life need to be reinstituted and do them. Think about how one of the ingredients in a good meal is sharing it with others. Bon appetit!
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY SINCE 1874 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. ©2021 VOICE Magazine, Thurston County Chamber.
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Saturday, November 6 Saint Martin’s University Lacey, Washington Saint Martin’s University Gala 2021 welcomes celebrity chef, author, and TV personality
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Mend On the
Providence Southwest Chief Executive Darin Goss on Navigating a Pandemic & The Future of Health Care
by Heidi Smith • Photos by Tracy Jameson
Since moving from Southern California to Olympia to take on his new role as Chief Executive of Providence Southwest Service Area, Darin Goss has met with multiple leaders from the business and health care communities. He collaborates with some of them so often that it was a shock to realize that, after nearly one year, he has yet to meet many of them in person. “I have great relationships with them,” he explains. “It’s strange to think that we’ve never met other than online.” Goss started on August 3, 2020, and he has been adapting to both his new home and the unprecedented challenges posed to the healthcare industry by COVID-19. Fortunately, Providence had strong plans in place to address the pandemic by the time he arrived. “My priority was understanding those plans and getting up to speed on what had already been done,” he says. The next step was tapping into existing expertise available through the network’s 51 hospitals and applying that knowledge locally within Thurston and Lewis counties. Before joining the Southwest service area, Goss served as COO of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank California after more than a decade at the Mayo Clinic. During his time at Providence in Southern California, he focused on streamlining operations, enhancing quality and led a $78M Emergency Room expansion currently under construction. When the opportunity thurstonchamber.com
arrived to venture up north, he felt the move to Washington made sense for him both professionally and personally. “It was an easy decision,” he explains. “Providence is the market leader in health care for our community and has a wide array of resources. They’re a national player among top hospitals. I knew I could come here and build on their success while navigating the future of health care and dramatic changes in how we deliver care.” Two of his current initiatives involve behavioral health and the use of technology. Providence recently was approved for a new behavioral health hospital that will address patient needs that go beyond the scope of traditional practice. Behavioral health encompasses the connection between the health and wellbeing of body and mind, and how factors like eating and drinking habits, exercise and addictive behavior patterns affect physical health. The new hospital will bring Thurston County Chamber VOICE
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85 additional behavioral health beds to our community and treat everyone from Pediatrics to Geriatrics. Providence is collaborating with UHS/Fairfax Behavioral Health to offer services to patients through Olympia Behavioral Health Hospital in Lacey. “One of the main priorities is how to create spaces that are convenient,” says Goss. “Our Emergency Room is not always the best site of care for treating Behavior Health patients. Working with those patients requires a different level of expertise and we knew we couldn’t do it alone. It was important for us to partner with someone who does this well. UHS/Fairfax is that partner.” On the technology front, Goss is inspired by fundamental shifts in how medical care is delivered, particularly for non-emergency medical conditions. One outcome of the pandemic has been a sustained increase in telehealth appointments. “Not everyone needs to be sitting in front of a provider,” he maintains. “We have other avenues available to offer immediate care or urgent care. I hope s to continue to embed those options for people who want to use them. We want to continue to serve our patients in a space that is most convenient for them.”
"We want to continue to serve our patients in a space that is most convenient for them.”
Looking ahead, he foresees more changes coming and the need to ensure that providers and staff are prepared for them. The service area will also continue to grow, Goss notes, and so will the need to care for underinsured or uninsured patients. “How do we continue to care for these growing patient populations?” he asks. “How is health care going to continue to change post-pandemic? What role is technology going to play in how we deliver care? Those are the questions that excite me. Providence has the resources to lead that charge.” No matter how advanced technology becomes, people will always remain at the heart of the organization. Goss points out that in Thurston and Lewis counties alone, more than 5,000+ staff members are either on the front lines or helping those on the front lines take care of patients, many patients who are vulnerable or low-income. “I want to make sure that I’m doing the right things to allow our caregivers to give their best every day,” he says. “They’ve navigated a pandemic and they continue to care for other people. That inspires me.” In the meantime, he and his wife are enjoying the Pacific Northwest. “We absolutely love it,” says Goss. “I grew up in Phoenix and spent time in L.A. where it never rains. We’re loving the trees, the water and the people. It’s a large community, but it feels small. You can get to know a lot of business and community leaders on a personal level. It is easy to call Washington home.”
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Where can you find lamb stew, baklava crumble and a hibiscus-infused take on an Old Fashioned at a bar featuring over 80 unique bottles of whiskey? Christian Skilling’s second restaurant in Olympia, Cynara. Fans of the westside’s Iron Rabbit will love the refined yet casual atmosphere of the new location, and its northwest-inspired Mediterranean and Pacific Rim cuisine. Nestled in Olympia’s growing Market District, Cynara opened in September 2020. The community has continued to buzz about it and the Google reviews speak for themselves. “I have an incredible team committed to providing engaging service and quality food and drinks,” explains Christian.
Cynara FIND FRESH FLAVORS AT
by Alison Bailey
IN THE MARKET DISTRICT
Photos by Heather Harris, Elements Photography
Iron Rabbit’s sister restaurant, Cynara, brings Mediterranean-inspired flavors downtown
Iron Rabbit has been beloved for its neighborhood atmosphere and approachable menu since 2005. Choose Cynara when you’re craving a slightly elevated dining experience. If you have adventurous young eaters, they’re welcome too. Cynara has a bar as well as an all-ages lounge area in addition to the dining area. Christian participated in the design of the new location and loves the welcoming feel of all the open spaces. Cynara is open for lunch and dinner. Guests can savor the atmosphere and beautifully plated flavors with a dine-in experience, or order online for easy curbside pickup. The lunch menu features spicy, slow-braised lamb stew with apricots and mint as well as other sandwiches, soups, salads, and a steak. Cynara means “artichoke” in Greek.
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Dinner at Cynara is something special. Start your meal with their artichoke hearts appetizer, served with pink peppercorn aioli, hazelnuts and mint. One of their most popular dishes is the chicken Veronique, a bone-in chicken breast with Riesling cream sauce, grapes and pistachios. Their vegetarian cauliflower entrée, featuring hazelnuts, apricots, honey, and pomegranate balsamic, has been well received alongside a helping of quinoa herb salad. The lamb stew is available at dinner as well, along with a roasted duck leg and filet mignon. Cynara owner, Christian Skillings has owned and operated Westside Olympia's Iron Rabbit Restaurant since 2005.
If you’re inclined to enjoy a drink with your dinner, you’ll be in the right place. Cynara offers an extensive craft cocktail list, an exciting selection of local beer and cider on tap (including Olympia’s own Headless Mumby), plus a robust gin and whiskey selection in addition to a growing wine list. Ask for an Old Roosevelt if we piqued your curiosity with the idea of a hibiscus-infused Old Fashioned.
“Opening during a pandemic has had its challenges, but it’s also been inspiring,” Christian says. “We’ve built an amazing team and seeing so much excitement and support from the community has been wonderful and humbling."
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“Opening during a pandemic has had its challenges, but it’s also been inspiring,” Christian says. “We’ve built an amazing team and seeing so much excitement and support from the community has been wonderful and humbling.” He’s grateful for all of the businesses and individuals that made the opening of his second restaurant possible, above all his wife Oksana. Cynara is located at 500 Columbia Street Northwest, just south of the Olympia Farmer’s Market. They serve lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Dinner hours are 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, though closing times may vary. Reservations are not required. If you haven’t been yet, consider this your cue!
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S O U T H S O U N D B I P O C B U S I N E S S R O U N D TA B L E
Thurston County Chamber Foundation Partners with South Sound BIPOC
SSBIPOC founder, Makieda Hart.
The Thurston Chamber Foundation is pleased to announce a new partnership with South Sound BIPOC (SSBIPOC), a new business directory for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) owned businesses in the South Sound. The Foundation will serve as the backbone organization. South Sound BIPOC’s founder Makieda Hart, the owner of Sgt. Hart’s BBQ Sauce, noticed that it is challenging to find BIPOC businesses in the South Sound. To remedy this, she started South Sound BIPOC with a mission to step up and help BIPOC people succeed. The business directory provides the needed visibility and community that BIPOC owned businesses need while creating a one-stop shop for those interested in supporting BIPOC businesses. SSBIPOC wants any BIPOC owned business between
Seattle and Chehalis to join! Go to ssbipoc.org to register for free. The Thurston County Chamber Foundation is proud to partner with South Sound BIPOC to fulfill our mission of connecting people, resources, and ideas. We are also excited to align with SSBIPOC’s mission of helping BIPOC people succeed. The Chamber will start hosting monthly BIPOC Business Roundtables to convene BIPOC owned businesses in the area. The BIPOC Business Roundtables will occur on the last Tuesday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Any BIPOC business owner is welcome to attend, whether you are registered with South Sound BIPOC or not. For more info, go to the Thurston County Chamber’s event calendar at thurstonchamber.com.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 5:30PM • OLYMPIA COUNTRY & GOLF CLUB
Health Care Champions Presenting Sponsor
RECOGNITION EVENT
This year's Health Care Champion Honorees include: Health Care Champions is a recognition event, a partnership of the Thurston County Chamber and the Thurston-Mason County Medical Society in its 15th year. This event was created to recognize the everyday heroic acts, steadfast dedication, extraordinary service and professionalism seen frequently in our community's medical offices, clinics, hospitals, emergency services and related organizations of our community. The evening will begin with a special COVID-19 community response recognition video and then recognize the 2021 honorees.
• Keylee Merineau, Thurston County Homeless Response Coordinator • Providence’s Lisa Humphrey, Dan Donahue, Corey Nygaard & Crystal Billings • Mason Public Health & Mason Health • Physicians of SW WA • The Olympia Free Clinic We all rely on healthcare. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 85% of adults and 93% of children had contact with a health care professional in the last year alone. Even if you can’t attend Health Care Champions, take a minute to thank a caregiver in your life and honor those who have responded to recent challenging times with patience, grace and dedication to the communities they serve.
For more information, contact Amanda Fields at 360-357-3362 or afields@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com
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THURSTON CHAMBER AUGUST FORUM • WORKFORCE SUMMIT • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 11:30 AM
Chamber Holds Workforce Summit & Resource Fair Summit will address the hiring crisis Thurston County employers are facing and will provide innovative strategies and tools so employers can successfully hire and retain talent. The Thurston County Chamber invites the community to attend the Thurston County Chamber’s August Forum on Wednesday, August 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake (formerly Hotel RL). “Every day, I hear from business owners who are struggling to find employees. We are holdingthe Workforce Summit to help employers understand the current state of the workforce issue from a big picture perspective; then we’ll provide them with tools to reinvigorate their workforce development tactics. In addition, we’ll have a resource fair at the event to highlight community resources and organizations that support workforce efforts,” said David Schaffert, Thurston Chamber President/CEO. During this month’s luncheon and presentation, attendees will hear from Cheryl Fambles, CEO of Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council will share data of the “Workforce Cliff” and will facilitate a panel discussion. Part of the panel discussion will include innovative workforce programs and tools so employers can successfully hire and retain talent. thurstonchamber.com
Cheryl Fambles, CEO of Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council will share data of the “Workforce Cliff” and will facilitate a panel discussion at the August 18 Chamber Forum event.
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SCAMMERS Hitting Businesses in Thurston County
Scammers are busy, right here in Olympia. Just this past month, a key Olympia organization was attacked by a gift card email scam. •
•
•
Emails pretending to come from the CEO to a new employee asked that new staffer to buy gift cards. The cards, according to the scammer, would be used as staff awards and were needed right away. When the staffer complied, the “CEO” asked for identifying info from the cards – just enough that the scammers could register the gift cards for their own use. And the staffer was out hundreds of dollars.
It could happen to you too. Our business websites, Facebook or LinkedIn open the door to data mining. They provide the contact info scammers need as well as information about new hires to target. Scammers are glad to engage in multiple back and forth emails to win your trust. And who wouldn’t want to comply when the CEO asks you to do something that sounds legit?
Specifically, Johnson recommends: 1. Limit contact information on your business website or on public sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. Where possible, use contact forms with cover addresses rather than a real email address. 2. Tighten up your email security. Requiring 2-factor authentication makes it harder for scammers to troll through your emails to find information about the people and companies you do business with. 3. Add IT security to all onboard training – make sure every new hire gets a thorough training in scams, phishing and what to watch for in fraudulent emails. You can find a free checklist of ways to identify fraudulent emails at https://olympia.computer/data-security. 4. Update training frequently – new schemes come out almost daily and it is easy to forget about security when you get busy. Signage, in-house communications, and reminders at staff meetings can all help keep data security top of mind. 5. Do a little phishing of your own. Security conscious companies can hire I.T. security teams to send decoy
Of course, gift cards are not the only concern – there are also fraudulent bills from scam “vendors,” emails that look like they came from your bank asking for updated info and clicking on links in emails that download viruses or ransomware onto your system. So, what can you do to protect your business from scams? “Protection from scams is more training than technical,” Olympia Computer CEO Erik Johnson says. “Do everything you can to keep your employees aware of the latest scams and how to spot a possible fraud.” 18 I
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phishing emails to staff. “It’s a gentle sting operation to identify which staff members might unknowingly ‘bite’ on the decoy emails,” Johnson explains. “Once we discover where there are weak areas, it is possible to beef up training to make sure the real scammers don’t get through.” To get more information about protecting your business from scammers, viruses and phishing, contact Olympia Computer at Office@Olympia.Computer or call 360-995-1010. thurstonchamber.com
Facing Up To Chronic Homelessness by Dough Mah, Dough Mah & Associates, Public Policy Director for the Thurston Chamber Homelessness is one of the greatest challenges facing our community. For this reason, the Thurston Chamber, Public Policy Division believes that focusing on chronic homelessness may be the best plan for our community. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines an individual as experiencing chronic homelessness if they have a qualifying disability and have been homeless for one year or longer or have a qualifying disability and have experienced at least four episodes of homelessness totaling 12 months out of the last three years. Those experiencing chronic homelessness are the hardest to reach, stabilize, and house. These members of our community also experience vulnerabilities including physical disabilities, serious psychiatric and emotional conditions, and behavioral health disorders that are oftentimes overlapping and co-occurring. The Thurston Chamber, Public Policy Division suggests that the region would be well served to focus directly on chronic homelessness. Efforts in Bakersfield and San Diego County, both in California, made significant progress in slowing the growth of their chronically homeless populations. This has made a visible and meaningful difference in their communities. We support regional implementation of four actions used in Bakersfield and San Diego County: •
Rapid creation of emergency housing. California invested $850 million of federal funding into “Project Roomkey,” making available 6,000 housing units for homeless individuals in just six months through the purchase of hotels and motels.
•
Establishing a command center. A way to focus on individuals experiencing chronic homelessness with an emphasis on equity. The command centers provided coordination across service providers and government agencies. Staffed by case managers and supported by service providers, they created personalized exit plans for clients.
•
Utilize real-time data. Mobile/tech tools were used to support data accuracy, and planning. The use of mobile technology tools allowed teams to conduct location-based outreach in real time, meeting individuals where they are.
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Provide individualized, on-demand services. Bakersfield and San Diego used individualized on-demand services and approached each person experiencing chronic homelessness with the time and attention needed to build relationships and trust. Using a “byname” list allowed for the creation of individualized care based on the specific needs of the individual. This approach allows for realtime data to support triage services, evaluation, and advocacy for each person.
The Thurston Chamber along with Challenge Seattle, believe that Washington State and local governments should address chronic homelessness using resources from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Using one-time federal funds to address chronic homelessness makes good sense. By dedicating the federal ARPA money to one-time housing costs, it prevents a bow wave of operational costs in the future. We believe the combination of proven practices with one-time funding presents the single biggest opportunity to make progress on housing and homelessness, especially for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Please ask your elected and appointed officials about the Challenge Seattle special report: Chronic Homelessness: A Crossroad and review the report at: www.challengeseattle.com. thurstonchamber.com
Thurston County Chamber VOICE
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At Fieldstone Cooper Point every day is an opportunity for joy— whether relaxing in the spa, working out in the exercise studio, or taking a stroll through the beautiful grounds. Fieldstone Memory Care communities are designed for the comfort, care, and engagement of residents with alzheimer’s and other types of demenitas. Independent & Assisted Living 810 Fieldstone Drive SW, Olympia WA 98502 (360) 915-5764
Memory Care 710 Fieldstone Drive SW, Olympia WA 98502 (360) 915-5737
FieldstoneCooperpoint.com
FieldstoneOlympia.com
As Olympia’s oldest and most experienced commercial real estate firm, our selection of services and dedication to the local community is second to none. We take full responsibility for the life cycle of a property.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
RESIDENTIAL RENTALS
HELPING OUR COMMUNITY COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. 360-470-0362
COVERYOURFAMILY.COM
reallebeuf@legalshieldassociate.com
Real LeBeuf
LegalShield Independent Associate Silver Executive Director Employee Benefits, Small Business, CDLP and Broker Division Specialist
Around here, “business as usual” means giving back to the community. It means leading by example. Paying it forward. And doing good, where good is needed most. Our commitment to local philanthropy is as important as our commitment to our customers. (877) 272-3678 ColumbiaBank.com
Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
Celebrate Olympia’s Brewery Heritage at Olympia Brew Fest SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 • 1-7PM • TICKETS AT OLYBREWFEST.COM The community is invited to attend the 9th Annual Olympia Brew Fest, a beer festival at the Port Plaza in Olympia, where “handcrafted” is a way of life. Meet local brewers of handcrafted ales and makers of some very fine cider. The Olympia Brew Fest gives you full permission to explore something new! Olympia Brew Fest will feature over 20 handpicked, Northwest breweries and a variety of 40 different beers. Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 7, 2021, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, designated drivers only $5 and get all the root beer and water they can drink.
Attendees will receive a Souvenir Mug and Taste Card with up to 6 tastes, choosing from 20 handpicked, Northwest Breweries. Additional Taste Cards are available at the event. Attendees will also enjoy exciting sponsor booths, who will provide
giveaways and fun promos, delicious food vendors and amazing live musical entertainment. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel. Proceeds support the Thurston County Chamber Foundation Small Business Incubator.
Caught in the Lens
#Thankful inThurston
Keep up with the latest Chamber happenings – Ribbon Cuttings and our Thankful in Thurston campaign. Find more at the Thurston Chamber's Facebook page: facebook.com/ThurstonCountyChamber
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thurstonchamber.com
Great Wolf Lodge Heritage Bank Olympia L & E Bottling Company, Inc. Morningside Olympia Federal Savings Olympia Phillips Burgess, PLLC Providence St. Peter Hospital The Rants Group SCJ Alliance South Puget Sound Community College WSECU – Olympia
Comcast FORMA Construction Company Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel Little Creek Casino & Resort Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, PLLC Port of Olympia Puget Sound Energy Saint Martin's University South Sound Behavioral Hospital TwinStar Credit Union Corporate Office Washington Business Bank Wells Fargo Community Bank
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.
Thank You!
PLATINUM
DIAMOND
Window Genie
Venables Pest Management
T & S Cleaning, Inc.
Timberland Bank
The Olympia Furniture Company
Nisqually Red Wind Casino
Mills & Mills Funeral Home
Hooper Financial Services
Hometown Property Management, Inc.
Great Wolf Lodge
GHB Insurance, Inc.
The Evergreen State College
The Creative Office
Columbia Bank Downtown
American Workforce Group
GOLD
TAGS Awards and Specialties
Nicholson & Associates Insurance
Morgan Stanley – Mike Marohn, Financial Advisor
Michael White Agency – Farmers Insurance
KeyBank – Martin Way
Green Realty Group
First Citizens Bank
The Firs Senior Living Community
Express Employment Professionals
Edward Jones – Dirk Farrar, Financial Advisor
Cap City Law PS
Budd Bay Café
Bakala State Farm
AAA Washington – Inland
SILVER
PO BOX 1427 Olympia, WA 98507-1427