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Preserve the Past, Invest in the Future
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Lacey Collision Center Invests in Next Generation of Skilled Trades Thurston Region Quality of Life Index 2026
The Olympia Tumwater Foundation Plans For New History & Nature Center
GROWING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY & VIBRANT COMMUNITY
magazine PUBLISHER Thurston County Chamber of Commerce EDITORIAL David Schaffert 360-357-3362 dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com CONTRIBUTORS David Schaffert Doug Mah Kathryn Millhorn ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing: Krystal Franco Elizabeth MacLean SUBSCRIPTIONS 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com DESIGN Ben Hawkes Mosaic Marketing Studio COVER Illustration of Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, courtesy of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation.
Building a Community That Works–for Everyone If there's one thing this issue of the VOICE reminds me, it's that the future of Thurston County won't be shaped by a single decision, organization, or event. It will be built one conversation, one partnership, and one investment at a time.
by David Schaffert, President/CEO, Thurston County Chamber
is preserving one of our community's most treasured places while investing in future generations through education and stewardship. You'll get a preview of this year's Future of Work Summit, where employers, educators, and workforce leaders will come together to tackle one of the defining issues of our time: how we build a workforce in a world that's changing faster than ever.
This summer, the Thurston Chamber released its third annual Quality of Life Index, and while residents once again gave Thurston You'll also read about Foofaraw, a County a C+ as a place to live, the real story Thurston County tradition that reminds us lies beneath the grade. relationships remain one of our greatest Nearly three out of four households reported community assets. For more than six experiencing financial hardship due to rising decades, it has brought together military costs. Confidence in the future continues members, business leaders, and community to decline. Affordability remains the partners in a way that simply couldn't happen community's most pressing concern. anywhere else. Those findings should give all of us pause, not because they tell us something we didn't already suspect, but because they confirm what so many families, employers, and organizations are experiencing every day. The good news is that this issue isn't just about the challenges.
PRINTING Print NW
It's about the people doing something about them.
CONTACT THE CHAMBER 809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com
You'll meet Zack Belman, whose journey from New Market Skills Center student to industry leader is helping strengthen the skilled workforce our region depends on. You'll learn how Olympia Tumwater Foundation
Taken together, these stories share a common thread. They remind us that while the challenges facing our community are real, so are the people committed to solving them. Because improving our community isn't someone else's responsibility. It's ours. And when business, education, nonprofits, government, and community members work together, there's every reason to believe the next chapter of Thurston County's story can be stronger than the last.
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY SINCE 1874 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. ©2026 VOICE Magazine, Thurston County Chamber.
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August 2026 T H E VO I C E O F T H E T H U R STO N CO U N T Y B U S I N E S S CO M MU N I T Y
Visit thurstonchamber.com/events or scan the QR code for more info about all upcoming Thurston Chamber events. Join our host, 1889 Prime Steakhouse at 406 5th Ave, Olympia, WA 98501, on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. for a special Thurston Young Professionals Networking Event. Enjoy bites and beverages as you expand your network! All are welcome – feel free to invite other 20 to 30-year olds so they can expand their networks! Thurston Young Professionals is sponsored by KGY Media Group and The MultiCare Foundation.
Join our Business After Hours host 1st Security Bank at 601 Woodland Sq Lp SE, Lacey, WA 98503 on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. for mingling and networking with other business professionals, a door prize business card drawing, beverages and appetizers. Business After Hours is a great opportunity to expand your network, and it is proudly sponsored by ROXY 94.5.
IN THIS ISSUE Thurston Region Quality of Life Index Update p. 6 Now with a third year of data, the Quality of Life Index shows how the community feels about Thurston County as a place to live, as well as the level of optimism around where it's headed.
Lacey Collision Center Invests in Next Generation of Skilled Trades p. 11 Serving Thurston County since 1976, LCC now invests in the future regional workforce through a partnership with New Market Skills Center.
Preserve the Past, Invest In The Future p. 15 Olympia Tumwater Foundation's
Join the Thurston Chamber on Wednesday August 12, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. for a special Forum presentation from the Olympia Tumwater Foundation titled, "Preserving the Past, Investing in the Future" at the Norman Worthington Center at Saint Martin’s University, 5300 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, WA 98503. There will also be a BIPOC Business EXPO as part of the event. August Forum is proudly sponsored by Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the YMCA.
Thank You Sponsors!
Executive Director, Todd Cutts, will explore how the Foundation is carrying forward the Schmidt Family legacy while protecting the Falls, at our August Forum.
Caught in the Lens p. 22 Keep up with the latest Chamber happenings and see all of the great smiles that make up our membership!
The VOICE prints on FSC® Certified paper. 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.
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QUALI TY OF LI F E
T H U R STO N CO U N T Y AS A P L AC E TO L I V E
Another C+, But Challenges Loom
by Doug Mah, Doug Mah & Associates and Thurston Chamber Public Policy Director
The overall grade for Thurston County is unchanged between 2025 and 2026 with respondents giving a “C+” to as a place to live. But the overall grade has moved down over the last three years. And there are some interesting challenges emerging. This summer marks the completion of the Thurston Chamber’s third annual Quality of Life Index. The Index aims to measure residents’ evaluation of various aspects of life throughout Thurston County and to document changes in these evaluations over time. For the last three years, a total of 500 residents, selected at random from a list of registered voters in the county, were interviewed by telephone and online 6 I
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over the last week of May. Survey respondents were asked to assess various aspects of life in Thurston County by giving letter grades “like they do in school.” All but one of the key measures declined in 2026, after improving the prior year. Survey respondents’ outlook for the near-term future declined for the second straight year, but this time more sharply and the majorities thought that “things will get worse” over the next year for the county and their community. thurstonchamber.com
Our biggest finding is that financial hardship is widespread in Thurston County. Three of four respondents (74%) reported that recent price increases caused financial hardship for them or their household. Twenty three percent reported “severe” hardship that affects their standard of living and 51 percent reported “moderate” hardship that affects them somewhat but does not jeopardize their standard of living.
Respondents experiencing “severe” financial hardship graded nearly every measure in the Chamber’s Quality of Life survey lower than those not experiencing hardship. The Thurston County results are also substantially higher than a nation-wide Gallup poll conducted in April 2026. That survey found 15 percent reporting “severe” and 40 percent “moderate” hardship.
Our biggest finding is that financial hardship is widespread in Thurston County. Three of four respondents (74%) reported that recent price increases caused financial hardship for them or their household.
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It comes as no surprise that “affordability” and “homelessness” were named as the most pressing issue facing the county. When asked in an open-ended question what they thought was Thurston County’s “most pressing issue,” respondents named the same 4 issues at the top of the list for the last three years: Affordability, Homelessness, Crime and Taxes and it is worth noting that the percentage naming affordability has grown every year to 34 percent as the top issue in 2026. thurstonchamber.com
The Quality of Life survey was designed, administered, and analyzed by Elway Research. It is a resource for the community and will help drive and frame community discussions and debates. The year-to-year changes in survey results provide a measure of our progress. This helps hold us accountable for achieving the community we aspire to become. Please take a deeper dive into the survey online at: www.thurstonchamber.com/quality-of-life-index. Thurston County Chamber VOICE
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More Than A Body Shop: How Lacey Collision Center is Helping Build the Next Generation of Skilled Trades by Kathryn Millhorn • Photos by Shanna Paxton Photography When Zack Belman walked through the doors of New Market Skills Center in 1986, he was one of the school's earliest collision repair students. He couldn't have known then that the decision would shape not only his own career, but the future of workforce development across Thurston County. Today, Zack serves as MSO Systems & Support Manager for Lacey Collision Center and Extreme Collision Centers, chairs the New Market Skills Center Foundation, sits on the South Sound Advisory Council, and is helping ensure today's students have the same opportunities he did four decades ago. "It's become a full-circle moment," Zack says. "The school helped launch my career, and now I get to help shape opportunities for the next generation." That next generation can't come soon enough. thurstonchamber.com
Investing in the Workforce Before the Workforce Exists Lacey Collision Center has served Thurston County since 1976, while Capital Collision Center opened its doors in 1993. Along with Chehalis Collision Center and Extreme Collision Center in Shelton, the four locally owned, family-operated, veteran-owned businesses have built their reputation on quality repairs and trusted relationships. Today, they're investing just as heavily in the future workforce. Belman serves as Chair of the New Market Skills Center Foundation, while Rick Conley serves as Vice Chair. Company leaders also serve on advisory boards for New Market Skills Center and the South Sound Advisory Council, helping ensure students graduate with the skills local employers need. Thurston County Chamber VOICE
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Creating economic opportunities and building community for all of Thurston County through responsible resource use.
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"We're constantly talking with instructors, staff, and Modern vehicles require factory-level repairs, advanced students," Zack explains. "We're asking what the schools driver assistance system (ADAS) calibrations, sophisticated need, what's changing in the industry, and how we can electronics, structural repairs, and mechanical expertise. help prepare students for real careers." "Our teams deliver everything from cosmetic repairs That long-standing partnership has paid dividends for to major structural work, mechanical service, and decades. advanced safety system calibrations," Zack says. "The technology continues to evolve, so our technicians are constantly learning." Several of the company's current leaders—including Zack himself, Jeff Durkin, Rick Conley, and Kameron Reyes, general manager of the Shelton location—are That evolution makes workforce development even graduates of New Market Skills Center. Some attended more critical. when the program first opened in the 1980s, while others graduated decades later, demonstrating the "We need multiple pathways for students," Zack says. lasting impact career and technical education has had "Whether someone wants to work on vehicles, HVAC on both students and local employers. systems, manufacturing, or another skilled trade, these careers are essential. Our communities depend on them." "Between Lacey Collision and Capital Collision, we have about a dozen New Market Skills Center alumni on The Skills That Matter Most our team, including me," Zack says. "That doesn't even While technical knowledge is important, Zack says it's count our Chehalis or Extreme locations. It's pretty often not what determines long-term success. remarkable when you think about it. "What I tell students, and their parents, is that schools "I also can't say enough good things about the Thurston can only teach so much," he says. "The people who County Chamber's Business & Education Network. succeed are the ones who show up every day, are What the Chamber team is doing is genuinely fantastic, willing to learn, can work well with others, communicate and incredibly important. You really can't overstate the effectively, and follow directions." value of connecting students with local employers." In fact, he says some of the best employees don't arrive with years of experience. "Sometimes it's easier to teach Beyond Collision Repair someone who has the right attitude than someone who Today's collision repair industry looks dramatically has to unlearn bad habits." different than it did even a decade ago. thurstonchamber.com
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For young people looking for a rewarding career without following a traditional fouryear college path, collision repair offers competitive wages, long-term stability, and opportunities for advancement. A Community Investment That commitment to developing local talent reflects the same philosophy that has guided the company's business for nearly 50 years. Because the four collision centers remain independent, not part of a national chain, they're able to provide straightforward guidance to customers navigating insurance claims, repair decisions, and budgets. Their community involvement extends well beyond the shop floor. The company supports organizations and events including the Boys & Girls Club, Tumwater's Fourth of July Parade, Lacey In Tune, Tumwater's fireworks celebration, MotoAmerica, and Tumwater Brewfest. "We're not just in this community, we're part of it," Zack says. "The people who trust us with their vehicles are often the same families we've known for generations." Looking ahead, company leaders continue to evaluate measured growth while remaining focused on the values that built their reputation: quality workmanship, trusted relationships, and investing in the next generation. Because repairing vehicles is only part of their mission. Helping build the skilled workforce our community will rely on for decades to come may be their most important job yet.
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EV E N TS
Preserving the Past. Inspiring the Future. If you've ever paused on the bridge at Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls to watch the water rush below, you've experienced one of Thurston County's most treasured places. It's where history, nature, and community come together—and it's a place with a story still being written. At the Thurston County Chamber's August Forum, Olympia Tumwater Foundation Executive Director Todd Cutts will take attendees behind the scenes of that story.
His presentation at August Forum, Olympia Tumwater Foundation: Preserving the Past, Investing in the Future, will explore how the Foundation is carrying forward the Schmidt family legacy while protecting one of our region's most significant historic and natural landmarks. Guests will hear about the history of the land that became Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, the Foundation's work to preserve and enhance the park, and exciting plans for the future, including a proposed History & Nature Center that will help future generations connect with the area's remarkable past and unique environment. Cutts will also introduce Friends of the Falls, a new initiative designed to give businesses and community members an opportunity to play a meaningful role in preserving this special place for years to come. Whether you're passionate about local history, conservation, community development, or simply enjoy spending time at the Falls, August Forum offers a fascinating look at how thoughtful stewardship today can create lasting memories for generations tomorrow. thurstonchamber.com
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Before the luncheon begins, be sure to explore the BIPOC Business Expo from 11:00am to noon. The expo showcases local BIPOC-owned businesses, professionals, and community resources, offering a great opportunity to meet business owners, discover new products and services, and celebrate the diversity that strengthens Thurston County's business community. Join us on Wednesday, August 12, at Saint Martin's University's Norman Worthington Center for this inspiring conversation about one of our community's most beloved landmarks, and the people working to ensure its story continues. Advance registration is encouraged. To register, visit ThurstonChamber.com. The Olympia Tumwater Foundation has announced plans to transform and expand an existing building within Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls into the History & Nature Center—a welcoming new public space where people can discover the natural, cultural, and historic stories that have shaped one of Washington's most treasured places. The renovated facility will feature exhibits, classrooms, and gathering space for year-round learning, school programs, and public events. Artist rendering by msgsCARVE Architects.
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FOOFARAW: MILITARY APPRECIATION
One Day. One Island. One Incredible Tradition. In 1962, Chamber leader John W. Every September, something "Bill" Johnson believed there should extraordinary happens in be a better way for the local business Thurston and Mason counties. community to connect with the It's in the conversations on the deck Business leaders, military military personnel serving at Fort of a boat. The laughter over lunch. service members, elected Lewis, Madigan Army Hospital, and The military service member sharing officials, community volunteers, McChord Air Force Base. His vision stories with a local business owner. and first-time attendees climb was simple: take people out of the The friendships that form when boardroom, put them on boats, and aboard private yachts at people spend an entire day together give them a day to simply enjoy one the Olympia Yacht Club and without the distractions of meetings another's company. and emails. set sail for an island that's More than six decades later, that inaccessible to the public. Ask anyone who has attended idea is still going strong.
By the end of the day, strangers have become teammates. Conversations have turned into friendships. Business cards have been exchanged, stories have been shared, and everyone heads home with memories that last long after summer fades. It's called Foofaraw, and after more than 60 years, it's still one of the Thurston County Chamber's most cherished traditions. The event began with a simple idea.
Each year, volunteer captains from the Olympia Yacht Club donate their boats and their time to ferry guests across Budd Inlet to a private island for a day unlike any other. The agenda is intentionally uncomplicated: enjoy the boat ride, meet new people, compete in a little friendly volleyball, horseshoes, golf, tug-of-war, or basketball, and gather around a traditional Northwest salmon bake provided by the Chehalis Tribe, complete with the Olympia Yacht Club's famous homemade cookies. The real magic, though, happens between the scheduled activities.
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Foofaraw, and they'll likely tell you it's unlike any networking event they've ever experienced. The military certainly agrees. Every year, participating installations quickly fill their allotment of attendees, eager to be part of this unique day of appreciation and community connection. Foofaraw is the Chamber's signature Military Appreciation event—a tradition that celebrates service while strengthening the relationships between our military community and the businesses they call home.
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Be Part of the Tradition Foofaraw returns Friday, September 11, 2026, and Chamber members are invited to experience this unforgettable day for themselves. Tickets are $100 per person and include transportation to and from the island on a private boat, a traditional salmon barbecue lunch, games, and an opportunity to build relationships that simply can't be replicated in a conference room. Join us aboard! To learn more, visit thurstonchamber.com/events/foofaraw or scan the QR code.
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Put Your Business at the Center of the Experience Foofaraw also offers businesses a unique opportunity to demonstrate their support for our military community while gaining visibility among Chamber members and community leaders. Sponsorships help make this longstanding tradition possible and position your organization as a champion of one of Thurston County's most beloved annual events. Whether you're attending for the first time or continuing a decades-long tradition, Foofaraw promises a day of connection, appreciation, and camaraderie that's truly unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
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Caught in the Lens
Keep up with the Thurston Chamber happenings – ribbon cuttings and the networking events. Find more at the Chamber's Facebook page – fb.com/thurstoncountychamber.
Edward Jones – Dirk Farrar, Financial Advisor Express Employment Professionals Olympic Sotheby's International Realty
Columbia Bank The Evergreen State College Great Wolf Lodge
Sound Credit Union
Saint Martin's University
Puget Sound Energy
Providence Swedish
Port of Olympia
Peak Credit Union
The Rants Group TAGS Awards & Specialties
Venables Pest Management
Nicholson & Associates Insurance South Sound Behavioral Hospital
Olympia Orthopaedic Associates
Michael White Agency – Farmers Insurance
Dispute Resolution Center Chicago Title
Hometown Property Management, Inc.
Cap City Law, PS Acrisure
Alicia Sanders Insurance – Allstate Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, PLLC Fieldstone Communities FORMA Construction Company Little Creek Casino & Resort Morningside MultiCare Capital Medical Center Olympic Rental & Landlord Services Preferred Cleaning Services SCJ Alliance South Puget Sound Community College truit Veteran Security Operations
Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel
Olympia Federal Savings
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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 Community Investors
PO BOX 1427 Olympia, WA 98507-1427