December 2016 VOICE Magazine

D E C E MB ER 2016

TH UR STON C OUN TY C H AMBE R OF C OMME R C E

M

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Goodbye, cubicle

the changing nature of the workplace, p. 19

Page 9

Gopher & due process

Pa age 9

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Featuring...

CONTENT & CALENDAR

Every month, the Thurston County Chamber offers several networking events, forums & workshops to the community. Here are some highlights you won't want to miss.

In this issue...

6 Caught in the Lens Photos from Chamber events.

Dec. 1

Young Professionals Network The Thurston Chamber Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a great place to interact with younger business professionals in a low-pressure environment. Join us at for our Dec. after hours, location TBD. Thurs., Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. www.thurstonchamber.com for location.

Dec. 6

MM at Weichert Realtors and great conversation. Where? 2607 Martin Way E., Ste.

Advocacy

Forum: Boss of the Year The Thurston County Chamber is proud to host the seventh annual Boss of the Year recognition event, co-sponsored by Express Employment Professionals. Please join us on Wed., Dec. 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hotel RL Olympia.

Distinguished Leader Awards will take place on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at the Hotel

11 We welcome new members who joined in Sept. & Oct. 2017

RL Olympia. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m.

12

followed by dinner and the program at 6:30 p.m. Reserve

The Gig Economy

your spot today at www.thurstonchamber.com

A Night on the Town JJoin us...

Learn more about this growing segment of the workforce.

19

We are headed to New York City!

March 3, 2017, 6 p.m. at the Hotel RL Olympia

Goodbye, Cubicle

Cocktails ● Dinner ● Auction ● After party www.thurstonchamber.com

For more event information, please visit www.thurstonchamber.com

www.thurstonchamber.com

The right of due process is restored to Thurston County property owners impacted by Gopher listing.

New Members

The 16th annual Distinguished Leaders Awards celebration

Mar. 3

John Setterstrom, Lori Drummond and Steve Brooks are the 2017 Honorees.

9

202, Olympia.

Jan.. 25

2017 Distinguished Leaders Announced

for Morning Mixxer. Enjoy plenty of coffee, breakfast treats

JJoin us at Weichert Realtors on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 a.m.

Dec. 14

8

We talk with local experts about the changing nature of the workplace.

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 3

Public policy division swings into action on the heels of the election

PUBLISHER Thurston County Chamber of Commerce

EDITORIAL Editor: David Schaffert Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com

CONTRIBUTORS Natasha Ashenhurst David Schaffert

N

ovember 8 brought the 2016

public policy division is bringing private

political campaigns to a close

and public sector partners together

and immediately set the stage

to focus on shared regional priorities

for the Chamber’s new public policy division.

such as improving the Thurston

Leadership changes on the Thurston County

County Interstate 5 corridor; investing

Board of Commissioners and in the 22nd

in the burgeoning craft brewing and

legislative district bring new opportunities

distilling industry; and the long-term

to forge stronger partnerships that can build

management of Capitol Lake.

a more prosperous economy and vibrant

As the calendar year ends, the division

community.

will continue to provide direct advocacy

We welcome the opportunity to work with

for business and industry and work with

our newly elected leaders as well as those

Chamber members to address emerging

who were re-elected. We encourage Chamber

land-use, permitting, and regulatory

members to thank all the candidates for

changes.

Doug Mah Alisha Blain Rachael Jamison

ADVERTISING Sales and Marketing: Marny Bright, Beth Johnson, Korey Twombly or Blake Knoblauch Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: info@thurstonchamber.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: info@thurstonchamber.com

DESIGN Mosaic Marketing Studio

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of Creative Office and Howorth

PRINTING Print NW

finding the courage to run for public office.

CONTACT THE CHAMBER

Connecting people, ideas, and resources

PO Box 1427 809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507

are central themes for the next year. The

By, David Schaffert, THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER PRESIDENT/CEO & Doug Mah, DOUG MAH & ASSOCIATES AND LEAD OF THE THURSTON CHAMBER PUBLIC POLICY TEAM

Phone: (360) 357-3362 Email: info@thurstonchamber.com Website: www.thurstonchamber.com

COPYRIGHT

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY INVESTORS DIAMOND INVESTORS:

All material appearing in the VOICE

printing, but the publisher accepts no

Anchor Bank Capital Medical Center Heritage Bank Phillips Burgess Physicians of Southwest Washington Port of Olympia Xerox Services

responsibility or liability for the accuracy

PLATINUM INVESTORS

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

of any information contained in the text or advertisements.

America's Credit Union - Lacey Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel

4 • December 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park Morningside Olympia Federal Savings Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Print NW Providence St. Peters Saint Martin's University TwinStar Credit Union Washington Business Bank

GOLD INVESTORS Express Employment Professionals First Citizens Bank Cabinets by Trivonna Columbia Bank The Creative Office

FirstLight Home Care GHB Insurance Great Wolf Lodge Hometown Property Management Mantis Graphix Jessica Jensen Law PS Nicholson & Associates Nisqually Red Wind Casino Olympia Furniture Company Pardiman Productions Puget Sound Energy RHD Enterprises Hotel RL Olympia Saint Martin’s University SCJ Alliance TAGS

www.thurstonchamber.com

Caught in the Lens...

6 • December 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

A collection of photos taken at Chamber events during November 2016

www.thurstonchamber.com

Featured: November Morning Mixxer at Miss Moffett's Mystical Cupcakes and Elle's Floral Design, Forum featuring Timberland Regional Library's Cheryl Heywood, Business After Hours at Nisqually Red Wind Casino, Bite of Business, a Murder Myster Dinner, a ribbon cutting at 222 Market and a ribbon cutting at Absolute Relaxation.

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 7

LEADERSHIP THURSTON COUNTY

MEMBER PROFILE

Dan O'Neill, Tanya Jernigan and Robert Coit were the 2016 DLA Honorees.

They were honored on February 24, 2016.

2017 Distinguished Leaders Announced

by, Alisha Blain, LTC Program Coordinator

Stephanie Schramm Schramm Marketing A prominent fixture in the South Sound business community, Stephanie Schramm’s 17 years of marketing experience, expertise, and intuition has led her to develop a vibrant firm that

L

eadership Thurston County and

RL in Olympia. The evening begins with a

delivers personalized marketing services

the Thurston County Chamber

reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner

to both small and large organizations.

Foundation are proud to

and the program at 6:30 p.m. Tickets

announce the 2017 Distinguished Leader

are $75 per person or $600 for a table of

Award honorees; John Setterstrom,

eight. For information or reservations,

General Manager, Lucky Eagle Casino;

please register at thurstonchamber.com.

Lori Drummond, President/CEO, Olympia For further information and sponsorship

Lacey Fire District 3.

opportunities, please call Alisha

demonstrate outstanding initiative, inspire others and make a significant impact in our community and beyond.

Honorees will be recognized through live and multi-media presentations.

The 16th annual Distinguished Leader Awards celebration will take place on, Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at the Hotel

thoughtful marketing initiatives, while providing the area’s most preeminent event management and execution. Fully

Federal Savings; and Steve Brooks, Chief,

The event recognizes leaders who

Stephanie continuously leads stellar,

Blain at 360.357.8515 or email LTC@ ThurstonChamber.com.

involved in all facets of client affairs and marketing efforts, she leads the team in delivering forward-thinking strategy and tactics to drive solid, quantifiable results.

Leadership Thurston County is a program of the Thurston County Chamber Foundation and has been developing informed, skilled and committed community leaders since 1994. For information, please visit leadthurstoncounty.com

8 • December 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

SPONSORED MEMBER PROFILE

www.thurstonchamber.com

The Right of Due Process Restored for Thurston County Property Owners On April 8, 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (WSFWS) listed four subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher—found only in Thurston and Pierce counties—as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The USFWS defines a threatened species as a species that is likely to become endangered if steps aren’t taken to protect it.

E

Thurston County property owners impacted by the threatened listing of the Mazama pocket gopher under the Endangered Species Act are finally having their rights of due process restored.

ight-months after the Thurston County Chamber, Olympia Master Builders and Hinkle Homes filed a lawsuit against Thurston County asking the court to direct Thurston County to stop its unlawful interim permitting process for land use applications located within the alleged habitat of the Mazama pocket gopher, the parties reached a resolution.

“We appreciate Thurston County getting to this resolution,” said David Schaffert, Chamber President/CEO. “In August, the county republished the permitting process as a result of the suit.

They standardized the permitting process, allowing property owners to move forward and, in many cases, obtain permits for building projects that had been in limbo.”

The County will still use the screening process—a policy choice by the county. However, once property owners get through the screening process there is an opportunity and pathway for due process that didn’t previously exist.

A Brief History On April 8, 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (WSFWS) listed four subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher—found only in Thurston and Pierce counties—as threatened under

the Endangered Species Act. The USFWS defines a threatened species as a species that is likely to become endangered if steps aren’t taken to protect it.

Along with the listing, USFWS officials designated 1,607 acres in Thurston County as critical habitat for the Olympia, Tenino and Yelm pocket gophers.

“There is no precedent for the interplay of endangered species and growth management in Washington State,” said Heather Burgess, the attorney who filed the suit on behalf of the plaintiffs. “The county chose to follow the policy choice suggested by the Continued on page 10

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 9

USFWS and, unfortunately, it negatively impacted Thurston County landowners,” she said.

The Impact on Property Owners In 2015, Thurston County implemented an interim permitting process on the advice of the USFWS for review of local land use permits potentially involving Mazama pocket gopher habitat.

The interim permitting process the county adopted differed significantly from the Critical Area Ordinance (CAO) adopted in 2013 after a rigorous public process. The CAO lays out the regulation, identification and protection of Mazama pocket gopher habitat.

The county’s implementation of the permitting process resulted in additional screenings on permit applications, constricted the window to process applications to just five months out of the year, and expanded the amount of Mazama pocket gopher habitat without demonstrating technical justification or utilizing the best available science.

This action—taken without any public input—increased the properties subject to gopher habitat review from 1,607 acres in the original listing, to more than 200,000 acres—approximately 40 percent of the county.

Management Act, finding that the

protects property owner’s rights while

county’s Interim Screening Process

respecting the Endangered Species Act

resulted in de facto amendments to the

and the environmental sustainability of

county’s CAO by placing controls on land

Thurston County.

use activities that differ substantially from the current CAO adopted in 2012.

The board also determined that the county didn’t include public comment or participation in the change to the development regulation.

In August 2016, Thurston County officials announced—as a result of the ruling—a policy change for land use permitting on property where there was evidence of the Mazama pocket gopher.

Applicants for land use permits who have the gopher on their property and who meet all other county permit requirements may get their building permits in a time-frame that is outlined in the 2012 Thurston County Critical Areas Ordinance, according to a news release.

Property owners are still encouraged to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and “meeting those federal requirements will be incorporated as a condition of approval, which accompanies most permits,” the news release stated.

“Our complaint against the county was a process-oriented corrective action,”

Lawsuit

said Troy Nichols, Executive Director of

On Nov. 24, 2015, attorneys for the

was that the suit would standardize the

Thurston County Chamber, Olympia

permitting process and get rid of the

Master Builders and Hinkle Homes filed

arbitrary nature of the process. Before

a complaint against Thurston County

we filed suit, there was no opportunity

in Lewis County Superior Court, and

for property owners to have due

a Petition to Review at the Western

process—they had no path forward,” he

Washington Growth Management Board,

said.

the Olympia Master Builders. “Our hope

asking the court and the board to stop the unlawful interim permitting process.

Schaffert and Nichols hope that the Board’s ruling and the subsequent

In May 2016, The Western Washington

resolution with Thurston County will

Growth Management Hearings Board

bring an expensive, long and arduous

ruled that a portion of Thurston

process to a close and that citizens

County’s permitting process was out

and property owners will have a legal

of compliance with the state’s Growth

and workable permitting process that

10 • December 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

WHAT'S NEXT? Thurston County is preparing a Prairie Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in response to the Endangered Species Act listing of the Mazama pocket gopher, the Streaked horned lark, the Oregon spotted frog and the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly.

An HCP is a required part of the application for an Incidental Take Permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. An HCP describes the impacts that building and development activities may have on protected species and their habitat, and details the methods and conservation strategies that will be used to avoid, minimize and mitigate those impacts.

The Thurston County Chamber, the Olympia Master Builders, together with other community partners, plan to work towards achieving the following goals within the HCP process: 1.

Ensuring consistency with land-use planning, growth management act requirements, and state law;

2.

Establishing a plan that will successfully recover the species;

3.

Ensuring the protection of private property;

4.

Creating a source of funding for HCP conservation measures that includes equal contributions from across the Thurston County community. ●

www.thurstonchamber.com

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS

Hawley's Gelato & Coffee celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 12.

Hawley's is located at 511 Washington St SE, Olympia

222 Market Place, LLC Gray Graham (360) 951-5000 Markets American Workforce Group Julie Nelson (360) 338-6900 www.americanworkforcegroup.com

Consultants - Employment Services Amevek Marquesa Allen (360) 824-1597 Cleaners – Commercial

BEAM Senior Home Care Tawnya Krall 360-359-3830 www.BEAMforseniors.com Home Health Services Biolife Plasma Services Kelly Parsons (360) 455-3301 www.biolifeplasma.com Blood Bank Black Hawk Green Energy Leo Vasquez (360) 742-4411 Energy Management & Consultants www.thurstonchamber.com

Briggs Re Development LP Gordie Gill (604) 728-2948 Real Estate - Developers & Investors

Greene Realty GroupKathy Holt Kathy Holt (360) 870-8661 Real Estate - Agents & Companies - Residential

Coldwell Banker- Jan Ward Jan Ward (360) 701-7793 Real Estate - Agents & Companies – Residential

Innovative Advertising Jackie Breedlove (360) 819-4336 www.innovativesf.com Advertising Agencies

Country Financial - Tony Ramirez Tony Ramirez (360) 705-9334 Insurance Dept. of Labor & Industries Small Business Liasion Rose Gundersen (360) 902-4865 Government Offices Digital Advantage Cody Slosson (360) 239-4402 Computer System Designer & Consultant Floral Image Puget Sound Charles Camper (360) 584-5244 Floralimage.com Florists – Retail

Internal Grind Ted Bowen (360) 338-0312 Restaurant - Espresso & Coffee Shops Kisebach Consultant Kyle Kisebach (801) 589-4926 Energy Management & Consultants Kizuki Rhian Peterman (360) 786-8888 Restaurant – Asian Niko Teriyaki Jun Kim (360) 943-1421 Restaurant – Asian

ProEquities Bryan Frutchey (360) 480-3238 Consultants – Financial South Sound Manor Event Center Sarah Langley (360) 236-0395 www.southsoundmanor.com Event Venues The Refined Man Shawna Charboneau (360) 359-6969 www.therefinedman.club Barber The Toth Group at Keller Williams Terry Toth (360) 790-3720 www.olympiahomes4u.com/ Real Estate - Agents & Companies – Commercial You've Got Maids Nalini Andrus (360) 491-1558 Cleaners - Residential

Pampered Chef- Karin Parham Karin Parham (253) 242-0060 Kitchen Products Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 11

Kathleen Boggs enjoys sailing with her husband. Here they are off the Gulf Islands, British Columbia. Kathleen takes part in the Gig Economy.

The Gig Economy is Poised for Growth

By Natasha Ashenhurst

K

athleen Boggs was working full time in the medical field until her husband’s work required a move to Canada.

“I wasn’t able to work there, so I did a lot of volunteer work. When we moved back [to Olympia] in 2010, I knew I didn’t want to return to full-time work. I wanted flexibility.

We love to sail and we’re active in our community,” she said.

Boggs didn’t even want part-time work and admits she is lucky because she doesn’t need the income. However, she wanted to keep her work skills up-to-date, to get out of the house and interact with people. Her solution was to work for an employment agency—Express Employment Professionals.

“I’m as busy as I want to be,” she said. “Sometimes I work five hours a week, sometimes 40.”

Taskers, contract workers, independent contractors, freelancers, temporary help

"Taskers", contract workers, independent contractors, freelancers, temporary help agency workers— there are a lot of names for a group of people that make up a growing segment of the workforce powering the U.S. economy.

agency workers—there are a lot of names for a group of people that make up a growing

12 • December 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

segment of the workforce powering the U.S. economy.

According to a 2016 study published by researchers at Princeton University, the percentage of workers engaged in alternative work rose from 10.1 percent in 2005 to 15.8 percent in late 2015.

Companies like Uber, Task Rabbit and Upwork are increasingly in the news for tapping into this segment of the economy.

In October 2016, Dr. Michael Horrigan from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics spoke at the Olympia Economic Symposium about the Gig Economy.

Horrigan said the Gig Economy is hard to measure and define, but outlined ideas behind the growth, ideas also included in the Princeton study.

First, workers are demanding more flexible work arrangements. This flexibility—not previously practical— is made possible by technology advances that allow remote working environments—think sailing all summer long like Boggs, then working as a freelancer during the rainy Pacific Northwest winters.

Next, the Affordable Care Act increased the availability of affordable insurance— workers are no longer dependent on fulltime work in order to have quality health insurance. Businesses enjoy employing contract workers because they can tap into a pool of talent only when needed— and do not have to pay for talent once the job is complete or the sales cycle drops off.

Finally, the Great Recession caused many workers to lose full-time work and they never returned to participate in the same way.

We spoke with Jim Fleming, an economist for the State of Washington, and he said that the Bureau of Labor is planning on looking closely at the issue in 2017,

www.thurstonchamber.com

but they haven’t

not an independent

tried to capture any

contractor friendly

solid numbers since

state.

“We see that millennials 2005, which are now value the variety, obsolete. However, he flexibility and lifestyle of believes that the Gig contract work and Baby Economy is growing and that it will Boomers use this work continue to grow. to ease into retirement while doing work that Reid Bates, the appeals to them for owner of Express Employment companies they choose.”

Professionals, said his -Reid Bates, Express team sees firsthand Employment that there is high Professionals interest in gig work, especially at both ends

“The burden is on the business owner to prove that someone is a contractor and most businesses are not aware of the laws and requirements that must be met in order for a contractor to meet the requirements laid out by the state,” she said.

Jensen advises clients

of the generational spectrum.

that there are six questions to consider when hiring an independent contractor.

“We see that millennials value the variety,

1.

Do you maintain supervision or

flexibility and lifestyle of contract work

control over the work performance?

and Baby Boomers use this work to ease

If yes, this person is an employee, not

into retirement while doing work that appeals to them for companies they

a contractor.

2.

choose,” he said.

Does your business typically provide the service that is being contracted for? If yes, the contractor will likely

And while there are benefits for both the gig worker and the business owners who

be considered your employee.

3.

Is the individual customarily engaged

hire them, there are pitfalls to avoid when

in a trade, occupation, profession

considering becoming a freelancer or

or business of the same nature for

contracting with one.

which you hired the contractor?

If no, the contractor will likely be

Jessica McKeegan Jensen, an attorney and founder of Jessica Jensen Law PS, states in no uncertain terms that Washington is

considered your employee.

4.

Is the contractor required to file federal tax returns related to the

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 13

Join us...

We are headed to New York City March 3, 2017 ● 6 p.m.

Cocktails ● Dinner ● Auction● After Party Hotel RL Olympia $125 per person Sponsorships Available www.thurstonchamber.com Presented by:

We hire web designers to redo our company website. We hire graphic artists to design our new logo. We hire social media companies to manage our firm’s social media presence. We hire bookkeepers to help manage our day-to-day accounting needs.

These are all important services—providing skills that we do not have in-house—but again, McGauly cautions that it is important to know the business you are dealing with and make sure the correct licenses and strong contracts are in place.

Companies who want to hire temporary workers but don’t want to deal with potential L&I issues turn to companies like Express to supply them with the talent they need, when they need it.

“Everybody that we hire is a W-2 employee eligible for benefits

Workers are demanding more flexible work arrangements.

This flexibility—not previously practical—is made possible by technology advances that allow remote working environments.

5.

through us,” said Bates. Express is the employer and manages all human resources and legal requirements set out by the state.

contracted work both under federal law and per the terms

Bates said, “Right now, between my offices, we have 550 people

of your contract? If no, the contractor is your employee for

working for us, which is an all-time high. They work at 130

L&I purposes.

locations throughout the region. Surveys tell us that 42 percent

Does the contractor have a Washington Business License?

of executives are planning to increase their use of contingency

If no, the contractor is your employee for L&I purposes.

workers in the near future.”

In addition, make sure the business license is current

6.

by searching for the business on the Secretary of State’s

Reid agrees with the economists—this is an industry poised for

website.

growth. ●

Is the contractor registered with the Washington State Department of Revenue? If no, the contractor is your employee for L&I purposes.

Integrity, Excellence and Focus For your legal and tax needs

The bottom line, according to Jensen, is to understand the law

Call 360-616-1749

in order to minimize your risk. Jensen advises clients who hire independent contractors to make sure the contractors have a W-9, a copy of their Washington business license for the current year, proof of L&I coverage and to have a written contract in place before any work begins.

Michael McGauly is a certified public accountant at StraderHallett PS in Lacey. He cautions both freelancers and business owners to understand the potential landmine facing them from a regulatory aspect as well an income tax consequence before either going into contract work or hiring a contractor.

“Understand the independent contractor test in the same way L&I auditors approach it,” he said. “Once you know your exposure it comes down to making a good business investment one way or another. It might be easier to hire a temporary contractor to do the work than for me to try and complete the work by putting someone on payroll, but understand the law.”

McGauly said that businesses work with contractors all the time

• • • • • •

,

Let me help with:

Tax Preparation and Filing Elder law, Estate Planning Probate, Trusts Government, Municipal Law Public Finance and 103 Law Tax

VICTORIA S. BYERLY, P.S. A T T O R N E Y A T L AW

without really thinking about the contractor relationship.

www.vii c t o rii a sb b y e rll yp p s .c c om m

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 15

MEMBER PROFILE

Olympia Offers Compost Collection and Free Waste Assessments to Businesses

W

hat started as a pilot project in 2008, to see if Olympia businesses were interested in compost collection, turned into a successful Commercial Organics Program.

Melanie Bakala Bakala State Farm

The City of Olympia offers businesses

For many, insurance is considered a

to save money. Collected materials are

within the city a different way to dispose of organic waste and the opportunity turned into compost and kept out of the

necessary evil. They focus on getting

landfill.

insurance for the cheapest price, and

The first step is to contact City staff for

they don't typically look at it again.

We specialize in having conversations

a free waste assessment. The program’s success has evolved over time.

organics collection, recycling and waste

“Our pilot started with under a dozen

currently do and what you would like

with people, understanding what

city businesses and has grown to over

they have to protect, and helping

Senior Program Specialist with the City of

150 businesses,” says Spencer Orman, Olympia Waste ReSources. “In 2016, we

them understand how their insurance

expect to collect over 800 tons of organics for composting. That keeps a lot of waste

works. For car, home, renters, business, disability or life insurance, or to find out how we can save you money on your car or home loan, give us a call.

We're here to help life go right.

out of the landfill.”

To keep up with demand, a second

reduction ideas. We discuss what you to achieve. A waste assessment shows how your current efforts, as well as new opportunities can keep compostable materials out of the garbage. Each assessment is followed up with a letter with recommendations.

If organics collection is right for you, service can start within a week. To help

collection day was added in 2015.

new customers be successful, we offer

Participants range from restaurants,

charge when signing up for a year.

grocery stores, health care facilities, to churches, schools, and offices. With so many different places participating, a

Bakala State Farm 2539 Marvin Rd NE Bldg D Ste D Lacey, WA 98516 (360) 972-7905 melanie@bakalainsurance.com mylaceyagent.com

It takes about an hour and covers

new composting norm is being created in Olympia. People can compost at work, at school, and where they dine and attend events. This builds upon the City’s traditional home compost collection.

Getting started is easy – just call 360.753.8752 for a free waste assessment.

the first two months of service at no

We help with indoor collection carts, posters and onsite assistance. Along with compost collection, other opportunities to recycle traditional materials, as well as some non-traditional items, such as pallets, foam, scrap metal, and plastics may be available.

For more information, contact Spencer Orman, City of Olympia, at sorman@ ci.olympia.wa.us or 360.753.8752.

SPONSORED MEMBER PROFILE

16 • December 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Seven Years Strong: Boss of the Year Recognizes Leaders in the Workplace

CHAMBER FORUM

The seventh annual Boss of the Year designation, sponsored by the Thurston County Chamber and Express Employment Professionals will be presented at the December 14 Forum.

T

he Thurston County

their employees.

Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce

Again this year, Saint Martin’s University

the seventh annual Boss

business students played an important

of the Year honorees.

role in the selection process by

Co-sponsored by Express

interviewing finalists and gathering data

Employment Professionals, this award

for the selection committee.

recognizes outstanding individuals who demonstrate exceptional

“This is a wonderful opportunity for

leadership in the workplace through

our students to meet with exceptional

innovation, communication, vision, and

business leaders in

performance.

the community and

The 2016 honorees are: Kevin Johnston, Capital Mall; Rozanne Garman, RHD Enterprises; and Ed Galligan, The Port of Olympia Honorable mentions include: John Doan, City of Tumwater; Dr. Ricord Torgerson, Joint Animal Services of Thurston County; and Winfried Danke, CHOICE Regional Health Network.

Over 40 bosses from non-profit organizations to state agencies to private sector companies were nominated by

to also learn more about what truly defines leadership in the workplace,” says Richard Beer, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business.

The recognition event will take place on Wednesday, December 14 at the Hotel RL Olympia beginning at 11:30am with a lunch buffet and recognition program starting at 12pm. ●

Thurston Chamber Forum Wed., Dec. 14, 11:30 a.m.

Hotel RL Olympia www.thurstonchamber.com Thank you to our Forum sponsors, Fisher Jones Family Dentistry, Saint Martins University and Pardiman Productions.

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 17

Goodbye<>cubicle

Photo courtesy of Creative Office and Haworth.

The Changing Nature of the Workplace By, Natasha Ashenhurst

Three software developers sit at small desks working quietly at their computers. Each desk is oriented toward the center of the room, which means that the developers face each other. White boards are on every wall, and what looks like a year’s supply of Starbucks Frappuccinos is stacked near the entrance.

The developers work for Pixatel, a software development company based in Olympia.

The firm occupies two office suites in the Thurston Chamber’s Small Business Incubator and uses an open-office-style work arrangement.

developers say they couldn’t imagine working any other way. In fact, they said they can’t think of a single software development company that uses any other work place

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know that someone else on our team can look at it from a different point of view.

Collaboration is our philosophy and it works very well,” said Michael Epperson, Pixatel’s senior software engineer. The three agree that they get more done in a collaborative environment because it creates a climate of better understanding and facilitates a faster pace of learning.

Do they get sick of each other? “No,” they

For Pixatel, this is a very deliberate workplace set-up, and when asked, the Pixatel

approach.

“When we’re stuck on a problem we

agree, and state that they even managed to survive the post-presidential election fallout, despite vastly different political views, agreeing that having a sense of humor helps lighten the mood, day-in

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 19

The office of Cops for Hire, located in the Steam Plant Building, downtown Olympia. Notice the space for office dog, Ava. and day-out.

Gordon acknowledges that texting and email are becoming primary forms of

Goodbye, Cubicle

communication over telephone use, so

We spoke with Lowell Gordon, president

noise isn’t as much of an issue as it would

of Creative Office and Greg Seals,

have been a decade ago.

president of Crain’s Office Supply. Both Gordon and Seals agree that businesses

And while some businesses are sticking

work with their designers to furnish new

with cubicles, albeit with lower panels

office spaces with three things in mind.

to bring in more light, some—like Pixatel and Olympia’s Cops for Hire—are ditching the cubicle altogether.

First, everyone wants to bring in more natural light for all employees, improve

Lowell Gordon, president of Creative Office in Olympia, sits at a laptop-friendly chair in his showroom.

Cops for Hire, featured in the July issue

height is a reduction in storage space,

Olympia and has an open-concept

but with the move to digital storage

office space filled with hand-crafted

systems, this is becoming less of an issue

work tables, computers, fairy lights and

innovation.

for many offices.

white boards—as well as programmers,

In order to tackle the first objective—

In order to deal with any noise issue a

experts and an office dog named Ava.

reduction in panel heights may cause,

Cops for Hire programmers use a

Gordon says that his clients find success

workplace system that Gordon refers to

with white noise machines as well as a

as “benching.”

air quality, increase air circulation and reduce noise. Second, they want to create a space that is attractive to a younger workforce—namely millennials.

Finally, they want to create a space that encourages collaboration, creativity and

of the VOICE, is located in the beautiful Steam Plant Building in downtown

program managers, designers, marketing bring in more natural light and improve air quality and circulation—cubicle walls are disappearing entirely or are at least are coming down in height.

newer concept called ‘phone boothing.’

Phone boothing is a small space designed

Benching refers to long tables, often with

“Panel heights have dropped

to give someone privacy while talking

an individual divider and side dividers,

on the phone away from their desks. In

that can take up the whole length of a

some cases it is a phone booth, but there

room and accommodate an entire team.

are chairs that have side panels, offering

Another trend compatible with benching

noise reduction and privacy. That said,

and collaboration is the unassigned

significantly,” said Gordon. “Lowering panel heights still allows for seated privacy, but provides access to natural light.” One drawback to reducing cubicle

20 • December 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

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Pixatel's software developers easily collaborate on projects, aided by workstation placement. workstation.

“Companies and offices will put in individual lockers where people store their personal belongings and every day they pick a new area to sit and work.

They may want to sit in a chair with a built-in laptop desk, on a couch, in a conference room or at a bar with stools,” said Gordon. Creative Office recently furnished a tech company in Seattle with bars—complete with a kegerator too.

Sitting is the New Smoking Finally, companies increasingly

According to Levine, sitting is more dangerous than smoking, stating that researchers have found and continue to find evidence that prolonged sitting increases the risk of developing several serious illnesses like various types of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. For that reason, the standing desk is a trend that may be here to stay.

products that work well for this type of work station.

Haworth is the office furniture wholesaler that Creative Office buys from. Gordon said that Haworth recently renovated their Michigan headquarters so that every single employee in their office experiences natural light and 90 percent of the employees have a view. They lowered panel heights and 50 percent of all workstations are unassigned.

Creative Office too is renovating their showroom. Gordon said, “We’re moving

recognize that sitting all day long is causing health problems for their

cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

our designers’ desks out to the showroom

knowledge workers. Dr. James Levine,

For that reason, the standing desk is a

floor so they can take advantage of the

the director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona

trend that may be here to stay.

natural light. Even my office is getting a renovation. I’m getting rid of the heavy

State University Obesity Solutions Initiative and inventor of the treadmill

Seals said, “More and more people want

credenza and executive desk and instead

desk, is credited with coining the

to stand while they work. Our standing

will have a space that accommodates

mantra—“sitting is the new smoking.”

desks have programmable buttons used

team meetings and collaboration. We’re

to programmed preferred sitting height

also getting rid of a lot of my storage

According to Levine, sitting is more

and a preferred standing height. This

cubbies. I’m not sure what I’ll do with all

dangerous than smoking, stating that

allows the user to stand for a while and

of my stuff, but I guess I need to embrace

researchers have found and continue

then sit for a while. It is easy to go back

digital storage and learn to live with

to find evidence that prolonged sitting

and forth between the two positions.” To

less clutter. It’s going to be hard, but I’m

increases the risk of developing several

accommodate the standing desk, Crain’s

going to learn to work this way.” ●

serious illnesses like various types of

and Creative both provide accessory

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Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 21

Port of Olympia Embraces Triple Bottom Line

THURSTON GREEN

According to Port Executive Ed Galligan, completing the greenhouse gas inventory is just the first step in a longer process to make the Port of Olympia one of the greenest ports in the country.

“Our Commissioners have emphasized environmental sustainability as a core value, and they’ve directed staff to develop and execute projects and policies that put that value into action.”

By, Rachael Jamison, environmental director at the Port of Olympia and member of the Thurston Green committee

M

With baseline data in-hand, the Port will continue to identify opportunities to further reduce

ost of us think of the Port of Olympia as one of Thurston County’s

and new wayfinding signage

its carbon footprint. At the

most important economic engines. While that’s certainly true and

in Tenino. As a public-private

marine terminal, the Port has

clearly visible when one visits the marine terminal, airport or one

institution, the Port continually

already installed solar panels,

of the Port’s many real estate holdings, the Port is equally committed to playing

strives to create economic

added energy-efficient cargo

a broader leadership role in the community. In addition to creating economic

benefit while also providing

yard lighting and adopted a

opportunity, the Port actively pursues two other core functions: developing and

quality community events,

stormwater management plan.

maintaining community assets; and serving as an environmental steward.

gathering spaces and other

The Port is also one of the first

amenities.

Pacific Northwest ports to join “Green Marine,” a voluntary

AMENITIES AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES Many of us may not know the extent of the public amenities our Port provides. If you’ve ever attended Olympia Brew Fest or participated in Dragon Boat races on the Olympia waterfront, then you’ve directly benefitted from use of the Port Plaza and event support. If you enjoy shopping or listening to music at the Olympia Farmers Market, you might be interested to know you’re doing so on land the Port carved out of its original marine terminal footprint for recreational and community use.

Over the past six years, the Port has also expanded investment into the rural parts of Thurston County. The town of Bucoda converted its historic Oddfellows Building into a community center and the Town of Rainier installed sidewalks and other pedestrian friendly amenities using funds provided by the Port of Olympia. The Port has also provided funding support for the Yelm Community Center

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ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP As part of its continuing focus on sustainability, the Port of Olympia recently completed a baseline inventory of greenhouse gas emissions generated by activities at its downtown and airport facilities. The inventory shows the Port has a relatively minimal carbon footprint, producing about the same amount of emissions a year as 19 average-sized families.

third party certification program that requires participating port authorities to establish baseline performance indicators in multiple facets of Marine Terminal operations, and then demonstrate tangible year-over-year improvements to maintain certification.

For information about the Port and its efforts to achieve a sustainable triple bottom line, visit the Port’s website at www. portolympia.com.

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  December 2016 23

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