January/February 2015 VOICE

JAN/FEB 2015

THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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Business Leaders Predict Climate & Priorities of 2015 Legislative Session See page 4

Olympia Orthopaedic Associates: The Best Can Always Get Better

See page 12

B UI LDI NG COMMUNITY PROSPERITY FOR 140 YEARS

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CONTENTS

CALENDAR

Page 3 .............Chair & President's Column: Thurston Thrives Page 4................Business Leaders Discuss Upcoming Session

January 6 Morning Mixxer - 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - Comfort Keepers, 2958 Limited Lane SW Ste B, Olympia.

January 8

Page 6 ................State of the Community Topic of Jan. Forum

Young Professionals Network - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Three Magnets Brewing Co, 600 Franklin, Olympia.

Page 7.................Chamber Partners to Promote Math Literacy

January 14

Page 8.................................Work-Integrated Learning Pipeline

Forum - 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Red Lion Hotel Olympia Topic: State of the Community

January 15

Page 9.................................................Welcome New Members

Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m.: Phillips Burgess 724 Columbia Street Northwest #140, Olympia.

Page 10 ...............................Networking Events/Save the Date

February 3

Page 12 ...........Cover Story: Olympia Orthopaedic Associates

Morning Mixxer - 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. FASTSIGNS 4609 Lacey Blvd SE, Lacey

February 5 Page 19 .....Dr. Timothy Stokes to Keynote Education Summit

Young Professionals Network - 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Ramblin Jacks, 520 4th Ave E, Olympia.

Page 21.....................Community Creates Road Map to Health

February 12

Copyright © 2007 Thurston County Chamber ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published bimonthly by the Thurston County Chamber.

809 Legion Way SE P.O. Box 1427 Olympia, WA 98507

Forum - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Red Lion Hotel Olympia Topic: Education Summit.

February 19 Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m. - Olympia Federal Savings- 2420 Harrison Ave W, Olympia.

www.thurstonchamber.com info@thurstonchamber.com 360.357.3362

February 25 Distinguished Leader Awards, 5:30 p.m.

Red Lion Hotel Olympia.

Join the conversation online at facebook.com/ThurstonCountyChamber.

These events require pre-registration at www.thurstonchamber.com

BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY FOR 140 YEARS Diamond Investors:

Platinum Investors

Anchor Bank Heritage Bank Phillips Burgess

Capital Medical Center FORMA Construction KeyBank Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park Morningside TwinStar Credit Union Washington Business Bank Xerox

Physicians of Southwest Washington

Port of Olympia Versoria

Executive Officers Ron Bruchet, Chair GHB Insurance Mariella Cummings, Chair Elect Physicians of Southwest WA Jessica Coen, Vice Chair Xerox Company Neil Woody, Treasurer McSwain & Company P.S. Mike Marohn, Past Chair 94.5 ROXY

CHAMBER BOARD & STAFF Board of Trustees

George Barner, Port of Olympia

Bryan McConaughy, Puget Sound Energy

Michael Cade, Thurston EDC Jean Carr, SCJ Alliance David Cullen, David D. Cullen Dick Cvitanich, Olympia School District

Drew Phillips, FORMA Construction Cheryl Selby, Vivala Kevin Stormans, Stormans Inc. Ann Sweeney, Red Lion Hotel

Cheryl Fambles, PAC Mountain Workforce

Faith Trimble, The Athena Group Elyse Villanueva, Heritage Bank

Development Council Perry Hanchey, Diamond Technology Innovations Sandi Wilson, Thurston First Bank

Editor: David Schaffert Layout & Design: Natasha Ashenhurst of Mosaic Marketing Studio Cover Photo: House Chambers Voting Station Printing: Print NW 2 • Jan/Feb 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

Gold Investors

America's Credit Union • Cabinets by Trivonna Columbia Bank • Complete Nutrition The Creative Office • Express Employment Professionals First Citizens Bank • GHB Insurance Great Wolf Lodge • Iron Heights Jessica Jensen Law PS • McSwain & Company PS MB Solutions • Nisqually Red Wind Casino Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Pardiman Productions Providence St. Peter Hospital • Puget Sound Energy Red Lion Hotel Olympia • Saint Martin’s University SCJ Alliance • TAGS • The Governor

Chamber Staff David Schaffert, President/CEO Sytease Geib, VP Workforce Development Marny Bright, VP Member Services Alisha Blain, Events Coordinator Laurie Bjerke, Admin. Assistant Debbie Burk, Business2Business Kathleen Cooper, Business2Business Beth Johnson, Member Services Judy Reynolds, LeadershipThurston County Rachael Lebon, Business2Business Pam Singleton, Finance Officer Jeff Hutchens, Member Services Martha Wagner, Member Services Michele Winn, Camo2Commerce www.thurstonchamber.com

Community Leaders Working Together for a Healthier Community through Thurston Thrives

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ver the past 18 months, community leaders have worked together to develop strategies to create a healthier community for all. Together, they have designed a “collective impact model” known as Thurston Thrives (see page 21).

In December, the Chamber and its Thurston County Chamber Foundation committed organizational resources to assist Thurston Thrives in its evolution into a public private partnership. At the most recent Thurston County Board of Health meeting, county commissioners agreed to have the Foundation serve as the fiscal agent for Thurston Thrives. The Chamber also "...one of the highest has committed resources to help fund support predictors of health is staff who will be essential to the success of the ability for individuals Thurston Thrives. and families to have the

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Director Don Sloma, with county commissioners, looked at several predictors of an individual’s health monetary resources to live We think about Thurston Thrives and the outcomes in a more holistic manner. prosperously."

Chamber’s broad community mission as we They found that good health is not just think of an engine. An engine is a mechanical about providing health care to the ill, so system, and — when running on all cylinders and finely tuned — they looked further into the role of community in an individual’s it produces an optimal outcome in horse power and efficiencies. health. One of the highest predictors of health for individuals If an engine has challenges with ignition, timing, filters or lacks and families is a good income. Thurston County’s ability to oil, it will run at a reduced capacity. Communities are the same. provide wealth platforms through employment is fundamental to If a community’s employment sector, education, safety nets, community health. and environmental health are not tuned and maximizing the The business community has been engaged in Thurston Thrives since the program’s inception. The Chamber and the Thurston Economic Development Council have joined strategy teams on education, clinical and emergency care, and the economy and served on the leadership advisory council. We all have a stake in the allocation of limited resources and development of good public policy.

David Schaffert President & CEO Thurston County Chamber

www.thurstonchamber.com

available resources, it does not have optimal outcomes of healthy prosperous people. Thurston Thrives will work to ensure our community is running at the highest level.

Look for the Chamber to continue its advocacy for Thurston Thrives, the organizations involved, and the hundreds of community members who volunteered thousands of hours in an effort to make Thurston County a healthier place to live. ●

Ron Bruchet Board Chair Thurston County Chamber President GHB Insurance

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Jan/Feb 2015 3

Business Leaders Predict Climate & Priorities of 2015 Legislative Session

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n the second Monday in January, 49 members of the Washington Senate and 98 members of the House will return to Olympia for the 65th legislative session.

The Thurston County Chamber had the chance to speak with Jan Teague, president and CEO of the Washington Retail Association, and Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business (AWB), about the upcoming session. We discussed the climate Jan Teague facing our lawmakers this January. Both cited the McCleary decision (see info. box) and its impact on the budget as the issue that will shadow most of the work in the upcoming session.

“What is frustrating is that the state is projected to take in billions in new revenues as the economy improves. The problem is that the state spends more than we take in and the rate of inflation and increased costs continues to outpace our tax collections.

Teague: “With the McCleary decision,

“[Gov. Jay Inslee] and many in the

the legislature will struggle to figure out revenues to fund education when most of the money coming in is already committed. There is a very small portion of the state’s budget that is available to cut in order to come up with more money for education.

“Unfortunately, I’m not optimistic that the legislature and governor will finish their work on time.

McCleary Decision In January 2012, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled unanimously in McCleary v. State that the State of Washington is violating the constitutional rights of children by failing to live up to its “paramount duty” to amply fund the education of all K-12 students. The Court ordered the Legislature to make "steady, real and measurable progress" each year and to fully fund K-12 public education by 2018.

In 2014 the Washington Supreme Court ruled the state in contempt of court in the McCleary school funding case. However, the justices will wait to impose sanctions until after the 2015 legislative session.

Photo above: The Washington State Supreme Court hears arguments during a Show Cause Hearing concerning the McCleary school funding case, September 3, 2014 in Olympia.

4 • Jan/Feb. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

legislature see new taxes as the only solution to our real and perceived problems. One of the taxes discussed is a capital gains tax on individuals.”

Johnson: “We believe the legislature will begin by focusing on education funding and transportation. Reforms are needed to move the process forward and we need those reforms early."

He explained that the AWB is deeply concerned that Washington state continues to have a compulsory workers’ compensation system that is one of the most expensive and administratively complex in the nation.

He added, "We also acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead in the session to fund education and comply with the timelines.

However, our education system must focus not only on funding K-12, but on enhancing all avenues of postsecondary education to support our competitive and global state economy.”

Johnson reinforced that sentiment when he spoke at a break-out session on the changing demographics in the workforce at the Regional Economic Forecast & Innovation Expo in December.

“We’ve had a shift in the workforce,” said Johnson. “Our state currently has 25,000 open jobs that we can’t fill because we lack a workforce with the Kris Johnson necessary skills, and many of those jobs require working with your hands.

Our schools need to get students excited about working with their hands. Let’s bring various sectors together to talk about workforce needs. Let’s have that conversation.”

David Schaffert, Thurston Chamber President/CEO said, “Aside from fully funding education to meet the McCleary decision, we expect transportation and infrastructure investment to result from this budget session.”

The Shared Legislative Partnership — which includes the Thurston Chamber, the Thurston Economic Development Council and local governments — are prepared to request a $373 million transportation project for the South Sound region in the event that the legislature acts on a transportation package.

Congestion pressures on I-5 – particularly between Tumwater and Lakewood – regularly disrupts the ability for freight to move efficiently.

Puget Sound communities will attract hundreds of thousands

more jobs and residents over the next 30 years, worsening an already bad situation on this vitally important corridor.

In addition to a comprehensive transportation package, the Shared Legislative Partnership has identified the following legislative priorities: •

Reinvest in Washington

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Port Cleanup and Maintenance Dredge

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DOT Facilities Replacement Account

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Local Revenue

To learn more about the Shared Legislative Partnership, or to find events relating to Chamber advocacy efforts, visit www.thurstonchamber.com ●

State Legislative Oces

District No. 2

District No. 22

Sen. Randi Becker

Sen. Karen Fraser

360.786.7602 randi.becker@legwa.gov Rep. Graham Hunt

360.786.7824 graham.hunt@legwagov Rep. J.T. Wilcox

360.786.7912 jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov

360.786.7642 karen.fraser@leg.wa.gov Rep. Chris Reykdal

360.786.7940 chris.reykdal@legwagov Rep. Sam Hunt

360.786.7992 sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov

District No. 20

District No. 35

Sen. John Braun

Sen. Tim Sheldon

360.786.7638 john.braun@leg.wa.gov Rep. Richard DeBolt

360.786.7896 richard.debolt@legwagov Rep. Ed Orcutt

360.786.7990 ed.orcutt@leg.wa.gov

360.786.7668 tim.sheldon@legwagov Rep. Dan Griey

360.204.9636 dan.griey@legwagov Rep. Drew MacEwen

360.786.7902 drew.macewen@leg.wa.gov

Photo above: The Washington State Senate convenes for floor debate, March 3rd (50th Day of the 60-Day 2014 Regular Session). www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Jan/Feb. 2014 5

STATE O F THE C O MMUN I TY

The State of the Community Address & Elected Officials Reception Slated for January Forum

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n Wednesday, January 14, representatives from Olympia, Students from Reeves Middle School Alki Program attended Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, and Thurston County will the 2014 State of the Community address. The students were collectively present a State of the Community address.

Every year, leaders from the community share their perspectives on current issues and future prospects. Leaders will illustrate the important steps and investments made this past year to grow our local economy and promote new employment.

Prior to the State of the Community Address is a reception for our elected officials, from 11:00 a.m. until noon. This is an opportunity to engage business and community leaders in a one-on-one networking setting. The reception will also provide Chamber members and elected officials an opportunity to get to know each other better.

6 • Jan/Feb. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

sponsored by local businesses. Reeves students will attend the 2015 event.

The reception is open to all Forum attendees.

Students from the Reeves Middle School Alki Program will be in attendance as part of their studies of local government.

Forum includes lunch and the cost is $35 for general admission, $25 for prepaid Chamber members, and $30 for members at the door. Reservations for the State of the Community Forum are strongly advised. Visit www.thurstonchamber.com or call the Chamber at 360.357.3362. The Forum Sponsor is Puget Sound Energy. ●

www.thurstonchamber.com

Chamber Partners to Promote Math Literacy to Our Kids, One Business At a Time

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arents are encouraged to read to or with their children for twenty minutes a day to promote literacy and a love of literature. What if we asked the community to do real-life math problems with their kids every day? Would this foster math literacy and aptitude? Would math skills improve? Would it promote a love of math?

These are the questions that the Thurston County Chamber Education Committee asked five years ago, and it was from asking these questions that they founded a program that has soared to success–Math for Life. It is held in partnership with North Thurston Public Schools, the Olympia School District, Griffin School District and the Tumwater School District.

"Our goal was to promote real life math skills, and we decided to create a program that directly connected businesses with schools," said Courtney Schrieve of North Thurston Public Schools.

During the weeks of April 4 through 19, spring break for most schools, students will receive a Scavenger Hunt Map which they take to the various Chamber Member businesses who register to take part in the program. At each business, students are asked grade-level math questions. Students get their map stamped at each location. When they submit their completed map to their teacher they qualify for a chance to win great prizes, and in the process learn about how different businesses use math every day.

"These business owners are teaching kids that 'You will use math, and here is how we do it'," said Schrieve. "Owners love having the kids and parents come into their businesses. The kids love the prizes."

Members of the committee go to school assemblies to recognize the kids that take part in Math for Life.

If you are interested in participating, visit www.thurstonchamber.com ●

Bring Clarity, Alignment and Action to What You Do. Let’s Get Started Today.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING PROCESS DESIGN EXECUTIVE AND LEADERSHIP COACHING BOARD DEVELOPMENT CAREER DISASTER RECOVERY TEAM BUILDING/CONFLICT RESOLUTION BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT TRAINING, MENTORING AND COMMUNICATION

360-789-3711 VERSORIAONLINE.COM

Terry Taylor, MA, MCC

Chamber Creates Work-Integrated Learning Pipeline to Impact Youth Success in the Workplace

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tudies show that students who take part in high schoollevel work experiences, such as internships, job shadowing and mentoring, are more likely to be inspired to stay in school, graduate and adopt ambitious goals. For many, taking part in the competitive advantage of work integrated learning can be the link to a lifetime of success.

partnership opportunities to connect with youth in the Olympia School District (our pilot school) and business, including, but not limited to:

What is missing is a bridge between the world of learning and the world of work. Our community’s parents, educators and business leaders maintain that we can build that bridge through the creation of workplace integrated learning and career development opportunities that will help provide missing skills which in turn will help them find success in today's job market.

•

Skills Training

•

Job Shadowing

•

Career Coach (online)

• Internships B2Y Connect is currently looking for businesses interested in shaping and educating the next generation. For additional information and to learn how you can participate contact the Chamber at 360.357.3362. ●

By the year 2020, the Millennial generation will make up approximately 50% of the workforce, and the last of the Baby Boomer generation turns 50 this year, with a majority already at retirement age. The time is now to invest in the next generation of workforce, ensuring that educational opportunities are in alignment with what business needs out of a workforce and that youth have the skills to be successful.

Add all of this together and a picture emerges – we need to engage all of our resources and talent in order to ensure the future success of our children and our workforce.

Students need hands-on opportunities to prepare for the world of work.

Enter Business 2 Youth Connect.

Young people ages 14 to 18 represent our future. Through proper support and opportunities they will provide an invaluable asset to our community and the business sector.

Join Business 2 Youth Connect and our innovative strategies for educators and business leaders to support the positive development of young people.

B2Y Connect, a Chamber Foundation program in partnership with Pacific Mountain Workforce Development offers

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www.thurstonchamber.com

The Chamber coordinated the Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening at Burlington in Lacey in November 2014.

Angela Rush, Sound Advantage Realty

Copper Trail Apartments

Real Estate Agent

Apartments

Benefit Mall

Elle's Floral Design

Angela Rush 360-951-1189

Mark Williams 360-471-3208 www.benefitmall.com/payroll Payroll Service

Beth Wennergren 360-866-0140 www.liveatcoppertrail.com

Michelle Lapraim www.ellesfloraldesigns.com

Florists - Retail Evergreen Home Loans

Bethanie's Patisserie, LLC

Bethanie Ricca 360-705-0407 www.BethaniesCakes.com Bakers - Retail Burlington Stores

Kara Hatzinger 360-456-4273 www.burlington.com

Julie Swenson www.evergreenhomeloans. com

Mortgages & Contracts Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Tony Conway 253-222-9256 www.fairwayindependentmc. com

Retail

Mortgages & Contracts

C & C Communications

Greene Realty - Phyllis Mandel

Larry Culp 206-551-9272

Communications

Phyllis Mandel 360-951-3693 www.phyllismandel.com

Capitol Controls

Real Estate Agents

Miranda Roswall 360-539-7199 www.capitol-controls.com Heating & Air Conditioning Companies www.thurstonchamber.com

Healthmarkets

Nick Palmer 253-691-0701 www.healthmarkets.com/ npalmer

Northwest Cooperative Development Center

Diane Gasaway 360-943-4241 www.nwcdc.coop

Insurance

Non-Profit Organizations

Ink Well Business Solutions

Paisley's Cafe

Nard Mullan 360-870-2707 www.inkwellbizsolutions.com

Accountants Kidder Mathews Commercial

Luke Kravitz 360-705-1337 www.kiddermathews.com/ Real Estate Companies Lacey Glass, Inc.

Abbie Rose www.paisleyscafe.com

Restaurants Pratt Accounting Services

Shanna Pratt 360-200-8816 Accountants

Thurston County Sheriff's Office

John Snaza 360-786-5501

Phillip Zeutenhorst 360-459-8411

Government Organizations

Glass & Windows

Waterside Computer Services

New York Life

Bradley Miller 360-489-0770

Financial Planning Consultants

Michael Parsons 360-990-8288 www.watersidecomputer.com Computers - System Designers & Consultants

W E L CO M E N EW M E M BERS! Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Jan/Feb Jan/Feb. 2015 9

MA R K YOUR C A L E N DAR! January 6 - 7:30 a a.m. m 2958 Limited Lane NW Suite B, Olympia

Morning Mixxer

Join us for gourmet coffee and delicious breakfast pastries at our January Morning Mixxer hosted by Comfort Keepers.

We'll have a New Years gift basket drawing. Olympia's Comfort Keepers is owned by Cindy Adkins, and their mission is provide care services and living assistance, allowing seniors and disabled individuals to live comfortably and independently. ●

January 8 - 5:30 p.m.

February 3 - 7:30 a.m. am 4609 Lacey Blvd SE, Lacey

Morning Mixxer Join us for coffee and breakfast goodies at our February Morning Mixxer hosted by FASTSIGNS. FASTSIGNS provides visual communications solutions to solve your challenges, tell your story and increase visibility. ●

February 5 - 5:30 p.m.

600 Franklin St SE Suite 105, Olympia

520 4th Ave E, Olympia,

Young Professionals Network

Young Professionals Network

Three Magnets Brewing Co. will be our host this month!

Admission is FREE, Chamber Membership not required. Get ready to make awesome new connections, and be sure to bring a friend! The Thurston Chamber YPN is a great place to interact with new, younger business professionals in a low-pressure environment. Bring plenty business cards and a smile, and you're set to enjoy a fantastic evening of networking! ●

Ramblin Jacks will be our host this month! Admission is FREE, Chamber Membership not required.

Get ready to make awesome new connections, and be sure to bring a friend! The Thurston Chamber YPN is a great place to interact with new, younger business professionals in a lowpressure environment. Bring plenty business cards and a smile, and you're set to enjoy a fantastic evening of networking! ●

January 15 - 5:30 p.m.

February 19 - 5:30 p.m.

724 Columbia Street Northwest #140, Olympia

2420 Harrison Ave W, Olympia

Business After Hours Join the Chamber for Business After Hours at Phillips Burgess. They have an elegant evening planned - complete with delicious food, wine and networking.

The team at Phillips Burgess is passionate about what they do. Their commitment is to provide client-focused legal services, managing each case with meticulous care and attention. ●

Business After Hours We invite you to the Wild West! Our newly remodeled West Olympia branch is “wild” about green, and we think you’ll be wild about our green deposit and lending products too with our emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability.

Join us at the Chamber ‘After Hours’ event on February 19th for food, fun and prizes to learn more about Olympia Federal Savings’ green initiatives.”●

Morning Mixxer sponsored by Mixx 96 FM and Anchor Bank and is the first Tuesday of each month, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Locations vary. Includes coffee and pastries. Admission is FREE. Business After Hours is sponsored by 94.5 ROXY and Heritage Bank and is the third Thursday of each month. Locations vary. Admission is free.

More information about upcoming events can be found at www.thurstonchamber.com.

10 • Jan/Feb. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Jan/Feb 2015 11

Olympia Orthopaedic Associates: The Best Can Always Get Better

By Natasha Ashenhurst

I

t is impressive what can happen when a large percentage of your staff is made up of athletes — marathoners, cyclists, swimmers and skiers. It creates an atmosphere of competition and a drive for success, both as individuals and as a team.

“Olympia Orthopaedic Associates is considered successful throughout the nation because of the results we’ve achieved, which are, in part, because our physician’s drive to excel is so strong,” said Rae-Lynn Bidon, chief operating officer at OOA. “They are competitive with one another, but it is a friendly competition. They are all high producers that like to come in on top, but they also want to get their patients back in motion because they place such a high value on movement.”

Bidon spoke with the Voice about OOA’s path to success in an industry that has seen years of change, especially in the areas of mergers and health care reform.

History Olympia Orthopaedic Associates was formed more than 17 years ago, when two independent practices providing comprehensive musculoskeletal care joined together to form one. Today, it has grown into the largest full service orthopaedic group in the South Puget Sound area.

Sub-specialty programs include hand/ upper extremity, spine, neuro, foot and ankle, occupational medicine and pain management; the surgeons also specialize in sports medicine and joint replacement surgery. Physical Therapy and on-site diagnostics which include a traditional

closed MRI, whole body (short bore) and Extremity MRI as well as computerized radiography are additional services that they offer. They see more than 100,000 patients and perform more than 10,000 surgeries a year.

From the beginning, the company culture has been a reflection of the small town and community-minded region from which it grew.

“We enjoy the small town atmosphere here. Olympia is an outdoor, sportsfriendly town. We find that this community has been one of the keys to our success in the sense that they hold us responsible,” said Bidon. “Every time we discuss a business decision we

Photo above: Ribbon Cutting at OOA's West side medical center in September 2012.

12 • Jan/Feb 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Left: Dr. Wood, second from right, and his team. Upper middle: Rae-Lynn Bidon and OOA Administrative/Management Team when Bidon received Boss of the Year Honoree. Lower middle: OOA sponsors the OOA Cycling Team in Olympia, Wash.. Far right: OOA's West side medical center.

consider patient and community needs.

We’re always asking, ‘How can we make the patient experience better?’ or, ‘How can we get them in faster?’ … A result of asking these questions is we’re considering adding another hand surgeon to reduce wait times.”

Affordable Care Act’s impact Bidon acknowledges that the Affordable Care Act has changed the structure of medicine.

“Health care reform has essentially teamed the physicians and patients to work together to get payers to approve their care,” said Bidon. “Together they have to fight to get what is best for the patient. We’ve brought in additional resources to do that process very well and in a timely manner to make sure that the process is done quickly and efficiently.”

we’ll help them meet their goals.”

Bidon gives another example of putting community needs first.

“We regularly look at zip codes to determine how far patients are travelling.

We have clinics on both the east and west side because we’ve learned patients do not want to commute from one side of town to another,” said Bidon. “We also try to limit the number of visits patients need to make, so we’re considering bringing in retail. Our goal is to create a continuum of care or one stop shop for our patients so we can limit the number of visits that they have to make."

An era of mergers

Bidon said OOA will push for the full development of their acute injury clinic in 2015 to accommodate same-day patient access. Referring physicians can send patients right over for same-day care, or sports teams can get their athletes in quickly.

Bidon believes Olympia is different from other communities, especially in an atmosphere of mergers and the decline of the independent physician.

“Again, we want our patients to get their life in motion as quickly as possible. That is our mission and it drives all that we do,” said Bidon.

“Olympia is a strong and united community yet values independence,” said Bidon. "OOA has made it known to the medical community that if an independent group wants to remain independent, we’ll help them do that, whether it is through offering our management structure or other resources,

As a result of their success, the practice has grown at a phenomenal rate. This has led to a growth in the leadership team so that OOA can function at the highest level possible. Bidon is COO, Ben Shah is the CFO and they are in the process of hiring a new CEO to replace Troy Green, who resigned at the end of 2014.

“Troy was with us for five years and did great things during that time,” said Bidon. “However, he wanted to be closer to his kids who are in Texas.”

With more than 200 employees the structure is important. Each physician leads a team, and Bidon said they treat their employees very well.

“With that comes minimal turnover, which lends to a feeling of family. In a family environment everyone wants to see others succeed as well as ourselves,” said Bidon. “This carries over to Capital Medical Center and Providence St. Peters. We are just as invested in their success as our own. Without these hospitals, there would be a break in service.”

The leadership team also believes it is crucial to communicate the company vision to the staff and the community on a regular basis.

“We’ve done a great job evolving our structure to make sure nothing is left behind so we don’t give up on our priority — our patients, staff and community,” said Bidon. “We do employee and patient surveys regularly. … We’ve learned that the more people we listen to, the better off we are. This goes back to our competitive atmosphere.

“We are never as successful as we want to be. We have this deal: The best can always get better.”●

Natasha Ashenhurst is a freelance writer for the VOICE Magazine and can be contacted at natasha.ashenhurst@gmail.com www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Jan/Feb. 2015 13

Enhance your employee benefits with Washington’s college savings plan.

GET payroll deduction is easy to set up at no cost to you.

Washington State’s 529 Prepaid College Tuition Program

LEARN MORE:

get.wa.gov 360.753.7875

Deadline Approaching for Recognition at April Green Business Event

By Farra Vargas

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ow in its eight year, the Thurston Green Business designation has become one of the Chamber’s most popular programs; nearly 200 local organizations display a Thurston Green Business sticker in their window.

Program partners include representatives from the cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater, Thurston County, Intercity Transit, LOTT Clean Water Alliance, LeMay, Inc., Puget Sound Energy, Thurston Energy, Thurston Climate Action Team, and the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, among others.

Each of the program partners listed above have unique products and services for local businesses, including assistance with energy efficiency, water conservation, waste

Farra Vargas

reduction/recycling, green building, transportation solutions/ commuter assistance, and buying/selling green products. Site visits can be scheduled for businesses to learn more about the benefits of the program, the free resources that are available, and the value of receiving a Thurston County Chamber Green Business Designation.

Customers are learning to look for this logo and check the Chamber website for participants, and they often choose to shop with Green Businesses to support their efforts.

Businesses which take steps to lower their environmental footprint save money while protecting and preserving resources.

Saving energy and water, while reducing waste, are all good steps that benefit our environment. The cost savings that result from conservation boost the bottom-line.

Through the Thurston Green Business program, participants are recognized for their efforts at a Chamber Forum presentation held in April, and are permitted to utilize the Thurston Green Business logo in their store window, on their website, and other marketing materials. In addition, the committee reviews each application and selects a small, medium and large business, as well as a jurisdiction, that has gone above and beyond to create a sustainable workplace. Past recipients were Furniture Works, Sound Native Plants, Nisqually Red Wind Casino and Intercity Transit.

There is no deadline to apply and applications are accepted yearround. However, in order to be recognized at our April Green Business event, your 2015 application must be completed by March 12.

If your business hasn’t registered for a designation this year, be sure to visit www. thurstongreenbusiness.com and apply today. ● Farra Vargas is Committee Chair of the Thurston Green Business Program and is Market Manager, Energy Efficient Communities at Puget Sound Energy. Contact: Farra.Vargas@pse.com

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Jan/Feb 2015 15

Teachers, Principals & College Presidents Speak with Pride to LTC About their Work

By Judy Reynolds, LTC Program Coordinator

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ride. "Pride was an underlying theme all day. I heard it from [Olympia School District] Superintendent Cvitanich as he talked about his schools, the principals talking about their schools, the teachers in how they taught their classes, and about their programs. I heard it even more when we had the chance to talk with the students.

"The Presidents of the colleges also spoke with a sense of pride, not just for their organizations, but for education in general. It is something I admire in our educators. They have such love, passion and sincere pride for what they do.” This is a quote from one of our class participants after Education Day on November 5, a day of enlightenment for all of us as we visited classrooms at Olympia High School and Washington Middle School, toured the

soon-to-be-opened Olympia Regional Learning Academy, learned about programs at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), and listened to a panel of higher education administrators – Dr. Roy Heynderickx, President, Saint Martin’s University; Dr. Timothy Stokes, President, SPSCC; and Dr. Michael Zimmerman, Provost, The Evergreen State College.

Our experiences boosted our confidence in our education system and the excellent caliber of educational opportunities available to us in Thurston County!

Many thanks to SPSCC for hosting our day! ●

16 • Jan/Feb 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

LTC class tours the soon-to-be new home for the Olympia Regional Learning Academy on Boulevard Road.

www.thurstonchamber.com

Eileen McKenzie Sullivan, Dr. Roy F. Heynderickx, and Sunset Air/Brian Fluetsch to be Honored as Distinguished Leaders

L

eadership Thurston County (LTC) and the Thurston County Chamber Foundation are proud to host the 14th Annual Distinguished Leader Awards Celebration, Wednesday, February 25, at the Red Lion Hotel Olympia.

Presented by TwinStar Credit Union, the evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the program at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person or $520 for a table of eight. For information or reservations, please register at thurstonchamber.com or call Judy Reynolds at 360.357.8515.

The event recognizes leaders who 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.

Honoree Eileen McKenzie Sullivan is Executive Director of Senior Services for South Sound, a multi-program agency serving older adults in Mason and Thurston Counties, and directs the STARS Adult Day Program.

Ms. McKenzie Sullivan enjoys a long and successful career in geriatrics, having worked in Alaska, Iowa, Seattle, and finally

Olympia. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Tenino Young-at-Heart Theater, the Senior Action Network, and the Washington State Senior Games.

Honoree Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D., President of Saint Martin’s University, has enjoyed a long career in higher education spanning more than 28 years.

Dr. Heynderickx serves on the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is deeply involved in higher education at local, state, and national levels. He continues to make significant contributions to the local business and education community.

Honoree Sunset Air, a family-owned and operated business established in 1976, and Owner/CEO Brian Fluetsch are recognized for their continued innovation and success of the business operation, as well as their belief that the employees of the organization are what built the success that has allowed Sunset Air to contribute to the community’s success through an array of impactful engagements. ●

IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION APRIL 3, 6:00 P.M. RED LION HOTEL OLYMPIA

Make "A Night on the Town" the Event to Remember Support the Chamber Foundation, Connecting Education and Business for 22 years

A Night on the Town is Thurston County's premiere fund raising event, supporting & celebrating a twenty year investment in community education and the leadership programs of the Chamber Foundation. A Night on the Town is the not-to-be-missed event and includes: • Entertainment • An Exclusive Live Auction • Cocktail Hour, Dinner & After Party • And a few surprises!

Friday, April 3 6 p.m. Cocktail hour, 7:30 p.m. Dinner & Live Auction Red Lion Hotel Olympia $125 per person, $1000 table of eight Stay the night! Great Room Rates are available: $89 +tax, includes breakfast for two!

Presenting Sponsor:

Event sponsorships are available. Call the Chamber at 360.357.3362 for information.

The 2014 event sold out, don’t miss A Night on the Town 2015. Mark your calendar

and make your reservation now at www.thurstonchamber.com

The Role of the Community College as Hub of Innovation and Entrepreneurship: SPSCC's Dr. Timothy Stokes to Keynote Education Summit

O

assistance, education and training for startup and growing business in the South Sound region. In addition, attendees will learn more about SPSCC’s significant role in job creation, specifically as a resource center for local investors to create angel funding.

n Thursday*, February 12, South Puget Sound Community College President, Dr. Timothy Stokes, will keynote the Chamber’s Annual Education Summit.

Dr. Stokes will discuss the role of the college as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, serving as a point of entry and catalyst for all business development needs, specifically through the new venture between South Puget Sound Community College and the Thurston Economic Development Council and the new SPSCC campus in downtown Lacey.

Stokes will also focus on the importance of advancing innovation and community prosperity through targeted technical

The Education Summit will also feature an Education Trade Show for educators to connect with the Forum attendees.

South Puget Sound Community College President, Dr. Timothy Stokes

This event begins at 11:30 a.m. at Red Lion Hotel Olympia. Forum includes lunch and is $35 for general admission, $25 for prepaid Chamber members and $30 for members at the door. Reservations are strongly advised by calling 360.357-3362 or by visiting www.thurstonchamber.com â—?

*Forum is typically on a Wednesday, but this month it will be on a Thursday. Mark your calendar.

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Thurston County Public and Private Partners Creating a Road Map to Health

By Natasha Ashenhurst

T

here are a number of things that come to mind when we talk about creating a healthy community: Access to fresh, whole foods, access to quality, and affordable health care, access to places to exercise and play – parks, bike paths, and sidewalks – but there are other indicators that, while not as transparent, are more accurate ways of measuring community health.

Don Sloma, director of the Thurston County Department of Health and Social Services gives an example, “There are few things you can find that more accurately track your chance of illness and death as the number of years of education a person has. This indicator tracks as closely as anything we know.

The other indicator is how much money a person earns: More money earned equals better health, but it flattens out after a certain income level.”

In April 2013 Sloma and the Thurston www.thurstonchamber.com

County Board of Health joined with community leaders to create Thurston Thrives. Their mission is to oversee and work to improve the health of Thurston County residents through collaboration of public and private partnerships.

Phase I of the program had a goal of answering three questions by the end of 2014: 1. What needs to be done to improve the health of Thurston County?

Who is working on each key health measure? How will we measure progress?

Through public and private partnerships, nine Action Teams were created to answer those questions posed back in 2013. Each team has produced strategy maps to create coordinated efforts to reach their goals. Several of the teams have secured funds and have begun implementing new and innovative projects to improve community and public health. Those action teams are:

Child/Youth Resiliency Focused on healthy child development and building on the strengths of our community’s young people while preventing adverse childhood experiences.

Clinical Care and Emergency Care Focused on local improvements in medical care, behavioral health, clinical preventive services, communicable disease prevention, and cost and quality of care.

Community Design Focused on the built environment (land uses, parks, transportation facilities, etc.) and how these features of places we live, work and play influence health.

Continued on page 23

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Jan/Feb. 2015 21

Continued from page 21

Community Resilience Focused on the ways we are connected and support each other in community – our cohesion and social capital created through participation in groups and activities like volunteering – and how this can be increased.

Economy Focused on how to ensure economic progress, in the form of increased job opportunities, fuller employment, workforce development and vocational education, together with rising incomes and wealth, because of its major role in the health of the community.

Education Focused on raising the graduation rate and increasing educational attainment.

and the recommendations about the Council are available on the Thurston County website: www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ thrives/ Sloma said, “The work ahead is to develop that agreement, learn from the various groups who they will appoint to the Council and to hold that group’s first meeting. At that meeting, I plan to press the group to hire staff ASAP, to purchase software and to develop a web presence to begin tracking and reporting progress on the strategies.�

Let’s close with remarks from Sloma during an interview with the Chamber early in 2013 when he said, “Imagine that once a year from 2014 – 2020 we have an annual community wide meeting: our community health report card where we share how we are doing in each area we’ve identified. Plan, Act, Assess: In 2020 we’ll be able to look back and say how we are doing.

That’s Thurston Thrives.� �

Environment Focused on ensuring clean air, clean water and preventing exposure to toxins and other disease vectors in the places we live.

Food Focused on improving the food systems of the community to ensure food is safe to eat, residents have enough food that they don’t go hungry, and there is excellent access to nutritious food.

Housing

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Focused on the quality and adequacy of housing, particularly for low income residents.

2015: Identify Coordinating Structure In the last weeks of 2014 the Thurston County Board of Health adopted a resolution recognizing the Thurston Thrives Advisory Committee and Action Team members for their substantial contributions to developing these nine strategies and helping to come to broad agreement on a structure to carry the effort into Phase II in 2015.

The resolution disbanded the TT Advisory Committee as had always been the plan, and authorized Sloma to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the county, United Way, Northwest Venture Philanthropy and the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and their Foundation to create a new public private partnership that will be the Thurston Thrives Coordinating Council.

The board then directed Sloma to use as a guide for the MOU a set of recommendations about the composition, roles and structure of this Council. Both the resolution www.thurstonchamber.com

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