March/April 2016 VOICE Magazine

MARCH/APRIL 2016

THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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HAND-CRAFTED ARTIZEN IS CRAFTING HIGHER YIELDS p. 12

HAND-CRAFTED EDUCATION ON TAP IN TUMWATER P. 8

RACHEL YOUNG IS CRAFTING SUCCESS FROM SCRATCH P. 18

B UI LDI NG CO MMUNITY PROSPERITY FOR OVER 140 YEARS

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CONTENTS

CALENDAR March 1

Page 5 ......................................Advocating by Team Approach

Morning Mixxer - 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - Cabinets by Trivonna, 4444 Lacey Blvd. SE, Ste G, Lacey.

Page 6 .........................................................Caught in the Lens

March 3

Page 8 ...............Hand-Crafted Education on Tap in Tumwater Page 10 ......................................................Networking Events Page 12.....................................Artizen & High-Yield Crafting Page 17....................March Forum: Best of South Sound 2015 Page 18..................................Startup Playbook: Miss Moffett's

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

Location TBD. Visit www.thurstonchamber.com.

March 9

Forum - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Red Lion Hotel Olympia Topic: Best of South Sound.

March 17

Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m.Location TBD. Visit www.thurstonchamber.com.

March 19

Find Your Future - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Olympia High School, 1302 North Street SE, Olympia.

April 5 Page 23...............................................Welcome New Members

Morning Mixxer - 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - La Quinta Inn & Suites, 4600 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater.

Page 24.............................Entrepreneurial Certificate Program

April 7

Page 27........................April Forum: Thurston Green Business 809 Legion Way SE P.O. Box 1427 Olympia, WA 98507

Copyright © 2016 Thurston County Chamber ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published bimonthly by the Thurston County Chamber.

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

Location TBD. Visit www.thurstonchamber.com.

April 13

Forum - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Red Lion Hotel Olympia, Topic: Thurston Green Business.

April 21

Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m.Location TBD. Visit www.thurstonchamber.com.

www.thurstonchamber.com info@thurstonchamber.com 360.357.3362

April 29

Join the conversation online at facebook.com/ThurstonCountyChamber.

A Night on the Town- 6:00 p.m.Red Lion Hotel Olympia.

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

BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY FOR 140 YEARS Diamond Investors:

Anchor Bank Heritage Bank Phillips Burgess Physicians of Southwest Washington Port of Olympia Versoria Executive Officers Mariella Cummings, Chair Physicians of Southwest WA Jessica Coen, Chair Elect Xerox Company Drew Phillips, Vice Chair FORMA Construction Neil Woody, Treasurer McSwain & Company P.S. Ron Bruchet, Past Chair GHB Insurance

Platinum Investors

Capital Medical Center FORMA Construction Great Wolf Lodge • KeyBank Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park • Morningside Olympia Orthopaedic Associates TwinStar Credit Union Washington Business Bank Xerox

CHAMBER BOARD & STAFF Board of Trustees

George Barner, Port of Olympia

Michael Cade, Thurston EDC David Cullen, David D. Cullen Dick Cvitanich, Olympia School District

Bryan McConaughy, Puget Sound Energy Kevin Stormans, Stormans Inc. Ann Sweeney, Lemay - America's Car Museum

Faith Trimble, The Athena Group Elyse Villanueva, Heritage Bank Development Council Perry Hanchey, Diamond Technology Innovations Joanna West, Washington Business Bank Mike Williams, Tags Awards And Specialties Joseph Lanham, Wells Fargo Cheryl Fambles, PAC Mountain Workforce

Editor: David Schaffert Layout & Design: Natasha Ashenhurst, Mosaic Marketing Studio Printing: Print NW Cover Photo: by Heather Harris, Elements Photography 4 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

Gold Investors

America's Credit Union • Cabinets by Trivonna Columbia Bank • Community Youth Services The Creative Office Express Employment Professionals First Citizens Bank • GHB Insurance Hometown Property Management Jessica Jensen Law PS Nisqually Red Wind Casino Olympia Furniture Company Pardiman Productions Providence St. Peter Hospital • Puget Sound Energy Red Lion Hotel Olympia • Saint Martin’s University SCJ Alliance • TAGS • The Governor Hotel

Chamber Staff

David Schaffert, President/CEO Sytease Geib, VP Workforce Development Marny Bright, VP Member Services Krystal Barkus, Administrative Support Laurie Bjerke, Admin. Assistant Alisha Blain, Events Manager Christina Bower, Education/Youth Initiatives Debbie Burk, Workforce Development Lesona Hartman, Workforce Development Beth Johnson, Member Services Helaina Kennedy, Workforce Development Judy Reynolds, LeadershipThurston County Joanne Stimac, Finance Officer Loretta Thomas, Workforce Development Michele Winn, Camo2Commerce

www.thurstonchamber.com

Shared Legislative Agenda – Advocating by Team Approach

O

ne of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce’s primary missions is advocacy, which can take many forms—providing beneficial services and products to Chamber members; supporting nonprofit, educational and government organizations; and, of course, lobbying government bodies on issues impacting business and community.

For the past decade, the Chamber has convened local governments, planning entities and economic development partners –such as the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC)—to put forth a shared legislative agenda. This agenda looks at specific projects that will have positive impacts throughout our community.

The focus of the agenda is different each

year, depending on the nuances of the Washington State Legislature. The agenda focused on transportation in 2015, and Lacey and Yelm received more than $120 million for the Yelm Loop project and the Marvin Road Interchange as a result.

The 2016 agenda focuses on the Innovative Justice (IJ) Initiative, state leadership in military affairs, the clean-up in Budd Inlet, state tools for economic development, and the craft brewing and distilling center (Read more on page 8).

Why does the Chamber need partners to craft this agenda? Simply put, advocacy is a partnership game. The more entities engaged, the greater likelihood of achieving the desired outcome. Saying a project or proposal is supported by many carries weight for decision makers –especially when it’s an alliance of

David Schaffert President & CEO Thurston County Chamber www.thurstonchamber.com

government groups, planning entities, economic developers and businesses.

Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder alluded to this during his state of the community address in January, pointing out that partnerships through the Chamber were instrumental in the positive transportation funding outcomes from the 2015 legislative session.

We will hope for similar outcomes as the 2016 session concludes mid-March. The City of Lacey, City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, Port of Olympia, Thurston EDC, Thurston Regional Planning Council and Thurston County deserve accolades for coming together with a common agenda and advocating as a team for a better community. ●

Mariella Cummings Board Chair, Thurston County Chamber President of Results Incorporated Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 5

Caught in the Lens...

6 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

A collection of photos taken at Chamber events during December 2015, January and February 2016.

www.thurstonchamber.com

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Hand-Crafted Education On Tap in Tumwater

By Natasha Ashenhurst

A

sheville, N.C., boasts that it has more breweries per capita than any city in the United States. So, when students camped to get a spot in the country’s first degree program in brewing, distillation and fermentation, it wasn’t a complete surprise to Jeff Irvin—director of the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

“It was a like a rock concert,” said Irvin. “People were showing up at 5 a.m. and security was telling them to go, but they just circled around and started lining up to be the first registered.”

The two-year program is limited to 24 students per semester, and the first cohort began in August 2013. Students attend classes for a year, complete summer internships at local breweries, and then return for one more year of classes. Once they complete the program, they find employment in an area of interest within the industry—some in production, some in sales and some in the laboratory.

“Asheville is known as Beer City USA, and that means these

businesses need employees,” said Irvin. “This program was a natural extension of demand for quality, trained employees.

“You have to listen to industry needs and respond.”

Irvin said that since the program’s launch, it has expanded to include continuing education classes that are shorter in duration and offer specific training.

“Someone preparing for the Cicerone Exam may be interested in these, or others might want to take a basic laboratory skills class to improve their quality control skills on the job.”

Irvin had to go to London to receive his training from the

Photo above taken at Three Magnets Brewing Company in Olympia.

8 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Sam Desner, above, is the general manager of Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs, which opened in January 2015. You'll find Desner, and 15 other distillers, at the Washington Distillers Guild's South Sound Spirits gathering on March 12 at the Olympic Flight Museum.

Institute of Brewing & Distilling and recognizes that opportunity isn’t available to everyone, so programs like those launched in Asheville are crucial for a region passionate about brewing and distilling.

Travel 2,700 miles northwest from Asheville and you’ll find a group of community leaders who have a similar vision.

The City of Tumwater and South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), along with numerous community partners, are moving forward with plans for a craft brewing and distilling center — a hub that has at its center an educational facility.

“The first piece of this project is creating the education component,” said John Doan, Tumwater’s city administrator.

“Once this piece is in place, it will put Tumwater on the map and help to draw other people and investment to the area and ultimately redevelop the former brewery [Olympia Brewing Company] into a destination—a ‘center of excellence’ around craft brewing, distilling, and cider-making."

Dr. Timothy Stokes, president of SPSCC, agrees.

“If you think about Walla Walla starting viticulture from ground zero, and what that industry has become to Washington, we are starting brewing and distilling from a solid foundation already in place,” said Stokes. “We need funding from the legislature to jump-start this emerging industry.

“We are the number one producer of hops in the nation. We are in the perfect location to export craft products.”

The college has plans for a degree-granting program that offers nine areas of concentration, including classes about running and operating a brewery or distillery, machinery repair and social media marketing. The classes would develop a highly www.thurstonchamber.com

skilled workforce dedicated to quality assurance and consistent products.

“There are programs that teach brewing and distilling, but very few. What makes this center unique is its workforce development focus that has partners in the craft brewing and distilling industry, offering an entire continuum of classes,” said Heidi Behrends Cerniwey, assistant city administrator/brewery project manager for the City of Tumwater. “Some folks might just want to take a two-hour class on vodka making. Others might want to complete a certificate program in brewing and entrepreneurship.

Then there are people who want an associate’s degree in brewing and distilling.”

What is required to turn this vision into reality?

“We’re requesting $3 million from this year’s state capital budget to buy 3.5 acres of undeveloped land on Capitol Boulevard for what we’re calling the Craft Brewing and Distilling Center,” said Doan.

The college will start the funding process for building the education center after the city purchases the land.

Can they envision students camping out the night before registration opens for the program?

“Absolutely,” said Stokes. “That would happen here. Washington is number two in brewing—after Oregon. We are number one in craft distilling and we’re number one in cider-making.

“We have no doubt that this program would be successful.

Brewing and distilling fits into the culture of our community. If you think about what is going on in places like Asheville and Woodinville—brewing and wine villages—just imagine that in Tumwater.” ● Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 9

MA R K YOUR C A L E N DAR! March 1 - 7:30 a a.m. m 4444 Lacey Blvd. SE, LACEY

April 5 - 7:30 a a.m. m 4600 Capitol Blvd. SE, Tumwater

Morning Mixxer

Morning Mixxer

Join the Chamber's March Morning Mixxer at Cabinets by Trivonna.

Enjoy great food and plenty of coffee in the beautiful kitchen showroom where you'll find great ideas for your next kitchen. Enjoy a fun scavenger hunt with incredible prizes, along with a “Brick of Gold.� This will be the first networking event after our 2016 Membership Event, which means lots of new faces to build relationships with. �

We hope you will be able to join us for our scrumptious breakfast on April 5, 2016.

March 19 - 10:00 A.m.

Olympia High School

Take the tour to receive a sneak peek at our plush guest rooms and suites. Enter your name in the raffle to win a romance package or family stay-cation in one of our Executive Suites.

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Conveniently located near the Deschutes River and Tumwater Falls, we’re just minutes away from the Tumwater Valley Golf and Athletic Club. Wake up on the bright side with La Quinta Inn & Suites! �

FIND YOUR FUTURE Find Your Future is a program that provides students in Thurston County the opportunity to explore potential career paths. Business members in the community volunteer their time to talk about what they do for a living and answer students questions.

For more information visit www.thurstonchamber.com/findyourfuture â—?

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Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 11

HIGH-YIELD CRAFTING

S

ince July 2014, a new industry in Washington State generated $576 million in sales, $160 million in excise tax and an additional $48 million in sales tax. And of the top five producers in the state, three are located right here in Thurston County.

By

Natasha Ashenhurst Heather Harris

Photographs by

12 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Left: Timothy Foia, Owner/CEO of Artizen Cannabis gives a tour of one of the indoor growing rooms. Above, Foia in his office.

S

ome call it the Gold Rush of the 21st Century, while others compare it to the dot. com bubble of the late 20th Century. Just like those speculative explosions, the prosperity of this new industry will eventually experience a weeding out process, leaving only the businesses with solid plans and a viable long-term vision.

The industry? We’re talking about cannabis — or marijuana — legalized for recreational use in November 2012 with the passing of Washington’s Initiative 502 "on marijuana reform".

The first retail marijuana stores opened their doors July 8, 2014.

had a lot of power, air conditioning and systems for ventilation, moving air and odor mitigation.”

Since then, Washington has generated $576 million in sales, $160 million in excise tax and an additional $48 million in sales tax from the cannabis industry. Artizen Cannabis in Lacey is the third largest producer/processor in the state, with 10-months of sales totaling more than $4 million, according to Dab Software –an app developer focused on recording and tracking inventory and sales data within the industry.

“The City of Lacey was extremely gracious to us,” said Foia.

“They went out of their way to show us they are a progressive city interested in having us locate here.”

It would be difficult to pick out Artizen’s 50,000-square-foot warehouse from its neighbors on Willamette Drive. It is a corporate district, home to nationally recognized manufacturers, pharmaceuticals and retailers.

Infrastructure of an Indoor Producer/ Processor

Location was also a deciding factor.

Artizen moved into the building on Jan. 1, 2015.

Artizen is an indoor grower/producer, meaning that they grow cannabis in an extremely controlled environment. Rather than growing outdoors—which has fluctuations in temperature, humidity and airflow—indoor growing creates a consistent product, higher yields and what many believe is a superior product. Artizen’s plants breathe CO2-enriched air, drink filtered water and are exposed to precise temperatures. By using the industry’s best grow-light technology, the plants get maximum levels of photosynthetic energy.

Owner/CEO Timothy Foia and his partners—most from Seattle and northern California—chose Lacey and their headquarters with care.

Indoor growing is also expensive. It requires energy to power the lights, control humidity and temperature, and scrub the air for odor mitigation. As a result, indoor grown cannabis typically sells for 35 percent more than outdoor or greenhouse grown.

“Indoor growing is unique to conditions and space,” said Foia.

“We got lucky because this building had existing infrastructure and we were able to use that infrastructure for our business. It

When Foia gives tours of Artizen, he is a farmer following the life-cycle of his plants room to room—from germination Continued on page 15

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 13

Continued from page 13

to flowering, from drying to processing—as each phase of the plant’s life takes place in a different part of the building. Each room is arranged to maximize space, light and accessibility.

cannabis producer — a producer who grew a consistent product.

In the beginning, Foia went on sales calls to retail stores. Now, Foia delegates those responsibilities to his team members.

Artizen has invested heavily in infrastructure and technology to maximize plant health, space, safety and energy use, in order to create a state-of-the-art operation that creates the highest quality and consistent product. They recently tested new growing trays imported from the Netherlands that use an efficient and precise irrigation system, which decreases labor cost, waste and the risk of over-watering.

With fast-growth came the need to invest in better systems.

Not only does a producer/processor have to think like an engineer, they have to think like a lawyer, said Foia. The legal requirements by the state are stringent. For example, growers must track each plant from seed to final product with a bar code system. Each batch of product is tested internally and is then sent to the state’s testing facility. This is a time-consuming and expensive process, but one designed to promote safety and accountability — both which are a core value at Artizen.

Success also means working the hours — no matter how many — that a startup requires.

“About a month into business, I was frustrated by our sales and data tracking systems,” said Foia. “So, we brought in a software developer to create our own enterprise package within our servers. Investments in systems like this was crucial to manageable growth.”

“None of this has been easy,” said Foia. “Last July, I worked 400 hours. I just about lost my mind. When you go through the startup state the business has to come first, not your family, not yourself, not your friends.”

Leadership & Hiring Strategy Just 10-months after their first sale, Artizen employs more than 70 employees. Artizen employees receive benefits, including healthcare, and most live within Thurston County. Each member of the team starts at an entry-level position — no matter their experience — in order to learn the business from the ground up.

“We have a lot of young adults who love coming to work,” said Foia. “They are engaged, and [they] are encouraged to grow and learn.”

Foia’s four-person leadership team is made up of business partners who’ve gone through an extensive vetting process put in place by the State of Washington. The team meets regularly at a round table set-up near the quality control room.

“We’ve allowed the personalities that work here to insert their DNA into our business,” said Foia. “We’re constantly evolving, and with that evolution comes the ability to meet the demands of the market.

“If someone in our packaging department comes up with an idea to do something differently, we listen and let them take ownership. We have a huge amount of respect and appreciation for each other.”

Foia plans to grow the leadership team to at least 10 people.

Product & Marketing Strategy Artizen grows 11 strains of cannabis—with names like Dutch Berry, Blue Dream and Allen Wrench—colorfully packaged and distributed to more than 70 retail locations throughout the region. Their products quickly caught the attention of connoisseurs and experienced shop owners as a premium

www.thurstonchamber.com

Future Growth Foia believes this effort will be worth it in the long run.

“Our profit and loss statements are healthy. We’ve been able to capitalize on our skill-sets. The core members are highly motivated, incredibly intelligent and driven,” said Foia. “We aren’t a long shot. We are a well-organized company that has a timeline and projections that we’ll meet and exceed, but this is a new industry and that means there are hurdles that haven’t been fully articulated yet.”

Foia and his team express interest in seeing investment in research and development, as well as colleges explore workforce development opportunities.

“No matter what, we hope to continue to give back to our employees and then get to a point where we can actively give back to our community,” said Foia. “Just like with our odor mitigation strategies, we work hard to be a good neighbor. We want to put our best face forward.”● Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 15

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16 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

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Fourth-Annual Best of South Sound Awards Celebration Set for March 9

T

he Fourth-Annual Best of South Sound Awards celebration is Set for March 9. From January 15 to February 14, the community voted on-line for their favorite business in over 80 categories, including favorites such as Best Bank, Best Real Estate Agent, Best Dentist and of course, Best Buffet.

The Thurston County Chamber and The Olympian are pleased to co-host the fourth-annual awards ceremony for Best of South Sound category winners. The awards celebration will take place at the Chamber’s Forum on March 9 at the Red Lion Hotel Olympia. We expect a full-house, so advance registration is encouraged.

Forum includes lunch and the cost is $35 for general admission, $25 for prepaid Chamber members, and $30 for members at the door.

Visit www.thurstonchamber.com and to make your reservation today, or 360.357.3362.

Best of South Sound is sponsored by the Jernigan Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of SW Washington. ●

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Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 17

Startup P l ay b o o k Miss Moffett's Mystical Cupcakes,

Success

Built From Scratch Interview by Natasha Ashenhurst Photography by Heather Harris

T

here are three things you should know about Rachel Young, owner of Miss Moffett’s Mystical Cupcakes. “You’ll never hear me say, ‘I’m bored.’ Whatever I’m doing in life I want to be the best at it—I’ll rock it. And I never baked anything—ever—until I became a stay-at-home mom,” she said.

Rachel’s recipe of tenacity, drive and a little bit of luck, created a thriving cupcake business, which today has three locations and plans to franchise. And, she does all this as a single mom of three boys, ages eight and under.

This is the seventh article in our Startup Playbook series, where we examine Thurston County startups—and the entrepreneurs behind them—in order to learn what’s working and what’s not, and search for a pattern to success. Here’s Rachel’s story.

Rachel Young was living in Olympia and commuting to Seattle where she worked as an accountant for the U Village leasing office when she had her first child. She made the decision to stay home with her baby, and quickly channeled her professional Continued on page 21

18 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

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20 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

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Continued from page 18

energy into motherhood, domesticity and baking. “I’d never been passionate about anything and I never had an artistic or creative side, but once I started baking cupcakes I became obsessed. I was really inspired. I designed a flavor menu. I took pictures of the cupcakes I was creating. I built a website,” she said.

In March 2013, Rachel applied for a business license and Miss Moffett’s Mystical Cupcakes, named after her greatgrandmother, officially became a business. Rachel rented Paprika

Together we could reduce our cost and risk, so we opened a Elle's Floral Design and Miss Moffett's, each operating independently but with one storefront,” said Rachel.

Today, Rachel has 15 employees, three cupcake shops and two assistant managers. Rachel manages the kitchen staff and the managers run the retail side of the business. Her life is incredibly busy, and she vows that, “2016 will be the year I dig in, figure out the systems of my life and run everything a lot more smoothly. We all need more balance in life, so I’ll continue to volunteer in my community and make spending quality time with my kids a top priority."

Miss Moffett's serves traditional cupcakes as well gluten-free cupcakes every day of the week, and on Tuesday they make a sugar, dairy and gluten free cupcake.

Café’s kitchen at night and sold cupcakes there, and to a few wholesale clients as well, but did not have her own retail space.

Things quickly changed.

In the spring of 2013 Rachel and her mother, Victoria Cunningham, filmed a video entry to appear on Cupcake Wars, a reality cooking television show based on creating unique and professionally-styled cupcakes in a competitive environment.

Rachel and her mother were selected to compete on the show.

The episode featuring mother and daughter teams was filmed in June 2013 and aired in October.

After the show aired, Rachel received an email from Amanda Beers, the owner of Sweet Charlie B’s Cupcakery—located on Market Street downtown Olympia. “She wanted me to take over the lease of her business. We met that night and I signed the lease, and three weeks later, in January 2014, I opened my first cupcake shop,” said Rachel.

Nine months later the leasing manager at Capital Mall asked Rachel if she was interested in a corner space near the food court, formerly occupied by a jeweler. “It was an amazing opportunity with excellent terms and I knew I had to do it. We opened a month later. My staff came in and helped paint. We repurposed the jewelry case into a cupcake case and I helped put in the flooring. We just didn’t have the budget to hire help,” she said.

Then, last summer Rachel heard that Bonjour Cupcakes was closing and that the Lacey space was available. “I went and toured the space, but it was too expensive. Later I learned Michelle LaPraim, a florist, had signed the lease. Michelle reached out to me and asked me to open the shop with her. www.thurstonchamber.com

R a c h e l Y o u n g ' s S ta r t u p P l ay b o o k 1. Before you even think about opening your business, go to your Economic Development Council and take advantage of the free business counseling services they offer. I did that as soon as Cupcake Wars was filmed and I still go there. They help with marketing, business plans and referrals. I also joined the Chamber and started networking. I wasn’t comfortable doing that at first because I’m shy, but I realized that people just want to help. They want to visit and give advice—it is about building relationships.

2. Research before you jump in. Seek out mentors.

3. As a working mom I’ve had to find good help, both at home and at my businesses. Don’t let yourself feel guilty when you are working and your kids are at home. The kids will be fine.

And I really believe it is about quality time, not quantity.

4. Get organized as quickly as you can. Set up an office (I’m guilty here. I don’t have one, but 2016 is my year!) Get quality systems in place, such as a point of sale system.

5. Get involved in organizations that matter to you. I am on the Women’s Leadership Council through United Way and I recently joined a Thurston Thrives Coordinating Council.

Through my community work I’ve made incredible friends and I am blessed to have a circle of women who all come together to give back to the community, finding we receive much more than we give. ●

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 21

Charter College held a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening celebration in January.

Join us in welcoming our new members from December and January Bay Mercantile Kari Pettibone (425) 922-4190 Specialty Gift Shop Britt McVicar Fitness LLC Britt McVicar (253) 778-6718 Health & Fitness – Personal Trainers Charter College Dawn Helzer (360) 292-7179 www.chartercollege.edu Education – Consultants & Services Country Financial – Kevin Stahl Kevin Stah (360) 252-2681 www.countryfinancial.com/ kevin.stahl Insurance Edward Jones – Daniel Young, Financial Advisor Heather Hahn (360) 705-1690 www.eduwardjones.com/danyoung3 Investment Securities

www.thurstonchamber.com

Health Alliance Medical Plans Joy Stanford (877) 795-6120 www.healthalliance.org Insurance

T Brothers 502 Recreational Linda Dewey (360) 489-1342 Marijuana Products

Upsiid, LLC Sam Thomassen (360) 485-6395 www.upsiid.com Consultants - Manageme

Lincoln Creek Lumber Company Ben Nesemeier (360) 956-9147 Home Improvements Sky Bear Media Jeff Barehand (202) 746-9731 www.skybearmedia.com Video Production Services Smith Brothers Farms Ronnie Garceau (253) 478-5914 www.smithbrotherfarms.com Delivery Service Sonitrol Pacific Gloria Kilwien (253) 383-5051 www.sonitrolpacific.com Security Equipment & Service Sound Auction Service Cory Ellis (360) 339-3920 www.soundauctionservice.com Auctioneers & Auction Houses

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 23

hybrid, half online and half in-class lecture.

Above: Tim Madeley, program advisor. Photo on right: The Center for Business and Innovation.

Entrepreneurship...the process of designing,

launching and running a new business, i.e. a startup company offering a product, process or service.

SPSCC Starts-Up Entrepreneurial Certificate Program

R

aise your hand if you dream of opening your own business one day?

The question is, how can you maintain your enthusiasm and passion, while learning about the not very exciting logistics of permitting, financing and competition?

The answer may be found in South Puget Sound Community College’s Entrepreneurial Certificate Program which kicks off the first class in April 2016.

“We want our students to retain their dream, but give

them a reality check in a supportive environment. It is expensive to learn things the hard way as a business owner.

Raising those issues where there is plenty of support and access to expertise and mentors creates a win for everyone,” said Tim Madeley, program advisor.

The certificate program begins with an Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management and moves into marketing, business law, accounting and two optional electives— human resources and operations. Classes are a

24 • March/April 2016 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

“We expect a diverse group of people to join the program. Some may have dreams of starting a business, but never took that first step. Others are already running a business and want to roundout their knowledge. Others are traditional business students who want a concentration in entrepreneurship,” said Madeley.

The classes will meet in Lacey at the SPSCC Business and Entrepreneurial Center, which is also home to the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC).

“We were very intentional in teaching the classes here. Students will be working on their idea and may need to go deeper into what they need specific to their business. I can send them over the EDC to dig deeper on their web strategy, for example, or to one-on-one coaching with a SCORE counselor,” he said.

In addition to SPSCC’s partnership with the EDC, the program also has partners with other business instructors at Saint Martin’s University and The Evergreen State College, but also with bankers, business owners and entrepreneurs.

The students will also have access to Madeley.

Madeley started working for Big Toys—a world leader in designing commercial playgrounds—in 1978 when he was only 15-years-old. “I lied about my age to get the job,” he said. He worked there through college and long after. In 2003 he was given the opportunity to buy the company. “My wife and I bought the company and were sole owners. I learned more about business in the seven years I owned it than in the previous 25,” he said.

Eventually they sold the business to their largest competitor, allowing Madeley to pursue his passion other than business— teaching. ● For more information about the Entrepreneurial Certificate Program, visit https://spscc.edu/cce/certificates/ entrepreneurship.

www.thurstonchamber.com

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING PROCESS DESIGN

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

Sta

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

360-789-3711 VERSORIAON COM VERSORIAONLINE.COM

www.thurstonchamber.com

Terry Taylor, MA, MCC

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 25

Chamber & Community Honors Businesses that Practice Sustainability

T

hurston County businesses are going green and will receive recognition for their efforts on Wednesday, April 13 at the Thurston County Chamber Forum. The Thurston Green Designation program recognizes businesses that practice environmental sustainability in the following areas: Waste reduction and recycling, energy efficiency, buying and selling green, water conservation, transportation and commute trip reduction or green products and services.

Now in its ninth year, the Thurston Green Business program has become one of the Chamber’s most popular programs, and for good reason -- businesses that take steps to be green save money while protecting and preserving resources. Saving energy and water, while reducing waste, are good steps that benefit our environment. The savings that result from conservation boost the bottom-line.

Any business within Thurston County may apply for a FREE designation at www.thurstongreenbusiness.com. Next, visit www.thurstonchamber.com and register for the Thurston Green Forum. At this event, all Thurston Green businesses will receive recognition and one businesses in the small, medium and large categories will be honored for their sustainability efforts.

Forum includes lunch and is $35 for general admission, $25 for prepaid (online) Chamber members and $30 for members at the door. Reservations are encouraged. Visit thurstonchamber.com or call 360.357.3362 today! ●

Thurston Green Business is a partnership program between the Thurston County Chamber, the City of Lacey, the City of Olympia, the City of Tumwater and Thurston County.

Our committee includes these partners as well as a number of sponsors, including Puget Sound Energy, LOTT Alliance, Intercity Transit, LeMay, Inc., and Olympia Federal Savings.

The program is also supported by the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, Thurston Energy and Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT).

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  March/April 2016 27

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