November/December 2015 VOICE Magazine

NOV/DEC 2015

The Evergreen State College Welcomes a New PRESIDENT

THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

M

A

G

A

Z

I

N

p. 14

COFFEE TALK: Batdorf & Bronson's

Company Culture +

FUTURE plans p. 4

At TOGETHER! Two heads are better than one. p. 22

B UI LDI NG COMMUNITY PROSPERITY FOR 140 YEARS

E

CONTENTS

CALENDAR

Page 3 ...........................................Letter: It's Worth Repeating

November 3

Page 4 ................Batdorf & Bronson: Sustainability In Action

Morning Mixxer - 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - South Sound Physical & Hand Therapy, 1651 Cooper Point Rd SW.

Page 6 & 7 ..................................................Caught in the Lens

November 5

Page 8 .......................November Forum: Understanding ACEs

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

Forrey's Forza, 130 Marvin Rd SE, Lacey.

Page 10.......................................................Networking Events

November 6

Page 11 .............................December Forum: Boss of the Year

New Member Orientation - noon - 1 p.m. - Thurston County Chamber, 809 Legion Way SE, Olympia.

Page 13..................................Thurston County Food Recovery

November 18

Page 14.......Meet George Bridges: Evergreen's New President

Forum - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Red Lion Hotel Olympia Topic: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Page 19..............Welcome, New Members from June and July

November 19

Page 20......................2016 LTC Class Spans Thurston County

Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m.- Governor Hotel 621 Capitol Way S Olympia.

Page 21...............................................................Save the Date!

December 1

Page 22........................TOGETHER! & Co-Leadership Model

Morning Mixxer - 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. - FirstLight HealthCare, 921 Lakeridge Ste 203 Olympia.

Page 24.......................................Chamber Advocacy In Action

December 3

Copyright © 2007 Thurston County Chamber ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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

Published bimonthly by the Thurston County Chamber.

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

The Oyster House, 320 4th Ave W, Olympia.

December 9 Forum - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Red Lion Hotel Olympia Topic: Boss of the Year.

www.thurstonchamber.com info@thurstonchamber.com 360.357.3362

December 17

Join the conversation online at facebook.com/ThurstonCountyChamber.

Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m.- Olympia Furniture Company, 2302 Harrison Ave Ste 101, 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

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

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 Board of Trustees Marny Bright, VP Member Services Jessica Coen, Chair Elect Bryan McConaughy, Puget Sound Energy George Barner, Port of Olympia Laurie Bjerke, Admin. Assistant Xerox Company Ben Shah, Olympia Orthopaedics Alisha Blain, Events Coordinator Michael Cade, Thurston EDC Kevin Stormans, Stormans Inc. Christina Bower, Education/Youth Initiatives David Cullen, David D. Cullen Drew Phillips, Vice Chair Ann Sweeney, Lemay - America's Car Debbie Burk, Workforce Development Dick Cvitanich, Olympia School District FORMA Construction Museum Ryan Dahlstrom, Workforce Development Cheryl Fambles, PAC Mountain Workforce Neil Woody, Treasurer Lesona Hartman, Workforce Development Faith Trimble, The Athena Group McSwain & Company P.S. Development Council Beth Johnson, Member Services Elyse Villanueva, Heritage Bank Ron Bruchet, Past Chair Perry Hanchey, Diamond Technology Innovations Helaina Kennedy, Workforce Development Joanna West, Washington Business Bank GHB Insurance Joseph Lanham, Wells Fargo Mike Williams, Tags Awards And Specialties Laura Klem, Executive Administrative Support Judy Reynolds, LeadershipThurston County Editor: David Schaffert Layout & Design: Natasha Ashenhurst, Mosaic Marketing Studio Mike Spezia, Workforce Development Joanne Stimac, Finance Officer Printing: Print NW Cover Photo: George Bridges at a clam bake on his first day as president of The Evergreen State College. Photo Michele Winn, Camo2Commerce courtesy of The Evergreen State College. Photo Credit, Shauna Bittle.

Mariella Cummings, Chair Physicians of Southwest WA

2 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

One of our favorite photos from Foofaraw 2015: Thurston County police, firefighters and emergency response teams line up to pay tribute to Service Members aboard boats from the Olympia Yacht Club, on their way to Island Home for a day of rest and relaxation.

It's Worth Repeating...

O

n a daily basis we have the incredible opportunity to meet with individuals throughout the community, many who are Chamber members. We can’t tell you how many times they’ll apologize to us for not getting more involved in the Chamber. They tell us they’ve been busy. They tell us it is on their New Year’s resolution list. They tell us that as soon as they (fill in the blank) they’ll be sure to have more time. Our response often surprises them—and it is worth repeating here. We call it the Chamber Elevator Speech—and if you’ve heard it before, please read it again. Some things are worth repeating.

Some organizations require active membership in order to receive value. A gym membership is one example. You have to put in time on the treadmill or in the pool to reap the rewards.

Some view their Thurston County Chamber of Commerce membership the same way they view their gym membership -- i.e. put in the time at networking events and branding opportunities or else it is not worth the investment.

We disagree.

The Chamber has two primary missions. First, the Chamber supports business through myriad services and benefits, including networking and branding opportunities. Second, the Chamber advocates every day for a healthy and prosperous community.

If one wanted to reduce the Chamber’s mission and purpose to

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

one word, it would be “advocate.” Advocating for community, business and individual success is what the Chamber does every single day.

During the past several months, the Chamber has been engaged in issues that impact business and community. Our efforts include convening the Friends of the Port, serving on Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council's special task force, serving on panels, working with the Shared Legislative Partnership, serving on business roundtables, and serving on the Thurston Thrives Transit Oriented Development Action Team. (See page 24 for more advocacy updates.)

What all this comes back to is the Chamber's community stewardship mission. Every day, we are creating environments conducive to business interests. Business interests are crucial for a fully functioning community.

It is important to be clear that advocacy isn’t just the Chamber’s public policy. Advocacy is education, workforce development and leadership development. Ultimately, advocacy is about the success of our community.

Of course, we’d love to see you working on public policy right along with us, but we also know that you are busy running a business. So, sit back and relax. Your Chamber membership is working hard, for you and for the community. ●

Mariella Cummings Board Chair, Thurston County Chamber CEO of Physicians of Southwest Washington, LLC President of Results Incorporated Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 3

BATDORF & Bronson: Sustainability in action

By Natasha Ashenhurst

C

ozy couches, colorful rugs and huge potted plants are scattered throughout the open office space at Batdorf & Bronson’s tasting room and roastery on Olympia’s Market Street downtown. Paintings hung on the walls are vibrant and natural light filters through the windows, creating a sense of warmth even on the dampest Pacific Northwest day.

The coffee lab is located next to the offices, where the team holds weekly coffee “cuppings," and the space feels more like a family’s kitchen than a sterile lab, and that is the point.

At the heart of the Batdorf & Bronson business philosophy is the concept of sustainability—sustainability in the sense of environmental stewardship, but also sustainability in the sense of investing in long-term relationships—both employee relationships and customer relationships.

The physical environment at Batdorf— the sense that you are in a comfortable home rather than an office—is a physical manifestation of this value.

Before we explore this idea further, let’s stop for a short history lesson.

Bronson continued to be the roasting side of the business.

In 1986 Dick Batdorf and his wife, Shannon Bronson, founded Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters. The couple’s divorce, followed soon after by Dick’s death, left the company in limbo. At that time, Dancing Goats—owned by Larry and Cherie Challain—was Batdorf & Bronson’s largest distributor. In 1989 the Challains offered to buy Batdorf & Bronson, and quickly took ownership.

Dancing Goats, the most popular blend of Batdorf and Bronson created specifically for the Challains, became the face of the retail side of the business and Batdorf &

Today, Larry Challain is the CEO, David Wasson is the Vice President and COO and the Challains are majority owners of the privately held corporation. The company has seven locations throughout Olympia, Lacey and Atlanta, Georgia (more on that later.)

The Right Way Almost thirty years after it was established, Batdorf & Bronson remains a small, family-owned wholesale coffee roasting business, with several retail outlets. “We like to think of ourselves as

Photo above: Open office space at Batdorf & Bronson's tasting room and roastery on Market Street.

Photo courtesy of Batdorf & Bronson.

4 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

Continued on page 26 www.thurstonchamber.com

Caught in the Lens...

6 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Photos taken during Aug., Sept. & Oct. 2015 at the following: Business After Hours at Heritage Bank, Foofaraw, Morning Mixxer at Titus Will, YPN at Oly Underground, September Forum, Business After Hours at Regus, Morning Mixxer at Best Western Lacey, YPN at Top Rung, October Forum, Bite of Business After Hours and ribbon cuttings at Elle's Floral Design, the Lanai Cafe, Lacey Modern Dentistry and Blind Pig Spirits.

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 7

Forum - Wednesday, November 18

Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences, The Largest Health Discovery of Our Time

T

he largest public health discovery of our time is about the smallest of us.

We now know that the memory of human experience – especially during childhood and adolescence – is stored in our bodies, not just our minds. From the first spark of life, as cells divide and form a tiny human being, what happens to us has an incredible impact on who we are and who we will become.

Davis was recently named the Community Coordinator for Thurston Thrives, an ongoing collective impact initiative to improve public health and safety county-wide. She has more than Liz Davis 15 years experience across multiple disciplines in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

In the past 20 years, there has been an explosion of new research about how and why Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, can reliably predict trouble later in life, including behavioral and workforce issues. From heart disease to homelessness, depression to violence, ACEs are our nation’s leading cause of health and social problems.

She currently serves as Vice President of two boards of directors – United Way of Thurston County and Child Care Action Council – and as CEO of Northwest Venture Philanthropy. She is a Past President of the Junior League of Olympia, a member of the Washington State Charities Advisory Council and a 2014 graduate of Leadership Thurston County.

The good news is, what is predictable is preventable. Together, we can transform community health, safety, and productivity, now and for generations to come.

Forum is at the Red Lion Hotel Olympia. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., and the program begins at noon. Reservations are requested at www.thurstonchamber.com. General admission is $35 and prepaid Chamber members are $25. Members at the door are $30. Thank you, sponsors: Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Window Genie and Bank of America. ●

Join the Thurston Chamber’s November Forum on November 18, to hear Liz Davis speak about this important issue.

360.456.4999

venablespestmanagement.com info@venablespest.com

TRUSTED BY THOUSANDS Venables Pest Management is a locally owned and operated company using pet-friendly, professional pest management solutions for ants, termites, mice, beetles, spiders, bed bugs, yellow jackets and rats. We also offer commercial and residential maintenance services and real estate inspections. Give us a call today.

8 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

DON’T WAIT!

Maximize your health benefits before the end of the year.

Have you met your insurance deductible for 2015? Then this is a great time to receive follow up or specialty medical care and keep your out-of-pocket costs at a minimum. Don’t miss this opportunity! Make an appointment today!

Capital Eastside Family Practice Capital Family & Sports Medicine

Capital Diabetes & Weight Loss Center Capital ENT

Capital Hawks Prairie Clinic Capital McCleary Family & Internal Medicine

Capital Infectious Disease Clinic Capital Neurology

Capital Westside Internal Medicine

Capital Urology

Olympia Family & Internal Medicine

New patients & most insurances accepted!

CapitalPhysicianServices.com ©2015 BCI

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING PROCESS DESIGN

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

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

www.thurstonchamber.com

Terry Taylor, MA, MCC

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 9

MA R K YOUR C A L E N DAR! November 3 - 7:30 a a.m. m 1651 Cooper Point Rd SW Olympia

December 1 - 7:30 a a.m. m 921 Lakeridge Ste.203 Olympia

Morning Mixxer

Morning Mixxer

Stop by our newly remodeled West Olympia clinic for breakfast on November 3rd. At our offices, you will find physical & hand therapists who use the latest techniques to achieve exceptional results, while striving for complete customer satisfaction. Tour our office, meet our therapists, learn about our wellness services and hear more about our five local offices. ●

It's a holiday inspired Morning Mixxer! Enjoy a hot chocolate bar with lots of toppings, a photo opportunity in front of the Christmas tree complete with elves (and maybe even Santa!) as well as door prizes. Please bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots. ●

November 5 - 5:30 p.m.

December 3 - 5:30 p.m.

130 Marvin Rd SE, Lacey

320 4th Ave W, Olympia

Young Professionals Network

Young Professionals Network

Forrey's Forza will be our host this month! The Thurston Chamber YPN is a great place to interact with new, younger business professionals in a low-pressure environment.

The Oyster House will be our host this month! The Thurston Chamber YPN is a great place to interact with new, younger business professionals in a lowpressure environment.

Forza serves beverages other than coffee and has plenty of entertainment options, such as Trivia, Bunco and live music. Admission to YPN is free. Chamber membership not required. ●

The Oyster is the star of this restaurant, but a look at the menu will show that they serve a variety of appetizers, seafood, steak dinners, pasta dishes and so much more! Admission to YPN is free. Chamber membership not required. ●

November 19 - 5:30 p.m.

December 17 - 5:30 p.m.

2302 Harrison Ave Ste 101 Olympia

2302 Harrison Ave Ste 101 Olympia

Business After Hours

Business After Hours

Join the Chamber for Business After Hours at the Governor Hotel. They have an elegant evening planned, complete with amazing appetizers by Elyse's Catering, beverages and networking.

The Olympia Furniture Co. is hosting the December Business After Hours. If you love holiday parties, don't miss this one!

This is your chance to tour a room at the Governor Hotel, enjoy tranquil views of Capitol Lake, the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound and the State Capitol. The Governor is located downtown within walking distance of restaurants, entertainment and the waterfront. ●

Enjoy plenty of food, beverages and networking.

The Olympia Furniture Company offers a huge selection of quality furniture, including living room sets, bedroom sets, modern dining room furniture and name-brand mattresses. We also offer the very best value in town at The Olympia Furniture Company, we believe in providing quality merchandise with excellent customer service. ●

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 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Forum - Wednesday, December 9

Six Years Strong: Boss of the Year Recognizes Exceptional Leaders in the Workplace Thurston County Chamber of Commerce Forum Wednesday, December 9, 11:30 a.m.

Red Lion Hotel Olympia

T

he sixth annual Boss of the Year designation, sponsored by the Thurston County Chamber and Express Employment Professionals will be presented at the December 9 Forum.

Criteria is based on exceptional leadership in the workplace through innovation, communication, vision, execution, ethics, service and/or knowledge.

Saint Martin’s University business students will again play a key role in the selection process, interviewing finalists and gathering data for the committee.

Join us as we recognize and celebrate these individuals for their leadership in the workplace.

December 2014 Forum. Steve Hall recognized as a 2014 Boss of the Year.

Dr. Yong Liu and Rae-Lynn Bidon were also recognized last year.

Past Boss of the Year honorees include: Steve Hall, City of Olympia Dr. Yong Liu, Washington State Department of Agriculture Rae-Lynn Bidon, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Joseph Di Santo, Panorama Heidi West, America's Credit Union Dr. Terrence Hess, Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates Steve Brooks, Lacey Fire District 3 Jessica Jensen, Jessica Jensen Law PS Joe Ingoglia, Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County Mariella Cummings, Physicians of Southwest Washington Robert Coit, Thurston County Food Bank Mike Harbour, Intercity Transit Mike Strub, LOTT Clean Water Alliance Bruce Cramer, O Bee Credit Union John Setterstrom, Lucky Eagle Casino Forum is held at Red Lion Hotel Olympia. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., and the program will begin promptly at noon.

Reservations are requested at www.thurstonchamber.com.

General admission is $35 and prepaid Chamber members are $25. Members at the door are $30.

Thank you to our sponsors, 420 Carpenter, KS Photo and FASTSIGNS. ●

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 11

12 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Food Recovery – Feeding those in need and keeping food out of the landfill.

By Gregory Gachowsky, Waste Reduction Specialist, Thurston County Solid Waste

T

hurston County Solid Waste is now accepting proposals from eligible non-profit organizations to increase the recovery of surplus fresh and prepared foods from restaurants, grocery stores and schools to help feed people in need. Eligible organizations include food pantries, churches and feeding programs.

In Thurston County, we threw away 26,850 tons of food in 2014, making it the single largest item in our trash. Nationally, from farm to fork, Americans toss about 40 percent of all food produced, while 1 in 6 residents goes hungry. This is a huge waste of financial and environmental resources.

With new innovative approaches like this food recovery grant program, much of this waste can be prevented.

These grants are intended to build on the success of a similar program launched in 2013. As part of that effort, Thurston County provided support to the Thurston County Food Bank to acquire a refrigerated truck and to renovate their kitchen. With these new resources, the Food Bank collected more than 26 tons of surplus bulk and fresh prepared foods in 2014. This food was then repacked into 33,000 ready-to-eat meals that were distributed to needy families.

A total of $230,400 is available for equipment purchases or to make facility or vehicle modifications through this grant program. No matching funds from applicants are required. The project is funded by a Coordinated Prevention Grant program from the Washington State Department of Ecology, with a PLAN AHEAD FOR

peace of mind.

TELL YOUR OWN UNIQUE STORY and

provide your loved ones with true peace of mind by making your ďŹ nal plans now, before the time of need. *HW VWDUWHG ZLWK D )5(( FRS\ RI $ &HOHEUDWHG /LIH D ERRNOHW ILOOHG ZLWK LGHDV RQ SUH SODQQLQJ DV ZHOO DV D SHUVRQDO SODQQLQJ JXLGH &DOO WRGD\ Our gift to you

MILLS & MILLS funeral home & memorial park

5725 LITTLEROCK RD. SW, TUMWATER

360-357-7743

www.thurstonchamber.com

MillsandMillsFunerals.com

In Thurston County, we threw away 26,850 tons of food in 2014, making it the single largest item in our trash.

25 percent match from Thurston County Solid Waste. Grant proposals are due on December 18, 2015.

What does this mean for businesses and residents?

Currently, businesses are able to donate without risk of liability.

Within the State of Washington the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (RCW 69.80.031) protects businesses when donating edible foods as long as the food is handled in the same safe manner as it would be for customers. Donating surplus edible food is much less expensive for a business than paying for disposal.

Anyone can help, whether it is through volunteering or by donating food or money. Students, families, non-profits and businesses across the county are all encouraged to be part of the solution. As part of this grant, assistance will also be provided to organizations involved in this work to increase their capacity to recruit and train volunteers. â—?

For more information visit www.WasteLessFood.com/FoodGrant or contact Peter Guttchen, Waste Reduction Specialist at 360867-2283 or guttchp@co.thurston.wa.us.

Businesses that participate in the Thurston County Food Recovery Program automatically qualify for the Thurston Green Business designation. In order to learn more about this program and how to receive this designation, contact the Thurston County Chamber at 360.357.3362 or visit www.thurstongreenbusiness.com Thurston County Chamber VOICE ď Ź Nov./Dec. 2015 ď Źď€ 13

The Evergreen State College Welcomes A New President

By Natasha Ashenhurst

W

hen George Bridges, Ph.D., was six years old, his family purchased a tiny 1930s vacation cabin with single-pane windows and pine paneling on the south shore of Hood Canal. His most cherished childhood memories are of time spent

there.

His father passed away when Bridges was young, but his mom managed to hold on to the cabin and the family still owns it today.

So, when Bridges accepted the role of president of The Evergreen State College, he said it felt like he was coming home.

Born and raised in Seattle, Bridges studied at University of Washington, then attended graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania.

“This was my first experience in an eastern city,” Bridges said.

“The smells, noise and hustle and bustle fascinated me.”

He stayed there for four years, receiving his master's and started work on his Ph.D..

While working on his doctorate, Bridges took a job with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., designing policy and conducting research to inform justice policy during three administrations. Bridge maintained his focus on a future elsewhere.

“Ultimately, I wanted to teach, so I worked at [DOJ] during the day and taught and completed my dissertation at night.”

George Bridges at the Evergreen State College's Fiber Arts Studio dedication in September 2015.

Photo courtesy of The Evergreen State College. Photo Credit, Shauna Bittle.

14 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

The Evergreen State College Quick Facts: • •

•

•

•

4,000 students (75 percent Washington residents) Eighty two percent of 2014 graduates belonged to at least one traditionally under served population -- low income, first generation baccalaureate earners, older than average, veterans, students of color, students with a disability.

Three graduate programs (teaching, public administration, environmental studies) Fifteen percent of all bachelor’s degree holders in Thurston County graduated from Evergreen In 2012, Evergreen generated $161.3 million in total economic activity in Thurston County, including 1,590 jobs. Off-campus student spending: $40 million.

George Bridges, Ph.D., and his wife, Kari Tupper, Ph.D..

“My desire is that Evergreen serve the larger community and the state in new ways,” Bridges said. “Our role is not just to serve our students but to serve the community as well.”

When President Ronald Reagan’s appointee decided to reorganize the department staff, Bridges accepted a position on the faculty at Case Western University in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

in a very personal way.”

“I’ve never seen anything like a Cleveland winter,” he said. “I saw cars along on the street in November that would freeze in ice and not move for months.”

“I told them ‘no,’” said Bridges. “Then I started meeting Whitman alumni. They are zealots. They give passionately to the school. In fact, over half of them give every year.”

He sees Evergreen as a venue for the community to experience music, theater and lectures — to bring in the community and make connections.

When a job opened up in the sociology department at the University of Washington, he decided to move back to Seattle to be near his elderly mother, and so he could teach.

Ultimately, Bridges accepted the post, home to 1,500 students in Walla Walla.

Bridges also seeks to make connections within the business community in order to learn about the needs of Thurston County and the region beyond.

“I loved teaching. I taught up to 800 students in huge lecture halls,” said Bridges. “My goal was to engage the students. I also did research, primarily on the criminal justice system.”

However, there came a point in his career when he wanted to make a change.

“I wanted to build things,” he said. “I like to build things in my free time, but I also like to build experiences for students.

I became a dean, and my goal was to build the university ‘small,’ in a way that would connect students to the university

Bridges held the position for almost five years before Whitman College tried to recruit him as president.

“We set up goals at the beginning of my term, including an amazing fund raising campaign. We exceeded our goal.”

Evergreen as a Partner with Industry

Despite success at Whitman, Bridges felt called elsewhere.

On Bridges’ first day at Evergreen, he held a clambake for faculty and staff.

“After 10 years, I wanted to do something different, but I didn’t know what.”

“The clams were donated by local shellfish growers — a critical industry that I’d like to partner with in an educational way,” Bridges said. “It is a vital part of our community, and those kinds of partnerships expand the reach of the school in ways that benefit everyone.”

When he learned that Dr. Thomas L. “Les” Purce was retiring from Evergreen, he thought about being closer to that tiny cabin on Hood Canal. He threw his name in the hat, and began his role as president of The Evergreen State College on Oct. 1.

Vision for Evergreen

Bridges plans to get to know the major employers in the area and to learn how the college can strengthen those Continued on page 17

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 15

WE’VE TAKEN REAL ESTATE LAW TO A NEW LEVEL.

PHILLIPS BURGESS’ OLYMPIA OFFICE IS MOVING. Same personalized approach.

Same comprehensive advice.

Same value.

Same building.

TWO FLOORS UP on July 15

724 Columbia St. NW, Suite 320 OLYMPIA 360.742.3500

WWW.PHILLIPSBURGESSLAW.COM

16 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

Continued from page 15

connections.

Addressing Evergreen’s Challenges Bridges acknowledged the college faces some challenges.

“The state has diminished funding for higher education,” he said.

“We need to seek funds from private sources — from people who want to invest in the future of this school. In order to do that, I want people to know the Evergreen story in a new way.

“We have alumni who are incredible entrepreneurs, and most people don’t know that. They don’t know the success stories.

Many people have had successful lives as the result of the education they have had here. It is qualitatively different, and I think, better. We offer small classes, teams of faculty teaching. It is fantastic.”

The largest challenge Bridges anticipates is meeting the financial needs of students, despite Evergreen’s position as one of the most affordable higher educational institutions in the region.

“Evergreen is a bargain, yet we have an increasingly poor population in our community and country. We have immigrant populations. We have veterans. In these groups, there is

George Bridges at The Evergreen State College's Fiber Arts Studio dedication in September 2015, speaking to John Smith, a carver from the Skokomish Tribe. Photo Credit, Shauna Bittle.

incredible talent,” he said. “This generation of students gives me great hope for the future of our country. These bright and driven kids are the future and they need financial help. I view what we do here as the last great ladder to upward mobility. We must think about the future.” ● Natasha Ashenhurst is a freelance writer for the VOICE Magazine. natasha.ashenhurst@gmail.com

1946 PROUDLY SERVING

THURSTON COUNTY

SINCE 1922

2014

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 17

We Can Help You Finance Your

Member

SBA Preferred Lender

Equal Housing Lender

wabizbank.com

Join us in welcoming our new members from August and September 1st Choice Appliances Jacob McSpadden (360) 292-0643 www.firstchoiceappliances.net Appliances Action Business Furniture Byron Richmond (360) 748-1197 Office Furniture Altman Audio Trevor Altman (360) 451-9402 Audio/Video Production Services Blacklight Paradise Media Tyson Hull (360) 918-6500 www.blacklightparadisemedia.com

Internet Marketing

Capstone Trust Linn Rayna Casey (360) 584-6911 Trust Management

Community Heating & Cooling, LLC Kai Doughety (360) 923-4229 www.communityheat.com Heating & Air Conditioning Companies Cramer & Bond Dentistry Tom Nelson (360) 357-4500 www.cramerdentistry.com Dentists & Orthodontists Digital Design Mike Ross (360) 943-8408 www.rossdigital.com Computer System Designer & Consultants iFloor Flooring Store Charles Dawson (360) 507-8717 www.ifloor.com Flooring Lacey Modern Dentistry Michelle Hollingsworth (360) 528-7878 www.laceymoderndentistry.com

Dentists & Orthodontists www.thurstonchamber.com

Law Office of Richard L. Hughes, PLLC Rick Hughes (360) 464-6533 www.richardhugheslaw.com Attorneys & Legal Services

The Phoenix Rising School Nazila Mirani (360) 446-1500 www.thephoenixschool.org Schools – Private

Life Mortgage Matt Argyropoulos (360) 339-4232 Loans

The Tailgate BBQ Chris Lester (360) 790-6003 Caterers

Mary Kay – Indigo Case Indigo Case (360) 250-4095 www.marykay.com/indigoh Skin Care

Thurston Dental R. Jagger Sapp (360) 459-9657 www.thurstondental.com Dentists & Orthodontists

Poetry ‘N Motion Catering Elton Hoard (253) 282-8542 Caterers

V2 Velocity – Sales Training Brenda Hayward (360) 349-8134

Postal Annex Darin O’Neill (360) 451-4714 www.postalannex.com/14009 Mailing Services

www.businesssuccesstoday.com

Consultants - Training

Photo above: A ribbon cutting on September 3, celebrating the grand opening of Elle's Floral Design and Miss Moffett's Magical Cupcakes in Lacey. This is Thurston County’s first cupcake/floral shop and is located 730 Sleater Kinney Rd SE Suite E, Lacey.

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 19

2016 LTC Class Spans Thurston County

By Judy Reynolds, LTC Program Coordinator

W

ith our opening retreat behind us, Leadership Thurston County’s Class of 2016 (LTC) toured Thurston County on October 14 with a focus on our key questions for the year: What are the essential elements for a healthy, thriving and prosperous community? What is needed from community leadership (skills, abilities, actions, values) to make this happen? What are the challenges to making this happen?

It was a long but exhilarating day beginning with a presentation

by Annette Roth, Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC), at River’s Edge in Tumwater. Boarding a chartered bus, we moved on to learn more from key individuals and business enterprises in our county. Tumwater City Administrator John Doan led a tour of the Old Brewhouse and gave us insights into current plans, followed by visits to the Rochester Boys & Girls Club; Chehalis Tribal Enterprises where we enjoyed a tour, history, and a scrumptious lunch of smoked salmon; on

to Tenino to meet with Mayor Bret Broderson and stonecutter Keith Phillips at the Stone Quarry; to Rainier, meeting Mayor Randy Schleis, and picking up cookies at Main Street Cookie Company; to Yelm for a coffee break in Longmire Park with Mayor Ron Harding; to Lacey where Community Development Director Rick Walk briefed us on Lacey’s strategic planning as we drove around the Woodland Project, SPSCC Lacey Campus, and the EDC Center for Business and Innovation; winding up our tour at the Port of Olympia, touring a warehouse and boarding a ship loading logs for export. At each stop, we were able to consider our key questions, learning about the relationships, challenges and strategies of the leaders and businesses we visited.

We look forward to exploring issues concerning education in November and Government in December. For information about LTC, please go to www.LeadThurstonCounty.com or visit our Facebook page for current information.●

Photos taken on October 14 as the LTC Class of 2016 toured Thurston County.

20 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

SAVE THE DATE! Office Supplies

Distinguished Leader Awards

Next day delivery is available for over 40,000 items that we have in stock.

Promotional Products

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

We offer a large selection of promotional gifts for your meetings, trade shows, product branding and events.

Red Lion Hotel Olympia

Office Furniture, Space Planning & Design Our Furniture Specialists draft, develop, space plan & design your furniture project to get

Quick and Simple Online Ordering www.thecreativeoffice.com

5:30 p.m.: Reception 6:30 p.m.: Dinner and Program

Find Your Future Saturday, March 19, 2016 Olympia High School 10:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Open to all Thurston County students 8-12 grade

A Night on the Town Friday, April 29, 2016 Red Lion Hotel Olympia (360) 754-1732

(800) 900-1732

721 Legion Way SE, Olympia

5:30 p.m.

Price: $125 per person

See yourself in your own building with special financing from TwinStar Credit Union.

Control overhead costs and obtain long-term stability for your business with a TwinStar Owner Occupied Real Estate loan.

• Low long-term, fixed and adjustable interest rate options • Up to 80% loan-to-value for most owner-occupied properties

Call TwinStar at 360.923.4569 to get started today. Not the right time for you?

Refer a friend and receive a $250 Visa® gift card!**

• Experienced lending team familiar with the Thurston County real estate market • Conventional or SBA financing available Call us today at 360.923.4569 for low promotional rates.

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Property must be owner-occupied. 10-year loan maturity. 1.00% loan origination fee, plus all third-party expenses. Rates stated above apply to loans applied for by December 31, 2015 and closed within 75 days of application. Interest rates for loan amounts greater than $1.5 million are negotiable. This is not a commitment to lend, and rates are subject to final credit approval. **$250 Visa® gift card is granted on owner-occupied commercial real estate purchase or loan refinance transactions and is awarded after subject loan has closed. The value of the referral gift will be reported on form 1099-INT.

1.800.258.3115 TwinStarCU.com/business

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 21

Two Heads are Better than One: TOGETHER! Thriving under Co-Leadership Model

T

By Natasha Ashenhurst

wo years ago, the local non-profit TOGETHER! needed to hire an executive director. The board approached two staff members, Meghan Sullivan and Meagan Darrow, to gauge their interest in taking on the role.

“Neither of us was comfortable doing it completely alone, so we asked them to let us split the leadership duties, as well as keep doing operations and fund development work,” said Darrow. “We had different strengths and were willing to share the leadership for work-life balance and for our sanity.”

Washington University and studied community health education. Then, we met at TOGETHER!. We both started as program managers, five years apart. We both decided to get our master’s degree in public administration from Evergreen, and graduated together in 2014,” said Sullivan.

From this solid foundation, they are working throughout the community, serving children and families by making connections between negative health outcomes and poverty, and they are building community partnerships, promoting community engagement, innovation and research based outcomes.

The board agreed on a co-leadership model with Sullivan as the executive director, and Darrow as the deputy director. The duo has been working well together ever since.

Sullivan and Darrow believe you have to walk the talk — that if you want to serve children and families in the community as public health advocates your own organization has to model the values you promote.

Building Partnerships & Community Coalitions

Sullivan and Darrow share their job and the same first name, but their uncanny similarities go beyond that.

“We were both born in Alaska. We were both involved in peer education in high school. Both of us landed at Western

So, this non-profit is working hard to build a value-centric team based on ideals they truly believe in — a living wage, work-life balance and a family-friendly workplace.

Founded in 1989 by community leaders, TOGETHER! is a public health group that creates partnerships in order to serve families in Thurston County and beyond.

Originally formed to address the growing presence of substance abuse problems in Thurston County’s neighborhoods and schools, TOGETHER!’s work has broadened with the understanding that public health is intimately tied to

Above: Meagan Darrow is on the left and Meghan Sullivan is on the right. They use a co-leadership model to oversee TOGETHER! 22 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

social justice, connection to community and access to care. Ultimately, TOGETHER!’s work is founded on the understanding that everyone should have the same chance to be healthy and thrive.

“While our origin is substance abuse, we now know we need to interrupt the cycle of poverty,” said Sullivan. “Our work has intentionally shifted, as has how we talk about it. Now we’re talking about healthy kids and families. We’re talking about resiliency.”

A great example of their work is TOGETHER!’s Community Schools Model project, implemented in partnership with Tumwater Schools and United Way. The program is about dropout prevention and community engagement. The participating organizations leverage resources so kids and families can have the tools to succeed. This national model helps take the pressure off the school system to meet many of the unmet needs of the kids.

“A great example of [Community Schools Model’s] work is a clinic we held last summer providing sports physicals and immunizations to kids who did not have access to sports physicals because the out-of-pocket cost was too high, or they had a working parent who couldn’t make it during office hours,” said Darrow. “We know that involvement in school activities is a protective factor for kids, and that engagement with school, community and family is what is going to help kids thrive. Over 200 kids got sports physicals or immunizations that evening.”

The Community Schools program also looks at other factors that might be a barrier to getting kids to school, such as transportation.

“Rural areas are often not connected by city bus lines, so we are working with the district and other partners to find solutions so kids can access math tutoring and other great things after school,” said Sullivan.

Research-Based Innovations

There is a lot of research about what makes a child succeed in an academic environment and in the community, according to Darrow and Sullivan, but their challenge is to communicate that message to the public.

“When people think about our work, they think we are the ‘drugs are bad’ group, or that we simply educate kids and families about drugs and alcohol,” said Darrow.

“While that is a piece of the puzzle, our work is more about providing kids with healthy mentors, especially kids in

Sullivan and Darrow believe you have to walk the talk — that if you want to serve children and families in the community as public health advocates your own organization has to model the values you promote. disadvantaged communities.”

Darrow and Sullivan explained they’ve worked with schools in struggling communities during the past three years, putting evidence-based programs in place, engaging parents in schools, using practices in the after school model that understands kids in a holistic sense.

For example, they’ve offered a robotics unit to kids during the summer or after school which takes technology and math concepts into a safe environment where the children can explore and engage.

“A lot of kids from disadvantaged communities don’t have these opportunities. These kinds of programs give kids academic and personal goals,” said Sullivan.

TOGETHER! runs three site-based after school programs, which employ teachers from those schools.

summer] as well, partnering with the City of Lacey, the Thurston County Food Bank and Washington State University extension [to offer] cooking programs, field trips and a variety of engaging activities to kids who may not have these opportunities.”

Ultimately, TOGETHER! is going to serve kids and families where they are today. Sullivan and Darrow have the unique perspective and resources to look at the systems that serve children and mobilize services for positive health outcomes.

For example, they know that literacy is an important health outcome — that if they can get kids on track with literacy and math their chances of graduating from high school increase and their long-term health will improve -- so they’ll bring groups together to create partnerships that address the whole child and family in order to achieve a literacy goal. Recently, this work has encompassed serving on three Thurston Thrives action teams and is very much in line with their organization’s mission.

“Thurston Thrives helps get people in the room to talk about mission and goals as well as health outcomes,” said Sullivan.

“Ultimately, we all want a thriving community where every kid has a chance to succeed and then contribute to that community when they grow up. This benefits everyone.”

Darrow agrees.

“From day one, TOGETHER! has been about partnerships. It is in our name,” said Darrow. “While we do direct service programs for kids, in all of them we are collaborating with other non-profits that do the work better than we do — groups such as the South Sound Reading Foundation, The Thurston County Food Bank or the YWCA.

“We are going to get the job done by all rowing in the same direction and “Our goals are academic, specifically honoring everyone’s strengths and looking for ways to integrate academic contributions.” ● content into highly engaging programs,” said Darrow. “We do this [in the Natasha Ashenhurst is a freelance writer for the VOICE Magazine. natasha.ashenhurst@gmail.com

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 23

On October 2, 2015, Congressman Denny Heck toured Soloy Aviation Solutions. This tour was part of a broader request made by Heck's staff for tours of key manufacturers in Thurston County, especially those that export. From left to right, Congressman Denny Heck, Chamber President/CEO David Schaffert, Soloy Aviation COO, Dave Stauffer, Soloy CEO, James H.L. Cowan.

O

n any given day the Thurston County Chamber is working with local government representing business interests, is on a panel discussing the future of education and the workforce and is meeting with community leaders advocating for a stronger economy. Here are a few of the issues we are actively engaged in. To learn more about these issues, or to find out how you can become involved, email info@thursonchamber.com

Thurston Thrives

Here’s what you need to know: The Chamber and the Thurston County Chamber Foundation committed organizational resources to assist Thurston Thrives—an ongoing collective impact initiative to improve public health and safety county-wide—in its evolution into a public private partnership.

The Chamber now serves as the fiscal agent for Thurston Thrives. The Chamber also has committed resources to help fund support staff who will be essential to the success of Thurston Thrives. As part of this effort, Liz Davis was recently named the Community Coordinator for Thurston Thrives.

Thurston Transit Oriented Development

President/CEO, David Schaffert, serves on the Thurston Thrives Transit Oriented Development action team. This group is looking to develop a piece of property on Boulevard that will be mixed-use housing, located on a major transportation corridor. In October the Olympia City Council approved the road infrastructure design for this project.

Friends of the Port

Here’s what you need to know: This is a joint project of the Thurston County Chamber and International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local # 47. In October we continued our community outreach efforts with a mailing that went to over 12,000 registered voters.

Shared Legislative Partnership

Here’s what you need to know: The Thurston County Chamber developed The Shared Legislative Partnership, which includes the City of Olympia, the City of Lacey, the City of Tumwater, the City of Yelm, the Port of Olympia, Thurston County, the Thurston Regional Planning Council and the Thurston Economic Development Council. Last session, Washington State approved a $136 million transportation package for Thurston County which funds projects outlined in the Shared Legislative Agenda.

Port of Olympia Fuel Dock Here’s what you need to know: The Chamber supports the locating of a fuel dock on Port property to serve marine and visitor industry.

Lacey’s Woodland District Planning and Visions Efforts

Here’s what you need to know: The Chamber supports continued efforts by the City and key stakeholder organizations to make the district vibrant.

Planned Action EIS for the Old Brewhouse Area

Here’s what you need to know: The City of Tumwater received a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology to prepare a Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Old Brewhouse area. The focus of this EIS is on property bounded by Custer Way to the south, Deschutes River to the west, Capitol Lake to the north and the railroad to the east. The Chamber supports planned environmental impact statements as they create predictability and opportunity for development, and will provide comments on this EIS. ●

Here’s what you need to know: The Chamber

24 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

www.thurstonchamber.com

REWARD YOURSELF. New Rewards Checking.

Earn UChoose Rewards on debit card purchases.

Sign up to start earning rewards today! www.anchornetbank.com 800.562.9744

THE WASHINGTON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

TCTV Capitol Florist

www.thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 25

Continued from page 4

Photo on left: Batdorf employees in the lab/kitchen at the Batdorf & Bronson Roastery and Tasting Room on Market Street in Olympia, learning about coffee at a "cupping." Photo on right: Coffee roasters are cupping coffee after roasting to ensure consistent flavor.

extended family here, and we like to do business with small, family-owned coffee farms,” said Bob Benck, Green Coffee Buyer and a Batdorf employee for over 20 years.

Aaron Shively, Operations Director and Batdorf employee for 14 years agrees adding, “We are very focused on sustainability. The foundation of our company is built on that ethos, not only in terms of our environmental footprint, but also in our relationship with our vendors. When we bring a new customer on board, we are always thinking long-term. We want to help our customers grow, and we help them do that through education and training. We want meaningful relationships with our customers.”

Early on in their ownership of the company, the Challains along with key employees, created a mission and vision statement, which the company calls The Right Way Document, which guides the decision of everything. “I read The Right Way when I am making a tough decision,” said Dave Wasson, COO, Batdorf employee for 20 years. “It is a living document that guides how we treat ourselves, our vendors as well as our environmental sustainability practices.”

Another practice instilled in every employee at Batdorf is continuous

education, of both the employee and the vendors. “We have education and training teams that just go out and train people on coffee and customer service.

We’ve learned that when we improve the skill sets of our customers we grow our customers’ businesses. In turn, we want meaningful relationships with our customers. They see happy employees that get along and are helpful. You’re not just getting a great cup of coffee, there is a human interaction that tells a story in and of itself,” said Shively.

The Right Way Document also instills a sense of community responsibility, and community stewardship, which was one of the reasons for having several locations downtown. “We invest in the community that we are working in and we do it quite well. We support Harlequin and the Washington Center. We are part of the Chamber and the ODA [Olympia Downtown Association]. We have a 100year lease on Port-owned property, but we own the building [Tasting Room]. We saw it as an opportunity to grow with the area and with Olympia,” said Wasson.

No Sales Force The wholesale side of the business represents 65 percent of sales, yet Batdorf & Bronson does not employ a sales team.

“We have outreach representatives,” said Benck. “They do a lot of customer

26 • Nov./Dec. 2015 Thurston County Chamber VOICE

support. They get involved in the community. They help with equipment.

They educate customers about how to maintain coffee freshness. Our delivery drivers aren’t just driving trucks. Our customer service representatives aren’t just answering phones. What we have is something that is organic and it is about relationships. It is about people walking into our stores and having a positive experience, and later, when they need coffee, they call us and we help them.”

Wasson adds, “Any employee who works for Batdorf can be a sales person.

We have what we call a “Big Bonus” program. Any employee that follows a lead and gets a sale can get a bonus. That creates a powerful sales force.”

The team recognized that in the age of a coffee roaster on every block, that Batdorf might not be the best fit for everyone. “We are ok with saying, ‘You know, we are not the coffee roaster for you.’ It is the same philosophy I use buying beans. On some level we choose the people that we do business with.

That is important for us. I have some producers that I’ve been buying from for 18 years. Those relationships matter,” said Benck.

Looking Ahead: Batdorf & Bronson, East of the Mississippi www.thurstonchamber.com

Upper left: The owner of a Nicaraguan-based coffee farm examines the coffee beans. Benck visits this farm yearly. Lower right: Touring one of the coffee farms in Nicaragua. Lower left: From left to right, Aaron Shively, Bob Benck and Dave Wasson.

In 1994, Batdorf & Bronson opened a roastery in Atlanta in order to ensure the delivery of fresh roasted coffee to customers across the country. “We had large, wholesale accounts in Atlanta, and we were sending a lot of coffee to the East coast. Things take a while to get there which impacts quality.

We recognized the need to have a geographically advantageous production facility,” said Benck. So, they opened the roastery in Atlanta, shipping the green coffee there.

Today, the Atlanta roastery takes care of everything east of the Mississippi and Olympia takes care of everything west of the Mississippi.

For a while, they resisted opening a Dancing Goats coffee bar in the area, worried about stepping on their vendor’s toes. “We ended up opening a Dancing Goats Coffee Bar in Atlanta and another in Decatur and, rather than hurt local sales, our local orders doubled within two years. Customers got to know our coffee at our [coffee bars] and asked for it at www.thurstonchamber.com

other locations,” said Shively.

What they’ve learned through this process is that their retail stores serve as exhibits or best practices for other accounts, allowing customers see how well retail can be done and to inspire.

“We just signed a lease for a new location in the mid-town of Atlanta. It should open in late spring of 2016. That will be the third Dancing Goats retail location in Georgia, and by year’s end we will have a store in Washington D.C.’s Georgetown,” said Wasson.

Future Plans The Batdorf & Bronson family may be expanding and growing, but Wasson says that as a company they remain very conservative and are committed to consistency—consistency in relationships with employees, vendors as well as customer’s experiences and especially coffee taste. The commitment to consistency keeps Batdorf from jumping on coffee trends.

“We want to ensure that someone who tastes our coffee gets the same taste every time. We’ll make sure that Dancing Goats tastes like Dancing Goats. We cup everything that comes off that roaster,” said Wasson. “Cold brew, single brew, light roast—those are all huge right now, but they are trends.”

Instead of following trends, Batdorf remains committed to consistency, which means selling cup after cup of great coffee, providing great service, supporting the community, growing and always improving.

So, if you happen to stop by the Tasting Room on the first and third Wednesday of every month, you’ll find Batdorf employees in the lab/kitchen learning about coffee. They’ll taste coffee, they’ll talk about what is going on in the shops, but most importantly they simply get together, which Benck says, “…opens the floor to get people talking. It’s hard to quantify the return on things this like this, but it helps make it a great place to be.” ●

Natasha Ashenhurst is a freelance writer for the VOICE Magazine. natasha.ashenhurst@gmail.com Thurston County Chamber VOICE  Nov./Dec. 2015 27

©2014 Xerox Corporation. All rights reserved. Xerox® and Xerox and Design® are trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

EOE M/F/Disability/Vet

Must pass background and drug screen

www.jobsatxerox.com/lacey

8535 Commerce Place Dr NE, Suite A Lacey, WA 98516

Questions? Call 360-923-8640

Apply online:

Apply in person:

Xerox Services is now hiring full-time Customer Service Representatives to work with the best brand names and have fun doing it!

Now Hiring Customer Service Representatives

PO BOX 1427 Olympia, WA 98507-1427