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The State of Hospitality Experience Olympia & Beyond CEO, Annette Pitts, will speak on the State of Hospitality in Thurston County at the Chamber's September Forum
Truss Components Quality Products & Skilled Workmanship Set This Tumwater Company Apart
ASHHO Cultural Center The ASHHO Cultural Center Brings the Community Together Around Good Food and Brave Conversation
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ETHER
September 2021
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER VOICE MAGAZINE
Visit ThurstonChamber.com and click on the Events Calendar for the latest information regarding Chamber events. Join our host, Olympia Country & Golf Club at 3636 Country Club Dr, Olympia, WA 98502 on Thursday, September 2 at 5:30 p.m. for the Thurston Young Professionals Monthly Networking Event. Enjoy bites & beverages as you expand your network! All are welcome – invite other 20 to 30-year-olds so they can expand their networks and get to know all the fantastic Young Professionals in our community.
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Join our Morning Mixxer host, Vert Chiropractic, in-person, at 4444 Lacey Boulevard SE, Suite #E, Lacey, WA 98503, on Tuesday, September 7 at 7:30 a.m. Morning Mixxer is free to attend and is held the first Tuesday of each month. These networking events are great for making new business connections within the community. MIXX 96.1 proudly sponsors Morning Mixxer. The Thurston Chamber invites the community to attend our September Forum on Wednesday, September 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake (formerly Hotel RL), 2300 Evergreen Park Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502. Our featured speaker, Experience Olympia & Beyond CEO, Annette Pitts, will address the State of Hospitality in Thurston County.
Afters Hour
Business After Hours in-person is back! Join our host Panowicz Jewelers on Thursday September 16, 5:30 p.m. at 111 Market Street, NE, Suite #104, Olympia, WA 98501, for mingling and networking with other business professionals, playing games, beverages and appetizers.
We will observe Washington State Department of Health and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services' guidance at every event.
In This Issue... Truss Components p. 7 Tumwater's Truss Components serves the South Sound with skilled workmanship and highquality building materials.
ASHHO Provides A Space for People to Unite Around A Shared Sense of Belonging p. 12 ASHHO's cultural center provides a place for the community to unite around food and brave conversations.
Pre-Apprenticeship Training Now Available at 'Construction Bootcamp' p. 19 WorkSource has partnered with ANEW to provide a free, way to explore and learn about a variety of career opportunities in the construction industry.
Caught in the Lens p. 22 Keep up with the latest Chamber happenings and see all of the great smiles that make up our Chamber membership!
The VOICE is FSC Certified.
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The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is a non-profit organization that sets certain high standards to make sure that forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible and socially beneficial manner.
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magazine PUBLISHER Thurston County Chamber of Commerce EDITORIAL David Schaffert 360-357-3362 dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com CONTRIBUTORS David Schaffert Kathryn Millhorn Heidi Smith ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing: Krystal Barkus Elizabeth Bretschneider Ashley Chandler SUBSCRIPTIONS 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com DESIGN Ben Hawkes Mosaic Marketing Studio COVER Photo by Poppi Photography, courtesy of the Olympia Farmers Market PRINTING Print NW CONTACT THE CHAMBER 809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com
Mitigate and Move Forward by David Schaffert, Thurston County Chamber President/CEO
Just as it looked like we were regaining our footing as a community, state and nation, the Delta variant arrived, bringing uncertainty. Again. Does this feel like déjà vu to anyone else? Just when we were beginning to enjoy eating out, attending events and opening offices without strict COVID restrictions.
next year, down from 67 percent in March. So, how do we get our minds wrapped around the positive economic fundamentals of workforce demands and job creation while we have the Delta surge and the great angst of "not again" with a renewed sense of uncertainty and disruption in our lives?
Here's how I am approaching the fluid nature of daily life during the Pandemic Just when business was regaining losses that won't end; First, I acknowledge that and resetting and achieving new goals. we are in a different place than we were a year ago. Second, I celebrate the vaccine, Just as we celebrated a growing and which has allowed us to open our offices and rebounding economy -- according to the businesses. Finally, we work to remain and Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers hired quickly adapt to changes in safety measures 6.7 million workers in June, up from 6 million brought on by variants. Let's lean into our in May. There were 10.1 million job openings lived COVID experience, which offers a in June, an all-time high! toolkit in doing business during a pandemic. Now, over the last 90 days, we hear grim reports of ever-increasing COVID cases due to the Delta variant, and we see an erosion of business confidence. The Wall Street Journal recently reported small business is growing cautious again. Thirty-nine percent of small business owners expect economic conditions in the U.S. to get better over the
Let's recognize that COVID will be part of our lives for a while. Let's do our best and take the necessary precautions to protect people and the community when variants cause surges – the Delta variant is not the last COVID variant that will challenge us – while at the same time, let's continue to live our lives and run our businesses.
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY SINCE 1874 COPYRIGHT All material appearing in the VOICE Magazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. The VOICE Magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. ©2021 VOICE Magazine, Thurston County Chamber.
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Saturday, November 6 Saint Martin’s University Lacey, Washington Saint Martin’s University Gala 2021 welcomes celebrity chef, author, and TV personality
jacques pé pépin pin & daughter claudine Join us for a black-tie gourmet evening that includes an exquisite dinner, cooking demos, and a live auction benefiting Saint Martin’s student scholarships.
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TRUSS COMPONENTS
Top Quality Structure for your Building Project by Kathryn Millhorn • Photos courtesy of Truss Components
Behind every great accomplishment, individual, or building are unseen but vitally important components. We can’t always see behind the curtain, but we rely on the quality materials, long hours, skilled workmanship, and wealth of knowledge that goes into each success. At Tumwater’s Truss Components, they’ve spent the last three decades supporting the building industry from top to bottom; roof, walls, and floor. Truss Components crafts top quality roof and floor trusses for every wood framed building type, whether residential addition, new home, agricultural, commercial or multi-family project. Additionally, they provide pre-framed wall panels to assist in reducing on-site thurstonchamber.com
framing time and job-site waste, while limiting exposure to the often soggy and damaging elements. General Manager Rudy Pierce explains that “We manufacture solutions for contractors and DIY’ers. Today’s
buildings are complex, and there is a shortage of skilled labor to frame them in traditional ways. We are constantly seeking ways to reduce the amount of labor required on the job site to construct wood framed projects, thereby reducing the cost and speeding
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Your Local Business Banking Team As our community and its business needs grow, so do we! You’ve got ambitious goals – so why not partner with a bank that can get you where you want to go with the resources, technology and expertise you need? Our trusted and experienced business banking team have creative, common-sense answers to every financial need.
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up the timeline for those projects.” Founded in 1992, the company currently employs about 25 people. Owner Chad Johnson worked with the founders for 22 years before purchasing the business in 2018. Johnson has since joined the Chamber to get to know more local business owners, increase opportunities when hiring, and to look for ways to promote manufacturing careers and trade programs to people entering the workforce. Because construction workers were considered essential throughout most of the Coronavirus, business has stayed busy. Add to that the many DIY’ers looking to expand on the homes where they spent months of stifling quarantine, and the Truss Components team are ready to help. “We focus primarily on residential and multi-family construction projects
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and those projects are plentiful,” says Pierce. “I feel that as long as interest rates remain low like they are, we will continue to experience a robust building market. I definitely hope they stay that way for a while.” Thankfully, the nationwide wood scarcity and supply disruptions we’ve all heard about over the last year didn’t truly impact Pierce and his team. “Fortunately, COVIDrelated issues have had little impact on the supply of our raw materials: lumber and metal connector plates. Prices have gone up, to be sure, but we have not experienced any shortages of those materials.” Beyond crafting individual parts, Truss Components prides itself on helping its customers build quality structures for the benefit of the greater community. They do this by providing
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expert product knowledge, excellent customer service, and high-quality products at fair prices, while offering the opportunity for a fulfilling career for each employee and a reasonable rate of return for its owners. With this Mission, Truss Components has been recognized as the structural building component supplier of choice for the Pacific Northwest. Looking towards the future, Pierce admits that uncertainty is very real. “Just as things start to re-open, they are now closing back down a bit, at least in Thurston County. Our biggest COVID-related challenge has been keeping people at work, as well as getting them back to work after a COVID exposure. My hope for the rest of this year is that this will finally go away. As for the longer-ranging future, I am very optimistic. We live in a very desirable part of the country with a very diverse economy. I believe people will
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continue coming to this area and needing homes.” And that desirability is evident. Low inventory and strong demand have existing homes selling in days and new projects are springing up all over. Whatever the need, Truss Components can help. They’re also hiring through their website’s application portal. Questions about a position or which product would be a perfect fit? Simply email sales@trusscomponents.com or call 360.753.0057 today. Follow them on Facebook for photos of recent jobsites, projects, and daily operations. Houses and businesses are built with time, effort, community, and heart. And thanks to dedicated teams like Truss Components, they’re also built with quality materials, minimal waste, and a passion for this beautiful region we’ve all chosen to call home.
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ASHHO
Cultural Center Brings Community Together Around Food and Brave Conversations by Heidi Smith • Photos courtesy of ASHHO
For 12 years Khurshida Begum has been envisioning a space where people could unite through food and create a shared sense of belonging. While all would be welcome, she visualized a cultural community center focused on communities of color, and a place where issues that are usually cloaked in silence - domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and mental health challenges - could be safely and bravely brought into the light. The moment she set foot in the former Pellegrino’s Catering & Event Center in 2020, she knew it was the place to realize her dream. In the past year, Begum has transformed the site into the headquarters for ASHHO Cultural Community Center, a hub for events, training, sharing meals, inspirational speaking, community groups and soon, workforce development. Before the pandemic, Begum delivered keynote speeches and situational training across 30 states within the U.S. as well as in Egypt, Morocco and Bangladesh. The subject was often human trafficking, a social ill she knows all too well. As a seven-year-old, she was brought to Washington State from Bangladesh under false pretenses for what turned out to be years of forced labor and abuse. “I feel passionate about sharing issues that are disturbing, uncomfortable and hidden,” she explains. “When I started speaking professionally, it was against domestic violence, sexual abuse and trafficking.” 12 I
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When the pandemic put a halt to speaking engagements, Begum’s mind turned to the community. As a volunteer in downtown Olympia working with the houseless and others in need, she quickly realized that soup kitchens that served essential meals were closing. Out of her home, Begum and her husband began providing healthy, hot ethnic meals. “We created a Pay it Forward meal program,” she says. “Anytime someone bought a meal for $15 or a side for $3, we would match it and donate a meal to a person who needed it. We started doing that every week.” Before long it became clear that a commercial kitchen would be necessary to continue the program. That’s when Begum learned that the Pellegrino family was planning to vacate their former business premises, which were a perfect fit for what she had in mind. “We met and they were so wonderful and kind,” she says. “They walked me through every step of the process, and I started using their kitchen as of August 2020.” Since then, while she continues to provide weekly Pay it Forward meals, the scope of her work has grown and the vision she’s held since 2006 is coming to fruition. ASHHO is a social purpose corporation with a nonprofit arm, a type of organization that has been in practice in Washington State since 2012 but is less well-known than nonprofits. “It’s where you have a social purpose that you’re filling,” says Begum. “You’re for-profit and you’re also thinking about the environment, about transparency, about the common good and making sure people get paid living wages.” Under the social purpose corporation, ASHHO brings in revenue through catering services, hosting groups like TOGETHER, rotary clubs and other nonprofit groups for monthly meetings, holding events and eventually serving meals at the refurbished coffee bar and cafe. On the nonprofit end, ASHHO holds training sessions to provide resources to communities that often lack them. “We’re just forming the nonprofit but that’s a small portion that’s really for the cultural events,” Begum notes. “When we do training on the equity series or on these hidden issues for state agencies or government groups, we’ll donate a training to a nonprofit organization for folks who are on a strict income or don’t normally have access to hear a keynote speaker.” The nonprofit arm will also encompass workforce development. Begum plans to incorporate job training programs into every aspect of the cultural center, including the coffee shop, event space, custodial and maintenance, and cafe. “We’re going to be working with folks who have different barriers to employment, who are undervalued, under-resourced and don’t typically have thurstonchamber.com
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2525 36th Ave NE, Olympia, WA
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access,” she says. “Whether there are cultural barriers or language barriers, we want to provide inspiration and motivation. It would be great to partner with other nonprofits and WorkSource.” Aside from job training, Begum plans to offer workshops on issues like financial literacy, including how to fix your credit score, how to buy a house, etc. “These are things that black, brown, and Native folks don’t usually have access to,” she notes. “These are not things that are generationally passed on.” While the cultural center will hold festivals, she intends that they’ll serve a purpose beyond simple celebration.
“We want to know what these communities need,” Begum maintains. “We don’t want to do Native Heritage Month and then just forget about it for a whole year. What kind of ongoing support do they need? What is it that we can do to heal moving forward?” She now has a two-year lease on the property and intends to buy it once the lease is up. The community has been supportive, she says, especially communities of color. “I don’t care if they write a $5 check. When they intentionally want to support, any money is good. I’m so grateful that my kids will be able to come here and get to know other black and brown and Native folks. This is a place to build bridges and create relationships.”
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The State of the Hospitality Industry in Thurston County Annette Pitts, New CEO of Experience Olympia & Beyond, to Keynote Thurston Chamber's September Forum The Thurston County Chamber invites the community to attend the Chamber's September Forum on Wednesday, September 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake (Formerly Hotel RL). During this month's luncheon and presentation, attendees will hear from Annette Pitts, Experience Olympia & Beyond CEO. Pitts will share data, trends and forecasts about the state of the hospitality industry in Thurston County and some of the strategic work and efforts of Experience Olympia & Beyond, especially critical throughout the COVID crisis. Attendees will hear how the hospitality industry can bounce back from the crisis. She'll also share plans to promote Thurston County as a unique destination and how she and her team will continue to work side by side with community leaders throughout Thurston County to inspire, inform and influence travelers to visit the remarkable region we call home. Pitts joined Experience Olympia & Beyond as Chief Executive Officer in June 2021. Pitts has extensive tourism experience and recently served as Executive Director of the Cascade Loop Association for ten years. Along with managing the execution of the Association's destination development plan and overseeing a comprehensive rebrand, she also spearheaded a successful effort to earn the Cascade Loops federal designation as a National Scenic Byway. She also worked with organizational stakeholders, economic development organizations, and community leaders throughout the state to promote domestic, international, independent and group travel to the region. September 2021
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The Olympia Farmers Market is a top tourist destination in Thurston County. Learn more about the State of Tourism and Hospitality at the September 8 Forum.
An Elevated 55+ Waterfront Lifestyle Welcome to luxurious comforts, an urban oasis of conveniences, and spectacular waterfront views. With modern kitchens, ample storage, and light-filled open living and dining areas, Harbor Heights is perfect for singles or couples seeking an active lifestyle within a 55+ community. For those looking for adventure and convenience, there’s no better place to call home.
Schedule a tour today! 833.432.5964 harborheightsliving.com
Serving All of Thurston County ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THURSTON COUNTY
1. Provided $70,000 for the renovation of the Historic Oddfellows
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8
Building.
7
101
Olympia
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2. Provided $75,000 to complete the Master plan for the SW
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Washington Innovation & Business Park.
Lacey
3. Provided $10,000 for the installation of wider sidewalks,
bulb-outs and landscaping along Binghampton Street to build downtown character and enhance the setting for local and visiting shoppers.
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Tumwater
4. Provided $20,000 to assist with the design and construction of
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the community center.
5. Provided $15,000 to support investment in the Lacey Yelm
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3 2 5
Tenino
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Rainier
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MakerSpace project.
6. In partnership with the City of Tumwater and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife, developed a Habitat Conversation Plan to provide long-term preservation and management of protected and endangered species.
7. In partnership with the Frank Family, Squaxin Island Tribe and
Salmon Defense, developed and maintains the Billy Frank Jr. Park and Trail to provide a historical and educational self-guided walking tour.
PORTOLYMPIA.COM 360.528.8000
1 507
Bucoda
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HOMES
FIRST Depending on how you do your research, you will find dozens -if not hundreds -- of non-profits in the South Sound region, all doing a wide range of things to try and help make this a better place to live.
None, however, does what Homes First does. Perhaps you’ve never heard of Homes First? Well, that should change if you believe that having a place to call home can be a foundation of building a solid, responsible life. In simple terms, having “homes first” can help some of life’s other problems fall more easily into place. This extra special organization, launched here in 1990 because of the unique foresight, intelligence, advocacy and diligence of local leaders, invites everyone in the community to attend its:
8th Annual Heroes for Housing Fundraising Breakfast 8:05 a.m. Wednesday, September 15 It’s virtual, at HomesFirst.org/Heroes, and you can watch at your home or office. Or, if you wish and feel Covid safe, you can watch on a big screen at Indian Summer Golf & Country Club. Please RSVP (for the big screen option), and/or email your questions to developmentdirector@homesfirst.org. Sponsors include The Chehalis Tribe, OlyFed, WSECU and FORMA Construction. thurstonchamber.com
No matter how you “attend,” expect to be changed by what you hear and learn during the event. As one tenant has said:
disability support, substance abuse or mental health counseling, or senior services.
“For the first time in my life, I have a safe home with stability, where I’m treated with respect. I know a lot of people take that for granted, but until you don’t have it, you have no idea how much it means. It allowed me to get my dignity back.”
It is not at all unusual for Homes First tenants to take great pride in where they live. As a Homes First staff member recently shared:
Real-life stories just like that are shared during Homes First events, and they inspire community members to donate money, time or resources to the growth and future of the organization. What Homes First does so well is provide safe and affordable rental homes for those who need them most. That is its niche, and that is what no other local nonprofit has as its central focus. Homes First then forms partnerships and builds bridges with other community organizations and nonprofits serving its tenants, so families and individuals can turn to them for other services that may be needed, such as
“We have a tenant who has lived with us since 2013. Every month when she pays rent, she writes a note with her rent, expressing her gratitude for the management and maintenance of the property. She was extremely happy and grateful for the garden beds and has shared her vegetables with Homes First and her neighbors.” At a time when the landscape and the news are filled with increasingly dark news about the crushing cost of housing and the mammoth wave of homelessness both locally and globally, Homes First offers ideas of hope, dignity, personal responsibility and respect that Thurston County can be proud of. SPONSORED PROFILE
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The Dispute Resolution Center is Here for You.
Photos by Kim Cadoo
We offer a variety of resources to help your organization prevent conflict, and navigate conflict when it occurs: • Mediation for co-worker, employee-supervisor, vendor and client conflict • Group Facilitation for work teams • Customized Training in communication and conflict resolution skills, tailored to your needs Most services are available both online and in-person.
Civic Harmony Starts Here
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Contact us to explore how the DRC can serve your needs: (360) 956-1155 info@mediatethurston.org MediateThurston.org
Thurston County Chamber VOICE
Join the heroes in our community for a fun event and support the work of Homes First in providing our un-housed community members with permanent, sustainable rental homes.
P RE S E NT E D BY :
Virtual Program Starts at 8:05am Three Viewing Options: • Your Home • Your Office • The BIG SCREEN at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club (RSVP Required)
CHAMPION SPONSORS:
HomesFirst.org/Heroes RSVP (for big screen option) OR QUESTIONS?
Contact: developmentdirector@homesfirst.org for more information.
thurstonchamber.com
Pre-Apprenticeship ‘Construction Bootcamp’ Training Now Available Start a Successful Career in the Construction Industry! WorkSource has once again partnered with ANEW, to provide top-notch, FREE PreApprenticeship Training at the Port of Ilwaco in Pacific County.
one), can speak, read, and write English and are drug-free, looking for a job and have barriers to employment.
Construction Bootcamp was created as a low-barrier way to explore and learn about a variety of career opportunities in the construction industry. The instructors provide all necessary gear at no cost. Not only will participants leave with a completed Pre-Apprenticeship Application, but they will also receive Certifications in OSHA-10, Forklift and Flagging.
Construction Bootcamp is scheduled for September 13 through October 8, Monday-Friday, 6:30 am – 3:30 pm. All training will take place at the Port of Ilwaco in Pacific County. If transportation is an issue, assistance may be available. Participants must complete the Dislocated Worker Form and indicate interest in Construction. Spots are limited. Register early. Registration/Dislocated Worker Form: https://hipaa.jotform. com/211935716764059.
Training is available to individuals who are 18+ years old with a high school diploma or GED (or have one by the end of training), have a valid driver’s license (or can get
For more information, don't hesitate to get in touch with Amanda Fields, Program Coordinator for Business Solutions, at afields@thurstonchamber.com.
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Your business’s most important resources are human resources. Good employees are hard to find and even harder to keep! That's why WorkSource Washington has created a free, one-stop hiring hub to help your company find talent to fill every position. WorkSourceWA. com features Washington's largest employment database, along with tools to simplify your hiring process. Once you've found the perfect employees, WorksourceWA.com offers training resources for your team's professional development. Find virtual job fairs, training resources, labor market information AND post job listings for free today! Sign up for your employer account at WorksourceWA.com. Worksource Washington – We work for you! The Employment Security Department and WorkSource are equal opportunity employers/programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. WA Relay 711
worksourcewa.com
Caught in the Lens
#Thankful inThurston
Keep up with the latest Chamber happenings – Ribbon Cuttings and our Thankful in Thurston campaign. Find more at the Thurston Chamber's Facebook page: facebook.com/ThurstonCountyChamber
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Great Wolf Lodge Heritage Bank Olympia L & E Bottling Company, Inc. Morningside Olympia Federal Savings Olympia Phillips Burgess, PLLC Providence St. Peter Hospital The Rants Group SCJ Alliance South Puget Sound Community College WSECU – Olympia
Comcast FORMA Construction Company Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel Little Creek Casino & Resort Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, PLLC Port of Olympia Puget Sound Energy Saint Martin's University South Sound Behavioral Hospital TwinStar Credit Union Corporate Office Washington Business Bank Wells Fargo Community Bank
The Thurston County Chamber sends a BIG THANK YOU to ALL of our investors. With members like you, we are able to provide a sustainable business community in Thurston County as well as foster growth and positive change. Only through your support can we continue to fund important community initiatives and lead the way for business.
Thank You!
PLATINUM
DIAMOND
Window Genie
Venables Pest Management
T & S Cleaning, Inc.
Timberland Bank
The Olympia Furniture Company
Nisqually Red Wind Casino
Mills & Mills Funeral Home
Hooper Financial Services
Hometown Property Management, Inc.
Great Wolf Lodge
GHB Insurance, Inc.
The Evergreen State College
The Creative Office
Columbia Bank Downtown
American Workforce Group
GOLD
TAGS Awards and Specialties
Nicholson & Associates Insurance
Morgan Stanley – Mike Marohn, Financial Advisor
Michael White Agency – Farmers Insurance
KeyBank – Martin Way
Green Realty Group
First Citizens Bank
The Firs Senior Living Community
Express Employment Professionals
Edward Jones – Dirk Farrar, Financial Advisor
Cap City Law PS
Budd Bay Café
Bakala State Farm
AAA Washington – Inland
SILVER
PO BOX 1427 Olympia, WA 98507-1427
