Vancouver Business Magazine - Women in Business 2022

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BUSINESS LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED | MARCH 2022 | $15.00

FOCUS ON WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES

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1605 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA 98661 360.695.2442 • FAX 360.695.3056 • www.vbjusa.com Steve McDonagh ext. 6008 Associate Publisher smcdonagh@vbjusa.com Associate Publisher John McDonagh ext. 6007

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NEWS SUBMISSIONS The Vancouver Business Journal welcomes the submission of news tips, press releases, column ideas, letters to the editor and opinion pieces relevant to Southwest Washington business communities.

NEWS TIPS, PRESS RELEASES Email your information news tips and story ideas to the editor.

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Letters are published based on their relevance to immediate news and then in the order received.

OPINIONS Email longer opinion pieces to the editor.

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FOCUS ON WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES

VANCOUVER BUSINESS

GROOVE NATION: MOVING TO THE BEAT OF SUCCESS

PG 06

OMEGA INDUSTRIES: AN IMMIGRANT’S SUCCESS STORY

PG 08

THE TILDEN LAW FIRM: MAKING A DIFFERENCE

PG 10

CONTACT Managing Editor; 360-448-6019; editorial@vbjusa.com.

WINDY HILLS WINERY MAINTAINS GROWTH

PG 12

The Vancouver Business Journal reserves the right to accept, reject and edit news and editorial submissions. Opinion pieces and letters are edited for style, grammar and length but not content.

SIGNS & MORE CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF BUSINESS

PG 14

RYD PLANS FOR FULL RE-LAUNCH IN 2022

PG 16

FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS: LIFE FORCE CHIROPRACTIC

PG 18

DEADLINES VBJ publishes every Friday. Submission deadlines are 10 days prior to the publication date.

Publication of submissions depends upon available space and the discretion of the editor.

Vancouver Business Journal is a locally owned and operated publication of Brown Warrior Publishing LLC, John McDonagh General Manager.

Vancouver Business Journal (ISSN #1534-2956) is published weekly by Brown Warrior Publishing LLC, 1605 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA 98661. Annual subscription is $149.00 a year. © 2020, Vancouver Business Journal. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited without publisher’s written approval.

Periodicals Postage paid at Vancouver, WA.

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: BENCHMARK WOODWORK

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: SIMPSON PLUMBING

PG 24

POSTMASTER Send address changes to Vancouver Business Journal, 1605 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA 98661.

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MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 5

GROOVE NATION: MOVING TO THE BEAT OF SUCCESS

G

roove Nation was founded in 2003 by Beau and Rose Sem in a small room at a local gym with just nine kids. Their desire was to provide a leadership and character development program that used dance as

the delivery method. The response to their program was so positive, however, that before they knew it, they were

growing. They taught all the classes themselves while simultaneously running the administrative side of things, but before long, they were able to expand. In the last 19 years, they have served over 10,000 kids in the Clark County community. Groove Nation recently moved their headquarters to a 15,000 square foot facility on Columbia House Boulevard in Vancouver, offering classes for all ages

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and levels with assistance from more than 20 staff members. Many of the teachers and other staff were once Groove Nation students.

Groove Nation offers beginner classes for ages two through adults in a variety of dance disciplines. They also have intensive dance programs. The overarching theme of the company is to foster a sense of togetherness and build strong communities so kids can feel safe and confident. Through this, young people and adults alike can encourage and build each other up, overcome obstacles, and accomplish their goals.

The staff at Groove Nation works hard to walk out this mission out in every dance class they provide.

“We succeed because we know exactly what our mission is, we don’t sway from it in times of adversity, and we are passionate and grateful about the impact we get to have on kids,” shared Rose.

The pandemic took a big toll on Groove Nation. They had recently transitioned out of their old location at

“We succeed because we know exactly what our mission is, we don’t sway from it in times of adversity, and we are passionate and grateful about the impact we get to have on kids.”

– ROSE SEM Tower Mall and were getting set up in their current space a few months before the pandemic shutdowns happened.

They provided classes online, but teachers struggled to keep kids engaged and students felt stressed.

Rose shared, “We as owners were trying to figure out if we were going to lose everything that we just poured our heart and soul into for the past year with the move. It was a challenge – that’s for sure. However, with the help

of the community, parents, donations, grants, and loans, we were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and today we are so grateful for all the help we received. We thank God every day for the outcome, knowing that many small businesses did not survive this tsunami of a challenge.”

The beginning of 2022 is looking bright for Groove Nation. They have already had a good start to their competition season, winning first place awards in every division, along with an industry dance award. They are also preparing for a national competition in Anaheim, California later this year. Throughout it all, the team at Groove Nation will continue to maintain their commitment to not just developing the skills and training of their students, but their character development, too.

“What people see of our students, and are impressed with on stage, is due to how much we invest in them on the inside,” said Rose. “We believe you’re never too young to learn success principles that great leaders have utilized.” VB

MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 7

OMEGA INDUSTRIES: AN IMMIGRANT’S SUCCESS STORY

O

mega Industries was founded by Isidoros Garifalakis, an immigrant to America that had a dream of building a good life for his family.

When Garifalakis and his wife moved here, they faced many obstacles during the early years, but with hard work and a passion for perfection, they built a company that has been a success for the last 28 years in Clark County.

Omega Industries first opened its doors in 1994 in a 500 square foot space with only one welding machine. Garifalakis

8 VANCOUVERBUSINESS MARCH 2022

has three daughters that have joined the business over the years and together, they have helped scale the business.

Headquartered in Vancouver with production facilities in California, Nebraska, Texas, and North Carolina, Omega Industries is the nation’s largest concrete grade crossing supplier and a leader in steel fabrication, railroad products, and dredging equipment. The company is now a multi-milliondollar corporation with long-term contracts with BNSF and Union Pacific. It employs over 170 people in its five locations.

“The core philosophy of quality and service is preached amongst the leaders of the company and throughout the workforce daily,” shares Sophia Kosaris, COO and Vice President of the company, and daughter of Garifalakis. “The owners are personally vested in the business and care about every aspect on a personal level.”

The pandemic greatly impacted Omega Industries. However, the family has relied on their strong bond and history of success to continue to provide attentive customer service and superior quality products.

Kosaris explained, “Like all business sectors, the manufacturing industry has been impacted by COVID-19. The impacts in terms of employment, supply chain delays and production have been significant. Through more focus in restructuring and flexibility in work opportunities, we are slowing finding our way back to normal production. The pandemic has reminded all of us that change is truly the only constant and through perseverance we can tackle and learn from adversity.”

Throughout it all, Omega Industries

has maintained their commitment to the community around them. They regularly advertise at local colleges and trade schools, offering different types of teaching in concrete finishing, welding, and management roles. They also provide training for welders and the opportunity for people to complete ACI Certification, which helps individuals grow within the company, or find employment of their choosing.

Looking at the future, Kosaris shares that they are currently collaborating with their current customers to develop new products. They are also investing in research and development to further expand their reach.

“The family is proud to be part of the legacy and believes that success is a continued effort of culminating the best we can offer,” said Kosaris. “Omega Industries has a story full of heart and values.” VB

MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 9

THE TILDEN LAW FIRM: MAKING A DIFFERENCE

M

arie Tilden, owner and founder of The Tilden Law Firm, has a deep love for people – especially families and children. She founded and managed an international adoption agency 25 years ago with programs in five countries and has two internationally adopted children herself.

With many years of both personal and professional experience in domestic and international adoption, she has unique insight into the legal process that goes into these cases. So, in September 2005, she decided to open her family law firm, which specializes in family formation.

Adoption and surrogacy law is the company’s sole focus. Tilden has one employee, Karen Townley, who has been by her side for many years.

“My adoption work assists people from all over the world, as I not only work with local clients, but I also work with U.S. citizens residing abroad,” explained Tilden. “My adoption clients range from people adopting an infant or child locally, elsewhere in the U.S., or from a foreign country.”

Three years ago, Washington state became one of several states that permits compensated surrogacy, which has led to an explosion of people looking to grow their families through a surrogate. This helped Tilden’s business grow, too.

“It is a fascinating area of law to watch

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“I have lived through and overcome the same challenges that face our clients and their adopted children. I believe that my ability to closely relate to the stresses clients face in their family building journey is apparent to our clients.”

– MARIE TILDEN develop, as it attempts to keep up with science,” she shared.

When the pandemic began, Tilden shares that she was thankful to not experience many negative impacts to her business.

However, with international borders being closed or restricted, many clients struggled to travel abroad to begin the adoption process. She also saw a decrease in international would-be parents looking for surrogates in the United States, as surrogacy is not legal in many foreign countries. She believes that as the borders

begin opening back up, there will be a steady increase in international parents looking for Washington surrogates to carry their babies.

Tilden is a longstanding Fellow of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), an international organization of well-qualified adoption and assisted reproduction technology attorneys. She is the only Fellow in Clark County, which makes her stand apart from other general family law attorneys who do not see

many adoption cases each year. Because of this, Tilden’s services are in high demand. Not to mention, having walked her own personal road of adoption gives her the empathy needed to better connect with her clients.

“I have lived through and overcome the same challenges that face our clients and their adopted children,” she said. “I believe that my ability to closely relate to the stresses clients face in their family building journey is apparent to our clients.” VB

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MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 11

WINDY HILLS WINERY MAINTAINS GROWTH AS A FAMILY BUSINESS

W

indy Hills Winery, located in the fastgrowing city of Ridgefield, will celebrate its fifth year of business operations in May of this year. The winery, owned and operated

by Dave and Karen Kelly, is located on property that their family has owned for six decades. For 16 of those years, it was a Christmas tree farm. When Dave retired, he had the idea to turn the property into a vineyard and open a winery. Today, they grow and produce wine on site, in addition

to having a winery with a tasting room and an event center.

Windy Hills Winery regularly hosts weddings, company events, fundraisers, anniversaries, and other special events.

Dave and Karen are often found behind the counter or on the floor chatting with customers, and their daughter Ashley oversees event planning and other operations. The Kelly’s also have another daughter working at the winery. Currently, there are 10 employees – both full and part-time – and most of them are other family members or great friends.

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In their first year of operations, revenue topped $100K, and this past year, they brought in well north of $500K – even after being closed and seeing record event cancellations. Dave shares that even though the pandemic had a very negative impact on the business, causing them to lose more than 300K in revenue, the winery maintained its commitment to customer service and doing the right thing.

When events were cancelled, deposits were fully refunded. They changed their seating arrangements for social distancing, installed sanitation stations, and modified the way they did tastings.

“Since we were able to re-open, we have been able to get some momentum back and look for a strong 2022,” Dave shared.

As spring inches closer, there are many long days of tending the rows of grapes that have been planted on the property, so they can start working on creating new wines. Looking ahead, the team at Windy Hills Winery will also be adding new events including hosting live music regularly, free of charge. Once the

“The biggest reason for our success is that we are part of the local community and not an outside chain doing business here. Our guests either know us personally or will get to know us personally. I also think folks are looking for a place where they can relax and talk to each other and enjoy good wine and fine music. There is nothing like enjoying a fine sunset with a great glass of wine with your friends and loved ones.”

– DAVE KELLY weather is warmer, they will offer outside concerts featuring local bands.

Dave believes that while the wine they produce is top-notch, it’s really the people and the atmosphere that makes Windy Hills Winery a win.

“The biggest reason for our success is that we are part of the local community and not an outside chain doing business here. Our guests either know

us personally or will get to know us personally. I also think folks are looking for a place where they can relax and talk to each other and enjoy good wine and fine music. Our facility is in a very beautiful part of Ridgefield – it’s close but seems like you’re far away when you get here. There is nothing like enjoying a fine sunset with a great glass of wine with your friends and loved ones.” VB

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department also provides products for industrial and personal projects, phenolic labels, and more. Their returning client base includes local school districts, large corporations, manufacturers, and more.

“We have always strived to provide quality products at reasonable prices, with an emphasis on customer service,” explained Kyle. “We have an incredible community that continues to support our small business and refers others to us, allowing us to limit our need for advertising and marketing. We’ve been able to adapt and diversify our products and services to reach into other markets and meet the changing needs of our clients.”

While the pandemic slowed business down significantly for Signs & More, they were fortunate to be able to keep their doors open. They quickly adapted to what customers were asking for and started creating signs that promoted COVID awareness, such as social distancing signs, decals, and other promotional banners for essential businesses weathering the storm.

“We have an incredible community that continues to support our small business and refers others to us, allowing us to limit our need for advertising and marketing. We’ve been able to adapt and diversify our products and services to reach into other markets and meet the changing needs of our clients.”

– KYLE GREEN The company has moved locations several times in its three decades of operations and is now settled at its current location on the corner of St. Johns Road and N.E. 44th Street in Vancouver. Signs & More employs three people, most of them working at the company for decades. Looking at the future, Kyle anticipates continued changes in the sign and engraving industry. “We will do our best to find

new and interesting products for our customers,” he said Signs & More is also dedicated to giving back to causes important to them. Most recently, they donated signs to the Richard L. Quartier Southwest Washington Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association to help raise money for a Wall of Remembrance in Washington, D.C. VB

MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 15

RYD PLANS FOR FULL RE-LAUNCH IN 2022

R

yd, otherwise known as Rethink Your Drive, is Vancouver’s urban transportation service with a fleet of all electric vehicles. Founded in 2017, the company is currently in the depths of near and long-term strategic planning efforts to offer a full-service re-launch in 2022. The bulk of last year was spent optimizing Ryd’s operational structure,

efficiencies, and policies so they could get back to full operations in the next 12 months.

The company was founded out of the growing need for alternative and flexible parking solutions for the downtown Vancouver area. Ryd currently has five passenger vehicles that seat up to six riders per vehicle. So far, Ryd has been funded by the revenue it generates from riders, as well as investment from

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Ryd ownership. Soon, the company will be offering investment opportunities for a few like-minded local investors before pursuing a more formal round of seed funding.

Pre-pandemic, Ryd had a weekly average ridership of over 100 people.

After pausing its services during the pandemic, partial ride service resumed during 2021 for some downtown employers and employees. Max Ault, Ryd’s CSO, shares that there is significant demand for Ryd’s services.

“In the early-to-mid-summer months, inbound demand for parking solutions and associated commuter assistance from Ryd represented close to 350 individual riders – that demand was gradually put on hold with the resurgence of the two contemporary COVID variants, but we expect to see similar demand into 2022.”

Ryd is currently working on developing their official Ryd app, which provides both corporate and individual Ryd’er profiles. It is almost complete and is currently in the final stages of quality assurance and user experience testing.

Although the app is not officially

“In 2022, we will be adding drivers and vehicles, staying just ahead of demand.”

– CASEY WYCKOFF

launched yet, Ryd will offer a limited use model free of cost for users. Currently, they offer corporate accounts and will be opening the app to individual users in the next quarter.

“As a rapidly urbanizing community, the need and demand for sustainable transportation continues to grow,” shared Ault. “The Pacific Northwest is known for its commitment to quality of life and our pristine environment.

As populations continue to grow and communities continue to expand, ‘green’ transportation will need to not only keep up, but innovate the way in which we move, connect to home, work, and the places we love, and mitigate a growing environmental footprint – all while

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ensuring affordability and access to all.”

Looking ahead, the team at Ryd is excited about what the future holds for the company.

“In 2022, we will be adding drivers and vehicles, staying just ahead of demand,” said Casey Wyckoff, CEO and Founder of Ryd. “It’s all about meeting the needs of the people and places we serve and realizing Ryd’s greatest potential.”

One thing is certain: the team is committed to offering a unique, environmentally friendly transportation and parking alternative, which they hope, will help build a stronger and more sustainable Vancouver.

Ault said, “As we plan for 2022 and as our community and the world continues to adapt to evolved work-life paradigms, Ryd hopes to serve even more employees, residents, and visitors to Vancouver, providing an even more authentic and sustainable people-centric mobility experience investing in a cohesive, accessible, and welcoming downtown culture and atmosphere… that is uniquely Vancouver.” VB

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FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS: LIFE FORCE CHIROPRACTIC

Chiropractic practice strives to make patients feel like part of the family

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fter starting off their family based chiropractic clinic three years ago with a staff of four people, Life Force Chiropractic in Vancouver has continued to see steady growth and growth in the size of their team.

“We started with a staff of four people and currently have a staff of six,” said Dr. Kyle Kurscheidt, chiropractor/co-owner of Life Force. “As far as revenue growth is concerned our largest percent growth was from year one to year two, which saw a 107% increase. With all of the challenges of 2020 our growth

was small, but thankfully steady throughout the year.”

Life Force Chiropractic is owned and operated by Dr. Kyle Kurscheidt, Dr. Cody Kurscheidt (Kyle’s brother) and Dr. Tiffany Thorne (Cody’s fiancé). All three are chiropractors at the clinic.

As a family owned business, Kyle said one of the advantages is the trust and reliability of the people they work with.

“You know rain or shine your family is going to be there day in and day out to help push the business forward,” he said.

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You will receive guidance on how consultants, the firm focuses all aspects to of a business, to use financial metrics andon information make wise rather than just accounting andwith bookkeeping.

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We work local clients Portland/Vancouver advises them on how to build growth and teaches them how to sustain it. area as well as nationally. Geography is no barrier.

– does come with it’s challenges, of course. One challenge that Kyle pointed out is clear communication of the individuals’ desires, goals and intentions.

“We have found at points in growing our business that although our end goal may have been the same between all of us our vision on how to achieve it was different,” he said. “Clear communication at the beginning and throughout the process can help keep things moving forward smoothly.”

Stemming from this, Kyle said if he could offer one piece of advice to other new family owned businesses or to anyone thinking of starting a family owned business, it would be to clearly communicate from day one what the goals, aspirations and dreams of everyone involved are. After that, derive a detailed plan as to how this will be accomplished. He said this will allow everyone to be heard and provide a map as to how the business will be steered moving forward.

After deciding to start the chiropractic

business, Kyle said they looked at various cities to open the clinic, from Bend, Ore., all the way north to Seattle, and they settled on Vancouver/Clark County for a few reasons. He said these include but are not limited to plentiful marketing opportunities in the way of community events, lack of income tax, close proximity to various landscapes (mountains, forest, desert and the coast), and last but not least the small-town feel that Vancouver maintains while having a population of more than 180,000 people.

As a family owned business, one of the biggest things that Kyle said helps them stand apart is that they strive to make their patients feel like part of their immediate family.

“We not only care about what physically ails them, but also what is going on in their personal lives,” he said. “We send get-well cards, sympathy packages, birthday cards and congratulations cards for numerous big life events that our patients go through.”

Some of the other personal touches that Life Force utilizes to let their patients

know that they care about them include Bad Day mugs (a coffee mug of treats that is given to those who are having a bad day), Patient Appreciation days (a special day/week that is filled with treats, giveaways and an overall celebration of their patients), and Donation Drives (four to six times a year they partner with their patients to support local nonprofits by collecting and dropping off donations).

Looking forward, Kyle said they are pushing to steadily grow their business and eventually hope to expand their office into one of the neighboring spaces in the building that they currently occupy.

“Over the next five years, our goal is to streamline our current systems and procedures,” Kyle said. “This will allow us to continue to provide great service and free up more of our time. As far as business metrics go our goal would be to double our current business over the next five years.”

Life Force Chiropractic is located at 1825 SE 164th Ave., Suite 118, in Vancouver. VB

Family Owned for 80 Years

80

Corwin Beverage is a fourth-generation, family owned and operated business. We serve our original territory of Vancouver as well as Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties. For 80 years, our offerings have grown to a product line of more than 300 beverages to fit any lifestyle. @CorwinBeverage | corwinbevco.com MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 19

ROOTED SCHOOL SET TO OPEN IN IN 2022

R

ooted School, Vancouver’s first public charter high school, is set to open in August 2022. The school, which is part of the Rooted School Organization, has two fully operating schools in New Orleans and Indianapolis and will operate in a former daycare center in the Orchards area. The school recently signed a 10-year lease for the building, and they are in the planning stages of redesigning the space in partnership with an architecture firm.

20 VANCOUVERBUSINESS MARCH 2022

Construction is planned for January 2022.

Jonathan Johnson, CEO of Rooted School, said that the idea for opening a school in Southwest Washington came from a local business owner in the area, Tyrone Foster. Johnson and Foster began a discussion as to how the school could help position local young adults, specifically BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students and students with disabilities to meet the growing demands of the workforce in the Northwest.

“These conversations led to over 100 more conversations and focus groups with various community stakeholders who affirmed the need for a small public high school that would provide more youth a chance at four-year college and an opportunity for immediate entry into STEM jobs in the region,” Johnson said.

Carol Egan, founding principal at the Vancouver location, was recruited out of retirement to run the school. She worked in education for 30 years having served as a teacher, school administrator and district administrator, including seven years at Center for Advanced Learning, a part-time high school program that works in partnership with three school districts in East Multnomah County.

When she learned about Rooted School, the model resonated with her.

“When students choose to take a leap towards what drives them, what inspires them, they demonstrate tenacity, motivation and drive to get things done,” Egan said. “Rooted Schools are demonstrating to our K-12 systems that students are ready to

be held accountable, are ready to be responsible and trustworthy and are ready to move forward at a faster rate towards a career that can offer them a living wage and beyond.”

Egan said that they will start posting job positions for the school towards the end of December. In addition, Eduardo Torres-Diaz, a long-time Vancouver resident, will serve as the school’s community engagement manager and will start recruitment events for students and families in the next couple of months. The public charter school will be funded in large part through federal and state grants.

“We are targeting historically underrepresented youth in and around the Orchards area, as well as the Chuukese (part of the Pacific Islands) community,” said Egan. “All students living in the Southwest Washington area are welcomed to enroll and participate at Rooted. Enrollment decisions are based solely on their desire and inspiration to commit to a future at our school. As an innovative, public (free) high school,

our students will reflect our diverse Vancouver community.”

While the school will focus on workforce training via a student-centered learning model, it will also adhere to all graduation requirements established by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Johnson said that the Rooted School Foundation has two other projects that it leverages to accelerate upward economic and social mobility for youth, including the Green Balloon Fellowship and the Youth Cash Transfer Study. They will seek to offer these opportunities in the Vancouver community, too.

To date, Rooted School has established partnerships with local businesses and experts in the area, including Southwest Washington Tech Council and IT3 Innovation Center at the Port of Ridgefield.

“Everyone we meet is excited and inspired by our work, and they are ready to work alongside us,” Egan said. “Together, we are building a solid, financially healthy, career pipeline for companies and their future employees.” VB

Café is now open for indoor seating (with a full bar).

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OUR MISSION: The National Women's Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation (NWCAVE) is a volunteer operated national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Vancouver, WA. We work to inform, educate, and prevent violence and exploitation against all people nationally and internationally, no matter race, nationality, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Whether human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, bullying, hate crimes, and all other forms of violence and exploitation, NWCAVE strives to keep the public informed and educated on how we can live in a more civilized society free of violence.

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National Education & Training Institute

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Learn more at www.NWCAVE.org MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 21

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: BENCHMARK WOODWORK

Woodworking company started in home shop now leases space in Vancouver

B

enchmark Woodwork has been making building interiors more beautiful since 2007.

The small family owned business began as a one-man shop and now has seven employees.

The custom-woodworking company started in a home shop and now leases a 4,800-square-foot space in Vancouver, which has allowed them to expand their

production and finishing capabilities.

Specializing in custom cabinet building and custom furniture, the company stains and sands by hand to ensure the highest quality. They also offer premium features on their products like soft-close doors and drawers, dovetailing and more. They most recently added a new, state-of-the-art spray booth.

“It is our goal and passion to give each one of our clients

SHERRIE WILSON OWNER/AGENT

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22 VANCOUVERBUSINESS MARCH 2022

“We will continue to provide excellent service to our clients. We are continually monitoring the trends in the woodworking industry so we can offer the new ‘cool stuff’ that is coming out.”

– CODY HEIDEGGER the very best experience,” said Cody Heidegger, operations manager. “This starts with listening to their vision, visiting their home, and coming up with a design that is pleasing and will fit well into their home. Detailed drawings along with 3-D renderings are then presented along with a cost proposal.”

The pandemic brought a few challenges, but Benchmark Woodwork was fortunate to have had work booked out for several months. Some jobs were put on hold

as customers were not comfortable with in-person contact. However, with people spending more time at home, in addition to the continued housing boom, business has continued to remain steady.

However, Heidegger said that the supply chain issues have impacted the business.

“Recently, our biggest challenge has been getting hardware, finishing product and various wood materials,” he said.

Looking ahead, Benchmark Woodwork is excited about what the future looks like.

They are working on launching a new website, which will provide a place for customers to find ideas and inspiration.

“We will continue to provide excellent service to our clients,” said Heidegger. “We are continually monitoring the trends in the woodworking industry so we can offer the new ‘cool stuff’ that is coming out.” VB Benchmark Woodwork is located at 9321 NE 72nd Ave., Suite D10, in Vancouver.

Accounting for What Matters

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Our skilled team serves small and medium-sized business in:

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Contact Us 360-828-5109 www.mybusinesspartnernw.com Proud Supporters of Chinook Rugby Club MARCH 2022 VANCOUVERBUSINESS 23

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: SIMPSON PLUMBING

Plumbing business has served the Pacific Northwest for the last 40 years

S

impson Plumbing has served the Pacific Northwest for the last 40 years. Founded by Dale Simpson, who grew the company’s reputation through quality work, a focus on integrity and affordable flat-rate pricing, the once one-man shop now has more than 20 employees, and they work throughout Washington and Oregon.

Dale’s son Brad, who grew up in and around the plumbing

trade, joined the company 20 years ago and last year when Dale retired, Brad took over as the new owner.

Simpson Plumbing provides a wide range of residential and commercial services, with primary focus on single family residential homes. They regularly repair and replace water heaters, main water lines and provide drain work, in addition to helping service multi-unit apartments with various plumbing needs.

Excavation, Demolition, Sitework & Underground Utilities

We specialize in providing heavy civil construction contracting services to Vancouver, WA and the surrounding areas.

Legacy 6, Inc is a family owned construction company built on the foundation of honor, integrity and excellence laid by the generation before us.

Our goal is to provide exceptional construction contracting services with exceptional value and to build strong, profitable relationships through honest business practices.

24 VANCOUVERBUSINESS MARCH 2022

“We are a family owned, locally operated business.

We know customers have a choice and we pride ourselves on customers choosing Simpson Plumbing to take care of their plumbing needs.”

– BETH ANDERSON Beth Anderson, vice president and general manager, said that they wouldn’t be where they are today without the incredible team of experienced staff that they have.

“Simpson Plumbing has experienced exciting and steady growth over the last few years,” Anderson said. “The key to this success is hiring great people who are willing to take ownership and pride in their work.”

During the pandemic, Simpson Plumbing made the choice to remain open and continuing helping their customers.

“Our business has strengthened during COVID,” said Anderson. “With more people working from home,

matches each donation and last year they donated more than 600 items, and this year they hope to exceed that. They also recently discounted their pricing for their service plan membership for honored citizens like seniors, veterans and first responders, which gives them access to discounted service calls, no emergency call fees and more. The outlook for Simpson Plumbing is bright.

“We are a family owned, locally operated business,” Anderson said. “We know customers have a choice and we pride ourselves on customers choosing Simpson Plumbing to take care of their plumbing needs.” VB

the demand for work (clogged toilets and dripping faucets) has increased.

We’ve been hiring throughout the entire pandemic. With the increase in demand for honest, trusted and fair f lat-rate pricing, we chose to embrace it and make the necessary investments to take care of the demand. We’re excited to say we’ve grown and we’re so happy that we are able to support our customers.”

One of Simpson Plumbing’s core values is its commitment to giving back to the local community. For the last three years, they have hosted food drives to donate to the local food bank in Camas-Washougal. The company

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A BIT OF ADVICE

T

HELP OTHERS RISE.

he greatest measure of a leader is the quality of the community they have built around themselves.

PointNorth’s success as a minority, woman-owned small business is the result of relationships—mostly other women who recognized our talents, hired us, and recommended our team to their networks. Here’s my advice for women in business looking to evolve as a leader and develop a strong network of support.

Understand that professional advancement is largely tied to who you know. As a leader, you should be intentional about creating inclusive spaces where diverse voices can be heard. Cultivate a team that looks, thinks, and acts differently from you.

Embrace diversity of thinking as the path towards empowering people and strengthening teams.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

SHOW UP AUTHENTICALLY.

Your reputation is built over decades. Trust is earned by showing up consistently in every action and interaction. Take the time to understand your core values and bravely make decisions based on those values. A person who stands in their integrity over time, no matter the cost, is a leader. VB

When you bring your unique, authentic self to the workplace, it gives permission to those around you to do the same.

Promote a culture of self-awareness by asking questions and seeking feedback from others on a continual basis. Always model kindness and empathy towards others—especially those with less power and influence than yourself.

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WE START

BY LENDING AN EAR.

We take time to understand your business needs, so we can help solve them.

No two businesses are alike. So cookie cutter loans won’t cut it. At Columbia Bank, we work closely with you from the beginning of the loan process to make sure we’re setting you up with the right loan to reach your unique business goals. Which means we do something other banks don’t always do—listen. Visit ColumbiaBank.com.

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