Chamber Newsletter
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Newsletter for Summer 2010
The Lakewood Chamber's Core Missions:
Promoting the community
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Message from the Chair of the Board
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New and Renewed Members
State Legislative Candidates Forum
110% Club
Short Takes on Local, State, and Federal Issues |
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July Business After Hours
Photo Gallery Blue Ribbons &
Business After Hours
Annual Golf Classic
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Ambassadors of the Month
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Annual Commencement Bay Cruise
Photo Gallery July General Membership Luncheon
AM Chamber Network
Military Affairs Committee |
Calendar of Events
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Business After Hours
Northwest Commercial Bank
5726 100th St. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Members & Guests - $5.00 ... Non-Members - $15.00
Please RSVP to 253-582-9400 by July 16th!
Join us for a lively evening of casual networking, tasty hors d'oeuvres & beverages with door prizes for some lucky Members! |
 Message from the Chair of the Board...
Summer is here – and things are heating up with your Chamber. Our June General Membership Luncheon was devoted to recognizing outstanding business students from our high schools in Clover Park School District and our two colleges, Clover Park Technical College and Pierce College. The scholarships were funded directly by our Annual Chili Cook-Off and Auction that was held in February. These students are the brightest academically and are community service oriented. These recipients represent our future business leaders and they are being developed right here in Lakewood. Congratulations to all the winners, their families and the institutions that developed their talents and prepared them for this award.
Our July luncheon hosted Attorney General Rob McKenna. What an outstanding speaker! His 7 pillars to get government under control was the most common sense approach many of us have heard in a very long time. If you missed this luncheon – you missed a fantastic presentation!
The Adriatic Grill hosted our June Business After Hours. Thanks to Father Kendall Haynes of St. Mary’s for blessing the new patio. Great networking, food, fun and door prizes were enjoyed by the 119 members who attended one of the most popular restaurants in the region! Congratulations to Tandra Vandenberg who won the raffle for the 24” flat screen TV.
Our Annual Golf Classic was held last Friday at the Oakbrook Golf & Country Club. What an awesome day of fun. Our staff and volunteers put on one of the most enjoyable tournaments that I attend. We thank Oakbrook Golf and Country Club for hosting our event, our golfers, our numerous volunteers and most importantly - our sponsors. Look forward to next year!
As we head into July and the celebration of our Nation’s founding on the 4th, please remember in your thoughts and prayers, the many members of our community and nation serving abroad and in the Middle East. Their devotion to country and sacrifices are what help make our nation great. Happy 4th of July. Have a great summer and don’t forget the Chamber works because you do.
Rick Stevens, GEICO
2009-2010 Chair of the Board
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ANNUAL CHAMBER/FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ GOLF CLASSIC!
Blue Ribbon Cutting & Business After Hours at Adriatic Grill
Blue Ribbon Cutting at Creative Forces
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I thought you should know…
An open letter to our state lawmakers
I thought you should know that last night I changed the lives of 13 people. You need to know that I eliminated their jobs, when I closed Goodfella’s Steakhouse. You should know each of them has a family, a car payment, house payment and dreams. I tried to keep them employed, God knows how hard I tried, but the current economic conditions prevented me from doing so.
Goodfella’s Steakhouse had been in existence since 2003 in Lakewood built adjacent to the Great American Casino. The restaurant served high quality steaks and seafood the likes that Lakewood had never seen. It was embraced by the community and soon became a thriving operation. Goodfella’s became a favorite meeting place for local civic leaders, military as well as elected state officials. Life was good. As the economic crisis became more real Goodfella’s relied more on the casino operations to support its day to day operation. As increases in B&O taxes, Employment Security burdens, L&I regulations and fees, mounted, it became apparent the operation could not function at a profitable level. I thought you should know these are the reasons we ceased operating last night.
Statistics are cold and impersonal. There is no human element attached to them. If you had to look into the eyes of the employees you have had under your employ for the past 6 years, and tell them we needed to part ways, you would see this reduction from a far different perspective. I want you to know how difficult and painful it is.
When you go back Olympia this next year, to do what you have been elected to do, take this thought with you. For every action, there is a reaction. What you choose to do to small business in this state will haunt you in the future. You have broken this camel’s back, and there are countless other scenarios just like this playing out in all corners of this state. Take off the blinders. Reach out to small business and ask what you can do for them. It takes more than rhetoric. Those who represent us must do something to encourage employers to employ. .
I just thought you should know…
Greg Bakamis
General Manager
Great American Casino
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July Luncheon with Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna
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AM Chamber Network
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
7:45 - 9:00 am
Chamber Board Room
Another way to get to know fellow Chamber Members in a casual format. Bring your business cards, coupons, brochures and samples for a fun show and sell opportunity. A terrific way to shamelessly promote your products and services before you go to your place of business! At the same time, you can learn about the many networking, marketing and educational programs the Chamber has to offer.
Military Affairs Committee Meeting
Tuesday, July 21, 2010
8:00 am
Burs Restaurant
Update of previous meetings, time for testimonials, and a challenge for the year to really apply these meetings to your business practice, to make the Military Market a part of your Strategic Plans as it is a sure way to increase your business with a multi billion dollar market immune to the recession.
Promote Your Business to New Army Personnel
Let us promote your business at the Fort Lewis Newcomers orientation in the Lakewood Chamber booth, reaching over 500 new personnel and their families each month for only $225 a year! Increase your businesses’ foot traffic with coupons and giveaways. You are encouraged to provide items that are useful and imaginative – discount coupons, magnets, rulers, calendars, etc. will be of more interest and use than a simple brochure. For details, contact Scott Jonson at 253-582-9400 at the Chamber.
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Welcome Our Newest Members!
3GEES Media, LLC
Shon Sullivan, Owner
10116 36th Avenue Ct., SW, Suite 109
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-435-9901
Web development company with 15 years of experience.
AAMCO Transmissions
Dale Henderson
12006 Pacific Highway SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-581-2725
Locally owned and operated. AAMCO services transmissions to tune ups and everything in between. Fastest growing name in total car care.
Always Able 2 Handyman Service
Scott Kidwell, Owner
10209 Bridgeport Way SW, B6
Lakewood, WA 98499
206-902-8143
Home repair, remodel and maintenance. Emergency response.
Always Best Care Senior Services
Phil Natsiopoulos, Owner
6020 Main Street, Suite M
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-534-9596
Non-medical, in-home care, assisted living placement services.
B & G Heating and Cooling, LLC
Jerry DeLay, President
P.O. Box 24957
Federal Way, WA 98023
253-797-1099
Service, repair, install, all gas, electric heating systems.
Beaux Arts Studio
Lorie McCloskey
1426 SW Dash Point Road
Federal Way, WA 98023
253-838-2941
Photography
Comcast Business Services
Brandon Arenas, Business Account Executive
440 Yauger Way SW
Olympia, WA 98502
253-405-7797
I can provide customers with business class phone, internet and TV services tailored to their individual needs.
Glass F/X
Debra Butterton, Owner
5700 100th Street SW, Ste. 330-243
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-380-4858
We are your affordable glass solution for all your auto glass needs. Locally owned.
Hands of Light Massage
Karen Groce, Licensed Massage Practitioner
6212 75th St. SW, Ste. 1
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-459-3371
Provide massage therapy in several modalities such as Accupressure, Shiatsu, Reiki, Reflexology. Ordained minister, Reiki Master providing wedding & civil service ceremonies. Reiki Training & Attunement.
The Healthy Buzz
Kia Hanson
P.O. Box 64885
University Place, WA 98464
253-640-8582
Let us help you make a BUZZ!! A newsletter based on health & wellness, we are here to connect you to our community.
Hotel Murano
Tom Ebner, Director of Sales
1320 Broadway Plaza
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-572-3200
World class art and dedication to providing our guests with top-notch service. Voted number 6 on the Conde’ Nast Travelers readers choice.
Jonz Catering & Food Concepts, Inc.
David Dagley, Executive Chef
1905 Bridgeport Way W
Tacoma, WA 98466
253-274-0443
We are committed to providing exceptional food served beautifully. Large or small, elegant or casual, we want to make your experience one that you will never forget
Lakewood Subchapter AUSA
Larry Saunders, President
12904 – 65th Avenue Ct. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-682-7337
AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organization that supports America’s Army – Active, National Guard, Reserve, Civilians, Retirees and family members. AUSA provides numerous Professional Development Opportunities at a variety of events both local and national.
MunozMedia
Idalie Munoz Munoz, President/CEO
P.O. Box 4204
Federal Way, WA 98063
206-458-0001
Advertising, public relations, marketing and niche Hispanic market.
Oce’ North America
Susan Johnson, Account Executive
1300 SW 7th Street, Ste. 100
Renton, WA 98057
425-873-1720
Imaging Technology.
Omni Financial
Jaime Eligio, GM
14815 Union Avenue SW
Lakewood, WA 98498
253-588-6664
Omni Financial provides financial services to all active duty service members of the military and retirees.
PuroClean Disaster Recovery
John & Sandy Shaffer, Owners
2121 20th Street SE
Puyallup, WA 98372
253-200-3131
Clean and dry after water and fire loss. Mold remediation. “The Paramedics of Property Damage.”
Quality 1st Pest Solutions
Dave McMullan, Owner
13602 108th Avenue Ct. E
Puyallup, WA 98374
253-226-2206
Residential and commercial pest services.
SERVPRO of Tacoma
Allyson Hinzman, Owner
5013 Pacific High E., Ste. 15
Fife, WA 98424
253-896-3000
Restoration, mitigation & cleaning services. Including: fire, soot, water removal, mold mitigation and remediation, move-outs/content restoration, carpet/upholstery/ceiling/walls cleaning and deodorization.
Soul Purpose Lifestyle Company
Antoinette Nelson, Diamond Executive
1473 Montgomery Street
Dupont, WA 98327
253-988-7194
Soul Purpose is … a different kind of company. We are committed to improving your lifestyle, providing you with high quality natural products protecting our environment and our planet and providing you with an empowering business opportunity for entrepreneurship and prosperity … we want to bring you the world; we want to bring you joy; it’s our Soul Purpose.
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Thank you for Reinvesting in the Lakewood Chamber!
30 & More Years Mountain View Funeral Oakbrook Golf & Country Club
15 & More Years Lakewood Towing Retired Lieutenant General Bill Harrison Tillicum/America Lake Gardens Community Center
10 & More Years
AA Party Rentals James Guerrero Architects, Inc. Lakewood Area Shelter Association Pacific Northwest Insurance Brokerage, Inc.
5 & More Years Arbor Pointe Apartment Homes Bohns’ Biz Edward Jones –Brad Ortega Great Promotions! Harold Allen Northwest Commercial Bank Patriots Landing South Tacoma Glass Specialists St. Mary’s Episcopal School & Church Tacoma Dome Windermere Real Estate – Helm
1 to 4 Years Alliance Property Services Army and Air Force Exchange Bridgeport Place Retirement & Assisted Living Carrs Restaurant Center for Independence Design Gallery Lakewood Ford Rolf’s Import Auto Troy University UPS Store World Ventures |
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Short Takes
Local
Chamber Board Nominations Being Accepted
The Nominating Committee will accept nominations of candidates to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors for fiscal year 2010-11. Nominations will be accepted through July 9, 2010.
Candidates can be nominated by petition bearing the genuine signatures of at least ten members in good standing of the Chamber. The petition must be filed with the Nominating Committee no later than 5:00 p.m., July 12, 2010, at the offices of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, 4650 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
Upcoming Lakewood United Schedule
The Lakewood United group meets at 7 AM every Thursday at Burs Restaurant, located at 6151 Steilacoom Boulevard SW in Lakewood. The events for the month is as follow:
July 8, 2010 - Our First Six Months on the Lakewood City Council – Councilpersons Mike Brandstetter, Mary Moss and Jason Whalen
July 15, 2010 – 28th District Representative Candidates – Steve O’Ban, Paul Wagemann and Brian Wurts
July 22, 2010 – “What does the Pierce County Auditor do anyway?” - Julie Anderson
July 29, 2010 – Economic Development in Lakewood - Update – Ellie Chambers-Grady, Economic Development Manager, City of Lakewood
Lakewood United website: http://communities.southsound.com/main.wsi?group_id=138
Get out the vote! Keep encouraging your co-workers and employees to register to vote and get involved in this year's elections. The deadline to register to vote is July 19th to be eligible to vote in the August 17th Primary Election, so there is still plenty of time to conduct a voter registration drive in your workplace.
We’re Fishing for Ideas…YOURS Yes! We’re interested in what’s going on with your business. And so are other Chamber Members. Please pass this along to the person who maintains your mailing list and ask that they add lsmith@lakewood-wa.com to your mailing list for story inclusion in the Chamber Newsletter. Thank you!
State
Governor calls for budget reform
Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled a new budget-building process last week aimed at helping the state address an estimated $3 billion shortfall for 2011-13. "There are no sacred cows. We're going to ask new and challenging questions about every single program in state government," Gregoire said at a press conference. Among the questions: Is an activity an essential service? Can it be performed by an entity outside state government? Can it be eliminated or delayed? As part of the effort, Gregoire also announced the appointment of a panel of leaders from outside government, including AWB President Don Brunell, to provide input on state spending. This isn’t the first time Gregoire has called for the sacrifice of sacred cows, The News Tribune noted with a dash of skepticism. In order to be a success, the exercise must produce real reforms that shape the governor’s budget proposal. Anti-state income tax campaign goes online Alarmed by the prospect of a state income tax? Now you can go online and sign the pledge to defeat Initiative 1098, a ballot measure that seeks to impose an income tax on Washingtonians for the first time. Supporters of the tax plan appear to have enough signatures to place the initiative on the November ballot. If they do, and if the initiative passes, it is bad news for the state. I-1098 tax will raise taxes by $1 billion at a time when our state can least afford it. It will hurt small businesses, reduce job creation and weaken our fragile economy. For more information on the campaign to stop this misguided initiative, visit Defeat1098.com Liquor sales privatization Initiative 1100 will likely be on November ballot Supporters of Initiative 1100 delivered boxes of petitions to state elections officials Wednesday, making it likely that voters will get to decide in November whether to end the state’s monopoly on the sale and distribution of hard liquor. According to the campaign, spearheaded by Costco, the petitions included more than 390,000 voter signatures. About 241,000 valid voter signatures are required to qualify for the ballot. The state will likely verify the petition drive in early July. Gregoire joins with three other governors to fight lawsuit against health-care reform A federal judge denied a request last week from Gov. Chris Gregoire and the governors of Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania to weigh in against the lawsuit challenging the new health-care reform law. Gregoire and the other governors sought permission to file a brief in support of the Obama administration's motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed by the Florida attorney general in March, and joined by 20 states, including Washington. The suit also challenges the law’s massive expansion of state Medicaid programs as an assault on state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson said the request was not appropriate at this stage, but left the door open to future participation.
Unemployment benefits will rise next month
Unemployment insurance benefits will rise this month thanks to the recession, according to the state’s Employment Security Department. The loss of numerous low-paying jobs helped increase the average annual wage by 1.9 percent to $47,153, in Washington in 2009. The average wage is used to determine unemployment-insurance benefits. Because of the average wage increase, the minimum and maximum unemployment benefits will rise for new unemployment claims beginning this month. The maximum weekly benefit, calculated at 63 percent of the average weekly wage, will increase $10 to $570. Average annual wage is also used to calculate employers’ unemployment taxes. Beginning in 2011, employers will pay taxes on the first $37,300, up from $36,800, officials said
National
CBS/NYT Poll: Majority thinks White House lacks jobs plan.The New York Timesreports that, according to a new Times/CBS News poll, "Despite intense news coverage and widespread public concern about the economic and ecological damage from the gulf disaster, most Americans remain far more concerned about jobs and the nation's overall economy. And in that regard, President Obama does not fare well: 54 percent of the public say he does not have a clear plan for creating jobs, while only 34 percent say he does, an ominous sign heading into this fall's midterm elections. Respondents were nearly evenly split on the president's handling of the economy -- 45 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove," while "his job approval rating remains just below 50 percent." The Washington Post notes House majority leader Steny Hoyer said that "tax cuts that benefit the middle class should not be 'totally sacrosanct' as policymakers try to plug the nation's yawning budget gap." According to the Post, Hoyer was "acknowledging that it would be difficult to reduce long-term deficits without breaking President Obama's pledge to protect families earning less than $250,000 a year." Hoyer said he "expects Congress to extend middle-class tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration that are set to expire at the end of this year," but "said the extension should not be permanent" and "said he plans to call for a 'serious discussion' about the affordability of the tax breaks."
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Thank you 110% Club!
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Geri Magee
Accountability Counseling Services
Gold
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Shawn Gagnon
Weinand & Associates, CPA's
Silver
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Kathy Drake
Colonial Life
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Carolyn Osborne
Creative Forces - Sacred Embers
| 2009-2010 Board of Directors | |||
| Executive Committee | Board of Directors | Ex-Officios | Staff |
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Rick Stevens, Chair GEICO Direct
Mike Block, Chair Elect Columbia Bank
Vicky Nelson, Treasurer Harborstone Credit Union
Shawn Gagnon, Secretary Weinand & Associates
Greg Bakamis, Past Chair Great American Casino
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Jim Charboneau Country Kennels
Terry Donahue Pioneer Services
Jaimie Garrett Cobalt Mortgage
Donna Haines CoinForce.com
Kenneth Leonard America's Credit Union
David Lobban Lobban Photography
Charlie Maxwell Lakewood Refuse
Mike Stevenson Brink & Sadler, CPA's |
Debbie LeBeau Clover Park School District
Bret Farrar Lakewood Police Department
Ellie Chambers-Grady City of Lakewood
Hallie McCurdie Lakewood Fire Department
Tony Robinson Clover Park Technical College
Denise Yochum Pierce College
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Linda K. Smith President/CEO
Mary Ann Miller Membership Director
Scott Jonson Visitor Services & Office Administration
Beth Tate Visitor Information Services
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July 2010 Calendar
Contact and DirectionsTo get to the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce from Interstate 5, Take exit # 125 (toward Lakewood/McChord AFB exit). From south bound, turn right onto Bridgeport Way SW continue 1.8 miles From north bound, turn left onto Bridgeport Way SW continue 1.8 miles Turn right onto Gravelly Lake Drive continue 1 mile Turn right on Steilacoom Boulevard SW Turn right immediately past the fire station at the stop light. Entering Clover Park Technical College's Campus, turn left into the parking lot for Building 19. We are located in the Center for Business Development, in Suite 109. |
4650 Steilacoom Blvd
Building 19, Suite 109
We are open 7 days a week to serve you! 9 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday
10 am - 3 pm Saturday and Sunday |