February 2009 - Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce

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Vol. No. 7 • Issue No. 8 • February 2009
Chamber Partners to Offer Education Training
IN THIS ISSUE
New & Renewing
Members ................4-5
Who’s that Member ...3
Book of the Month.....3
Announcements ........7
Fun Fact ....................8
Each year the Skagit Valley Tulip festival, in
conjunction with the chambers, offers a training
session in preparation for the festival. This years
training will be held at The Hampton Inn, 1860
South Burlington Blvd, in Burlington.
At the session we review the festival events and
activities, training for front-line staff and/or business owners.
This year Duane Collette, an instructor with
the Business Management Technology program at
Skagit Valley College, has agreed to do a presenta-
2009 Legislative Session
The majority of the Mount Vernon Chamber
members are members who own and operate small
businesses. You are the grassroots support and make
a difference when you contact your legislators, and
we encourage you to do so through our action alerts
and information posted on our governmental affairs
page on our website, Friday morning conference
calls and information in our Chamber Chat newslet-
Mission:
As a regional Chamber we serve and
promote our members and proactively encourage economic growth.
We support members by providing
information, training, networking
opportunities and advocacy.
tion on conflict resolution something that all
businesses could use help with. The training will
be in the morning, with a continental breakfast
and networking from 8:30am to 9:00 am, with
training from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Thanks to the
sponsorship from Key Bank we can offer this
training free to all Tulip Festival sponsors and all
chamber members, additional attendees will be
charged $10. Space is limited so please contact
Nancy Jankelson to RSVP at 428-5959 or at
nancy@tulipfestival.org.
ter.We have posted the first update of the 2009 session, please read over it, look at the bills that may be
of interest to you and call if you have questions.
We all know that we are in an economy right
now that we have not experienced in a longtime. All
businesses are struggling to keep their doors open. A
lot of small businesses such as yourselves have your
cont’d on page 3
Better Than A Banquet Business of the Year Recipients
Congratulations to Better a
Than a Banquet Business of
the Year Recipients. Small
Business of the Year: Donna
Backman, Backman
Marketing; Medium Business
of the Year: Adrian
Santangelo, Computer Source;
Large Business of the Year:
Tracy Willis, Country
Meadow Village.
THE MOUNT VERNON
CHAMBER
of COMMERCE
Phone: (360) 428-8547
Fax: (360) 424-6237
www.mountvernonchamber.com
chamber@mountvernonchamber.com
PO Box 1007, 105 East Kincaid Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-1007
Chamber Chat News is designed by
Guy D. Corp of grafixCORP.
LEGACY
Platinum Members:
Silver Members:
MEMBERS
Bronze Members:
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Mount V
Who’s that Member?
Each month, the Mount Vernon
Chamber of Commerce will randomly
select a member to feature. This is a great
way to get to know some of the diverse and
interesting businesses in our community.
Learned Commercial
Showcase Your Business with
This month Learned Commercial
is our feature member. Owned and
operated by Clay and Virginia Learned
in Burlington, Learned Commercial is
a commercial real estate services
provider that has been in Skagit
County for 20 years. Clay reports that
their main service is brokerage and
consulting but they also offer commercial real estate leasing and are the only
commercially focused real estate in
Skagit Count. Having grown up in
Skagit Valley and witnessing local businesses such as the “Bony Pony” and
“Stowe’s” persevere through economic
flux over the years has been an inspiration to him in his own business. When
asked about his biggest business success Clay is clear that starting his own
company, has been his biggest success.
Being a member of the Mount Vernon
Chamber has increased his businesses
name recognition throughout the valley and helped to build strong business
relationships.
FULL COLOR
Brochures, Product Sheets, Sales Sheets & Flyers
Call us today! 360.416.2142
www.courierprint.com
Book of the Month
Each month, the Mount Vernon
Chamber of Commerce scouts a book to help
you improve your business and work life.
These books are available for loan at the
Chamber office to all Chamber members.
Take time to read and learn!
Book of the Month: Power of Tact by
Peter Legge
In this book, bestselling author
and internationally acclaimed motivational speaker Peter Legge shares
his invaluable insights and practical
advice on how a tactful manner can
improve your life. Whether you apply
them to business or to your personal
life, his words of wisdom will help
you to uncover for yourself the
incredible Power of Tact. The Power
of Tact is a short and easy read.
Limited to 10 chapters this book
reviews diplomacy, persuasion, communication, conflict resolution,
negotiation, apologies, and more.
Mr. Legge utilizes examples and
insights from his own business career
to show how tact can be a powerful
tool in our day-to-day interactions
with others, whether at work, home,
socializing, or while traveling.
His examples of how to use tact
really shouldn’t surprise anyone, but
most will find them useful reminders
two
of many of the things our mothers
taught us. This book is a wonderful
read offering real life views and situations for examination.
And
although the whole concept may
sound old fashioned the simple act of
treating others with consideration
can have far more impact than you
might think.
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Prediction Marketing: Using the
‘Wisdom of the Crowds’
Ricardo Harvin
E-mail Questions for Tech Tools to
techtools@uschamber.com.
If two heads are better than one,
then imagine the potential benefits of
having dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of them working on developing or
determining new products and services
for your business.
That’s the basic concept behind the
growing industry of prediction marketing-harnessing the wisdom of many to
help you decide where to focus your
time, energy, and money.
Prediction marketing software develops processes for generating ideas and collecting input from employees, partners,
and customers on anything from changes
to your product line to project completion
schedules (for example, whether your new
store will open on time).
You can solicit contributions from a
select group (just your product development team), open it to all employees, or
extend it to people outside the company.
Include incentives to encourage participation. It may be enough to simply recognize the person who submits the “winning” idea or whose prediction comes
closest to the overall consensus.
If you’re soliciting input or feedback
from customers, you may want to offer
them a small discount or the opportunity to be among the first to benefit from
what comes out of the process.
Legislitive session – cont’d from page 1
lifetime and your savings tied up in your
business. We need to work together with
your legislators and let them know the
struggles you are going through and that
we don’t need more regulation or taxes
on us in this struggling time. Here are
just a few of the bills the Mount Vernon
Expect a wide variety of submissions and weed out those that are not
feasible or that you know will not help
your business. Present a pared down list
of ideas that your market will judge.
The methods by which your market
will judge the ideas and input you present range from simple voting to sophisticated exchanges that function like stock
markets, allowing people to use virtual
money in order to “bet” on what they
like (the new widget idea) and “sell”
what they don’t like (the new store will
open six weeks late).
Prediction markets work best when
there’s a diverse group of participants;
the answer comes from the group and
isn’t dictated from the top; participants
act based on their own knowledge and
insight, not on what others think; and
you use the results to make business
decisions.
At least one product allows you to
run small, full-featured markets for 45
days at no cost (see E-Sources). In most
cases, your cost will be determined by
the size, type, and complexity of your
market.
Let prediction markets help you
start tapping into the wisdom that’s all
around you.
For more information on the U.S.
Chamber and how they are “Fighting for
Your Business” visit them online at
www.uschamber.com
Chamber is watching with the
Association of Washington Business.
The Mount Vernon Chamber will also
follow closely the Anacortes-Sydney BC
ferry run and supports the Anacortes
Chamber effort in this work. Go to
saveourferries.org
Chamber Members descend on the State Capital for Chamber Day
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three
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Mount
V
Welcome
Welcome New Members
New Bronze Legacy Members
Tiffany, Victoria
& Mandy of
Fidalgo
Networking accept
their new Bronze
Legacy Member
Plaque
Fidalgo Networking
David Fisher
1725 Continental Place, Suite D
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360)-542-9660
www.fidalgo.net
Internet Service Provider
Referred by Karen Mills
New Members
Accounting & Business
Solutions
Teresa Pugh
1700 Lindsay Loop
Mount Vernon, WA
(360) 424-3475
Bookkeeping / Business
Consultants
Referred by Karen Mills
American Cancer Society
Casey Henson
728 134th St. SW, Ste 101
Everett, WA 98204
(425) 322-1116
www.relayforlifeofskagit.org
Non-Profit
Referred by Karen Mills
Conway Pub and Eatery
Justin Sheridan
18611 Main Street
Conway, WA
(360) 333-9401
Restaurant / Pub
Referred by Tammi Wells
Country Meadow Village
Tracy Willis
1501 Collins Road
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
(360) 856-0404
www.villageconcepts.com
Retirement - Assisted Living
Recruited by Kris Tully
Curious Good Antiques
Brad York & Jo BuckhamYork
18573 Main Street
Conway, WA
(360) 445-2068
Antiques & Collectibles
Referred by Tammi Wells
Denise Davis, LMP
Denise Davis
2222 Riverside Dr, Suite 701
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 421-2303
four
Tammy & Larry
Custer of Liberty
Tax Service accept
their new Bronze
Legacy Member
Plaque
Liberty Tax Service
Larry & Tammy Custer
425 E College Way Ste 120
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 424-9392
Tax Services
Referred by Tammy Custer
Massage Therapy
Referred by Tammy Ziegler
Fire Mountain Solar, LLC
Alana Nelson
18388 Periwinkle Lane
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
(360) 422-5610
www.firemountainsolar.com
Renewable Energy Product
Sales & Installation
Referred by Karen Mills
Foss Heating & Cooling
Willie Gravley
333 E. Blackburn Rd., Ste A
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 336-1517
www.fossheating.com
Heating & Cooling
Referred by Karen Mills
Garden Cafe
Ray Avery
924 Beachly Road
Sedro Woolley, Wa 98284
(360) 848-9189
www.skagitvalleygardens.com
Restaurants & Dining
Recruited by Tammi Wells
HDR Engineering Inc.
Bob Powell
325 E. George Hopper Rd.
Burlington, WA 98233
(360) 588-7000
www.hdrinc.com
Engineering
Referred by Dave Johnson
HR Strategies
Matt McKay
PO Box 1815
Anacortes, WA 98221
(360) 708-2034
HR Consulting
Self Referred
Mount Vernon Electric LLC
Lisa Bull
618 West Hazel
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 336-1968
www.mtvernonelectrical.com
Contractors ~ Electrical
Referred by Tiffany Loomis
Mt. Baker Orchid Society
Richard Oosterwyk
919 156th St. NE
Arlington, WA 98223
(360) 652-6988
Home & Garden
Recruited by Tammi Wells
MRP One Consulting
Murry Park
PO Box 2265
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 422-8609
www.mrpone.com
Business Consultants
Referred by Kristen
Whitener
Noel Communications
Allen Meeks
901 E. Pitcher Street
Yakima, WA 98907
(360) 296-8042
www.noelcomm.com
Telecommunications
Referred by April Soria
Northwest Audits LLC
Sheran Blake
23767 Kamloop Ct
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 770-7919
Auditing
Referred by Sheran Blake
Orion Insurance Group
Brandy Burr
4208 198th St. SW
Lynwood, WA 98036
(425) 293-1452
www.orioninsgroup.com
Insurance / Bonding
Referred by Beau McCallum
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New Members – cont’d
Reality
Kelli Hutchens
18600 Main Street
Conway, WA
(360) 708-1318
Women's Clothing/Accessories/Gifts
Referred by Tammi Wells
Skagit Bold Solutions
Rachael Willett
PO Box 304
Bow, WA 98232
(360) 708-3514
www.skagitboldsolutions.com
Marketing Consultants
Referred by Tammi Wells
Staged for Success Interiors
Julie Conner
4813 Beaver Pond Drive South
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
(360) 540-3612
www.StagingWashington.com
Interior Design / Senior Move Management
Recruited by Teresa Pugh
The Clothes Line Consignment Boutique
Erica Griffith
1501 Parker Way #106
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 424-3482
www.theclotheslinemtv.com
Children's & Maternity Retail Consignment
Referred by Sandy Yougren
Take Shape For Life
Joanne & Lee Breuer
PO Box 1054
Anacortes, WA 98221
(360) 420-7367
www.weightbusterstsfl.tsfl.com
Health, Wellness & Nutrition
Referred by April Soria
The Soup Bowl
1129 A Riverside Drive
Mount Vernon, WA 98723
(360) 848-7687
Restaurants & Dining
Referred by Karen Mills
Thank You...
to these Members who have continued their
Membership Investment.
Thank You
Renewing Bronze Legacy Members
Wycoff Insurance
Janette Carroll, DDS
501 S. 2nd St
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 336-2112
www.wycoffinsurance.com
2210 Kulshan View Dr.
Burlington, WA 98233
(360) 840-1148
www.janettecarroll.com
Renewing Members
Lyon's Furniture
Mira Vista Care Center
Native Springs
Pacific Northwest Real Estate Services
Peter's Towing
Sign Pro of Skagit Valley
Skagit County Community Action Agency
Tazer Valley Farm
The Gathering Christian Church
The Tattered Page Bookstore
Town & Country Chiropractic
United First Financial
Allstate Insurance - Carl Angell
Alzheimer's Assoc. / Western & Central Wa
Avalon Links, Inc
Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Burlington
Banner Bank
Budget Towing
Concrete Nor'West
Draper Valley Farms
E.D.A.S.C.
Edward Jones Timothy U. Price
LaConner Seafood & Prime Rib House
Lincoln Theatre
Calendar of Events
Biz Buzz Breakfast
February 20, 2009
7:30am-8:30am
Best Western Cottontree Inn
Skagit Young Professionals
March 3, 2009 at Kyoto Kitchen,
Japanese Restaurant. 2001 E. College
Way, Mount Vernon, WA
5:00pm to 7:00pm
Please note special time
Tourism Training
February 27, 2009
9:00am-12:00pm
The Hampton Inn
1860 South Burlington Blvd
Membership Luncheon
February 25, 2009
11:30am-1:00pm
Best Western Cottontree Inn
Sponsored by
Less Than 6 Degrees After Hours
March 12, 2009
5:00pm-7:00pm
Sponsored by
www . m o u n t v er n o n c h a m b e r . c o m
f ive
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Why Go Green?
Experts Tout the Benefits
MacGregor
“The Plaid Books”
The word is out: Greener is better,
and the business community is responding to marketplace demands by implementing green initiatives, according to
environmental sustainability and business experts.
“Environmental sustainability is a
decision that is being made in board
rooms every day based on a dialogue
with shareholders, not Congress,” Alison
Taylor, director of government affairs for
Siemens AG, told an audience of business and government representatives at a
U.S. Chamber event.
Businesses are increasingly focusing
on environmental issues, according to
Taylor and other business experts. Below
are some of the benefits of greening your
business.
Become more efficient. Going
green reduces energy and water use as
well as waste.
Satisfy changing consumer tastes.
Consumers are asking for, and are
expecting, greener practices.
Better position your brand. A brand
with environmentalism as a core value
has a certain cachet.
Improve supply chain security.
Companies that produce green products are intimately familiar with their
suppliers.
Tap new technologies. Rapidly
growing green and environmental technologies have great potential.
Ease compliance with permitting
processes. With more states and municipalities
imposing
environmental
requirements, going green can speed up
the permitting process. Green building
must meet standards above and beyond
the typical local requirements.
Improve employee retention and
morale. In survey after survey, employees, particularly younger ones, say that
they feel good about working for companies that care about the environmental
impact on their communities.
You can nominate a community for
the
2009
Siemens
Sustainable
Community Awards, by going to
www.uschamber.com/bclc/sustainablecommunity
Bernie Award in Memory of Bernadette Roozen
“Say Yellow to the Future”
17869 SR 536 • Mount Vernon, WA 98273 USA
(360) 336-6171 • Fax (360) 428-3052
www.yellowbook.com
Barb Lowery, Peoples Bank, recipient of the 2007 Bernie Award, presents the award to
Dr. John Jarolimek, Town & Country Chiropractic with the 2008 award
six
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Member Announcements
Skagit BOLD Solutions - A New
Marketing Company Launches in
Skagit County
Skagit BOLD Solutions, a marketing
and public relations company, is now
open for business. BOLD offers clients
access to an experienced marketing professional, without the cost and commitment of expanding their staff. For more
information
visit
www.SkagitBOLDSolutions.com or call
360.708.3514.
The Skagit/Island Counties Builders
Association is available for referrals to
help with damages you may have
incurred from the inclement weather.
Our member companies are available to
help with repairs to your home and/or
businesses from roofers, painters, drywallers, electricians, plumbers, or businesses with products to purchase. For
referrals, please call 360-757-6916 or
visit our website, www.sicba.org
Sponsorship packages and booth spaces
available now for Skagit County
Fairgrounds
We have had an exciting year at our
community Fairgrounds and 2009 will
be no exception as we have added a fabulous new event to our calendar, the
first “Skagit Free Kid’s Day at the Fair”
on May 30, 2009. For more information
please
contact
Skagit
County
Fairgrounds at (360) 336-9453
In honor of National Heart Month,
United General Hospital offers the following classes and services for you, your
family and friends. Cholesterol screenings, Get Fit at United General’s Mall
Walk, Creative Dance ($40), Beginning
Yoga ($40), Walk or Run How to get
started Heart Nutrition, Healthy Heart,
Healthy Brain, Please call (360) 8567245 for registration or information, or
email: wellness360@unitedgeneral.org.
GoSkagit Team Reintroduces Story
Commenting
On Tuesday, January 27, 2009 goskagit
will stop using the forums to facilitate
story commenting. In its place we will
reintroduce story commenting as it once
existed on goskagit, but with a few
enhanced features. We have done our best
to preserve the tools and features that you
have been using. www.goskagit.com
BMR Design+Advertising is proud to
announce and introduce its new name:
BrandQuery, LLC.Over the years,
BMR’s work evolved into an integrated
strategy process. A process that was
defined as BrandQuery in the fall of
2007 with respect to how the company
works with clients. The ownership of
BrandQuery, LLC remains the same as it
was under BMR Design+Advertising
solely owned and operated by Jacque L.
Beamer.
Washington Bulb Co., Inc recognizes
Professionals in Human Resources
Jaynie Roozen, Office Manager, and
Polly Welch, Vice President, of
Washington Bulb Co., Inc. both recently
became certified as Professionals in
Human Resources through HRCI.
Certification is obtained after passing an
exam. Jaynie received her certification as
a PHR and Polly as an SPHR.
Michele Conterez, Sales Manager of
Sound Cedar Company in Mount
Vernon, sold and shipped over 14,000
linear feet of clear, pre-stained Western
Red Cedar siding to finish the 4,600
square foot Margarido House in
Northern California. That was completed in December 2008, became certified
as Northern California’s first LEED-H
Platinum Green Home, earned the
highest honor given by the U.S. Green
Building Council. The project was completed in December of 2008.
Upbeat Award Winner
Adrian Santangelo, Computer Source
April Axthelm, Axthelm
Construction presented
Adrian Santangelo, Computer
Source the Upbeat Award for
January 2009
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seven
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Your single source office technology provider
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• Low Cost Color Printing Systems • Improved Workflow Efficiencies
• Digital Printers & Copiers
D
1575 Port Drive
www
ww.oas
oasys
ysinc.c
inc.com
om
360-755-0309
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We build <b> great </b>
web sites that work.
Can’t escape the same
old mousetrap?
e-Commerce Shopping Carts • Animation • Database Integration
PRINT
•
ILLUSTRATION
•
WEB
Guy D. Corp, CCO Chief Creative Officer
360.424.5268 | www.grafixCORP.com
Printwise has built a totally new one.
360-424-5945 (office) • 2226 Market Street • Mount Vernon, WA 98273 • www.printwiseinc.com
O F F I C E
S T A F F
President/CEO
Kristen Whitener, IOM
Membership/Tourism
Director
Karen Mills
Amelia Cook, MBA
VIC
Keith Ridgley
Marinus Rouw
April Soria
Thank You VIC Volunteers
Arliss Abbott
Bob Johnson
Michael B. King
Florrie Reep
Bud Whitney
We Appreciate You!
B O A R D
Chair
Did Hagman
Valley Cabinets Kitchens
and More
Past Chair
Teresa Pugh
Accounting & Business
Solutions
Vice Chair
Mark Hulst
Dally's Auto Body
Treasurer
Kent L Erickson
SB Insurance of Summit
Bank
O F
D I R E C T O R S
Legal Counsel
Deb Bundy
Rachelle Eason
Skagit Publishing
The Eason Law Firm, P.S.
Matt Youngsman
Alicia Hushka
Human Resources, Inc.
City of Mount Vernon
Gary Lorenz
Allison Morelan
Skagit Valley Gardens
Relaxation Station
Beau McCallum
Pete Vander Muelen
Action Pages
Diversint
David Wolfson
Dr. Carl Bruner,
Home Furniture Design
Superintendent
Mount Vernon School
Dave Johnson
District
Skagit PUD
Paul Pickering
Tammy Custer
Assistant Treasurer
Max Dale's Steak & Chop Liberty Tax
Frank Tuzzolino
House
Geiger's Custom Cleaning
Patt Woods
Sound Cedar
Kim Bockencamp
Best Western
CottonTree
Inn
FUN FACT
of THE MONTH
The average American con-
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
MOUNT VERNON, WA
PERMIT No. 47
PO Box 1007
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-1007
Phn: 360.428.8547
Fax: 360.424.6237
www.mountvernonchamber.com
sumes enough caffeine in one
year to kill a horse in one dose.