Klc may2014

Business ConnectionK e l s o L o n g v i e w C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Volume 6, No. 5 May 2014

FridayMay 2-June 6 – 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Small Business BootcampHuman Resource Series

Lower Columbia College, Heritage RoomSix Pack: $100; Individual

Sessions: $25 eachRegister at

www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

WednesdayMay 7 – 5:30 p.m.

Pillars of Strength: Business and Education Awards

Cowlitz Regional Conference Center$35 per person/$280 for a table of eight

Register atwww.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Thursday

May 8 – 4:30 p.m.Ribbon CuttingGuild Mortgage

1225 Broadway Street, Longview

FridayMay 9 – 4:30 p.m.Ribbon Cutting

Kelso Longview ElksThree River Golf Course

2222 S. River Road, Kelso

TuesdayMay 13 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Business After HoursStageworks Northwest

$15 advance/$20 at doorRegister at:

www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Calendar

Golf tournament measures up to hype

Dave Taylor is hesitant to say how long he’s either been participating in, or help-ing put on, the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce’s Golf Classic, but it’s safe to say it was around the time Richard Nixon was President.

“The history of that tournament goes way back. It’s a premiere event here,” said Taylor, who sits on the hard-work-ing Golf Classic committee along with Dr. Clay Bartness, Russ Chittock, Scott Fischer and Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Marcum. “It’s a lot of fun to play in and network with other

people – fun and fellowship.”

This year’s Golf Classic is set for June 16 at the Longview Country Club. Competi-tion, or play, begins at noon and contin-ues through the day, concluding around 6 p.m. with a barbecue dinner and awards ceremony at the clubhouse.

Entry fee, before June 1, is $500 for a team of four, or $125 for an individual. That price includes 18-holes of “fellow-ship,” lunch, some time, if you need it, at the driving range, entry into a $10,000 putting contest, attendance at the awards

Please see Golf, page 2

Closest to the pin winners can come down to inches during the Chamber Golf Classic.

2

Kelso Longview Business Connection May 2014

Golf, from page 1

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team

Bill Marcum, CEOAmy Hallock, Bookkeeper

Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce. 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400

To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or e-mail [email protected] Deadline: 20th of each month.

ceremony, the barbecue dinner, a $10,000 hole-in-one opportu-nity and two carts per team.

“There use to be a waiting list,” Taylor said. “You have to be quick and get your entry fee in early. It fills up fast.”

The committee is planning for 100 golfers, lining up more than 40 sponsors like longstanding Chamber member and Premier Sponsor Stirling Honda. Committee members have also been busy garnering more than 50 raffle prizes donated by Chamber members and finding sponsors for each of the 18 holes. Hole Sponsors provide snacks, products and even chances to win great prizes at their booths.

Organizers are planning to use a shotgun and four-person scramble format – all play the best shot, each player must have three drives during the round. All teams will be assigned a start-ing hole with play scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. for all teams.

Prizes will be awarded to the three low net and three low gross teams. Hole-in-one, closest to the pin and long drive will also be awarded.

“It gets us re-acquainted with the business people,” Stirling Honda General Sales Manager Jerry Gee said. “I’m a golfer, sev-eral of our people are.”

Not just any golfers, the Stirling Honda team has won the past two years. Last year’s team of Gee, Gary Martin, Virginia Palm-er and Dennis Eddy scored (gross) 61 on their way to first place. Palmer took top honors for closest to the pin on Hole 3 at 22

feet, 5 inches, while Eddy captured that top honor for Hole 7, landing within 13 feet, 11 inches.

Taylor said the Longview Country Club provides the perfect backdrop for the day’s event and it’s a great way to have fun and raise money for a great cause.

“It is a fundraiser,” he said. “It’s the biggest non-dues revenue event we have.”

According to Marcum, funds raised during the tournament are used for several chamber programs and to assist with schol-arships.

Not Too LateInterested in donating a raffle or auction prize, sign a team

up to golf, or sponsor a hole, please call Bill Marcum at 360-423-8400. You can also register your team at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org.

3


2013 Chamber Golf Classic

Joe McGraw and Jason Reetz of Pacific Tech Construction fire up for a fierce day of compeition.

A little luck never hurts before teeing off for big prize money. Below, Twin Star Credit Union reps hoop it up, while Nick Lemiere of Edward Jones invites folks to take a look.

4


By Ted Sprague President – Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Building relationships with our colleagues in China took a step forward in April as both Lower Columbia College (LCC) Presi-dent Chris Bailey and Longview City Manager Bob Gregory signed agreements with their counterparts in Changzhou City.

I had the privilege of traveling with Mr. Bailey and Mr. Gregory as well as Margit Brumbaugh, Lisa Matye-Edwards and Anna Da-vis of LCC to Changzhou, a city of nearly 6 million people located in the Yangtze River Delta region in eastern China. We spent six days touring facilities, participating in presentations and meeting with representatives from local government, education and their industrial and manufacturing sectors.

Bailey was able to sign an agreement with Changzhou Techni-cal Institute of Tourism and Commerce (CTITC), which could bring up to 30 international students a year to study in Longview. CTITC is a five-year educational institution located in the Jiangsu Province of the City of Changhzhou. The partnership is part of the LCC’s effort to expand its international program, which will both bolster its enrollment and finances, but also expose students to global ideas and cultures.

“Growth at the Port of Longview and the Port of Kalama, reflects the globalization of our region’s economy,” Bailey said. “Both the campus and our community will share the benefits of greater cul-tural understanding and a global perspective on business. We are excited for this excellent opportunity for these institutions, our students and the community.”

On the trip, LCC representatives also visited Yellow River Nurs-ing College in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, and Huaqiao University and Xiamen University in Xiamen City, Fujian Prov-ince. Those institutions have also expressed interest in forming partnerships with LCC for student exchanges.

In the second half of the trip, Gregory signed a letter of intent to

enter into a Sister City agreement with the Qishuyan District of Changzhou City, an area which represents about 120,000 people.

Gregory said the City of Longview and Quishuyan District agreed to make concerted efforts to promote friendly people-to-people contacts and economic cooperation and trade. They agreed to actively carry out exchanges and cooperate with each other in the fields of science, business, technology, culture, sports, health and education.

“Though Changzhou and the District were drivers in wanting to establish this relationship, I was impressed with the District’s sincerity in wanting to explore potential economic cooperation,” Gregory said. “Our citizens are beginning to recognize the value of global relationship to broaden our understanding of the Chi-nese people, both their culture and the Chinese impact on our economy. Our City and many of our community leaders under-stand the need to create a global awareness for our citizens. I think a sister city relationship provides us a direct link and network to a Chinese city and District that shares our exchange interests and that this will provide our local government, businesses, and education system a conduit to further our interests in cultural, educational, and economic diversity.

“I felt the trip was very successful from the standpoint of begin-ning to establishing ties to the City of Changzhou and the Chang-zhou Technical Institute of Tourism and Commerce,” he said. “I am confident the agreement with CTITC will result in interna-tional students attending LCC next fall. These relationships take time to cultivate and I hope we made a great first step in a long term relationship.”

In order to continue to advance the economic and cultural fu-ture of Cowlitz County, we need to pursue every opportunity to enhance our global reach. Successful missions to other countries and welcoming guests from across the globe are the best way to further our mission of improving lives in all of Cowlitz County.

Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Relationship with China takes a step forward with agreements

Location: 1433 Commerce Ave.

Register:www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

5:30-7:30 p.m.

$15 advance/$20 at door

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 Experience the magic of the stage at this exclusive Chamber member event! See a sneak preview of two numbers from the musical “9 to 5.” Tour the theatre facility, and enjoy food, beverage and a chance to win many fabulous prizes!


CEO’s Message

Chamber Golf Classic hooks non-golfers too

6

By Bill Marcum Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce CEO

The Chamber golf tournament will take place Monday, June 16, with more than 100 golfers, nearly 40 sponsors, and more than 50 raffle prizes donated by Chamber members, plus we are hoping for another “Chamber of Commerce Day” similar to last year. Our Premier Sponsor again this year is Stirling Honda and we greatly appreciate their wonderful support.

We will have a $10,000 putting contest sponsored by Fibre Federal Credit Union, a $10,000 Hole in One prize on Hole No. 7 along with other hole in one prizes on the other par 3 holes.

There will be 18 hole sponsors set up near the tee box hand-ing out snacks, products and some even giving you a chance to win cool prizes at their booth. Keep this in mind... a large marshmallow does not fly well with a wood. You will not win.

This is the major fundraiser for the Chamber each year. Funds raised during this tournament are used for several chamber programs and to assist with scholarships. The Chamber of Commerce plans to award $1,000 scholarships this year to local seniors from Mark Morris, RA Long and Kelso high schools. We also provide a $1,000 scholarship for a local student through the Lower Columbia College Foun-dation.

The Chamber will use approximately 40 volunteers during the day, led by our Ambassadors who you will see in their red shirts and jackets assisting with registration, lunch, raffle tickets and an assortment of other duties.

I can’t think of a better way to raise money than with a group of Chamber friends, enjoying a day on the golf course, a fun dinner, handing out a few trophies and seeing a lot of smiles. So, I invite you to come out and spend the day with fellow floggers and help us raise some funds for education.

Check out some of the photos taken last year by C’s Pho-tography on page 3. This could be you having fun this year.

To donate a raffle or auction prize, sign a team up for golf, or sponsor a hole, please give me a call at 360-423-8400. You can also register your team at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org.

Our years of experience add up to Consistent, Courteous & Complete

Title & Escrow Services.

Phone: 360.425.2950 1425 Maple St.Fax: 360.425.8010 Longview, WA 98632

Connie Bjornstrom Lindsey McTimmonds LeeRoy Parcel

Bonnie Woodruff Joel Lengyel Alison Peters Dennis Bird

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Cowlitz Regional Conference Center

5:30-6:15 Dinner Buffet

6:15 Program Begins

$35 per person or Table of 8 @ $280

Registration (Deadline May 2nd)

Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

It is time to honor those in our business and education community who have excelled!

2014

Business & Education Awards

Local, local, local...it’s all about your local community

8


By Chuck Nau Retail Consultant and Sales and Management Trainer Murray & Nau, Inc.

As the economy struggles, your local retailers, service providers and small businesses in the Kelso-Longview area continue to find themselves in an ongoing battle to keep their customers, both old and new, at home, in town, rather than going down the road or online!

These local retailers, service providers and small businesses know that LOCAL awareness to ‘who they are’ and ‘what they do’ will grow and enrich their local business, service or small company AND the Kelso-Longview community.

That LOCAL awareness, the information and guidance about their business and themselves happens through a LOCAL advertising and marketing investment in their LOCAL media. That LOCAL media provides and creates the information resource and marketplace for your community through LOCAL news and advertising.

You kow, as a local business professional, the importance of investing in your LOCAL hometown or community.

What about your customers and clients? What about your community’s retailers, service providers, small businesses, and shoppers (and buyers)?

Why should you, your associates, your friends and your neighbors shop locally?

Good question!Here are five responses and five community benefits to share

with your associates, your customers, your vendors and your friends and neighbors about the importance and value of shopping at home...shopping in your local Kelso-Longview community...shopping with your hometown retailers and service providers.

1It’s an Investment in Your Community! Shopping and buying in your community is an investment. Your dollars spent locally for goods and services STAY IN

YOUR COMMUNITY, helping to build schools, hospitals and fund essential services like police, fire, parks and recre-ation.

2 It Fosters Ecomonic Growth Today and Tomorrow! Shopping dollars spent locally help small businesses, owned and operated by your neighbors and friends,

GROW. New businesses, both retail and service providers, start up when encouraged by the local ecomonic vitality. Business growth and new business start ups increase vari-ety offering a broad assortment of goods and services...All COMPETITIVELY PRICED.

3 It's Giveback! When you shop and buy locally you’re helping your community's business men and women support a wide range of needed community services

and charitable projects...senior centers, local food banks, day care facilities...with time, talent and money.

4 It's FUN and It's Personal! Local merchants and service providers know YOUR COMMUNITY, know YOU and are AVAILABLE to meet your day to day

needs helping to solve life's little problems.The best advice and the best value...always come from some-

one you KNOW!

5 What Goes Around...Comes Around! Investing in local businesses with your shopping dollars fosters growth in your community...adding additional em-

ployment opportunities for your family, friends, neighbors and maybe even YOU! Shopping dollars invested locally stay

Please see Nau, page 9

9


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Helping the retailers in your community create a public awareness of ‘who they are’ and ‘what they do or sell’ helps your community, your retailer, your business, your fam-ily and you GROW. Local advertising and marketing dol-lars invested in local media best represent your community through a Local Environment of news and advertising, creating an information source and marketplace for your community.

© Murray & Nau, Inc.

Chuck Nau of Murray & Nau, Inc. is a Seattle area based consultant and sales and management trainer. He is a 25-year veteran of advertising, sales, media and management, who knows and understands the everyday challenges of starting up, growing, and surviving in today’s ever changing retail climate. He has spoken to and conducted workshops for a number of local retail and chamber organizations, national publishing groups, national retailers and manufacturers, state press associations, and newspaper groups. Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed

to Chuck via e-mail: [email protected] or at 425-603-0984.


10

Lower Columbia Business and Industry Center to grow economy with entrepreneurial solutionsBy Chris Bailey President – Lower Columbia College

Lower Columbia College (LCC) has a broad vision “to be a powerful force for improving lives in our community.” This vision is not viewed only as enhancing the lives of individual students seeking degrees and certificates through our academic programs, but also as a broad statement that reflects our goal to be a major partner in improving the overall economic health of the community.

Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties have long lagged behind state averages in both employment rates and wages. With the development of the Lower Columbia Business and Industry Center, LCC has made a commitment to increase economic prosperity in the region through corporate training programs that serve incumbent workers in our local workforce.

This is in addition to college initiatives to:• produce greater numbers of graduates with two-year

degrees and certificates,• increase the number of adults with baccalaureate degrees

(currently at half of the state average) through creation of a University Center,

• connect with our area's international partners through a more robust International Student Program, and

• provide additional access to education through rural out-reach centers offering a full plate of online learning cours-es and services.

The benefits of the Business and Industry Center Initiative are many. First, it gives both new and incumbent workers the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace, to qualify for pro-motions and to become economically valuable. Second, it al-lows companies to close skills gaps that make local businesses and industries more competitive. Third, local access to flexible and timely training will reduce employer training costs. Finally, a local and effective corporate training center provides an ad-

vantage in recruiting new businesses and industries to the area.

The idea is to meet the specific needs of individual businesses and industries based on their request-ed outcomes – they tell us what they need and we create it for them. LCC then contracts for those services and delivers them when and how the company wants them. The individual busi-ness or industry sets the time, place and outcomes through ne-gotiation. This is a contract-based, entrepreneurial approach where we meet the individual demand of employers.

The Lower Columbia Business and Industry Center can pro-vide incumbent worker training and professional development in a wide range of skill sets, such as:

Workplace Communication• Communication Essentials• Small group communication theory and benefits• Effective small group dynamics and problem-solving• Powerful Business Writing

Organizational Culture• Organizational culture and communication• Managing conflict in groups or interpersonal relationships• Motivating yourself and others• Conflict fundamentals

Leadership• Skills for New Supervisors• Going from Co-Worker to Supervisor• Talent Management and Succession Planning• Time Management and Delegation

Lower Columbia College

Please see LCC, page 11

11


LCC, from page 10Technology• Website design, creation and maintenance• GIS / CAD / Solid Works• Adobe Product Suite A concentrated focus on economic development is critical

at this time as our community continues to recover from the recession and to bring more diversity to the region’s business and industrial base. The Lower Columbia Business and Indus-try Center is designed to serve the specific needs of incumbent workers, regional employers and future industry.

Executive Director Hahli ClarkLeading the new Center will be Executive

Director Hahli Clark. Hahli is familiar to many area employers in her previous role as Manager of Career Pathways and External Outreach. She has worked with local busi-nesses to support career-related learning experiences for students and with company-college partnerships such as High Tech U, the Mount St. Helen’s Institute and Family STEM Night. Through her service leading the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Workforce De-velopment Consortium, serving as the chair of the Kelso-

Longview Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation and a

committee member with the Southwest Washington Workforce

Development Council, Hahli has gained knowledge of the edu-

cational needs faced by local business and industry. A gradu-

ate of Mark Morris High School, Lower Columbia College and

Chaminade University of Honolulu, she understands and val-

ues the benefits to her community of a strong regional economy

and local opportunities.

Anne O’Connoronthemark associates

Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College

Jerri Henry, Past President Futcher-Henry CPA Group

Joel Hanson, PresidentKLOG/KUKN/The Wave

Michael ClaxtonWalstead Mertsching

Lance Welch PeaceHealth

Bianca LemmonsCowlitz County Title Company

Clayton J. Bartness, DCLongview Chiropractic Clinic

Dennis WeberCowlitz County Commissioner

Bob Crisman Gallery of Diamonds

Ted SpragueCowlitz Economic Development Council

Steve TaylorKelso City Manager

Michael JulianKelso Theater Pub

Chet Makinster Longview City Council

Diane Craft, Vice PresidentKoelsch Senior Communities

Linda DiLemboThree Rivers Mall

Julie RinardCommunity Home Health & Hospice

Neil Zick, TreasurerTwin City Bank

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

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12


By Melissa Taylor Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments

During a recent Vancouver business forum we heard that de-mand within the Cowlitz County business community for Small Business Administration (SBA) loan products declined 33 per-cent between 2009 and 2014. With reauthorization for the SBA 504 program pending in Congress, Senator Maria Cantwell hosted a week-long series of field hearings across the state to hear from small business owners about critical issues. Senator Cantwell was appointed chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in February.

Cantwell noted that economic recovery in Southwest Wash-ington has been markedly slower than the Portland-Vancou-ver metropolitan region. The committee took testimony from Southwest Washington small business owners, lenders and economic development leaders about their challenges and suc-cesses in getting loans for local business expansion.

Problems highlighted during the session included a lack of in-formation about existing programs, community sourced capi-tal, and “triple bottom line” lenders. Several alternative sources of business capital, financing and technical assistance are avail-able within the Cowlitz region:

• Longview Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) offers loans from $10,000 to $100,000 for real estate, buildings, construc-tion/reconstruction, expansion and modernization, equipment, and working capital at below-market interest rates. For more information, contact Dave Campbell, assistant city manager, at 360-442-5004 or [email protected]

• The Lending Network is a community-based corpo-ration serving Cowlitz, Lewis and south Thurston counties with below market rate term loans of $25,000 to $250,000 that can be used for land, machinery and equipment, working capital and inventory, and infrastructure development. Businesses in Longview may qualify for loans to establish a new business, ex-pand an existing business, create employment opportunities or to retain existing jobs, and for community development proj-

ects. For more information, contact Tani Gunn at The Lend-ing Network, 360-749-6960 or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.lewisedc.com/lendingnetwork.html

• Craft 3 is a nonprofit community development financial in-stitution with a mission to strengthen economic, ecological and family resilience in Pacific Northwest communities. Craft3 spe-cializes in helping businesses, nonprofits and individuals who cannot get needed financing from traditional sources and pro-vides a wide variety of loans ranging in size from $10,000 to $15 million. Business loans are available for financing commercial real estate, energy efficiency upgrades, start-ups and expansion of businesses needing working capital, acquisitions, inventory, fixtures, equipment and related business property. For more in-formation, call 360-455-4879 or e-mail [email protected]

• Evergreen Business Capital is the Northwest’s leading SBA 504 Loan Program expert, with more than 30 years in the in-dustry. They partner with lenders to provide loans that allow businesses to purchase commercial real estate and equipment using the SBA 504 loan. The 504 loan offers low down payments and low fixed interest rates for terms of up to 20 years, with no balloon payments and no refinancing. For more information, contact the Portland office at 800-878-6613 or visit http://www.evergreen504.com/

• Small Business Administration (SBA) offers debt financ-ing, surety bonds, and equity financing. For more information, visit: http://www.sba.gov/content/what-sba-offers-help-small-businesses-grow

• Crowd funding resources are available at many on-line sites, such as Crowdfunder, Seederalla, SoMoLend, CircleUp, Fund-able and IndieGoGo.

Assistance abounds for local small business community

Council of Governments

360-703-3195WWW.COWLITZBLACKBEARS.COM

FOR TICKETS, CALL ORORDER FROM OUR WEBSITE

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Building Bridges

Making Connections

Red Canoe Credit Union representatives work the showroom April 18 at the

Chamber's Building Bridges event. The regional business showcase provided local

business leaders the opportunity to connect with other leaders and to create new friendships. The event drew hundreds to the

Cowlitz Regional Conference Center.

Longview Urology spent the day gunning for business.

More than 60 businesses participated again this year.

15


By Tim FoleyDirector of Employment and Training ServicesSouthwest Washington Workforce Development Council

The Great Recession taught us that none of us can do it alone. In the nonprofit and social service communities, partnerships are far more common today than they were five or 10 years ago. The accepted method of organizational survival has shifted from competition, to “co-opetition” (cooperating and compet-ing simultaneously), and finally to authentic collaboration that creates a collective impact.

The concept of Collective Impact is commonly defined as the commitment of a group of actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a complex social problem.

Done right, it offers a strengths-based approach to organiza-tional partnerships and results in outcomes that could not be attained by any one partner.

According to a study published in the Stanford Social Innova-tion Review, successful collective impact projects tend to share five conditions:

1. A common agenda2. Mutually-reinforced activities 3. Shared measurement systems4. Continuous communication5. A “backbone” organization to coordinate effortsWith these things in mind, the Southwest Washington Work-

force Development Council (SWWDC) has embarked on an effort to engage local organizations that provide employment services. The objective is to create a collective impact within our community by coordinating and streamlining the process of connecting employers with job candidates who are qualified and ready to work. Our partners in the effort are Lower Co-lumbia College, Longview Goodwill, Wahkiakum Community Center, Vancouver Community Library, Vancouver Housing Authority and WorkSource in Kelso and Vancouver. We want our employers to have great employees and our people to have

great jobs; this is our common agenda. This can look a number of different ways. If, for example, a

resume workshop is being taught at different times by different people at different partner locations, could we have one person teach the class and offer partners the opportunity to connect their customers to the workshop via Skype? This would free up staff time to focus on other things, perhaps things more closely

In 2014, Collective Impact is the name of the game

SWWDC

Jean ChaseHas Joined Our

Property Management Team!

She has the “bases covered” for our “home team”.Go Mariners and Black Bears!

Commercial and Residential Management

• Qualifying and screening tenants

• Collecting and disbursing rents

• Ongoing inspections of property

• Monthly reports to owners

• Order repairs and inspect upon completion

“We treat your property like our own”.

1700 Hudson St., Suite 101Longview, WA 98632

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Please see WorkSource, page 17

16


What are your customers telling you? What questions are you asking them?By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser

Recently, I was traveling for business and I noticed that I seemed to get surveys and ques-tionnaires constantly – during my trip and subsequently via text and e-mail. I usually don’t bother to respond to surveys from large companies – those impersonal, automated, non-caring invasions of my e-mail, text, or voice-mail. I do tend to respond on those rare occasions that a small, local business cares to ask me what I think of my experience at their business. Perhaps I’m rare, (maybe it’s an occupational hazard), I tend to notice what businesses do; I pay more atten-tion to what they don’t do!

How many articles, ads, seminars, or workshops about cus-tomer service or increasing sales have you come across where the message encourages you to spend time and money to de-velop elaborate surveys to send to your customers to ‘hear the voice of the customer’? Have you done it? What difference has it made in your business? Increased sales? Do you know…? What does it cost you?

There is a very powerful body of research done by the con-sulting firm, Bain & Company, more than 10 years ago that at-tempted to find a “simple, practical and actionable indicator of what customers were thinking and feeling about the companies they did business with.” They wanted to develop, “a number that reliably linked these attitudes both to what customers actu-ally did and to the growth of the company. We wanted, in short, to provide a basis for linking improvements in customer loyalty to business outcomes,” according to Bain.

Bain, along with their data partner Satmetrix Systems, tested questions with thousands of customers across multiple in-dustries and found that the way customers responded to one

question consistently predicted behavior.The one question, the ‘Ultimate Question’ is: “How likely is it

that you would recommend Company X [or Product X] to a friend or colleague?”

Researchers found that the answers to this question consistently predicted: • customer retention • repeat purchases • referrals and other indicators of customer loyalty • profit and passion

Just as importantly, this question is quick, respectful, and easy for both customers AND employees. The preferred way to set up your process is to use the common 0 to10 rating scale with the scale where 10 = Extremely Likely and 0 = Not at All Likely to recommend you to a friend. The responses tend to cluster into three groups:

• Promoters (9 or 10) – These are your loyal, enthusiastic fans. • Passives (7 or 8) – They are reasonably satisfied but are not

nearly as likely to remain loyal or refer their friends.• Detractors (0-6) – Detractors are unhappy customers and

account for upwards of 80 percent of negative word-of-mouth.

A very simple way to use this input is to calculate (and pay attention to) what Bain calls a ‘Net Promoter Score,’ which is easy to calculate.

Calculate the percentage of responders that were Promot-ers and subtract the percentage of responders that were De-tractors: Net Promoter Score = % Promoters - % Detrac-tors

This single metric can serve as an easy, powerful customer scorecard for your business. The only follow-up question you need to learn to ask is…’Why?’ Then LISTEN!

Business Toolbox

Please see Petrick, page 17

17


So, the new and improved way to understand what your cus-tomers think goes something like this:

“Thank you for doing business with us, how likely is it that you would recommend ABC Company to your friends?”

Then…ask the key open-ended question: “Why?”This is easy, inexpensive, respectful and a true gift to and from

your customers. I encourage you to step back from your busi-ness for a moment and ask yourself how loyal, happy, satisfied etc. are your customers? How do you know? What are you do-ing to improve your customer loyalty and likelihood to promote your business?

If you want to learn more about the Net Promoter system I suggest you read the book: “The Ultimate Question 2.0” by Fred Reichheld. This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, MBA, CGBP, SPHR,

PMP and Certified Business Adviser with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Longview. Jerry provides no-cost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via e-mail [email protected]

Petrick, from page 16

aligned with each partners’ primary mission.The project highlights each partner’s unique strengths, orga-

nizational goals and staff expertise. By playing to our strengths we believe we can offer exceptional services while also going further to achieve our individual goals. Rather than each of us doing some version of the same thing, we are making efforts to combine and streamline services. In other words, the project is built on mutually-reinforced activities.

A shared measurement system takes time to develop, but the group is committed to this aspect of the project and has begun discussions.

Continuous communication includes singular points of con-tact among partners to address immediate challenges, regular touch points between partner leadership, and quarterly group meetings to discuss progress and make adjustments, if neces-sary.

The SWWDC has assumed the role of backbone organization for several reasons. One, the role fits with our strategic plan mission and goals. Two, we have the staff capacity and expertise to coordinate such a project. And three, as a funding intermedi-ary we are well positioned to attract additional state, federal and foundation grant funds to support this work in the future.

Authentic collaboration is difficult work that often crosses sectors, geography, jurisdictions and funding streams. In an era of high need and scarce resources, a collective impact ap-proach is worthy of consideration. It presents an opportunity to maximize every dollar while also enhancing services based on unique partner strengths. While it may be challenging, it’s worth the effort if it gives our community the best we can col-lectively deliver.Tim Foley is the Director of Employment and Trainings Services

at the SWWDC. Reach Tim at 360-567-1076 or [email protected].

WorkSource, from page 15

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Kelso

Realignment end is in sight

By Mayor David Futcher

The West Main realignment, often discussed and sometimes misunderstood, is coming to an end over the next month. I think one thing we can all agree on is that it will be nice to get back to normal, even though discovering what that means with a new traffic pattern might take a while.

While Catlin Street enjoys a new coat of asphalt, the folks on West Main are concerned with the impact that reduced traffic counts may have on their businesses. For the last couple months, representatives have come to the council to see what we can do to help mitigate these possible impacts.

The immediate request was for the council to expand the program used in the downtown core to loan businesses funds to improve their façade. After reviewing the current program, staff found that it was put in place to help down-town businesses meet design standards that the city put in place to help downtown have a consistent look. Basically, the city said, we want you to look a certain way, and here’s a loan to help you do it.

The design standards that we helped downtown proper-ties meet came about through an extensive public process. The folks on West Main, on the other hand, are telling us to throw taxpayer money at whatever the owner wants to do to improve their visibility. While it might provide an immedi-ate impact to the business, it might not. Instead of a process that involves public input and discussion, the owners are basically telling us to pay up and trust them. Unfortunately, that’s not what we do in government.

Roads change, and traffic patterns will, too. The changes help some, and may hurt others. We sympathize with the affected West Main businesses, but can’t give public funds without making sure it’s best for the public.

Longview

The beautiful Cowlitz ValleyBy City Councilman

Ken Botero

Today's society is so busy and so full of excitement and I wonder if we may have lost

the vision of what it really means to live in a “Quality of Place”.

As we take a step back and take a deep look at the beautiful Cowlitz Valley, do we really see the assets that are provided for all citizens and visitors?

At times I feel that we follow in the thought process of our ancient civilizations and dwell on the negative issues. Why? Explanation has it rumored that negative creates ex-citement and a way for us to find fault with someone other than ourselves. Remember the old saying, “when you point the accusing finger at someone, notice that three of those finger's are pointing directly at you.”

In our fast paced society today we have several very posi-tive assets. First of all we have a positive watchdog that shows us where we are in need of community support, Pathways 2020. When we see figures that we need to look at our standing in the State of Washington for health con-cerns, do we blame our community leaders, as the Romans did, or do WE as the citizens of our community find the solutions? We have a positive asset in our Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber works with our lo-cal businesses to provide positive opportunities to succeed in the economic agendas of our communities while work-ing with the Association of Business and our legislators as well as local leaders and business professionals. We have the positive asset of having the efforts of our Economic Development Council, Lower Columbia College, the Longview Downtown Partnership, and yes, even your own City Council and County Commissioners, who by the way

Please see Longview, page 19

19


729 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 986321-800-319-2265 | 360-414-4101

Creating products to fuel the world www.knifegates.com

The Sky is the Limit!

We started in a garage in April 2007. Twin City Bank has provided us the necessary funding to grow our business into a multi-million dollar company.

By early fall Twin City Bank will help us move into our new 15,000 square foot facility with room to continue our growth.

Jon Hansen, General ManagerSid Somers and Steve NorbyFabricast Valve

twincitybank.com

were hired by the citizens.

I believe that our positives really do outweigh the nega-

tives in the beautiful Cowlitz Valley. As stated in earlier

columns I believe our successes are created by you and

I, the citizens of Cowlitz County, and I invite you to par-

ticipate in creating our Quality of Place by putting nega-

tive situations in the smaller file folder and opening our

folder of positives. When was the last time you attended

your community planning commission meeting, com-

missioners meeting, or a city council meeting?

Friends, this is our home, you can make it enjoyable,

just participate.

Longview, from page 18

20


PeaceHealth

By Tori BernierManager PeaceHealth St. John Birth Center

Business often patterns life and getting off to a great start in life or in business is vitally important for a healthy future. Choosing local ser-vices builds a healthy business com-munity and choosing local medical services builds a strong health care environment close to home.

When it comes to getting a healthy start, your local birth cen-ter at PeaceHealth St. John is one of the best. We’re not just boasting about our baby care, we’ve got the data to back it up.

As Greg Wolgamott, MD, PeaceHealth Medical OB/GYN and associate medical director for the hospital shares, “Ideally every expectant family within our community would under-stand just how good our labor and delivery staff is. There is a fantastic culture of caring amongst the nursing staff that has contributed to the great strides we have made in reaching the top tier of performance measures statewide. In fact our most recent data review suggests that we exceed Washington state expectations in all categories. In several of these categories we are in the top quartile in the state.” This includes rates above the state benchmark for VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean).

In addition, the PeaceHealth St. John Birth Center follows Washington State Hospital Association Roadmaps for Safety. You and your family also have access to some of the most ad-vance technology available to you close to home such as te-lemetry monitor units usually found in much larger hospitals, telemedicine with Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) neonatologist and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) partnership with PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center to transfer babies under 35 weeks or needing an increased level of care.

The birth center’s environment of care was designed first and foremost with mother’s baby in mind with LDRP rooms to encourage labor, delivery, recovery and post partum in the same room. Rooming in of support person and the mother and baby is encouraged for a family experience. The Peace-

Health St. John Birth Center also gives one-on-one training and guidance in the care of the newborn and family. During labor walking, position changes and creative support during labor are encouraged with the telemetry electronic fetal moni-toring to encourage movement during labor.

Families also have access to ongoing classes and support such as Preparing for Childbirth with an online option, Infant feeding and Care, Big Sister, Big Brother (for siblings of new-borns) and monthly birth center tours are available to families through our YOU 101 wellness program.

With progressive, highly skilled, caring professionals, ad-vanced technology and proven quality of care available right in our own community, you and your baby are off to a great start at PeaceHealth St. John. We hope you’ll choose to deliver your baby close to your home and loved ones without the ad-ditional time and stress of going out of town for care.

Thank you for choosing your local birth center for delivery of care which further supports our entire community.

Choose local for a healthy start

Facilitating Growth Through Leadership and Action

We are a membership based not-for-profit

organization. Join us today!

1452 Hudson St. • US Bank BuildingSuite 208 • Longview, WA

360.423.9921www.cowlitzedc.com

Resources•

Access•

Partnerships

21


Business After Hours

Kapturing the MomentAttendance for the Chamber's Business After Hours at Longview’s KapStone Paper and Packaging plant April 8 was amazing, more than 130 people enjoyed exciting tours, incredible food and great prizes. Thank you KapStone for a wonderful event.

Weyerhaeuser, NORPAC business managers plan briefing for community leaders

Local business managers from Weyerhaeuser Company and NORPAC invite you to attend a Spring Community Leader's Briefing from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. May 22 at the Cowlitz Regional Conference Center.

Lower Columbia College Foundation welcomes new board members

The Lower Columbia College Foundation welcomes four new board members who bring a wide range of business, financial and professional expertise to assist in its mission.

Established in 1976, the mission of the LCC Foundation is to provide financial assistance to students, to encourage public support for the college, and to strengthen the teaching, learning and cultural environment of the college and our community. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of professional, business, and community leaders who are committed to advancing and strengthening the impor-tant educational opportunities that Lower Columbia College provides for the region.

Joining the Foundation Board are: Rich Gushman, President of Gibbs & Olson, Inc., is a regis-

tered professional engineer in Washington with more than 25 years of experience in planning, design and construction man-agement of public infrastructure. The Kelso High School gradu-ate attended LCC for two years and then transferred to Wash-ington State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1987.

The married father of four joined the LCC Foundation to pur-sue his interest in helping to “improve our community through increasing educational opportunities.” His community in-volvement has included serving on the City of Kelso Planning Commission from 1995 through 2010, as a member and board member of Longview Early Edition Rotary Club since February 2013, as a board member of the Cowlitz Economic Develop-ment Council since 2012, and on the finance and pastoral coun-cils of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

Linda Davis brings extensive expertise in finance to the LCC Foundation Board as a shareholder with Davis & Associates

CPAs, PS since January 1991, and a former tax specialist with Price Waterhouse.

She graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master of Business Taxation and earned her Bachelor of Sci-ence in Accounting from Loma Linda University.

She served as a board member and treasurer for United Way of Cowlitz County for 12 years and is a board member and finance committee chair for Columbia Adventist Academy in Battle Ground. Davis and husband Scott, also a CPA/shareholder in Davis & Associates, have two daughters, both in graduate school at WSU Pullman.

Debbie Sweet, owner of SweetSpot Frozen Yogurt and presi-dent of DCK Wallace, Inc., is a successful entrepreneur with ex-pertise in nearly all facets of business including operations, stra-tegic marketing and event coordination, product development and client relations. Her company designs and develops board games and toys with sales to major retailers. The Longview resi-dent is a board member with the Lower Columbia CAP Foun-dation and a board member with the Red Hat Thrift Store.

Heather Snyder brings more than 20 years of professional ex-perience in marketing and communications to the LCC Foun-dation Board. Currently a graphics and communications spe-cialist with Fibre Federal Credit Union, she has worked with credit unions in the Lower Columbia region and Spokane as well as managing her own marketing and communications agency serving that industry nationwide. She is a 1991 graduate of Eastern Washington University with a BS in Organizational and Mass Communications and a minor in Technical Writing. Snyder served as an executive committee member with the Lower Columbia CAP Foundation Board. She has also volun-teered with Habitat for Humanity, Mt. Solo Middle School and Robert Gray Elementary and with Cowlitz County diversity marches.

“Lower Columbia College is an innovative institution, con-tinually growing and changing to better suit the needs of the Lower Columbia region,” Snyder said. “LCC and Fibre Federal have a history of partnering with one another, and I am excited to take that partnership to the next level.”


Community News

22

23


Ribbon Cuttings

Happy AnniversaryColumbia River Carpet One in Rainier, Ore.,

celebrated more than 48 years in business with a Chamber ribbon cutting April 29.

Fixin' for Greatness

Chamber Ambassadors helped Cole's Applicance Repair with its ribbon cut-

ting April 4 at their new location at 4545 Ocean Beach Highway, Longview.

Moving InReality Homes joined Chamber Ambassadors April 11 for their ribbon cutting and open house at 1905 Belmont Loop, Woodland.

24


Ambassador of the Month

Pam Fierst has been named the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors of the Month for April.

This is the second consecutive month, Fierst, a sales manager with the Kelso Red Lion Hotel, has received the honor.

April's selection came down to the last day of the month.Chamber Ambassadors, known as The Red Coats, are an integral part of the Chamber of Com-

merce. The Ambassador team is made up of active Chamber volunteers whose responsibilities include meeting and greeting at Chamber events, welcoming new members and assisting at rib-bon cuttings and community events. Ambassadors juggle busy professional careers while making

time to assist the Chamber at a variety of events year long.If you would be interested in wearing a red coat and representing the Chamber, contact CEO Bill Marcum at the Chamber of-

fice.

Fierst earns Chamber honor for second straight month

AprilPam Fierst

Red Lion Hotel Kelso

BOOT CAMP2014 Small Business

2014 Series begins Friday, March 7

Friday Mornings ★ Lower Columbia College7:30 am - 9 am ★ Heritage Room at LCC - Admin. Bldg.

Human Resources Six PaCkStarts May 2

Marketing and Sales Six PackStarts September 5

Now this is Truth in Advertising ‘Tools you can use to help you imme-diately’. The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce hit the nail on the head with their most recent Business Boot Camp. As an administrator and business owner with over 25 years leadership experience, I walked away every week with new tools, inspiration, motivation and a desire to strive to improve my business by leaps and bounds. The courses were well planned, the content was interesting, relevant, informative, inspir-ing,, thought provoking and challenging. I can not say that I have ever spent so little and received so much. I can not wait until the next series. The best investment in my business I have ever made. Barbara A. Sudar • Administrator Longview Urology Owner/Partner: Estetica Day Spa

❝

❞

360-423-8400 www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Pricing same as 2013! $100 Members ★ $160 Non-Members

May 2 Hiring the Right Person - Does the person fit the job? Company? Facilitator: Darci Hoffman, WorkSource

May 9 Employee Handbook - Important? You Bet! Facilitator: Don Schilling, HR Director, Weyerhaeuser

May 16 Most Common HR Mistakes - They could cost you money. Facilitator: Gary Parafinczuk, Sr. Director, Human Resources, Kapstone

May 23 The New Marijuana Law - How to protect your business/ employees Facilitator: TBA

May 30 Attract and Keep your best Employees - What the experts say. Facilitator: TBA

June 6 Firing in an At Will State - Risks and Rewards. Facilitators: Lisa Straughan and Kari White, Express Employment Professionals

Human Resources Six PaCk

25


New Chamber & Visitor Center

New Home

It was an overflow crowd for the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor

Center's new location at 105 N. Minor Rd., in Kelso. Above, Kelso Mayor David Futcher took care of the ribbon cutting

honors at the April 30 event, while, at left, Marlene Johanson and Julie Rinard bumped into Big Foot while exploring the

spacious new office space. Below, the Red Coats turned out in full force to show their Chamber support.

26


Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, spe-cial events and committee participation.

• Annual Meeting and Banquet• Networking Events• Committee Participation• Business Contacts• Quarterly Membership

Meetings• Civic Representation• Monthly Business After Hours

Business Services include marketing for your business, referrals and access to Chamber publications and research data.

• Mailing Labels• Membership Window Decals• Member Referrals• Ribbon Cutting• Web Site Links• Member to Member Discounts• Membership Directory• Tax Deduction

• Newsletter• Business Card Display• Use of Chamber Logo

Representation through action com-mittees, Candidate Forums and up-to-date Action Alerts.

• Legislative Representation• Issues Tracking and Information• Task Forces• Candidate Forums• Legislative Update Breakfast• Demographics Publication

PackagesBasic Membership Package – $275 or

$26 per month.Bronze Membership Package – $500 or

$46.66 per month.Silver Membership Package – $1,000 or

$86.33 per month.Gold Membership Package – $2,500 or

$211.33 per month.Platinum Membership Package –

$5,000 or $416.66 per month.Diamond Club Membership Package –

$10,000 or $834 per month.

Celebrate new Chamber members with us* Lexi’s Pizza Pub* Quality Signs & Design* Hickory Hogs BBQ* U.S. Army Recruiting Center* McDonald’s (Ocean Beach Highway)* McDonald’s (38th Avenue)

Welcome New Members

Chamber membership has its privileges

Join today! Call 360-423-8400

360.414.1200 • www.expresslongview.com

Chamber May 2014

Spring into action with us! On Saturday, June 14th, from 10am to 2pm join Express as we volunteer to help fight hunger with a food drive at local Walmart stores in support of the BackPack Buddy program —or drop off food items at our office before then. Thank you!

Trusted. Since 1982, Cowlitz County Title has been the company the community turns to when buying, selling or re�nancing a property.

Whether you need title, escrow or property search information, come in for our exceptional service. Leave with the con�dence that your real estate investment is properly insured and protected.

1159 14th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632Phone: 360.423.5330 � www.cowlitztitle.com

Bianca LemmonsVice President/Manager

Klc may2014

Documents

Transcript of Klc may2014