2009 May Monthly Newsletter

Learning the art of Innovation “One definition of insanity is to keep on doing the same thing and expect different results.”           The May Chamber Luncheon: the Third Monday, this month only! This year the Washington State Legislature is wrestling with an enormous financial shortfall. As of this writing, the difference between projected revenue and what the state wants to spend is in the neighborhood of $9 Billion over the next two years. Washington’s constitution doesn’t allow the state to run a deficit. Unlike the congress, the legislature has to balance the budget or allow things to shut down when the noney runs out. On Monday, May 18th—a week later than would normally be the case—the Chamber will play host to Senator Mike Hewitt, who will explain how they did what, as this is written, seems impossible. Senator hewitt is a member of the Republican party and thus in the decided minority in Olympia these days, which should make for an interesting perspective on the year’s budget battles. Don’t forget to call 547-9755 to RSVP for the monthly luncheon which will be at 11:30 am, Monday, May 18th at the Pasco Red Lion. May 2009

—Zig Ziglar

Is innovation important? Can it be taught? Or is it just a gift, like an ear for music or an eye for art? Do cardboard toilet paper tubes really play into the process? Or does CBC’s Innovation Institute just need a few more bucks for better supplies?

<<< • >>> Friday morning, April 17th, 8AM . CBC Business Department Instructor Gene Holand (rhymes with Poland, not Holland) looks out over 20+ students who have signed up to learn how to do something called “innovating.” Many people are familiar with that word but seldom use it. According to Holand—and many others—very few people actually do it.

“Innovate: To introduce something new; make changes in anything established.”

    

—RANDOM HOUSE DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ©2009

Discuss Columbia Basin College’s new Innovation Institute with Holand. You

will hear that innovation is necessary for businesses to stay in business in this changing, challenging world. You will hear that YOU can innovate; that anyone can. It’s about learning and applying a process; not posessing a gift that you are simply born with—or without. Innovation isn’t new to Columbia Basin College or to Gene Holand. Frustrated with the distance between the teaching of marketing theory in a classroom and the practice of marketing in the grown-

up business world, Holand formed a 501(c) 3 (not-for-profit) marketing company within the college. Today CBC students take part in real marketing projects for real businesses. Possibly the program’s best-known project is Kestrel Wines’ “Lady in Red” labels—highly-professional screen-printed wine bottles featuring illustrations of Continued, Page 2

lovely ladies, at least one looking quite a bit like Marilyn Monroe. Illustrator Michael Rastovich helped with that one...

<<< • >>> In 1999, ABC’s Nightline series carried, “The Deep Dive,” a story about California “design consultancy” IDEO. You HAVE used their designs. Microsoft and Apple computer mice; seats in Toyotas, Fords and Chryslers; account service models for Bank of America and ATMs for Wells Fargo; bottles and cans for Michelob; energy-efficiency programs, vending machines, toothpaste squeeze tubes... the list goes on. Government, medicine, entertainment and more. Products, services, packages and experiences... More than 1,000 patents since 1978 and over 350 major industry awards since 1991 argue that IDEO is special. So does their BusinessWeek listing in the Top 25 Most Innovative Companies in 2006 and their Fast Company ranking among 2008’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies. Last June, Harvard Business Review cited IDEO’s approach as providing a way “...to transform the way you develop products, services, processes — even strategy.” The article is online at http://www.ideo.com/news/item/ article/design-thinking1/

John Heaton— President of Kennewick-based Pay Plus Benefits—found in “The Deep Dive” a way to refocus his company. He contact ed IDEO and began to learn about “Design Thinking.” IDEO Innovation Methodology (highly abbreviated)

1. Understand the market, the client, the technology and the perceived constraints... 2. Observe real people in real-life

situations to find out what makes them tick... 3. Visualize new-to-the-world concepts and the customers who will use them... 4. Evaluate and refine the prototypes in a series of quick iterations... 5. Implement the new concept for commercialization... Today Heaton has restructured his company (with help from IDEO) and believes so strongly in design thinking princples and practice and the innovation process that he has personally invested time and money to help bring about the Innovation Institute program at CBC and routinely writes checks to help people to take part. And not just people from Pay Plus. Another local company that believes in CBC’s Innovation Institute is TiLite. At April’s Pasco Chamber of Commerce luncheon, TiLite Marketing Manager Todd VanderHoogt spoke about working with Holand and his group on suggested redesigns for one of the company’s Titanium wheelchairs.

Innovation Institute participants work through the Innovation Methodology to use a toilet paper core as the base for a commercially-viable product.

After several weeks on the project, the group came up with a number of ideas and built a mock-up of a modified TiLite chair that VanderHoogt says the company found interesting. Not enough to put the redesign into production yet, but Continued, Page 4

real men don’t need a “stylist”

Green Shred We bring our state-of-the-art document destruction truck to your location and shred on site.

521-4769

Superior service Affordable rates

23 44-78

Locally owned and operated

5 . Argent W 6916 e elcom s n i w k l a w

WORTH MENTIONING

Vicky Monteagudo of Caldwell Banker Tomlinson Associated Brokers was recognized as the top sales associate for the state of Washington in 2008.

versary. The restaurant is located at the intersection of Road 68 and Argent in Pasco. Monteagudo

Mike Lawrence has been named Managing Director of the new United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory. He will be based in northern England.

Franklin PUD broke ground on a $4 million renovation. Ziegler Construction is the contractor.

Franklin PUD

Dave Ruscitto is the new President and CEO of Fluor Hanford.

Angie Mykel, Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Associated Brokers, and her clients Dan and Jill Mulhausen, were featured in the season finale of The Learning Channel’s My First Home. Magill’s restaurant in Pasco is celebrating their first anni-

DuraShine Clean has moved their Tri-Cities office to 1841 Terminal Drive in Richland. Campbell & Company received the Dave Lennox Award for the 14th time. The award is given to the to the top 25 Lennox dealers in North America who demonstrate outstanding customer service. Boating Solutions has a new facility on Oregon Avenue. The firm sells boat parts and accessories. Duane Sams is the new Director of Engineering for Franklin PUD. Congressman Doc Hastings received the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Sams

Welcome to May! We’re one-third the way through 2009 and almost a year into what much of the country is experiencing as a hard financial time, yet Pasco and the Tri-Cities continue to see increasing employment, a solid real estate market and a healthy business climate. Just a reminder—for almost every business, not just traditional B2B players, Business to Business marketing can be a good investment. People in business may buy for their business; they may buy for their families; they may buy for both. But they buy. And many will influence buying decisions for quite a few others around them. Your Pasco Chamber has some great marketing opportunities to help you promote new products, services or prices, or just remind potential clients that you’re ready to serve them. Over 1,000 business and community leaders receive the Chamber newsletter every month. Make sure you’re listed on the Chamber web site, too! You want to be a cut above your competition. What are they missing that you can offer? What do they do you can do better? Where is your market saturated? Where is the need for your business? I heard of a wealthy business owner who said, “All children are taught—even by Sesame Street—to look at a group of objects and find the one that stands out; the one that’s different in some way.” That was the sum total of his strategy—and it worked!

The business that stands out—that’s the one you want to be every time! And your Pasco Chamber is here to provide resources that will help you stand out. As you do, your marketing—B2B, B2C or B2E (Business to EVERY- ONE!)—will rise to the next level. And so will your sales!

Gene Holand & Todd VanderHoogt enough so that TiLite asked Holand (and crew) to tackle a real design project, not just make suggestions, for a chair that could be used on commercial airlines.

<<< • >>> It’s 8:30AM, Friday, April 17th. Coffee is poured. John Heaton and Todd VanderHoogt are both on hand to see and talk with this new crop of twenty-plus would-be innovators. Holand has five Friday mornings to show these students that what he’s handing out to them is an opportunity to do something really cool, rather than an empty cardboard toilet paper roll. To learn more about CBC’s Innovation Institute and how it can revolutionize the way you see—and do—business, contact Gene Holand at (509) 547-0511. He’s always looking for more real-world design challenges and more promising new students of all ages and experience levels to tackle those challenges. And don’t forget to ask how the toilet paper roll thing turned out... n

Nikki Gerds Executive Director, Pasco Chamber of Commerce

One of five commercially-viable products produced during the two-hour session. Photo couresty of Essence Photography

Slavery... at home and abroad Ryan Brault, President Pasco Chamber of Commerce

Last week I was in Washington DC. No, I wasn’t requesting TARP funds. I was learning more about the second-largest and fastest-growing criminal industry. Human trafficking. Slavery. Most people will be startled to learn that nearly 20,000 foreign nationals are sold annually in the United States alone — and the number of US citizens bought and sold within our country is even higher. What’s more, there are a greater number of slaves in the world today than before the U.S. abolished slavery — more than 27 million people. Many of these are underage women and children held in sexual slavery. I have been involved for almost a decade with a human rights organization called

the International Justice Mission (IJM) and have had the opportunity to advocate for these issues on Capital Hill. I believe we as business leaders have the responsibility to do what we can to discourage and spread awareness about criminal industries that exist today — issues that threaten people our community and of our world. We can advocate for the abolition of slavery everywhere as we put a stop to a very profitable and yet very destructive industry.

Ruth Oak Honored Ruth Oak was inducted as a lifetime member of the Pasco Chamber at the April luncheon. Ruth has served the Chamber for over 30 years as an employee, member and volunteer.

If you are interested in this issue, please visit ijm.org regarding international justice issues or polarisproject.org regarding trafficking here in the U.S. and resources to fight this illegal business.

Ryan

The House that Pasco Built... The Pasco High School’s Career and Technical Education Building Program will be dedicating the 12th house built through this program on May 27th at 1PM. The house built by Pasco High School students is located at 4612 Artesia Drive, in Pasco. The 11th house built is currently on the market. It’s address is 4808 Antigua Drive in Pasco. The Career and Technical Education Building Program—operated under the training and supervision of a construction trades instructor—Pasco School District students build a house each school year. The houses are turnkey projects and complete complete with landscaping. In addition to the construction trades students, students from other classes such as marketing, woods, metals and horticulture/floriculture lend their skill.

Local professionals also lend their expertise. Chamber member Carrie Chambers of River Realty has volunteered her services as the listing agent. Pasco Attorney Dan Hultgren handles the closing and provides administrative council to the board. Dan Boyd, a CPA with Baker & Giles handles the accounting. Other Chamber members involved include Carl Leth (president of the board) and Chamber President Ryan Brault, who was recently elected to the board.

4808 Antigua Drive 2064 Square Feet 3 bedroooms 1 3/4 bath Fully landscaped with curbing, under-ground sprinkler system and more $5000 tax credit available to buyer from the Franklin PUD Priced below appraised value at $226,900

AROUND TOWN

Events | Activities | Fun things to do Cinco de Mayo Parade and festivities will be held May 2 from 11AM to 7PM in downtown Pasco. Lockheed Martin presents IT Day 2009 Wednesday, May 6th, from 9AM to 5PM at the Three Rivers Convention Center. For more information call 877-444-5674 Mid-Columbia Mastersingers Annual May Festival is on the 16th at 7PM at the Battelle Arts Auditorium. Chandler Reach Winery presents Italian Night at the Villa May 21 at 6PM. Call 588-8800 for more information. Richland Players present a comedy, Sylvia, 8PM, May 22 & 23 and May 29 & 30 at the Richland Players Theater.

Terra Blanca Winery presents “Best in the Northwest”, a Chef’s and Wine Seminar at 7PM on May 24. Call 588-6082 for more information. Tri-City Fever Indoor Arena Football vs. Spokane at 7:05PM at Gesa Field on May 30th. Live@5 Concert Series kicks off May 31 at 5PM on the John Dam Plaza in Richland. Latino Business Expo is May 31st from Noon to 6PM at the Three Rivers Convention Center. Call Graci Campos for more information, 430-0781. Pasco Farmer’s Market is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 8AM-Noon at the corner of 4th and Columbia in downtown Pasco.

Members wishing to contribute to this column can e-mail news to [email protected]

Need help getting to the next level?

New Members 2nd Harvest Inland Northwest distributes more than 1 million pounds of donated food each month to help people in need througout Eastern Washington and North Idaho. The Collegium Cafe is located on east “A” Street and is managed by Katherine Bairstow. Ag Management is an Association Management and Event Planning company. They handle conventions, field days, newsletters, membership directories and much more for their clients. The Kennewickbased firm is owned by Rod Christensen. Express Storage takes pride in their clean and beautiful storage-unit facility and state-of-the-art security. It’s owned by David Clunis and is located at 6217 W. Court Street. www.expressstoragetricities.com J.A.C. Construction, owned by Alma and Carlos Castillo, is a general contractor based out of Pasco. Steve Lee, assistant to the Executive Director for the Pasco Chamber, has joined as an individual member.

We’re ready!

NEW IN BUSINESS

graphic design | advertising | marketing

Zinful (formerly Backbone Panini & Wine Bar) has opened at 114 Kennewick Avenue. It is owned by Cheri Manley. In addition to an impressive wine list, Manley serves delicious salads and panini sandwiches. www.saranelsondesign.com

545-4584

Roasters Coffee has opened at 2525 North 20th Ave., across from CBC.

Renewing Members COLUMBIA RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SENATOR MIKE HEWITT JANITORIAL EXCELLENCE KING CITY RESTAURANT

Fleet Services = Taking care of the company’s vehicles.

MOON SECURITY SERVICES

Call us. We’d like to care for your fleet too.

ROGERS POTATO SERVICE

PRESTON PREMIUM WINES

SANDY’S TROPHIES S.S.EQ., INC. NEW HOLLAND STAR RENTALS

super-size service

547-5044

may 09



1 2

05.11.09 Membership Luncheon Pasco Red Lion | Noon 2009 Legislative Summary Mike Hewitt Senator The luncheon is sponsored by:

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

WASHINGTON STATE POTATO COMMISSION

05.02 Swirl into Sunset

Preston Premium Wines | 6:00PM

05.05 Executive Committee Meeting Chamber Office | 11:45AM

05.07 Small Business Awards Banquet

Three Rivers Convention Center | 6:00PM

05.13 Building Bridges Networking Event

The Sandberg Event Center & Garden | 5:30PM

05.20 Chamber Alliance Meeting

Country Gentleman in Kennewick | 12:00PM

31

ess n i s u t lB Sm a l d s Ba n q u e 6:00 A wa r PM

7th | May ee Rivers r Thr ente tion C tickets. n e v Con 063 for 67-1 Call 9

05.26 Board of Directors Meeting

Pasco School District, Booth Building | 11:45AM

Accepti ng Nom inations The C hambe r Boar is a d ccepti of Dire ng c four b nomination tors oard p s for Conta osition ct the s. Pasco with y Cham our no ber minati ons.

Da t e e h t Save Dogs

Writing and design for the Pasco Chamber Newsletter by SARA NELSON DESIGN, LTD. | 545-4584

and M Hogs h, 4 - 11P t 5 2 and June Richl West

Pasco Chamber of Commerce 1925 N. 20TH AVE. PASCO, WA 99301

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE

PAID

PASCO WA 99301 PERMIT NO. 107

A joint effort of the Pasco, Hispanic, Hermiston and West Richland Chambers.

Building Bridges Networking Event May 13th | 5:30-7:30 pm

vent E g nin Eve

The Sandburg Event Center & Garden, 331 South 41st Avenue West Richland To RSVP call: 547-9755

Big Potatoes! During the 2006-07 growing season, Washington potato growers—most of whom are right here in the Columbia Basin—produced 10 billion pounds of potatoes...That’s enough potatoes to fill 44,670 Boeing 777 cargo planes! Potatoes are Washington’s second largest crop (behind apples). 40% of the fries consumed in the U.S. are made from Washington potatoes. Washington state’s potato industry directly and indirectly generates over $3.4 billion annually and creates over 20,000 jobs state-wide. Source: Washington State Potato Commission.

Open again... The Pasco Library’s renovation is complete! The project included new energy-efficient windows, decor, additional self-check stations, original artwork and twice the number of public internet computers and 3,800 pieces of new material!