tri-cities area journal of business - may 2016

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

8919 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. A1

Kennewick, WA 99336

PRESORTED

STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PASCO, WA

PERMIT NO. 8778

PLEASE DELIVER TO CURRENT OCCUPANT

CBC places seventh in national cyber security competition

he Said it

Our main goals are to increase

jobs and the tax base in our

communities.

- Gary Ballew, of the Port of Pasco,

speaking about the new Eastern

Washington Economic Development Alliance

tourism & RecreationNew public television series

showcases NW wineriesPages 21-26

RetirementNew depot planned

for model trainsPages 49-53

By Mary CoffmanFor a couple of hours each day, Christine

Nichols stands outside of Lowes, telling anyone who will listen her story and asking them to sign the petition she is holding.

Nichols, of Richland, is with GROW, or Grandparents Rights of Washington State, a group that trying to gather 250,000 signa-tures to qualify Initiative 1431 for the November ballot.

I-1431 would gives grandparents legal standing to petition a court for visitation rights if they are being unreasonably kept from their grandchildren.

Nichols granddaughter had lived her from the time the young girl was an infant until last November, when she was not returned by the fathers family after going to have holiday pictures taken.

Nichols said her daughter, who struggles with mental illness, left her granddaughter with her as a baby and would come in and out of her life sporadically.

I potty trained her. I taught her A,B,Cs, I taught her to skate and play soccer, Nichols said. She is my life.

But the fathers family has kept the child from Nichols, who has no visitation rights under the law.

I still have her Christmas presents boxed up and havent been able to give them to her, she said.

In 2000, Washingtons visitation laws were dismantled by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled they were too broad and unconstitutionally interfered with parenting rights in Troxel vs. Granville.

In that case, the Troxels son committed suicide and the daughter-in-law started withholding the children from the grand-parents. A judge granted them visitation, but the daughter-in-law appealed and the Appellate Court sent the case to the Supreme Court.

The old law said that any third party that had a relationship with the child could petition for visitation, Paine said. That included nonrelatives, teachers, coaches and neighbors.

Visitation rights for any third party, including grandparents, have been in flux every sense.

Adam Cabrey, John Joseph Jr., Stephen Erlenbush, Phillip Todd, Levi Staley, Keith Thornhill, Warren Fogg and Matt Hodge pull on the regional trophy, while the guys who attacked the Cyber Hawks database during the competition tug back in jest.

By Jessica Hoefer for TCAJOBLevi Staley has always had a knack for

technology. In high school, he decided to turn a profit from his talent by repairing broken cell phones and reselling them once they were usable.

Then I got into helping people fix their computers and helping people recover data, he said.

Despite his ability to maneuver around the motherboard, Staley enrolled in Columbia Basin Colleges paramedic program. It took a little brotherly advice before Staley hit restart on his education.

His brother recognized Staley was a natural at working with computers and told him about the cyber security program at CBC.

I really liked the medical program and the idea of savings lives, but I switched. And when I got to my computer classes,

everything just clicked, Staley said.With cyber crime increasing at a rapid

pace, CBC offers students a chance to earn a Bachelors degree in information security. The department even has its own team called the Cyber Hawksstudents with skills ranging from data recovery to networking to coding.

A lot of these kids want outlets like everybody. A hobby to do the fun things you donot just lectures all the time, said Matt Boehnke, CBCs director for cyber security.

Boehnke, who started working at CBC less than a year ago, entered his Cyber Hawks in the Pacific Rim Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in 2015. They came in last place, but the competition got students excited and interested in the club, including Staley, who joined the eight-person team that competed in April 2016.

Volume 15 Issue 5

May 2016

Real estate & Construction

Excalibur expandingPages 29-43

By Jeff Morrow for TCAJOBSteve Jensen lives in western Washington

town of Arlington. But he just absolutely loves the Tri-Cities.

Jensen is a National Softball Association state tournament director for Washington who has run two major girls fast-pitch tour-naments in the Tri-Cities every year since 2007: the Icebreaker in April and the state tournament in June.

The facilities there are so good, said Jensen. The other good thing is that so many complexes and fields are within a few minutes of each other. We use 32 fields just for the Icebreaker.

And the Tri-Cities mild spring weather is another big bonus for Jensen.

I have 130 teams here and the last thing they want is to get rained out, he said.

The two tournaments have been so suc-cessful that Jensen has added a new one, the NSA Western World Series, which starts July 20 in the Tri-Cities.

The hotels are awesome to work with, and the parks departments are great, said Jensen.

Drew Reiners, the manager for the Western Baseball Division of Triple Crown Sports out of Fort Collins, Colo., agrees with Jensens assessment. His organization has a Fathers Day weekend baseball tournament for players ages 9 to 18 in the Tri-Cities. The tournament has been taking place every year since 2007.

The last few years, weve had anywhere from 95 to 120 teams playing that weekend in the Tri-Cities, said Reiners.

Grandparents gathering signatures for initiative to grant visitation rights

uSPORTS, Page 22

uRIGHTS, Page 52

uCBC, Page 9

Diamonds in the Desert: Tri-Cities sports fields catch a lot of cash for local economy

Page 27

2 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016

By Loretto J. [email protected]

Sacajawea State Parks serene beauty will be a bit livelier in June as two groups hold popular annual events there early in the month.

The Friends of Sacajawea State Park will have its annual Old Fashioned Day from noon to 4 p.m. June 4.

Its a family event featuring simple games like a bean bag toss, potato sack races and scavenger hunts, said Sharon Stewart, the events coordinator for the group.

Its just a good old-fashioned day, with activities to entice families out to the park, out in the fresh air, to get people to realize its a great place to play games as a family.

Big Top the Clown will twist bal-loons into animals and other shapes, Ghormley Meadow Christian Camp will have relay races; officers from Pasco Police and Franklin County Sheriffs departments will give safety tips; and the Northwest Historians will reenact life as it was many, many decades ago.

Ye Olde Car Club of the Tri-Cities will also display several Model A and T vehicles during the day. And the Kennewick Lions Club will sell hot dogs and donuts.

There is no admission charge for Old Fashioned Day and no need for state park Discover Pass to enter or park at Sacajawea during the event.

The Kennewick Lions will be selling hot dogs and donuts.

Old Fashioned Day is also a way for the Friends of Sacajawea State Park to promote the park.

The Friends of Sacajawea State Park formed three years ago with just 10 people who noticed the park needed some special attention.

We realized our parks, because of all the cutbacks in funding, were going downhill, said Stewart. The park ser-vice simply didnt have the money for upkeep. And we didnt want to lose our beautiful park.

The groups Old Fashioned Day began as an Old Fashioned Fourth of July, but didnt draw the attendance from the community that theyd hoped.

So we moved the celebration back into June and we had 300 people turn out last year, she said. We are hoping

for even more this June.This year, the Friends of Sacajawea

State Park partnered with the Daughters of the Pioneers who have organized an annual picnic at the park for decades.

They were the ones who started the park in 1927, Steward said. They turned it over to the Washington State Park system in 1931 and it was the state that named it Sacajawea.

Stewart said the group chose the name because the park is at a spot where Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery Expedition spent several days camping. The state named it after the only woman in the group in Honor of the Daughters of the Pioneers.

For more information, go to friend-sofsacajaweastatepark.org or find them on Facebook.

Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival and Dutch Oven Rendezvous

For nearly a decade, old-time fiddle music, savory campfire cooking and the camaraderie of fellow musicians has lured 500 to 800 people to Sacajawea State Park each summer.

On June 10-12, the Mid-Columbia Traditional Arts & Music Association will once again play host to the Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival and Dutch Oven Rendezvous under the tall shade trees of the historic park.

This years headliners are the Henhouse Prowlers from Chicago and the OConnor Family Band featuring Mark OConnor.

We feel really lucky to have signed up these two nationally-known bands, said Reade Obern of the MCTAMA. The Henhouse Prowlers have a lot of experience and Mark OConnor is one of the most famous fiddlers in the United States. Hes played with symphonies and in movies, as well as concerts.

Mark OConnor splits his time between his home in Nashville and New York. This is one of his first appearanc-es on the West coast.

Other bands being featured at the festival are North Country Bluegrass and the Downtown Mountain Boys.

Many other bluegrass musicians will attend the festival and the popular Dutch oven cooking demonstration on Saturday. A variety of music workshops are available, including one just for young musicians.

Were also planning a band scram-ble, something thats traditional at a bluegrass festival, said Obern.

The Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival and Dutch Oven Rendezvous opens at 5 p.m. on Friday. There is an open mic

session from 5-6 p.m. with the various concerts running from 6:15-10 p.m. Go to www.mctama.org for a complete schedule or find the festival on Facebook.

3Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016

A youngster fishes for rubber ducks while another maneuvers her bike through an obstacle course at the first Friends of Sacajawea State Park community gathering. Photo courtesy of Randy Kirkbride.

Family-friendly events planned at Sacajawea State Park

uSACAJAWEA, Page 12

Meier is proud to offer architectural and engineering services to clients around the world for more than 35 years.

Enjoy a competitive benefit package which includes paid time off, healthcare, employee stock ownership plan and management

supported opportunities for personal growth.

Send resumes to [email protected]

Now HiriNgall positioNs - all levels

Architecture Civil Structural Mechanical Electrical


(509) 737-87788919 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. A1

Kennewick, WA 99336www.tcjournal.biz

Loretto J. HulseReporter(509) 737-8778 ext. [email protected]

Melanie HoeferGeneral Manager(509) 737-8778 ext. [email protected]

Mike HaugenAdvertising Director(509) 737-8778 ext. [email protected]

Shawna DinhAd Design/Production(509) 737-8778 ext. [email protected]

Britta ThompsonAdvertising Account Manager(509) 737-8778 ext. [email protected]

Mary CoffmanManaging Editor/Reporter(509) 737-8778 ext. [email protected]

Staff

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (TCAJoB) accepts original columns from local professionals, educators and business leaders.

The goal of these pieces is to share useful business tips and knowledge with other area professionals. It is best to contact the TCAJoB office for a copy of contributor guidelines before submitting anything. Although we cannot publish every submission we receive, we will keep columns that best fit the mission and focus of the TCAJoB for possible future use.

The TCAJoB also accepts original letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submissions must include the writers full name and daytime contact information for verification.

All submissions to the TCAJoB will be edited for spelling, grammar, punctuation and questions of good taste or libel.

If there is news youd like the TCAJoB staff to report on, or if there are any topics youd like to read about, please con-tact the TCAJoB news staff via email at [email protected].

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (TCAJoB), a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly and delivered at no charge to identifiable businesses in Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Kennewick, Prosser and Benton City, Wash. Subscriptions are $27.10 per year, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of TriComp Inc. and can not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent. Opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers do not neces-sarily reflect the opinions of TCAJoB staff, other contributors or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by TCAJoB staff, other contributors or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is correct; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

6354-55

627

4757295

Around Town................................Business Profile........................Conference Call.............................Datebook..........................................Networking....................................Public Record.................................Real Estate......................................ShopTalk...........................................

DEPaRtMENtS

Sen. Sharon Brown..........................Veronica Craker...............................Audra Distifeno...............................Kris Johnson..................................Jessica Hoefer............................Maegan Murray............................Jeff Morrow................................Dori ONeal...................................Elena Olmstead.............................Elsie Puig.............................Beau Ruff.......................................Frances White...............................

47265142

1, 4946

1, 232143

6, 13, 254544

CONtRIBUtORS

www.JohnLScottPasco.com This office isindependently owned & operated.

5109 N. Road 68, Suite E, PascoOffice: (509) 547-5542

[email protected]

Corner of Lewis & 2nd Street, PascoVacant corner lot ideal for retail or business offices on .5

acres. Priced to sell. $129,900 MLS# 209821

251 Columbia, ConnellDual office, retail or service opportunity available.

Price reduced to $55,000. MLS# 209263

CKA NW Corner of Road 100 & BurnsExcellent development opportunity in Pasco for

residential or mixed use. $1.525 million. MLS# 210967

NKA W. Rio Grande Ave, Kennewick2 parcels available: 2.72 acres and 1.52 acres

Priced $1.11 million. MLS# 178840

Call Teri Seidl for information509.547.5542 or 509.430.2755

Featuring Gale-Rew Construction, Titan Homes and Renz Construction or bring your own qualified builder!

Located on the northwest corner of Burns and Dent Road.

Eagle Crest Subdivision homes starting in the low $500K

Now building...Your dream home!

.5 to 1 acre lots with Panoramic views of Columbia River Luxurious custom-built homes

Close to schools and shopping

Solutions Summit 2016Former New York governor and presi-

dential candidate George Pataki will be the keynote speaker at the Washington Policy Centers Solutions Summit 2016.

The statewide policy conference will be 7:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. May 18 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. It will feature experts on education, health care reform and more.

Tickets for the event start at $35 per person. Register at washingtonpolicy.org/events.

BFT plans open house eventsBen Franklin Transit is asking local

residents to participate in a series of open house events to present the findings and recommendations from a recent BFT comprehensive service plan study.

Tony Kalmbach, BFTs planning and service development manager, said the primary goals of the project are to improve local mobility within each com-munity and regional mobility between communities. During the events, partici-pants will have the opportunity to review the recommendations, ask questions and comment, as well as offer other ideas for improving transit in the area. The open house events will be: 4-7 p.m. May 18 at the Richland Library and the Benton City Community Center; 3:30 6:30 p.m., May 19, at the Mid-Columbia Library on Hopkins Street in Pasco; 4-7 p.m. May 19 at Benton PUD in Prosser; 4-7 p.m. May 20 at the West Richland branch of the Mid-Columbia Library on Van Giesen Street and at Benton PUD in Kennewick; and 10 a.m. 1 p.m. May 21 at the Three

Rivers Transit Center in Kennewick. The schedule is also listed in the Senior Times calendar on page 4 of this issue, with the venue addresses. For more information call 509-735-5100 or go to bftplan.org.

Mid-Columbia Libraries makes policy change

The Mid-Columbia Libraries board has raised the suspension level for library cardholders with outstanding fines and fees from $10 to $25. The change allows 10,000 library customers to regain their privileges. Previously, when customers accumulated $10 or more in overdue fines, replacement fees or other library dues, they were no longer given access to check out library items. Despite the increase, 13,000 cardholders are suspend-ed from library use. The MCL has more than 154,700 cardholders.

Register for Trios Golf ClassicThe 17th Annual Trios Foundation

Golf Classic will be June 17 at Canyon

Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick. This years event offers morning and after-noon shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with the morning flight open to individual players the afternoon reserved for corporate teams and spon-sors. Registration closes June 10. Sponsorship opportunities are also avail-able.

For more information or to register, go to trioshealth.org/Golf or call Mandy Wallner at 509-221-5776.

BCFD 4 celebrates EMS Week May 15-21

Benton County Fire District 4 joins fire agencies across the country to cele-brate Emergency Medical Service Week May 15-21. The event seeks to bring awareness to the important role EMS programs and first responders play in sav-ing lives in their communities.

Fire District 4 has produced a brief video about its fire and EMS program through a unique partnership with the Tri-

Tech Skills Center. The fire district approached Mike Greif, an instructor who teaches Digital Arts and Filmmaking, for help with the project late last year. Greif made the production a class project, where students shot footage, edited, pro-duced, and provided the voice-over narra-tion.

In 2015, Fire District 4 responded to 1,322 calls for help 63 percent of which were EMS-related. In fact, EMS calls have increased 57 percent for the fire district just since voters approved funding for the program in 2010.

The EMS levy has allowed the fire district to staff another station, which has reduced ambulance response times by three minutes on average. In addition to emergency personnel, funding is used for training and certifications, ambulances, maintenance, medical equipment, first aid supplies, and equipment replacement.

Fire District 4 funds the EMS program through a voter-approved levy, which expires at the end of the year. The Board of Fire Commissioners is asking voters to renew the levy during the August Primary Election at the same rate of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation and to remove the expiration date. That means the owner of a $250,000 home would continue to pay approximately $10.42 per month (or $125 per year) for a 24-hour Paramedic response.

Information about Fire District 4s levy renewal including the video on its EMS program can be found at www.bcfd4.org/ems-levy-renewal.html.


uSHOPTALK, Page 8

6 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016Magic Camp takes mystery and fear out of construction careers for young girlsBy Elsie Puig for TCAJOB

Dressed in pink shirts and pink hard hats, an engaged group of high school girls looked steadily focused on the job at hand. Some build planter boxes; others lay cement, transforming it into garden steps; and some of the young women operate saws with natural ease, like theyd worked in construction for much of their young lives.

The girls are at Tri-Tech Skills center for the Seventh Annual Magic Camp Mentoring a Girl in Construction. The event brings together girls from eighth grade through to high school to learn about careers in construction. They weld, drill, hammer, strip wire and lay cement under the watchful eye of women professionals in the field.

Magic Camp is a free, four-day, after-school camp designed to introduce girls to careers in construction. Students from all Tri-Cities high schools and middle schools were invited, as well as young women from private schools and home-schooled students.

Magic Camp offers the young ladies hands-on opportunities to learn the basics of safety, carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing, concrete and welding. They build planter boxes, concrete stepping stones, a metal bird house, weld a yard flower together, learn how to bend copper piping, operate a backhoe simulator, wire a doorbell or a light switch and assemble a lamp.

The purpose of MAGIC is to get female students to think outside the box, so

to speak, and to try out things they might not otherwise have the opportunity to, said Aimee Bergeson, controller and office manager for Fowler Construction in Kennewick. By utilizing female mentors from the local training programs and con-struction industry, the students can see the path to a career.

Students also receive information about industry jobs and requirements to get in the field, while being introduced to successful women in construction.

Even if they decide not to pursue a career in construction or a trade, the camp shows the girls they can be makers and builders. Skills like learning to operate

power tools are applicable to everyday life.In the long run, even if the students

dont decide on a career in construction we hope that they will have gained enough confidence to even tackle some home proj-ects they might not otherwise try, she added.

But they can also choose to pursue a career in the trades, one that promises good salaries, and opportunities for growth.

According to the National Association of Women in Construction, a trade organi-zation, women in the U.S. on average earn about 82.1 percent of what males in the country earn. That gender pay gap isnt as wide in the construction industry, where

women earn about 93.4 percent what men make.

And thats exactly what Cassie Smith, came away with theres a viable career path and the pay is good. Smith is a senior in Tri-Tech Skills center construction pro-gram and after graduation, she hopes to join the local electrical union.

Its been an eye opener talking to some of the experienced women in construction and seeing how much they make and how well they do, she said.

One of the volunteers is a former par-ticipant and a current student at Central Washington University who is studying construction management. Shell graduate in two years.

Bethany Hiemstra was a student at Southridge High School taking engineer-ing classes before deciding she enjoyed construction and building a lot more. Thats when she started taking classes at Tri-Tech and became a participant at the camp.

I remember my first night at Magic Camp they asked who wanted to use the power tools and everybody stepped back I was the first to give it a try, said Hiemstra. I havent looked back since. I love it. Ive even done some concrete work for my mom in her backyard.

Magic Camp was started in 2009 with funding from local business through a part-nership with Tri-Tech. Its mission to encourage girls to enter careers in con-struction to help address the workforce shortage impacting the industry, said Bergeson.

uCAMP, Page 8

Magic Camp participants learn hands-on skills building projects, operating power tools and getting one-on-one training from women in the industry.


May 187:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 2016 Solutions SummitWashington Policy CenterThree Rivers Convention CenterWashingtonpolicy.org/events

9 a.m. 1 p.m. Nuclear Workers Resource FairCold War PatriotsSouthridge Sports Complex2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick888-903-8989

May 2111:30 a.m.Fat Mans Biathalon Golf & PokerRed Mountain Lions ClubHorn Rapids Golf Course509-302-1330

May 245:15 p.m.Womens CircleAdvisor BenefitsAdvisor Benefits Office5101 W. Clearwater Ave., KennewickRSVP 509-497-2085

May 2511:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m.Monthly Networking

Luncheon: State of the CitiesTri-City Regional ChamberPasco Red Lion509-736-0510

June 111:30 a.m.Monthly meeting & luncheon National Active and RetiredFederal Employees AssociationRed Lion, Columbia Centerwww.narfe1192.org

Noon 1 p.m. General Membership LuncheonWest Richland ChamberSandberg Event Center, West RichlandRSVP 509-967-0521

Noon 1:30 p.m.Membership Luncheon Featuring Congressman Dan NewhouseTRIDECPasco Red LionRSVP 509-735-1000

June 25-7 p.m. Taste IgniteFidelitas Red Mountain 51810 N. Sunset Road, Benton Citywww.tasteignite.eventbrite.com

June 410 a.m.Time of Remembrance Poker RunCombat Vets International, Ch. 3Tys Bar & Grill, West Richland509-948-2414

1 p.m. 10th Annual Scramble Golf TournamentUnited Ways Young Leaders SocietyTri-City Country Club, Kennewick509-783-4102

June 91 p.m. Caliente OpenTri-Cities Hispanic ChamberCanyon Lakes Golf Course509-547-5356

June 101 p.m. 20th Annual Golf TournamentHome Builders Association Of the Tri-CitiesCanyon Lakes Golf Course509-735-2745

June 1311:45 a.m. 1 p.m. Monthly Membership LuncheonPasco Chamber of Commerce

Pasco Red Lion509-547-9755

June 147 a.m. 8:15 a.m. Business Building BreakfastWest Richland Chamber Sandberg Event Center, West RichlandRSVP 509-967-0521

9-11 a.m.Government Contracting EssentialsWashington PTACTri-Cities Business & Visitor CenterRSVP 509-491-3231

June 164-10 p.m. Hogs & Dogs Family FestivalWest Richland ChamberBombing Range Sports Complex 509-967-0521

June 176:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. Trios Foundation Golf ClassicTrios FoundationCanyon Lakes Golf Course509-221-5776

1 p.m. Sagebrush ScramblePasco Chamber of Commerce

Sun Willows Golf Course, Pasco509-547-9755

1 p.m. 22nd Annual Scholar ScrambleRichland Education FoundationHorn Rapids Golf Course509-528-9102

June 183-7 p.m.Summer Solstice in Demo GardensWSU Master GardenersDemonstration Gardens 1620 S. Union St. Kennewick

June 23-26Cool Desert NightsUptown Shopping CenterTri-City Regional Chamber

June 241 p.m.2016 Swings for HospiceFundraiser for The ChaplaincyHome Health Care SolutionsCanyon Lakes Golf Course509-308-1899

June 2611 a.m. 7p.m.Mariachi & More FestivalTri-Cities Hispanic Chamber Columbia Park, Kennewick509-542-0933

Build your Business By attendingDatebook

Community EvEnts ChambEr mEEtings ClassEs sEminars Workshops

NW Integrative Medicine1200 N. 14th Ave. Suite 245, Pasco, WA

nwimed.com | 509.943.2101

JOINT REPAIR AND RESTORATION

with Stem Cell and Placenta transplant therapy. This is the most comprehensive program available. Combination therapy works in a

synergistic manner for faster healing.

TREATMENTProlozone TreatmentProlozone + AmnioFixProlozone + Stem Cells

SPECIAL$380

$2,500$3,865

2nd JOINT$460

$3,500$5,850

ALL TREATMENTS INCLUDE:PEMF: pulsed magnetic field therapySupplements: 1 month supply of stem cell enhancing supplement and joint support $100 value.

We use amniotic live stem cells 15,000 cells per cc versus 1,500 cells per cc from fat derived cells.

FINANCING AVAILABLE

8 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016SHOPTALK, From page 5

Horse owners advised to vaccinate for West Nile

Washington State Veterinarian Dr. Joe Baker is urging owners to vaccinate their horses for West Nile virus, follow-ing a year in which Washington had more confirmed equine cases than any other state. Thirty-six horses tested pos-itive for the virus in 2015. By compari-son, only five cases were reported posi-tive in 2014, all in Eastern Washington.

The state veterinarians office is part of the Washington State Department of Agriculture and monitors cases of ani-mal diseases, including West Nile virus. The West Nile virus vaccine has proven to be effective if administered to horses

early enough for protection before mos-quito season.

Baker said the most active cases of West Nile virus in Washington tend to develop in the south-central counties when warmer weather starts growing the mosquito population.

The first confirmed case last year was reported mid-July by Washington State Universitys Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Pullman. There were eight cases in both Yakima and Kittitas counties, seven in Grant County and four in Benton County. In all, 10 counties reported cases.

The virus is potentially fatal to horses and is spread by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. While West Nile virus can sicken people, horses, birds

and other animals, it does not directly spread from horses to people or other animals.

Horses require two doses of the vac-cine initially, and then boosters at least annually.

Most horses exposed to the West Nile virus display no symptoms. Horses that do become ill often display loss of coor-dination, loss of appetite, confusion, fever, stiffness, and muscle weakness, particularly in their hindquarters. The disease is fatal in about one-third of the cases where clinical signs become apparent.

To reduce the risk, WSDA advises owners to keep horses indoors during the peak mosquito activity times of dawn and dusk, use insect repellant products and fly sheets to reduce expo-

sure, eliminate sources of standing water nearby, and check areas where rain water may accumulate, like old tires or bird baths. It also helps to refresh the water in water troughs week-ly.

Veterinarians who diagnose potential West Nile virus cases should contact the State Veterinarians Office at 360-902-1881. Visit WSDAs West Nile virus webpage or the state Department of Health for more information.

Torch Award nominations sought

Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest is accepting entries and nom-inations for the 2016 Business of the Year Torch Awards for Ethics.

Tyler Andrew, BBB CEO, said the Torch Awards honor businesses that align with BBB standards of trust.

The nomination deadline is June 5 and the application deadline is July 10. The award is open to accredited and non-accredited businesses in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Western Wyoming. To be consid-ered, businesses must maintain at least a B rating and hold a satisfactory record with BBB.

Finalists will be contacted in July and recipients will be notified by early fall. Businesses honored previously include an online shopping company in Washington; a tour company in Alaska; an Oregon property management busi-ness and a heating and air conditioning company in Idaho.

To learn more about the Torch Awards for Ethics criteria, or to make a nomina-tion, go to https:t.co/iE6py9R2sg.

uSHOPTALK, Page 9

CAMP, From page 6In 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics

reported 9,813,000 people working in the construction industry. Of these, 872,000 of them, or 8.9 percent, were women.

From the beginning the Magic Camp has partnered with the National Association of Women in Construction. This unified effort allows NAWIC chap-ters to host the free camps with guid-ance and oversight by MAGIC Inc. This nationwide program embodies NAWICs core purpose to enhance the success of women in the construction industry.

It hopes to eliminate some of the bar-riers that might make young women opt out of careers in construction.

For some, it is the outside worlds perception of what women should do, for those with children, sometimes it is the schedule or the distance to the job location, said Bergeson. Our goal with MAGIC is to help younger women see the opportunities early and to get through the training before life gets more complicated and factors arise that can impact their ability to be success-ful.

At the end, the girls receive not only valuable skills but also learn about edu-cational and scholarship opportunities in construction.

9Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016 CBC, From page 1

Thirteen schools from Oregon, Idaho and Washington sent teams this year, including the University of Washingtons Seattle and Tacoma campuses and Central Washington University. Teams were given a mock scenario to work through as organizers tried to disrupt their systems and challenge their skills.

In this years scenario, teams were told a death ray was heading toward Portland and they needed to patch software and redirect the satellite ray away from the city.

I did the database, websites and helped with the network, said Staley. Some malicious hacker was trying to break into our website and we were trying to keep all our systems up. It was fun and a little like being in a movie.

After three days, the judges were ready to announce the winner. Boehnke said their goal was to get out of last place and into the top 10.

Third place was Western Washington University, and theyve been doing it a lot longer than CBC. Second place was ITT Technical Institute out of Boiseand they focus on computer science, said Boehnke.

Boehnke said he would have been happy if the Cyber Hawks would have gotten fourth, or even 10th place.

But when the winner of the regional competition was announced, Boehnke was thrilled and surprised.

I basically dropped my phone and the kids were yellingit was really exciting, he said.

Winning regionals qualified the Cyber Hawks for the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. Boehnke and his

team barely had a chance to blink before packing their bags and boarding a plane to San Antonio, Tex.

We won on Sunday, and the next day was literally the start of the spring quarter at CBC, said Boehnke, who had to get five classes ready between handling the Cyber Hawks travel itinerary.

Out of ten regions, CBC was the only community college to make it to nationals. Staley said it made for some awkward introductions.

A lot of people thought we were from Columbia University, and then we said were from Washington, and they thought Washington D.C., Staley said. We had to say no the state and not the green part. Were from the desert.

Even some of the event sponsors big companies in need of the best and the brightest cyber security professionals were impressed once they learned students from small community college in Pasco, Washington had bested so many big name colleges and universities.

Amazon [representatives] thought we were out of Pennsylvania, said Boehnke. I said, No, were in the same state as you are, just three and a half hours from where youre at. And the guy said, No youre not. And I told him to cross the mountains and check us out.

The Cyber Hawks ended up placing seventh at the national competition, out of 180 teams vying for the grand champion title. Being in the top ten nationally has made companies like Wal-Mart and Microsoft, who have representatives attending the event, sit up and take notice of the Cinderella school.

The programs at CBC are really great, and they gave us the foundation to beat a lot of the competition, said Staley, adding that teams got to spend two hours talking with businesses and handing out resumes. There were a lot of companies interested in us, and in one of the interviews I did, they asked me how I learned how to protect the system. I said, The classes.

Staleys had jobs offers in Washington D.C. and Seattle. This summer hes considering an internship, but hell be back at school in the fall to start his senior year, which gives him one more year to compete with the Cyber Hawks.

Were losing three seniors that wont be there, said Staley, adding that the Cyber Hawks are actively recruiting new members regardless of skill level. We had some team members who were just beginning the program. Three of the eight students were in CS-101, and thats literally the first class you take, so it doesnt matter the skill level. We meet and we train. If this is what you really want to do and youre willing to put in the work, well teach you.

Boehnke is proud of what the team accomplished. In addition to the regional title and national placement, he said CBC is trying to get accredited with the National Security Administration thanks to the relationships they built at the competition.

I dont think the students are going to realize the impact of what theyve done for years. Theyre trendsetters, said Boehnke. Weve opened a lot of doors and put CBC on the map when it comes to cyber security. Its a career field thats growing and we can train the right workforce.

Targeted online advertising Search engine optimization Professional websites Social media management

Mobile site optimization Creative radio advertising and promotions Event sponsorships

Call for a free consultation

Townsquare Media509.547.9791

Solutions for your business

SHOPTALK, From page 8

Regional Chamber hosts State of the Cities

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce presents its State of the Cities, networking luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 25 at the Pasco Red Lion.

The event will feature Kennewick Mayor Steve Young, Pasco Mayor Matt Watkins, Richland Mayor Robert Thompson and West Richland Mayor Brent Gerry.

The luncheon is the only opportunity of the year for residents to hear from all four mayors in one showcase gathering.

The city leaders will present informa-tion about new economic development projects, major legislative priorities at the state and federal level, current proj-ects that enhance quality of life and liv-ability in the Tri-Cities, as well as a progress report on the implementation of the Tri-Cities community brand in each city.

The event is open to the public. The cost to attend is $22 for Regional Chamber members and $32 for all oth-ers. Reservations are required. The dead-line to register is May 20.

To register, contact Jillian Marquez, project coordinator at [email protected] or 509-491-3234, or visit tricityregionalchamber.com. For more information regarding the program and luncheon, please call 509-736-0510.

uSHOPTALK, Page 15

11Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016 Downtown Diner opens in Historic Downtown KennewickBy Loretto J. [email protected]

After a short stint as Thai eatery, fol-lowed by a Mexican restaurant, the for-mer OHenrys in Historic Downtown Kennewick is once again a diner. The Downtown Diner opened April 8 at 20 S. Auburn St., Kennewick.

Three partners, Amber Woods, Rodrick Gladney and Robert VanSlycke, all of Kennewick, own the diner.

The menu is packed with traditional American diner fare: pancakes, eggs and sausage for breakfast; burgers, sand-wiches and salads for lunch and dinner.

But its also sprinkled with some mouth-watering Southern classics, including shrimp and grits, chicken fried steak and chicken and waffles. Po boy sandwiches, fried catfish and gumbo are on the lunch/dinner menu along with Gladneys special boudin balls.

Boudin balls are a chunk of cheese wrapped with pork sausage, breaded and fried, said Gladney, whose rich deep Southern accent, lends authenticity.

Appetizers and desserts also have a Southern flair. Whet your appetite with fried dill pickles, fried green tomatoes and fried corn on the cob, which is dipped in corn dog batter before being dropped into the fryer.

Woods bakes fresh pies and cobbler every day, or if you sweet tooth is more adventurous, splurge on a deep fried Oreo or Twinkie.

Menu items generally run from $7 to $12.

We became business partners because we all have the same passion for food. We all have certain foods, certain recipes weve contributed to the menu, Woods said.

The gumbo, dirty rice, mac and cheese are all made from scratch. So are the po boys and other sandwiches, the fried green tomatoes and even the salads.

The only frozen foods we use are the waffle fries, Gladney said.

Woods said the extra five to seven minutes it takes to make their food from scratch is worth the boost in flavor and quality.

Gladney is originally from Jackson, Miss., where his family has owned a variety of restaurants, clubs and a gro-cery store.

Ive never been a cook but I grew up working in the family businesses. I love food. I love eating it I love talking about it, Gladney said.

Gladney picked up his Southern roots and planted them in the Tri-Cities just over a year ago when the Tri-Cities Fever football team recruited him as an offensive lineman.

Together, Woods and VanSlycke have more than 22 years experience in the

restaurant business. VanSlycke is from Texas, while Woods calls Moses Lake home.

I tell everyone Im from southern Washington, she joked.

Woods and VanSlycke met while working at Mai House restaurant in Kennewick.

We werent happy there and talked about opening our own place, Woods said.

They stopped talking and began doing when VanSlycke showed up one morn-ing at 8 a.m. with a business plan several months ago.

Thats when the three friends began hunting for a restaurant location in ear-nest.

We knew we wanted a diner and when we walked through the door and I saw these black and white tiles on the floor they just screamed diner, Woods said.

The quaint, shaded patio cinched the deal. Thats where the trios Traeger smoker sits. Its used to smoke a variety of meats served at the diner including ribs and sausages.

Anyone familiar with the former OHenrys will notice theres been some remodeling.

Woods, Gladney and VanSlycke shortened the kitchen area in the dining room, expanding their prep space back into an unused room off the kitchen. Theyve also added a full if tiny bar.

Amber Woods stirs a pot of gumbo while one of her business partners, Rodrick Gladney, pulls shrimp from the deep fryer. The duo and another partner, Robert VanSlycke, recently opened the Downtown Diner in Kennewick.

uDINER, Page 12

12 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016 SACAJAWEA, From page 3

Saturday is the busiest day of the bluegrass festival with workshops, a Dutch oven demonstration and more music. There will be a variety of music workshops from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a special workshop for youths 15 years of age and younger from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is run by the Oregon Bluegrass organization and is an introduction to bluegrass and to musical instruments in general, said Obern.

Theyll be taught a song during the workshop and then go up on stage and perform at 1 p.m., said Obern said, adding that the students will need to be accompanied by a parent.

At 1:30 p.m. there will be a band scramble. Musicians throw their names in a hat and then their names are drawn

out at random creating impromptu bands.

They get a certain amount of time to practice together then go onstage and play three songs each. Its a competi-tion and the winner is chosen from the volume of cheering from the crowd. Band scrambles are a longstanding tradi-tion at bluegrass fes-tivals, Obern said.

After the band scramble the Saturday concerts start, usually about 1:15 p.m. and go on until the park closes at 10 p.m.

Saturdays Dutch oven demonstration runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There wont be any food sampling, but onlookers will be able to get a lot of practical advice on Dutch oven cooking from the experienced cooks.

Sunday starts with a gospel sing along at 10 a.m. followed by a gospel concert from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. when the festi-val closes.

To enter the state park you will need a Discovery Pass or pay $10 per car per

day. But the annual Discovery Pass is the

way to go. It costs just $30 and is good for admission to all state parks for a year, said Obern.

Anyone camping at the park wont need a Discovery Pass, they just need to pay the $13 per day camping fee. Camping is on a first come basis and theyre allowed to go in and set up beginning at 10 a.m. on June 9.

A lot of people come to camp and play informally with their friends at night after the park closes.

Even a lot of non-musicians come to camp and take their lawn chairs from place to place in the campground and to listen to the impromptu music played in the campground at all hours, Obern said.

A three-day pass to the Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival is $35 per person; youths 15 years of age and under are free if accompanied by an adult. Single day passes are $18 for Friday, $25 for Saturday and $15 for Sunday.

Passes are available through the MCTAMA website, mctama.org and at Ranch and Home store, 845 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick.

There will be a variety of food ven-dors on site, as well as booths offering musical instruments and some arts and crafts.

Sacajawea State ParkSacajawea State Park is open during

the spring and summer from 6:30 a.m. to dusk. It closes for the winter on Oct. 29 and reopens March 28.

The Sacajawea Interpretive Center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It closes for the season Nov. 1.

The park has many outdoor self-guided interpretive displays, as well as framework representations of Native American dwellings. Along with the on-site Sacajawea Interpretive Center, the park provides guided tours by a park interpretive specialist. For times and dates, call the park at 509-337-6457.

The park is five miles southeast of Pasco at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers in Franklin County. From Pasco: Drive east on Highway 12 toward Walla Walla. Take a right on Tank Farm Road and continue across the railroad tracks. The park is at 2503 Sacajawea Park Road.

DINER, From page 11Sundays we feature special Bloody

Marys, Gladney said.As the trio worked to remodel the

Downtown Diner, people regularly dropped by to check out their work.

I began talking to people, learning the history of the building and about Henry Belair, Woods said. I fell in love with the building and the more Ive learned, the more determined Ive become to not mow over Henry and sweep him under the rug. Thats why Ive incorporated him and some of his things into the dcor of the diner.

The Downtown Diner can seat 49 people inside and another 50 on the patio. It has about 10 employees. All menu items are available for take out.

The hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information call 509-579-0501 or find them on Facebook.

Band scrambles are a longstanding tradition at bluegrass festivals.

- Reade Obern, Mid-Columbia Traditional Arts & Music Association

13Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016 Students make critical business decisions in JA High Tech Business ChallengeBy Elsie Puig for TCAJOB

Melinda Merrill is only 15, but she already knows exactly what to do when her company faces danger of bankruptcy due to an increasingly obsolete product offer-ing. She cuts costs and controls marketing expenses.

These were decisions she and her team at Richland High School had to make as part of the Junior Achievement High-Tech Business Challenge. They were the win-ning team at the ninth annual business simulation competition, which places stu-dents in the CEO seat making high stakes decisions in product development, market-ing, hiring, and price setting.

The competition is based on JAs Titan program, which is taught in the high schools by local community and business volunteers. Top students from the compet-ing teams in schools that had JA Titan programs during the current school year are invited to attend. This year, nine high schools attended, with 16 teams compet-ing.

It really sparked my interest in business and business careers, said Merrill. Youre the CEO of your company and you have all these factors you have to play with to get a leg up on the competition like how much do we invest in marketing and adver-tising our product? How much research do we put into improving our product?

And there were some challenging moments, she said. The students are pre-sented with various scenarios, like what waning demand for their product, that they must use to make business decisions.

When we practiced in class how to address product obsolescence, she said. We went bankrupt three times, so we were nervous going into the competition. But our coach advised us and although we were nervous about taking any big risks at that point in the competition, we had to start doing everything opposite we had been doing. We were just trying to stay alive as a company, so we began cutting costs.

The teams use an interactive online business simulation called JA Titan. Teams run their own companies, manufacturing and selling a fictional high-tech product, and compete for market share against other players. Success depends on how well they manage the company and how well they perform, based on the ability to manage six key business decisions: product price; pro-duction levels; marketing expenses; R&D

costs; capital investment levels; and chari-table giving.

More than technical aspects of running a business, students also develop valuable workplace skills like teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking that will be beneficial when they enter the workforce.

Students will also learn how to answer to a board by receiving feedback from cor-porate assistants during each quarter played, said Susan Fillafer, regional direc-tor for JA. They also learn the value of working as a team for the better of the whole.

The winning team will receive a $200 cash prize for each member. The winning school also receives the Titan Traveling Trophy to display for the year. In addition, one student will win a grand prize drawing for a set of Beats2 from Best Buy.

Between the hands-on experience and competitive nature, students see the full scope of what goes into running a busi-ness, said Fillafer. Once they enter the workforce, theyll have a better under-standing of why managers make the deci-sions they do. They learn to take ownership of their decisions and understand the impact those decisions can have on the suc-cess or failure of their business.

The students also get the opportunity to learn and receive feedback from local executives making those same business decisions every day.

A new part to the event this year was the opportunity for our pretend CEOs to sit at a roundtable discussion with our com-munitys real CEOs and executives to

discuss career paths, challenges, and insight to the real world of work, said Merrill.

During the roundtable discussion stu-dents get the opportunity to ask questions about possible careers paths in business and the qualifications, skills, and education needed to get there.

This roundtable panelists included: Bill Johnson, president, Mission Support Alliance; John Ciucci, president, CH2M Hill; Khris Beyer, owner, Real Centric Solutions; Amy Basche, manager, Washington River Protection Solutions;

Ryan Burdo, Lockheed Manager; and Michael Scrimsher, manager, AREVA.

For Merrill that proved not only valu-able in the challenge, but also offered a deeper glimpse into business careers.

This game definitely did peak my interest in the business world, it was fun to be in charge, she said. I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to talk to actual CEOs and see where they came from, what they do, and how they got to where they are.

Titan Champions from Richland High School. Pictured from Left to Right Back Row: Amy Basche, WRPS, Nathan Morgan, WRPS, Robert Plemmons, WRPS and Danielle Jelinek, RHS; Front Row (RHS students) Melinda Merrill, Hannah Oldson, Jossalyne Medina, Steele Roberts, and Shandra Creech.

Professionally managed by RAB Keystone, LLC.Contact Rob Bill, CPM , 509-628-9333, [email protected]

Suite 100 - Move-in ready! 1,652 Sq. ft. on the first floor Upscale medical office with oversized waiting room w/ passive lighting Large admin/reception room Private doctor's office w/full bathroom 2 exam rooms + sterile room Separate doctor/staff entrance Reserved parking spaces

2016 lease rate $19.50/sq. ft. + NNN!

Suite 101 - Move-in ready! 1,218 Sq. ft. on the first floor Ample waiting room Large admin/reception room Private doctor's office 2 exam rooms w/ sinks Utility/kitchen room Separate doctor/staff entrance Reserved parking spaces

2016 lease rate $18.50/sq. ft. + NNN!

AvAilAble SpAce:

Orchard hillS Medical Building509-628-9333 705 Gage Blvd., Richland

RaRe medical office vacancies in south Richland!AvAilAble SpAce:

Class A medical offices Lots of patient parking High road visibility

uTITAN, Page 18

24 HOURAnswering Service509-735-0404 kelleystc.com

50% off the first 3 months!

Call for details.

Let our agents be your receptionist-LOCAL people answering your calls!

Virtual Receptionist 24-Hour Bilingual Agents Perfect for any size Businesses

8121 W. Grandridge Blvd. Ste. C, Kennewick


Commercial & Agricultural Real Estate Broker

City of Stanfield7.17 acres of commercial land for sale, located within City of Stanfield limits at

the intersection of Highway 395 and I-82, adjacent to the Pilot Service Station. This is

a prime location in a growing market.

Featured Properties

(509) 545-3355

www.tippettcompany.com

2815 St. Andrews Loop, #F Pasco

To view all listings in more detail go to:

Medical Space for SalePerfect for a medical type owner/user to

occupy Suite C, a turn-key medical space while receiving rental income from two tenants occupying the remainder of the

building. Seller will lease back Suite A upon closing. Second medical tenant is currently

leasing Suites B & D.

Compass DMS wins top spot at Tri-Cities Launch WeekendBy TCAJOB staff

Compass DMS, a software company that creates solutions for small- to mid-sized auto dealers, won top honors at Launch Weekend 2016.

Siblings Justin Jones and Jennifer Olson and their partner Sean Meininger created the software solution that tracks of inventory, expenses and a host of other necessary items for automobile dealers.

Launch Weekend, which was hosted in April by Erik Ralston and Justin Karparek, attracted 64 participants who were guided through the process by local business, technology and finance men-tors. Fourteen ideas were unveiled at the Friday evening launch and eight teams of entrepreneurs made it through to Sunday night, when they delivered their final pitches to the judges: Gary Spanner, Pacific Northwest National Laboratorys manager of economic development; John Heaton, president of Pay Plus Benefits Inc.; and Tony Umek, retired executive director of Fluors Richland office and consultant at AKU LLC.

The Compass DMS team received a entrepreneurs start-up kit that included space at Fuse Coworking, legal support from Gravis Law and technical support from JMK Tech.

Storyboard, a company led by Jeff Adamson, received second place in the competition. Adamson and high school student Melody Jones unveiled the plans

for the digital storytelling app to preserve the wisdom and adventures of elder gen-erations.

In third place was Mary Ann Stanko and Starlight Desert Tasting Tours, which was supported by team Shan Wo, Columbia Basin College students Donavan Dell and Essence Breggs, and Ben Hunt, which offers personalized wine tasting tours.

New this year was a peoples choice award, which Compass DMS also won in a narrow victory over Explore Your World, a civilization-building game by Scott Sterling and pitched with a team comprised of CBC student Luis Orozco, Chet Mitchell, high school student Rhianna Adams, and Vlad Borovets of Washington State University.

Otherside Groceries, a technology-enabled grocery home-delivery service created by Jonathan Leclair, a Richland High School senior, and Abraham Mendoza, a Delta High School senior, took third place in the Peoples Choice award.

Launch Weekend took place April 22-24 at Washington State University Tri-Cities. The event was open to all entrepreneurs and students interested in collaboration and startup creation. The weekend is an intense, 54-hour experi-ence designed to create teams around entrepreneurial ideas that become busi-ness plans.

Planning a move?If your company is planning a move, please let

us know in advance so you dont miss one issue. Email information to [email protected].

SHOPTALK, From page 9

ARC-PLC payments, enrollment underway

Agricultural producers who chose to participate in the new safety net programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as the Agriculture Risk Coverage or the Price Loss Coverage programs, you can now sign contracts to enroll in coverage for 2016. The enrollment period will con-tinue until Aug. 1, 2016.

Although the choice between ARC and PLC is completed and remains in effect through 2018, you must still enroll your farm into a contract each year to receive ARC/PLC coverage.

There is no longer any direct pay-ments issued each year as the calcula-tion of final benefits for ARC/PLC is not known until after the marketing year of all base crops has passed, so for 2016 crop year, benefits will not be known until at least October of 2017. Having said that, neglecting to enroll this year could be costly, said Bruce Clatterbuck, Franklin County Farm Service Agency executive direc-tor.

Clatterbuck said considering cur-rent projected yields and prices for 2015 covered commodities, there is a potential for payments on Franklin County program base crops for 2015. Therefore it is extremely important to enroll in the annual ARC/PLC con-

tract now to protect yourself against potential 2016 year benefits loss.

Call the office to schedule an appointment to enroll in 2016 ARCPLC. If a farm is not enrolled during the 2016 enrollment period, all eligible owners and operators on that farm will not be eligible for financial assistance from the ARC or PLC pro-grams should crop prices or farm revenues remain/fall below the his-torical price or revenue benchmarks established by the program.

We are also currently accepting any farm record change requests for fiscal year 2016 until August 1, 2016. Go to www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc for more information about the ARC/PLC pro-gram and for related rate and yield

information.

Free cancer screeningThe Tri-Cities Cancer Center and

Kadlec Clinic have partnered to offer a free skin cancer screen from 9 a.m. to noon May 21 at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center at 7350 W. Deschutes Ave., Kennewick.

Vicki Haines, DCNP and Christy Masterman, DCNP, both of Kadlec Clinic, will provide spot checks to help keep you health. Appointments are required. Call 509-737-3420 to schedule an appointment. For more information, go to tccancer.org.

uSHOPTALK, Page 20

17Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016Columbia Center manager named 2016 Tri-Citian of the YearBy Mary [email protected]

For nearly three decades, Barbara Johnson, the manager of Columbia Center mall, has been giving back to the Tri-Cities.

And on April 21, Johnson received a huge thank you from the community when she was named the 2016 Tri-Citian of the Year during the annual banquet at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

Johnson was nominated for the award by Ron and Joan Hue and Sondra Wilson, who documented Johnsons accomplishments, volunteerism and dedication to the community in a five-page, single-space nomination composi-tion.

We nominators are literally in awe of Barbara Johnson, they wrote. With her very demanding management profession and her devotion to her family, we won-der where she finds the personal time to donate to so many Tri-City projects and organizations. However, we hope you will remember that she does find the time and volunteers immeasurable, countless hours and days to big endeav-ors and intimate, personal projects that have all improve the quality of life in the Tri-Cities.

Johnsons time serving on the Kennewick Public Facilities District board of directors has left an indelible mark on the Tri-Cities that will remain in perpetuity. Johnson has served on the KPFD board since its inception in 2001 and has been the secretary for more than a decade.

Very early in her career, she envi-sioned entertainment and convention venues in the area, hotels, quality restau-rants and shopping to attract tourists and provide residents with more options.

Barbara is always a forward-thinker and has used this talent on the KPFD board to oversee the financing, design

and construction of the $20 million Three Rivers Convention Center, the nominators wrote.

She worked with the board to hire a quality management team and CEO who have successfully marketed the Convention Center and Toyota Center.

She has also pushed for diversity of the Boards vision for the centers, advo-cating for a variety of conventions and entertainment that would attract new visitors to the Tri-Cities.

Johnson has been an active Rotarian since 1989, helping the service organi-zation build its Bingo Boulevard and CCR Event Center. Proceeds from Bingo Boulevard are returned to the Tri-Cities to support various community projects.

Johnson was chairman of the Tri-Citian of the Year event from 2010 to 2014, handling corporate sponsorships, reservations and table assignments, coordinating speakers and more.

She also has been a board member, campaign chairperson and board chair-man for the United Way of Benton-Franklin Counties.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Visit Tri-Cities and the Tri-City Economic Council all work tire-lessly to advance the Tri-Cities, so its no surprise to find that Johnson has also volunteer her time, talent and services to all three organizations as a board mem-ber.

Johnson and her husband, Wayne, have contributed and supported many local organizations and nonprofits, including The Friends of Badger Mountain, Domestic Violence Services, March of Dimes, Seattle Childrens Hospital, the REACH, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties, Tri-Cities Prep and Catholic Family Services.

Whatever projects she adopts, Barbara does a complete job and leads

by example, the nomination form said. She is a phenomenal organizer, able to envision the big picture of any event, while noting all the miniscule details that are needed to produce a fine, fin-ished project. She trusts and recognizes the talents of other volunteers, allowing them the freedom to get the job done.

Even in her job, she gives to the com-munity. She offers the Kennewick Police officers a free place in Columbia Center

for public safety, and Coopers Corner, an interactive place where children can learn about traffic and biking safety. And she supports Tree for Giving in the mall at Christmas.

For almost three decades Barbara Johnson has bequeathed to all three cit-ies, their populations and our surround-ing environment, her greatest gifts: her personal energy, vision, talents, resourc-es and time.

Kennewick attorney Fran Forgette presented Columbia Center manager Barbara Johnson with the 2016 Tri-Citian of the Year award during the annual Tri-Citian of the Year banquet in April at the Three Rivers Convention Center. Johnson is the 47th person to receive the honor.


TITAN, From page 13Founded in 1919, Junior

Achievement is a nonprofit economic education organization whose mission is to educate students in financial liter-acy, business and workplace skills, and entrepreneurship. This years main event sponsor was Washington River Protection Solutions.

The JA Titan program and the High-Tech Business Challenge are great ways to engage and educate stu-dents in the realities of todays business environment and help prepare them to be successful in careers and as informed citizens, said Nathan Morgan, Washington River Protection Solutions, project controls manager and event chairman. WRPS is pleased to support such an event. The students, as well as our community benefit from this spir-ited regional competition.

For more information on Junior Achievement visit juniorachievement.org/web/ja-washingtonse.

Association of Washington Business hosts outreach tourBy TCAJOB Staff

The Association of Washington Business launches a 15-city statewide small business listening tour in May in Vancouver. The tour, which runs through June and touches every corner of the state, will help craft a 2017 state legisla-tive agenda tailored to Washingtons small business operators.

Gary Chandler, AWB vice president, government affairs, will lead the meet-ings along with AWB government affairs staff.

We promise to make this time valu-able for each business owner to share their thoughts, challenges and insights, Chandler said. As the backbone of our economy, their voice is critical in creat-

ing meaningful legislation for Washingtons small-business owners.

Each meeting will feature an open discussion among business owners to capture specific policy suggestions and concerns. AWB will furnish each attend-ee with a discussion guide prior to the meeting to help facilitate dialogue and make the most of the allotted time.

Members and non-members are wel-come to join the meetings, but AWB asks that attendees RSVP to Jackie Riley at 360.943.1600 or [email protected] to ensure ample space and sup-plies.

The meeting dates and locations are as follows:

* Spokane: June 16, 7-8:30 a.m.

Greater Spokane Incorporated, 801 W. Riverside Ave. #100, Spokane.

* Colville: June 16, noon-1:30 p.m.Stephanis Oaks Street Grill, 157 N.

Oak St., Colville. * Tri-Cities: June 20, 11:30 a.m.-1

p.m. Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd. Ste. C, Kennewick.

* Yakima: June 21, noon-1:30 p.m.Greater Yakima Chamber of

Commerce, 10 N 9th St., Yakima. * Wenatchee: June 22, 7:30-9 a.m.Town Toyota Center, Crunch Pak

Room, 1300 Walla Walla Ave., Wenatchee.

* Ellensburg: June 22, noon-1:30 p.m.

Rodeo City BBQ, Banquet Room, 204 N Main St., Ellensburg.

* Everett: June 23, 7:30-9 a.m.; Economic Alliance of Snohomish County, 808 134th St. S.W. #101, Everett.

* Bellevue: June 23, noon-1:30 p.m. Puget Sound Energy - Summit Conference Room, 10885 NE 4th St., Bellevue.

* Grays Harbor: June 27, noon-1:30 p.m.; Grays Harbor, Inc., 506 Duffy St. Aberdeen.

* Port Angeles: June 28, 7:30-9 a.m.

Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St., Port Angeles.

Have an event coming up?

Let us help you spread the word!

Email your events to [email protected]


By Loretto J. [email protected]

Seniors, baby boomers and a smatter-ing of grandchildren crowded the ball-room of the Pasco Red Lion Hotel early for the April Senior Times Expo on April 19.

They came early and stayed, talking with the various vendors, said Mike Haugen, the event coordinator and advertising manager for the Senior Times.

Haugen said more than 600 people attended the popular event, which start-ed more than 20 years ago and continues to grow in popularity. Aprils event had 55 vendors with information on medical services, in-home care, investment information, a variety of community services like the Tri-Cities Food Bank and more.

Joy Gregg of Kennewick has attend-ed the Senior Times Expo for about five years, although she hasnt come for the past year or so, simply because life intervened.

Im glad I made it this time, there were lots of new businesses, she said.

One company she was happy to find was All Geek, a computer, technology and network service that will pick up your equipment, get it set up and return it ready to use.

Im going to give them a call soon to have them set up my computer so it works for me, Gregg said.

She said she also picked up some insurance information.

Its nice to be able to come here and find information without having to run around town, she said.

Many other people agreed with Gregg that finding the information they needed in one place was convenient and they converged on the Senior Times Expo.

By mid-morning the Red Lions park-ing lot was filling up and so was the ballroom.

Several vendors who brought hun-dreds of pens, key rings, brochures and other freebie items ran out of the items by early afternoon.

One of those was Sherry Bravenec, an advance specialist for Sunset Gardens in Richland. Shed brought in more than 300 pens, which didnt last long.

Even though people are reluctant to stop and talk with me, the pens were all gone before noon, Bravenec said.

Darlene Pinney, customer service representative and travel trainer at Ben Franklin Transit, said shes been to at least eight of the Senior Times Expos.

Its a great event and gives us a chance to talk about the Dial-A-Ride and other services we offer, Pinney said. What I found interesting is I talked to people at this Expo who had driven up from Hermiston just to attend and get information thats not easily available where they live.

The Expo gives the vendors a chance to share information with people they dont ordinarily encounter.

It was a great day, said Raleigh Hayter of Tri-City Orthopaedics. The

Expo was a good opportu-nity to meet people outside of the clinic. So often peo-ple are not talking about health care until the prob-lem is on them. Something like this gives people the information they need to make decisions now for the future.

The Expo also gave non-profits like the Tri-City Food Bank a chance to recruit new volunteers and make people aware of the needs of the community.

Mike Talbot, a board member and volunteer for the three food banks, said the Expo was an opportu-nity to engage people, pro-vide information about the food banks and perhaps get them interested in donating or being a volunteer.

One vendor that cap-tured a lot of attention was ClearCaptions, which was offers captioned telephone that display incoming con-versations on a screen.

The phones are free and part of a federally-funded program thats been in place for four years.

Yet few people know about it, said Valerie Ferrin, ClearCaptions west coast manager.

Our demographic is the hard of

hearing. With this phone they can com-municate with loved ones and do busi-ness. If people cant communicate, their health and minds deteriorate. This gives them a chance to get back into society.

Judy Brager of Richland was one of those intrigued by the device.

More than 600 attend spring Senior Times Expo in Pasco

uEXPO, Page 20

When the frame shop Ive designed at for 14 years came up for sale and other lending fell through, Benton Franklin Council Of Governments helped turn our end into a new beginning. Now, Kingfisher Gallery & Custom Framing is keeping our customers happy, and were smiling, too.

~ Dirk & Shanna Fledderjohann,

Owners of Kingfisher Gallery & Custom

Framing, Walla Walla

Small business loan programs available!

From micro loans up to $500,000 loan capability.

Benton-Franklin Council of Governments(509) 943-9185

Regional Revolving Loan Fund (RRLF)Columbia Regional Economic Development Trust (CREDiT)

Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee (HAEIFAC)

Please call for an appointment

1622 Terminal Dr. Richlandwww.bfcog.us

Carrie Benton, a health coach at New Edge Wellness in Kennewick, talks to an attendee about the services the business offers during the Senior Times Expo April 19 at the Pasco Red Lion. More than 600 people attended the event, which fea-tured 55 vendors offering a variety of medical, in-home services and more for seniors.

20 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016SHOPTALK, From page 15

Payday loan collection scamThe Washington State Department of

Financial Institutions warns consumers about providing sensitive bank account or personal information on the tele-phone to callers that initiate contact with the consumer. Consumers are urged to verify license status and the identity of any party prior to giving the financial institution, company, or individual any nonpublic personal information, such as social security number or bank account number or access.

DFI received a complaint indicating that a representative claiming to repre-sent an entity identified as Inside Capital called a consumer and informed her that she needed to pay on a 2009

payday loan. The representative threat-ened to contact the consumers place of employment and to file a lawsuit. In addition, the representative had the con-sumers Social Security number and address. The consumer reported never having obtained a payday loan.

The phone numbers used or refer-enced in the call were 1-855-205-6357 and 1-877-746-4334.

Those claiming to represent Inside Capital are not licensed by DFI nor reg-istered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State.

DFI strongly recommends that con-sumers deal only with lenders that are properly licensed to conduct business. Consumers can determine whether lend-

ers are properly licensed using the Verify a License feature on the DFIs website at www.dfi.wa.gov.

Collection activities are subject to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Therefore, if you have questions regarding debt collection laws please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC HELP, or online at www.ftc.gov.

Debt collectors cannot state or imply that failure to pay a debt is a crime. They cannot call before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. They cannot harass or abuse consumers, or contact consumers places of employment.

KID water curtailedThe U.S. Bureau of Reclamation offi-

cials say that due to warm temperatures

and lack of precipitation, water users with pro-ratable water rights, including the Kennewick Irrigation District, would be pro-rationed to 85 percent of its total water allotment.

KID will not be implementing water restrictions at this time. Total water sup-ply available numbers are released monthly, but may be updated mid-month when necessary.

Because conditions can change rap-idly, KID reminds customers that wise water use is always prudent. Consider planting low-water vegetation, replace lawn grass with Xeriscaping, reduce watering to three times per week for no longer than 30 minutes each time, and use high-efficiency devices, such as micro-spray and drip-line irrigation to reduce overwatering. Apply water only where it is needed. For more informa-tion, go to kid.org or find them on Facebook.

uSHOPTALK, Page 36

PASCO | 547-7574RICHLAND | 943-3144KENNEWICK | 783-1474KENNEWICK - GAGE | 735-6696

www.yakimafed.comToll Free/Llame Gratis 1-800-331-3225

Our Name Says it All!

Since 1905 ~ Central Washingtons Preferred Financial Center

Savings Ahorros Safe for savings since 1905 including Checking Accounts , Money Market Accounts and Individual Retirement Accounts.

Seguridad para los ahorros desde 1905, incluyendo Cuentas de Cheques, Cuentas Mercado Financiero Global y Cuentas de Jubilacin Individual.





and Loans...y Prstamos ...

...for home purchase, new construction, refinance, fixed rate home equity loans

and variable rate Preferred Line of Credit.

... para compra de casa, construccin nueva,

prstamos hipotecarios con tasa fija y Lnea de

Crdito Preferencial con tasa variable.













Nuestro Nombre Lo Dice Todo!

Desde 1905 ~ El Centro Financiero Preferido de Washington Central

EXPO, From page 19My husband spends most of his time

on the phone saying, What? What? And for those who need a boost with their eyesight the words on the screen can be bumped up to about two inches, Brager said. I didnt even know some-thing like this existed.

The expo, which offers services and products for the older generation in a single venue, will be repeated in the fall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Pasco Red Lion.

Many of the vendors, including the Senior Times, held drawings for gift baskets and other prizes.

Attendees were given a map of the booths as they entered, had it checked off at each booth and then the Senior Times drew names for a variety of priz-es, said Haugen.

The winning names were: Lois H. of Pasco, two tickets to the Mid-Columbia Symphony; Eileen H. of Kennewick, two tickets to the Mid-Columbia Symphony; Joyce D. of Richland, two tickets to the Mid-Columbia Symphony; Ernie G. of Richland, four tickets to the Tri-City Dust Devils; Len P. of Kennewick, four tickets to the Tri-City Dust Devils; Wilma L. of Richland, two tickets to the Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre; Ken C. of West Richland, two tickets to the Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre; Melinda T. of Kennewick, two tickets to the Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre; Pat S. of Kennewick, Senior Benefits Solutions gift basket; Joyce G. of Kennewick, All Geek wine basket; Richard D. of Richland, $25 movie gift card; Bill G. of Kennewick, $25 movie gift card;

Lynn W. of Kennewick, $25 movie gift card; Richard M. of Richland, $25 movie gift card; Joyce B. of Pasco, KTNW 50s/60s CD; John C. of Richland, Help U Move $300 gift card; Laura D. of Benton City, $25 Walgreens gift card; and Andy M. of Pasco, $25 Walgreens gift card.

Winners will be notified by telephone by Senior Times staff.


Tourism & recreaTionBy Dori ONeal for TCAJOB

Northwest Public Television is plan-ning to create a television series that will showcase Northwest wine, beer and other spirits.

The weekly show, which does not have a designated air time and start date yet, will take an informative and fun look at the wine industry while covering the people involved with it, as well as how it impacts tourism and business, said Tom Hungate, the program manager for NWPT.

We are hoping to feature one (winery) per episode, so it would depend on the success of the series if we get to include all the wineries in the Northwest, Hungate said. The feedback we get from the community will help us determine the shows format.

Hungate said the show will educate viewers on specific details as well as gen-eral information about the wine industry, which he hopes will add to a wider appre-ciation for those various beverages creat-ed in the Northwest.

We shot some footage at the Barnard Griffin Winery to use as a starting point and are now in the process of gathering information from community members and people involved in the industry to determine what sort of information is

most helpful and how the structure of the show can be developed to make it inter-esting and engaging, he said. There is so much that goes into wine making and marketing, and each winery has a unique approach. This is what we hope to cap-ture and share with people across the country though our public television affil-

iation.One crucial part to making the show a

reality is gathering funding, he said. Northwest Public Television has heard

from many people over the years that this is a perfect program to create about our (Mid-Columbia) area, and we feel the explosion of wine grape cultivation and

the growth of wineries in the area is proof of the commitment to this industry, Hungate said. We now need to identify people, businesses and associations that will help us create this series.

Many of the details for the show have yet to be ironed out, he added, and some of the content of each episode will depend on the guests the show features.

Andy Perdue, for example, would have guidance for food pairings and vin-tages, while someone from the WSU Wine Science Center, like Thomas Henick-Kling could provide some of the science behind wine production and where the industry is heading, Hungate said.

Although wine will be the primary focus of the show, which will air on Channel 31 in the Tri-Cities, regional beer brewers and hard cider production also will be featured.

The opening of the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center at Washington State University Tri-Cities, has solidified the future business of wine in the Northwest, and with that in mind, Hungate wants to tell the personal stories behind those wineries and businesses, he said.

New television series showcases Washingtons wineries and winemakers

Members of the Barnard Griffin family of winemakers, who will be featured in the upcoming new Northwest Public Television series on the wine industry, are from left Elise Jackson, Megan Hughes, Deborah Barnard and Rob Griffin. Contributed photo.

uWINE, Page 26

The Perfect Club for Your Game

Join the Tri-Cities premier Golf & Country Club

Initiation Fee as low as $100.* Good for full golf membership, social and other memberships.

Golf Membership includes full clubhouse and golf privileges. Social Membership includes full clubhouse privileges.

Beautiful, tree lined course on 67 acres

Clubhouse with fine & casual dining options

Fitness facility and seasonal pool

Fun, family-friendly atmosphere

*Available to those individuals twenty-one years of age or older. Must be a member in good standing with local area association. Check with our office for details as to which associations are an affiliation. Initiation fee of $100.00 due at signup.

Tri-City Country Club314 N. Underwood St., Kennewick (509) 783-6131 tccountryclub.com

22 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business May 2016SPORTS, From page 1

Reiners said that only about five of those teams are actually from the Tri-Cities, which means the majority are com-ing from elsewhere many from western Washington. That means a lot of the areas hotel and restaurants score during the tournaments, as well.

Reiners organization uses the fields at the Southridge Athletic Complex, Lawrence Scott Park and the Civic Fields complex in Kennewick; TRAC in Pasco; and the Kingsgate fields in Richland.

The facilities in the Tri-Cities, theyre a huge piece of our success there, said Reiners. That, and the weather. But their facilities are phenomenal. Its just a nice atmosphere.

Thats music to the ears of Hector Cruz, the director of sports development for Visit Tri-Cities, the regions visitors and convention bureau.

Altogether, Cruz counts 69 baseball fields of various sizes in the Tri-Cities, including West Richland. There are also 50 softball fields, including those at pri-vate schools.

Visit Tri-Cities doesnt break down the total revenues each year by sport. It also includes conventions in those revenues, and there are some local sports tourna-ments that dont report figures to the Visit Tri-Cities organization.

But in November 2015, Visit Tri-Cities reported 227 events (conventions and sports events) had that attracted 132,195 visitors, resulting in an economic impact of $40.5 million.

The group also reported estimated, based on the number of events booked at

the time, the Tri-Cities would attract more than 150,000 visitors in 2016, to 196 events, creating an economic impact of more than $50.7 million.

Sports tournaments play a major role in those numbers. And Cruz said each year the number of baseball and softball tour-naments grows.

Baseball and softball have grown sig-nificantly in our community, said Cruz. People around the country know us as a sports destination because of softball and baseball. From a Visit Tri-cities point of view, its great because it creates a repeat visitation. People come here for a tourna-ment for their first visit, then come back for a vacation.

That new July tournament that Jensen is going to run? Cruz said the bureau

expects 4,000 visitors with an economic impact of $1.1 million.

Other incoming softball tournaments this year, either run by USA Preps or the Amateur Softball Association, will garner anywhere from $350,000 to $445,000 in economic impact.

The success story is created by a great working relationship between Visit Tri-Cities, the cities parks and recreation departments and the regions hotel and motel operators. The area needs to be enough hotel rooms to bring new tourna-ments, but Cruz and his staff know it is a fine line.

We have to be careful because we dont want to over-saturate things, said Cruz. If someone comes in and cant get a hotel room, thats bad. You want to

make sure no one has that bad experi-ence.

Cruz knows the numbers. He and other Visit Tri-Cities staffers attend four con-ventions a year to meet with sports orga-nizations and sell the Tri-Cities to them. Theyll know whether a certain tourna-ment will work on a specific weekend, based on hotel room availability.

Sometimes a representative from one the three cities will go too, to illustrate the close and positive working relationship between the cities and Visit Tri-Cities.

Thats not always the cas

tri-cities area journal of business - may 2016

Documents