Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce ActionQuarterly NewsReport Magazine - Jan • Feb • March 2016 1994 • Behind Oklahoma City’s Booming Economy, Lessons For Up-And-Coming Cities • Mr. Smith goes to Yakima • Creating a Prosperous Future for Yakima • President’s Report & Message from the Chair www.yakima.org Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce 1 PRESIDENT’S REPORT CONTENTS 3 President’s Report 8 Lessons for Up-and-Coming Find a place to give all year long, for example, by reading to a child; help- terms will be outlined by their abil- ity to serve all! With pending issues, 3 Message from the Chair Cities 10 N. 9th St. ing out at the medical clinic at the we need to encourage them to lead Yakima, WA. 98901 mission (they need bilingual volun- with integrity, honor, and selflessness. 5 Yakima Plaza 14 Renewing Members (509)248-2021 teers badly); Rod’s House; YMCA or Huge decisions will be made regard- www.yakima.org YWCA; the Humane Shelter; Vet- erans and even your Greater Yakima ing the Plaza, the Sozo Arena, and 6 Mr. Smith goes to Yakima 15 New Members Executive Committee Members Chamber of Commerce! the Aquatic Center . These projects Chair: Joe Mann, Ron’s Coin & Collectibles need to be fully voiced with no hid- Immediate Past Chair: Mike Dooley, Wilbert Precast With the need so great, I’m sure Inc. you could find a place for your time den agendas or political posturing. First Vice Chair: Rich Austin, Yakima Valley Tourism Verlynn Best and treasure! Our valley needs you Choosing a new city manager will be Second Vice Chair: Ryan Rodruck, Columbia Public President & CEO Affairs to serve….. I can assure you the re- very important to our future and I’m Secretary/Treasurer: Sue Price-Scott, Alegria & turn on your investment will exceed sure these council members will be Company, P.S. up to the challenge. Appointed by Chair: Ron King, Radio Yakima the capacity of your heart! Appointed by Chair: Bob Gerst, John I Haas January 2016 We, also, need to support our new Legal Counsel: Don Boyd, Carlson Boyd & City Council as they learn, listen, and In closing, let’s all work together Bailey PLLC Happy New Year! for a stronger, united community….. President/CEO: Verlynn Best, Greater Yakima make decisions for the greater good. Chamber of Commerce Yes, this will be their time to define thank you in advance for all that you I hope your holidays were celebrat- themselves as the strong, caring, pas- do and will do for the betterment of Board of Directors ed with family, friends, and blessings Mike Bastinelli, Yakima Police Dept. sionate individuals they are. They our Yakima Valley! abound! So, put the tree away, take Jon DeVaney, Washington State Tree Fruit Association will be working for their districts, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Kronstadt Consulting the lights down, but continue stay in and the community at large. Their David Ackerman, The Print Guys Inc. the spirit! Doug Warren, Baird Carmen Mendez, Safe Yakima Valley Kristi Foster, Wheatland Bank MESSAGE from the CHAIR Jamie Stickel, TownSquare Media Jack “JD” Bewley, McDonalds of Yakima Right across the street the Morrier our community new choices and new family is finishing the last stages to Ex-Officio Members The December Chamber luncheon, “Incoming Yakima City Council employment opportunities. Yakima’s newest hotel. From what I Sean Hawkins, Yakima Economic Development Manager I have also noticed many changes Reception” was the most well attended of the Year! Congratulations to the Dominic Rizzi, Yakima Chief of Police hear it will truly be Yakima’s finest, a Mike Leita, Yakima County Commissioner downtown. Being a true downtown five star facility to enjoy. newly elected City Council members! LTC Jason Evers, Post Commander - Yakima boy, I’ve spent all my life in Yakima Training Center Just a block down on the corner of Register for the “2015 Yakima Valley Economic Year Linda Johnson, SBDC - Small Business the heart of the city and I see these South Naches Avenue and Yakima Development Center in Review” Luncheon on Februray 8th at www. changes daily. The next few para- Avenue, a new bank building is be- Craig Dwight, YV Tech graphs I will really show my age. yakima.org. Regional Labor Economist Donald W. Luz Bazan Gutierrez, RDRC ing built from the ground up, a show Meseck will be our keynote speaker. Plus we’ll have Greg Stewart, State Fair Park The old Harold H. Schlutz build- case corner for the new building. John Cooper, Yakima Valley Tourism a presentation from Yakima County on the Yakima Joe Mann ing is now the new home of Standard Another block down, the Neighbor- Christine Cote, Perry Technical Institute Paint, a longtime Yakima Valley fam- River Basin water enhancement project. Jonathan Smith, New Vision - YCDA Chair of the Board hood Health buildings have been re- ily owned business. What a fantastic finished to attractive office buildings. Administrative Team members: remodel they have done to this struc- Verlynn Best, President & CEO I also cannot wait to see what the ON THE COVER Thane Phelan, Vice President ture, wow! With the move to the Memorial/Virginia Mason partner- December Larsen Building - Downtown Yakima Amy Lopez, Information and Events Coordinator Grown Yakima Grow new location, this opened up their ship does with their new purchase of Photo by Thane Phelan Gary Myhre, Member Services Representative previous location for the Print Guys Josette Gonzales, Bookkeeper & Accounting As the year-ends, and a new one the huge former ecology building on Action Report Layout & Design by: Amy O Graphics & Thane Phelan to move downtown and continue to begins I was reflecting on what has Yakima Avenue. upgrade equipment and services for © 2016. All rights reserved. The Action Report is a bimonthly publication of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Com- happened around Yakima. As you All of this is happening in just this their growing customer base. merce containing information for and about the Yakima business community. The Action Report is mailed to Chamber Mission Statement: “The Greater drive through town the landscape short mile along Yakima Avenue. members and civic leaders. To submit a press release or offer comment about our publication please e-mail the Chamber Then there’s the “old” Nordstrom is changing, there are lots of new I’m very excited to see what else will at [email protected], Phone (509) 248-2021, send fax to (509) 248-0601 or write to P.O. Box 1490. Yakima WA Yakima Chamber of Commerce is an building owned by Monty Mills of 98907-1490. The magazine editor reserves the right to reject or edit any information to be published in the Action commercial buildings; the biggest take place in our great community organization that promotes pride in the Mills Music family. That building Report. Deadline to submit information is the 20th day of the previous month. Opinions expressed or implied in the changes I notice are Rainier Square in 2016. I love this Valley; it is truly Action Report do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce as an organization. our diverse communities through is also undergoing a major remodel. The Action Report and the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce publish (USPS501-570) monthly for $12 per year. and Tahoma Square. Both have na- my home and only continues to get positive, active leadership aimed at It has been a quietly kept secret but Periodical postage is paid at Yakima, WA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Action Report Editor, P.O. Box better. God bless you all and I wel- creating a cohesive, successful business tional and regional tenants that the 1490, Yakima, WA 98907-1490. Advertising sales performed by the Chamber staff. Printing and binding by: The Print has me very excited to see what it will come you all into 2016 from our All- Guys Inc. Yakima, Washington Valley has not seen before, bringing climate in our County.” turn into. America City. 2 Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce www.yakima.org www.yakima.org Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce 3 YAKIMA PLAZA Memorial’s Legacy Hall: Celebrating 25 years of philanthropy; million in private contributions.” The most recent pledges bring the transforming healthcare for generations to come E Yakima Avenue current private contribution total to $3,938,800. The City of Yakima has budgeted $2.8 million in 2016 to As another new year unfolds, so also begins a new chapter for complete the first phase of the proj- The Memorial Foundation, the nonprofit philanthropic partner ect. The City is expecting to pay $7 of Memorial Family of Services. It is through our community’s million of the cost of the $14 mil- unwavering commitment that needed resources have been lion project with the private sector available to fund today’s healthcare initiatives and tomorrow’s Street S 3rd matching the City’s portion. promises with a mix of philanthropic and grants development. The single largest private pledge Capitol To close out 2015, the Foundation celebrated its silver Theater made since the Plath family an- anniversary: 25 years of responding to community need and nounced its pledge comes from Peg- stewarding local generosity to improve health and create new gy Lewis at $1 million. Lewis’ hus- band Walter and his brothers Lester models of care for those who live here in the Yakima Valley. S 2nd Street and Victor founded Yakima Pine This celebration of community spirit was literally cast in Products in the 1950s, which after bronze (and walnut and glass) in the form of the new Legacy Courthouse merging with another company, was Hall, a special place within Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital.