Puyallup City Council Selects New City Manager

Puyallup, WA – Following an extensive recruitment process, the Puyallup City Council voted unanimously last night to appoint Kevin Yamamoto as Puyallup’s new City Manager. Yamamoto succeeds Bill McDonald who announced his intention to retire in August. Yamamoto has been with the City of Puyallup since 2007, serving as the Assistant City Attorney and Senior Assistant City Attorney before becoming City Attorney in 2011.

The appointment follows a nationwide recruitment process that attracted more than 30 candidates. The Puyallup City Council worked with the Prothman Company executive recruitment firm to seek out a pool of highly-qualified candidates and conducted multiple interviews before ultimately selecting Yamamoto to fill the position.

“We engaged in a rigorous hiring process because the citizens of Puyallup deserve a highly-qualified manager overseeing city services and watching over their tax dollars,” said Mayor John Knutsen. “After interviewing the top candidates, there was unanimous agreement that Kevin Yamamoto’s experience, work ethic, and passion for Puyallup made him the best fit for the City Manager position.”

Yamamoto will begin his work as the City’s chief appointed official on January 1, 2015. “I thank the City Council for the opportunity to manage the City of Puyallup.  I look forward to working with the City Council, city staff members and members of the Puyallup community to achieve the goals of the Council and better serve those that live, work and play in the City of Puyallup.” he said upon announcement of his selection.

Prior to his tenure at City of Puyallup, Yamamoto was an Associate Attorney for Williams & Johnson, P.S., and concurrently served as City Attorney for Mossyrock, Assistant City Attorney for Vader, General Counsel for Lewis County Fire District 12, Prosecuting Attorney for the City of Centralia, and Assistant City Attorney for Pe Ell. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington, and a Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law, Tacoma, Washington.
     City of Puyallup Press Release Nov 26, 2014

Design Dog Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Livens Up The Chamber

Congratulations to Sign Dog business owners, Brad Moore and Donnie Juntunen, for opening their second business, Design Dog, in downtown Puyallup.  Located in the same building as the Chamber, they temporarily dominated most of the building square footage as they planned for the event on Thursday night.  More than 50 people stopped in to wish them well and introduce themselves and network with other Chamber members.  Guests were treated to the musical entertainment by D.J., Evan M. Taylor, food from TK Irish Pub & Eatery in downtown Puyallup and tours of their newly renovated office space.

If you didn't get a chance to attend the ribbon cutting, pop in and say hi to them the next time your at the Chamber office.  Their office decor includes many of the business logos and brands they have designed for businesses you may recognize so if you're in need of a new brand, developing a new website or just need some marketing advice, they're great to work with.  Plus, they're a Chamber member.

Small Business Roundtable: Healthcare Luncheon Follow Up

Take advantage of your Chamber membership and attend our Small Business Roundtable discussion about Healthcare.  This Chamber event is a follow up to our Healthcare Luncheon and is intended to assist our members with their November open enrollment and employee benefit decision making.

     DATE:  Tuesday, November 18th
     TIME:  4:30pm
     LOCATION:  Chamber Office, 323 N. Meridian, Puyallup
     RSVP:  membership@puyallupsumnerchamber.com  or 253.845.6755

• Find the right health plan for your business
• Learn about tax credits
• Decide if Health Savings Accounts are appropriate for your business

These topics and more will be discussed at the Nov. 18th Roundtable here at the Chamber.  We will have insurance brokers, a tax accountant, banking representatives and more available to assist you with making a decision and moving forward to implement your plan.

No charge to attend, just RSVP to Cathryn Lewis at membership@puyallupsumnerchamber.com.

Healthcare Luncheon Connects Businesses And Brokers

Dr. Dan Delgato, Group Health and
Dr. Al Fink, Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital

The Chamber welcomed six guest panelists at today's Healthcare Luncheon to speak about the current state of healthcare.  Responding to our member questions about the November open enrollment period, our program today included three panels.  

The first presenters were healthcare providers who spoke about changes in healthcare delivery and how businesses could take advantage of their new and existing programs.  Both Dr. Delgato and Dr. Fink spoke about efficiencies, new delivery methods and partnerships like the one between Multicare and the So. Hill Mall where you can walk in for a vaccination during a visit to the mall.

The second panel addressed about various programs and benefits businesses provide to their employees with an emphatic recommendation to work with a reputable broker.  

Our third panel included local brokers who talked about a variety of options our business members could take advantage of to minimize their healthcare costs while still providing benefits to their valued employees.  And Kim Halpain from Group Health shared which of their insurance programs were the most popular as well as their new programs planned for 2015.

We want to thank all of our guest speakers for taking the time to come and share their valuable healthcare information and experiences with our members.  We've received a lot of positive comments about the information presented and the audience appreciated the opportunity to ask healthcare questions specific to their own organizations.

We also want to thank our luncheon sponsor, Cascade Regional Blood Services, for their support of our event, as well as the Best Western Premier Plaza.

The Chamber is also hosting a follow up event to our luncheon, a Small Business Roundtable, on Tuesday Nov 18th at 4:30pm at the Chamber office.  Free to members, the roundtable will have brokers, a tax accountant, and banking representatives that can set up Health Savings Accounts.  If you missed our luncheon, be sure to take advantage of this Small Business Roundtable.  It's one of the benefits of being a chamber member!  

RSVP to membership@puyallupsumnerchamber.com

Kim Halpain, Group Health

Trudy Bleiler, Premier NW Agents

Chris Free, Rapport Benefits

Mike Lynch, Sumner Veterinary Hospital

Healthcare luncheon Sponsor
Cascade Regional Blood Services

Healthcare for Business Luncheon this Friday

Join us for our November Healthcare Luncheon.  Healthcare Providers will share about the changes they are making in how they deliver care to their patients.  Learn if the ACA requirements affected how businesses provide benefits to their employees over the past year.  Learn what insurance options are available to individuals and smaller businesses. 

Friday, November 14th, 2014. 11:30am-1:00pm (doors @ 11:00am) 

Best Western Premier Plaza Hotel & Conference Center 

620 South Hill Park Drive Puyallup, WA 98373. 

Pre-registered members $20.00/ Non Members $30.00. 

Day Of $25.00 for members and $30.00 for non-members. read more»

Haggen Northwest Fresh Moves to So. Hill

If you haven't been to Top Foods on So. Hill lately, it's worth the trip.  The first thing you'll notice is the new store sign proclaiming it is now Haggen Northwest Fresh, the new official name since the completion of their three week remodeling project.  They celebrated their grand reopening on November 5th.  

The first thing you'll notice inside the store is a life size cow in the middle of the floor surrounded by flowers and newly remodeled shelving, signage and flooring. They are even having a Name the Cow contest which ends on December 3rd.  Customers can stop and enter their favorite bovine name and the winning name will be chosen on December 4th.  

If you wander back to the meat department, you'll see a vintage red pickup parked where a frozen food refrigerator isle was.  There's new wall murals, new food selections and the wine and spirits have their own section of real estate near the front of the store.  

So the next time you're on So. Hill, be sure and stop in and say hi. And if you have a favorite cow name, be sure and let them know by December 4th.

Secretary of State Recognizes Sumner Businesses

Washington Secretary of State, Kim Wyman, center with
Reimy Iselin, Steve Fowler, Dave Radcliffe and Jackie Walls

Four Washington companies, ranging from a Bellevue-based group of restaurants to a furniture store in Sumner, were selected as recipients of the 2014 Corporations for Communities award, which honored exceptional Washington businesses that make helping the community a priority.

John Howie Restaurants in Bellevue was one of two winners of the large-company category. The Colfax-based McGregor Company is the other. The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse in Sumner and the Barkley Company in Bellingham were the two companies receiving the small-company honors.

Companies with 100 or more employees are considered large companies and those with fewer than 100 employees are small companies.

Secretary of State Kim Wyman presented four companies with a National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award during a ceremony in her office on Thursday, Nov. 12th.  The Medallion Award recognizes civic engagement, voter education efforts, government services and a commitment to giving back to the community.

“Washington is blessed to have many companies that give back to their communities, so I’m excited to honor several of these caring corporations that make a difference,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman.

The McGregor Company President Alex McGregor was unable to attend the ceremony, so Wyman will present him with a medallion in Colfax on Nov. 15. The McGregor Company was nominated by Whitman County Library for supporting multiple library renovations. The company contributes time and financial assistance to civic, school and community endeavors in multiple towns. It has led efforts to revitalize the city of LaCrosse via LaCrosse Community Pride.

John Howie Restaurants was nominated for taking part in several charitable acts, events and functions, including hosting free holiday dinners for low-income and homeless people. The restaurant group has partnered with Craig Terrill and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Kick Hunger Challenge.

The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse was nominated for its extensive community involvement. It has created, sponsored or participated in several cancer, research, autism, multiple sclerosis and other benefit events. It has sponsored the “visit with Santa and Elves” at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Operation Turkey Drop and Operation Ham Grenade, providing holiday meals to Joint Base Lewis-McChord families. The company encourages use of paid time for its employees to participate in these activities.

The Barkley Company, which includes Talbot Real Estate, was nominated for its corporate giving in the Bellingham community. It provided free space and renovated its local library, and has donated more than $80,000 annually to several organizations.

During the Nov. 12 ceremony, six additional nominees will receive honor roll certificates for their community efforts. These companies include Jacks County Store (Ocean Park), M&N Absolute Auto (Everett), NW Sleeps (Olympia), Avista (Spokane), Pioneer Grocery (South Bend) and A Picket Fence (Sumner).     From the office of Secretary of State

Kim Wyman presents Dave Radcliffe, CEO of
The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse with a Medallion Award

Kim Wyman presents Raimey Iselin  from A Picket Fence with award.

Secretary of State, Kim Wyman, with Washington State business
representatives who received Corporations for Communities awards

Arista Pasta Opens with Local and Seasonal Flavors

If you haven't stopped in to say hi yet to Ben Herried, owner of Arista Pasta, you should.  Located in the building across from Pioneer Park where Central Perk us to be, Arista Pasta is serving up some wonderful seasonal pasta dishes and local ales, wines and hard cider.  It's a great place to have lunch or dinner, something which Congressman Denny Heck will attest to.

Congratulations to Ben and the whole crew at Arista for a robust opening.  We wish you much success into the future.

U.S. Open Catering Event Showcases Local Food Favorites

Susan Lacz, Catering Director for the U.S. Open and Principal of
Ridgewells Catering, gives a presentation at the Sumner Visitor Center
in the Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse.

On October 28th the Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce hosted a catering event featuring Susan Lacz, the Catering Director for the U.S. Open.  Our Chamber has been working with Pierce County for more than a year to schedule this event and provide opportunities for our local food purveyors to showcase their regional offerings.  To that end, after meeting Lacz at the event, the owners of Berryland Cafe are working with her to serve rhubarb pies at the U.S. Open next year.  She is also communicating with the Washington State Fair to discuss serving scones at the event, Dillano's Coffee Roasters, and Blue Max Meats regarding their Beast Mode sausage.  

Our goal at the Chamber was to highlight our local favorite foods, restaurants and caterers to USGA representatives in hopes that their products would be served at the upcoming world class sporting event and draw attention to the communities where they do business.  We invited our local members,  members from other chambers and the general public to the presentation and all had an opportunity to speak with Lacz and promote their business.  

So if you are attending the 2015 U.S. Open next June at Chambers Bay and are in one of the hospitality tents, be sure to look for rhubarb pie and scones and other local fare from Puyallup and Sumner.  A big thank you to Susan Lacz for agreeing travel to Sumner to speak to our local businesses.  We also appreciate our business members and guests who took the time to attend our event and learn more about the opportunities at USGA events.  Because the County is hoping that Chambers Bay will host additional Opens and other USGA sponsored events like the Amateurs, Womens and Seniors, there is potential for even more opportunities in the future.

And as for our goal at the Chamber, mission accomplished.  

Greg McClellan from PCTV films the Catering Event at the
Sumner Visitor Center

Congressman Denny Heck welcomes the crowd at the Old Cannery

Susan Lacz at the entrance of one of the temporary
Corporate Hospitality Tents at Chambers Bay.

Interior of one of the Corporate Hospitality Tents.

Interior of Corporate Hospitality Tent which will be
erected at Chambers Bay for the 2015 U.S. Open.

Right At Home Puyallup Ribbon Cutting

The Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the grand opening of Right at Home Puyallup, one of our newest members, and welcomes them to our local business community.  Owner, Ben Solomon, accepted our Chamber Proclamation and cut the ribbon in front of more than 30 guests.  Right at home staff also shared a demonstration with our Ambassadors which simulates dementia.  An eye opening experience, our business members who work with the aging population found a great local resource for their customers, clients and guests.  It was great to meet all of the Right at Home staff and we all enjoyed a buffet catered by Dickey's BBQ.  

Congratulations to Ben and Right at Home Puyallup on the opening of your new location.  We're glad you're here.

Sumner Link Trailhead Opening

The City of Sumner celebrated the opening of the Sumner Link Trailhead on October 23, 2014, with elected officials, city staff, community stakeholders and residents.  The Chamber presented the City of Sumner with a Proclamation acknowledging the completion of the Trailhead and was pleased to see one of our members, Impressive Signs and Graphics, who installed the trailhead arch and sign, at the community celebration.  

The new Sumner Link Trail links the Interurban Trail and Lakeland Hills Trail on the north and the Foothills Trail and Riverwalk Trail to the south.  If you haven't had an opportunity to ride your bike or walk the trail, plan to on the next sunny weekend.  The Sumner Link Trail offers the chance to experience the valley along the White River including river views, wildlife and native vegetation as well as agriculture and industry.

Congratulations to the Rhubarb Pie Capital.

NW Brewing Hosts Blue Review

The October Ambassador "Blue Review" was held at Northwest Brewing Company who were on a mission to personally sample the fall harvest brews available this time of year.  If you haven't been to this local brewing company you're missing a great local atmosphere.  The theme is casual and the wait staff is friendly.  A perfect place to stop and relax after work.  

Stop in and try the Blood Orange Wit, Joker Amber Ale, Mango Weizen, Three Skulls Pale Ale or any of their other beers on tap.  It was a definite thumbs up from our Ambassadors.  Stop in sometime and tell them the Chamber sent you.

Puyallup Hosts Valley City Mayors to Discuss New Port Alliance

Last week Puyallup was the host city for the monthly Valley City Mayors meeting.  Mayors from the cities of Renton, Kent, Auburn, Pacific, Algona, Sumner, Puyallup and Fife, together with commissioners from the Port of Tacoma and Port of Seattle, local Chamber of Commerce leaders and city officials, met to discuss various topics related to the valley cities.  This month Port of Tacoma Commissioner, Richard Marzano, and Port of Seattle Commissioner, Bill Bryant, gave a joint presentation about the new Port Alliance and the importance of working with the legislature to fund additional transportation infrastructure and job creation necessary to the health and sustainability of our Ports and region.

A big thank you to the Washington State Fair for providing scones for the luncheon.  When in Pierce County you should always "Do the Puyallup".

Chamber Board Retreat 2014

PSCC Board Chair, Kent Hojem, addresses the Board at the
2014 Retreat at the Tacoma Yacht Club

The Puyallup Sumner Board of Directors annual retreat was held at the Tacoma Yacht Club this year.  Though a typical rainy fall day in Washington State, our meeting room offered panoramic views of Puget Sound and the ferry sailings between Point Defiance and Vashon Island.  Definitely a fun addition to our board discussions.  

Our board also heard a presentation from Hunter George, Pierce County Communications Director, about the 2015 Chambers Bay U.S. Open.  Hunter talked about the economic impact the 235,000 visitors will have in the region and the years of planning that have gone into recruiting a world class event like the U.S. Open, in the Pacific Northwest.

A big thank you to Dave Radcliffe for hosting this year's retreat and providing a relaxing atmosphere for good discussion and board camaraderie.

Debi Gregory, Tracey Pidge and Rob Lewis

Carlene Joseph, Patty Denny and Chuck Valley

Glenn Kasman, Tracey Pidge and Dave Radcliffe

Charla Neuman, Kyle Hardtke, Kent Hojem, Rod Stephens and Brad Moore

Brad Moore, Charla Neuman and Kent Hojem