Working to Build and Strengthen Business and Industry for a Prosperous Community

Advocacy ~ Collaboration ~ Excellence ~ Innovation ~ Integrity
  
February 2015
Have you got your 
"Harbor Card" yet?  
February Events
Ambassador Meeting & Ribbon Cutting
 
Friday, Feb. 13th
  
Passport Caf�
 
526 8th St. 
Hoquiam

noon to 1:00 pm
Business After Hours
 
Tuesday, Feb. 10
  
Clyde & Sylvia's Frames N Things
 
113 East Wishkah St.
Aberdeen 

5:30 to 7:00 pm
Business Forum Luncheon
 
Tuesday, Feb. 24
 
"Preparation, planning, and response to natural disasters and flooding in Grays Harbor"
 
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Reservations are Required
$20 with reservation by Feb. 20 and $25 after Feb. 20
  
Grays Harbor Country Club
5300 Central Park Dr.
Aberdeen
timberland bank
Thank you for a great year!

On behalf of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., we would like to thank Mike O'Dell, Chairman of the Board of Directors, for his leadership, support, and assistance during his term of office in 2014-2015. Mike contributed countless hours toward the continued operation of GGHI and was instrumental in moving the organization forward during a period of transition. Your service and dedication this past year is greatly appreciated.

Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. Selects New Business Development Specialist
by Dru Garson, GGHI CEO

Brian Bednarik was offered and has accepted the position of Business Development Specialist for Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.

 

Bednarik was raised in Aberdeen, attended the University of Washington and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy. After spending several years in Seattle and King County working various positions in the banking and finance industry, Bednarik returned to Grays Harbor County in 2012, where he worked as an Assistant Vice President at Timberland Bank. His responsibilities and duties were diverse and varied and included managing residential loan portfolios, analyzing credit profiles, and providing mortgage and lending solutions.

 

According to the CEO, Dru Garson, "Brian Bednarik will be a terrific addition to the Greater Grays Harbor staff and I look forward to the positive energy, fresh ideas, and enthusiasm that he will bring to this position. His familiarity with business analysis, combined with his banking and finance work throughout Grays Harbor County will provide him with a solid foundation in his new position."

 

Bednarik added, ""I am thrilled to be able to take this position and assist in the economic development of my home county. This is an exciting position and I am looking forward to having a positive impact on Grays Harbor."

Bednarik will start his new position on February 17th 

Harbor Card Update
by James Messer, GGHI Membership Coordinator
Don't forget about the Harbor Card. Our discount incentive program is alive and well. One business that has seen great success from the program is Heather Meadows Apartments. They are offering up to a $100 discount on the first month's rent for new tenants interested in a 6 to 12 month lease. They also will waive the background check fee for up to 2 people. Since the start of the program in December, Heather Meadows Apartments has attracted 8 new tenants as a result of their Harbor Card promotion. This shows that with the right discount the Harbor Card program can work for you. With the ability to change your discount each month, think of ways that you can make the Harbor Card work for your business. Call James at 532-7888 if you are interested in updating your discount, or if you have a suggestion on ways to improve the program.

Congratulations Martin Bruni Liquor

Business of the Month - January 2015

Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. is pleased to announce Martin Bruni Liquor as our Business of the Month for January 2015.

 

Martin Bruni Liquor is a new business in Ocean Shores. They have been in business for two years and have been a member of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. for both of those years.

 

In the last year, Martin Bruni Liquor has supported the United Way, local schools, Food Ball, food and clothing banks, Habitat for Humanity, North Beach Paws, Eagle Riders, firefighters, Elks, Eagles, Animal Hospital, Rotary and Knights of Columbus.

 

When asked why Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. is important to their business, owners Jon and Kim Martin said, "The networking opportunities with other business owners and involvement with the community are crucial to our business."

The Business of the Month is based on excellence in image, employee relations, community service, support of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. and customer service. Only 12 of these prestigious awards are presented each year. 

Member News 

Dancing Without Scars at Westport Winery

Throughout 2015, Westport Winery is hosting an event - "Dancing Without Scars" - one night a month to raise funds for Beyond Survival, a domestic violence support center in Aberdeen. Rather than charge guests a cover charge, the winery is offering free live music on the third Friday of every month from 6 - 9 p.m. and encouraging dancers to leave a donation for this organization.

Whether you are dancing, dining, or just listening, you are invited and encouraged to enjoy great music in a unique intimate setting.

Westport Winery and Vineyards By-the-Seas is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Aberdeen and Westport. Amenities include a unique outdoor sculpture garden, lavender labyrinth, musical fence, 9-hole executive golf course, giant chess set, outdoor scrabble game, and grape maze, Westport Winery was also named Best Northwest Wine Destination in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

 

Quilt Harbor Wins Award

Congratulations Quilt Harbor! They were selected to receive a 2014 Morningside Outstanding Employer Award. This award is given to employers who exemplify Morningside's vision of the future, in which people with disabilities have access to the same opportunities as all other citizens working in the community. Susan & Ken Rausch were applauded for their willingness to accommodate both of their Morningside employees and were thanked for valuing diversity in the workplace and providing a positive example for supported employment in the community. 

Don't Get Mad, Get Energy Wise!
by Rick Jackson, GGH Energy Specialist

Most of us dread getting our energy bills. So much so that we often don't review the valuable information that it contains. Rather, we take one look at the amount, make some kind of pained noise, and then use it for kindling a fire in the wood stove. That'll show 'em ....

Don't just submit to your fate of energy dependence. Take control of how much you spend per month. Take 10 - 15 minutes and look over the usage for the month. Determine if there is something you did during peak hours that can be done during non-peak hours (e.g. laundry, changing the thermostat settings, etc.).

If you have just made energy improvements this applies DIRECTLY to you. Your bill will clue you in to whether or not your upgrades are paying off. It provides valuable data about your energy usage. Cascade Natural Gas will, typically, give you your billing history over the last 1 - 2 years (available online at www.cngc.com), and, if you really want to get into the fine details, GH PUD will provide you with an up-to-the-hour energy usage report (available by appointment 360-538-6383).

If you find that you are not saving what you thought you would, simply follow these steps:

1. Check yourself - have you been using energy more frivolously since your upgrade?

2. Call your utility's conservation department to ask for a usage report.

3. Make sure your employees are aware of their energy usage.

4. Review your billing statements 2 months prior and 2 months after you notice a spike.

Happy savings!  

Benefit of the Month! 

by James Messer, GGHI Membership Coordinator

Did you know that as a member you are able to send out member news in our E-newsletter? Have you received an award or are you offering a new product or service. If so, please send us your information. We want to help you spread the word and receive maximum exposure. All you have to do is send an email to James or Angela at [email protected] or [email protected]. Tell us a little about what is happening at your business and include a photo, if appropriate. Take advantage of this quick and easy way to reach out to almost 500 business leaders in the community.

Welcome - New Members

Proforma Visible AdVantage

Thomas & Susan Jackson- 360.470.4058

50 Ames Lane, Oakville

Proforma Visible AdVantage is a marketing company comprised of advertising specialty services, owned by Thomas and Susan Jackson.

 

Greetings! As a local company we offer personalized service backed by the security and savings of working with a 400 million dollar leader in the print and promotional product industry. We offer the broadest array of printing, promotional products, branded apparel, multi-media and related graphic services .

We work with marketing, event, human resource and alumni divisions of companies, corporations, non-profits, universities and hospitals. Proforma's success has been featured by: ABC, CBS, Entrepreneur, Forbes, FOX, FORTUNE and THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

Susan has a Bachelors degree in Advertising Specialty Information and is in the process of completing her Masters. She is also a Sales Trainer for Eric Lofholm International (ELI). ELI has delivered training workshops to 3500 companies throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.Saleschampion.com/go/freetraining.


 

 

Mike Spezia

360.581.3987

616 Hanna Avenue, Aberdeen

Renewing Members

Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. thanks you for your continued support.

Aberdeen Museum of History 

Dann Sears

533-1976

113 E. Third St.

Aberdeen

 

Aberdeen Realty

Nancy Taylor

533-7100

323 W. Heron St.

Aberdeen

 

Advanced Heating

& Air, Inc.

Chad & Kellie Larson

537-6505

732 W. First St.

Cosmopolis

 

Aiken & Sanders

Cathie Wandell

533-3370

343 W. Wishkah St.

Aberdeen

 

American Cancer

Society

Brittany Akers

253-207-5173

1313 Broadway

Suite 100

Tacoma

 

CARQUEST Auto Parts

Phillip Riggs

533-3011

216 W. Market St.

Aberdeen

 

Country Estates

James Mason

249-4664

57 Clemons Rd.

Montesano

 

Domestic Violence

Center of GH

Gloria Callaghan

538-0733

2306 Sumner Ave.

Hoquiam

 

Elma RV Park

Julie Gerity

482-4053

4730 Highway 12

Elma

 

Grays Harbor Health & Rehab Center

Mark Sanders

532-5122

920 Anderson Dr.

Aberdeen

 

JDEL Consulting, LLC

Delroy Cox

532-0569

402 Fairway Dr.

Aberdeen

 

Liberty Tax Service

Ron Devore

532-0448

406 E. Wishkah St.

Aberdeen

 

Lucky Eagle Casino

John Setterstrom

273-2000

12888 188th Ave. SW

Rochester

 

Mazatlan Restaurant

Francisco Arceo

533-5808

532-0940

1165 E. Wishkah St.

720 W. Wishkah St.

Aberdeen

 

Ocean Palace Restaurant

Christina Ann To

533-6966

112 E. Wishkah Street

Aberdeen

 

Quigg Bros.

John Quigg

533-1530

819 W. State St.

Aberdeen

 

Rayonier Forest Resources

Bill Monahan

533-7000

3033 Ingram St.

Hoquiam

 

State Farm Insurance

Mark Rossetti

532-8400

613 Oak St.

Aberdeen

 

Superior Transmission

Don Spoon

537-7503

114 SW Boulevard

Aberdeen

 

South Shore Mall

Jamie Walsh

637-9682

1017 S. Boone St.

Aberdeen

 

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Lee Hauser

537-7307

110 W. Market St.

Suite. 205

Aberdeen

 

Westport, LLC.

Jennifer Swogger

268-1800

1807 Nyhus St. North

Westport

 

 






Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. | 360-532-1924 | [email protected] | http://www.graysharbor.org
506 Duffy Street
Aberdeen, WA 98520