Meet Janet Lightner. She’s the General Manager/Co-Owner of Bellingham’s first ever microbrewery that sparked the local craft beer scene, Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro. In this episode, Leo and Janet travel through 30 years of Boundary Bay history. Janet tells us about how Ed Lightner got the brewery started in 1995 and how they’ve gotten to watch not only downtown, but the local brewery scene grow around them. They also talk about the importance of community, having the right people on your ...
Apr 18, 2025•52 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Meet Adam Nelson and Dayna Penney; two business owners who saw an opportunity to bring a local business to the primarily residential-filled Silver Beach Neighborhood. In this episode, Adam and Dayna talk about what the journey of their new business has been like in the first year, the importance of hands-on teaching and working alongside their staff and their mindset on sustainable growth with events and menu offerings. Plus, they share a little about the history of the Silver Beach Neighborhood...
Mar 28, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Meet Katie Hinton. What started off as 5 pounds of pasta made a day in 2007 has slowly but sustainably grown into a much larger, 2,500 pounds of pasta made daily-kind of company here and now in 2025. Throughout this episode, Katie talks about the process behind creating Bellingham Pasta Company’s delicious fresh pasta, the importance of branding for businesses, and having a strong connection to your distributer and the businesses you sell to. Plus, we learn how much she not only loves working wi...
Feb 21, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Meet Guy Occhiogrosso. A professional with almost 20 years of Whatcom County Chamber experience who lives and breathes community. Having been with the Bellingham Chamber since 2014, and in the Chamber world itself since 2006, Guy has navigated a volley of changes of what business looks like through technological evolutions and the looming effects of business in a post-pandemic world. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to advocate for the business community to local government, Guy...
Jan 17, 2025•56 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Meet Mike Hammes. A titan in the construction space who believes in the power of connecting with those in your company and those in your community. With a background in both firefighting and construction, Mike founded RAM back in 1995, starting out with smaller construction jobs like digging out garages that eventually led to the company it is today that works on civil projects like the Padden Creek Fish Barrier Removal and building projects like Alderwood Elementary. In this episode, Mike talks...
Dec 20, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Meet Logan McQuaig. He's a down-to-earth, humble kind of guy who calls himself the "maintenance boy" around Redlight Kitchen & Bar, his popular establishment on Grand Ave. Logan grew up in hospitality, from delivering pizza all around Bellingham to serving up pints at Uisce. Today, he's the owner of one of Bellingham's hotspots, known for its extensive drink menu, Asian-fusion dishes, and a warm atmosphere. In this episode, he talks all things restaurant management, the importance of key lea...
Nov 22, 2024•44 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Meet Andrea Evans. She's an avid knitter, a knows-her-numbers business woman, and has one of those warm souls that make you feel welcome the moment you meet her. Andrea developed her yarn sales and subscription box business through interpersonal connection at their storefront, nonprofit support projects, and online educational and community-building livestreams. Apple Yarns is a staunch supporter of several nonprofit organizations, including Knitted Knockers, which ships thousands of free handma...
Oct 18, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Meet Brad Barron. Fourth generation Barron and current CEO, he's a community-minded leader dedicated to the development of trades in Whatcom County. In this episode, he talks about generational leadership and imposter syndrome, why to document systems in a growing company, and the importance of taking care of coworkers first and foremost. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/
Sep 20, 2024•53 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Join Leo (host) and Tiffany (producer) in the studio as we reflect on five seasons and 40 episodes of the Building Bellingham Podcast. We talk growth, failure, balancing our entrepreneurial and administrative energies, and our goals for this local business podcast. Thanks to all who've joined in along the way, and we'll see you all in Season 6! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/
Jun 07, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Meet Chas Kubis. Serial entrepreneur and iconic Bellingham restaurateur, he's the driving force behind Black Sheep's fried chicken tacos and the guy that bar staff call on when an oven breaks at 7:30 on a Friday night. In this episode, he talks hard conversations, the incubation space of multiple restaurant concepts, the early days of breweries & food trucks in Bellingham, and the vibe of Restaurant Row on Holly St. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/...
May 10, 2024•49 min
Meet Jesse Parker, Master Blender at the award-winning Doc Swinson's American whiskey brand. In this episode, we hear how a 20-something kid won a national gin award, how a small business that began with ten casks has grown to an operation with thousands of casks, how a small distillery in Ferndale is ranking - and winning - in national and international industry competitions, and how imagination, commitment to quality, and a vision for American whiskey is driving everything that happens at Doc ...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 7
Meet Matt Mini, THE Funky of Funky's Hot Sauce; he's a master of creating artisanal hot sauces with a zing of garlic or a fruit-forward sweetness that still packs a lot of heat. In this episode, we hear about his years of developing recipes, how he moved from kitchen to kitchen (and how narrow the temperature range has to be for fermented foods), about the Carolina Reaper sauce that won the 2022 Screaming Mimi award and catapulted his hot sauces into national recognition, and how Stellar Fuzz ma...
Feb 23, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Meet Charmae Scheffer; she's a high-energy people lover with a passion for caring for dogs while their parents are at work or on vacation. In this episode, we hear how Charmae juggled raising seven kids while growing a fledgling business, how the Whatcom County zoning code changed due to the Scheffers' efforts, and how Charmae works to develop the next generation of hard workers who will be an asset anywhere they go. Follow the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ Face...
Jan 19, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Meet Andi Vann; she's a high-energy dessert aficionado with a passion for giving joy to others through yummy treats. In this episode, we hear how she left a corporate consulting job to work as an independent baker, how she and Nick renovated their cafe on a shoestring budget, and how she approaches each day with a customer-first mindset. Follow the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham Youtube: https://www.youtube.c...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Meet Clarito Zapanta; he's a filmmaker, director and executive producer with an affinity for Air Jordans and a passion for creating TV and feature film productions right here in Bellingham. In this episode, we hear how he and Kristina grew IAJ Media from a marketing agency into a full-time film studio, how he dug deep into personal development, and about how he created an entire world for his film in progress: Egress. Learn more about the show: Website: https://www.livebellinghamnow.com/building...
Nov 17, 2023•59 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Meet Emile Diffley; he's the 28 year-old owner of Banter Hospitality, a counter-service restaurant known for its bright atmosphere and iconic breakfast burrito. In this episode, we learn about Emile's history working in different cities, his passion for quality food and smooth operations, and the challenges to providing a unique-yet-familiar food experience in Bellingham. Learn more about the show: Website: https://www.livebellinghamnow.com/building_bellingham Instagram: https://www.instagram.co...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 5 of the Building Bellingham Podcast! We're joined in the studio by Brad Wilske, co-owner of Lost Giants Cider Co. In this episode, we learn about the difference between cider apples and culinary apples, the cost of installing a canning line, and weighing the cost and reach of distribution. Brad goes into the mindset of "we're all janitors" and how he sold his home to fund the endeavor. It's all right here in our Season 5 premiere. Learn more about the show: Website: https://ww...
Sep 22, 2023•56 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Executive Director Alice Clark and Program Director Lindsey Payne Johnstone joined us to tell about the role DBP plays in keeping our downtown core vibrant and thriving. The Downtown Bellingham Partnership (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) is famous for is events - First Fridays, Wine Walk, and especially the iconic Downtown Sounds, a free-admission outdoor concert series which draws thousands of people and closes three city blocks over five Wednesdays in the summer. But the DBP crew is responsible for so...
Apr 21, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 8
In 2000, Krissy Moehl ran her first ultra - the Chuckanut 50k, which is one of the oldest and largest races of its type in North America. She set a course record, took over as race director in 2003, and began to pursue running professionally. She's the author of Running Your First Ultra and is a Patagonia® ambassador. In this episode, Krissy tells the story of a major decision that changed the trajectory of her career for the last decade. She digs into the challenges of monetizing running, the y...
Mar 24, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Sweet As Waffles began as an idea back in 2015 and a grueling road trip in 2018. Nate and Graham wanted to bring waffles to downtown Bellingham's late-night scene in a new, funky, hole-in-the-wall type spot. Over the years, they've built a solid menu of complex sweet and savory waffles along with their rotating "Waffle of the Week-ish". Today, the duo is running the waffle shop while also building out their new brick-and-mortar location in downtown Bellingham, pivoting back to the original late-...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 6
Triple Wren Farms began in 2012 as a cut flower farm; Sarah and Steve grew florist favorites and trucked them up and down I-5 until the day of a certain King County wedding, brake lights, and a broken iPhone. Over the decade, they've pivoted, grown, shrunk and adjusted until reaching the current iteration: retail dahlia tuber sales. Today, the 20-acre farm ships thousands of tubers all across the US, grows & sells new strains of dahlias for renowned dahlia hybridizers working right here in W...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Brothers Chay Tan and Lee Tan purchased Coconut Kenny's back in 2004. Chay tells the stories of the early days - purchasing on an owner contract, slinging real estate to pay the bills, and stretching every marketing dollar. Now, the family-owned chain has 7 stores in 3 counties and has opened up co-ownership opportunities to their employees and managers. In 2018, Chay partnered with a former employee to create Downtime Taps, which was the first self-serve tap room in Washington State. In this ep...
Dec 16, 2022•46 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Greg Klassen's woodworking journey began as a newlywed making furniture out of door scraps. Later he would design the original River® table - live edge wood with blue glass. Greg's distinctive style, his grit in going to show after show after show with little results, and his willingness to learn marketing and write an infinity of press releases and cold emails led to a turning point in 2014. After being published on a major contemporary art blog, Greg and his River® tables went viral. Since the...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 3
Stemma Brewing Co began as a business plan while owner Jason Harper was a student at WWU. He got an inside look at the industry while working for a local distribution company and completed multiple levels of the Cicerone certification. In this episode, he and Leo talk about the importance of both subject matter education and business savvy, how co-owners Kim and Jason Harper complement each other's skills, and one particular negative Google review. So crack open a Super Squeeze, kick off your sh...
Oct 21, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 2
AB Crepes just celebrated its 10 year anniversary, and to kick off Season 4 we sat down with owner Bayly Peterson. We talk late-night party vibes, negative Yelp reviews, and the sheer grit and work it took to run a new business while a full-time student. This year, Bayly and his business partner opened Otherside Bagel Co. Taking the lessons of AB Crepes' success and Hodgepodge's failure, they introduced another go-to spot to the Bellingham food world with traditionally-made bagels (including a g...
Sep 23, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this episode, we sat down with Ari and Paul to taste chocolate and talk about their journey: from squinting at chocolate bars in a grocery store, to landing 500 retail stores on the West Coast, to expanding into back-end manufacturing (and the ramifications of the new chocolate chip machine). Paul and Ari shared insights into the direct trade chocolate world, how they are challenged to grow beyond anything that they once imagined, and how decisions become simpler (but not easy) when you lead ...
May 13, 2022•57 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In this episode, Tony tells the story of his relentless desire to create. From scaling up (and back down again) Moceri Construction, to freelance writing for local publications, to promoting small yard games on social media, he brings energy and drive to a situation. Leo and Tony dig into real estate investing, mindset, and the importance of kindness - to all members and levels of an organization. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Widnor Farms offers beef, chicken, lamb and pork along with other farm goods. In this episode, Brianna tells us about the process of transforming a rundown farmhouse into a home, and arid land into pasture that feeds their rotating herds of cows, pigs, lambs and chickens. Throughout the story, she talks about the challenge farmers have finding processing plants in our area, the centralization of the US food system, and how carbon-neutral farms purchase carbon credits from places like Widnor Farm...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 6
Bob Kramer forges some of the most sought-after kitchen knives in the world, and he has been featured in articles by the New York Times, Saveur, and Wall Street Journal. In this episode, Bob tells the story of a young man flying to six cities seeking the secret to knife sharpening, opening a storefront in the heart of Seattle, stacking up a two-year order waitlist, and the Ebay auction that showed him the value of his own work. Throughout the story, he shares nuggets of wisdom around craftsmansh...
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Well friends, it's been 2.5 years, 19 feature-length episodes and 45 livestreams since the Building Bellingham Podcast began. And so for our 20th show, Leo and Tiffany take a deep-dive into the creation and growth of the show, and the challenges and mindset shifts they've had along the way. They talk branding, leaning down and livestreaming during Covid, building trust among the crew, and how it took about 3 months to finally finish the first custom Building Bellingham hat. Follow the show at: h...
Dec 16, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 4
