Join us as Mike Fowler, Executive Director of the World Trade Center Tacoma, talks with John Tullis, Sr. Business Development Director at the NW Seaport Alliance. John gives us insights into how things are going with the Ports since the disruptions caused by COVID, what changes the ports have been seeing in supply chain and demand over the past few months, and what trends we should expect as we move forward.The NW Seaport Alliance is a crucial marine operating partnership of the ports of Tacoma ...
Aug 29, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this episode, Derek Nunn, founder of MagnumOpus Productions, tells us about his film-making journey, from Tacoma, to LA, and back to Tacoma. Even though there may be challenges, Derek is clear about why he finds the South Sound a great place to launch a creative business. Join guest hosts Raf Bah of Bahlake Family Group and Shonta Riles of Poppin Notary as they welcome Derek to the microphone.
Aug 01, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 13
From their building, to their product sourcing, to the food they serve, Ocean5 is thoughtful and intentional in considering their environmental impact. Find out what's going on at this one-of-a-kind Gig Harbor fun and events space. And learn what advice they have for other businesses who want to be improve their environmental footprint.Join guest host, Jon Rossman, Chair Elect of the Chamber Board and President & Owner of Chuckals Office Products, and Sarah Michael, General Manager at Ocean5...
Jul 25, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Even though he's only a 20-something, Burhan Saleh is already a serial entrepreneur with a history of business experience and a vault of good habits and wise advice that we all can learn from. Al's Hot Chicken is just his latest project. Join Raf Bah of Bahlake Family Group and Shonta Riles of Poppin Notary as welcome Burhan to the microphone. Find out how he got to where he is, learn about where he's going, and grab some important take-aways along the way.
Jul 18, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Join Raf Bah of Bahlake Family Group and Shonta Riles of Poppin Notary as they learn about Aviance Tate's passion business, Cute Teacher Things - making it easy to celebrate all school staff all year long. In the short year she's been in business, Aviance has encountered both victories and obstacles, and through it all has learned how to find balance, how to stay focused, how to move forward, and how to plan for success - lessons every entrepreneur needs to hear.You can visit Cute Teacher Things...
Jul 11, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 10
The WA Cares Fund begins in July of 2023 and will have an impact on Washington businesses. Andrea Reay, the Chamber's President & CEO, talks with Ben Veghte, Washington Cares Fund's Director at the Department of Social and Health Services, to find out what exactly the WA Cares Fund is, how it works, and what it means for Washington employers, large and small, as well as Washington employees.
Jul 03, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Guest hosts Raf Bah of Bahlake Family Group and Shonta Riles of Poppin Notary dig deep into what drives the entrepreneurial spirit of LJ Hampton, the owner of Knew Radical, a Tacoma fashion studio that empowers you to freely express yourself and step into royalty with hope, confidence, and style. You can check out Knew Radical at https://knewradical.com .
Jun 27, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Guest hosts Raf Bah of Bahlake Family Group and Shonta Riles of Poppin Notary get to know Brenda Miller whose catering business and food truck - Velvets Big Easy - is bringing the taste of New Orleans right here to the South Sound. Find out what got her here, what challenges she's faced, and what keeps her going on her road to success.
Jun 06, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Effectv is Comcast’s advertising division that helps local, regional, and national advertisers connect with their desired audiences on every screen, from streaming, to TV, to Live Sports. Andrea Reay, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's President and CEO talks with Darin Robb, effectv's Sales Manager to learn about viewership trends and ideas for businesses to get the most bang for their marketing bucks.
May 16, 2023•12 min•Season 2Ep. 6
The 2023 Washington State Legislative session recently drew to a close, and we're here to share the important information you need to know. Our Chamber was hard at work the entire session advocating for business in Pierce County. Advocacy plays a major role in our vision to make the South Sound the most equitable, inclusive, and thriving place to do business in Washington State. Tune in to hear our Chamber lobbyist Michael Transue and President/CEO Andrea Reay discuss the advocacy work we took p...
May 09, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Jessica Johnston has been bringing new life to a historic feature of Downtown Tacoma as the director of Court House Square. Learn about her work running this one-of-a-kind business and community space and how she creates important space for women in business in the City of Destiny.
Apr 11, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Stephanie Schramm, the CEO and Fearless Leader of Madcap Marketing, has been a prominent fixture of the South Sound business community for more than 20 years. Find out how she got started, what makes her tick, and what advice she has for creating a successful, sustainable business, here in the South Sound.
Mar 28, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Join AJ Gordon, Vice President at Banner Bank, and Sonia Garza, Program Manager for the Military Spouse Fellowship Program at Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) in an in-depth discussion about what HOH is, how they help the business community, and how businesses, large and small, can benefit from their services. They may just help you find your next, best employee!
Feb 13, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 2
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) is an important partnership between the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, yet many of us don't know what it does, how it operates, or how it benefits the South Sound economy and business community. In this episode, Mike Fowler, Executive Director of the World Trade Center Tacoma, takes a deep dive into these questions with Larry Kvidera, the Sr. Manager of Marketing and Business Services for the NWSA.
Feb 07, 2023•21 min•Season 2Ep. 1
We don't often think about the Port and environmental stewardship. The Port of Tacoma is trying to change that. In this episode you will learn about the many steps the Port of Tacoma is taking to reduce air emissions, improve water quality, protect and enhance wildlife, and implement environmentally sustainable practices throughout the Port. Join Chamber CEO, Andrea Reay, Port Commissioner Keller, and Port Director of Environmental Planning Services, Jason Jordan, for an enlightening discussion....
Nov 29, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Washington's new Pay Transparency law goes into effect on January 1, 2023 and will affect many of the Chamber's member businesses. Monique Valenzuela, the Chamber Board's Chair Elect and the Tacoma Youth Marine Foundation's Exec. Director, talks with Kellis Borek, the Vice President of Labor and Legal Services, and General Counsel at Archbright to take a deep dive into the meaning of the new law and how its requirements will affect you.
Nov 14, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Chamber board member and Banner Bank VP, AJ Gordon, talks with Judi Brown, owner of Tacoma Trophy, to find out the secrets of their success. Find out the magic sauce that's kept Tacoma Trophy profitable for 16 years, and positioned them for recognition from the US Chamber. It's a story of small business strategy, flexibility, and dedication.
Nov 08, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Tuesday, November 8 is the last day to get your ballots in. And, because it is not a presidential year, there are likely going to be fewer people voting. This means every vote carries even more weight. All the mailings, ads, and text messages have made clear what's at stake in this election – so, this is your chance to shape the future on these issues. In this episode, David Schroedel, the Chamber's Vice President, talks with Julie Anderson, the Pierce County Auditor, to find out what this Novem...
Oct 24, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Workforce challenges are some of the top concerns for business owners in 2022. Staffing shortages, healthcare and benefits, and diversity and equity are just some of the many variables businesses must consider for their recruitment, hiring, and employee retention efforts. Hear Deborah Howell, COO of WorkForce Central , sit down with Chamber board member AJ Gordon to share insights, trends, and advice for business owners looking to take their workforce to the next level!...
Oct 18, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 15
It's the height of the fair season and AJ Gordon, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board Chair, sits down for a talk with Renee McClain, the new, and first female, CEO of the Washington State Fair. Find out all the great things that are happening at the Fair, and the exciting plans for the future. Listen to this episode, and then head on down to the fair grounds! Check out the Fair's website, https://www.thefair.com , to get event and schedule information....
Sep 20, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 14
The Port of Tacoma is one of the South Sounds largest economic drivers. In this episode, Tacoma-Pierce County President and CEO, Andrea Reay, talks with Port of Tacoma Commissioner, Deanna Keller about the Port of Tacoma – what the Port is, what the Port does, and how the Port impacts so much of what we do and have in Pierce County. You’ll also get insight into how the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle work together, how the Port fared during the pandemic, and how the Port is innovating to stay compet...
Aug 30, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 13
The Washington Department of Commerce is issuing Round 5 of the Working Washington Grants for small business. Find out what the grants are, who is eligible, and how you can apply. Andrea Reay, the Chamber's President and CEO gets the story from Shannon Halberstadt, the Creative Economy Sector Lead in the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness at the Washington State Department of Commerce. Listen now! Applications are open August 17 through September 9, 2022. More info at https://com...
Aug 15, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 12
As a small business owner, Wade Stewart has been through it all - from start-up challenges, to down-turns, to expansion, to burnout, to success. And he's got a lot of wisdom to impart, not only about his business, Tech Masters, but about small business ownership in general. Enjoy this conversation between Wade and Andrea Reay, the Chamber's CEO, find out what you can do to more clearly define your goals, and, for a deeper dive, check out Wade's book, Personal Retreat, Helping You Define Your Suc...
Aug 02, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Meet Jazel and Wilbur Bautista, the husband and wife team who own and operate Acts Pharmacy and Healthcare Services, one of the only independently and locally owned pharmacies here in the South Sound. Find why they decided to open their own pharmacy, what they offer that you can't get at the big box pharmacies, the challenges they faced as new small business owners, and their advice for others who want to start their own business. You can visit Acts Pharmacy at www.actspharmacy.com
Jul 19, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Michael Fowler, Director of the World Trade Center Tacoma (WTCT), wants to help you grow your business by getting you connected to world markets. Find out who the the WTCT is, what they do, how they do it, and how they can help you reach a whole new audience. The WTCT - another great business-building program managed by the Chamber.
Jul 05, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, Chamber CEO Andrea Reay sits down with Michael Liang, the director of Spaceworks Tacoma. Discover who Spaceworks is, the programs they offer, how they help entrepreneurs and the local business community, and how you can make a difference in their work.
Jun 28, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Monique Valenzuela, Executive Director of the Tacoma Youth Marine Foundation (TYMF). is determined to spread the word about the amazing organization she leads. In this episode of Making it in the South Sound, Andrea Reay, President & CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber sits down Monique, and finds out why Monique is so excited about the TYMF, what they do, who they serve, how they're building tomorrow's workforce and developing our future leaders, why they're important for our community,...
Jun 06, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 7
For the past 36 years, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber has been taking a delegation of Chamber members to Washington DC. Andrea Reay sat down with Tim Thompson from the Thompson Consulting Group to talk about this annual leadership trip. Find out why they go, who they meet with, what the take-away's from the latest trip this past April were, why the event is important for all members, and when the next excursion will be. Plus so much more.
May 31, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Join AJ Gordon, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board Chair, in a discussion with Chamber member and entrepreneur Rey Thompson of Nallayer Photography Studios. Find out how Rey got started, where his inspiration comes from, who his supporters have been, and the resources he's been able to access here in the South Sound that make it possible for him to create a better community one picture at a time.
May 24, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this special episode, AJ Gordon, Chamber Board Chair, talks with our new Chamber CEO, Andrea Raey! Learn about her family’s history here in Pierce County. Find out about her background and what led her to this point in her career. And get some insight into the energy, intellect, and enthusiasm we have in store for us as she leads the South Sound business community into the future!
May 17, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 4
