Smartmap Expo this month
The Ninth Annual Smartmap Expo will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 at TRAC in Pasco.
The annual manufacturing exposition, presented by the Tri-City Development Council, will offer seminars on advanced manufacturing and how its various dynamics influence the future of manufacturing. Seminars include: The Technology Revolution and its Impact on Training by Vivid Learning Systems; Product Documentation in the Era of the Cloud by Quest Integration; Using Advanced Manufacturing to go from Product Concept to Commercialization by Infinia Corporation; Engaging Your Employees — Four Secrets Every Leader Should Know, by Gesa Credit Union; Plastic Composite Materials, Processes and Part Design, by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainability by Oregon State University; and Bridging the Skills Gap by Sandvik Coromant. John Vicklund, president of Impact Washington, will also give the 2011 State of Manufacturing in Washington report. For information contact Gary White at TRIDEC at 735,1000 or by email at gwhite@tridec.org.
HAPO sponsors golf tournament
HAPO Community Credit Union will sponsor the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation’s annual golf tournament in perpetuity. David Schulz, HAPO president and CEO, said the annual tournament will now be referred to as the HAPO Golf Classic Supporting Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation. The commitment from HAPO will help underwrite the event, allowing more of the proceeds to go directly to the foundation. Proceeds from the tournament go to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation, which provides free programs and services such as cancer screenings, community education, onsite chaplains, financial counseling, support groups, wigs, bras, prostheses and the Patient Navigation Program. This year’s tournament, which was held in August, raised more than $65,000 for the foundation.
Make a Difference Day planned
The Mid-Columbia Make A Difference Day is back to make an impact on the Tri-Cities.
The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at Claybell Community Park, 425 Broadmoor in Richland. This year’s project is to create an all-inclusive all abilities playground. To donate time or money contact Hollie Logan at 308-3528 or Phil Pinard at 942-7463. Additional information can be found at www.midcolumbiamadd.com.
Richland makes “best places to live” list
Richland and four other Washington cities — Tacoma, Bellevue, Vancouver and Spokane — are among a list of the 100 best places to live in America, according to a new report. RelocateAmerica, based in Brighton, Mich., said the 100 cities are “well-positioned for economic recovery, already experiencing strong economic recovery or have proven overall economic stability. Factors such as employment, education, community leadership and overall quality of life are strongly considered and the data is examined to determine the Top 100.”
Wildhorse opens doors to hotel
Wildhorse Resort and Casino’s newest expansion opened in early September. Although officials planned to open all 10 floors of the hotel, the Cineplex and the gaming floor at one time, setbacks forced the resort to open just 7 of the 10 hotel floors and a complete gaming floor Sept. 2. The remaining three hotel floors should be open prior to Round-Up and the cinema will follow right behind in mid-October. The resort added 134 new hotel rooms, a 24,000 sq. ft. casino expansion with 400 additional slot machines. The five-screen Cineplex will open in October. The hotel is 100 percent nonsmoking and there is a 50-foot barrier to the casino to provide smoke-free access to restaurants and the Cineplex. The main entrance to the hotel will be mostly glass and it includes high ceilings, tile floors, a fireplaces and a coffee lounge. The hotel includes a business center, a fitness center, conference rooms and two retail spaces. On the east side, the 3,521 sq. ft. swimming pool features large doors that open up in warm weather and close when it’s cold outside.
New program offered at CBC
A new machining apprenticeship program is being offered at Columbia Basin College this fall. The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee, a nonprofit that develops of aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programs in Washington, will offer the new program, which combines supervised on-the-job training experience with classroom instruction that includes theory and hands-on learning. This will be AJAC’s first program in the Tri-Cities area and its sixth overall. Other programs are available in Spokane, Tacoma, Everett and Settle. In addition to machining, AJAC has designed and is developing training programs for nine other registered aerospace and advanced manufacturing occupations, such as composite manufacturing specialist, aircraft interiors assembly mechanic, aircraft mechanic airframe and maintenance machinist. AJAC’s machining program at CBC will be taught to aircraft-oriented precision levels and gives apprentices the opportunity to learn and/or enhance their knowledge of a variety of skills. For more information, contact AJAC at 509-533-8299 or info@ajactraining.org.
Rivers of Ink scheduled
The third annual Rivers of Ink, a celebration for readers and writers that includes a writers’ workshop, will be 11 a.m. – 5p.m. Oct. 8 at the Richland Community Center. The event is free and open to the public. The event allows readers and writers to get close and personal with local authors of almost every genre, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, spirituality, fantasy, cookbooks, children’s literature and more.
Estate planning seminar planned
The Tri-Cities Cancer Center will have a free presentation, Estate Planning in a Nutshell, from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 27 in its Wellness Center. Timothy Anderson Esq., of Hames, Anderson and Whitlow will facilitate the presentation. He will discuss information on the necessary documents for asset transfer and estate settlement; probate and estate tax; and durable and medical powers of attorney. A complimentary lunch will be provided with a reservation. Reservations accepted through Sept. 23 by calling 737-3427.
Reading tutors sought
Team Read, a program of The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, is looking for volunteers to work as reading tutors with first-, second- and third-grade students in the Kennewick School District. The minimum commitment is two 30-minute tutoring sessions a week with one student throughout the school year. Bilingual and substitute tutors are also needed. Training is provided and volunteers are fully supported in their efforts to help struggling readers. Training sessions are in September and tutoring begins in October. For more information, call 222-7324 or go to www.teamreadtutoring.com.
CI Golf Challenge and Gala raises $93,000
The eighth annual Columbia Industries Golf Challenge, presented by Apollo Inc. and Apollo Mechanical Contractors, and the Columbia Industries Gala Celebration, presented by Banner Bank, raised more than $93,000 for the nonprofit organizations. The Aug. 19th golf tournament featured wine tastings and prizes. Each golfer received a $75 voucher for use at a TaylorMade/Adidas “Concept Shop” sponsored by Western States Insurance. The following evening was a Viva Las Vegas-themed gala celebration at the Lampson Hangar with dinner provided by Bonefish Grill, appetizers by ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston and wine from Bookwalter Winery. CI is a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities and other barriers to employment achieve their highest employment potential. For information, go to www.ColumbiaIndustries.com.
Retirement planning courses offered
The Columbia Basin College Foundation is sponsoring two retirement planning courses for those ages 50 to 70 in September and October. The course will show participants how to: determine the amount of money needed to retire; create goals for successful retirement; eliminate debt and improve cash flow; properly convert an IRA to a Roth IRA; select the retirement income to preserve a comfortable standard of living; transfer the risk of potential financial losses before or during retirement; and reduce or eliminate taxes, expenses, delays and legal challenges with estate planning. Participants will also learn the 10 biggest retirement planning mistakes. Classes will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 at the CBC Health Science Center in Richland and Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 at the CBC Pasco campus in the Thornton Center. Advanced registration is required. To register call Patty Jones at 544-4907 or RSVP by email at planninggiving@columbiabasin.edu.
Wine grape growers plan meeting
The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers will have its annual meeting, convention and trade show Feb. 7-10, 2012 at Three Rivers Convention Center and the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The event is one of the largest of its kind, drawing more than 2,000 key industry players including wine grape growers, wineries, winemakers, marketers, produce and service providers, educators and media from the U.S., Canada and Europe. The trade show, held Feb. 8-9, includes more than 160 booths and features top products and services of multiple exhibitors as well as an evening networking reception. Online registration opens in November with discounts available to WAWGG members and early bird registrants. More information is available at www.wawgg.org or by calling 509-782-8234.
Genealogical society plans conference
The Tri-City Genealogical Society will host the Washington State Genealogical Society’s annual board meeting, award presentation and conference Sept. 16-17 at the Richland Baptist Church. The event includes speakers and vendors including Family Roots Publishing Co., National Archives and Records Administration, United States Daughters of 1812; Roots Magic Software; Franklin County Historical Museum and more. Register at the conference website at www.tricitygenealogicalsoceity.org/wsgs2011.
Benefit luncheon for Women Helping Women Fund set
Malaak Compton-Rock will be the guest speaker at the 11th Annual Benefit Luncheon for the Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities. The event will be noon – 1:15 p.m. Oct. 24 at TRAC in Pasco. Compton-Rock is the wife of comedian Chris Rock, a judge on Oprah’s Big Give, and a public relations executive. She founded and The Angelrock Project, an online e-village that promotes volunteerism, social responsibility and sustainable change. She also founded and coordinates Journey for Change, an initiative that takes at-risk youth from Brooklyn to South Africa, empowering them through global service. She is the author of If It Takes a Village, Build One. The Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities is a local nonprofit that raises money to support programs that empower women and children to create healthyfamilies and a vibrant community. Since 2000, the organization has funded more than 50 grants, totaling more than $775,000. A minimum $100 program donation is requested to attend the luncheon and all of the proceeds are distributed to innovative and deserving programs in the Tri-Cities community. Reservations are required and due by Oct. 10. For more information call 736-1946, email contact@whwftc.org or go to www.whwftc.org.
Henick-Kling to speak
Dr. Thomas Henick-Kling, professor of enology and director of viticulture and enology for Washington State University will be the featured speaker at the Tri-Cities Research District Speaker Series at 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory Auditorium in Richland.
Henick-Kling will talk about how wine research and education in the Tri-Cities Research District will support the state’s wine industry, which boasts more than 700 wineries that produce 12 million cases of wine each year. Henick-Kling will discuss how a new, state-of-the-art Wine Science Center to be built at WSU Tri-Cities will help position WSU as the leader in wine education and research and support the continued growth of Washington State’s wine industry. Dr. Henick-Kling is based on WSU’s Tri-Cities campus, specializing in wine research and extension. Prior to his assignment at WSU in 2009, Dr. Henick-Kling was director of the National Wine & Grape Industry Centre at Charles Stuart University in Australia. He is a wine microbiologist with over 30 years of research experience in the US, Europe, and Australia and has extensive knowledge of wines from around the world. There is no charge to attend, but those who would like to should pre-register by Sept. 16 at www.pnl.gov/tcrdSpeakers/.
WPC offers new book
Todd Myers, environmental director at the Washington Policy Center, has penned a new book called “Eco-Fads,” that studies how the rise of environmentalism is harming the environment. The book exposes the pressures that cause politicians, businesses, the media and even scientists to fall for trendy environmental fads. Myers said the desire to be green can cloud judgment, causing us to place things that make us appear green ahead of actions that may be socially invisible, yet environmentally responsible. The book is $26.95 and available at www.washingtonpolicy.org.
Washington job vacancies reach 3-year high
In April, job vacancies in Washington reached the highest point in three years, according to a new report by the Employment Security Department. An estimated 60,087 vacant jobs were available, an increase of 55 percent from a year earlier and nearly twice the number that existed in spring 2009. The last time the survey showed a larger number of vacancies was in spring 2008, when there were nearly 75,000 job vacancies. Job vacancies hit an all-time high in fall 2006, with nearly 91,000 open positions. That number dropped rapidly during the following three years, hitting a low point of 32,037 vacancies in fall 2009. The number of unemployed job seekers declined from a peak of about 337,000 in spring 2010 to around 312,000 at the same point in 2011. At the same time, the total labor force, which includes employed workers and unemployed workers who are actively seeking jobs, declined by an estimated 51,926 (seasonally-adjusted).
Entrepreneurs plan event
The Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network will have its September seminar, How Life Sciences Will Heal, Feed & Fuel the World, 7:15 – 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 at the Richland Community Center. Chris Rivera, president of the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, will speak. There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required by Sept. 27. Space is limited. For more information or to RSVP, contact Teresa Claar at 375-2068.
Charity wine dinner scheduled
Monterosso’s Italian Restaurant will offer a charity gourmet wine dinner and auction to benefit the Children’s Developmental Center at 5 p.m. Sept. 18. The event includes wine tasting, a silent auction and a five-course dinner paired with local wines. Seating is limited. Cost is $120 per person and all proceeds go to the Children’s Developmental Center. For reservations call 946-4525.
Keep cats safe
Safeway of Kennewick is hosting a Fall Fix-it Fundraiser to benefit Prevent Homeless Pets’ with affordable spay/neuter clinics. The goal is to raise $1,000 to go toward spay/neuter surgeries for 100 feral cats. Catnip toys and cardboard scatch pads are available with donation. The fundraiser will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17 at 2925 W. Kennewick Ave. For information, call 375-4025.
Economic wine forum
The Washington Wine Industry Foundation is partnering with Moss Adams LLP to host the Fourth Annual Washington Wine Economic Forum. Topics at the forum include strategic accounting and tax planning, consumer behavior trends and benchmarking. The forum will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Registration is $125 per person, which includes copies of all presentations, continental breakfast, lunch and networking reception. For information, call 782-1108.
Got ink?
The Second Annual Tattoo Convention is scheduled for Sept. 23-25 at the Three Rivers Convention Center.
The convention will feature live tattooing, seminars for artists, tattoo contests with prizes and concession stands. Tickets cost $10 each. For information, call 737-3705 or visit www.threeriversconventioncenter.com.
New Board
The Washington State STEM Education Foundation has added four new members to its board of directors.
Vicki Bogenberger, Jean Dunkirk, Richard French Jr. and Jon Ziobro have joined the 14-person board.
The Washington State STEM Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to create a substantial and sustainable impact on the quality of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education in the Mid-Columbia.
Second Harvest Tri-Cities
A number of area businesses are helping to raise money for Second Harvest during its “Dollars to Pounds” which runs until Sept. 30. All proceeds will remain in the community to help those in need.
The following restaurants and beverage establishments, along with the Washington Restaurant Association are participating. In Richland: Sure Shot Billiards; Cheese Louise; Stone Soup; Atomic Ale and Brewpub; Chapala Express; Uptown Deli; Lee’s Tahitian’ Java Jitterz; Two Bits and a Bite; Buxx Joy; Coffee Bean; Bombers Drive-In; Cia Espresso, Entrees Made Easy, Casa Vino, El Rancho; Horn Rapids Golf Course; Columbia Point Golf Course; Starbucks at Columbia Point and Starbucks at Queensgate. Kennewick: Kennewick Coffee Company; Sports Page; Red Apple Market; Tri-City Coffee; Taco Johns; Coffee Nook; Dialy Grind; Victorian Connection; Johnny’s Popular Donuts; The Office Tavern; Grand Central; Mocha Express, Village Deli; Java Jet; Taco Time; Nikki Jeans; Quizno’s at Columbia Center Boulevard; Nothing But Noodles; Mocha Express at Gage Boulevard; Tony Roma’s; Mocha Motive; Purple Peaches; Columbia Park Golf; Tri-City Country Club; Starbucks at Columbia Center; Starbucks at Canal Drive and Yokes Fresh Market. Pasco: Tease n’ Tan; Grand Central; Andy’s; Mojo’s; Yokes Fresh Market; La Villa; Pasco Golf Land and Sun Willow’s Golf Course. The Long Branch Bar in Finley will participate, as well as the West Richland Golf Course and Yokes Fresh Market.
by Mary Hopkin
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
