Pamela Montgomery,

Number of employees you oversee: 

Chukar employs more than 50 team members total, but I work directly with three individuals on marketing and branding and with two company executives on business planning and growth strategy.

Brief background of your business and its origins: 

In the mid-80s our young family purchased a 100 acre cherry orchard in north Prosser and moved from Seattle. With 8,000 trees to harvest in just two weeks, there was plenty of leftover cherries to be gleaned. On daily walks around the orchard after harvest, we’d pick and eat the ripe cherries. The sweetness and flavor of the fruit increased noticeably with each passing week. We enjoyed the natural chewy-sweetness of the partially dried cherries immensely, and the concept of a dried cherry business began to form. We wrote a business plan and were awarded a local incubator building lease by the Port of Benton. Five years later, Chukar Cherries leased a central location in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. Committed to manufacturing everything we sell, Chukar Cherries has grown into a sustainable farm-to-table endeavor for more than 30 years.

How did you decide to pursue your career? 

I started several small businesses in my twenties. When we purchased the cherry orchard and moved to Prosser, I found myself in love with the land, with cherries, and with creating new products. Everything grew from there.

Why should the Tri-Cities care about the area’s food industry? 

Agriculture and food manufacturing is a burgeoning growth sector for our local, regional and state economies. The Yakima Valley and the Tri-Cities are in the center of it all.

What is the biggest challenge facing business owners today? 

1. Constantly shifting policy environment.
2. Policies passed without impact analysis on business.
3. Recruiting and retaining qualified employees.
4. Changing consumer tastes and beliefs.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?

Vision. Seeing what is possible, believing you can get there, and planning how to get there. The key is enjoying the process along the way.

What do the next five years look like for Chukar Cherries?

Continued focus on business basics: consistent quality, productivity, team retention and training, customer satisfaction, and steady sales growth.

What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

Find a good mentor. Trust your instincts. Think positively.

Who are your mentors? 

JT Montgomery, my husband. He stays cool while he solves problems and is a kind and respectful mentor. Also, MB, a friend who has similar qualities

to JT.

How do you keep your employees motivated? 

1. Create a positive work environment with opportunity for growth.
2. Ask questions. Listen. Look.

How do you measure success in your workplace?

Growth, retention of excellent team members, smiles on their faces, excitement in their success and personal growth.

What’s your best time management strategy?

I’m working on it.

What do you consider your leadership style to be?

Gritty. Goal-oriented. I value teams but could do better on “keeping calm” skills.

How do you balance work and family life?

When I go home at the end of the day, I close my laptop and don’t open it until I get to work the next morning.

What do you like to do when you are not at work? 

Exercise. Talk with friends. I love to read biographies, The Economist, The New Yorker, mysteries and all things BBC and Public Television.

Best tip to relieve stress? 

I stretch daily and use my Concept2 Rower for a full body workout. As often as we can, we get into the hills and hike.

What’s your favorite podcast? Most-used app? 

App: The Economist

Podcast: “This American Life”

What’s your favorite Chukar Cherries treat and why?

One of my favorite treats is a handful of our Chocolate Cherry Quartet with a local red blend. It makes for a perfect evening.