James C. Alford

Owner

Block One Distillery, Alford Custom Ag, RNA Aviation, Premier Seed, JCAg, Desert River Farms, Cold Springs Storage

What has been your/your company’s most significant success over the last 12 months?

Our most significant successes would be the launch of our farm-to-bottle potato vodka, the construction of our new airplane hangar in Pasco, our acquisition and remodel of the former Riverpoint processing plant in Hermiston, and the continued growth of each business we own.

Name one item on your bucket list.

I’ve been fortunate to knock my bucket list out recently (visit all seven continents, among other things). But I have a new list, which includes a trip on the Orient Express from Venice to Paris, followed by a jump to London to watch the Wimbledon men’s finals.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? 

I started working on the farm in middle school. I learned a lot about hard work, dirt, long hours, and that I could never have a normal 9-5 job. I have to be outdoors and working.

Name one thing about yourself you want people to know.

People might assume with 10 companies, four children and serving on numerous boards and committees that I am busy, not accessible or have limited time for anything else. The opposite is true. I am a ruthless delegator, the opposite of a micromanager. I spend most of my day with my wife and kids, enjoying what we have built and building it together as we go, with plenty of carefree timelessness.

What is your favorite Tri-Cities restaurant and what do you order there?

Soi 705, tapas style: nine-spice fries, Fresh AF rolls, Holiday in Cambodia, potstickers, edamame, roasted pork belly, with a Block One cocktail.

If you had one wish for the Tri-Cities, what would it be?

I like to wish for whimsical things. My wish would be for a nonstop flight to Hawaii that I could board via a jet bridge at PSC. I am very bullish that the folks at the port can make that happen!