Articles by Audra Distifeno
Columbia Industries closes year with new vision, new CEO
The past six months have been a flurry of activity at Columbia Industries with the creation of a new vision and hiring a new CEO to execute it. “We’ve spent the past six months reinventing ourselves,” said interim CEO Bob Rosselli, who has volunteered and served three terms, or 18 years, on the nonprofit’s board…
Experts forecast robust holiday shopping season across state
Chamber officials, Tri-City retailers remind shoppers to think local Locally-owned Tri-City retailers hope shoppers will “think small” when picking out their holiday gifts this year. “We expect a really great holiday season. Retail is up about three percent nationwide, so it’s doing well. People are spending more money in shops and definitely supporting small business,”…
Cigar aficionado’s Richland store offers nearly 600 varieties
Owner of The Educated Cigar & Wine can be found at festivals around region Local entrepreneur Rick Ornstein enjoys the simple things life has to offer, especially sitting down and puffing a premium cigar with friends. His enthusiasm for cigars, believed to date back to the ancient Mayans, is more than evident at The Educated…
Chefs on Parade showcases signature dishes at sold-out annual event
Just hearing the words cranberry bacon jam crostini, blackened ribeye salad, smoked salmon fusilli and caramel corn ice cream can make a foodie’s mouth water. But 800 lucky food lovers were able to taste these tantalizing tidbits offered up by 13 local chefs at the annual Chefs on Parade event. The event is held in…
Richland marketing company moves to larger office
During the past 10 years, WinSome Design Inc. staff have called an 800-square-foot basement their office space. It was the place they brainstormed, collaborated and created to improve others’ business outcomes. The team recently moved from Riverwood Street in Richland to 1201 Jadwin Ave., Suite 101, and more than doubled its work space. “It’s awesome…
West Richland business grows in tandem with increased need for interpreters, translators
As a Spanish interpreter traveling throughout the Tri-Cities and eastern Oregon for more than 20 years, Flor Garza Gutierrez noticed a distinct need for interpreters. During her decades of interpreting for several agencies, she made notes about these needs, names and phone numbers of associates and jotted down business ideas. She had a distinct feeling…
New building allows SARC to expand counseling, sex trafficking services
New $1.2 million facility doubles space for Support, Advocacy & Resource Center Moving into a building twice the size of its previous facility has served as a catalyst for the Support, Advocacy & Resource Center to expand its on-site counseling services and increase its services for sex trafficking victims. The move to the $1.2 million…
Clover Island mixed-use parcels expected to be available in fall
Two commercial mixed-use parcels overlooking Clover Island’s marina and shoreline improvements should be available to developers this fall. “We’d hoped it’d be done at the end of June, but the (subcontractors) are really busy,” said Tana Bader Inglima, Port of Kennewick deputy CEO. The port has been working over the past several years to transform…
Kennewick accounting firm acquires longtime CPA business
About two years ago, Jennifer Mitchell, owner of Account Sense in Kennewick, met a fellow accountant and discussed with him the possibility of a future buy-out when he was ready to retire. That time has come with Account Sense recently buying Robert Vaughan, CPA of Kennewick. “When Bob (Vaughan) finally set a retirement date, we…
Farmer buys motorized carts to help harvest labor-intensive crop
Middleton Six Sons Farms bought 15 carts for its workers The asparagus served at several Tri-City restaurants likely features spears picked by experts at Middleton Six Sons Farms who have worked in the fields for more than three decades. It’s a lot of work to get the springtime favorite from field to plate. That’s why…
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