Elsie Puig, Author at Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Articles by Elsie Puig

Elsie Puig is a freelance writer and web designer. She has a strong background in digital marketing communications, copywriting, and social media. Her passion is using web technology and strong messaging to help small businesses meet their goals. She is currently pursuing her online MA in Web Design and Online Communications from the University of Florida. She lives in Richland with her husband and two children.

El Asadero adds second restaurant in Richland

By Elsie Puig | April 2019

El Asadero — which serves up Mexican cuisine with a focus on homemade freshness — opened a new restaurant on 127 Gage Blvd. in Richland. The restaurant is owned and operated by father and son duo Rafael Arriaga Sr. and Rafael Arriaga Jr. Their first restaurant opened in 2004 on Fourth Avenue in Pasco, where…

Old wood gets new life in handmade furniture

By Elsie Puig | April 2019

Salvaged Hardwoods owner reclaims wood, creates custom pieces Clinton Milton remembers tinkering around with his dad in the garage as a boy. He wasn’t building much, he admits, but it gave him the skills and confidence as an adult to build modest sample tables from salvaged hardwood pieces to sell at yard sales. That was…

Rick’s Custom Fencing & Decking in Kennewick earned an award for its exhibit display at February’s Home & Garden Show. (Courtesy Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities)

Best way to shine at a trade show? Provide an experience

By Elsie Puig | March 2019

When it comes to standing out in a crowded marketplace — online or otherwise — strategy is important. For companies, B2B trade shows and expos are no different. (B2B is short for business-to-business.) In fact, pop-up banners and black tablecloths are not cutting it anymore. “There are lot of opportunities to reach your audience, but…

Katie Banks, professor of political science at Washington State University Tri-Cities, and Zachary Harper, president of the Associated Students of WSU Tri-Cities, raise the pride flag at the Richland campus in October. The branch campus’ Office of Student Affairs partnered with the Associated Students group for the pride flag-raising ceremony to kick off a series of events in recognition of “Outober,” an event which aims to raise awareness of issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer and other underrepresented communities. (Courtesy WSU Tri-Cities)

Tri-City leaders offer tips to foster workplace LGBTQIA+ inclusivity

By Elsie Puig | February 2019

PFLAG’s Benton-Franklin chapter offers several training sessions every month for employers Janie Romine remembers the time she was counseled by administrators against openly talking about her gay son with her colleagues. It taught her a valuable lesson: the workplace is not inclusive and supportive by default. “That was a glaring example of discrimination of just…

Ken Williams stands inside his new 28,000-square-foot Plastic Injection Molding manufacturing plant at 2695 Battelle Blvd. in north Richland. The new plant will allow the company to bring new capabilities, including new robotics technology.

Richland company adds new manufacturing plant, robotic automation

By Elsie Puig | February 2019

Plastic Injection Molding expansion allows for improved capacity, speed A north Richland company is poised for growth with the addition of a new 28,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in the back of its existing building that includes a 4,000-square-foot mezzanine. Plastic Injection Molding Inc. manufactures filter body parts for agricultural irrigation, special parts for medical diagnostic equipment,…

With an increase in patient volume from last year, Grace Clinic is seeing a greater need to expand its dental services. It hopes to adopt a new volunteer model to offer dental services more days of the week. (Courtesy Andrea Starr, PNNL)

Tri-City’s only free medical clinic sees rise in patient volumes, visits

By Elsie Puig | January 2019

Grace Clinic — the only free medical clinic in the Tri-Cities — is seeing a greater volume of patients, pointing to a greater need for volunteers and services. In 2018, patient volume increased by 35 percent and there was a 25 percent increase in new patients over the previous year. Last year, the Kennewick clinic…

Stephen, left, and John Worlund of Anasazi Builders moved their business from North Dakota to the Tri-Cities in November. The father and son said they relocated to be closer to family and to tap into a bigger labor work force.

Longtime builders move to Tri-Cities after 22 years in North Dakota

By Elsie Puig | January 2019

A longtime custom home-building company with a successful operation in North Dakota has moved to the Tri-Cities. The father-and-son team of John and Stephen Worlund decided to move Anasazi Builders after almost 22 years to be closer to family. “We had to turn down 21 homes. We finished the last two homes in North Dakota.…

Sarah Bray, left, and Sara Quinn, editor-in-chief of Tumbleweird, show off the December issue. Bray and Adam Brault recently became publishers and owners of the two-year-old “positively weird” monthly publication.

‘Weirdo’ publication gets new owners, publishers as it enters third year

By Elsie Puig | December 2018

The Tri-Cities’ self-proclaimed “local liberal rag” has new owners and publishers dedicated to keeping the scrappy two-year-old independent paper in print. Adam Brault, owner of &yet, and Sarah Bray, &yet’s chief of strategy, bought Tumbleweird — an eclectic alternative community zine (that’s short for “magazine”) in October. The 10-year-old Richland-based &yet is a design and…

David Phongsa poses with a bahn mi sandwich outside of the walk-up window at the Pasco Specialty Kitchen in downtown Pasco.

Restaurateurs take baby steps toward brick-and-mortar ventures

By Elsie Puig | December 2018

Notice more food trucks opening brick-and-mortar locations? It’s a growing trend in the Tri-City food scene, accelerated in part by incubators like the Pasco Specialty Kitchen. Once mobile food vendors like Fresh Out The Box, Hot Tamales, Foodies and Mercy’s Pizza Taco have graduated from food truck to sit-down restaurants. And more hope to follow…

Silvia Lugo, communications and outreach consultant with the state Employment Security Department spoke at a recent Ask The Experts panel about the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance program. The panel was hosted by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce .

Employers preparing for state’s new paid family, medical leave program

By Elsie Puig | November 2018

In January, employers will begin collecting premiums for the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance program passed into law last year. Although benefits won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2020, this statewide benefits program will allow workers to take up to 12 weeks of guaranteed paid time off — 18 weeks in limited special…