Articles by Jeff Morrow
Motorcycle Training Inc. fuses fun, safety and is for sale
Dusty Powers has had a love-hate relationship with motorcycles his whole life. Fortunately for local riders and those who want to learn to ride, it’s been a love affair for more than a decade. Powers, 66, joined Motorcycle Training Inc. in north Richland as an instructor and later became its owner. The company, which is…
Tri-City homeowners take the plunge into pool rentals
When Bunim Laskin was a kid in New Jersey, he was always looking for things to do. “I am the oldest of 12 kids,” he said. “And growing up, I never attended summer camp.” One day during a long, hot summer, Laskin eyed his neighbor’s swimming pool. “I convinced the neighbor to let me use…
Boxing club aims to transform lives one jab at a time
Guty Villa probably could have been content continuing his work as owner of G’s to Gent’s Barbershop in Kennewick. He’s happily been cutting hair and running the shop for seven years now. It’s a successful shop with plenty of customers and barbers. He also has a great family. But something was missing: Boxing. “I love…
Tech innovations improve high school athletics, from football helmets to stadium lighting
Science and technology have made many things better when it comes to sports. And they will continue to do so in the future. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business talked to some Tri-City area high school athletic directors and one football coach about what science and technology have done for sports. Here is what they…
Late winter bolstered water supplies, took some of the sting out of drought
Thanks to a very wet April, the Pacific Northwest has a lot of water. That’s potentially great news for water users. After declaring a drought in the Mid-Columbia on July 14, 2021, the Washington Department of Ecology downgraded Benton and Franklin counties to “drought advisory” status in late May. Five watersheds spanning parts of Spokane,…
Entrepreneurs make leap from Cinnabon, pretzels to brunch
For almost two decades, Chris and Lore’K Garofola have been hard-working franchise owners of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and Cinnabon. The couple own four Auntie Anne’s – two in the Tri-Cities and two more in Southern California. They own two Cinnabons, with one in the Tri-Cities and the other in Southern California. But now, the couple…
Kettle corn company pops into Richland storefront
Jeramy Schultz was trained to be a fighter during his five years in the Marine Corps. Ever since, the Richland High School graduate has used those skills to battle the day-to-day skirmishes that a small businessman needs to overcome to be successful. For Schultz, who has been in the kettle corn business for 18 years,…
Interest in flight training soars after pandemic lockdowns
Malin Bergstrom had never really planned on working in the family business. “I was going to be a veterinarian,” she said. But things quickly changed, said the president of Bergstrom Aircraft Inc. “Growing up, I worked summers and weekends to help out,” she said. “The summer after my senior year, I was approached to work…
Paw’s aims to keep pets healthy from the inside out
It might be easy to think of Steve Carroll as the protector of pets once you hear his story. After all, his research of dog and cat food helps keep those pets healthy. The co-owner of Kennewick’s Paw’s Natural Pet Emporium says it’s all about the animals and the customers. “I’m essentially paid to pet…
The Granite Guy aims to meet demand for quality countertops
Installing unique, shiny granite surfaces is The Granite Guy’s specialty. The family-owned company, located just upriver from the cable bridge in Pasco, has been in business for 10 years. “We basically do anything: kitchens, bathroom, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces,” said Irving Ortega. He, his wife Cassandra, and his brother Omar, own The Granite Guy LLC, which…
