Speakers acknowledged the problems plaguing the economy but expressed hope for prosperity in the year to come during the annual awards breakfast of the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce.
The event took place the morning of Jan. 20 at the Liberty Theater in downtown Puyallup.
Keynote speaker Jeff Rounce, the owner and publisher of the Business Examiner newspaper in Tacoma, noted unemployment as a continuing problem but highlighted aspects that hint at a recovery.
“We might leave here with indigestion if we only focused on the current state of business in Washington,” he said. “But in Washington we have a better chance of bouncing back than other states, and that’s because of the international trade aspect of our marketplace. Washington will grow with other countries through exports.”
The Port of Tacoma had just broken a two-and-a-half year decline in traffic according to Global Port Tracker, he said.
A further sign of business activity was the number of people attending the chamber awards breakfast compared with previous years, he said.
Rounce ended his speech by urging chamber members to shift their focus away from the negative parts of the economy and onto what still works and to prepare to be a survivor after recovery. He noted major businesses like Starbucks, Microsoft and Costco all came to power amidst tumultuous economies.
Phillip DeLong of Holiday Inn Express, the outgoing president of the chamber board, reviewed the chamber’s goals for the past year and highlighted the work done toward achievement them.
The 2009 goals included building a stronger relationship with Sumner, diversifying income, showing value to chamber members and reviewing the bylaws of the organization. Accomplishments during 2009 included establishing the Leadership Institute, revamping the chamber’s Web site, enrolling members in an Office Depot discount program and creating Twitter and Facebook pages.
Following the passing of the gavel from DeLong to 2010 board president Micah Roth of Walmart, the incoming president outlined the chamber’s goals for the new year. Those include seeking accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, continuing to diversify income sources, restructuring membership and creating a Young Professionals Association.
Award winners for the year were:
• Rock Creek Gardens, Small Business of the Year.
• Sumner’s Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse, Medium Business of the Year, running unopposed.
• MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital, Large Business of the Year. The hospital was awarded for ongoing growth in the recession, DeLong said.
• Sumner Downtown Association Executive Director Shelly Schlumpf received the John Porter Memorial award for community service. She was credited for her work to rebrand Sumner as the “Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World.”
• Tammi Reeser of Village Green Retirement Campus was named Volunteer of the Year, having designed the “Moveable Feast” chamber dinner event.
• Trish Cole of Integra Pacific Mortgage was Ambassador of the Year. She was an example of what it meant to be an ambassador and tirelessly welcomed new members to the chamber, Executive Director Sally Zeiger Hanson said.
A Lifetime Community Service Award went to the late George Dill, a longtime Puyallup City Council member and community volunteer. His widow, Shu Dill, accepted the award on his behalf.
