 It’s that time of year again – time to elect our board of directors for 2025! The election, or ratification of the board slate, is for the four director seats that will be vacant seats at the end of the year. Per our bylaws, we are required to give members a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 50 days' notice when and where the election will take place.
This year’s annual membership meeting will take place on Thurs., Sept. 12 (11:30 am – 1 pm) at our Member September Luncheon at Grill In The Woods at Druids Glen (29925 207th Ave SE, Covington, WA 98042). At this meeting, the membership will ratify the board slate as approved by the current Board of Directors at their Aug. 20, 2024 meeting. {Register by 5 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2024 to attend the luncheon.} The Designated Voter for each active member in good standing will receive an official ballot with the complete slate of appointed candidates electronically and/or in person with instructions to ratify the official slate as presented. The slate of candidates shall be deemed approved unless a simple majority of the membership votes to disapprove. The candidates on the ballot are:
Liz Nolan Liz is a trusted, collaborative, authentic and transformational executive. Having served in clinical and nonclinical roles for over 25 years, she has a broad perspective and deep understanding of healthcare systems; hospital, outpatient and clinic network operations and communications; community and staff engagement; strategic planning; digital transformation; wellbeing; and preventative care. She also has an entrepreneurial spirit and extensive volunteer and board experience. Liz reports directly to Valley Medical’s CEO, and she is the designated CIO for crisis management, organizational response and reputation management. Dr. Wade Barringer Growing up in Port Orchard, Wade went to WSU on an academic scholarship where he earned a BA in Education and certifications in history, K-8 elementary education, speech communication and leadership studies. He began his teaching career as a fifth grade teacher at Green Mountain Elementary in the Central Kitsap School District. He returned to WSU where he earned his PhD. In 2004, he joined the staff at Kent-Meridian HS as an assistant principal and later principal. In 2018, he joined the administrative operations of the Kent School District. In 2023, he was promoted to his current role. He has extensive experience in community involvement and is an award-winning educator. Stephanie Hunziker For the last 10 years, Stephanie has been a REALTOR® for the Hunziker Real Estate, taking satisfaction in helping buyers find their dream homes and expertly guiding sellers through the listing process. Since 2014, she has assisted countless families, first-time homebuyers, investors and those moving on to a new stage of their lives. Stephanie is a huge advocate for the Covington community. She sponsors city and chamber events, has adopted a street, and was recently appointed to the Planning Commission. Since joining the Covington Chamber in early 2022, she has been engaged, supportive and a cheerleader for the community and other business owners. Jeff Wagner One of the Covington Chamber’s founders, Jeff knows the ins and outs of owning a business, and since day 1 has supported other business owners and helped many to be successful. In addition to his role as municipal manager at Republic Services where he’s worked for nearly 12 years, Jeff serves on the Covington City Council as mayor, is a founding member of Covington Kiwanis and has been involved in Covington Days, Reach Out Covington, and previous director for the Covington, Auburn and Kent Chambers. Jeff has excellent organizational and leadership skills, and he cares deeply about the Covington community. He has spent time and energy over decades to ensure that Covington and our region thrives economically.
We have a busy fall planned for you with networking opportunities and community events. For additional event details and to register for upcoming events, visit our events calendar.  Have questions? Contact Keylona at [email protected] or Dana at [email protected].
 Do you have a passion for the Covington Chamber and the businesses and communities we serve? Would you like to help guide us into the future? If so, we are looking for board candidates for two-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
We meet via Zoom on the 4th Thursday of each month from 8 - 9:30 a.m. We also host annual planning and budgeting sessions, and we encourage board members to attend events whenever possible. Interested? Apply by August 13, 2024 to be considered. We also have committee and ambassador opportunities available. Have questions? Contact Dana Neuts, CEO, at [email protected].  The Covington Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications from vendors and sponsors for the Sat., Oct. 12, 2024 Covington Makers’ Market. Market coordinators seek applications from local makers, bakers, artists and artisans, food trucks and food vendors, as well as local businesses that sell locally made or sourced items. Vendors are eligible for early bird pricing until Aug. 2. Regular pricing will be charged Aug. 3 through Sept. 4. Nonprofit organizations are also invited to participate at discounted rates.
In addition, sponsorship opportunities are available to local organizations who want to support this popular event and expand their reach. Sponsorships range from $125 to $2,000. The presenting sponsorship ($2,000) and entertainment sponsorship ($1,000) are limited to one each and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsors must be members of the Covington Chamber to be eligible. Hosted in partnership with the City of Covington and founding partner Real Life Church, the market attracts visitors from throughout the region for shopping, food, family-friendly fun and live entertainment. This fall, the market is expanding its hours to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and moving the market to Covington Town Center at 17070 SE Wax Rd., Covington, Washington, the site of the old Covington Elementary. “This is our seventh Covington Makers’ Market, and we have loved watching the market grow with each event. We had over 70 vendors and sponsors and four performers at our May event. We anticipate at least 100 in October,” said Dana Neuts, CEO of the Covington Chamber. “Makers’ Market started in April 2022 when people were tired of being isolated and wanted a healthy way to venture out of their houses. It was also a way for the Covington Chamber to support small businesses and grow our regional footprint.” For more information, including links to Vendor and Sponsor applications, visit https://tinyurl.com/covmarket. Contact Keylona Temeyosa at [email protected] or 253-780-1557 with questions.  The Covington Economic Development Council (CEDC) is hosting the city’s first-ever Restaurant Week, May 20-28, 2024. A partnership between the Covington Chamber of Commerce, the City of Covington and CEDC, the nine-day event is a celebration of Covington’s local dining scene. It will kick off on May 20 at 4:30 p.m. at Covington City Hall. The kickoff, which officially launches Covington Restaurant Week, will include fun surprises, giveaways, and free goodie bags to the first 25 people.
Covington Restaurant Week will feature nine participating restaurants that are offering special menus and different deals and promotions throughout the week. Seven of the participating restaurants are located in Covington – Applebee’s, Bruchelle’s Bagel Bistro, Cosmic Bottles, Just Poké, Nikki’s Restaurant & Lounge, The Rock Wood-Fired Pizza, and Grill In The Woods at Druids Glen. Two restaurants are not in Covington but they border the city limits and are Covington Chamber members, so they were invited to participate. Restaurants do not need to be members of the Chamber to be involved. The idea originated last fall by Diana Patterson of the Patterson Real Estate Team, a member of the Covington Chamber and CEDC. “Our restaurants have struggled the last few years, navigating the pandemic and dealing with rising costs and staff shortages. I wanted to find a way to uplift them while also bringing the community together,” Patterson said. “I approached Dana Neuts at the Covington Chamber, who got CEDC involved. We formed a planning committee and here we are!” “As we get closer to kickoff, it is so rewarding to see how excited the restaurants are to be a part of this event and the buzz that’s building in the community,” Neuts said. “It has been a lot of work, but our committee and CEDC came together to make it happen. We owe a big thanks to Diana for having the vision to try something new and supporting it 100% to see it through.” To encourage diners to visit participating restaurants multiple times throughout Restaurant Week, the team created a passport program. Each time a diner goes to a participating restaurant or dines at their favorite restaurant more than once, they’ll get a stamp. Each stamp represents an entry into a random prize drawing for restaurant gift cards to keep customers coming back after Restaurant Week is over. The event is supported by the Patterson Team, the presenting sponsor, as well as Red Canoe Credit Union, Auto-Chlor System, SpotOn and UW Valley Lifestyle Medicine powered by Pinnacle. Many of the restaurants have also donated gift cards to be used as prizes at the end of Restaurant Week. More information about Covington Restaurant Week, including how the passport program works and what diners can expect, is available at CovingtonRestaurantWeek.com. Each individual restaurant page includes details about their offer(s), location, hours, links to online menus, and more. Contact the Covington Chamber at 253-780-1557 or [email protected] with questions. UPDATE -- View photos from the event! Photos courtesy of our photography sponsor Pooja Anoop Photography. The Covington Chamber of Commerce and the City of Covington are partnering to host Covington Makers’ Market on Saturday, May 4, 2024 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Real Life Church. The outdoor event, held rain or shine, will showcase a wide range of small businesses and nonprofits, including local makers, bakers, creators, artists, artisans, and other organizations. This is the sixth Covington Makers’ Market to date and is expected to be the biggest market yet. The event will feature 70 vendor booths, food vendors, free kids’ activities, bouncy houses, and live entertainment from Tristan Wood, Chris Aaron, and Sarah Jolk. “The City of Covington is proud to partner with the Covington Chamber on Covington Makers' Market. It gets bigger and better each time, and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Covington Mayor Jeff Wagner. “This is a great opportunity to showcase small businesses while giving local families free activities and another reason to spend the day in Covington.” This event is made possible with the support of Covington Chamber partners, sponsors and members including the City of Covington, Real Life Church, Key Bank, Smith Brothers Farms, Republic Services, Just Poké, Tahoma Living, Cruise Planners, Pooja Anoop Photography, Stephanie Hunziker Real Estate, Jean Wall State Farm, and Diana + Cory | The Patterson Team. For more information about the event, including the day’s schedule and a complete list of vendors and sponsors, visit CovingtonChamber.org or email the Chamber at [email protected].  Last week, we honored winners and finalists at our first-ever business awards reception hosted at the Weatherly Inn at Lake Meridian. There were five categories and an extra special, super secret award, recognizing individuals and businesses for their exceptional work for the Covington Chamber and the community. Congratulations to... Chamber Volunteer of the Year This award goes to a chamber volunteer of the year who provides exceptional service to the chamber through service, active participation, sponsorship, referrals, volunteering at events and programs, board service, committee work, etc. Winner: Brad Belcher, Bicycle Rescue for Youth Finalist: Bridget O'Connor, Red Canoe Credit Union New Business of the Year This award goes to a new member, who joined between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023, who embodies our chamber’s culture and has jumped in with both feet, ready to engage, connect and make a positive impact on our chamber and the greater Covington community. Winner: Nikki's Restaurant & Lounge Finalist: Erica Miller, EDM Consulting Small Business Entrepreneurial Spirit This award goes to a small business with 25 or fewer employees that embodies our chamber’s culture and stands out among the landscape of Covington’s business base by one or more of the following: mission-driven work; providing unique products and/or services; demonstrating a willingness to continue to engage and enhance our chamber membership. Winner: Pooja Anoop, Pooja Anoop Photography and She Shines magazine Finalist: Lauren Peever, Ristrettos Coffee & Wine Finalist: Tanya Neilsen, RE/MAX Northwest and Thrive Community Fitness Large Business Innovation This award is given to a business with 26 or more employees that supports the chamber and business community in innovative ways through volunteer engagement, financial sponsorship commitments, meaningful partnerships, and exemplary service and commitment to fellow Covington community businesses and residents. Winner: City of Covington, Washington Finalist: Red Canoe Credit Union Spirit of Covington Community Impact Award The Spirit of Covington Community Impact Award is given to the business or organization of any size that goes above and beyond on a regular basis to support the Covington community. Their local community impact may include, but is not limited to, volunteer service, fundraising, community spirit, showing up, and being known as a business or organization that sets an example for other organizations. Winner: Stephanie Hunziker, Stephanie Hunziker Real Estate Finalist: Cari Korpi, SpotOn Finalist: Brian Williams, See Ya Later Foundation Finalist: Bridget O'Connor, Red Canoe Credit Union Covington Community Champion Award Presented to Covington Mayor Jeff Wagner for 32 years of service to the Covington Chamber and the Covington community. Going forward, the award will be called the Jeff Wagner Community Champion Award, and Mayor Wagner will help the board select each year's recipient. by Erica Miller, EDM Consulting
We are almost two-thirds into the first quarter, and it’s a good time to reflect on the plans we set in the final quarter of 2023 and see how they’re taking shape. If progress is lacking, it’s okay; you still have plenty of time to make all your business dreams come true. Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at a local chamber event, where I led attendees through a transformative exercise aimed at hitting the "RESET" button on their business. Here, I will highlight some of their insights in hopes of inspiring you! We talked about three key questions:
Let’s break down these questions to guide your RESET journey. What are your top achievements for 2023? Focus on the Review & Evolve stage of your RESET R - Review: Begin by reviewing the past year. What worked well? What didn't? Reflect on your achievements and setbacks to understand the bigger picture. Use these insights to guide your decisions moving forward. While doing this, remember to compartmentalize each area of your business to avoid getting overwhelmed. E - Evolve: Change is necessary and inevitable. Look at how your business, customers, and the market are evolving. Adapt your strategies, products, and/or services to stay relevant and competitive. Make sure your pricing represents your value in the marketplace. Look at your systems and processes to make sure they are efficient. Attendees shared their wins, here are a few highlights: becoming consistent with daily habits, expanding their network, finding a new location, staying accountable, and learning a new skill. There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Just be honest with yourself and remember to celebrate all wins, big or small. Where do you want to be at the end of 2024? Focus on the strategizing stage of your RESET S - Strategize: With a clear understanding of the past and present, it's time to strategize for the future. Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and create an action plan. Remember, a goal without a plan is just a wish! Our attendees envisioned ambitious goals, which were a great foundation for setting smaller SMART goals. Some of their responses were to provide financial education in underserved communities, get connected to the community, help others reach their goals, publish multiple books, have a better work-life balance, and build a storage facility. What resources do you need to reach your 2024 goals? Focus on this to help with execution and time management. E - Execute: Put your plans into action. Execution is the most difficult part of any plan. You have to be honest with yourself and determine how much time it will take to execute your action plan. Also, if you have a team, make sure they understand their roles and the goals ahead. Accountability for yourself and your team will turn your strategies into successful outcomes. T - Time Management: Finally, master the art of time management. Prioritize tasks, delegate when necessary, and use tools to stay organized. Delegate when necessary! In 2024, we will stop trying to do it ALL. Efficient time management will boost productivity and allow you to enjoy a better work-life balance. During the session, I emphasized the importance of being open and honest about the resources needed. I encouraged participants to listen actively, not only for their own benefit but also to identify opportunities where they could lend assistance or connect others with the resources they need. Recognizing the need for support is a significant challenge in entrepreneurship. It's essential to acknowledge what you need and where to seek it. Resources play a huge role in executing plans and maintaining effective time management. The attendees had many similarities in their responses, including referral partners, funding, accountability, and collaborative relationships. When looking for resources, be persistent and try various avenues of support. Many people are more than willing to offer guidance or point you in the right direction. Now you are fully equipped with the tools to RESET your business and make the rest of this year everything you wanted it to be and more! If you are looking for support in Resetting your business, we should chat! Schedule a free discovery call today.  Port of Seattle Training, Employment & Resource Fair WHEN: Wed., Feb 28, 2024 @ 9am-4pm WHERE: SeaTac Airport Conference Center, located in airport pre-security on mezzanine level above security checkpoint 1 PARKING: Park in the SeaTac Airport parking garage, and you can get parking validation at the event so parking will be no cost for you DETAILS: Event is best for those who are 18+ and seeking entry level employment at the airport and/or those seeking training in construction, maritime, aviation, manufacturing, commercial driver’s license and other similar trades. Additionally, there will be a resume writing/reviewing room, financial consultations, and ORCA LIFT and healthcare sign up assistance. MORE INFO: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/port-of-seattle-training-employment-resource-fair-tickets-797020649217 or email Leslie Horton [email protected] Download flyer. ↓ 
 Clean Water, Sustainable Building, Green Jobs Symposium & Career Fair WHEN: Wed March 6, 2024 @ 4pm-7pm WHERE: South Seattle College Georgetown Campus, 6737 Corson Ave S., Seattle in the Gene Colin Education Hall (building C) PARKING: in college lot or on Corson Ave DETAILS: Meet in-demand employers in clean water, sustainable building, and green jobs! Attend and participate in hands-on demonstrations, break-out sessions, networking, resume help, and other skill building activities. Event is free and open to the public, including people in all stages of careers and education. REGISTER TO ATTEND: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CZSTDZJ Download flyer. ↓
 King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) - $19.17/hr Applications now open for these Paid Outdoor Summer Internships for High School Youth DETAILS: The 2024 YCC internship program dates are July 8 - August 15 every Monday-Thursday. Interns work 22 hours/week and meet daily Mon-Wed at Bethaday Community Learning Center in White Center, and virtually via zoom on Thursdays. Internships are open to youth living in King County and entering grades 10-12. No resume or cover letter needed to apply! MORE INFO/APPLY @ www.kcpyouthcorps.org. Applications are due by April 21, 2024. Download flyer. ↓
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