 If you’re looking for an upscale, boutique-style salon experience close to home, Daniel Ross Salon and Skincare is a “must visit.” Owned by Shar and Ross Wagers, this full-service salon has been in Covington for over 20 years and has become a local favorite as well as a family business, with son Logan joining the salon as a stylist and Tab as the office manager. When some think of family businesses, they think of the potential for family conflicts, but Tab said that isn’t the case. He said their family works together smoothly. Products and services The salon offers a wide range of salon and skin care services including haircuts, styling, color, hair extensions, lash and brow extensions, body waxing, sugaring, skin care services, permanent jewelry, ear piercing, makeup, wedding services, and a cute retail shop with glam accessories. Daniel Ross even has its own exclusive hair and skin care product lines – Stylish – available in-store and online. Online orders can be shipped anywhere in the country. “It’s an exciting thing to have our own products,” said Tab. “It’s our best-selling product line.” Tab said the salon has grown a lot in the last year, which is nice to see since the pandemic forced them to close the salon for a period of time. Daniel Ross attracts local clientele from Covington, Maple Valley, Auburn, Kent, Renton, Black Diamond and Enumclaw, as well as New Castle, Seattle, Puyallup, Cle Elum and out-of-state. Working at the salon wasn’t part of Tab’s career plan, but he’s glad he made the switch. He was working at Fred Meyer Jewelry and figuring out his next step. At the time, the salon needed an office manager, so Tab came on as a temporary office manager for six months. He has been there for four years and has used his skills and experience to streamline their operations, especially with technology and processes. “I like what I do, and I feel like I’ve contributed a lot and have made a lot of positive changes,” Tab said. The salon experience Jess is the salon’s general manager, running the day-to-day operations, hiring and training staff, and facilitating continuing education. She is also the salon’s highest-level of stylist at level 6. Jess has been with the company for over 18 years, and Shar Wager, the president of the family-owned salon, was Jess’s mentor. “What I’ve always loved about our salon is we are a high-end, full-service salon providing luxury experiences without having to leave the local community. We’re close to home,” Jess said. Morgan is the salon’s style manager. She was Jess’s client since she was in fifth grade. Morgan has been with the company for 10 years. The salon also offers clients a laid-back, low stress environment where they know they’ll be taken care of. Stylists enjoy getting to know their clients, so they can recommend products, brushes and tools that will work best for their needs. “The best recommendations come from people who know your skin and your hair,” Jess said. Stylist levels 1 to 6 Seinfeld’s Kramer isn’t the only one who loves levels. Daniel Ross has six levels of stylists, ranging from 1 to 6. Level 1 stylists are the newest, freshest talent, and level 6 stylists like Jess have the most experience. A stylist’s level increases based on several factors including their experience, continuing education, in-salon demand, and client retention. This allows stylists to grow and stay with the salon while offering clients different budgets based on different levels of expertise. “You can get a high-end experience at any level,” Jess explained. Community-minded salon Daniel Ross Salon is very supportive of their local community, donating hair through Locks of Love, donating gift baskets to the Covington Storehouse*, sponsoring local sports team, and supporting Valley Girls and Guys*. In September, Valley Girls and Guys hosted an event at Daniel Ross – “Be the Match for Ross Wagers.” In February, Ross was diagnosed with blood cancer, and the event was to help Ross find a match for a bone marrow transplant and to bring awareness to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry. Learn more Learn more about Daniel Ross Salon online or call 253-630-9423 to schedule an appointment to experience the luxury of local for yourself. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook. *These organizations are also Covington Chamber members.
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 If you have attended a Covington Chamber event in the last year, you have probably met Brian Williams, the Director of Operations of the See Ya Later Foundation. He is also the cousin of Scott Banke of McMinnville, Oregon who lost his life to a rare form of osteosarcoma cancer at the age of 12. The foundation is named “See Ya Later” because that was something Scott said frequently instead of ever saying “good-bye.” Scott was an impact-maker in his community. He was genuine, outgoing, and always tried to make people smile. In fact, when he was in treatment, the medical staff were eager to work with him because he was a great patient with a positive attitude. When Scotty died, his family wanted to honor his memory. Their first project was raising funds for a five-story play structure with a capacity for 175 kids which they then gifted to Church on the Hill. Next came sports camps and youth opportunities for kids because the community had a growing need for more impactful and positive activities. The youth programs have grown exponentially over the last decade, helping to serve the growing population of Yamhill County. Seeds of Hope In 2006, “See Ya Later” received non-profit status and started the Seeds of Hope program to help other families who have a child with a life-threatening medical crisis. The Seeds of Hope program supports families with whatever they might need, including unique family-bonding experiences, zoo passes, essential needs, tickets to sporting events, gas and grocery cards, and more. Once approved, each family meets with a Seeds of Hope volunteer who gets to know them and learn what they need and how the program can best assist the family during their cancer journey. The See Ya Later Foundation currently serves families in King and Pierce Counties. Scholarships In 2007, the year that Scott would have graduated from high school, the See Ya Later Foundation added scholarships to the mix in Oregon. The scholarships are awarded to students who are impact-makers like Scott in their communities. The foundation has grown and, in 2010, at a family meeting, the Banke family made the decision to expand into Washington where Brian lives. Brian had been working with the Special Olympics and was excited to contribute to the success of the See Ya Later Foundation in Auburn. In 2012, the foundation awarded two $1,000 scholarships to local impact makers in Auburn. Their scholarship program has grown to 28 local high schools in the region. This year, they awarded eight $2,500 scholarships to impact-makers from schools from Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn and Kent. See Ya Later Foundation – Washington The Washington chapter started with $5,000 in seed money and today they consistently raise approximately $150,000 per year through hosting local fundraising events. They held their first golf tournament and auction in 2011, raising $40,000 for the foundation. Last year, the two events combined to raise over $140,000. As for family support, since 2010, over 200 families have been supported with an average of 15 to 25 families per year. Brian anticipates serving more than 20 families this year. Recently, Seeds of Hope assisted one family with a daughter who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. Brian and members of his BNI group, Covington Advantage Business Builders, recently helped this family with housecleaning, decluttering, organizing, pressure washing the roof and driveway, and getting the family car detailed. When the grateful mom saw the volunteers’ hard work, she said, “I got my life back. I’m at home again.” In another example, a grandmother was living in a motor home at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Brian visited her in the parking lot, giving her restaurant gift cards, gift cards for Fred Meyer, and toys and books for her granddaughter who was in treatment at the hospital. “We meet them where they’re at,” Brian said. Literally and figuratively. The Seeds of Hope program has also done backyard makeovers with swing sets, a limo ride to a Sounders game, and a family outing at Snoqualmie Falls. For Brian, the foundation is a way to support families like his who have been affected by cancer. “I wish we didn’t have to meet these families. I wish cancer wasn’t a thing,” Brian said. It is important for families to know they don’t fight alone.” The Washington chapter of See Ya Later hosts a trivia night as their primary fundraiser for their scholarship program. Their annual golf tournament and dinner auction are the major fundraisers for the Seeds of Hope program. They occasionally do pop-ups at events like the Covington Makers’ Market, Kent Station, and dining-to-donate events at Cosmic Bottles and other local restaurants. In addition to his passion for assisting families, Brian is also a big supporter of local businesses, many of whom support See Ya Later. “We understand our support comes from local businesses. We like to support those businesses that support us,” Brian said. “We give back to our communities because they support us, too.” To provide sustainable funding for Seeds of Hope, the foundation started the Hope Giver program about 15 years ago. This is a recurring giving program that allows donors to give a set amount each month. For as little as $10 a month, Hope Givers can help support families with a small electronic fund transfer. How you can help
There are many ways to support the See Ya Later Foundation and their work:
 Photo credit: Green River College Did you know that local businesses* can access Green River’s Small Business Center to help start or grow their business? This is a great resource to help businesses at all stages, providing them with access to no-cost one-on-one consulting and low-cost business education. Among their services, the Small Business Center offers consultation on the following:
Kevin Grossman, who is one of the SBC’s advisors and a member of the Covington Economic Development Council, said businesses should consult with the Small Business Center if there is “anything we can do to help a business thrive.” As an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, Kevin is a generalist and does online co-advising with other experts around the state on topics like human resources, digital marketing, accounting, operations, manufacturing and distribution of retail products, scaling up a business, exit planning, and managing cash flow to name a few. Kevin said some businesses come to him to discuss growth and cash flow. Reviewing their financials, Kevin can help businesses review their pricing, improve their profitability, and he can suggest capital resources to fund growth. Many of his clients schedule a recurring “check-in” with him after the initial meeting to help them stay on track. Success story: In 2018, Kevin started working with a contractor who had 12 employees. He needed cash to grow his business but didn’t have enough money and almost went bankrupt. Kevin helped him work through that process, including helping the business owner access a line of credit. Now the contractor has 30 employees and is able to work less and relax more. The Small Business Center is part of the Small Business Development Center network with 43 locations in Washington State. The program receives half of its funding from the Small Business Administration through Washington State University, and the other half comes from local matching funds. If you think your business could benefit from consulting with Kevin or one of the other advisors, visit Green River’s Small Business Center online, complete their online form on their website, or contact them directly at one of their local offices: Auburn Center Small Business Center Phone: 253-520-6260 1221 D Street NE Auburn, WA 98002 Enumclaw Small Business Center Phone: 253-520-6260 1414 Griffin Ave. Enumclaw, WA 98022 Kent Campus Small Business Center Phone: 253-520-6260 417 Ramsay Way, Suite 112 Kent, WA 98032 *To qualify for these services, businesses must work for or own federally-legal, for-profit businesses.  In April 1991, Cynthia LeCompte started C and B Awards at her kitchen table. Thirty-three years later, she is retiring and passing the Covington-based business down to her son Michael and daughter-in-law Kathryn to run. “It’s been quite the ride,” said Cynthia. C and B Awards (27635 Covington Way SE #6, Covington, WA) originally started with youth awards and has since added a wide range of products and services to serve youth, businesses, fire and police departments, electrical contractors and others in Covington, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Enumclaw, Kent and other neighboring cities. Some of their products and services include:
Kathryn loves being creative on the job, particularly with design and helping turn a customer’s vision into a reality. She tries to think outside the box to create unique items. She loves the variety of tasks. “There’s a lot of diversity in the job,” Kathryn said. “I never do the same thing every day.” Cynthia is staying on for a bit to help impart her decades of knowledge in the business to Michael and Kathryn. Michael does screen printing and handles the finances and organizational tasks. Kathryn does the design, website, embroidery, laser engraving and sand carving. In her retirement, Cynthia and her husband hope to do more camping, fishing and playing with their four grandchildren who range in age from 7 to 18. “It’s a year of change,” Cynthia said, confident that her family will continue her legacy. C and B Awards does everything in-house. This means a faster turnaround time and customers get to work directly with the designer to bring their ideas to life. Stop by and say “hi” or browse their catalog online to see a sample of their vast product line. They are your local one-stop show for awards, signage, screen printing and more! The Covington Chamber uses C and B Awards for our new member plaques, name tags and awards. Their pricing, turnaround time and customer service are excellent!  Meet Alexandria (Alex) Hinkson, who joined Red Canoe Credit Union in October 2023 as the Covington branch manager. If she looks familiar, Alexandria was the big winner of the Ugly Sweater contest at our nonprofit fundraiser. (Rumor has it, she made the sweater herself.) Alexandria and her husband moved to Washington from San Diego, where she had worked for another credit union for 16 years. “I love working with credit unions – the community involvement and always putting our members first,” Alexandria said. Red Canoe Credit Union (27022 176th Pl. SE, Covington, WA 98042) opened its Covington branch in October 2017. Celebrating six years in Covington, Red Canoe has been active in the community and with the Covington Chamber ever since. Bridget O’Connor, community engagement officer, is a local favorite, supporting community events including litter clean-up, Covington Days, Kids’ Fest and local career fairs as well as supporting nonprofit fundraisers including See Ya Later Foundation, Eileen & Callie’s Place and Vine Maple Place, to name a few. One of the organization’s biggest annual initiatives is their Fill the Canoe school supply drive, done each summer to ensure all kids have the school supplies they need to start off the school year right. Bridget has also served as the Covington Chamber’s board chair since October 2022 and has been instrumental in helping the organization grow. Originally launched in 1937, Red Canoe Credit Union is a non-for-profit financial cooperative, owned by its members. They are a full-service institution offering a range of products for individuals and businesses, including free financial wellness products for families and businesses. Some* of their products and services include: Individual products include these products and more:
Business products include these products and more:
*This list of products and services is not exhaustive. Check with your local Red Canoe branch for more information. Red Canoe Credit Union has 11 locations across Washington and in Oregon (in Linn, Benton, Lane, Marion and Polk Counties). This member-focused credit union is FDIC insured. To learn more, stop by and say “hi” to the friendly staff at the Covington branch or visit their booths at local Covington events. You’ll be sure to see them! “We value our members, and our goal is fitting them to the best product for their needs,” Alexandria said. “Our employees really focus on educating our members on the products we have.” The Covington branch has a team of six employees, including Alexandria, plus regional support from other branches and managers. Thanks, Red Canoe, for all you do for the community.  If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. Cheryl Hurst is one of those busy people. If she sees a need, she fills it. In 2014, while volunteering at DAWN for Federal Way Rotary, Cheryl saw many moms, babies and toddlers come through the door. Yet DAWN’s supply of diapers was minimal, adding further stress to families in crisis. Cheryl said, “I can fix this!” That’s how the first March of Diapers diaper drive got started in King and Pierce Counties. The first year, with the help of the 751 Machinists Union collected 15,300 Diapers and nearly 3,000 wipes for four nonprofits, DAWN, Multi-Service Center and Mary’s Place, Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid, As the diaper drive grew, in 2018, Cheryl founded Do The Right Thing as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Though the organization is all volunteer run, it has continued to grow. Last year, 80 businesses in 15 cities collected 412,019 diapers and 137,125 wipes. Businesses and organizations in the following cities participated:
The goal for 2024 is 500,000 diapers! Businesses sign up online in January and early February each year to be a collector location for the March of Diapers diaper drive. They collect diapers (for infants, toddlers and seniors) and wipes throughout the month of March. During the first week of April, Cheryl and her husband John go to each of the collector sites to pick up the diapers and take them to their storage facility where they are counted and sorted by countless volunteers. The diapers and wipes are then distributed through various nonprofits like the Maple Valley Food Bank, Brooklake Church, Children’s Home Society, Communities in Schools Federal Way/Highline, Foster Champs, Pediatric Interim Care Center, Mother Africa, DAWN, Foster Champs, Carenet of Puget Sound, We Love Kent (who helps multiple organizations), Nourish Food Bank, Auburn Food Bank, Federal Way Senior Center, Fusion (helping Families with Children into homes), Parent Child Assistance Program & Prepares. Why is Cheryl so passionate about this cause? “Babies didn’t ask to be born to people who can’t afford diapers,” Cheryl said. She said the need is great for infants, toddlers and older adults, and resources are limited. Kids need 8 to 10 diapers a day to take to daycare before a daycare will accept them, so not having diapers is a dealbreaker. Having diapers can help families get back to work. The most needed sizes are 4, 5, 6, 7 and pull-ups for kids and any for seniors. The diaper drive will accept opened packages and loose diapers. Baby and hygiene wipes are also needed. In addition to the diaper drive, Do The Right Thing is hosting its first gala on Sat., March 9 at the Federal Way Community Center. The goal of the gala is to provide funding for the organization, so they can pay a Diaper Bank Director in the next year, cover costs that Cheryl and her husband are currently paying out of pocket, etc. Here are some ways you can help Do The Right Thing:
In addition, the Covington Chamber will host a diaper drive at our March 14, 2024 networking luncheon. We’ll accept diapers and wipes for kids and seniors. You can also make a donation directly to Do The Right Thing. A big thank you to Cheryl, the Do The Right Thing board, volunteers and participating businesses and donors! It takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to keep a child or older adult in diapers.  Looking for a staycation or need extra room for guests? LaQuinta Inn of Wyndham (225 6th St. SE, Auburn, WA 98002) is just 8 miles away from Covington on Hwy. 18. This newly remodeled hotel is conveniently located and includes all the amenities you need at an affordable price:
Stay in comfort while just minutes away from neighboring cities, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, accesso ShoWare, Emerald Downs, Muckleshoot Casino Resort, and more. As an added bonus, scan the QR code on the flyer to receive a special Covington Chamber discount! La Quinta Inn joined the Chamber in January 2023 and, in September, hosted our first morning coffee meet-and-greet featuring free breakfast and a tour! The rooms were spacious, tastefully decorated, modern and clean while being convenient. The staff was very warm and friendly, and we recommend LaQuinta Inn as a great local lodging option. 
 In August 2022, Jaime Monje and his brother Jesus ("Jesse") Monje embarked on a new adventure, bringing their years of restaurant experience to the Covington community. They purchased Nikki's Restaurant & Lounge and have been making it their own ever since. Some of the many changes include:
If you haven't been to the new Nikki's yet, check it out for breakfast, lunch, dinner or happy hour. Say "hi" to Jaime, his daughter Monse and Jesse and tell them the Covington Chamber sent you!  In 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission got their start as a soup kitchen, feeding and caring for those who were suffering. Their programs have evolved in the 91 years since they began, but their mission and vision are unchanged. UGM’s mission is to bring the love of Jesus and hope for a new life to their homeless neighbors. Their vision is to see every homeless neighbor – beloved, redeemed and restored. They support the greater Seattle area – including South King County – in a variety of ways. Survival This is the most visible stage where we see people living on the streets, in the midst of addictions and barely surviving. The volunteer-driven Union Gospel Mission provides Survival Programs to proactively offer lifesaving assistance through:
Stabilization UGM meets basic needs as people work through detox and try to move forward with their lives. UGM does this through Stabilization Programs:
Recovery UGM offers long-term residential recovery programs to support their clients with counseling, relapse prevention and more. Their recovery programs include:
Post-Graduation Once an individual has graduated from a recovery program, the mission helps with housing, job training, continuing education, connecting with a church community, and more. Post-graduation programs include:
In 2022, UGM’s 90th year, the 501(c)3 nonprofit:
The majority of UGM’s funding – 64% – comes from individual contributions. In 2022, the organization received total contributions of $35,519,975, including $22,565,755 from individual contributors. UGM also received support from local churches, companies and organizations, foundations, estates, in-kind contributions and events. Seattle's Union Gospel Mission tells their story this way: "We search. We listen. We walk alongside. We offer hope. We work to break the cycle of homelessness and addiction. It all starts with dignity — in the form of a blanket, a hot shower, a home-cooked meal, a warm place to sleep, and friendship. It continues with addiction recovery, one-on-one counseling, and long term solutions." Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission joined the Covington Chamber in August 2023. To learn more about Seattle’s UGM, or to learn how you can help, visit UGM.org online. (Photos courtesy of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission.) "Homelessness is not a resource issue. It is a relationship issue."  Founded by Weidi Shen and wife Yoyo, Glow Tea started doing pop-up events as a side gig. The couple had always wanted their own restaurant, and the idea to expand Glow Tea was born. Why Glow Tea? The light bulb design was inspired by an uncle who lived in poverty in China. When a light bulb burned out, he hollowed it out and used it for glassware. The light bulb design honors his legacy. The couple opened the first Glow Tea store at the Auburn Outlet Collection in 2019, using all their savings to fulfill their dream. They developed a following from their pop-up events which helped keep them afloat and eventually grow. In August 2022, Glow Tea opened their Covington location outside Fred Meyer, and earlier this year, they opened a third location in the Tacoma Mall. They are still doing events, including the Covington Makers’ Market, and are considering possible expansion and offering franchise opportunities. At their Covington location, they hope to add seating to encourage people to come and hang out while enjoying their favorite Glow Tea beverage – Boba milk tea, real fruit tea, Boba smoothies and lemonade splashes. Visit their website for flavors and availability. The most popular Glow Tea drinks are:
The Glow Tea team makes Boba fresh daily. In addition to their delicious drinks, Glow Tea offers waffle cones with ice cream, macarons, cream puffs, frosted cookies and Boba cookies. Besides the wonderful flavors and light bulb designs, something else makes Glow Tea unique. They want to help save the world. They encourage customers who buy their drinks in the environmentally friendly light bulb to reuse them. They can bring it back for $2.99 refills which saves the customer money and keeps plastic out of landfills. The refills are very popular among Glow Tea fans. David Okamoto, director of business development for Glow Tea, told us they just launched a monthly membership – Glow Tea Club. For a limited time, the membership is $12.99 a month, and members can get up to 12 refills a month! And Glow Tea is now offering catering. Stay tuned for more announcements! Weidi is a proud Navy veteran, so Glow Tea offers a military discount. They also offer a 10% Covington Chamber member discount with the promo code CP9C0N2023, so stop in and try a fresh, tasty, healthy organic tea beverage! And be sure to say “hi” to the Glow Tea team at the Covington Makers’ Market on Saturday, October 7 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Real Life Church (26201 180th Ave SE, Covington, WA 98042). |
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