​How does your garden grow? Or, in this case, where does your garden grow? Based in Issaquah, Countryside Floral & Garden (1420 NW Gilman Blvd #1, Issaquah, WA 98027) grows beautiful plants in the shop’s greenhouse as well as on owner Jon Robert Throne’s Covington area farm – Farm, Fare & Floral.
 
Countryside Floral & Garden has been an Issaquah staple for 40 years. Jon has worked at the store for 19 years, buying the store in 2012. The store’s offerings run the gamut. It’s got everything from African violets and long stem roses to candles and bunny-driven carrot cars. The store’s all decked out for Easter!
 
When you enter the store, your senses are filled with delightful smells and vibrant colors in a wonderland where Jon and his staff design beautiful floral creations for all occasions, including weddings, corporate events, birthdays, funeral arrangements, and more. What’s unique about the store is the talent of his experienced staff who have 135+ years of combined experience. When needed, the store calls in extra designers for particularly large events and holidays to be sure they can serve all of their customers.
 
Originally from Michigan, Jon got his first spider plant at age 5 and his first tomato plant at age 6, and he was hooked.
 
“I’ve always loved watching things grow, whether it is a seed, plant, person, animal or business,” Jon said.
 
When we asked Jon what his specialty was, he said it was hard to choose one thing, because the store is  diverse and they offer so many things, from locally made gift items (e.g., candles, chocolates, bath & body products) to plants and incredible floral masterpieces.
 
So why would a Covington customer use an Issaquah floral shop?

• Jon buys flowers directly from Canada. One day the flower is picked by the grower and immediately put in water. It travels that day to the floral auction in water, and it goes directly to the buyer while still in water within one to three days of being picked. This means their flowers are fresher and will last longer than stores that get their products in South America that have a long journey to make it to their final destination.
• Issaquah is only 20 miles away, but if you don’t want to travel, Countryside Floral & Garden delivers floral arrangements to Covington, Maple Valley, Ravensdale, parts of Black Diamond and Kent.
• Many of the store’s products are available on the company’s website.
• You’d be supporting a Covington Chamber member who supports us with his investment and his donation of a floral bouquet at each of our chamber luncheons.

  
A little about Jon
 
In addition to Countryside Floral & Garden, Jon owns Farm, Fare & Floral, a Covington Chamber member at the Community Leader level (thank you, Jon!). He is also a member of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and NACE Tacoma/Seattle. He holds the AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers) and CFD (Certified Floral Designer) designations, signifying his experience.
 
On the personal side, we asked Jon:
 
Wine or beer? He prefers wine, especially a buttery chardonnay.
Dogs or cats? He prefers dogs, but he has both.
Happy place? Feeding the animals on his farm gives him a special energy.
A fact few people know? Jon is a preacher’s son.
Three words to describe himself: eclectic, charismatic, unique
 
If you haven’t already visited Countryside Floral & Garden, it is worth the short drive to meet Jon, his lovely staff, and their wonderful store and designs. 

​In retail management for 10 years, Brad Hanson was ready for a career change. When deciding what to do next, Brad remembered his own home-buying experience, which was not a good one. He loves serving people, so he decided to become a REALTOR® to elevate the experience for clients. During 2017 – his first year in real estate – Brad sold 27 homes, and now he is regularly in the top 1% of REALTORS® for John L. Scott.
 
Giving his clients his full attention, Brad caters to each individual client’s needs and treats them like family. Brad tries to educate, teach and help them understand the real estate market and their options, so clients can make the best decisions for their lives. This is probably why he has grown a very successful business in such a short period of time.
 
“They aren’t just a contract to us,” Brad said. “It’s about what’s best for the client, not what’s best for me.”
 
In one example, Brad was able to help a buyer purchase a $275,000 manufactured home. The buyer was someone who thought they would never be able to buy a home, so this sale is particularly memorable for Brad.
 
“It brings me joy to help people,” said Brad. 

​​With an office in Black Diamond, Brad and his six-member team are hyperlocal, focusing primarily on the real estate markets in Black Diamond, Maple Valley, Covington and Kent. They also serve other cities within King County as well as Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Brad is the managing broker. His team includes Jereme Farmer, operations manager; Lisa Holle, listing agent; Kate Humpherys, buyer’s agent; Hilary Gardiner, transaction coordinator; Davin Lee, marketing coordinator; and Sarah Beckler, listing coordinator.
 
When not “wowing” their clients with personalized service, Brad and his team are actively involved in their local communities. Brad is currently the president of the Tahoma Schools Foundation, and he has a partnership with Ticket to Dream, a nonprofit that provides hope and opportunities to foster children across the country, hosting a pajama drive every year.
 
On the personal side, we asked Brad…

• Three words to describe yourself: loyal, trustworthy and present
• Favorite vacation spot: Puerto Vallarta
• Favorite ice cream: Reese’s and Banana Blizzard
• Wine or beer: Wine
• Dogs or cats: Dogs. He has a Frenchie named Val, short for Valentine, a gift to his husband of 10 years, Jereme.
• Advice: “Whatever you’re doing, be 100% all in.”

In today’s world, it is so easy to get distracted and multitask, but Brad wants to really experience life and be fully present whatever he’s doing. That’s great advice we can all learn from. 

Learn more about Brad Hanson and the Bradley Hanson Group online. 

Meet Pat Hanis of Hanis Irvine Prothero PLLC, a Covington Chamber member since 2008. Based in Kent, the full-service law firm serves Kent, Covington and the South King County area. They will celebrate their 20th year in business this summer. We met with Pat, a partner with Hanis Irvine Prothero and the Covington Chamber’s chair-elect to learn more about the law firm, also known as “HIP.”

Hanis Irvine Prothero has 11 attorneys who offer a wide range of legal services, including bankruptcy, business law, criminal defense/DUI, estate planning and probate, family law, homeowner’s associations, immigration law, personal injury and real estate law. There are five partners in the firm including Mike Hanis, Pat Hanis, Cynthia Irvine, Greg Girard and Greg Cromwell, as well as an experienced team of support staff.

The law firm is invested in the local community and their attorneys are active in a range of local organizations. Of the 11 attorneys at HIP, four are graduates of the Kent School District: 3 from Kentwood and 1 from Kent-Meridian. You can’t get much more local than that!

Pat followed in his father Mike’s footsteps to become an attorney, as did his brother Brian. Pat has a bachelor's degree in speech communications from the University of Washington and a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. He specializes in probate and estate planning, real estate, business, and water and sewer districts. Pat was attracted to the law because he wanted to help clients navigate legal questions and situations.

“I often get calls from clients after a family member has passed away. Many of them don’t understand what’s next, and I like being able to make the process less of a mystery,” Pat says. “I want to give my clients peace of mind during an emotional experience.”

When not working, Pat serves as a commissioner for the Lake Meridian Water District, and he supports local organizations including the Covington Chamber. He is the former president of the South King County Bar Association and past president of the Meridian-Kiwanis Club. He and his wife Sarah live in Kent where they have raised five children.

When you meet Pat, you’ll be greeted with a smile and feel like you’ve met a friendly neighbor. You’ll also understand that he is very smart and good at what he does, and you’ll know he truly wants to help people, whether they are friends, family, clients or the community.

Visit HIPLawFirm.com to learn more about Pat and Hanis Irvine Prothero PLLC.

When Bryan LaBelle walks into a room, his height is often the first thing people notice, but it isn’t what they’ll remember about him. They will remember his smile, warm and welcoming nature, positive attitude, love of community, and his focus on faith, family, and friends. Bryan is also known for being approachable and a really good listener.
 
Bryan has been an Edward Jones advisor for 2½ years, but he has been interested in finance since college. He attended Northwestern University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Studies. During college, Bryan also played football, moving on to the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and the XFL’s Chicago Enforcers. After his football career, Bryan held a number of management positions for UPS, including director of business development of major accounts, enterprise accounts, and global accounts, where he traveled all over the world, working with Fortune 500 companies.
 
Passionate about finance, Bryan mentored under another financial advisor for eight years. He now has his own Edward Jones office in Covington and loves helping clients work toward their goals (e.g., home ownership, retirement, generational wealth) while managing risk.
 
“I get to help people with things they don’t share with anyone else. It is an honor to be trusted with that information and to be able to help,” Bryan says. “I like to treat my clients’ money as if it is my own.”
 
In addition to his day job, Bryan helped found the Covington BNI group in April 2021, where he serves as the group’s president. He is also a proud ambassador for the Covington Chamber, welcoming and supporting our members. Bryan is married to his wife Lyrica. They live in Covington with their three children: Callia, 13; Elise, 9; and Bodan, 6.
 
Fun facts about Bryan:

• The first movie he saw was Fantasia.
• His favorite dessert is his wife’s cookies-and-cream ice cream cake.
• His favorite vacation was a trip to Italy where he proposed to Lyrica.

 
The next time you see Bryan, let us know what you remember the most about him!

Meet Leslie Wright of Cruise Planners, a new cruise-based travel agency in Covington. With a love of a travel since she was a little girl, Leslie enjoys planning trips for family and friends. This passion for travel was the impetus for Leslie’s plan to one day purchase her own travel business. In 2019, she took a step toward that dream by working as a travel associate for a cruise franchise. In October 2021, she bought her own – Cruise Planners in Covington – where she helps clients plan cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, and more.

Leslie’s long-term plan is to do travel planning full-time when she retires early, so she can see more of the world herself. Her all-time favorite destination is Hawaii, but she has been all around the world, including Switzerland and South Africa. Two trips left on her bucket list are Bali and Maldives.
​
Want to learn more? Meet Leslie at an upcoming Chamber event, or visit Leslie online at https://www.travelandsea.com/ or on her YouTube channel, Travel and Sea.
"TRAVEL and SEA the world!"​