·  Meetings Week of February 4

Tukwila Government and Community Affairs
Tuesday, February 5
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Chamber Office

February Membership Luncheon
and Business Showcase
Friday, February 8
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Rainier Golf and Country Club
11133 Des Moines Memorial Drive S., Seattle

Speaker: Phil Bussey,
Senior VP of Corporate Affairs,
Puget Sound Energy

Sponsor: The Sabey Corporation

 

·  Meetings Week of February 11

Ambassador Committee Meeting
Tuesday, February 12
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Chamber Office

Highway 99 Action Committee
Tuesday, February 12
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Tukwila Community Center

SeaTac Business Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 14
8:30 am - 10:00 am
SeaTac City Hall

From the Chairman

Hi everyone!

I've just completed my first month as your chair and am enjoying every minute of it! I would like your help in making this an outstanding year for our Chamber.

As a Chamber member,I ask each of you to continue to invest in this great organization to ensure its longevity and success. As in any organization, the members make it what it is - and I know that with a group like ours we can make it above and beyond any of our expectations!

Can you do me a favor? Can each of you take a step to help? Maybe bring a guest to an event - such as a Networking Breakfast or Membership Luncheon. Or contact the office with a new membership lead. Or maybe look into some sponsorship opportunities or committees to join within the Chamber.

I look forward to seeing you at our future events.

Mikel Hansen
Chairman

 

February Luncheon and Business Showcase

The February Membership Luncheon and Business Showcase will be on Friday February 8, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Rainier Golf and Country Club, located at 11133 Des Moines Memorial Drive S. in Seattle.

Phil Bussey, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs with Puget Sound Energy will be our speaker. You will also have the opportunity to browse the Business Showcase either before or after our program.

The cost is $20.00 pre-paid or $25.00 at the door. To register, contact the Chamber at 206.575.1633.

 

Light Link Rail Open House

Sound Transit is hosting a community open house on Link light rail related road modifications and improvements along Southcenter Boulevard and South 154th Street. Technical staff will be on hand to answer questions about the project.

Learn more about:



For more information, contact Paige Johnson at paige.johnson@soundtransit.org or at 206.370.5580.

 

Thanks for Bringing Guests!

Thank you to the following Chamber members for bringing guests to our events! We truly appreciate your support!

Vickie Bergquist - State Farm Insurance

Bud Condon - LeTip

Nancy Nelson - Normandy House Hair Productions

Elizabeth Paulsen - Cascade e-Commerce

 

Meet Your Ambassador!

Meet Carol Kolson, a member of the SWKCC's Ambassador Committee!

Hello, my name is Carol Kolson. I am a Business Development Officer for the Southcenter Branch of HomeStreet Bank.

I have been in the banking field for 23 years and with HomeStreet Bank for the past 8 years. I was born and raised in Johnstown, PA and have made the Seattle area my home for the last 27 years. I love to play golf, cook, read and travel - my travels take me to some far away and exotic places!

I joined the SWKC Chamber in July 2007. I also joined the Ambassador Committee so I could get to know my fellow Chamber members better and learn about their businesses. The Ambassador Committee gives me that opportunity with our Operation Thank You Bags. It's also exciting to be part of the committee that helps our new business members do their ribbon cuttings at grand openings!

HomeStreet Bank has been around since 1921, and we are now the fourth largest financial institution in the region. We are a full service bank that offers business and personal accounts, loan and other convenient services. HomeStreet Bank contributes 2% of our pretax profits to groups who focus on housing and shelter needs and parks and open spaces. Our employees are actively involved in the communities that we live and work in.

This year I am serving as a Co-Chair, along with Steve Emery, for the 2008 Get Away Golf Tournament - please feel free to contact me for more information about this fun event!

I invite you to join us at the Ambassador Committee and make some new business connections!

 

Port of Seattle Completes Comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study at Sea-Tac Airport

In a forward-looking step to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport released a comprehensive benchmark study on January 18, which will lead to goal-setting environmental strategies at the airport. Entitled the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, the study identifies air emission sources associated with the airport.

The study represents the first broad-based study of its kind in the industry. Sea-Tac Airport environmental staff hopes the measurement tools developed to inventory emissions at Sea-Tac will be utilized by other airports to track, and ultimately reduce, greenhouse gas emissions originating from their facilities.

Overall, the inventory identifies air emissions associated with activities originating from Sea-Tac, including those connected with the Port of Seattle, the public, and aircraft operations during 2006. The Port's Aviation Division represents 4.8% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the airport, while the public's portion is 11.4%. The Port's and public's combined emissions share includes sources such as facility-based (for example lighting, heating and air conditioning) and public and employee transportation to and from the airport. As expected, the highest source of air emissions (83.8%) comes from aircraft operations, which is consistent with national and international estimate figures.

"Sea-Tac Airport is one of the first airports in the nation to take the initiative to identify our greenhouse gas emissions footprint," said John Creighton, Port Commission president. "I view the information in this study as a call to action. In the next several weeks, the Commission will be considering both action at the local level and advocacy of initiatives at the federal level to more comprehensively address airport air emissions."

Last year, Sea-Tac Airport completed its first environmental benchmark study, identifying the programs in place to reduce environmental impacts, as well as identifying potential next-steps for the airport. These independent studies, each reported to the public, are the first of their kind in the industry.

 

Burien City Beats

NORTHEAST BURIEN REDEVELOPMENT: The City is currently seeking an experienced consulting team to develop a strategy for redevelopment of Burien's Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA). This is an area of about 160 acres that will experience impacts from the adjacent third runway at Sea-Tac Airport. The area currently has a mix of single family homes, apartments, small commercial establishments, a church/school and a mental health center. The Council envisions the eventual development of a variety of attractive commercial enterprises, possibly including retail, business park, warehouse, manufacturing and airport-related uses.

NEW COUNCILMEMBER: In early January the City Council welcomed a new member, Kathy Keene. She is filling the position formerly held by Jack Block, Jr., who ran for a position on the Port of Seattle commission instead of seeking reelection to the Council. The Council in January elected Joan McGilton to a second term as Mayor, and Rose Clark to a second term as Deputy Mayor.

SEAHURST PARK : Burien's hidden treasure, Seahurst Park, is the subject of a video that profiles recent efforts to restore its natural and quiet beauty. Cable TV viewers can watch the 12-minute show on Burien TV (Channel 21). To see when the program is airing, see the Channel 21 schedule under News/public notices on the City website, www.burienwa.gov. Generally this video is shown on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.

BURIEN'S BIRTHDAY: The City is holding a big birthday bash celebrating the 15-year anniversary of Burien becoming a city. The City's Parks and Recreation staff have been planning entertainment and fun activities for the party, which will be held on March 29, 2008, at the Highline High School cafeteria, from noon to 3:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

 

SeaTac City Beats

This Saturday, February 2, join us for the premiere showing of a new documentary film, The Seike Garden, An American Story. It will be shown at 2:30 pm at SeaTac City Hall Council Chambers, 4800 South 188th Street. Coffee and treats will be served at 2:00 pm at a reception prior to the film.

This free public premiere is made possible by the City of SeaTac, Highline Historical Society, Highline Botanical Garden Foundation, 4Culture and Open Mondays.

 

Tukwila City Beats

I-405 WIDENING PROJECT: The I-405 Renton Widening Project, officially known as the I-405/I-5 to SR 169 Stage 1 - Widening Project, is the first stage of improvements on I-405 between I-5 and State Route 169 (Maple Valley Highway). This work will help relieve congestion at one of the worst I-405 bottlenecks by adding lanes and improving merging conditions for the drive in and out of Renton and Tukwila.


SMALL BUSINESS POLLUTION CONTROL ASSISTANCE: As part of a greater Puget Sound initiative to clean up the Sound, small businesses from across the region can get on site technical assistance to control and prevent toxic pollution sources. Specialists funded by the State Department of Ecology and the Puget Sound Partnership will work directly with small businesses to conduct site visits to identify pollution sources, recommend prevention measures, and explain regulations and permits. If you would like to learn more about this program, contact Economic Development Administrator Derek Speck at dspeck@ci.tukwila.wa.us or 206.433.1832.

TUKWILA'S NEW WEBSITE: The City of Tukwila recently launched a new website. Please take at look at www.ci.tukwila.wa.us. Now that we have a new website format, we will add additional information and functionality over the next few months.

 

Education Corner

SEATTLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: Seattle Christian Secondary School's Finals Week was January 22-25. Students had two finals a day with the afternoons free to study for the next day's finals. Second semester started on January 28.

Open House for prospective families is Sunday, February 24th at 2:30 pm. For more information contact the school at 206-246-8241.

The 22nd Annual Seattle Christian School Auction will be held March 7-8 on the SCS campus at 18301 Military Road S. in SeaTac. For more information, please visit their website at: www.seattlechristian.org.

 

Students of the Month

Kavneeta Goundar from Foster High School is our February Student of the Month.

Kavneeta was born and raised in the Fiji Islands in Suva City and immigrated to the United States with her family 1998. She was only eight years old and started the third grade when I came to Seattle. Currently a senior at Foster High School, Kavneeta plans to further her education by attending a four-year university in the future. One day, she would like to work for a business to produce articles of their business online. To reach that goal, Kavneeta would like to study Communications and Journalism, and possibly earn a Master's Degree in this field.

Family and friends are important to Kavneeta. Some of the most important people in her life encourage her to continue with school and be a better, wiser person through each of her struggles and experiences from the past. Friends and family find her to be loud and funny, yet some others find her to be quiet and calm. She considers herself to be a hard worker and someone who doesn't quit. Kavneeta has big dreams and knows that one day she will achieve these goals.

Congratulations, Kavneeta!

 

18-year-old Gabriela Osorio from Global Connections High School is our January Student of the Month.

Gabriela is very active within the Business Department at school and is currently enrolled in many business-related courses including Advanced Marketing, Pre-College Composition, International Problems, Washington State History, Retail Management, AP Physics, and Yearbook. She currently hold a 3.85 GPA.

In addition to her scholastic endeavors, Gabriela is involved in extra-curricular activities at Global Connections High School. She is co-founder of the Latino Stand Up Movement (LSU), a Latino club whose mission is to encourage Latino students to pursue a higher education and inform the Latino community about the options of life after high school. She is also involved in DECA, serves as a mentor in the Mentorship Program at school, and was a presenter at the LEAP (Latino/a Educational Achievement Project) Conference in Tacoma.

In the future, Gabriela plans on attending a two or four-year college. She has applied or plans to apply to the University of Washington, Seattle University, Washington State University, Evergreen State College, and Highline Community College. Gabriela hopes to become a writer, and would like to publish fiction books that were inspired by her life and the people who have been a part of it.

Congratulations, Gabriela!

 

New Members

Atelie Couture
1035 Andover Park W #110
Tukwila, WA 98188
206.575.9035
Boutiques & Specialty Shops

In House Fine Interiors
22341 Marine View Drive South
Des Moines, WA 98198
206.824.8002
Interior Decorators & Designers

Send Out Cards
14520 183rd Ave. SE
Renton, WA 98059
425.890.6709
Public Relations & Marketing

Washington Federal Savings Bank
9325 Rainier Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98118
206.725.6250
Banks & Financial Institutions

 

Renewing Members

RENEWED MEMBERS
The Southwest King County Chamber extends its gratitude to renewing members for their continued support.

1-5 Years
Advanced Care Dental Center
Brett Bakken Insurance Agency
DaVinci's Workshop LLC
Grief Inc.
Project Management Northwest
Quality Auto Electric
Seattle Goodwill
State Farm Insurance - Charleen Schulz
State Rep. Dave Upthegrove
Watermark Credit Union
Wells Fargo Bank
West Coast Bank

6-10 Years
AAAA Mini Storage
D&R Sales and Services, Inc.
El Dorado West Retirement Community
Highline Work Clinic
OS Winery
State Farm - Kristin Gopal
Systematix Controls Inc.
Wizards Restaurant/Casino

11-15 Years
Homewood Suites
Rreef
SeaTacPark.com

16-20 Years
Highline YMCA
Thrifty Car Rental

21 - 25 Years
Burien Honda
Les Schwab Tire Center - Burien
Red Robin - Southcenter
Siler license Agency, Inc.

26 - 30 Years
Bank of America - Southcenter
Highline West Seattle Mental Health Center
Mendoza Law Center
Tri-Land Corp. Wm.E.Boeing Enterprises