Business Pulse

Leading Off
At our most recent
WBA board meeting
we invited a panel of
experts to discuss what
could be the biggest issue
facing Whatcom County
over the next decade –
water rights. Who has the
rights, who needs them,
and how will it impact
agriculture, dairy, real
estate, and all property
owners?
WBA board member and
land-use attorney Jon Sitkin
moderated the discussion; he’s a
partner at Chmelik Sitkin & Davis,
P.S., Attorneys at Law. We just
scratched the surface, but the WBA
will plan many future opportunities
to keep you informed on these
pages and through various events.
Two guest editorials about water
rights appear in this edition.
We invite you to join us at our
board meetings for these lively
discussions on issues important to
business in Whatcom County. You
can check our meeting schedule
on our website.
We believe strongly that it’s
also important to recognize businesses
doing good things.
If you’re a Whatcom Business
Alliance member, or you’ve
attended one of the many WBA
business events, you’ve probably
heard a simple phrase that sums
up how WBA members feel about
our community: “Without business
success, there is no community
prosperity.” When local businesses
10 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM
Tony Larson | President, Whatcom Business Alliance
The Whatcom Business Alliance is a member organization made up
of businesses of every size and shape, from every industry. The WBA
enhances the quality of life throughout Whatcom County by promoting a
healthy business climate that preserves and creates good jobs.
Without business success,
no community prosperity
are successful, our community
prospers. When they are not, our
community suffers.
The WBA is committed to facilitating
business success in every
way possible. A small part of that
comes from recognizing and lifting
up the rising stars, pillars, and
business icons of the Whatcom
County business community. We
do that at an annual event, in it’s
28th year, coming up March 26
in the Event Center at Silver Reef.
We will recognize and honor business
people and companies for
their successful efforts in creating
jobs and enhancing the economic
and civic vitality of our community.
The finalists in three different
categories are profiled in
this edition. The winners will be
announced the evening of the
event.
The Start-up Business of the
Year finalists consist of companies
created within the last three years
that have operated successfully
and have great prospects for the
future.
The Small Business of the Year
finalists have operated successfully
for many years and must
have fewer than 100 employees.
Companies like these represent the
backbone of our local economy.
The Business Person of the Year
is an open category intended to
recognize leaders from private
or nonprofit organizations who
deserve recognition for building
their business, creating jobs, and
taking leadership roles in making
our community a better place to
live and work. The size of their
company doesn’t impact their eli-
At the WBA monthly board meeting a roomful of members and guests listened to a water
rights panel discuss the hottest issue of the next decade: (from left) Doug Allen from the
state Dept. of Ecology, Perry Eskridge representing the Whatcom County Association of
Realtors, attorney and WBA board member Jon Sitkin (moderator), and berry producer
Marty Maberry. (Staff Photo)