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Personally Speaking: WWU President Bruce Shepard most attractive area for retirement, recreation, scenic beauty, and climate. HIGH GOALS We have a strong university here, (and) with a smile we’d call ourselves a community of subdued excitement. That’s fine. But we don’t want to be a community of subdued aspirations. We want to set the bar high and go after it. WWU’S PART? How can Western play a catalytic role here? We’re known for the engagement of our students and faculty and staff in our community. We’re the only university in the state – public or private, big or small – that three years in a row has been on the President’s White House Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Mainly that’s because of about almost 1 million hours of volunteer service. A lot of enterprises, not-for-profit, would not be possible if not for the faculty and students supporting them. We’re key players in the Northwest Economic Council, and in the Whatcom County plans for sustainable economy…trying to figure out how to play a stronger and stronger role as stewards of place. ACTIVELY SEEKING INPUT Steve Swan, Western’s vice president for University Relations and Community Development recently surveyed leaders in Skagit and Whatcom County and held some face-to-face conversations about what we could be doing. What we heard is that if we need help we can go to them. It works the other way, too. We have all these academic departments and classes that want to get engaged with a business and provide some help and learning opportunities. Where do they go? The idea is Western’s Front Door to Discovery program. Turns out, Bellingham’s Premier Waterfront Meeting & Small Convention Destination Hosted by the Hotel Bellwether www.hotelbellwether.com 360.392.3179 it’s a two-way door, that allows people in the community that want help and expertise. Dan Purdy is the person staffing that Western program. He knows how to navigate the university and create that. He’s got eight projects going right now. If a faculty member has an idea about a business class that could work on a strategic situation and would love to work on that in a real-world situation, such as a marketing challenge, Dan will go to the business community and make arrangements there to help. IS IT WORKING? This is the first year. It’ll take a year or two to see how that works out. So far I’ve been very impressed. It’s not enough to just say the good words, when it comes to the university supporting the community, and the community supporting the university. • Over 10,000 sq. ft. of event and meeting space. • All meeting rooms include a spectacular view of Bellingham Bay! • Expert on-site planning services included. • Full-service, upscale catering at its finest. • Complimentary NEW Wi-Fi throughout property. • Call our Catering Department to book your meeting today. • Inquire about our winter incentives for groups of 20 or more. We look forward to serving you soon! Catered by Lighthouse Bar & Grill Hotel Bellwether on Bellingham Bay | One Bellwether Way, Bellingham, WA 86 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM
There’s got to be action. We’re proactively seeking projects. It’s an umbrella organization. Under that we have the economic research operation with Professor Hart Hodges, and the Small Business Development Center with Jennifer Shelton, and Western’s extensive service learning in the community. There’s a lot of learning by doing, and serving in the community takes place. Learning becomes more effective, too, through real-world problems and not just textbook problems. State & local taxation complexity needn’t be an intergalactic odyssey. Tax Rates Cash Flow Trust us to help you profit from our otherworldly insights. “With a smile we’d call ourselves a community of subdued excitement. That’s fine. But we don’t want to be a community of subdued aspirations. We want to set the bar high and go after it.” Risk Profile 11866-STATE & LOCAL TAX SERVICES Business Pulse Magazine - 4.75”x 4.625” CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS LISTENING THINKING LEADING Smart Business Needs to Know State and local taxes can significantly impact a company’s cash flow, effective tax rate and risk profile. VSH will help you realize long-term benefits from the pragmatic solutions we offer. Join the growing list of smart businesses that benefit from VSH State and local taxation know-how. 360.734.8715 • vshcpa.com EXAMPLES? Pro CNC, a high-tech machining operation here, has about 50 family-wage jobs. Six former Western students in our automotive technology program started it, and several alumni still head the company. They came up with this high-tech machine that makes parts for the aerospace industry. One of their more profitable products is mouthpieces for high-end saxophones. The old idea of machining is somebody’s standing at a metal lathe. These days, they’re standing in front of computer screens with CAD equipment, and robots run the machines, moving parts around. Pro CNC depends on Western as the source for those high-tech skills, and hires a lot of our grads. Striving to be the Future of Transport Logistics by bringing tomorrow’s supply chain technologies and best practices to our customers today. Domestic Billy Sandell Station Manager billys.bil@transgroup.com International Beau Rogers Station Manager beaur.bli@transgroup.com TransGroup-BLI • 925 Boblett St, Bldg C, Blaine, WA 98231 PH: (360) 332-1327 • TF: (800) 200-6377 • FX: (360) 332-9301 WHATCOMBUSINESSALLIANCE.COM | 87
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28TH Whatcom Business Person of the
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Page 46 and 47: Lifetime Achievement Award: Dan Was
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Page 54 and 55: Where Are They Now? Rud Browne (Fil
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Page 58 and 59: Industry Report - Golf In Whatcom C
Page 76 and 77: Philanthropy: Mt. Baker Chapter Red
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Page 102 and 103: Guest Column: Lean Business Randall
Page 104 and 105: Guest Column: Water Rights Ken Mann
Page 106 and 107: Guest Column: Water Rights Roger Al
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Page 110 and 111: Ask the Experts: Life in the Tech L
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