Learning the art of Innovation
“One definition of insanity is to
The May Chamber Luncheon:
the Third Monday,
this month only!
This year the Washington State Legisla-
ture is wrestling with an enormous
financial shortfall. As of this writing, the
difference between projected revenue
and what the state wants to spend is in
the neighborhood of $9 Billion over the
next two years. Washington’s constitution
doesn’t allow the state to run a deficit.
Unlike the congress, the legislature has
to balance the budget or allow things to
shut down when the noney runs out.
On Monday, May 18th—a week later
than would normally be the case—the
Chamber will play host to Senator Mike
Hewitt, who will explain how they did
what, as this is written, seems impossible.
Senator hewitt is a member of the
Republican party and thus in the decided
minority in Olympia these days, which
should make for an interesting perspec-
tive on the year’s budget battles.
Don’t forget to call 547-9755 to RSVP for
the monthly luncheon which will be at
11:30 am, Monday, May 18th at the Pasco
Red Lion.
May 2009
will hear that innovation is necessary
keep on doing the same thing for businesses to stay in business in this
and expect different results.” changing, challenging world. You will
          —Zig Ziglar hear that YOU can innovate; that any-
one can. It’s about learning and apply-
Is innovation important? Can it be taught?
ing a process; not posessing a gift that
Or is it just a gift, like an ear for music or
you are simply born with—or without.
an eye for art?
Innovation isn’t new to Columbia Basin
Do cardboard toilet paper tubes really
College or to Gene Holand. Frustrated
play into the process? Or does CBC’s In-
with the distance between the teaching
novation Institute just need a few more
of marketing theory in a classroom and
bucks for better supplies?
the practice of marketing in the grown-
<<< • >>>
Friday morning, April
17th, 8AM . CBC Business
Department Instructor
Gene Holand (rhymes
with Poland, not Holland)
looks out over 20+ students
who have signed up to
learn how to do something
called “innovating.” Many
people are familiar with
that word but seldom use
it. According to Holand—and many
up business world, Holand formed a
others—very few people actually do it.
501(c) 3 (not-for-profit) marketing com-
“Innovate: To introduce some- pany within the college.
thing new; make changes in Today CBC students take part in real
anything established.” marketing projects for real businesses.
     —RANDOM HOUSE DICTIONARY OF
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ©2009 Possibly the program’s best-known proj-
ect is Kestrel Wines’ “Lady in Red”
Discuss Columbia Basin College’s new
labels—highly-professional screen-print-
Innovation Institute with Holand. You
ed wine bottles featuring illustrations of
Continued, Page 2
lovely ladies, at least one looking quite
a bit like Marilyn Monroe. Illustrator
Michael Rastovich helped with that one...

<<< • >>>
In 1999, ABC’s Nightline series carried,
“The Deep Dive,” a story about California
“design consultancy” IDEO. You HAVE
used their designs. Microsoft and Apple
computer mice; seats in Toyotas, Fords
and Chryslers; account service models
for Bank of America and ATMs for Wells
Fargo; bottles and cans for Michelob;
energy-efficiency programs, vending
machines, toothpaste squeeze tubes...
the list goes on. Government, medicine,
entertainment and more. Products, ser- John Heaton— situations to find out what makes
vices, packages and experiences... President of Kenne- them tick...
More than 1,000 patents since 1978 and wick-based Pay Plus
3. Visualize new-to-the-world
over 350 major industry awards since Benefits—found in
concepts and the customers who
1991 argue that IDEO is special. So “The Deep Dive” a
will use them...
does their BusinessWeek listing in the way to refocus his
company. He contact 4. Evaluate and refine the prototypes
Top 25 Most Innovative Companies in
ed IDEO and began in a series of quick iterations...
2006 and their Fast Company ranking
among 2008’s Top 10 Most Innovative to learn about “Design Thinking.” 5. Implement the new concept for
Companies. Last June, Harvard Busi- IDEO Innovation Methodology commercialization...
ness Review cited IDEO’s approach as (highly abbreviated) Today Heaton has restructured his
providing a way “...to transform the way
1. Understand the market, the client, company (with help from IDEO) and
you develop products, services, pro-
the technology and the perceived believes so strongly in design thinking
cesses — even strategy.” The article is
constraints... princples and practice and the inno-
online at http://www.ideo.com/news/item/
vation process that he has personally
article/design-thinking1/ 2. Observe real people in real-life
invested time and money to help bring
about the Innovation Institute program
at CBC and routinely writes checks to
help people to take part. And not just
people from Pay Plus.

Another local company that believes in

CBC’s Innovation Institute is TiLite. At
April’s Pasco Chamber of Commerce
luncheon, TiLite Marketing Manager
Todd VanderHoogt spoke about work-
ing with Holand and his group on
suggested redesigns for one of the
company’s Titanium wheelchairs.

After several weeks on the project, the

group came up with a number of ideas
and built a mock-up of a modified TiLite
chair that VanderHoogt says the com-
Innovation Institute participants work through the Innovation Methodology to use a pany found interesting. Not enough to
toilet paper core as the base for a commercially-viable product. put the redesign into production yet, but
Continued, Page 4
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Vicky Monteagudo of Caldwell Banker versary. The restaurant is located

Tomlinson Associated Brokers was recog-
nized as the top sales associate for the state
of Washington in 2008.
Mike Lawrence has been named Managing Monteagudo
Director of the new United Kingdom National Nuclear
Laboratory. He will be based in northern England.
Franklin PUD broke ground on
a $4 million renovation. Ziegler
Construction is the contractor.
Dave Ruscitto is the new
President and CEO of Fluor
Franklin PUD Hanford.
Angie Mykel, Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker
Tomlinson Associated Brokers, and her clients Dan and
Jill Mulhausen, were featured in the season finale of The
Learning Channel’s My First Home.
Magill’s restaurant in Pasco is celebrating their first anni-
at the intersection of Road 68 and
Argent in Pasco.
DuraShine Clean has moved their
Tri-Cities office to 1841 Terminal Drive in Richland.
Campbell & Company received the Dave Lennox Award
for the 14th time. The award is given to the to the top 25
Lennox dealers in North America who demonstrate out-
standing customer service.
Boating Solutions has a new facil-
ity on Oregon Avenue. The firm
sells boat parts
and accessories.
Duane Sams is the new Director of Engi-
neering for Franklin PUD.
Congressman Doc Hastings received the
Sams
Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce.
 Welcome to May!
We’re one-third the way through 2009 and almost a year into what
much of the country is experiencing as a hard financial time, yet Pasco
and the Tri-Cities continue to see increasing employment, a solid real
estate market and a healthy business climate.
Just a reminder—for almost every business, not just traditional B2B
players, Business to Business marketing can be a good investment.
People in business may buy for their business; they may buy for their
families; they may buy for both. But they buy. And many will influence
buying decisions for quite a few others around them.
Your Pasco Chamber has some great marketing opportunities to help
you promote new products, services or prices, or just remind potential
clients that you’re ready to serve them. Over 1,000 business and com-
munity leaders receive the Chamber newsletter every month. Make
sure you’re listed on the Chamber web site, too!
You want to be a cut above your competition. What are they missing
that you can offer? What do they do you can do better? Where is your
market saturated? Where is the need for your business?
I heard of a wealthy business owner who said, “All children are
taught—even by Sesame Street—to look at a group of objects and find
the one that stands out; the one that’s different in some way.” That
was the sum total of his strategy—and it worked!
The business that stands out—that’s
the one you want to be every time!
And your Pasco Chamber is here
to provide resources that will
help you stand out. As you do,
your marketing—B2B, B2C
or B2E (Business to EVERY- levels to tackle those challenges.
ONE!)—will rise to the next
level. And so will your sales!
Nikki Gerds
Executive Director, Pasco
Chamber of Commerce
Photo couresty of Essence Photography
Gene Holand & Todd VanderHoogt
enough so that TiLite asked Holand (and
crew) to tackle a real design project, not
just make suggestions, for a chair that
could be used on commercial airlines.
<<< • >>>
It’s 8:30AM, Friday, April 17th. Coffee is
poured. John Heaton and Todd Vander-
Hoogt are both on hand to see and
talk with this new crop of twenty-plus
would-be innovators. Holand has five
Friday mornings to show these students
that what he’s handing out to them is an
opportunity to do something really cool,
rather than an empty cardboard toilet
paper roll.
To learn more about CBC’s Innovation
Institute and how it can revolutionize
the way you see—and do—business,
contact Gene Holand at (509) 547-0511.
He’s always looking for more real-world
design challenges and more promising
new students of all ages and experience
And don’t forget to ask how the toilet
paper roll thing turned out... n
One of five commercially-viable products
produced during the two-hour session.

at home and abroad
Ryan Brault, President
Pasco Chamber of Commerce
Last week I was in Washington DC.
No, I wasn’t requesting TARP funds. I was
learning more about the second-largest
and fastest-growing criminal industry.
Human trafficking. Slavery.
Most people will be startled to learn that
nearly 20,000 foreign nationals are sold
annually in the United States alone —
and the number of US citizens bought
and sold within our country is even
higher. What’s more, there are a greater
number of slaves in the world today than
before the U.S. abolished slavery — more
than 27 million people. Many of these are
underage women and children held in
sexual slavery.
I have been involved for almost a decade
with a human rights organization called
The House that Pasco Built...
The Pasco High School’s Career and
Technical Education Building Program
will be dedicating the 12th house built
through this program on May 27th at 1PM.
The house built by Pasco High School
students is located at 4612 Artesia
Drive, in Pasco. The 11th house built is
currently on the market. It’s address is
4808 Antigua Drive in Pasco.
The Career and Technical Education
Building Program—operated under the
training and supervision of a construc-
tion trades instructor—Pasco School
District students build a house each
school year. The houses are turnkey
projects and complete complete with
landscaping. In addition to the con-
struction trades students, students from
other classes such as marketing, woods,
metals and horticulture/floriculture lend
their skill.
Slavery...
Ruth Oak
Honored
Ruth Oak was inducted as a
lifetime member of the Pasco
the International Justice Mission (IJM) and Chamber at the April luncheon.
have had the opportunity to advocate for Ruth has served the Chamber for
these issues on Capital Hill. over 30 years as an employee,
I believe we as business leaders have member and volunteer.
the responsibility to do what we can to
discourage and spread awareness about
criminal industries that exist today —
issues that threaten people our commu-
nity and of our world. We can advocate
for the abolition of slavery every-
where as we put a stop to a very profit-
able and yet very destructive industry.
If you are interested in this issue, please
visit ijm.org regarding international justice
issues or polarisproject.org regarding traf-
ficking here in the U.S. and resources to
fight this illegal business.
Ryan
Local professionals also lend their 4808 Antigua Drive
expertise. Chamber member Carrie 2064 Square Feet
Chambers of River Realty has vol-
3 bedroooms
unteered her services as the listing
agent. Pasco Attorney Dan Hultgren 1 3/4 bath
handles the closing and provides Fully landscaped with curbing,
administrative council to the board. under-ground sprinkler system
Dan Boyd, a CPA with Baker & Giles and more
handles the accounting. Other Chamber $5000 tax credit available to
members involved include Carl Leth buyer from the Franklin PUD
(president of the board) and Chamber Priced below appraised value at
President Ryan Brault, who was $226,900
recently elected to the board.

AROUND TOWN
Events | Activities | Fun things to do
Cinco de Mayo Parade and festivities
will be held May 2 from 11AM to 7PM
in downtown Pasco.
Lockheed Martin presents IT Day
2009 Wednesday, May 6th, from 9AM
to 5PM at the Three Rivers Convention
Center. For more information call
877-444-5674
Mid-Columbia Mastersingers
Annual May Festival is on the 16th
at 7PM at the Battelle Arts Auditorium.
Chandler Reach Winery presents Ital-
ian Night at the Villa May 21 at 6PM.
Call 588-8800 for more information.
Richland Players present a comedy,
Sylvia, 8PM, May 22 & 23 and May 29
& 30 at the Richland Players Theater.
Members wishing to contribute to this column can e-mail news to info@pascochamber.org
Need help getting
to the next level?
We’re ready!
graphic design | advertising | marketing
www.saranelsondesign.com
545-4584
Terra Blanca Winery presents “Best
in the Northwest”, a Chef’s and
Wine Seminar at 7PM on May 24. Call
588-6082 for more information.
Tri-City Fever Indoor Arena Football
vs. Spokane at 7:05PM at Gesa Field
on May 30th.
Live@5 Concert Series kicks off
May 31 at 5PM on the John Dam
Plaza in Richland.
Latino Business Expo is May 31st
from Noon to 6PM at the Three Rivers
Convention Center. Call Graci Campos
for more information, 430-0781.
Pasco Farmer’s Market is open every
Wednesday and Saturday morning
from 8AM-Noon at the corner of 4th
and Columbia in downtown Pasco.
New Members
2nd Harvest Inland Northwest dis-
tributes more than 1 million pounds
of donated food each month to help
people in need
througout Eastern
Washington and
North Idaho.
The Collegium
Cafe is located
on east “A” Street and is managed by
Katherine Bairstow.
Ag Management is an Association Man-
agement and Event Planning company.
They handle conventions, field days, news-
letters, membership directories and much
more for their clients. The Kennewick-
based firm is owned by Rod Christensen.
Express Storage takes pride
in their clean and beautiful
storage-unit facility and
state-of-the-art security. It’s
owned by David Clunis and
is located at 6217 W. Court Street.
www.expressstoragetricities.com
J.A.C. Construction, owned by Alma
and Carlos Castillo, is a general
contractor based out of
Pasco.
Steve Lee, assistant to the
Executive Director for the
Pasco Chamber, has joined
as an individual member.
NEW IN
BUSINESS
Zinful (formerly Backbone Panini &
Wine Bar) has opened at 114 Kenne-
wick Avenue. It is owned by Cheri
Manley. In addition to an impressive
wine list, Manley serves delicious
salads and panini sandwiches.
Roasters Coffee has opened at 2525
North 20th Ave., across from CBC.
 Renewing
Members
COLUMBIA RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

SENATOR MIKE HEWITT

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05.02

may 09
Swirl into Sunset
Preston Premium Wines | 6:00PM
05.05
Executive Committee Meeting
1 2 Chamber Office | 11:45AM
05.07
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Small Business Awards Banquet
05.11.09 Three Rivers Convention Center | 6:00PM
Membership Luncheon 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 05.13
Pasco Red Lion | Noon Building Bridges Networking Event
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 The Sandberg Event Center & Garden | 5:30PM
2009 Legislative Summary
05.20
Mike Hewitt 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Chamber Alliance Meeting
Senator Country Gentleman in Kennewick | 12:00PM
31 05.26
The luncheon is sponsored by:
u s i n ess Board of Directors Meeting
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Sm a l d s Ba n q u e
Pasco School District, Booth Building | 11:45AM
Accepti
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PM
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Save
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Writing and design for the Pasco Chamber Newsletter by SARA NELSON DESIGN, LTD. | 545-4584
 Pasco
Chamber of Commerce
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
PASCO WA 99301
1925 N. 20TH AVE. PERMIT NO. 107
PASCO, WA 99301

A joint effort of the Pasco,

Hispanic, Hermiston and
West Richland Chambers.
Building Bridges
Event
Networking Event ning
Eve
May 13th | 5:30-7:30 pm
The Sandburg Event Center & Garden,
331 South 41st Avenue
West Richland
To RSVP call: 547-9755

Big Potatoes!
During the 2006-07 growing season, Washington potato growers—most of
Open again...
whom are right here in the Columbia Basin—produced 10 billion pounds of The Pasco Library’s renovation is complete!
The project included new energy-efficient
potatoes...That’s enough potatoes to fill 44,670 Boeing 777 cargo planes! windows, decor, additional self-check sta-
tions, original artwork and twice the num-
Potatoes are Washington’s second largest crop (behind apples).
ber of public internet computers and 3,800
40% of the fries consumed in the U.S. are made from Washington potatoes. pieces of new material!

Washington state’s potato industry directly and indirectly generates over

$3.4 billion annually and creates over 20,000 jobs state-wide.
Source: Washington State Potato Commission.