​Surrounded by family and friends, Alicia Ortiz, owner of ‘Hey, Beautiful LLC’ celebrated the grand opening of her makeup and beauty shop in the Point Ruston Market on July 12th. In this shop, you will find a range of beauty and skincare products with brands such as Anastasia Beverly Hills, The Creme Shop, Haus of Glam, Beauty Creations, and much more.
 
Point Ruston Market makes the perfect host venue for Hey, Beautiful LLC since hundreds of people come to the market every day. Stepping into Alicia’s portion of the market transforms you into a pink wonderland filled with glam decor, florals, and even a vanity for you to look in the mirror. Inventory is fully stocked with each product for varieties to fit every style and skin tone, making you really want to treat yourself!
 
Alicia is so excited about this new journey and the Chamber wants to thank her for inviting us to celebrate with her. The next time you want a good facemask or aren’t sure what to get someone as a gift, check out Hey, Beautiful LLC and you’ll quickly find what you need!

Phone: (253) 468-2224

Back in March 2024, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber hosted a handful of Pierce County middle school students in the National Civics Bee Local Bee competition. The three finalists from this Local Bee were then invited to compete in the Washington State Civics Bee, in which participating Chamber’s from across the state would bring their Local Bee finalists to compete as well. The Association of Washington Businesses (AWB) administers the Washington State Civics Bee.
 
Thirteen of the state’s most civic-minded middle schoolers came to Olympia, WA, on June 29th, ready to put their knowledge to the test. Three of those students came from Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Local Bee: Troy Smith, Eatonville Middle School; Benjamin Wu, Curtis Junior High School; and Brayden Fieber, Harbor Ridge Middle School.
 
The Minnaert Center for Performing Arts was the perfect venue for the Washington State Finals. The theater was full of supporters, all sending good wishes to their respective students. Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck served as emcee for the two rounds of competition, followed by announcing the five names who would be moving onto the third round.
 
We are very proud of each student for their hard work in the two rounds. We were excited to see Benjamin Wu placed in the top five for round three go on to win second place in the Washington State Civics Bee. Third place went to Athena Strickler of Garrison Middle School (Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce). First place went to Ilyannie Gonzalez from Washington Virtual Academy (South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce). Gonzalez will move onto the National Civics Bee in Washington D.C., this November.
 
Students and attendees of the Washington State Finals were invited to stick around after the competition to take a private tour of the Capitol. On the tour, attendees visited Lieutenant Governor Heck’s office and the observation deck, while learning more about each room. An exclusive peek to the private reception room was provided, which is usually not part of standard tours. The tour guide made an exception, and guests were able to sit on the luxurious couches and learn what types of events took place in the ballroom.
 
After wandering the halls observing the chandeliers, marble walls, and stonework, the tour ended at the gallery of construction photos. These photos showed the Legislative Building being erected back in the 1920’s from start to finish. It was fascinating to see just how quickly the building went from the ground up.
 
Overall, it was a wonderful day to celebrate the hardworking students who have dedicated many months, both while in school and on summer break, to honing their engagement in civics topics.

Around The Clock Child Care Center (ATC) has grown yet again – with facilities already in Fife and Tacoma, they opened their new building in Lakewood on Monday, July 8!
 
We always appreciate Erika Snell, founder of ATC, for always including us in their grand opening celebrations, and this is no different. This new care center is brightly colored, full of various toys, games, and curricular activities, and has multiple large rooms for the children of each age group respectively.
 
Joined by future care children and their families, the extreme heat was no match for the air-conditioned facility, which everyone received a sneak peak of. Although it looks like a brand-new establishment, it has quite a history. What started as the Thunderbird Shopping Center in 1960, the strip is now called Oakbrook Plaza. Previous tenants include Blockbuster, Jackson Hewitt, a different childcare center, and even had proposals for a softball team’s batting range.
 
Pierce County Councilmember, Jani Hitchen, shared a few words during the ribbon cutting ceremony and touched on how important it is to have customized childcare in this day-and-age where many parents aren’t working the typical 9-to-5 job. ATC will be, exactly as the name implies, a 24/7 care facility. Their program values cultural and social differences, takes a Montessori approach, and goes beyond the four learning styles: visual, auditory, reading/writing preference, and kinesthetic. The teachers and caregivers are highly experienced and are passionate about child development. They also offer scholarships for families in need.
 
Erika mentioned there will be a future ribbon cutting ceremony for another location, so be sure to follow ATC’s journey!
 
Website: https://atccenter.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 253-368-9705

​Booktrovert: [book-tro-vert-noun] A person who prefers the company of fictional characters to real people. Shannon Grover, owner of The Lakewood Bookstore, is a self-proclaimed booktrovert.

After many years of following her spouse's vocational journey, Shannon knew she was ready to start her own. Being the booklover she is, Grover decided to open her own bookstore; a place where she would be happy to come every day and pour her passion of reading into.
The Lakewood Bookstore is in an old cellphone store, but you’d never know that once you step in. There are two floors: the main floor carries the books, and the second floor is a fun hangout spot for people to read, play games, build puzzles, or just chat. Not only are there plenty of books in the store, but there is also stationery, stuffed animals, book accessories, puzzles, and more.

On the day of the ribbon cutting, the store was full of eager guests all in awe of the inventory, the design of the store, and the overall atmosphere. Grover is a graduate of the Pierce County Business Accelerator (PCBA) Program, which is also something to be celebrated! There were fellow graduates at the ceremony, and one of them even provided reuseable shopping bags for attendees, with The Lakewood Bookstore logo proudly displayed on the face of the bag.
​
We were honored to be part of this exciting business milestone and look forward to a ‘happily ever after’ for The Lakewood Bookstore!

Website: https://thelakewoodbookstore.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: ​253-625-7913

If you have been following the Chamber for a while, you probably have attended a few of our signature events. Occurring quarterly, Chamber signature events take months of planning and significant collaboration to make them meaningful, memorable, and successful. Those events also gain the highest attendance. Our 2024 Happy Hour Business Expo was no exception – we expected over 400 attendees to come out and we were happily surprised to have 500+ people attend!

The Happy Hour Business Expo is arguably the most favorite for members (and staff) amongst our signature events. This year’s event helped kick-off summer with sunshine throughout the day, which perfectly highlighted the venue’s location at the Tacoma Narrows Marina. This was our third-year hosting HHBE at The Waterfront Venue, and guests got to experience a few new aspects this time around.

As guests entered the venue, attendees were able to receive a door prize upon entry, sign-up for special giveaways, and grab an exclusive swag bag filled with goodies to get the evening started. Live music performed by Chris Jones filled the hall, welcoming guests into the main room where 70+ local businesses awaited to network, conduct giveaways, and share amazing food and beverages. 
There was no shortage of entertainment for the night as guests took selfies in front of the giant ‘HHBE’ neon letters, savored food and desserts from beloved South Sound businesses, and enjoyed the event’s signature cocktails – the Chamber margarita and huckleberry lemon drop.

Thank you to our sponsors, vendors, attendees, and staff who helped make this year’s expo a memorable night. We can't wait to see what surprises await in next year’s Happy Hour Business Expo! ​

Event Sponsors

Title Sponsor: Amazon

Supporting Sponsor: Verizon

Swag Bag Sponsor: Business Health Trust (BHT)

Parking Lot Sponsor: GTM Transformations LLC

Community Table Sponsors: BECU & Umpqua Bank

Silver Sponsor: Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront

Media Sponsors: Lamar Advertising & South Sound Business (PMG)

Door Prize Sponsor: Emerald Downs

Giveaway Prize Sponsors: Brassfields Salon and Spa, MaidPro Tacoma & Lemay - America's Car Museum

Many consider the butterfly to be a symbol of transformation, freedom, new beginnings, and hope amongst other lovely descriptors. Despite being so fragile, the butterfly can flutter gracefully to great lengths for survival, with the Monarch butterfly traveling over 1,000 miles for hibernation. This little insect is best known for the way they change shape as they grow, displaying their beauty and charm every step of the way.

At HopeSparks Family Services, they have been on the same journey for 125+ years to help families in Pierce County grow, transform, experience new beginnings, and most importantly give them hope. The butterfly can be seen in the logo for HopeSparks, and scattered all around the Children’s Developmental Services building located off Union Ave in Tacoma.

The Chamber was recently invited to celebrate the grand opening of the outdoor playground for said building. Being completely designed by the team at HopeSparks, the playground is the perfect space for kids to run around. Of course, the playground would not be complete without the symbolic butterfly, which can be seen not only in the rubberized ground cover, but in a whole climbing statute.

Dozens of guests came to witness the cutting of the ribbon and heard thoughtful words spoken by Heather Moss, Director of Pierce County Health Services; Joe LeRoy, President and CEO of HopeSparks; and Vianeth Zubrod, Director of HopeSparks. Calling it a “collective effervescence”, Joe and his crew could not wait for the playset to be enjoyed by generations of Pierce County tots for years to come.

The Chamber extends its thanks to HopeSparks for allowing us to be involved in their big day and wishes them well and good weather for playtime of course! To learn more about HopeSparks and how to get involved visit their website.

Website: https://hopesparks.org
Phone: (253) 565-4484
Email: [email protected]

Learning to drive is a big step in a person’s life. There's a new sense of freedom with the ability to travel anywhere you set your mind to. Those learning how to drive usually enroll into a driver’s education course where they are taught the rules and laws of driving, receive their learner’s permit to practice, and then an official driver’s license. Now there is a new resource in Tacoma for those looking for a driver's education program!

Complete Driving Experience, also known as CDX, is the perfect place for student drivers to learn the rules of the road in a safe and welcoming environment. At CDX, both teens and adults are welcome to join the program. They offer several services including defensive driving lessons, Washington State approved driver license exams, teen and adult driving courses, and even a driving simulator!

CDX has been helping student drivers for three years and the Chamber was proud to be invited to celebrate their anniversary. Surrounded by family and friends, Mrs. Dubois, the owner of Complete Driving Experience, cut the ribbon to commemorate the milestone. CDX started with the help of The R.I.S.E. Tacoma, but quickly grew and are now located in the historic Tacoma Armory. The office is decorated with hot wheel cars, cute signs with driving puns, and motivational quotes, welcoming visitors and hopeful drivers.

CDX is a family, woman, and black-owned business that is ready to help tailor driving lessons to each student respectively, giving them the skills, knowledge, and confidence to drive safely and legally on the road! To learn more about Complete Driving Experience and what they have to offer, visit their website or contact them via email or phone.

Website: https://www.completedrivingexp.com
Phone: (253) 387-7733
Email:  [email protected]

Last week, SelectUSA Seattle Spinoff welcomed 50 delegates from 11 countries to showcase opportunities in the South Sound! The group visited Tacoma on June 20th as part of the memorable trip.
 
The two-day program provided international companies and investors with research and analysis of the regional economy, tours of innovation and R&D centers, local competitive advantages, and engagement with leaders in both public and private sectors.
 
The Chamber’s CEO and President, Andrea H. Reay, joined the delegates for their Tacoma visit, along with Michael Fowler, Executive Director & Senior Trade Consultant of World Trade Center Tacoma. The sun also made an appearance, which was greatly enjoyed during the waterfront tour in Tacoma!

We love our ambassador team and are very grateful to have their support! Our Chamber ambassadors are an extension of the Chamber staff, allowing our members to have more points of contact. We want to highlight each ambassador as a 'thank you' for their continued support and dedication that they put into the ambassador team.

​What better way to spend an evening than watching the sun set over Chamber’s Bay while networking with those in your community and eating delicious food? Well, guests of the Partner UP & Chamber After Hours on June 13, 2024, did just that.

Partner UP, a play on the acronym U-P for University Place, is a networking event held twice a year put on by the City of University Place. The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is proud to have the City of UP as a partner and was eager to jump on board to dual-host their Spring event. The outcome? Partner UP & Chamber After Hours!

We held the event at the Chamber's Bay Golf Course inside their Hospitality Tent, which can also be used for events such as retirement parties, weddings, graduation parties, and the like. The tent is decorated with fairy lights throughout the canopy, and includes a mobile bar, buffet, and plenty of seating for the guests to enjoy.

Attendees heard from the General Manager of Chamber’s Bay Golf Course, Matt Cohen; the City of University Place Mayor, Javier Figueroa; the City of University Place Community and Economic Development Business Outreach Liaison, Becky Metcalf; the Chamber's Ambassador Team; and Emily Cook, Director of Membership and Development for the Chamber.

At the end of the program, three lucky attendees won the giveaway prizes which were Tacoma-themed wine bottles, and four complimentary appetizer or dessert vouchers for any Anthony’s restaurant, generously provided by John Little of Boathouse 19. 

Once again, the Chamber wants to extend our gratitude to Chamber’s Bay Golf Course for allowing us the opportunity to gather at their beautiful venue and to the City of University Place for being such a wonderful partner. Thank you to all who were able to attend our event!

Founded in 2010, Spaceworks Tacoma has grown to be a pivotal partner in many Tacoma artist’s careers. The program has helped artists and curators launch their businesses and has instilled beauty to vacant storefronts through the rapid mural project, giving Tacoma a refreshing perspective.

Each year, Spaceworks hosts a summer fundraiser called CACHET: Made in Tacoma. This event provides the community an opportunity to network, catch-up with alumni, enjoy delicious food, and give back to Spaceworks through monetary donations. Because Spaceworks is made possible through grants, the money received from CACHET is unrestricted funds which can be used for other aspects of the program, besides keeping it in business.

This year’s fundraiser took place at the historic Tin Can Alley, the signature bright pink building located by the Tacoma Dome. The night was filled with color, Tacoma pride, creative cocktail outfits, and of course, much art. Attendees were welcomed into the venue by an extraordinary display of decor provided by Tin Can Alley. Once you made your way past the Almond Roca table of goodness and the luxurious graze of food provided by Jan Parker Cookery, guests were able to check out the 'Off the Wall' exhibit filled with canvasses of original art provided by Spaceworks alumni. Each piece of art was hand painted by the respective artist and had one criterion: the art had to reflect Downtown Tacoma. This included nods to the Tacoma Dome, Sasquatch himself, Port of Tacoma bridge, Glass Musuem, Union Station, and many other Downtown staples. 

A silent auction was displayed for guests to try their luck whilst sipping on a signature mocktail provided by Aafiya Lounge, beer from 7 Seas Brewing, and wine from OBK Winery. The silent auction proved to be a popular attraction of the night as the selection featured curated products and services from beloved Tacoma artists. As the evening continued, attendees enjoyed cake bites provided by Love by The Slice and took advantage of the photo op in front of the marquee heart

Emcees, Chris Staudinger of Pretty Gritty Tours, and Jeremy Hamel of Velvetone Events, kept the audience engaged with many laughs and interesting Tacoma knowledge throughout the night. Soon enough, it was time for the live auction where eight memorable auction items went to the highest bidder, all of whom were greatly appreciative of Spaceworks. One of the memorable live auction items proved to be the tickets to stay overnight at Court House Square for a night of scary stories, Halloween movies, and ghost hunting. The 30 tickets available for this particular auction item were quickly snatched up by excited bidders.

This year's CACHET was truly one for the books! Thanks to the incredible generosity of the donors and the dedication of the volunteers, we’ve made another year possible of Woolworth Window installations, murals, and invaluable business training and support. Together, we’re making a real impact in the support of small businesses and paid artist opportunities. 

Join us in celebrating the graduation of our latest Business Plan Cohort from the Spaceworks Incubator Program!

Over the Spring, thirteen talented entrepreneurs have honed their skills, developed innovative ideas, and crafted strategic business plans for success. With guidance from mentors and support from their peers and past Spaceworks alumni, they're ready to grow their businesses with a stacked tool belt of resources.

On May 28, 2024, these amazing Tacoma entrepreneurs presented their businesses during their graduation ceremony hosted at Court House Square. We are happy to welcome them into our alumni network of over 450 small businesses!

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and Pierce County Economic Development recently celebrated the graduation of Cohorts 15 and 16 of the Pierce County Business Accelerator! Over the past six weeks, these cohorts of local entrepreneurs and business owners have been hard at work engaging in trainings, coaching, technical support, and networking to accelerate their businesses. 

Our Chamber is honored to have played a role in the Pierce County Business Accelerator from the beginning as the program administrator, in partnership with Pierce County. The Pierce County Business Accelerator serves entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Pierce County with a focus on BIPOC, veteran, and women-owned businesses to help foster innovation and create wealth-building opportunities. Congratulations to these amazing groups of graduates! 

View photos from the Cohort 15 & 16 graduations below, and learn more about the Pierce County Business Accelerator at www.pcba.biz!

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is very grateful to have our wonderful ambassador team. These Chamber ambassadors are an extension of the Chamber staff, allowing our members to have more points of contact. We want to highlight each ambassador as a 'thank you' for their continued support and dedication that they put into the ambassador team.

Connect with Bob

If you are wanting to meet Bob or seek his wisdom about the legal system, you can reach him at his email address, which perfectly captures his boating lifestyle: [email protected]. ​

Learn More About the Ambassador Program

​Interested in learning more about what it takes to be a Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber ambassador? Learn more here.

Chamber Membership has its perks! Advertising on the Chamber’s website and in our weekly e-newsletter is limited to active Chamber Members.

“Invest in your community and your community will invest in you."

This motto is what owner, Kieth Dashofy, of Pella Windows & Doors follows every day. A Tacoma native, Dashofy knew he wanted to expand Pella into the Grit City when faced with the incredible choice of expansion. With a showroom in Bothell, which serves Seattle, Bellevue-Eastside, Sammamish, Everett, and Mount Vernon, the Pella team was ecstatic to travel South into Pierce County to offer their services.

As the full name implies, Pella is a windows and doors installation company. The Chamber was excited to celebrate the opening of the new Tacoma Showroom on May 16th! The new showroom has an array of door styles, window frame selections, and even a stocked mini fridge of the teams’ favorite beverages.

Keith was beaming with pride during his ceremony speech and expressed his gratitude for having an excellent team behind him. He is looking forward to connecting with his fellow Chamber members, so be sure to seek him out at future Chamber events to exchange business cards.

Whether you need new windows, doors, or want to make new Pierce County connections, you should take a trip to the new showroom to say 'hi' to the Pella team and wander through their product offerings. You will find yourself entertaining the thought of remodeling the kitchen windows that you’ve been putting off for years!

Website: https://www.pella.com/locations/wa/tacoma
Phone: (253) 563-3339

May’s Chamber After Hours was hosted at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber office. We look forward to welcoming our members and partners to our office each year for an After Hours event to network, see where we work, and learn more about the Chamber and programs we offer!

Attendees enjoyed charcuterie style bites, music playing from the Chamber’s playlist, and a slideshow featuring photos from our events over the years. At each desk, there was a one-sheet bio highlighting each staff member - a fun way to introduce ourselves to our guests and put faces to names! These bios listed their role at the Chamber and what that entails, along with a summary of their life outside of work.

Later on in the evening, Andrea Reay, President and CEO of the Chamber, as well as Jon Rossman, owner of Chuckals Office Products and Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, thanked everyone that took time out of their night to join us at Chamber After Hours. The winners of the giveaways were also announced, and two lucky attendees won a gift basket graciously gifted by Chick-Fil-A, and tickets to a Rainiers baseball game. Overall, the night was spent in great company, with great food, conversations, and connections! 

June 2024 Chamber After Hours

If you were unable to attend this month’s Chamber After Hours, join us at the next event on Thursday, June 13, at Chambers Bay Golf Course. This is a special After Hours because we are partnering with the City of University Place/Partner UP to carry out this networking event to bring together business owners in University Place! Attendees will enjoy the beautiful views of the Chamber's Bay Golf Course while snacking on delicious food, sipping refreshments, and mixing with the amazing company. ​

In April, we welcomed new and current members to our office for a New Member Mixer!
 
This event provided attendees a chance to learn about the benefits of a Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber membership in an Open House style format. Activities included learning more about Chamber programs and partnerships, such as Spaceworks Tacoma, World Trade Center Tacoma, and Downtown Tacoma Partnership.
 
Members mingled with Chamber staff, ambassadors, and fellow members over drinks and catering. It was a wonderful evening connecting with members and building relationships!
 
Our next New Member Mixer will be in September (9/24/24) and registration is now open. We hope you’ll join us to meet new members and celebrate our growing business community!