R&D
Construction executive looks at Camas Meadows
Matt Olson, president of Robertson & Olson Construction, has put down a sum to open the books on Camas Meadows Golf Club. The current owners Tom & Debbie Shipler are considering selling the property to Olson, but as of press time, no letter of intent had yet been issued on the 230 acre course. Olson said he is involved in a “due diligence” process with the city of Camas, and is probably “within 30 to 60 days of feasibility.” Olson said he is not interested in redeveloping the course for any other purpose, but may look at “future space that could be built out.”
Along with developer and Hi-School Pharmacy CEO Steve Oliva, Olson has developed the four-building, 110,000-square-foot mixed-use Camas Meadows Corporate Center, which has attracted tech companies like Plexsys and Reality Engineering.
Vancouver Eye Care opens third and fourth locations
Vancouver Eye Care plans to open a surgery and laser center in Columbia Tech Center and a clinic in Salmon Creek, giving it four locations. Growth in the east part of town prompted the opening of the 10,675-square-foot Columbia Tech Center location, the company said. The surgery center will handle out-patient surgeries such as laser surgery, eye muscle surgery, cataract removal and cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The location, which also houses a clinic, will open in May.
In July, Vancouver Eye Care will open its 2,700-square-foot clinic in Salmon Creek’s Rockwell Medical Office Building. Likewise the clinic is situated to serve the growing Salmon Creek area and for its proximity to Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. NAI Norris, Beggs and Simpson represented Vancouver Eye Care in both transactions.
I&T
U.S. Digital puts online product catalog in 3-D
Vancouver-based motion control device designer U.S. Digital Corp. is using Mass.-based SolidWorks 3D PartStream.NET service to create an interactive online catalog that company officials expect will increase sales by 30 percent. U.S. Digital customers will be able to custom configure optical encoders, inclinometers and other motion control devices that fit into their specific product designs in a shorter time period.
The company had relied on word of mouth, its Web site and a home-grown engineering Web portal for matching engineers with the parts they need. Customer demand prompted U.S. Digital to begin representing its parts in 3D, including models created in SolidWorks software.
D&C
$30M Columbian building breaks ground
Vancouver daily newspaper The Columbian broke ground on a $30 million six-story office tower this month, which is expected to be completed in late summer 2007.
Columbian news, advertising, circulation and administrative staff will occupy four floors of the building. The two top floors are available for office lease, while some ground-level space is planned for two or three retail tenants.
Publisher Scott Campbell’s long range plans for the Hilton neighbor include and eight-story parking-condominium project south of the building, and he expects to partner with an outside developer, according to a story in The Columbian. While the future garage will serve the new office building, complementary surface parking is under construction concurrently. Other plans include an eventual press facility and another office or residential building.
L&I targets fraudulent contractors, electricians
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has six new employees canvassing the state for contractors and electricians who are ignoring registration and licensing laws. The agency said legitimate contractors and electricians with bonding, insurance and licenses get underbid by unregistered and unlicensed businesses, gaining an unfair competitive advantage. Three contractor-compliance inspectors will move throughout the state, but concentrate particularly along the Interstate 5 corridor between Bellingham and Vancouver. Three electrical-compliance officers will be based in Tukwila, Spokane and Vancouver, but will follow leads and referrals to any part of the state.
Anyone with information about unregistered contractors or unlicensed electricians should call L&I’s fraud hotline at 1-888-811-5974.
Nominations requested for 2006 Sammy Awards
Clark County will hold the Sixth Annual Sammy Awards on June 15 at 3 p.m., at the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver. Since 2001, Clark County has presented over 50 Sammy Awards or Certificates of Merit to individuals and organizations for their contributions to salmon recovery in Clark County.
The county is seeking nominations for businesses, individuals, groups or projects for their contributions to salmon recovery in Clark County. Potential Sammy Award nominees might be involved with habitat restoration projects, education and outreach efforts, grassroots or neighborhood association projects or implementing salmon-friendly or best management practices. Nomination forms available online at www.saveoursalmon.com. Nominations are due by Thursday, April 20. Sammy Award winners will receive an original fish sculpture by Clark County metal artist Orlando Cox.
B&F
First Independent offers ID theft resolution services
First Independent Bank has contracted with Arizona-based Identity Theft 911 to provide its consumer clients with identity theft resolution services. First Independent consumer clients will now have a personal advocate to guide and support them through the challenges of identity restoration, at no additional cost. In addition, clients will have access to Identity Theft 911’s proactive educational material through www.firstindy.com.
The program will begin April 3 at First Independent’s 24 branches and 25 ATMs in Oregon and Washington. Victims will receive assistance with placing credit file fraud alerts, completing the Federal Trade Commission fraud affidavit, making phone calls to police departments, creditors, collection agencies and credit rating agencies, and setting up a case file for insurance claims and law enforcement investigations. In addition, identity theft victims also receive a full-year of credit and fraud monitoring.
Lacamas Community Credit Union celebrates 70th anniversary
Lacamas Community Credit Union will have a year-long celebration in observance of its 70th anniversary.
The Credit Union will kick-off its 70th anniversary celebration at the annual meeting on March 23 with a catered event, decadent desserts, door prizes and a special historical display. In addition, each guest will receive a gift bag which will include a 70th anniversary mug, pen and a 1936 silver half dollar.
On January 18, 1936, a group of Mill workers organized to become the first credit union in Clark County, known as Crown Willamette Camas Federal Employees Credit Union.
Today, assets exceed $148 million with nearly 16,000 members and 68 employees.
iQ Credit Union awards ‘Read with Me’ grant
iQ Credit Union has awarded St. Joseph School with its “Read With Me” grant for 250 Scholastic books, the maximum number of books allowed by the grant guidelines. The books received from iQ Credit Union will be used to kick-off St. Joseph School’s summer reading program at the end of the school year. Each student in first through fifth grade will receive one book to keep as their own.
Columbia Credit Union receives 5-star rating
Columbia Credit Union once again earned a 5-star Superior rating from BauerFinancial Inc., a credit union rating firm.
Receiving this award, the highest level of credit union performance, makes Columbia one of the strongest credit unions in the country, according to BauerFinancial
The 5-star superior rating award is based on an analysis of current financial data as supplied by federal regulators, supplemented by historical data.
Columbia Credit Union has more than $670 million in assets and serves more than 60,000 members.
Wells Fargo announces 2006 diversity award programs
Wells Fargo is seeking nominations for the four national awards programs it sponsors to honor outstanding Asian, African American, Latino and women business owners.
Winners receive a $5,000 cash grant and national recognition. For more information about Wells Fargo’s Diverse Business Services programs, awards and past winners, visit https://www.wellsfargo.com/biz/intentions/women_minority_services.
General
SWMC earns top 100 hospital honors for fifth time
Southwest Washington Medical Center was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals for the fifth time in late February, making it one of only 60 hospitals in the nation to receive the award five times or more. The award, by Evanston, Ill.-based Solucient, recognizes hospitals that have achieved excellence in quality of care, operational efficiency, financial performance, and adaptation to the environment.
SWMC was recognized in the category of teaching hospital. The Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Program and clinic is a three-year residency training for physicians specializing in family medicine. The hospital also offers a number of clinical training programs around nursing and pharmacy. The only other hospital in the Portland area to be recognized this year was Providence St. Vincent.
SWMC scored above median the categories of risk-adjusted complications index, severity-adjusted average length of stay, cash-to-debt ratio, and growth in patient volume.
The 13th edition of Solucient’s 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks for Success study appears in the February 27 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine.
Brush Prairie studio photographer wins recognition
Rick Davis of Sivad Studio located in Brush Prairie Washington received national recognition in the 2005 Tiny Tots and Big Kid Shots Awards, a national children’s portrait promotion sponsored by McKenna Pro Lab. Rick Davis placed a total of 10 winning images.
In business since 1992, Sivad Studio is located at 13311 N.E. 119th Street in Brush Prairie.
Leadership Clark County seeks 2006-2007 participants
Leadership Clark County (LCC) is now accepting applications for the Class of 2007.
LCC is a 10-month training program that prepares its graduates to become more effective community leaders. Participants will have an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be active in the community’s most pressing issues. LCC alumni are encouraged to volunteer as board members for non-profit groups or to contribute to advisory committees.
Enrollment traditionally includes participants from both public and private institutions. For information and applications visit www.leadershipclarkcounty.com. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as space is limited.
AWB launches workers’ compensation program for employers
The Association of Washington Business will institute a certification program that will train people responsible for workers’ compensation and safety on the most important aspects of prevention and cost control. The three part series takes place several times throughout the year beginning this month, with two days of in-class instruction and two online courses.
After successfully completing the curriculum participants will receive an OSHA 10-Hour General Industry certificate and wallet card recognizing them as qualified employees, certificates of completion after each course, and a reference manual full of OSHA compliance information and guidance.
The next program begins March 28 and cost is on an individual basis. To register for the program, or to receive additional information, contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at 360-943-1600 or via e-mail at alishab@awb.org.
Tourism bureau launches new Web site
The Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau launched a new Web site at www.southwestwashington.com. The new look utilizes illustrations of area attractions by local artist Jim Torson, who was commissioned last year by SWCVB for its new destination brand image.
New components include a searchable community calendar of events and an online hotel booking service.
