PORT HADLOCK — When Hans Frederickson first started working for his dad at Frederickson Electric, he got the tricky assignment of pulling wire through tight crawl spaces because he’s skinny.
As the owner of the business since 2012, he takes pride in being a family-wage employer in Jefferson County.
Frederickson was one of five who were honored Sunday during the Chamber of Jefferson County’s Leadership Awards luncheon at the Old Alcohol Plant. He was named the 2018 Business Leader of the Year in a field of finalists that included Ned Herbert and Virginia Marsden of The Pourhouse and Andy Cochrane of Power Trip Energy.
Myron Vogt of the Boeing Bluebills was named Citizen of the Year while Scott Ross and Deborah Taylor of Finistere Restaurant were given the Rising Entrepreneur award.
Renee Woods, a senior at Chimacum High School, was named the Future Business Leader of the year for youth, and Tyler Meeks of Discovery Bay Outdoor Exchange was given the Young Professional of the Year award.
“There is one big winner — one grand prize — and it’s Jefferson County,” chamber Executive Director Arlene Alen told about 125 attendees in the banquet room. “All of you share your expertise and your pride here.”
Frederickson grew up in Port Townsend and pursued his academic interests at Stanford University. He said he left a career in software engineering, as well as a life in Silicon Valley, to move back home, raise his son and run the family business. His father, Erik, was named Citizen of the Year in 2003.
“For me, I was looking to provide a really good opportunity for people to live here and make a living wage,” Hans Frederickson said.
Myron Vogt, center, was honored Sunday by the Chamber of Jefferson County as its 2018 Citizen of the Year during a ceremony at the Old Alcohol Plant in Port Hadlock. He was joined by his wife, Valeria, left, and his daughter, Jennifer Molloy. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)
That’s also a benefit Deborah Taylor sees with the restaurant she owns with Ross, her husband.
“We really wanted to bring a world-class business to Port Townsend,” Taylor said.
While Taylor is originally from Florida, she said Ross’ grandparents lived in Issaquah. The two met while they were both in New York, but Taylor said Ross always wanted to move back to the Northwest.
They made that happen a few years ago when they worked in Seattle, although they wanted a more rural environment, Taylor said.
Now their goal is to provide a stable work environment for their 20 employees, Taylor said.
“It’s really great to see people you employ being able to raise their families in this community and feel secure professionally,” she said.
Meeks started his outdoors venture when he saw a community need. He took a small business course offered by the chamber and settled in Discovery Bay at the corner of West Uncas Road and Highway 101.
“I recognize there are many people in the community who want an outdoor gear and apparel store,” Meeks said. “You can buy, sell or trade — it’s like an outdoor exchange.”
Vogt has led many operations of the Boeing Bluebills for the past 20 years. In their campaign to help senior citizens, the Bluebills built 56 ramps, more than 200 grab bars and served more than 250 individuals last year, Vogt said.
State Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, served as the keynote speaker. He shared a story about how legislators continue to work on individual bills with an eye toward helping their specific districts and how it can keep someone humble along the way.
State Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, praised the finalists Sunday during the Chamber of Jefferson County’s annual Leadership Awards luncheon at the Old Alcohol Plant in Port Hadlock. “All of you, every day, do more than what I can do for you,” Chapman said. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)
He praised the community leaders in the room.
“All of you, every day, do more here than what I can do for you,” Chapman said.
Other finalists in their respective categories included: Jen Lee of Jen Lee Light and Thysen and Debi Scott of GBF Catering for Young Professional of the Year; Quillan Gallagher of Quilcene High School and Ella Ashford, a homeschooled student, for Future Business Leader of the Year (youth); Chris Brignoli and Matt Mortensen of Revision Marine, and Joel Carben of Ideal Seat for Rising Entrepreneur of the Year; Debbi Steele of the Wearable Art Show and Gwendolyn Tracy and Pam Petranek of the Port Townsend Marine Trades Association for Citizen of the Year.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
Hans Frederickson, owner of Frederickson Electric, bought the business from his father, Erik, in 2012. He was named the 2018 Business Leader of the Year on Sunday during the Chamber of Jefferson County luncheon at the Old Alcohol Plant in Port Hadlock. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)
