SEQUIM — Teamwork, vision and civic engagement were recurring themes at the Clallam County Economic Development Corp.’s annual membership meeting Friday.
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Chairman Ron Allen received the organization’s Olympic Leader Award for a company and Olympic Medical Center CEO Eric Lewis accepted the same award for an individual.
Eight others received 2015 Awards of Excellence from the private nonprofit that helps businesses in the county.
The dinner and subsequent program drew about 100 attendees.
“I’m a believer in the EDC,” Allen said as he accepted the annual award on behalf of the tribe.
“I think the EDC is going in the right direction. We have a lot of work to do.”
Allen pointed to a historical photograph of a tribal member holding a canoe paddle that graces a wall at The Cedars at Dungeness, one of the tribe’s successful business ventures.
“We are all in the same canoe,” Allen said.
“Let’s pull together in the same direction.”
Lewis said he was humbled to receive the Olympic Leader Award, which recognizes contributions to economic development.
Credits hospital
He credited the 1,200 employees of OMC and its seven-member board.
“I think the EDC is incredibly important for our community,” said Lewis, who also serves on the EDC board.
“If we don’t all work together, we’re not going to be successful.”
OMC, which is expanding its Port Angeles campus, is working to maintain and grow its services, recruit and retain a quality workforce, and stay locally owned and controlled, Lewis said.
“We’re trying to keep the decisions made in Clallam County by publicly elected officials in public,” Lewis said.
“We’re all in in Clallam County.”
The nearly two-hour program was emceed by EDC Executive Director Bill Greenwood and board Chairman Randy Johnson.
“We as a county only work well when we all work together,” Johnson said.
“It takes all of us coming together working on an issue with unanimity, and then amazing things happen.”
Added Greenwood: “Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks have to all work together, and all the companies here have to work together.”
“I think we’re well on our way to doing that,” Greenwood said.
“Everybody wants to work together, and so we’ve just got to try a little harder to pull along some of those people who haven’t gotten the message yet.”
Business leaders who accepted 2015 Awards of Excellence on behalf of their companies were Bill Hermann of Hermann Brothers Logging and Construction of Port Angeles, Toni Jensen of Hurricane Ridge Veterinary Hospital of Sequim, Michael McQuay of Kokopelli Grill of Port Angeles, Bill Littlejohn of Sherwood Assisted Living of Sequim, Ryan Gedlund of Swain’s General Store of Port Angeles and Dan Wilder Jr. of Wilder Auto of Port Angeles.
Individuals who received Awards of Excellence were Jerry Nichols of Port Angeles for his support of the EDC and Nathan West, Port Angeles community and economic development director, for his efforts in building city infrastructure and working with the EDC.
Background provided
Each award winner gave a synopsis of what he or she does and his or her role with the organization.
Many credited Greenwood for his efforts in revitalizing the EDC since he was hired in March 2014.
West told the audience that 2015 was a banner year for private-sector investment.
“We had 24 new businesses open their doors in Port Angeles,” West said.
“We’re moving in the right direction.”
The Port Angeles City Council hired 12 local contractors to complete $8 million worth of projects, West said.
“City Council and city government, as well as Clallam County government, love to award those bids to local entities,” West said.
Every speaker at the event received a copy of the book Team of Teams by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, which examines 21st-century military and business practices.
“We have to start pulling everybody in our organizations out of their silos and into a team environment where they’re sharing information, trusting one another and getting the job done,” Greenwood said.
“What [the book] is really about is working together in the end as a team of teams.”
Before the awards were presented, Greenwood and Johnson welcomed new business and political leaders to the EDC.
They also recognized those who had retired or moved on to other pursuits.
First Federal President and CEO Larry Hueth and former Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire, last year’s Olympic Leader Award recipients, introduced Allen and Lewis.
Common ground needed
Olympic Peninsula News Group Publisher Terry Ward provided the opening remarks, stressing a need to find common ground.
“What I like about gatherings like this is tonight, you’re not a Democrat or a Republican,” Ward said.
“You’re not pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. You’re pro-community.”
Ward was referring to the Port Angeles City Council debate over municipal water fluoridation.
“Everybody in this room has a common interest, and that is bettering the community as a whole,” Ward said.
State Rep. Steve Tharinger ended the program by saying the EDC has been “doing good work” for local businesses.
“I think the people that have been honored tonight have that vision,” Tharinger said.
“They have that foot in reality to make the vision work.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
