As the official support publication of Whatcom Business Alliance, we report on business and commerce issues and features throughout Whatcom County.
09/10/2025
RAVE REVIEW!
Here’s what EOS Worldwide’s Mark Treas recently posted about WBA events: “In business, who you surround yourself with makes all the difference. That why I really appreciate what the WBA brings to the table. Genuine relationships and conversations happen when local leaders come together. WBA does a great job of creating that space. The breakfasts, the discussions, the opportunities to connect… it’s the kind of environment that helps ideas grow and businesses thrive.”
Find out what Mark is talking about and plan to attend the next WBA event — Leaders of Industry on Thursday, October 16, 3 – 6 pm. Tickets include the opportunity to hear from an expert panel and network, with complimentary appetizers and a cash bar, all at the Hotel Bellwether Ballroom: whatcombusinessalliance.com/events.
Washington Policy Center Senior Researcher Paul Guppy will be joined by industry experts, who will explore local, state and national issues affecting your business. City of Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund returns to open LOI!
Pictured: 1) Mark Treas; 2) networking at the 3 – 6 pm event, with complimentary appetizers and cash bar. Photo credit for 2: Sattva Photo.
09/05/2025
Raise your marketing pulse with affordable advertising in Business Pulse magazine! It’s easy: simply send your scanned business card to [email protected] for the upcoming issue.
For only $250.00, get a full-color business card ad and get noticed by Whatcom County’s top businesses.
For 50 years, Business Pulse magazine has been covering the entrepreneurial spirit and economic influence of business talents in Whatcom County: businesspulse.com.
09/04/2025
Build your brand and connect with your community!
Tell the business community about your most recent company success in Business Pulse magazine’s “Newsmakers” section. Email Heather Lea: [email protected].
For your submission to be considered, content must fall under these business news categories: 1) changes in business leadership, such as new hires, promotions, or retirements; 2) new ownership; 3) new location; 4) company and industry awards and recognition.
09/03/2025
Continuous learning at the Leaders of Industry Forum!
Every business leader benefits from continuous learning. Register now for the WBA Leaders of Industry event, on Thursday, October 16, 3 – 6 pm. Tickets include complimentary appetizers and a cash bar, at the beautiful Hotel Bellwether Ballroom: whatcombusinessalliance.com/events.
With a long tenure of pragmatic and pro-business research and advocacy, Paul Guppy, Senior Researcher at the Washington Policy Center, will deliver the keynote. He will be joined by industry experts, who will explore local, state and national issues affecting your business. City of Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund returns to LOI to deliver opening remarks!
Pictured: 1) City of Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund opens LOI; 2) Paul Guppy; 3) WBA Executive Director Barbara Chase at the LOI podium; 4) managing real estate broker Brad Hanks at LOI; 5) networking includes complimentary appetizers and cash bar. Photo credit: Sattva Photo.
Special thanks to our generous sponsors: WRS, bp, Larson Gross, Peoples Bank, and Hotel Bellwether.
08/29/2025
Look who’s in the PULSE photo feature of 50-year-old-plus businesses!
Throughout 2025, Business Pulse magazine is celebrating its 50th year of publication – and celebrating 50-year-old-plus businesses. In 1920, the Port of Bellingham was established. Read about the evolution of Bellingham’s beautiful waterfront at businesspulse.com/jul-aug-2025-2, pages 12 – 15 (and learn about other longtime companies, such as Andgar Corporation, Horseshoe Cafe, and the Lynden Tribune).
Published by the Whatcom Business Alliance, Business Pulse has been covering the entrepreneurial spirit and economic influence of business talents in Whatcom County for 50 years. Join the WBA (whatcombusinessalliance.com/join-us), receive a complimentary subscription, and stay connected!
Pictured: historic photo of the Port of Bellingham. Photo courtesy of the POB.
08/28/2025
The value of Pulse magazine, from a writer!
Business Pulse magazine freelance writer Mary Louise Van D**e traces her interest in business back to Warnick lumberyard, managed by her grandpa, Wayne Myatt. Her story helps to trace the arc, through a decade of her writing, of business talent in Whatcom: businesspulse.com/jul-aug-2025-2, page 44.
Published by the Whatcom Business Alliance, Business Pulse has been covering the entrepreneurial spirit and economic influence of business talents in Whatcom County for 50 years. Join the WBA (whatcombusinessalliance.com/join-us), receive a complimentary subscription, and stay connected!
Writer: Mary Louise Van D**e. Pictured: collage of Pulse covers for the magazine’s 50-year anniversary.
08/27/2025
Look who’s in the Top 100!
Larry Stap, with wife Debbie, own Twin Brook Creamery, located on property originally farmed by Larry’s great-grandparents. Read about this highly acclaimed “little Washington State dairy farm” in Lynden, only in Business Pulse magazine: businesspulse.com/jul-aug-2025-2, page 39.
In our biggest issue of the year, Business Pulse magazine presents the Top 100 private companies in Whatcom County, and Twin Brook Creamery ranks #83: businesspulse.com/top-100-private-companies-in.... Find out who Whatcom’s top performers are, and read about the local businesses driving millions of sales that are reinvested in our community.
Published by the Whatcom Business Alliance, Pulse has been covering the business of Whatcom County for 50 years. Join the WBA (whatcombusinessalliance.com/join-us), receive a complimentary subscription, and stay connected!
Writer: Mary Louise Van D**e. Pictured: 1) Twin Brook Creamery owner Larry Stap ; 2) current cover of Business Pulse magazine. Photo credits: Sattva Photo.
08/26/2025
Expertise and analysis!
For Whatcom business leaders, the Leaders of Industry event, on Thursday, October 16, offers a critical space for expertise and analysis. Paul Guppy — Senior Researcher at the Washington Policy Center, with a long tenure of pragmatic and pro-business research and advocacy — is back as the keynote speaker. He will be joined by industry experts, who will explore local, state and national issues affecting your business. City of Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund returns to LOI to deliver introductory remarks!
Tickets include the opportunity to hear from an expert panel and network, a 3 pm start with complimentary appetizers and a cash bar, all at the Hotel Bellwether Ballroom: whatcombusinessalliance.com/events.
Pictured: 1) City of Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund; 2) Paul Guppy (photo courtesy of Paul Guppy); 3) networking at the 3 – 6 pm event, with complimentary appetizers and cash bar; 4) WBA Executive Director Barbara Chase at the LOI podium. Photo credits for 1, 3 and 4: Sattva Photo.
Special thanks to our generous sponsors: WRS, bp, Larson Gross, Peoples Bank, and Hotel Bellwether.
08/25/2025
News you can use in AI!
Find out why artificial intelligence investments are shifting from hardware to software. Read how the crucial “layer of technology helps people do things faster, better or more creatively” in the current issue of Business Pulse magazine: businesspulse.com/jul-aug-2025-2, page 57. Writer: Jack McKissen.
Published by the Whatcom Business Alliance, Business Pulse has been covering the entrepreneurial spirit and economic influence of business talents in Whatcom County for 50 years. Join the WBA (whatcombusinessalliance.com/join-us), receive a complimentary subscription, and stay connected!
Photo credit: Sattva Photo.
08/22/2025
Look who’s in Business Pulse magazine’s photo feature of 50-year-old-plus businesses!
In 1914, Sol Lewis boarded a steamer north from Seattle and put $7,500.00 down to purchase the Lynden Tribune. Today, the newspaper is run by Sol’s grandson, Michael Lewis and his wife Mary Jo Lewis. In this issue, see historic photos and read about these iconic businesses: the Lynden Tribune (along with Andgar Corporation, Horseshoe Cafe, and the Port of Bellingham) at businesspulse.com/jul-aug-2025-2, pages 12 - 15. Throughout 2025, Business Pulse magazine is celebrating its 50th year of publication – and celebrating 50-year-old-plus businesses.
Published by the Whatcom Business Alliance, Business Pulse has been covering the entrepreneurial spirit and economic influence of business talents in Whatcom County for 50 years. Join the WBA (whatcombusinessalliance.com/join-us), receive a complimentary subscription, and stay connected!
Pictured: left to right, Julian Lewis, Sol Lewis and William Lewis of the Lynden Tribune. Photo courtesy of the Lynden Tribune.
08/21/2025
Every business has a story. WBA can help you tell yours.
At the sold-out Whatcom Business Awards Black & Gold Gala in March of 2025, Mike Hammes earned the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement” award for his unwavering leadership and incredible generosity as the owner and CEO of RAM Construction. His company and community contributions were recognized at the gala, and his rich video story brought tears, laughter, and two standing ovations from the 380 business leaders in attendance. His inspiring leadership was also captured in a feature story in Business Pulse magazine.
Nominations are open for the 2026 Whatcom Business Awards. Who is your Lifetime Achievement nominee? Nominate your person to tell the story of your business: surveymonkey.com/r/N79PQY5.
Pictured: 1) Mike Hammes, winner of the “Lifetime Achievement” award at the 2025 Whatcom Business Awards Black & Gold gala, with wife Wendy. 2) Mike onstage at the sold-out Hotel Bellwether ballroom. 3) On the job site. 4) Mike, ever gracious, at the gala. Photo credit: Sattva Photo.
08/21/2025
News you can use in public policy!
Two-term Whatcom County Councilmember Tyler Byrd writes about how he believes that poor leadership is undermining Whatcom County’s financial future, leading to strained systems. Only in the current issue of Business Pulse magazine: businesspulse.com/jul-aug-2025-2, page 57.
Contributor: Councilmember Tyler Byrd. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Byrd.)
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Are You
Optimistic
About 2018?
Join the Club.
Optimism Skyrockets
in Business Community
TONY LARSON, President, Whatcom Business Alliance
At the end of 2017, we reached out to our readers via an online business survey to determine how local businesses are performing and how business leaders are feeling about 2018. The results, along with comments from key industry leaders, are published in this issue and reflect a level of optimism I haven’t seen in at least the last 10 years.
A majority of local businesses experienced growth in 2017 vs. 2016 and expect further growth in sales and profits in 2018. They also expect an increase in capital expenditures. It is worth noting that our polling was conducted prior to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The passage prompted immediate responses from companies like Boeing, AT&T, Washington Federal, Comcast, and Wells Fargo, just to name a few, who announced measures ranging from handing out bonuses, raising wages, and increasing spending.
That optimism is shared at Business Pulse and the Whatcom Business Alliance. In 2018, we’re improving and expanding Business Pulse in a series of moves designed to bring more value to our advertisers, to expand our readership, and to bring current readers and members more information about the people, news, issues, businesses, and trends that shape our local economy and bring success to business and prosperity to our community.
Leading the charge with the new-look Business Pulse are Associate Publisher Melissa Vail Coffman and Art Director Scott Book. The husband and wife team is a prime example of the trend cited by Dan Washburn of Windermere Real Estate in his article on Page 41. They sold their home in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in late 2015 and used the equity to buy a home here in the Geneva neighborhood.
Melissa brings the experience of nearly 30 years in publishing, including more than a de-cade with Tiger Oak Publications, where she was group publisher of myriad titles, including the flagship Seattle magazine and Seattle Bride, and helped launch Seattle Business.
Scott is an accomplished graphic designer who has designed print publications, advertising, and business collateral for more than 25 years.
One of the most important changes in the new year is moving from four to six issues annually to provide more timely and com-prehensive coverage of the vibrant Whatcom County business community. This is coupled with a tie-in between the magazine and redesiged businesspulse.com, with the introduction of Pulse+—denoted with a “P+” at the end of articles with additional content we moved to the website.
We also are introducing lifestyle content with “After Hours” to suggest ways that busy executives might enjoy life beyond the workday.
These shifts are all driven by the growing support of our readers and advertisers who share our understanding that when busi-nesses are successful and strong, our com-munity is stronger. If you’d like to learn ways to grow your business in 2018 by promoting your company through Business Pulse, our events, or WBA membership, please call me at 360.746.0411.
We all have reason to be excited about 2018. Enjoy the issue.
