Name: Mike Lindquist Occupation: Sales Manager at Home Appliance Contract Sales. Daily Driver: 2001 Corvette Z06. Quote: “I drive it because it’s the most grin-inducing car I’ve ever owned and it has very high performance per dollar. It also is my “fun” vehicle, and gets the same gas mileage as a 2008 Malibu with the V6 — as long as my right foot doesn’t get too heavy.”

We want your vote! If you work for the best business or company on the Kitsap Peninsula (from Gig Harbor to Bainbridge Island), we want to know. Submit your voting form (one form per person) by filling out the form below and clicking on the SUBMIT button...   (Full Article)

The Forward Washington Foundation, a non-partisan advocate for small businesses and fiscally-responsible state budgeting, published the final version of its Idea Bank Initiative, a collection of ideas taken straight from the people of Washington. This working document of solutions to the problems facing our state, solicited directly from its constituents, will be an invaluable guide for legislators to use as they create legislation that affects all Washingtonians...   (Full Article)

Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, says the likelihood of a recession is 50 percent. Creditors will need to be much more organized when extending credit...   (Full Article)

The North Mason Chamber of Commerce has elected its 2008 officers. Mike Boyle, owner of North Bay Mortgage, will serve as chairman of the board. Rob Drexler of Windermere Real Estate will be vice-chair. Catherine Ann Wolf, CPA will continue to serve as treasurer. Rick Hlas of McLendon Hardware will serve as secretary. Jack Nicklaus of Hood Canal Auto Sales will serve as the at-large member on the Ops/Exec committee...   (Full Article)

Harrison Medical Center recently broke ground on the expansion of its Port Orchard campus, located at 450 South Kitsap Blvd., just east of highway 16. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place Jan. 30. The project includes a 24-hour urgent care center, expanded imaging services, physician offices, and a host of outpatient services. Completion of a new three-story, 36,000-square-foot medical building is scheduled for January 2009...   (Full Article)

The decision to hire one or more employees can be a challenging one for any entrepreneur. On the one hand, since the average entrepreneur works puts in a 70- hour workweek, according to the Princeton Review, what business owner wouldn’t want an extra hand or two...   (Full Article)

Business owners can learn how to survive a catastrophe and avoid money-draining claims in a new workshop offered by Toro Insurance Consultants. The Bull Stops Here Seminar will feature insights from experts in the fields of disaster recovery, employee safety, and insurance...   (Full Article)

Republican candidate for Washington State Governor, Dino Rossi, will be making several speaking appearances in Kitsap County in the upcoming weeks. “We believe Kitsap is an important county for us to win,” stated Rossi. “While it is dominated by the Democrats, our message of reducing Christine Gregorie’s excessive spending is resonating very well with that group of voters.” Rossi also pointed out that he won Kitsap in 2004 as well...   (Full Article)

Long time Gig Harbor businesswoman, community and Republican activist, Marlyn Jensen has filed to run for the House of Representatives in Olympia. Mrs.. Jensen has filed for position 2, and will challenge first term incumbent Larry Seaquist...   (Full Article)

Olympic Printer Resources Inc. President Pete DeBoer and Vice President Jeff Peterson are supporting the new trend of living “green.” That’s why their Kingston-based company is responsible for keeping 13 tons of plastic from the landfills and collecting over 70 tons of electric waste for recycling...   (Full Article)

Kitsap Mental Health Services’ new Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) just received the highest rating in the state for new PACT teams. PACT is an evidence-based practice (its success is well supported by research) and is designed to help persons diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness attain and maintain community tenure. This new team became fully functional on July 1, 2007, as a result of funding provided by the Washington State Mental Health Division (MHD) to start PACT teams across the state...   (Full Article)

Bremerton Symphony Association Board President Holly James recently announced that Gena Wales, formerly education director of the Bremerton Symphony Association (BSA) and business manager for the Bremerton Symphony Youth Orchestra (BSYO), has been promoted to executive director of the BSA...   (Full Article)

Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority (KCCHA) completed a parking lot retrofit in Silverdale following conversion of the old Poplars motel to 32 low-income senior apartments. The work was conducted in large part with a $77,000 Washington Department of Ecology FY 2007 Low Impact Development (LID) Stormwater Management Grant...   (Full Article)

Why tackle today what can be put off until Tuesday? In a new survey, 57 percent of executives said Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for employees. Monday was the second more popular answer, although it appears to be losing favor. Only 12 percent of respondents ranked Monday as most productive, compared to 26 percent in a 2002 survey...   (Full Article)

Liberty Bank of Washington, a bank in organization headquartered out of Poulsbo, has hired Paul A. Uhlig to serve as Chief Operating Officer and Compliance Officer...   (Full Article)

Several KPS Health Plan members have reportedly received fraudulent or “phishing” calls from someone claiming to work for the health plan. The caller asks for their personal information including address, credit card or bank account information...   (Full Article)

Robert Hoyer is the newest addition at Bremerton-based Art Anderson Associates. A Washington-licensed professional electrical engineer, he has over forty years of experience in the field...   (Full Article)

The Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs (WACOPS) has recognized the legislative achievements of Sen. Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor), by presenting him with its 2007 Legislator of the Year Award. “It’s a great honor to have the people we all trust the most — law enforcement professionals — telling me that they appreciate what I’m doing,” said Kilmer...   (Full Article)

The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Groups (HCSEG) is seeking volunteer help with its wild salmon recovery efforts monitoring out-migrating juvenile salmon in the Dewatto watershed. Volunteers will be trained to monitor smolt traps, identify salmon species and collect pertinent data. The HCSEG seeks those who are able to commit to the project once a week or once every other week from Mar. 20 through June 7...   (Full Article)

On March 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. two downtown Port Orchard businesses — Custom Picture Framing and Etched in Time Photography will host an open house with refreshments provided...   (Full Article)

The 90 Minute Branding and Marketing Plan Workshop for Women Business Owners and Managers is coming to Poulsbo on March 19 at Mor Mor Bistro and Bar, 18820 Front Street in Poulsbo...   (Full Article)

Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag has given the City of Port Orchard another clean financial bill of health in an annual audit report issued on Jan. 7...   (Full Article)

The 2008 YWCA “Women of Achievement” Recognition Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, April 22, Noon to 1:30, at the Kitsap Conference Center, at the Bremerton Harborside. Since 1989, over 300 exceptional local women, who have made tremendous contributions throughout the Kitsap community, have been honored...   (Full Article)

The Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary kicks off its inaugural online auction Mar. 4 through Apr. 18, at poulsborotary.cmarket.com. Bid on items like an autographed Ichiro Suzuki jersey, a 2008 Indy 500 experience for two, and a golfing trip to St. Andrews in Scotland.

One of Gig Harbor’s newest dining establishments has brought unique cuisine to the area. The Great Australian Bite, which opened more than a month ago on Harborview Drive, is owned by Michael and Michelle Milligan. Michelle is a native Australian, and the couple has lived in Gig Harbor for 14 years, moving there from the land Down Under.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Western Washington has bestowed its Innovative Business Practices Award upon Kitsap County’s Abiding HomeCare of Silverdale, an in-home care business serving the needs of seniors in Kitsap County who wish to live independently in their own residence.

In receiving this award, Randy Hardin, the executive director of the firm expressed his appreciation to his staff, and said, “This is a wonderful honor to be recognized for our commitment to offer our clients services that are built on the most advanced and technologically innovative business practices available to our industry today. We will always strive to maintain that competitive advantage by providing our clients the best services possible.”

For more information, visit www.abidinghomecare.com, or call (360) 692-6929 or (206) 842-4527.

Silver State Helicopters, which operated a flight school at the Tacoma Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor, closed doors unexpectedly in February. The regional helicopter flight center opened in Gig Harbor last year, one of about 35 schools nationwide. The 9-year-old company, based in Las Vegas announced to its employees at the beginning of February that it was filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and would lay off 750 employees. The flight school had generated a lot of controversy with its Gig Harbor neighbors, who frequently complained about the noise.

Kitsap Running & Walking, Co., in Poulsbo, has teamed up with Soles 4 Souls, a non-profit agency, to bring new and slightly used shoes to children and adults in developing countries. Bring shoe donations to the store, at 18800 Front Street, Suite 101A, and it will send them for you. Instead of collecting dust in your closet, your shoes will go to someone who desperately needs them.

For information, call (360) 697-4296.

West Sound Workforce announced the return of Lora Kelly as the Gig Harbor branch manager. Kelly joined West Sound Workforce in Feb. of 2000; prior to that she spent 14 years working for one of the largest employers in Southwest Washington in marketing and human resources. She has an extensive background and experience as a recruiter. In her role as branch manager, she will be responsible for working with local Gig Harbor and Kitsap County businesses to fill temporary and permanent staffing needs.

Reach Kelly at (253) 853-3633, (360) 394-1882, or lora@westsoundworkforce.com.

Ashley Gardens of Bremerton, an Alzheimer’s and dementia care community, recently named Russ Murker as business office manager for the community. In his new position, Murker will be responsible for inventory, accounting, human resources management and IT.

Murker has more than eight years of experience with clerical, communicative and IT duties, most recently working in the customer service department for an antivirus software company.

For more information on Ashley Gardens call 360-478-7277.

Popular talk radio host Gary Ryan recently joined KITZ 1400 and 920 KGTK AM as a full-time personality. The Gary Ryan Show began airing on Jan. 28 at noon and fills the noon – 3 p.m. slot weekdays.

Ryan brings a wealth of on-air experience and name recognition to Megatalk. “Gary is a household name to listeners from his days as a member of the Ryan and Ryan morning team and we are very excited to have his presence in our daily lineup,” said Station Manager Conn Williamson.

“Ryan’s role at Megatalk will be as a talk host and a conduit for regional issues and information,” stated Williamson. “We are well aware of Gary’s ability to entertain and interact with the audience.”

The former home to Harbor Inn restaurant in downtown Gig Harbor will soon attract customers for a different reason — three different reasons, to be exact. The building, vacated last year after the Inn’s owners retired, will host a hair salon, a health club and a Starbucks coffee shop.

The fitness center, 1-2-3 Fit, is a franchise with a presence in 13 states, with several locations in Washington including one in Silverdale. Opening is expected in May.

Silverdale Upholstery & Canvas, a local provider of retractable awnings, boat and auto upholstery as well as furniture re-upholstery, is celebrating 30 years as a family-owned and operated business. Its location in old town Silverdale and success have made it a key contributor to the economic revitalization in that area.

Owner Brian Weatherly attributes its success to an unwavering dedication to customer service and expert execution in the challenging areas of awning construction, as well as boat, auto, and furniture upholstery.

For more information, visit www.silverdaleupholsteryandcanvas.com.

Kitsap Bank recently announced the promotion of Marilyn Hoppen to senior vice president/human resources director. Hoppen has been with Kitsap Bank for over a year and has more than 16 years of experience in Human Resources.

“Marilyn has an extensive knowledge of human resource management, and is committed to providing our employees with the tools they need to succeed,” stated Jim Carmichael, Kitsap Bank president/CEO, “Her promotion is well deserved.”

Kitsap County’s recreational vehicle storage and concierge services, Larsen’s Land Marina located at 130 Tweed Lane in Bremerton, is accepting reservation applications. Located just one mile from the freeway, the facility offers valet service, 24-hour on-site staffing, and extensive security amenities at competitive rates.

In addition to recreational vehicles of any size, fleet vehicle storage is available. Reach Larsen’s Land Marina at (360) 479-9802 or visit www.larsenslandmarina.com.

A participant in a defined contribution pension plan may sue under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to recover for breach of a fiduciary’s statutory duties pertaining to proper management, administration and investment of fund assets that impair the value of the assets in the participant’s individual account.

In so ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court distinguished its decision in an older case holding that an individual participant in a disability plan that paid a fixed level of benefits could not sue under the same provision for damages arising from a delay in processing her claim.

The Silverdale Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Kitsap Mall will be hosting Military Appreciation Day on Saturday Mar. 29 at the Kitsap Mall, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual salute to the men and women of the Armed Services is a chance for business to show their appreciation by offering significant discounts on products and services.

Along with the commercial booths, there will be many displays showcasing different local military commands. These displays will be both inside and outside the mall. There will also be entertainment at the center court.

Registration forms are available on-line at www.silverdalechamber.com. For more information about the event contact the Chamber office at (360) 692-6800.

Quinn/Brein Public Relations, located on Bainbridge Island, has been named to two prestigious lists that rank public relations firms in Western Washington. It was recognized on lists issued by the Puget Sound Business Journal and Washington CEO magazine as one of the top PR firms in the region. The agency was the only one listed that is headquartered outside of Seattle or Bellevue.

“We were founded on the idea that every client should be afforded the same creative attention whether they’re a small, home-based business or a well-known, national brand. That has been one of the keys to our success,” said Jeff Brein, president and founder.

For more information visit www.quinnbrein.com or call (206) 842-8922.