Earlier this month, the VBJ gave me the opportunity to attend this year’s Chick-Fil-A Leadercast, a conference broadcast live from Atlanta to Clark College. The most important lesson I learned there is that our community leaders display the passion, determination and intelligence needed to help our community achieve success. Their efforts are visible around the community, as they support businesses by holding round table discussions, allocating money and advocating for citizens and their rights on the local, state and national level.
Between interviewing business leaders, writing news articles, attending events, editing press releases, managing the VBJ Pinterest account and learning video editing, I had the chance to visit small businesses – many of which are moving to more lucrative locations in Southwest Washington in an effort to expand their outreach. Meanwhile, larger companies in the business community seem to be growing and becoming more innovative, finding new ways to improve their business outreach while supporting local organizations.
One testament of the unity that the Vancouver community displayed was the cash mob at Torque Coffee Roasters in March. This fundraiser allowed individuals to support the coffee shop following an armed robbery. As soon as the community saw that they had the opportunity to help a local business, they came, and their willingness to support the growth of our city is inspiring.
This year’s Business Growth Awards were the pinnacle of my internship at the VBJ. This annual event gathers the business community to celebrate some of the most innovative and successful businesses and business professionals. For me, it was a time to remember all of the highlights of my internship. It was a chance to remember how VBJ Managing Editor Nicholas Shannon Kulmac and I had visited Holland America Bulb Farms and met owner Benno Dobbe, and how I was lucky enough to hear firsthand the breaking news about Pearson Air Museum and the new WSU Vancouver hospitality program, amongst other stories. My priceless experiences included seeing, and photographing, the new Hazel Dell Black Rock Coffee Bar, renovations of downtown Vancouver, Thai Orchid’s new building and the apartment complex on Mill Plain Blvd. and D Street, as well as the construction of the 139th Street overpass, the Salmon Creek medical center and Chuck’s Produce in Salmon Creek. These advancements are set to transform our entire region.
It was an honor to help write about Vancouver’s business community, and I thank the VBJ for giving me the opportunity to witness the power of our community.
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