Sponsors Make Possible
Recognition of Businesses

Business Pulse is joined by nine sponsors in presenting the 2000 Whatcom County Business Person and Small Business of the Year Awards Banquet on March 28 at Resort Semiahmoo in Blaine. Besides Advanced TelCom Group (see related story) the sponsors are:

Alcoa Intalco Works

Alcoa Intalco Works began operating at Cherry Point, several miles west of Ferndale, as Intalco Aluminum Corp. in May 1966. Alcoa now is the majority owner and Mitsui and Co., Ltd., and Yoshida Kogyo K.K. are the other owners.

Alcoa Intalco Works produces primary aluminum ingot products and, as a result of continual improvement, remains one of the nation’s most modern and energy-efficient aluminum reduction plants. The primary aluminum produced at Alcoa Intalco Works can be found in many forms, including automotive and aerospace parts, foils, extrusions and building materials used around the world. Alcoa is the leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina with 466,000 employees operating in 36 countries.

Approximately 930 employees operate the Cherry Point plant, making Alcoa Intalco Works the largest private employer in Whatcom County. Its quality and environmental management systems are certified for meeting ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 American National Standards, respectively.

Alcoa Intalco is proud of its employees and their commitment to making a difference in our communities through their participation in the Jingle Bell Run, Relay for Life, Human Race, Alzheimer’s Go the Extra Mile and numerous other fund-raising events and organizations. Jim Frederick, senior vice president and general manager, was named the Business Person of the Year in 1995.

 

Consolidated Cellular

Consolidated Cellular, Inc. of Sedro-Woolley offers cellular phones, accessories and air packages in 20 Washington locations, including Bellingham, and six Oregon cities.

Consolidated Cellular is the largest provider of wireless services in Whatcom and Skagit counties. It offers AirTouch Cellular, Nextel and Spring PCS carrier services and sells Nokia, Motorola, Sony, Samsun and Ericsson cellular phones. It also includes Cook Paging in its product mix.

For more information, call Consolidated Cellular in Bellingham, (360) 650-1607.

 

KeyBank

KeyBank, a longtime sponsor of the awards banquet, has a branch at 2081 Main St., Ferndale, and five branches in Bellingham: 101 E. Holly St., 1200-12th St. (Fairhaven), 1000 Lakeway Drive, 1221 N. State St. and 180 Telegraph Road.

Cleveland-based KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), holding company of KeyBank, is one of the nation’s largest multi-line financial services companies with assets of about $87 billion. Through a nationwide network of offices, Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, retirement, consumer finance and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies across the United States. Key units have operations in some 46 states, a network of 2,500 ATMs, telephone banking centers (1-800-KEY2YOU) and a Web site, Key.com, that provide account access and financial products 24 hours a day.

 

KGMI NewsPlus 790

Whatcom County’s premier news-talk radio station, AM 790 KGMI, has a rich 72-year heritage of providing local residents with unparalleled news, stimulating talk shows and community leadership.

In a recent Associated Press news competition, KGMI was the most honored radio station in Washington state, winning first place for news and sports excellence.

KGMI, part of the Bellingham-based Cascade Radio Group, demonstrates its commitment to the community by partnering with scores of local nonprofit groups each year to raise an average of $300,000 for area charities.

The Bellingham station also enjoys the largest radio listenership in the county with more than 31,000 residents tuned in during any given week. That huge audience, combined with the custom-designed marketing plans KGMI develops for its clients, make the station an extremely effective vehicle for businesses to use in advertising their products and services to area customers.

For more information, call (360) 734-9790.

 

Microsoft

The Microsoft Pacific Northwest District’s mission is to deliver customer-centered solutions, with partners, to empower people and enrich their lives at work, school and home. Its Washington sales office is at 10500 N.E. 8th St., Suite 1300, Bellevue, WA 98004. For more information, call (425) 705-1900 or send a fax to (425) 705-1831.

 

Puget Sound Energy

As Washington state’s leading energy utility, Puget Sound Energy provides electricity, natural gas and a range of energy-related services to homes and businesses throughout its 11-county service territory, which includes Whatcom County.

As a condition of the 1997 merger between Puget Power and Washington Natural Gas, PSE became the only utility in Washington – public or private – that has to meet rigid, state-imposed performance standards. Each year customers grade its services and PSE publishes the results. In 1998-1999, amid one of the stormiest, wettest and windiest periods on record, PSE met or exceeded all 10 of its stringent service-quality criteria, ranging from the number and duration of power outages to overall customer satisfaction. In Whatcom County, 93 percent of PSE customers gave the company high marks for overall service.

PSE is installing new, automated meters in Whatcom County. This technology senses any problems immediately so PSE can fix them even faster. The meters also will give customers better information to help them control power use at their home or business.

PSE serves more than 1.2 million customers. The company supports many community organizations with contributions and many of its employees volunteer on various boards and committees. Also, many of its hydroelectric facilities, including those at Baker Lake and Snoqualmie Falls, provide outstanding recreational opportunities for public use.

For more information about PSE or assistance with home energy needs, call (888) 225-5773.

 

Resort Semiahmoo

Nestled on the northern Whatcom County shoreline amidst peaceful and secluded surroundings, Resort Semiahmoo is the ideal location for vacations, business conferences, banquets and more.

The Inn at Semiahmoo, owned by Trillium Corp., is the cornerstone of Resort Semiahmoo. It offers 198 luxurious, oversized guest rooms, three restaurants, a health club and spa and more than 20,000 square feet of facilities for meetings and conferences.

Resort Semiahmoo also offers two of the top golf courses in the state. Semi-ahmoo Golf Course was designed in 1986 by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer. Just last year, Resort Semiahmoo purchased the challenging Loomis Trail course, which has the second-highest slope rating in the state and water coming into play on every hole.

A 300-slip marina is among the amenities at Resort Semiahmoo.

For more information, call (360) 371-2000 or (800) 770-7992.

 

Towner Press

Founded in 1895, Towner Press is a family owned, full-service commercial printer at 109 W. Chestnut St., Bellingham. It specializes in high quality, four-color work as well as specialty services such as embossing, foil stamping, raised printing and die cutting. It also offers a complete bindery.

As the oldest continually operated print shop in Washington state, Towner Press takes pride in providing fine printing at reasonable prices.

For more information, call (360) 733-8870.