January 11, 2010 How’s Business Newsletter

This is an important time in Spokane's history. The 2010 US Olympic Figure Skating team will be chosen here during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Jan 14-24 at the Spokane Arena. Good seats are still available and your help is needed to break another attendance record. December ticket sales were strong and early January sales have continued to escalate. January 5th marked the biggest ticket sales day thus far, bringing event tickets sold to 133,120. Spokane may be able to earn the impressive distinction of setting a ticket sales record for the U.S. Figure Skating National Championships for the second time. New all-event and weekend packages have been released by U.S. Figure Skating and can now be purchased by the public. These seats are close to the ice, but have partially obstructed views. They were being held for use by officials, but are no longer needed for that purpose and are available to the public. They will be sold at a discount. Beddor continued, "These are great seats--I'd sit in one in a second. You may have a camera sweep in front of you occasionally, but they'll be close to the action." Information on these new limited-view packages is on the event web site: www.spokane2010.com

Additionally, single tickets are still available for all of the 23 events. Ticket prices start at $15, and there are nine different events priced at $20 or less, so there's something for every budget.

The 2010 Championships have the added excitement of taking place 18 days before the winter Olympics begin in Vancouver, British Columbia. World class elite skaters from around the country will compete at the Spokane Arena for a national title and ultimately the chance to be selected as part of the U.S. Figure Skating team to compete in Vancouver in January. It's a unique chance to see the athletes in person, days before they'll go for the gold on a world stage.

Individual tickets and ticket package information is available online at www.spokane2010.com or by calling 1-888-SK8-2010, or to save ticketing fees, tickets can be purchased in person at the Spokane Arena Box Office. Go buy a ticket and participate in history!

Barb and Toby of Star USA, are asking businesses to help promote the event by running messages on reader boards, advertising and other communications over the next 2 weeks.

This Monday through Thursday: HELP SPOKANE SHINE IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT - GET YOUR TICKETS NOW - www.spokane2010.com

This Friday through next Sunday January 24th:

WELCOME TO SPOKANE - SKATE CITY USA

Here's another event of epic proportions that you won't want to miss. Join US Figure Skating Sunday, January 24th for the Destination Vancouver Send-off Dinner. The entire 2010 US Olympic Figure skating team will be presented to the world for the first time, right here in Spokane. In addition, 12 former US Figure Skating Olympic Gold medal champions will be here; scheduled to attend include Dick Button (1948, 52), Tenley Albright (1956), Hayes Jenkins (1956), Carol Heiss (1960), David Jenkins (1960), Peggy Fleming (1968), Dorothy Hamill (1976), Scott Hamilton (1984), Brian Boitano (1988), Kristi Yamaguchi (1992), Tara Lipinski (1998) and Sarah Hughes (2002). VIP reception, Cocktail Hour, and Dinner included. For more information on this once in a lifetime event, go to usfigureskating.org or call Stacey Marsh at 719-321-0931.

Spokane's Convention and Visitors Bureau is predicting a banner year in 2010. CEO Harry Sladich says four major booked conventions alone will generate $17 million in business and the US figure Skating Championships will potentially generate $10 million. In addition, Spokane will host NCAA basketball this spring, and the American Legion World Series this summer, bringing in another $15 million into Spokane's local economy. Way to go CVB! Thanks!

Communities in Schools is looking for some leaders. Each year in Spokane County over 1,500 students drop out of school. This is a tragic number, but you can be part of the solution. In the past year, over 100 community business leaders and partners have spoken to students about careers, staying in school and the importance of perseverance. Communities in Schools is again looking for leaders like you! Contact Ben Stuckart at ben@cisspokane.org for a schedule of openings so you can make a difference! This would be a one time, one hour commitment. Please consider volunteering your time.

Valley Hospital and Medical Center has hired Sasha Jackowich as director of marketing and communications. She previously worked as director of marketing and communications for St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, a three hospital system in Las Vegas, NV. Jackowich is a native of Spokane and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Art History and Public Policy Studies from Duke University. Her email is jackows@empirehealth.org. Valley Hospital and Medical Center is a licensed 123-bed acute care hospital, owned by Community Health Systems and fully accredited by The Joint Commission and located in Spokane Valley, Washington.

Construction on a new, two story, 26,000 square foot building named the Liberty Lake Health and Wellness Center is set to begin in the next few weeks. The $5 million center, located at 1334 North Whitman Lane in the Liberty Lake Commons area, is being built by Baker Construction with Bernardo Wills as architects. It should be competed six to eight months after construction starts. About 5,000 square feet of space in the building has been leased by Columbia Medical Associates, LLC of Spokane, a primary care physician group. A physical therapy office and medical imaging service provider will also be tenants in the new building. About 4,000 square feet of space is still available. Two other nearby buildings, costing about $1million each, are also being built by Baker Construction. One is a dentist office, the other a multi-tenant office building. Baker Construction's phone number is 509-535-3668 and the website is www.bakerconstruct.com

January 23 is National Pie Day, and Cyrus O'Leary Pies is celebrating by giving back to our community. Cyrus O'Leary's has won a gold medal the past two years at the APC/Crisco¨ National Pie Championships for the best use of citrus. Their lemon meringue and sour cream and lemon were voted number one in the United States. They win numerous national awards every year for their pies, made right here in Spokane. Cyrus O'Leary's Pies will be getting involved in National Pie Day on January 23rd in many ways. First, they will be giving pies to the following: local police & fire departments; local Pearl Harbor Survivors & other Veterans Groups; local COPS (Community Oriented Police Substations) volunteers; Second Harvest Food Bank; and volunteers at two local elementary schools. They will also "Pie Forward" to individuals and businesses. They'll even discount pies to Fairchild Air Force Base commissary. Always a good corporate citizen, Cyrus O'Leary's Pies also won an AGORA Award from the Spokane Chamber of Commerce in 2004. So celebrate National Pie Day, go out and buy an award-winning, local favorite, Cyrus O'Leary's Pie and give it away; and get one for yourself! For more information go to http://www.cyruspies.com.

Elizabeth Casteel of Flowerchild Designs, has been hired as the art director/lead graphic designer for Spokane Family Magazine. She has worked as a freelance graphic designer for the past 8 years and looks forward to working with Carol and Brad Leggett to bring their magazine to a new level. Spokane Family Magazine provides interesting and informative articles for the family as well as highlighting family-friendly events. The first issue was published in October 2009. Elizabeth joined their staff in December and can be reached at flowerchild@asisna.com

Achieveus, a local employee training company operated by Brad Leggett, presents a Customer Service "Creative" Workshop, Tuesday, January 26th, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon, or 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Centerplace Event Center, 2426 North Discovery Place in Spokane Valley. Take-a-ways include: Learn how to keep the customer happy. Discover what the customer really wants. Learn how to get guaranteed referrals. Solid new ideas to "WOW" the customer. This workshop, based on Farrell's "Give 'em the Pickle" concept, is business category exclusive; you may bring up to 10 from your organization at a cost of $300 per table! Reserve your spot today by calling 509-723-6599, 509-723-6599 or go online to www.achieveus.com.

Charity Doyl, publisher of Northwest Woman Magazine and moderator of LaunchPad-INW Professional Women's Community, has partnered with LaunchPad Inland Northwest, LLC, The Holley Mason Building and the Montvale Hotel for Manic Monday events for 2010. Manic Mondays is a monthly networking event to toast what's hot & sassy in the Northwest. If you would like to be involved, distribute product samples, or donate door prizes they would like to hear from you. On Friday, January 29, 2010 from 1- 7 p.m. there will be an Open House to celebrate Northwest Woman Magazines' 10th Year Anniversary at the 5th Floor of the Holley Mason Building; #157 S. Howard. It will be catered by Catacombs. LaunchPad Inland Northwest, LLC provides business development services, professional network development and coaching and social media solutions and is the region's largest professional networking site. LaunchPadINW, LLC also hosts targeted business forums, workshops and networking events throughout the region. For more information please go to http://www.launchpadinw.com

Tomorrow at Twigs you can help support Junior Achievement during "Tuesday at Twigs." Call JA at 509-624-7114 and get an emailed coupon that will provide a donation of 10% of your total food and beverage purchase to Junior Achievement. Go to any of the Twigs locations, River Park Square, South Hill or Wandermere tomorrow, Eat, drink, enjoy and help the JA kids. They are the business leaders of the future.

Tickets are on sale now for the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual Awards of Excellence Gala. The event is Saturday, January 30th at CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Discover who will be the next Citizen of the Year, Small, Medium and Large Business of the Year, Non Profit of the Year, Chamber Volunteer of the Year and the Community Caring Award. 6:00pm Social Hour & Silent Auction; 7:00pm Dinner; 8:00pm Award Presentation; 9:30pm Dancing. Cost is $52.00 per person; $400.00 for table of 8. Advance ticket purchase required. Call 509-924-4994 for information and reservations or visit www.spokanevalleychamber.org

The annual Book of Lists is now on sale at the Journal of Business. The Book of Lists is a comprehensive catalog of information about local business and business contacts. It's available in the original hard-copy format or in downloadable digital form; it is a valuable tool for business direct-mail programs. Throughout the year, the Journal of Business publishes lists highlighting the major players in a given sector, including banks and savings & loans, contractors, credit unions, accounting firms, golf courses, and hospitals. These lists are later reprinted in the annual Book of Lists complete with contact names, addresses, phone numbers and websites. Each list is compiled and produced by the JOB editorial department and edited and the 2010 book was delivered to subscribers on January 1, but additional print copies can be purchased for $19.95 now by calling 509-344-1280, going to www.spokanejournal.com, or stopping by the Journal of Business offices at 3rd and Sherman. A digital version will be available on January 18.

NBC on Sunday made official what had been widely rumored: After the Winter Olympics, the network will jettison Jay Leno's prime-time show in favor of scripted and other programming, and give him back the 11:35 p.m. slot. The fate of "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien, who has not yet signed off on the new plan, is up in the air, according to these reports.

The business thought of the week is from Olympic gold medalist, figure skating legend Scott Hamilton: "The high road is always respected. Honesty and integrity are always rewarded."

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