Business and community leaders from across Grays Harbor gathered at the Quinault Beach Resort &Casino Friday night to honor eight of the area’s most innovative and successful enterprises.
The annual Leaders Banquet and Business Recognition Awards emphasized a theme of “Healthy Harbor,” and it included a keynote address by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer on how to build support for a healthy local economy.
Kilmer used the Seahawks as his backdrop for a story about how to be successful in business, too. He told of hearing Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll on the radio talking about why the team won a Super Bowl championship.
“What Pete Carroll said was that the reason the Seahawks are Super Bowl champions is because of the 12th man. He said, ‘The 12th man is real, and they are the difference maker.’”
Economic development, Kilmer continued, is exactly the same.
“It actually takes a 12th man to grow economic opportunity in our community,” he said.
Business leaders who invest in their community are the 12th man, the congressman continued. “You are the 12th man. Citizens who support the local employers are the 12th man. Non-profit leaders like those being honored tonight … are the 12th man.”
The event was hosted by Greater Grays Harbor Inc.
Tom Quigg of Windermere Real Estate of Ocean Shores was given special recognition and a standing ovation for being honored with the John Loyle Spirit of the Community Award. The award is named for the former deputy director with the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, who brought $150 million into the community in grants over the years to help dislocated workers. Quigg and his Windermere business was lauded for carrying on the tradition of giving back to the community and service to the Harbor; locally, Windermere recently donated to the North Beach School District’s emergency needs fund.
Taking top honors in the non-profit category was the Grays Harbor Community Foundation, with finalist Habitat for Humanity of Grays Harbor.
The new business honor went to Reed Composites, which manufactures composite-based protection armor at the Port of Grays Harbor’s Innovation Zone facility. In September, Reed Composites was sold to Hesco Bastion, a larger company that makes products to protect people during conflicts and natural disasters. The finalist in the new business category was Grays Harbor Wine Sellars, which located in the old Aberdeen Elks Building.
The small business winner was Jay’s Farm Stand in Aberdeen, which moved this past year to the old Olympic Candy Co. building on Heron Street. The finalist was Ocean Crest Resort in Moclips, which recently rebuilt its view restaurant that burned down in a 2011 fire.
The large business winner was Pasha Automotive, which recently shipped its 300,000th vehicle through the Port of Grays Harbor.
The finalist for large business was Masco Petroleum, which this past year bought out the assets to Pettit Oil, saving 25 local jobs and jobs in Port Angeles as well.
New Greater Grays Harbor CEO Andre “Dru” Garson introduced himself to many in the crowd for the first time. He said he spent the past 11 years working in Alaska state government before taking on the new job, succeeding Tim Gibbs, who departed in May.
“I enjoy a challenge,” Garson said of why he left state government work. “I wanted more of a responsibility, I wanted to be able to make more of a difference.”
In addition to being a Development Specialist with the Alaska Department of Commerce and Community Economic Development in Juneau, Garson has worked with disadvantaged regions of Alaska to develop and establish economic development and tourism programs. Garson has his master’s degree in resource recreation and tourism, and has worked in many regions of Alaska to develop tourism and workforce development with focus on key industry clusters in that state.
“Coming down here was a great experience for me because when I came to the community, I felt welcomed here,” Garson said of his first tour of Grays Harbor, which included stops at the Port, Grays Harbor PUD and Grays Harbor Community Hospital.
“I got the sense that this is a really strong community that really understands and values economic development,” Garson said.
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