Business Pulse
Survive and Thrive
Mike Hammes Wins Lifetime Achievement As RAM Construction Celebrates 30 Years Construction is in Mike Hammes’ DNA. Always fascinated by massive equipment, at age 12 he started working for a couple of uncles in the business, cleaning up construction jobsites, picking…
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Quinn + Foster
Christine Hayward, owner of the contemporary clothing boutique Quinn + Foster, opened her store downtown in 2017 with a 5-year lease, which ended during the pandemic lockdown. She moved Quinn + Foster to Fairhaven in 2022. (Remarks have been edited.) Q: Why did you…
Greenhouse Home
Bre Green is co-owner with husband Eric of the specialty décor, housewares, and furniture store Greenhouse in downtown Bellingham. The couple bought the store in 2017. Bre is the hands-on manager; Eric is a realtor. (Remarks have been edited.) Q. How did you survive…
Downtown – How’s It Doing?
A variety of viewpoints Mayor Lund and Police Chief Mertzig responded cooperatively when asked about the status of downtown. (Remarks have been edited) Q. When did the city hire private contractor Risk Solutions Unlimited to act as downtown security patrols in…
I See Pyramids Being Built
Memories of Business Pulse Business writing sounds like it’s about numbers and products, about profit and loss. After 12 years of writing for Business Pulse, I know it’s about passion. Over and over, I’m astounded at what businesspeople in Whatcom County accomplish,…
Bellingham Minimum Wage
Washington, which in 2024 was the highest minimum-wage state in the nation (only Washington D.C. was higher), raised it further to $16.66 an hour effective January 2025. Cities can set minimum wages higher. Bellingham’s minimum wage is $1 above the state, meaning that…
Historic company looks forward
Bellingham Cold Storage is a pillar on working waterfront Iconic. Vibrant. Historic. Futuristic. Bellingham Cold Storage, a fixture on Bellingham’s working waterfront for almost 80 years, is all of these. BCS is a cold storage and frozen food processing company that…
Let’s do business, eh?
Canadian businesses like Whatcom County. Most businesses here already have some connection to our northern neighbor, said John Michener, economic development project manager at Port of Bellingham.
Passing the torch at Team Technology
Goodbyes are hard. Business owners know that as well as anyone. Patty Seaman, president and owner of the computer consulting firm Team Technology, took five years to decide on her succession plan.
Designed in Bellingham, built wherever
Simon Graves’ embryonic business was born in Bellingham and is flourishing in this city’s unique economic microclimate.
Gone phishing? Cybercrime targets Whatcom County businesses
In 2021, according to technology research firm Comparitech, 79% of U.S. businesses reported falling victim to a successful phishing attack, and $2.4 million was stolen via business email, a 28% increase over the previous year.
The great (and disastrous) flood
The story of Noah and the flood in Genesis is multifaceted. The story of Whatcom County and its flood can be viewed through just two lenses: flood recovery and how to avoid such disasters going forward.
How to help them help you
COVID-19 is forcing us to rethink how we work. In this new setting, what can Whatcom County employers do to promote best work practices for their employees and their companies?
Industrious Innovators
How are business leaders throughout Whatcom County innovating in their industries? Here, six area businesses address innovation in recruiting, sales and marketing, technology, distribution, customer experience, and strategy. Ever since Diana Ambauen-Meade started…
Do local policies constrain local housing? Developers, realtors say yes
Bellingham ranks among the least affordable cities in the nation, comparing housing costs to local incomes. Are local governments’ policies contributing to that? The median home in Bellingham costs 7.3 times more than the median income here. Nationally, a typical home…
