The Kent Chamber of Commerce's March membership luncheon March 2 will feature best-selling author Patrick Snow, also known as the "Dean of Destiny," for his inspiring look at how businesses - and the people who comprise them - can achieve their best.
The event runs 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Meridian Valley Country Club, 14830 136th Ave. S.E., Kent.
Snow found his calling as a coach and speaker after being laid off, following the economic downturn associated with 9/11; and then again in 2002, in the high-tech sales industry, when he decided to retire from corporate America on his own terms.
The Kent Chamber of Commerce Education Committee meets 2 p.m. March 1 at the chamber office, 524 W. Meeker St., Kent. One of the chamber's newest committees, the group seeks to strengthen the connection between the local business community and education, through development of partnerships between the two entities. The committee is in partnership with the Kent Community Foundation, a non-profit organization rooted in the chamber, and operating to engage community support as a way of enhancing learning for Kent and Covington children.
For more information about the education committee, contact chamber Executive Director Andrea Keikkala at 253-854-1770. To learn more about the Kent Community Foundation, visit www.kentcf.org.
Kona Kai Coffee Co. of Kent was one of three Washington restaurants recognized this month for excellence in community service. The downtown coffee house was a state winner of the 2011 Restaurant Neighbor Award and now in the running for national award.
Applebee’s Restaurant had a grand-opening ceremony Feb. 14, with festivities lasting through the week. The restaurant is located at 25442 104th Avenue S.E.. The opening event featured a ribbon-cutting with Mayor Suzette Cooke, with attendees from around the Kent business community.
Reds Wine Bar, one of Kent Station's newest businesses, is planning a grand opening celebration Feb. 4 and 5, including a ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m. Feb. 4, followed by live music at 6 p.m.
The new wine bar is located across from the Sound Transit parking garage. Owned by husband and wife team Nick and Angela Xavier of Kent, Reds features a selection of regional wines along with artisan-crafted beers.
The Kent Downtown Partnership is having its next Downtown Breakfast Hour 7 a.m. Feb. 11 at the Kent ShoWare Center.
Called "Time to Rise and Thrive," the morning program will have several element, including the introduction of new Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas, updates on the city-owned ShoWare Center, the status of the city's part-way built parking garage, and Green River Community College's Kirk Davis, speaking about how local businesses can "rise and thrive" in the current economy.
Kent residents and business owners near the Green River will soon find out how new preliminary Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance maps could impact them.
FEMA will present the new flood maps at an open house from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St.
For George Patterson, it was the sticker shock.
The former Army medic needed a tune-up for his Jeep Grand Cherokee, and learned it would cost the hefty sum of $600 at a repair shop. But if he did it himself, it would be only $200-$300.
To anyone who's ever considered owning a franchise store, an upcoming seminar in Kent could help point the way.
A 7-Eleven franchise seminar will run 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 27, at a Kent 7-Eleven office located at 20819 72nd Ave. S., Suite 800.
Pacific Network Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of support for SKYLINE software, Property Management Accounting Solutions, and Information Technology for real estate, earlier this month announced the opening of an office in Kent.
AAA Washington has opened a branch office in Kent.
The insurance agency, based in Bellevue, is continuing its goal of having AAA offices in communities that are most convenient to members by opening a new insurance-only office in Kent. AAA offers a full line of personal insurance products - home, auto, life, travel, renters, umbrella, watercraft - from a variety of companies.
Gang activity is on the rise.
Less than two weeks ago outside Southcenter Mall, a gang confrontation resulted in gunfire and a multi-agency police response. A day later, a few miles down the road in Maple Valley, a 19-year-old man and 16-year-old girl were injured in a gang-related shooting on the Lake Wilderness Trail.
In the December 2010 issue of Seattle magazine, Kent Realtor® Marti Reeder of John L. Scott was named a Five Star Real Estate Agent for Overall Satisfaction.
National Guard and Reserve members and their families across Washington have the opportunity to give the gift of thanks to civilian employers who go above and beyond in support of their military service by nominating them for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
Kent Station is sharing the holiday spirit this season by giving back to children and families in the community. In partnership with BECU, Calvary Community Church, Project U(th), and Kiwanis Key Club, Kent Station is sponsoring a Giving Tree, accepting donations for holiday meals for families in need, and offering a gift-wrapping station.
Learn about keeping an eye out for crime and protecting your business Thursday.
The Kent Downtown Partnership is sponsoring a community crime-prevention meeting from 9-10 a.m. at Maggie's on Meeker (307 W. Meeker.)
Pacific Metal Fabrication, Inc., will be hosting an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, at their manufacturing-operations center in Kent. The facility is located at 833 First Ave. S.
This 19,000-square-foot fabrication space is nearly double the size of the company's previous shop space in Pacific.
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation is having a grand reopening celebration of its Kent location at 3:30-5:30 p.m. at its office at 325 W. Gowe St.
Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke will cut the grand-opening ribbon at 4 p.m. The event will be catered by locally owned Kona Kai Coffee Co. The public is invited to drop by to meet Valley Cities staff, as well as to see the newly remodeled building.
Valley Cities is a community behaviora
The biggest shopping season of the year was right around the corner, and earlier this week, a regional retail complex in Kent was gearing up with high hopes.
“Obviously Black Friday is a big day for us,” said John Hinds, general manager of Kent Station, of the day that officially opened the Christmas shopping season. “This is really our time of the year.”
The recession may be alive and well, but for Kent Station, Hinds said, business actually has been up – “we’re really happy – our comparison sales have been in the double digits all year,” he said. “This is a very good sign – not only for Kent Station, but also the economy.”
The reward of work took a new twist for Kevin Johnson as he helped repair a 1999 Ford Windstar van last week inside a Kent body shop along Pacific Highway South.
Johnson, a technician at Precision Collision Auto Body, joined fellow employees and other businesses to repair the van as a donation to Food Lifeline, a nonprofit group based in Shoreline that distributes to food banks across Western Washington.
