Meet Andrea Evans. She's an avid knitter, a knows-her-numbers business woman, and has one of those warm souls that make you feel welcome the moment you meet her. Andrea developed her yarn sales and subscription box business through interpersonal connection at their storefront, nonprofit support projects, and online educational and community-buildin…

Meet Brad Barron. Fourth generation Barron and current CEO, he's a community-minded leader dedicated to the development of trades in Whatcom County. In this episode, he talks about generational leadership and imposter syndrome, why to document systems in a growing company, and the importance of taking care of coworkers first and foremost. Follow th…

Join Leo (host) and Tiffany (producer) in the studio as we reflect on five seasons and 40 episodes of the Building Bellingham Podcast. We talk growth, failure, balancing our entrepreneurial and administrative energies, and our goals for this local business podcast. Thanks to all who've joined in along the way, and we'll see you all in Season 6! Fol…

Meet Chas Kubis. Serial entrepreneur and iconic Bellingham restaurateur, he's the driving force behind Black Sheep's fried chicken tacos and the guy that bar staff call on when an oven breaks at 7:30 on a Friday night. In this episode, he talks hard conversations, the incubation space of multiple restaurant concepts, the early days of breweries & f…

Meet Jesse Parker, Master Blender at the award-winning Doc Swinson's American whiskey brand. In this episode, we hear how a 20-something kid won a national gin award, how a small business that began with ten casks has grown to an operation with thousands of casks, how a small distillery in Ferndale is ranking - and winning - in national and interna…

Meet Matt Mini, THE Funky of Funky's Hot Sauce; he's a master of creating artisanal hot sauces with a zing of garlic or a fruit-forward sweetness that still packs a lot of heat. In this episode, we hear about his years of developing recipes, how he moved from kitchen to kitchen (and how narrow the temperature range has to be for fermented foods), a…

Meet Charmae Scheffer; she's a high-energy people lover with a passion for caring for dogs while their parents are at work or on vacation. In this episode, we hear how Charmae juggled raising seven kids while growing a fledgling business, how the Whatcom County zoning code changed due to the Scheffers' efforts, and how Charmae works to develop the …

Meet Andi Vann; she's a high-energy dessert aficionado with a passion for giving joy to others through yummy treats. In this episode, we hear how she left a corporate consulting job to work as an independent baker, how she and Nick renovated their cafe on a shoestring budget, and how she approaches each day with a customer-first mindset. Follow the…

Meet Clarito Zapanta; he's a filmmaker, director and executive producer with an affinity for Air Jordans and a passion for creating TV and feature film productions right here in Bellingham. In this episode, we hear how he and Kristina grew IAJ Media from a marketing agency into a full-time film studio, how he dug deep into personal development, and…

Meet Emile Diffley; he's the 28 year-old owner of Banter Hospitality, a counter-service restaurant known for its bright atmosphere and iconic breakfast burrito. In this episode, we learn about Emile's history working in different cities, his passion for quality food and smooth operations, and the challenges to providing a unique-yet-familiar food e…

Welcome to Season 5 of the Building Bellingham Podcast! We're joined in the studio by Brad Wilske, co-owner of Lost Giants Cider Co. In this episode, we learn about the difference between cider apples and culinary apples, the cost of installing a canning line, and weighing the cost and reach of distribution. Brad goes into the mindset of "we're all…

Executive Director Alice Clark and Program Director Lindsey Payne Johnstone joined us to tell about the role DBP plays in keeping our downtown core vibrant and thriving. The Downtown Bellingham Partnership (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) is famous for is events - First Fridays, Wine Walk, and especially the iconic Downtown Sounds, a free-admission outdoor …

In 2000, Krissy Moehl ran her first ultra - the Chuckanut 50k, which is one of the oldest and largest races of its type in North America. She set a course record, took over as race director in 2003, and began to pursue running professionally. She's the author of Running Your First Ultra and is a Patagonia® ambassador. In this episode, Krissy tells …

Sweet As Waffles began as an idea back in 2015 and a grueling road trip in 2018. Nate and Graham wanted to bring waffles to downtown Bellingham's late-night scene in a new, funky, hole-in-the-wall type spot. Over the years, they've built a solid menu of complex sweet and savory waffles along with their rotating "Waffle of the Week-ish". Today, the …

Triple Wren Farms began in 2012 as a cut flower farm; Sarah and Steve grew florist favorites and trucked them up and down I-5 until the day of a certain King County wedding, brake lights, and a broken iPhone. Over the decade, they've pivoted, grown, shrunk and adjusted until reaching the current iteration: retail dahlia tuber sales. Today, the 20-a…

Brothers Chay Tan and Lee Tan purchased Coconut Kenny's back in 2004. Chay tells the stories of the early days - purchasing on an owner contract, slinging real estate to pay the bills, and stretching every marketing dollar. Now, the family-owned chain has 7 stores in 3 counties and has opened up co-ownership opportunities to their employees and man…

Greg Klassen's woodworking journey began as a newlywed making furniture out of door scraps. Later he would design the original River® table - live edge wood with blue glass. Greg's distinctive style, his grit in going to show after show after show with little results, and his willingness to learn marketing and write an infinity of press releases an…

Stemma Brewing Co began as a business plan while owner Jason Harper was a student at WWU. He got an inside look at the industry while working for a local distribution company and completed multiple levels of the Cicerone certification. In this episode, he and Leo talk about the importance of both subject matter education and business savvy, how co-…

AB Crepes just celebrated its 10 year anniversary, and to kick off Season 4 we sat down with owner Bayly Peterson. We talk late-night party vibes, negative Yelp reviews, and the sheer grit and work it took to run a new business while a full-time student. This year, Bayly and his business partner opened Otherside Bagel Co. Taking the lessons of AB C…

In this episode, we sat down with Ari and Paul to taste chocolate and talk about their journey: from squinting at chocolate bars in a grocery store, to landing 500 retail stores on the West Coast, to expanding into back-end manufacturing (and the ramifications of the new chocolate chip machine). Paul and Ari shared insights into the direct trade ch…

In this episode, Tony tells the story of his relentless desire to create. From scaling up (and back down again) Moceri Construction, to freelance writing for local publications, to promoting small yard games on social media, he brings energy and drive to a situation. Leo and Tony dig into real estate investing, mindset, and the importance of kindne…

Widnor Farms offers beef, chicken, lamb and pork along with other farm goods. In this episode, Brianna tells us about the process of transforming a rundown farmhouse into a home, and arid land into pasture that feeds their rotating herds of cows, pigs, lambs and chickens. Throughout the story, she talks about the challenge farmers have finding proc…

Bob Kramer forges some of the most sought-after kitchen knives in the world, and he has been featured in articles by the New York Times, Saveur, and Wall Street Journal. In this episode, Bob tells the story of a young man flying to six cities seeking the secret to knife sharpening, opening a storefront in the heart of Seattle, stacking up a two-yea…

Well friends, it's been 2.5 years, 19 feature-length episodes and 45 livestreams since the Building Bellingham Podcast began. And so for our 20th show, Leo and Tiffany take a deep-dive into the creation and growth of the show, and the challenges and mindset shifts they've had along the way. They talk branding, leaning down and livestreaming during …

Storia Cucina means "kitchen history" in Italian. This popular downtown Bellingham restaurant is the brainchild of Chef Jonathan Cicotti, formerly a restauranteur in San Francisco. The restaurant opened in May 2020 and quickly became a Bellingham favorite, thanks to delicious recipes from Jonathan's Italian heritage and the his commitment to sourci…

Kelsey’s entrepreneurial journey began at the young age of 11 with her Grandpa Paul, who taught her the secrets about connecting first, and selling second. Today, she’s built her business around that concept as a branding educator and photographer. Known for her big personality, bold colors, and wearing a jumpsuit to photoshoots, Kelsey is an unapo…

When you think of Hardware Sales, you're probably thinking of the place you go when you need nuts and bolts, or to rent a power washer (and you'd be right). But did you know about the 56,000 sq ft warehouse in Indiana? Or the consulting work they do for Amazon sellers in their industry? Or how one idea from an employee saved 132 hours of labor per …

Season 3 is just around the corner, but before that, here are some thoughts from Leo! Building Bellingham's host reflects on the last two years of conversations with local entrepreneurs. He also goes into why the topic of failure comes up in every interview. Website: https://livebellinghamnow.com/building_bellingham Facebook: https://www.facebook.c…

Frank Muljat founded the Muljat Group Realtors, a brokerage that now has multiple offices in our county, and has become a widely-recognized name. In 2017, Frank Muljat sold the business to his son, Troy Muljat, himself known for his 30 years of commercial appraising and investment experience. Troy is a trusted housing market data source, regularly …

Read by Plumbing Chas Submarine Day Will plumbing antifreeze melt ice? A plumbing joke We are testing out Instagram, (plumberchas) check us out. Now on Spotify, Apple, Google and other Podcast platforms; Subscribe or Follow Now! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plumbing-chas/message…

Read by Plumbing Chas National Hug Your Dog Day Hedlund Plumbing has some great tips for sump pump owners...via wilx.com Oklahoma County Jail official says longstanding water pressure problems...via kfor.com Here are some plumbing secrets from the pros...via click2houston.com We are testing out Instagram, (plumberchas) check us out. Now on Spotify,…

Read by Plumbing Chas Palm Sunday | British Summer Time Edition Walters: Modular housing could be an answer to California crisis...via mercurynews.com The complex plumbing of Yellowstone’s Steamboat Geyser...via greatfallstribune.com Orange County Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Company Sees Spike In Growth for 2020-2021...via digitaljournal.com Wit…

Read by Plumbing Chas Happy Garden Weeds Day! Arizona-Based Cummings Plumbing Shares Insights on Hot Water Supply Systems for Homeowners...via finance.yahoo.com Bathroom design ideas for 2021: Hansgrohe gives the global audience many flavours at Aqua Days...via buildingsandinteriors.com Kanawha County Schools working on several HVAC renovations to …

Brothers Ryan & BJ Flood took over the brewery and offsite tap-room in 2019. Menace Brewing in the Fountain District has played host to trivia nights, open mic, and movie showings. The Local is nestled between Casa Que Pasa and Cafe Adagio on Railroad, and has 36 rotating taps, showcasing independent local breweries. They’re also known for having t…

Read by Plumbing Chas Plumbing supplier Ferguson rewards shareholders after profit jump..via reuters.com Plumbing supplies still difficult to find following winter storms...via fox7austin.com Aqua Plumbing & Air Celebrates National Sleep Awareness Week...via patch.com PEX pipe maker Uponor donates $30,000 for Texas storm relief...via plasticsnews.c…

Read by Plumbing Chas HVAC Contractors Endure the Texas Freeze-Out...via achrnews.com Plumber: Sit down and think before changing a toilet seat...via readingeagle.com Chicago River dyed green for St. Patrick's Day in surprise move from the city...via nbcnews.com Floyds Knobs resident featured as home expert in local TV shows...via news.ahoo.com Now…

Read by Plumbing Chas IoT HVAC System Expands into Building Remote Monitoring...via einnews.com Applewood Plumbing’s Quarterly Caring Community Giveaway goes to the Community Reach Center...via yourhub.denverpost.com Mastering the craft of HVAC - The Lima News...via limaohio.com Spacewalkers Take Extra Safety Precautions for Toxic Ammonia...via usn…

Read by Plumbing Chas Rep. Schaefer’s bill to cut red tape in plumbing gets committee assignment...via ktre.com Brown County Jail gets new HVAC systems this week...via newspressnow.com Perfect time to get a new furnace | By Travis Roell and Jon Bohn from Albiero Plumbing & HVAC...via washingtoncountyinsider.com Now on Spotify, Apple, Google and oth…

Read by Plumbing Chas Hot New Heat Pumps...via plumbingmag.com There’s more to building an outhouse in Maine than just digging a hole...via bangordailynews.com Houston Texans players partner with local plumbing company to provide free repairs...via click2houston.com Bill to improve HVAC systems at schools moves forward...via kob.com Plumber | Kampa…

Read by Plumbing Chas Repost Top 5 Smart Bathroom Trends in 2021 via Hello Mr Steam...via replypdi.blog Spring is on the way: Local expert offers advice to get your home ready...via prnewswire.com Texas winter storm shows need for plumbers and there's a way to get in on the industry...via abc13news.com He clung to a tree for hours to escape death i…

Read by Plumbing Chas Durham HVAC company using scholarships as a way to train, recruit new employees...via cbs17.com What You Know About HVAC And What You Do Not Know About HVAC...via newsanyway.com IWSH Sponsors Poster Contest for 12th Annual World Plumbing Day...via prnewswire.com Local plumber describes his journey to owning his own business...…

Read by PlumbingChas Trade skill training adapting to pandemic challenges...via hearld-dispatch.com Baltimore’s strip clubs reopen as COVID pandemic perils lurk...via baltimoresun.com Bexar County expands plumbing repair aid to deal with winter storm damage...via ken5.com The Most Common Summer Plumbing Problems...via southfloridareporter.com Truck…

Knorr-Bremse to supply HVAC systems for 606 new BVG metro cars...via railway-technology.com City of Cocoa Offering Online Building Permits Including Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC...via spacecoastdaily.com 5 tips to help New York homeowners better prepare for spring...via PR Newswire Tucker Hill Air, Plumbing, & Electric Shares 2021 Company Focus on…

Royal Valley board looking at repairs to elementary HVAC...via holtonrecorder.net Tips for changing your HVAC filters...via kctv5.com How to Hire a Plumber...via forbes.com Voted Best Plumbing of 2021(Readers Poll)...via atascaderonews.com World Plumbing Day is happening on March 11...via hpacmag.com Listen on Apple, Spotify, and other podcasts ---…

Read by Plumbing Chas Absinthe Day Greetings Baraboo Man Accused Of Multiple Burglaries...via madison.com Countering Coronavirus...via buildingproducts.co.uk Predicting What Could be...via plumbermag.com Danbury Plumbing and HVAC Acquisition...via westfaironline.com Emergency Plumbing Repairs...via news.cctexas.com and more... --- Send in a voice m…

Vocational Education...news from across the pond via fenews.co.uk Free Pre Apprenticeship program...via wflx.com Burlington High School program for the trades...via homenewshere.com Blue Ridge and HARDI to host webinar..via digitaljournal.com Plumbing company launches apprenticeship program...via record-eagle.com --- Send in a voice message: https:…

Read by PlumberChas Starting off with a bad plumber bit... Western Style toilets in Japan... via MSN Dirty Floors, Bad plumbing, Inspections in York county...via Pennlive New Jersey man still working in Texas...via Yahoo News Bexar County plumbing assistance...and California contractors...via KSAT Construction Myths...via Tucson.com --- Send in a v…

Read by Plumber Chas Best Toilets of 2021 (the editor should, well you'll see)...from Yahoo News. A travel mascot that promotes a plumbing company via RVtravel.com Tucker Hill promotes formal schooling in the trades via Benzinga.com Squared Away promotes a new service also via Benzinga.com Texas still in the news as well. Another joke finishes thin…

Plumbing News and Views with Plumbing Chas Plumbing supplies arrive in North Texas, Seattle Washington Plumbing company offering paid apprenticeships, Plumber Gets Rave Reviews for Its Quick Emergency Response Times, and more including a plumbing joke. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plumbing-chas/message…

P l u m b I n g T e x a s s t o r m --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plumbing-chas/message