http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/ Latest blog entries from staff at Business Examiner en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:53:43 PDT Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:53:43 PDT Business Examiner CMS http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/yelm-medical-services-to-expand/ Yelm Family Medicine, Providence Health and Services and RDS, LLC of Olympia, announced plans for  the anticipated construction of a new 36,000-square-foot medical office building and surrounding medical park in Yelm.  ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:54:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/regulatory-burdens-gets-hearing/ The House of Representatives' Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care and Trade will hold a hearing entitled the "Regulatory Burdens on Small Firms: What Rules Need Reform?" The hearing will be held in the nation's capital next week. ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:36:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/high-impact-firms-dot-state/ Firms experiencing rapid growth in recent years can be found around Washington. ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:34:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/equipment-leasing-sees-jump/ The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association's Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, which reports economic activity for the $650 billion equipment finance sector, showed overall new business volume for the second quarter increased 3.2 percent when compared to the same period 2007.  ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:33:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/crop-prices-to-continue-climb/ Soaring energy prices will yield sharp increases for corn and soybean production next year, cutting into farmers' profits and stretching already high food costs, according to a new University of Illinois study. ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:32:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/pse-named-solar-power-leader/ Despite the Northwest's reputation for cloudy skies, Puget Sound Energy is receiving high marks for its work in developing solar energy resources. According to rankings released by the Solar Electric Power Association today, PSE merits a "Top 10 Solar Ranking" among all utilities across the country. ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:32:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/auburn-dealership-changes-hands/ Keith Hagerty has completed the sale of his Auburn Chrysler dealership, Brewer Chrysler, to Tom Matson Sr.  ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:30:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/people-on-move-46/ Master Builders Association of Pierce County has announced that it has hired Dawn Michelle Schooler as its new office manager. Schooler comes from a background in the home building industry. She previously worked at Signature Custom Homes as an administrative assistant and as a mortgage assistant at First Horizon Home Loans.Venture Bank has hired Danielle Chadwick as a customer service representative at its Lacey branch. It has also hired Anthony Graves as a operations mail room assistant in its DuPont location. ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:27:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/be-part-conversation/ Visit BusinessExaminer.com and voice your thoughts on today's news and read comments from other people in the South Sound's business community. The BE blog also offers RSS functions so you can see only the business news in your area as it happens. ... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:51:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/bes-40-photos-online/ The Business Examiner's sold out 40 Under Forty event last night recognized outstanding South Sound business and community leaders under the age of 40. ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:24:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/venture-to-offer-cd-coverage/ Beginning today, customers can now access multi-million dollar federal deposit insurance at Venture Bank.  ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:37:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/heritage-columbia-to-talk-at/ Heritage Financial Corp. and Columbia Bank officials will present at the Keefe Bruyette & Woods 2008 Ninth Annual Community Bank Investor Conference, taking place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York later this month. ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:36:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/state-targets-mortgage-broker/ An examination conducted by the Department of Financial Institutions concluded that Paramount Equity Mortgage, Inc., a licensed mortgage broker headquartered in California, has reportedly engaged in a number of deceptive lending practices. As a result of the findings, DFI has given notice that it intends to revoke Paramount's license to do business in Washington, fine the firm $500,000 and require restitution for borrowers. ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:35:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/blog-watch-military-matters/ The blog 5views.com has a run down of the Air Expo at McChord this weekend and thoughts about the support of the military in the South Sound. ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:34:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/coffee-break-legal-matters/ The Business Examiner would like to know what kinds of laws you would like politicians to pass and which you would like them to repeal. Raising the hands-free calling while driving rule to a primary offense tops my list as long as it would be enforced. ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:33:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/county-to-explore-public-private/ Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg has announced plans to hire a hospitality consulting company to explore the possibility of a county partnership with Illinois-based KemperSports Management to finance and build a new clubhouse, a restaurant and a hotel at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place. The hotel and clubhouse concept is consistent with the course's master plan. ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:48:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/olympia-project-takes-step-forward/ The Olympia Planning Commission voted 7-3 last night to recommend raising building-height limits on approximately four acres of land between Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet, bringing developer Triway Enterprises one step closer to building several residential and retail complexes on the site. The decision came as a delight to project manager and former city councilwoman Jeanette Hawkins. ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:01:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/state-cites-local-health-workers/ The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of the following health care providers in the South Sound: ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:52:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/teamsters-picketed-freight-company/ A handful of retirees and union officials picketed outside Oak Harbor Freight Lines' headquarters in Auburn yesterday.  At issue is contract negotiations that remain stalled after almost a year of talks. The sticking point is reportedly the regional trucking company's stance of eliminating health care coverage for all of its retirees. ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:08:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/valley-reports-strong-earnings-1/ Valley Community Bancshares Inc., the parent of Valley Bank in Puyallup, has reported record operating earnings for the last six months. For the period, earnings increased 29 percent to $1.2 million, or $1.08 per diluted share compared to $961,000, or $0.83 per diluted share during the same period a year ago. Assets total $205 million. ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:07:00 PDT http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/pse-reaches-deal-merger/ Puget Sound Energy, the utility subsidiary of Puget Energy, has announced that it has reached a settlement to resolve all issues with several of the parties involved in the merger that now faces the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for approval. The UTC must still review the settlement and other evidence in the proceeding and issue its decision on the merger request. ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:06:00 PDT