The Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) celebrated the success of local businesses Wednesday with its annual Business Awards.
The nominees and award winners represent innovation, resilience, leadership and meaningful community impact throughout Thurston County.
“Through this event, we recognize outstanding leadership, innovation, vision, and excellence,” said Thurston EDU Executive Director Michael Cade. “Each year, the nomination process reveals powerful stories of business and community impact, and I want to ensure that every nominee is recognized and celebrated.”
Awards were given out in five categories: Large Business of the Year, Nonprofit Organization of the Year, Small Business of the Year and New Business of the Year.
The award recipients are:
Large Business of the Year: Cardinal Glass Industries
The company was recognized for its commitment to excellence in its products, regional impact, support for family-wage jobs, and leadership in clean technology and sustainability.
“Today, we honor Cardinal Glass for its intentional support of employees, commitment to clean technology and sustainability, focus on recycling and waste reduction, and long-term impact on the Thurston County economy,” said award presenter Meghan Sullivan.
Tumwater Plant Manager Joe Underwood accepted the award on the company’s behalf.
“Thank you very much. This is very impressive and very honorable,” Underwood said. “Cardinal has just always made people first, and this is the result.”
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Earthbound Productions
As the workhorse behind Olympia’s annual Procession of the Species, Earthbound Productions was honored for the economic impact the event has had on the region and the creativity, community and connection it fosters each year.
“Their work brings people together across backgrounds, perspectives, and skill levels for one of the South Sound’s most positive and distinctive community events,” said award presenter Roussa Cassel.
Earthbound Productions Founding Director Eli Sterling accepted the award, thanking the thousands of volunteers who have made the Procession of the Species possible for the last 30 years.
He added that he is especially grateful that the event is being recognized for its regional and economic impact.
“We view this Procession as an economy of sharing. And if we don’t share, if we get into this monopoly mindset, then we don’t exist as a community,” Sterling said.
Small Business of the Year: MediaRoom
The Olympia-based video production company was celebrated for its involvement in the region’s creative ecosystem, the connections the company is building in founder Misael Martinez Melo’s home territory of Puerto Rico, and the work the company is doing to work across cultures in Thurston County.
“Over the years, the company has developed a strong ability to translate complex messages — from government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses — into stories that are clear, authentic, and relatable,” said award presenter Carrie Whisler.
Accepting the award, Martinez Melo thanked his clients — many of whom were in the room when he accepted the award Wednesday — for their support.
He also thanked the EDC for supporting his business over the years through the ScaleUp program and the APEX Accelerator program.
“It's not often that I get to have a moment to look back at what we have, what we have built, and how many emotions we have created through either filming or editing, so thank you everybody,” Martinez Melo said.
New Business of the Year: Colvin Provisions
For the category that honors a business that has started within the last three years, the Thurston EDC recognized Colvin Provisions for the significant investment its owners made in the Tenino Agriculture and Innovation Park by choosing to make their first retail store the park’s anchor tenant.
That investment helped “advance a public-private partnership focused on revitalizing the rural economy,” said Whisler.
Colvin Provisions was also recognized for supporting other local farmers and area nonprofits as they champion food resilience and farm business viability.
“I felt like it would be an opportunity to create connections between the people that love food and the people that love making food,” said Jennifer Colvin, who accepted Colvin Provisions’ award Wednesday.
Colvin gave a special thanks to former Tenino Mayor and current Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier, who was a prominent supporter of establishing the Tenino Agriculture and Innovation Park.
Colvin also thanked her family and the rest of the Colvin Ranch team for making opening the store possible.
“We're just now under a year into our operations, and it has been such a delight to see people come from all over the region,” Colvin said. “I just want to express my appreciation for the farmers and the ranchers and the producers and all of you and the customers who have shopped with us for helping us make a success out of the store.”
Special for this year, the Thurston EDC also issued a Legacy Small Business Award to Gary’s Bulldozing, which is celebrating 50 years of operation.
“Today, we gather to celebrate something truly remarkable—50 years of hard work, integrity, perseverance, and service to our community,” said Gwen McClanahan, who presented the award to her father and Gary’s Bulldozing’s namesake, Gary Kittleman.
“On behalf of the Thurston Economic Development Council, the business community, his employees, customers, friends, and the many people who have benefited from his work, thank you.Thank you for 50 years of service. Thank you for 50 years of leadership. And thank you for 50 years of helping build a stronger Thurston County,” McClanahan said.
The annual Business Awards ceremony is held in conjunction with the Thurston EDC’s annual meeting, where the Thurston EDC reflects on the successes their efforts resulted in that year.
This year, the Thurston EDC celebrated $71.1 million in economic impact in Thurston County, the creation of 380 localized jobs, the opening of the Tenino Agriculture Innovation Park, and a handful of state and national accolades.
“It is my duty to ensure that our work agenda is impactful and has a course direction of recruiting new investment into the county, retaining our businesses, and expanding market opportunities throughout Thurston County,” said Thurston EDC Board President Malcom Miller.
For more information about Thurston EDC, and for a full list of the nominees for this year’s awards, visit https://thurstonedc.com/
