Name: Austin Regimbal
Company Name: Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Title: Marketing & Communication Director
Years at Company: 2
 
What are three things you use at work every day?
Photoshop, InDesign, and Word
 
What was your first job?
Staff member at the Regal Cinemas in the Columbia Center mall
 
Where is your hometown?
Richland, WA (Go Bombers!)
 
How do you spend your free time?
Usually hanging with my wife, Jenni, and our daughter, Ellie. I also have been known to play a video game or two…
 
What are three words that best describe you?
Fun, loud, and dependable
 
What did you want to become as kid?
A movie director
 
Where is your favorite place to travel?
So far, my favorite has been Austin, TX. My dream vacation is a trip to Tokyo.
 
How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities?
20 years (I moved to Spokane for ten years after college)
 
What is the best concert you’ve been to?
Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar on the Yeezus tour at the Key Arena in 2013. Kanye wore a sequined mask on stage for the whole show, climbed a mountain in the middle of the arena, and split his leather sweatpants open. It was BONKERS.
 
How do you define success?
For me, success is the ability to go home at the end of the day without second-guessing any of the decisions that I’ve made
 
What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber?
I love working on this team! Lori, Elisabeth, and the rest of my co-workers are all very hardworking people focused on the future of the business community.

Congratulations to the Tri-City Water Follies on being named our Outstanding Member of the Month for July 2019.

​This year marks the Water Follies' 54th anniversary. The Water Follies is an amazing asset to our community that offers entertainment not only to locals residents but also attracts thousands visitors of each year.  

Thank you to everyone who attended our State of the Cities Membership Luncheon on July 24!

Congratulations to Bright Now! Dental on their new location! Visit them at 2764 Duportail St. in Richland.

Name: Ted Vause
Company Name: Invest Northwest Financial
Title: Financial Planner
Years at Company: 20
 
What are three things you use at work every day?
Strategy, compassion, humor
 
What was your first job?
My first real job was as a shop boy in a print shop.
 
How do you spend your free time?
Boating, camping, travel, working on projects, and spending time with family and friends.
 
What are three words that best describe you?
Knowledgeable, driven, fun.
 
What did you want to become as kid? 
I wanted to be a graphic artist.
 
How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities? 
Almost 40 years. Sure has gone by quickly!
 
Where is your hometown?
I was born in Santa Monica, and my soul is still on the beach. I call the beaches in Ventura/Oxnard CA home still.
 
What is your favorite holiday? 
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I love having friends and family around. It’s the holiday that allows you to enjoy without the pressure.  
 
If you could pick one superpower what would it be?
I would love to time travel. Not sure if that is considered a super power, but that would be my choice.
 
What was the first concert you attended?
Probably the Doobie Brothers in Santa Barbara. I am old enough to have enjoyed all the 70’s bands that played around LA.  I guess that’s one plus for age.

Do you live by any piece of advice or motto? 
Love your neighbor as yourself.
 
What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber? 
I love that the Tri-Cites area is becoming so vibrant, and that the Chamber is helping to create the city in to a place that people love to come to and stay. 

Board Member Spotlight
Name: Cynthia Vaughn
Company Name: Magnolia Music Studio
Title: Founder/Director
Years at Company: 5 years in WA (Founded in Fort Collins CO in 2008)

What are three things you use at work every day?
Imagination, social media, Apple tech gadgets

What was your first job?
McDonalds! I won a trophy for fastest french fries before it was automated.

Where is your hometown?
Commerce City, Colorado

How do you spend your free time?
Going to live local concerts and theater and restaurants. There is so much to do in Tri-Cities!

What are three words that best describe you?
Kind, creative, energetic

What did you want to become as kid?
A teacher

Where is your favorite place to travel?
My homestate of Colorado, Seattle or Portland to visit our kids, or anywhere in Europe. I love to travel!

How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities?
Almost five years. I left my music faculty job at Colorado State University (“Go, Rams!”) to join my husband, who works for a Hanford contractor.

What is your favorite movie?
Funny Girl

How do you define success?
Making a difference in your community and the world.

What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber?
I’m excited to see arts and culture included in myTRI 2030 as part of Thrive. At the top of my wish list is a performing arts center to bring top touring entertainment to Tri-Cities and to provide a “home” for our local symphony, ballet, theater companies, and Mid-Columbia Mastersingers.

Congratulations to Horn Rapids RV Service & Sales on their ribbon cutting! Visit them at 2451 Henderson Loop in Richland.

Congratulations to Moonshot Brewing, LLC on your ribbon cutting ceremony! Visit them at 8804 W. Victoria Ave., Ste. 140 in Kennewick.

Name: Karen Blasdel
Company Name: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Title: Director, Community Affairs
Years at Company: 30
 
What are three things you use at work every day? 
Laptop, Skype, diplomacy
 
What was your first job?
Working in my fathers’ fields on a Walla Walla Sweet Onion Farm
 
Where is your hometown?
Walla Walla, WA
 
How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time with Family, RVing with friends, shopping, and reading books.
 
What are three words that best describe you?
Resourceful, Orchestrator, Supportive,
 
What did you want to become as kid?
Not an onion farmer - I wanted to become an accountant
 
Where is your favorite place to travel?
Anywhere I haven’t been, I love to travel. My husband and I like to cruise.
 
How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities?
40 years
 
How do you define success?
Doing your very best at whatever you are doing. Challenging yourself beyond your comfort level and always completing the project. Ensuring those that you are working with have a positive experience.
 
What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber?
The Tri-City Regional Chamber always pushes the boundaries to be creative and innovative. Taking a leadership role on regional issues elevates the value of the Chamber. 

Name: Elisabeth Holt
Company Name: Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Title: Vice President
Years at Company: 5 ½ this time, 7 total 

What are three things you use at work every day?
Phone, computer, post-it notes

What was your first job?
Hubby’s Pizza (well, not really. I worked at Granny’s Buffet for 3 weeks before that but I don’t count that)

Where is your hometown?
Right here in Kennewick 

How do you spend your free time?
Watching some kind of kids activity or sitting on my back patio visiting with friends and family. 

What are three words that best describe you?
Friendly, loyal, hard-working

What did you want to become as kid?
A dolphin trainer – who wouldn’t want to?!

Where is your favorite place to travel? 
I’m not too picky. Love to see new places! 

How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities?
Almost all of my life (not gonna say how long that is 😊). We moved to Wenatchee for about five years but other than that, right here in Kennewick.

What is your favorite movie?
Toss up between The Greatest Showman and The Cutting Edge

Favorite Quote?
“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and—snap!—the job’s a game!” – Mary Poppins

What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber?
There are so many people with so many great ideas. I admire the people who I get to work with and excited to hear what is going on and how we can be involved. ​