After a successful event in 2017, organizers are excited to announce Connect Tri-Cities 2018 on October 3. Connect Tri-Cities will bring job seekers, policy makers, educators, labor, Tribes, veterans and industry together to build the local workforce of the future. Connect Tri-Cities 2018 is designed to enable career path and job connections and is a unique opportunity to engage with the Tri-Cities community, small businesses and the young minds of our future.

One of the highlights of the event is the STEM Scholarship Competition for High School students, which will take place on Tuesday, October 2. Teams of five students and a faculty advisor from local high schools will put their STEM skills to the test to “Escape the Island” in this hands-on challenge. The 1st place team will receive a $2,000 scholarship for each student team member and $1,000 for the faculty coach. 2nd and 3rd places will receive $1,000/$750 and $500/$500, respectively. Registrations are now being accepted and are due by midnight on September 12. Competition space is limited. Teams can register at http://connect-tricities.com/schools.

In addition to the STEM Scholarship Competition, Connect Tri-Cities will feature an all-day job fair on Wednesday, October 3. A wide range of community employers, including Hanford contractors and national laboratories will be present, along with representatives from organized labor, careers in manufacturing and more. On-site resume review and interview preparation will also be available.

Connect Tri-Cities will also include breakout sessions for veteran and labor job connections, featuring Veterans in Piping™ and local labor unions. A Veterans’ breakfast, featuring keynote speaker Edward DeJesus, is anticipated to be a popular part of the event, and is open to all veterans. A diversity & inclusion panel discussion is also scheduled, featuring Edward DeJesus; Major (retired) Scott Smiley; Dr. Sandra Haynes, Chancellor of WSU Tri-Cities; Dr. Rebekah Woods, President of Columbia Basin College; and Semi Bird, Executive Director of Team Concepts Training Services.

More information and a detailed schedule can be found at connect-tricities.com or through our media contact. Connect Tri-Cities is a unique community event championed by TRIDEC and sponsored by Hanford contractor Mission Support Alliance and their corporate partners Leidos and Centerra Group.

Megalodon Property Management earned $222,792 in rebates from Cascade Natural Gas (CNGC) for installing energy-efficient insulation and unit heaters at several warehouses across Yakima.

Join representatives from CNGC on Tuesday, September 11 at 11:00am at the Riverside Industrial Park 501-C Keys Road as CNGC presents a check to Megalodon Property Management for their energy-efficient projects.

While there’s nothing comfortable about slamming and crashing into the walls of a roller derby track, the athletes on the Wine Country Crushers Roller Derby Team and several other tenants, are now more comfortable than ever thanks to energy efficiency upgrades. Megalodon Property Management acted immediately when they noticed their many warehouses in Yakima, Wash., were too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer for their wide variety of tenants including fruit-processor Tree Top, tortilla maker Mission Foods and the aforementioned roller derby team.

Upon upgrading to five energy-efficient unit heaters and new wall, attic and roof insulation, the facility managers enjoyed reduced energy costs while tenants experienced an immediate improvement to their indoor comfort. “The upgrade has drastically improved the temperature and comfort in our facility,” said Wine Country Crushers Roller Derby Team facility manager Jeremy Sandino. “Our athletes have all commented on how much quieter and cool the building is during practices.”

In addition to saving the warehouse complex 51,189 therms of gas every year, the new equipment came with a $222,792 cash incentive from Cascade Natural Gas. Along with gas savings, the warehouse upgraded interior and exterior lighting and received incentives from their local electric utility, Pacific Power. “The rebates are really helpful, and the improvements have increased our desirability dramatically,” said Megalodon’s owner, Larry Hull. “I see a real long-term benefit.”
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Cascade’s C&I Conservation Incentive Program offers rebates for measures to reduce the consumption of natural gas on both existing buildings and new construction. For additional information about incentives please contact Bradey Day at 503-360-7337 or visit www.cngc.com/conservation.

Officials at Lourdes Health Network announced today that the partnership between the hospital and RCCH HealthCare Partners will become effective at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2018. The hospital had been part of Ascension, the nation’s largest non-profit health system.

“I truly believe becoming a member of RCCH HealthCare Partners will make Lourdes a stronger organization, giving us new opportunities for growth,” said John Serle, Chief Executive Officer of Lourdes Health Network. “This partnership will bring additional resources to our growing community and allow us to expand services and recruit specialists, so residents can get care they need right here at home.” 

The transaction was approved by the State of Washington Attorney General’s office on August 6, 2018. 

“We are honored to be partnering with Lourdes Health Network to help ensure the continued high quality of care they’ve provided for this community,” said Marty Rash, Chairman and CEO of RCCH HealthCare Partners. “With more than 100 years of service to the people of the region and a well-earned reputation for high quality, compassionate care, we look forward to working with and learning from Lourdes’ associates as well as sharing with them and investing in resources for growth.” 

RCCH HealthCare Partners works with communities to build strong regional healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care.  RCCH has a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest including Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville, Oregon; St. Joe’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho; and Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana. Through their public private partnership with UW Medicine, RCCH also owns and operates Capital Medical Center in Olympia, Washington and Trios Health in Kennewick, Washington.