Region 2 is hosted by the Thurston County Economic Development Council and serves Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakim, Chelan and Kittatas counties.
About the Thurston EDC
The Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) is a private non-profit organization, governed by a 24 member Board of Directors. As the lead economic development organization in Thurston County our mission is to create a vital and sustainable economy throughout the county and region that supports the livelihood and values of our residents. We do this by:
- Connecting local businesses with experts and resources that help them remain competitive
- Creating and delivering strategic messages that attract new investment to our community
- Working with our community partners to enhance our collective prosperity and encourage our economic future
- Participating regionally to ensure that Thurston County plays an appropriate role on the regional economic stage.
Address
4220 6th Ave
Lacey, WA 98503
This center is also the main center for Washington PTAC Statewide
Phone: 360-860-6945
General Contact: thurston@washingtonapex.org
Advisors at the Thurston EDC
About Grady Smith – Apex Accelerator Advisor
Direct Line: 360-968-4846 | gsmith@thurstonedc.com
Grady is a US Navy Veteran, a husband and a father. While serving in the Navy at NBK Bangor, Grady served as a Supply Petty Officer. It was there he discovered a fascination with the world of government procurement! Grady graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. He worked with various companies in the continental United States and Guam as an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Technician and Diver. Grady loves America, and he is committed to serving Thurston and surrounding Washington counties as a PTAC counselor with the same dedication and love.
Kate Hoy – SBIR/STTR Statewide Program Manager
Direct Line: 308-218-5283 | khoy@thurstonedc.com
Kate has an extensive background working with small business owners and assisting them with preparing to enter the Government contracting world. She joined Washington PTAC in January 2017 when she relocated from Arizona where she worked for Arizona PTAC. After working with “non-traditional” suppliers for almost 4 years, Kate became the SBIR/STTR Program Manager and is now focusing on helping innovators work with federal agencies.
Kate works closely with the NW Tech Bridge, a Navy SBIR support resource. She also is a partner in the new SBA funded ARC WA program which is dedicated to increasing the SBIR awards in Washington.
She is an excellent presenter and looks forward to hosting in-person workshops and online training in Washington State.
Kate’s Tip for Success: In the end, Government Contracting is competition-based. To best succeed, a small business will want to know the game, know the competition, and above all have an established, quality service or product to offer the government. There are no shortcuts! It is a long-term commitment that begins with research and creating a business plan that includes Government Contracting.
About Marnie Tyson, CPP – Program Manager
Connect with Marnie on LinkedIn
Direct Line: 206-659-6532 | MTyson@ThurstonEDC.com
A strong small business advocate, Marnie has been working with small businesses since 2003, with previous experience with Native PTAC, Washington PTAC, the Northwest Women’s Business Center, the WSU Small Business Development Center, and as a part time faculty with Edmonds Community College teaching a business planning course.
Marnie has experience in online communications, streamlining sales and business processes, development of training and procedure manuals, not to forget her great marketing and research skills. She is adept at helping business owners find their focus and fit in private and public marketplaces.
Marnie holds a BA in Business Administration, is a Certified Procurement Professional (CPP) by the national Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) and is a certified Verification Counselor by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Marnie’s Tip for Success: Stay organized! Government contracting has an extremely high administrative burden. It is important to track all of your registrations, certifications, online profiles, opportunities, awards… the list goes on. Companies that don’t stay organized can present themselves as less sophisticated to chaotic. I have seen clients miss out on awards due to expired registration. Keep a list! Keep it current! Program Manager
About Lisa Lagerstrom – Training & Development Specialist
Lisa has a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Western Washington University. Lisa started her career with a large retail chain as a buyer procuring for the two departments. After several years she became a Product Knowledge/Organizational Development Specialist in the training department to start as a trainer. She has developed extensive training curriculums for 3 companies in the past 27 years. Lisa also has 10+ years of procurement experience with multi-million dollar promotional product campaigns for 2 of the world’s largest retailers.
Her previous experience as a trainer, program manager, salesperson and business development specialist in the promotional products industry has built a strong foundation to provide small businesses support with procurement opportunities. Her positive approach and solution focused collaboration will benefit businesses throughout the region. As a native Washingtonian specifically Snohomish County Lisa is thrilled to provide tools needed to build relationships throughout Snohomish, Skagit, Island and Whatcom counties.
About Leslie Miller
Leslie Miller is currently with Washington APEX Accelerators as an advisor and counselor. Miller was formerly the manager of the Eastern Washington Procurement Technical Assistance (PTAC) office. She specializes in counseling clients and providing workshops for government contracting.
Miller previously had a successful career in accounting. She was Financial Analyst for the Institute of Medicine in Spokane. She is also the founder and owner of LMiller Consulting Company. She was Educational Programs and Grants Coordinator, as well as Director of Operations for the Inland Northwest Technology Education Center. She was the Director of Operations for Connect Northwest.
Miller is an experienced college instructor. She taught at both undergraduate and graduate level since 1994. Her faculty experience included the position of lecturer for Accounting at Gonzaga University. Miller was an instructor at Whitworth University, Webster University and Spokane Community College. At SCC, she was Director for the Information Technology Learning Center. Her responsibilities included outcomes assessment, academic advising, and curriculum development. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate level classes for Business Computing, Computerized Accounting Applications, Internet Management, Innovation and Technology Management, Procurement and Contract Management for Information Technology, Database Management, and Information Systems Applications.
Miller’s involvement with the community has been extensive over the decades. She has been President of the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA) Spokane Chapter and was national trustee for the Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting, and recently was Secretary for the AFWA Educational Foundation national board. She was the local Scholarship Director for AFWA and sat on the national scholarship selection committee for the AFWA Educational Foundation. She was a member of the Social Networking Committee for the National Board of AFWA; board of directors for MESA (Math Engineering and Science Achievement – WSU); and the APTAC (Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers) national committee on social media and communications. Miller has also been part of the advisory committee for the PACE program at Community Colleges of Spokane.
Leslie Miller has a Master of Arts degree in Computer Education from Gonzaga University and a degree in Business Management with an emphasis in accounting and computer information systems. She is a lifelong resident of the Spokane-Coeur d’ Alene area. She has 3 grown sons, and 2 grandsons. She is a small-town girl who grew up on Lake Coeur d’ Alene. She spends her time gardening and hanging out with her family and friends at the lake.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS ABOUT PTAC AT THE THURSTON EDC:
“Every contact with PTAC employees has been a positive one. They get right in there and help me do things that would take me so much more time if I had to find it for myself.”
Pat Ryan, American Veteran Contracting Corp, Lacey, WA
“… PTAC helped me to land my first federal contract. They are always available to provide advice and support for our business marketing efforts for federal contracts.”
Arny Davis, Ditch Maintenance Services, Chehalis, WA
“I received valuable support and information from the PTAC at Thurston Economic Development Council when I started my business and sought (and won!) a government contract. This is a truly worthwhile program. Thank you for your services!”
Jennifer Y. Levy-Peck, Levy-Peck Consulting, LLC, Yelm, WA
