Letter from the Publisher
Rhythm and Rhyme . . . It’s Celebration Time!
After the past few years, we have all found a new balance and rhythm to life and the work that we do. As we roll forward, we are delighted to announce this year’s Best of 2022 nominees and finalists.
Again this year, thanks to your suggestions, we have added new categories to the “Best of” lineup. It has proven to be a bigger and more in-depth survey each year. Our voting polls opened in April and we invited you, our readers, to cast your votes in 58 categories. Categories included everything from Best Shopping to Best Healthcare Services and everything in-between.
The nominees in this issue of ShowCase Magazine have been voted for their excellence and deserve our praise. We greatly appreciate all businesses and organizations that are included and the level of excellence that makes them spectacular in the work they do and the services they provide. We are so honored to be able to celebrate with these organizations.
Whether you’re reading this online, in print, or on social media, we appreciate your votes and encourage you to celebrate and patronize these organizations who are celebrated as the Best of 2022!
Thankfully,
Robin Lucas, Publisher
ShowCase Media
This Issue’s Categories
Destinations, Entertainment & Giving Back
Dining
Featured Stories
Holy Lamb Organics Wins Green Business Award
According to owner Mindy Schaefer, “Holy Lamb Organics (HLO) has always been extremely environmentally focused. It is one of our core values.” When honored at the Thurston Chamber’s Forum in April with a Green Business Award for a medium-sized company, it showcased how their vision is recognized and celebrated. Together with her husband, Jason, the…
Ranger Heating & Cooling
Ranger Heating & Cooling prides itself on their integrity. It just comes down to doing the right thing. According to Ranger’s President, David Kallander, “We approach every project as if it were our own house and we make sure the job is done right.” The heating and cooling industry is in Kallander’s blood as the…
OPTUM’S MARKET PRESIDENT TO LEAD GO RED FOR WOMEN®
The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, announces Imelda Dacones, M.D., F.A.C.P., market president for Optum Pacific Northwest, as the community volunteer chairperson of the 2024 Puget Sound Go Red for Women movement. Dr. Dacones will lead the campaign as Go Red for Women…
Service and Convenience at the Heart of Light Dental Studios
We can all agree on the qualities for the ideal dental provider: round-the-clock service, free consultations, same-day appointments, entire-family bookings, empathetic service and affordable care. It’s nearly impossible to find a full combination of such attributes. But then there’s Light Dental Studios. Based in Puyallup, the dentist-owned company—with 30 locations in the Puget Sound—has customer…
Olympia OB/GYN Heroes: Babies Born During a Pandemic
Babies are born when they are ready, not when a pandemic says so. For over two years, dedicated medical personnel tackled coronavirus challenges to deliver the newborns. That’s true of the team at Olympia Obstetrics & Gynecology (OOG) as they work with patients at the office and welcome babies at the Family Birth Center at…
Bates Technical College Celebrates Grand Opening of Allied Health Education Center
Just in time to help fuel the local health care industry with much-needed skilled workers, last week Bates Technical College opened the new Center for Allied Health Education building in Tacoma. Bates Technical College President Lin Zhou said, “The Center for Allied Health Education is more than just a new building. It represents a commitment…
Dillanos Coffee Roasters: Help People. Make Friends. Have Fun!
When your core mission statement includes “Have Fun!” you know the culture of your business is going to be special. After 30 years in the coffee industry, brothers Chris Heyer and David Morris have certainly created something special at Dillanos Coffee Roasters. Located in Sumner, Dillanos roasts specialty coffee brands with more than 1,600 wholesale…
LeMay–America’s Car Museum Celebrates 10 Years
As you approach the grand entrance and take in the vast and unique architectural lines of LeMay–America’s Car Museum that was opened to the public in 2012, you might recognize the building’s resemblance to a hood scoop on a vintage Ford Mustang, as many have stated. Once inside, you will find yourself surrounded by more…
Rainy Day Fun: Explore the Hands On Children’s Museum
Located on Olympia’s beautiful East Bay waterfront, the award-winning Hands On Children’s Museum is the largest and most visited youth museum in the Pacific Northwest. Explore 150 (plus) interactive exhibits and a half-acre Outdoor Discovery Center. Kids will be excited to investigate two floors of interactive fun. Parents will appreciate that each activity is designed…
Gig Harbor Film Festival Screens World Premiere
The Gig Harbor Film Festival (GHFF) has another worldclass lineup for their four-day run September 26-29, 2024! The Galaxy Theatres in Gig Harbor will be showcasing this intimate festival experience for local and visiting fans of independent film. With five screens and over 65 indie films, there is something for everyone—a blend of feature length…
Washington State History Museum: Two Exhibitions This Fall
Two exciting and colorful exhibitions will delight visitors of all ages at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma this fall. Art of the Aloha Shirt: Keoni of Hawaii, 1938–51 is on view through September 11, exploring the history, artistry, and production of Hawaii’s enduring fashion statement, the aloha shirt. See original design sketches and…