Letter from the Publisher
Best of 2024: Spotlight on Excellence
This year, as always, it is our honor to recognize our local businesses and to shine a light on excellence as voted by our community. In this issue, we celebrate ShowCase Magazine’s Best of 2024 with you, our readers.
The voting process started in April as we turned to you and asked you to cast your vote for the best in 65 categories. Votes poured in for everything from shopping to health care, services and giving back. Our team then compiled the votes for the best, and those nominees are honored in this issue.
Whether you are reading this in print, online, digitally, or on social media, we invite you to seek out these organizations and congratulate them on their success.
Thank you for reading and celebrating with us – and congratulations to the Best of 2024!
Robin Lucas, Publisher
ShowCase Media
This Issue’s Categories
Dining
Featured Stories
Holy Lamb Organics: Natural Bedding Made Locally
Holy Lamb Organics has been making natural bedding products locally by hand in the small town of Oakville, Washington for 24 years. The South Sound community can access a “touch and feel” experience in Olympia. The company’s retail showrooms are the only all-natural bedding stores between Seattle and Portland, according to owners Jason and Mindy…
Team Red: Communication is Key
Selling a home in today’s real estate market brings new challenges for both buyers and sellers. Strong communication skills set Kathy Kleber and her associates apart from other Realtors with their custom Team RED project management approach to full-service senior transitions. According to Harvey and Phyllis Persinger, who recently sold their home using Team RED,…
Toyota of Puyallup: A Family Affair
Back in 1989, when Kerry Odeman was approached by her father about joining the family business as its finance manager, she wasn’t that enthusiastic about it. “I was a recent University of Washington graduate and I thought to myself – I was a speech communications major because there wasn’t a math requirement! How can I…
Senior Services is Going Over the Edge – Again
If you missed last year’s Over the Edge challenge with Seniors Services , you have another chance on June 28. Last year, thirty intrepid adventurers were roped up and rappelled down the side of the Washington State Gambling Commission’s four-story building at The Hub in Lacey. The previous fundraiser was so successful, it is being…
Team Red Pre-Inspection The Right Call
Sometimes it takes more than just looking perfect on the outside. Sometimes it takes a thorough inspection to find what’s hiding on the inside that could derail your home sale before closing. John and Chris Neorr lived in Kent on ¾ of an acre and their yard was landscaped to perfection. The home was stunning,…
Advanced Health Care Turns 40
Back in 1984 when Ron and Pat Bode began their new venture in private in-home healthcare, they recognized how many older adults desperately wanted to stay in their own homes as they aged. Now, 40 years later, that recognition is a thriving, family-owned business offering South Sound patients’ dignity and independence through kind and compassionate…
Ricardo’s Kitchen & Bar Celebrating 20 Years
Reaching its 20th year in business, Ricardo’s Kitchen & Bar is maturing extraordinarily well along with its Omaha dry-aged beef. Since Shane Holland made the transition from general manager to owner two years ago, he has been upgrading countless details to create an interactive, inspired experience for diners while offering exceptional cuisine. If you haven’t…
Celebrity Cakes Owners Create a Sweet Legacy
Celebrity Cake Studio is a family-owned and operated artisan cake boutique in Tacoma. The family has been baking joy into all of their artistically designed cakes and desserts for 25 years. Odette D’Aniello, sister Mary Ann Quitugua and cousin Wallace Bolo (the “Baker Supreme”), are third-generation bakers who grew up in their family’s bakery on…
Helping Hands at Eliseo
When Patty Reinkensmeyer and Shirley Miller are asked about the Helping Hands program they administer at eliseo Senior Living Community, their faces light up. These two eliseo residents volunteer along with dozens of others to keep the program growing. The program, originally called Community in Action, was started in 1982 by Dawne Aho. In 2005,…
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…