Building Bellingham

Meet Bradley Lockhart. Whatcom County local, creator of the Bellingham Flag and the brains behind many local business' branding and logos. In this episode, Brad talks to us about his journey to digital media, animation and curating an icon of Bellingham iconography with our official city flag. We get into what it's like finding that balance between a client's vision and needs and where you as a cr...

Meet Stephanie Morrell, President and General Manager of the Bellingham Bells. Stephanie came to Bellingham at 18 years old to attend Western, and after working for the Bellingham Herald post-graduation, she joined the Bells in 2013 as their Marketing Director. Not too long after, she moved into the General Manager role in 2016 before additionally taking on her role as President in 2024, making th...

Meet Jake Gobeille & Brad Sakali. Jake is a co-owner and co-founder of Beach Cat while Brad is master of all things Marketing. In this episode, Jake talks about what Beach Cat's journey to opening a brewery in Birch Bay, WA amidst a pandemic shutdown looked like, the hockey stick of an experience their business went through that has led to a second location in Bellingham, his hopes he has for our...

Meet Kolby LaBree. Tour Guide and Co-Owner of the Good Time Girls Bellinghistory Tours crew here in town. In this episode, Kolby talks about what it's like to lead a small team, how the tours come together, and the wide range of local history that the Good Time Girls cover. She talks about how truth in history is always-evolving and how much she loves the spooky cryptid tales alongside the real-li...

Meet Matt Shaver. Founder and President of Foundation Restoration. In this episode, Matt covers everything from his experience playing college basketball to his transition to Bellingham, his journey with Foundation Restoration and how experiences with previous professions gave him insight on why he runs his company differently. He talks about the importance of integrity, being of service to others...

Meet Wyatt Uhrig. General Manager and 4th-generation member of one of Bellingham's oldest and most infamous family-run retail locations in town; Yeager's Sporting Goods. In this episode, Wyatt talks about the impact of having a team that's excited about the product they're selling, how they maintain such a wide spectrum of inventory, and how they're adapting their marketing to connect more people...

Meet Jenn Mason. Former DVSAS Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, current School Board member and owner and educator of Bellingham's very own not creepy sex-shop in the heart of Downtown Bellingham, WinkWink Boutique. In this episode, Leo and Jenn cover the challenges of navigating inventory in an ever changing retail world, how WinkWink is redefining the taboo nature of sex in our conversations, how...

Meet Taylor Beal. Our podcast producer, audio editor, and nerd of all things Bellingham and community. In this behind the scenes special episode, Taylor talks about the transition our crew made in moving the producer role from Tiffany to Taylor, how the podcast happens, and the importance of the community content on our platforms and how it impacts our audience and business.   Enjoy episode!   - B...

Meet Janet Lightner. She's the General Manager/Co-Owner of Bellingham's first ever microbrewery that sparked the local craft beer scene, Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro. In this episode, Leo and Janet travel through 30 years of Boundary Bay history. Janet tells us about how Ed Lightner got the brewery started in 1995 and how they've gotten to watch not only downtown, but the local brewery scene grow...

Meet Adam Nelson and Dayna Penney; two business owners who saw an opportunity to bring a local business to the primarily residential-filled Silver Beach Neighborhood. In this episode, Adam and Dayna talk about what the journey of their new business has been like in the first year, the importance of hands-on teaching and working alongside their staff and their mindset on sustainable growth with eve...

Meet Katie Hinton. What started off as 5 pounds of pasta made a day in 2007 has slowly but sustainably grown into a much larger, 2,500 pounds of pasta made daily-kind of company here and now in 2025. Throughout this episode, Katie talks about the process behind creating Bellingham Pasta Company's delicious fresh pasta, the importance of branding for businesses, and having a strong connection to yo...

Meet Guy Occhiogrosso. A professional with almost 20 years of Whatcom County Chamber experience who lives and breathes community. Having been with the Bellingham Chamber since 2014, and in the Chamber world itself since 2006, Guy has navigated a volley of changes of what business looks like through technological evolutions and the looming effects of business in a post-pandemic world. In this episo...

Meet Mike Hammes. A titan in the construction space who believes in the power of connecting with those in your company and those in your community. With a background in both firefighting and construction, Mike founded RAM back in 1995, starting out with smaller construction jobs like digging out garages that eventually led to the company it is today that works on civil projects like the Padden Cre...

Meet Logan McQuaig. He's a down-to-earth, humble kind of guy who calls himself the "maintenance boy" around Redlight Kitchen & Bar, his popular establishment on Grand Ave. Logan grew up in hospitality, from delivering pizza all around Bellingham to serving up pints at Uisce. Today, he's the owner of one of Bellingham's hotspots, known for its extensive drink menu, Asian-fusion dishes, and a warm a...

Meet Andrea Evans. She's an avid knitter, a knows-her-numbers business woman, and has one of those warm souls that make you feel welcome the moment you meet her. Andrea developed her yarn sales and subscription box business through interpersonal connection at their storefront, nonprofit support projects, and online educational and community-building livestreams. Apple Yarns is a staunch supporter...

Meet Brad Barron. Fourth generation Barron and current CEO, he's a community-minded leader dedicated to the development of trades in Whatcom County. In this episode, he talks about generational leadership and imposter syndrome, why to document systems in a growing company, and the importance of taking care of coworkers first and foremost. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.belling...

Join Leo (host) and Tiffany (producer) in the studio as we reflect on five seasons and 40 episodes of the Building Bellingham Podcast. We talk growth, failure, balancing our entrepreneurial and administrative energies, and our goals for this local business podcast.  Thanks to all who've joined in along the way, and we'll see you all in Season 6! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building....

Meet Chas Kubis. Serial entrepreneur and iconic Bellingham restaurateur, he's the driving force behind Black Sheep's fried chicken tacos and the guy that bar staff call on when an oven breaks at 7:30 on a Friday night. In this episode, he talks hard conversations, the incubation space of multiple restaurant concepts, the early days of breweries & food trucks in Bellingham, and the vibe of Restaura...

Meet Jesse Parker, Master Blender at the award-winning Doc Swinson's American whiskey brand. In this episode, we hear how a 20-something kid won a national gin award, how a small business that began with ten casks has grown to an operation with thousands of casks, how a small distillery in Ferndale is ranking - and winning - in national and international industry competitions, and how imagination,...

Meet Matt Mini, THE Funky of Funky's Hot Sauce; he's a master of creating artisanal hot sauces with a zing of garlic or a fruit-forward sweetness that still packs a lot of heat. In this episode, we hear about his years of developing recipes, how he moved from kitchen to kitchen (and how narrow the temperature range has to be for fermented foods), about the Carolina Reaper sauce that won the 2022 S...

Meet Charmae Scheffer; she's a high-energy people lover with a passion for caring for dogs while their parents are at work or on vacation. In this episode, we hear how Charmae juggled raising seven kids while growing a fledgling business, how the Whatcom County zoning code changed due to the Scheffers' efforts, and how Charmae works to develop the next generation of hard workers who will be an ass...

Meet Andi Vann; she's a high-energy dessert aficionado with a passion for giving joy to others through yummy treats. In this episode, we hear how she left a corporate consulting job to work as an independent baker, how she and Nick renovated their cafe on a shoestring budget, and how she approaches each day with a customer-first mindset.   Follow the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buil...

Meet Clarito Zapanta; he's a filmmaker, director and executive producer with an affinity for Air Jordans and a passion for creating TV and feature film productions right here in Bellingham. In this episode, we hear how he and Kristina grew IAJ Media from a marketing agency into a full-time film studio, how he dug deep into personal development, and about how he created an entire world for his film...

Meet Emile Diffley; he's the 28 year-old owner of Banter Hospitality, a counter-service restaurant known for its bright atmosphere and iconic breakfast burrito. In this episode, we learn about Emile's history working in different cities, his passion for quality food and smooth operations, and the challenges to providing a unique-yet-familiar food experience in Bellingham. Learn more about the show...

Welcome to Season 5 of the Building Bellingham Podcast! We're joined in the studio by Brad Wilske, co-owner of Lost Giants Cider Co. In this episode, we learn about the difference between cider apples and culinary apples, the cost of installing a canning line, and weighing the cost and reach of distribution. Brad goes into the mindset of "we're all janitors" and how he sold his home to fund the en...