Randy and Marla and their team have been super involved in the Stanwood Camano Community for many years. If there is an event going on, you would be hard-pressed to not find Windermere agents volunteering. Apart from Windermere, they have started up Arrowhead Ranch, which is hosts the All-American Box Car Derby.
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
- What brought Marla and Randy to Camano Island?
- How did Marla get started with Windermere Real Estate?
- Find out which three offices were here when she started and how large was it here on the island?
- How many real estate agents do they currently have on the team?
- What was Marla’s background prior to Windermere?
- Where did Randy work before Windermere?
- What are Marla and Randy’s view on college and education vs jumping into the workforce?
- Randy talks about why Windermere got involved in the local events and communities
- How has working together gone for Marla and Randy?
- What was the reason for the rebrand of Windermere with Madak?
- Randy gets into why they believe Windermere does the best job
- I finally made it out to Barnum Point!
- Randy talks about Arrowhead Ranch!
- How did the axe throwing area get setup at Arrowhead Ranch?
- Marla talks about the Charcuterie Board Classes they offer at the Ranch
- Randy shares his vision for Arrowhead Ranch
- He also talks about getting the All-American Corp Box Derby started in this area
- Marla talks about the future about Windermere Stanwood Camano
- How does Windermere get its new agents up to speed?
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
Shaina moved to Camano in middle school, and then moved away, and then returned to stay. She works as a realtor with RE/MAX, her and her husband started a businesses building custom homes, and is also the president of the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce.
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
- Find out why Shaina moved to the Island, and then moved away, and then moved back!
- What university did she attend and what did she study?
- Shaina talks about her initial career, but how she why she decided on another path
- Despite moving onto a different career, she still loves diving into psychology and human behavior
- Find out how she met her husband
- How did Shaina get started in Real Estate?
- Also, her husband and Shaina have a their own real estate venture
- After working as a barista for years, she eventually looked back into social services
- She ended up not moving into social services, but ended up becoming a real estate agent at RE/MAX
- How did her first customer go as a real estate agent?
- Find out how she combined her barista and real estate careers?
- Why did Shaina get involved with the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce?
- How did she become the president of the Stanwood Chamber?
- What are some of the biggest projects the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce?
- How does the Stanwood Chamber interact with the Stanwood City Council?
- How did Discover Port Susan evolve into Discover Stanwood Camano?
- Has the old school mentality of Camano vs Stanwood died?
- Check out the Discover Stanwood Camano Calendar!
- What effects does a bedroom community have on events?
- Has Shaina noticed a larger amount of families moving to the Stanwood area?
- What is Shaina’s favorite event of the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce?
- What does Shaina see the future of the Stanwood Chamber?
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
This is a short bonus episode where I talk about an exciting announcement!
Lydia spent time as a marketing director, but ultimately fell in love with the arts and has continued to learn more about herself through painting. Our conversation touches on the arts, education, and life. She has built such a great perspective over her time as an artist!
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
- What does Lydia go by around town?
- What number on the Enneagram is Lydia?
- What brought Lydia to Camano and where did she grow up?
- Hear about her favorite aspects about this area.
- What world renown artist did Lydia get to study under?
- Though she took parts of many arts, but which was her most dear to her?
- Lydia had many adventures with YWAM, including getting to go to Spain during the World Cup
- What is Lydia’s view on College and it’s importance
- How did Lydia’s parents push her along her journey of life?
- Her now husband, was introduced as a mentor
- They then started an organization together
- Lydia talks about her most popular show and how she wrote a song on the fly
- How did their kids get involved with Show and Tell?
- Why did they end up shutting it down?
- Lydia gets into why she struggles with Fall and Winter in this area
- Also Lydia talks about her view on counseling
- Hear how Lydia changed from thinking "I should…” to “I would like to…"
- Find out what number I am on the Enneagram...
- Lydia explains her painting her self portrait, and how long did it take?
- Hear about Lydia’s connection with Cristy, our gift buyer
- Find out about Lydia’s newest project starting early next year!
- She wants to jump start new artist through this program!
- Lydia goes into how she got connected with Jed Dorsey
- She got to take one of his classes
- Jed really changed her view on her art
- Lydia gives a great description of Jed’s Art
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
Paige is the Volunteer and Outreach Director for N.O.A.H. and has a long history of animal welfare. She got started with animals at the Woodland Park Zoo, and it has continued to be a passion of hers through the years. She has 10 cats and her family shares her love of animals.
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
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Who is Paige Schmelzer?
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Why did she move to Camano Island?
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How did Paige get involved in animal welfare?
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She also got started at the Woodland Park Zoo at age of 16!
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Hear what it was like work with so many animals at the zoo
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What was her favorite animal at the zoo?
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Where did Paige’s love for animals come from?
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And why the connections with cats?
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I talk about my past dog and my kids interactions with pets
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What caused her to move on from the Woodland Park Zoo
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How did she get started with NOAH and how did she become the Outreach Director
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What is the difference between NOAH and organizations like CASA?
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How does NOAH deal with feral cats?
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NOAH has performed over 100,000 spay and neuters and 40,000 adoptions
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Why does NOAH not take animals from the public
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Washington has not had to euthanize a healthy animal in a long time
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Find out what the acronyms for N.O.A.H. and C.A.S.A. stand for!
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How can you help?
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How do they analyze and assess animals that come in?
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How did she get to 10 cats?
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
Jim is a realtor at Windemere Reality, but he is also the president of the Camano Chamber of Commerce. His wide-ranging history includes teaching, banking, telecom, and of course, Real Estate.
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
- Where does Jim hail from?
- Find out Jim’s degree, and how does it apply to his work, or does it?
- He also went to high school with another Camano Voice Guest, but which one?
- Jim also joined the navy to avoid the draft
- He became a teacher until…
- But then he jumped into another career
- And how did he meet his wife, Lyn?
- Jim got started with AT&T
- He ran the telecommunications for the state of CA with AT&T
- Later, he was recruited by GTE
- He then was recruited from one company to the next
- During this time, Jim worked all over the world with telecommunications
- In “retirement, he started consulting for what company….
- Finally, he settled into Real Estate with Windemere
- What patterns and trends has he noticed over the years in real estate?
- What is one of the most popular styles of homes on the island?
- How did Jim get involved with the Chamber of Commerce?
- Why has Jim continued to be the president for 3 years?
- How many businesses are part of the Camano Chamber of Commerce?
- The Chamber does not actually make money from which large event?
- Jim describes what he sees the future of the Camano Chamber of Commerce
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
Myra and Laura have been in the banking world for a very long time! Myra got her start in banking by talking to Laura, and then this dynamic duo got Coastal started on Camano Island.
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
- How did Myra and Laura meet each other?
- Why did they end up getting started with Coastal Community Bank?
- Find out how long Myra and Laura have been with Coastal
- They also went all in together with Coastal, and said they wouldn’t do it unless Coastal took both of them
- Laura started in the banking industry in what capacity?
- What brought Myra into the fold of banking?
- Find out how long Myra and Laura have lived on Camano Island
- What are the biggest changes that Myra has noticed from living here for so long?
- And Laura also tells us what she’s seen change
- Why is Coastal Community Bank different than other banks?
- Why did Laura take on her position, and how did that lead to Myra to her position?
- I misspoke earlier on in the interview, and you get to hear about how Coastal Community got started here on Camano Island.
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
Julie Campbell is a local fiddler who is part of a few local bluegrass bands, and also was the first performer to join First Friday! She brings great energy to every performance!
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
- Lived here for only a year
- Her husband has lived on the island for over 20 years
- Julie moved here from Tacoma
- Find out how many siblings Julie has, hint, it’s more than you think 🙂
- Has a large family reunion every few years
- She also has another career that she’s been doing for many, many years.
- Hear how she has combined her love for music and her career together
- Julie didn’t start with the fiddle, instead she started with this instrument…
- She spent some time with an orchestra
- We also find out how and where she got started with performances
- When did she finally switch over to the Fiddle from the Viola?
- What is the difference between Old time and Blue Grass?
- How did the South End String Band get Started?
- Also, the South End String Band is over 20 years old!
- Hear about the current members of the South End String Band
- Julie also composed a song, that she performed for a friends wedding
- Find out what the “Nashville Number System” is
- There is another band that Julie is a part of…
- Julie is also teaching fiddle if anyone is interested in learning!
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
George is a teacher at Stanwood High, and he is also the advisor for the Future Business Leaders of America or FBLA. This organization teaches high schooler valuable skills for the work place. George does so much for these kids and is loved far and wide by all of his students.
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Future Business Leaders of America (https://www.fbla-pbl.org/)
Stanwood High School (https://shs.stanwood.wednet.edu/)
Leslie Tripp State Farm Agent (https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/wa/stanwood/leslie-tripp-rn4wr1ys000/map?officeAssociateId=r1v4t4m4np5)
Camano Island Coffee Roasters (https://camanoislandcoffee.com/)
Shrimp Shack (https://www.shrimpshack.us/)
Sugar Loaf (https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/sugarloaf-1))
Orcas Island (https://www.visitsanjuans.com/about-the-islands/orcas-island)
MOD Pizza Stanwood (https://modpizza.com/locations/stanwood/)
Key Points of Interest:
George describes what Stanwood High was like back in the 1980’s
He returned back to Stanwood High in 1994
His involvement with FBLA began in that first year
There were around 35 events in the competitions when he started, but has grown into around 80 events
George tells his favorite experience with FBLA, and what really got him hooked with the organization
Hear how well Stanwood High has performed nationally
FBLA students started working with Frozen Xplosion at the fair 3 years ago, and they have continued to do a fantastic job
Find out how you can get involved in helping this program out
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
English Boom (https://www.camanoislandinfo.com/english-boom-historical-park-1)
Ale Spike (https://alespike.com/)
Camano Commons Marketplace (https://camanocommons.com/)
Jed Dorsey has created an art studio upstairs in Camano Commons Marketplace, and also created an entire online course called Acrylic University. He is a great teacher and artist!
Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode:
Key Points of Interest:
- Jed Dorsey is a 4th Generation Artist!
- His Dad, Jack Dorsey was one of the early artist here on Camano Island
- Jed did go to college to get a Bachelor of Science
- Hear the amount of members of the Dorsey children who are artists
- Jed shares where he draws his inspiration from
- He explains why light is such a fascinating aspect of art for him
- Acrylic vs Water Color
- Why did Jed choose Acrylic?
- Learn why he stuck with it
- Jed started Acrylic University because there was nothing like it out there
- Many artist switch to oils as they move to full time artists, but Jed has continued his artist career with Acrylic
- He talks about the biggest struggle getting Acrylic University off of the ground
- Jed talks about the Plein Air event he won, and one that he lost
- How do you get around painting with Acrylic paint outside with it drying out fast?
- We also get walked through his creative process for commission paintings
Camano Island Locations Mentioned in this Episode:
