Bob Berntson interview - Berntson Porter CPA

Director RJ McHatton with Bob Berntson

I first met Bob Berntson a few years ago when I interviewed him and his partner Greg Porter for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce “Eastside Business Awards.” Today I was interviewing Bob for the video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal on the “Best Workplaces in Washington.” Bob is a great person to interview because he has a subtle sense of humor. He reminds me of Harrison Ford because when I interviewed Harrison Ford he always did subtle jokes about himself, and Bob does the same thing. Bob talked about the unique culture they had at Berntson Porter CPA and the many ways they try to nurture that culture. He said that Values are extremely important and that his team had terrific character. He said that they have a “Fireside Chat” several times a year to help keep everyone in the team on the same page about where the firm was going and how they were going to get there. Bob said that he is very lucky because he has some terrific mentors who have helped him over the years. Bob said he loves his company and all the people on his team. Bob said that he felt like a very lucky man. He said that one of the key foundations of their focus is on community involvement and that his team really loves helping others. I really enjoyed my interview with Bob and feel I learned a lot.

Karen Ridlon -- Founder of Eastside Baby Corner

Karen Ridlon--Founder of Eastside Baby Corner

Producer Bill Maxwell and I drove over to Issaquah to interview Karen Ridlon, founder of Eastside Baby Corner, for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce's annual Eastside Business Awards. The Eastside Baby Corner had been nominated under the Non-Profit category.

Bill and I were totally surprised and impressed with Karen and the wonderful team of volunteers working diligently there at Eastside Baby Corner. I had never heard of EBC before this meeting. EBC has been around over 18 years. The warehouse was full of volunteers and lots of clothing, toys, etc dedicated to the needy kids we don't think about sometimes. Karen told us that the EBC focuses on the needs of kids from birth to the age of 12. EBC works to organize and distribute materials to over 100 other non-profit agencies around the Puget Sound area. Some of the agencies benefiting from EBC's work is Hopelink and Head Start. Items distributed include things like baby formula, car seats, beds, cribs, bedding and diapers. My eyes grew big and started tearing up as I saw the incredible enthusiasm from the volunteers and how this EBC was really making a difference. I asked myself "How could I not have heard of EBC before?" You can learn more about the Eastside Baby Corner at www.babycorner.org

Ed Belleba -- Friends of Youth

Ed Belleba -- CEO of Friends of Youth

I drove over to Redmond to shoot an interview for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce for their Eastside Business Awards. My subject was Ed Belleba, the CEO of Friends of Youth, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids. I really knew nothing about Friends of Youth or their mission. Ed talked about how he got started at a volunteer with the organization after he retired from his career with Microsoft. I was really surprised at the vast size and scope of the Friends of Youth team. Over 20 locations in the state and thousands of volunteers are involved. From residence homes for runaways, to job opportunities, foster homes, to pregnancy and substance abuse counseling. Bob is a terrific leader of a terrific organization.

Scott Harrison -- CEO of Barclay Dean.

Scott Harrison -- CEO of Barclay Dean

Once in a while you run into someone who really inspires you. That happened for me during my interview with Scott Harrison, CEO of Barclay Dean. Scott and I both love history and we both love Thomas Jefferson. Scott is a rennassance man. He spends a lot of his time trying to help others and he believes in the concept of "give to others" and "do it because it is the right thing to do." Scott's company Barclay Dean is a pioneer in the new green technologies in interior office furniture and equipment. I visited the Barclay Dean showroom and offices in downtown Bellevue. I was interviewing Scott for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. His firm was nominated for the Eastside Business Awards for their work in community support. Barclay Dean works closely with several charities and community organizations including Junior Achievement and YES. Scott and I talked about our feelings about history. We talked about Thomas Jefferson and how he wrote the Declaration of Independence on a desk where you had to stand. He wrote it standing up. Scott told me how those kinds of desks are making a comeback these days. I really enjoyed meeting Scott and hope to focus more of my efforts to helping others like he does.

Tony Cheng & Annie Cheng - Netstar Communications - Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards

Annie Cheng                                  Tony Cheng

I drove over to Bellevue's NetStar Communications to shoot footage for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce's Eastside Business Awards video production.  I was so grateful for the incredible hospitality of Annie Cheng, Tony Cheng, and the entire NetStar team.  They are so enthusiastic about their successful company and the future looks bright.

Christina Brandt - CEO of AtWork!

Christina Brandt -- CEO of AtWork!

We drove over to the new offices of AtWork! as part of our Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards video production.  We met with CEO Christina Brandt and took some great shots of their new facility and team.  

Kevin Goodwin - CEO of Sonosite - Eastside Business Awards

Kevin Goodwin

We drove to Bothell to shoot footage at Sonosite's headquarters for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce's Eastside Business Awards annual ceremony.  It was my first introduction to Sonosite and their array of products.  I was immediately in awe at the unbelievable potential of their work.  My grandmother died of a broken aorta about fifteen years ago.  At that time it took about six hours to get her to the type of ultrasound equipment that could have diagnosed her situation.   Today with Sonosite's handheld ultrasound equipment, a local EMT or emergency room person could have seen inside my grandmothers body within seconds.  I have tremendous enthusiasm for the potential to save many, many lives with the new Sonosite technology.  Kevin Goodwin and the team at Sonosite have been nominated for Eastside Business of the Year by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.  The winners will be announced at the annual ceremony at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on April 29th.

David Zook - Tutoring Club - Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards

David Zook is a dedicated teacher.    I drove over to the Tutoring Club in Bellevue WA to shoot video footage for the Bellevue Chamber Eastside Business Awards.  The Tutoring Club is a finalist for this year's Eastside Business Awards.  David Zook is the franchise owner of the Tutoring Club.  I was very impressed with David's committment to helping kids learn.  He told me about his background as an educator and about his hopes for the future.  He told me how he really tries to help kids, whether it be by helping out with the Lego Robotics Competitions or by planting a seed of the potential of being a Nobel Prize winner some day to a teenager.  David Zook is planting seeds in the minds of kids, that someday actually might produce a future Nobel Prize winner.  I really believe he is on to something with that idea. 

Naomi Novotny & Mark Zoske -- "CEOs of Seattle"

   

Naomi Novotny & Mark Zoske from "SaltWorks"

I first met Naomi and Mark back about a year ago when we were doing the video for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce for their Eastside Business Awards.  Naomi and Mark's company SaltWorks was nominated as a finalist for the EBA Awards.  Producer Mitchell Pickett and I had travelled to their facility to interview the owners and shoot the footage for the video to be shown on the big screen at the awards ceremony.  Both Mitchell and I were deeply impressed with the enthusiasm and success of SaltWorks.  We were inspired by their rags to riches story, of starting in their garage with an idea, and now looking to expand their business to a new 100,000 square foot facility.  This week Naomi and Mark visited our Inventive Productions studio in Redmond to be interviewed for my new documentary "CEOs of Seattle."   They decided we should interview Mark even though they really are a united leadership team.  Mark told some great stories about his childhood and his hopes and dreams of being a successful business owner ever since he was a kid.  He talked about the other five businesses he owned before finally hitting a winner with SaltWorks.  I was deeply moved by his management philosophies and his dedication and committment to excellence.  His interview will really help our movie.  Thanks Naomi and Mark for taking the time to help us with this documentary project.  We wish them the very best with the incredible growth of their company.   They are a terrific team.