Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce

04/02/2026

Secure a seat at the table for this year’s Community Conversation!
This free, annual event is led by Leadership Whatcom’s 2025-26 cohort and will engage participants in conversations around this year’s theme, Connections & Supports.
Space is limited, so be sure to register here: https://business.bellingham.com/events/details/2025-26-leadership-whatcom-community-conversation-921

02/26/2026

We were excited to help celebrate the opening of the new branch! Congratulations to Peoples Bank and the hard working team at the branch.

A wonderful day for a ribbon cutting!
We love our new Fairhaven Branch. 💚

12/01/2025

What a night to remember! We are excited to present to you the 2025 Annual Awards winners:

🏆 Young Professional of the Year presented by : TJ Brar

🏆 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by : Steve Brinn

🏆 Chamber Ambassador of the Year presented by the : Shannon Day

🏆 Tourism Business of the Year presented by : Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce

🏆 Nonprofit of the Year presented by : Bellingham Symphony Orchestra

🏆 Small Business of the Year presented by : Stemma Brewing Co.

🏆 Large Business of the Year presented by : Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, finalists, and the amazing businesses that make our community such an incredible place! Your hard work and passion inspire us every day, and it was such a joy to celebrate all you do. Here’s to making our community stronger, together!

Attendees, be sure to check your inbox today for the full gallery of event photos. Thank you to Jesfer Mikesell .sfer from Glimpse Media for capturing the evening so wonderfully.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to honor excellence in our community!

Large Business of the Year Finalists:
* PNW Media Group
* Hoagland Pharmacy

Small Business of the Year Finalists:
* Special-T Signs & Graphics
* Turner Photographics

Nonprofit of the Year Finalists:
* Cascade Connections
* Vamos Outdoors Project

10/22/2025

Our new Chamber Speaker Series, The Future is Female: Women in Leadership, brought together an incredible group of women who are leading with purpose, authenticity, and heart.

A huge thank you to our amazing speakers — Jessica Welter-Kolbo (Cinder Coaching), Sam Lewis (RAM Construction), Sydney Van Wingerden (Signs Plus), and Madison Price (VSH CPA) — and to our wonderful emcee, Anya Milton (BTC), for guiding the conversation with such warmth and wisdom.

10/22/2025

Our Future is Female: Women in Leadership event brought together an incredible group of women who are leading with purpose, authenticity, and heart.

A huge thank you to our amazing speakers — Jessica Welter-Kolbo (Cinder Coaching), Sam Lewis (RAM Construction), Sydney Van Wingerden (Signs Plus), and Madison Price (VSH CPA) — and to our wonderful emcee, Anya Milton (BTC), for guiding the conversation with such warmth and wisdom.

09/29/2025

Sam Lewis is a rising leader in the construction industry, known for her drive, resilience, and passion for the work. Though she grew up around construction, she never imagined it as a career until a chance conversation at a college career fair led her to join a major Seattle project with a large general contractor. From tough summer jobs in traffic control to managing complex builds, Lewis has embraced every challenge, turning a once-unexpected path into a thriving career fueled by grit and inspiration from the strong women she’s encountered along the way.

Read more here: https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2025/09/25/2025-top-7-under-40-sam-lewis/

09/27/2025

TJ Brar immigrated from Punjab, India, to Lynden in 2011, where his experiences adapting to a new culture inspired a dedication to community service. He founded the Chardi Kala Project to advance racial equity, support marginalized communities, and protect immigrant rights, while his career in real estate deepens his connection to families across Whatcom County—combining professional work with meaningful nonprofit impact.

Read more about TJ here: https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2025/09/25/2025-top-7-under-40-tj-brar/

09/26/2025

Rebecca Houston’s career is defined by intentionality, community impact, and a commitment to Whatcom County. From supporting teens in crisis and leading large-scale volunteer and donation drives to revitalizing the Whatcom County Home & Lifestyle Show with record-breaking community engagement, she has consistently connected people, businesses, and nonprofits for meaningful change. Now as Development Director at Skookum Kids, Houston brings that same energy to transforming foster care—mobilizing donors, volunteers, and civic leaders to ensure every child experiences safety, love, and belonging.

Read more about Rebecca here: https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2025/09/25/2025-top-7-under-40-rebecca-houston/

09/25/2025

Ethan Hunger’s career began humbly with mowing lawns for a local real estate agent as a teenager, but quickly evolved into creating marketing campaigns, earning his real estate license at 19, and eventually becoming a full-time broker after graduating from the University of Washington. Today, as managing broker at Bellwether Real Estate and through his fundraising work with Hunger vs Hunger, Ethan continues to build on the values instilled by his parents, lifelong conservationists who taught him the importance of hard work, kindness, and leaving the world better than he found it.

Read more about Ethan here: https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2025/09/23/2025-top-7-under-40-ethan-hunger/

09/24/2025

Hunter Ka’imi turned making TikToks for fun into a community of over one million and, in 2023, launched Ka’imi Media. Viewing followers as a community, he uses his platform for connection and advocacy—raising funds for families impacted by ICE raids, supporting Lydia Place, and amplifying local voices. For Ka’imi, leadership means showing up and standing up for those who can’t.

Read more about Hunter here: https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2025/09/12/2025-top-7-under-40-hunter-kaimi/

09/23/2025

Raelyn Kaplan, Managing Director at Joyco Digital, is part of a new wave of leaders turning digital creativity into civic impact. What began with a TikTok channel reaching 300,000 followers and boosting bipartisan legislation has grown into a career leading Joyco’s work with 30+ local organizations. A Western Washington University graduate, Kaplan blends storytelling, strategy, and innovation to show how attention plus action can spark real change.

Read more about Raelyn here: https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2025/09/23/2025-top-7-under-40-raelyn-kaplan/