Washington is a big state, at least by European standards. Thanks to this job, I can visit so many different places I need to share here.

My most recent out of the Seattle area was to Port Townsend. The Make It In Washington project team had its Quarterly Meeting there. I had the chance to share time and ideas with my colleagues, Geoff Lawrence and Deloit Wolfe, and also with other members of that fantastic team; Sarah Lee of the Washington State Department of Commerce, Mike Brennan of the Washington State Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board, and Ryan Layton of Innovate Washington.

During these two days, we visited different companies in Port Townsend. I was pleased to see manufacturing activity in a town that many people only see as a tourism destination.

We chatted with Bob and Mary Cunningham of Cunningham Ships Carpentry. You can feel their love for the wooden boats just talking with them. They are doing a fantastic job restoring an old Coast Guard research vessel, the Polaris.  We also saw their latest project, “the boat” (they haven’t named that one yet); a beautiful boat that soon once again be sailing in the sea. If you pass by the shipyard area, take a minute to see their beautiful work.

Another company I enjoyed visiting was Port Townsend Foundry. Foundries have a special feeling. You can witness melting metal turning into a solid piece of art. And that’s precisely what Pete Langley is doing. Their “mold’s library” is astonishing and outstanding. They can cast parts from old boats using the original casting molds. We had the opportunity to watch first hand a pouring step in 5 molds, and we could admire their finished pieces.

These two companies are examples of “old fashioned” jobs taken to the XXI century, with an immense potential market. They can be engines of a more diversified economy in our state.  These companies are just two of the many making old and new again, driving our state’s economy, and being an example of Make It In Washington. 

Miguel Moreno, Account Executive Small & Rural Businesses

Miguel is an international bilingual senior manager with experience in the implementation and maintenance of Quality Management Systems and process improvement, project management, and customer and vendor relations in nationwide companies, different environments, and industries. He loves new challenges and is eager to learn about new processes. He can analyze any process and apply his skills and knowledge to transform it into a standardized, efficient, lean process.  Miguel has lived in Spain, Mexico, and Colorado, just to name a few places.  He is fluent in both English and Spanish.  Out of Office is a collection of his weekly musings, travels, and experiences in Washington State. 

He welcomes comments, questions, and requests for free business valuations.  He can be reached at mmoreno@impactwashington.org.