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 Creek Fish Barrier Removal and building projects like Alderwood Elementary. In this episode, Mike talks about the importance of giving back to your staff, the balance of family and work when intertwined, and what social good means in the world of RAM Construction.

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Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co.

Our Crew:

• Co-Producers & Audio Editors | Tiffany Holden & Taylor Beal
• Video Production | Cooper Hansley
• Host | Leo Cohen

Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

A huge thank you to our friends at Doc Swinson's for being this season's community partner.

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 atmosphere. In this episode, he talks all things restaurant management, the importance of key leaders, and the future of their old space on State Street.

Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

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.bellingham/

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.bellingham/

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 Restaurant Row on Holly St.

Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

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, commitment to quality, and a vision for American whiskey is driving everything that happens at Doc Swinson's.

Follow the show:
https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

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 Screaming Mimi award and catapulted his hot sauces into national recognition, and how Stellar Fuzz made it onto Season 23 of Hot Ones.  

Follow the show:

https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/