Leaders in Puyallup and Sumner: Making a Big Difference

Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse

Growing up in the Puyallup/Sumner region was a magical experience that shaped the lives of three of the area’s most ardent supporters. Now, these leaders in Puyallup and Sumner are returning the favor, determined to improve the lives of their neighbors and those of future generations. 

Lifelong resident of the region Dave Radcliffe is CEO of Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse in Sumner, where the motto is “pay it forward.” Customers might be told their furniture is free and encouraged to help someone else in the future. The store also supports numerous local philanthropies. 

The Washington State Fair brought joy to Renee McClain’s childhood, and today, she is the fair’s CEO. She is focused on creating memories for new generations, and her goals include maintaining a year-round calendar of events to increase fun and the fairground’s impact on the local economy. 

Puyallup Mayor Jim Kastama raised his children in the house where he grew up, and he still resides there today. Prior to becoming mayor, he served as a state representative, senator and member of the Puyallup City Council. As mayor, his priorities include downtown redevelopment, public safety and protecting neighborhoods. 

Safety and Service 

“I’m very protective of the people of Puyallup,” Kastama says. 

As a council member, Kastama expanded the police force. One of his initiatives as mayor is to attract high-density housing to Puyallup’s downtown core and establish design guidelines. 

“I want to make sure whatever we do is something that will last, that people will be proud of. We’ve done everything to lay the groundwork to develop our downtown. We’ve made our downtown core the commons for all of our neighborhoods,” he says. 

Kastama is actively mentoring the next generation of leaders. “My goal is to hand off leadership to these younger individuals. It really reinvigorates my faith in the younger generation,” he says. 

Connecting With the Community 

As for McClain, who became CEO of the state fair in fall 2022, her determination to improve the area is guided by a few simple questions. 

“I asked, ‘What does the city need from the fair? What would help this community?’ I’m sincere about that,” she says. 

The 175-acre fairgrounds hosts 150 events throughout the year in addition to the annual fair. Attendees are encouraged to extend their stay beyond the events they attend and visit downtown shops and restaurants. 

Under McClain’s leadership, the fairgrounds strives to connect with the community and its history, including the stories of 7,600 individuals of Japanese descent who were imprisoned at the fairgrounds during World War II. 

The fair provided the Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League the opportunity to create a permanent Remembrance Gallery that includes the names of the imprisoned as well as interpretive displays. The gallery will be seen by the millions of people who visit the fairgrounds every year. 

“I want to really re-engage with our community, not sit behind our walls as a nonprofit organization,” McClain says. “I want to connect with this community, be a good neighbor.” 

Washington is home to well-known businesses such as Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks and others, and McClain wants all of them to be represented with exhibits and events at the fair. “We have so many iconic companies and people who think out of the box. At the fair, that’s how we’re viewed, out of the box,” she says. 

Paying it Forward 

At the Old Cannery, Radcliffe and his staff spend their days selling (or giving away) furniture and quietly making the region a better place to live. 

“It’s about knowing that you’re doing something to help people. The need continues and continues to grow,” Radcliffe says. 

The store supports philanthropies, such as the police toy drive and free photos with Santa, the region’s largest breast cancer awareness walk, the food bank and the hospital. Plus, the Old Cannery supports NW Furniture Bank, which literally keeps people from eating and sleeping on the floor. 

“We’ve been a very successful furniture store in a small community,” Radcliffe says. “When the community supports you, the right thing to do is support the community back.” 

Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce

Checking Out Other Cities

The Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce has approximately 600 members, including some from neighboring cities. Members located outside the region join because the chamber is known for providing business resources, convening and developing leaders, strengthening the economy and hosting fun festivals. 

“About five years ago, we launched a new era focusing on leadership development programs and economic development studies and visions,” says Tara Doyle-Enneking, former chamber president and CEO. “We want to really raise the bar for economic development.” 

One program, City 2 City, involves taking area leaders on tours of cities to understand their economic development strategies. 

“We bring our mayor, city officials, economic development director, state representatives and businesspeople on these trips to learn how the other cities got to their current levels of success,” she says. “One year, we visited Gilbert, Arizona, and another year, we went to Boise, Caldwell and Meridian, Idaho.” 

Doyle-Enneking says the chamber also works to improve red-tape policies and support deregulation to make it easier for businesses to enter the market. 

“We also act as a visitor information center to promote tourism, getting involved with events like a July 3-4 festival, the Brewallup Craft Beer Festival, the Forks and Corks food and wine event and more,” she says. 

Doyle-Enneking adds that the chamber partners with the Puyallup School District to present a Career Academy that creates apprenticeship programs and introduces students to eight industries during a camp in the summer. 

“We also sponsor a Blue Scarf Society that focuses on female leadership and mentorship for women in various professions. Blue Scarf now has 90 members,” she says. 

– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.