Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Greater Sandpoint Chamber welcomes Northwest MedStar


The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Northwest MedStar to the Chamber. Based out of Spokane, WA Northwest MedStar serves the entire region including the Sandpoint, northern Idaho and eastern Washington area. They have done so for almost two decades and promise that northing has or ever will change.

Northwest MedStar provides critical care transport services and is a vital part of our region’s emergency response system. Each year more than 3,500 critically ill or injured patients are transported by NW MedStar’s fixed wing, helicopter or ground ambulances from bases in Spokane, Moses Lake and Tri-Cities. 

NW MedStar provides more than just fast transport. With their Registered Nurses, Registered Respiratory Therapists and specialty perinatal/pediatric flight team, NW MedStar provides a level of care that is similar to the receiving critical care or specialty care unit at a major medical center. Their teams work with care providers to care for pediatric, newborns, new moms, cardiac, trauma, stroke and other patients ensuring the best possible outcomes. Patients are moved fast and their care remains continuous and uninterrupted.

In an emergency the last thing you want to think about is the bill. NW MedStar Membership provides peace of mind knowing your flight will not create extra financial hardship if you or your family ever become ill or seriously injured and need to be flown. Membership benefits cover any out of pocket costs for transport. It includes you, your spouse or domestic partner, as well as family members claimed on income tax and is affordable. The cost per family is $59 for one year or $150 for three years. Thanks to reciprocal agreements, your NW MedStar membership will also be honored for air transport by several other critical care air transport partner programs through the western United States through its participation in the Association of Air Medical Membership Programs (AAMMP), a collaboration of non-profit critical care transport providers. Membership discounts are available for business groups of 10 or more.

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce wishes Northwest MedStar continued success and thanks them for their services to our area. Visit www.nwmedstar.org for more information about Northwest MedStar’s services or membership, or call their membership office at (855) 856-4687. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

In Photo: Northwest MedStar cuts the ribbon at the Chamber’s April General Membership Luncheon with Chamber staff, Board Members and Ambassadors.

Greater Sandpoint Chamber welcomes Exercise Institute

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recently welcomes the Exercise Institute. Located inside of 360 Fit club, 606 N. 5th Ave, the Exercise Institute is ideal for busy professionals and is even specialized for those over 40 years old who want great results, more safely, in less time. With more than 500,000 personal training sessions of experience, they have refined their programs and services for more than 15 years now.

Founder, Michael Teater, started Exercise Institute in 1995 has personally supervised over 100,000 personal training sessions. He has grown the company to four locations with Sandpoint being their newest addition to their family. He is a 1991 graduate of the University of Idaho with a B.S. major emphasis in Corporate Wellness and Athletic Training. Additionally, he has minors in Nutrition, Coaching, and Physical Education and has three personal trainer Certifications.

 What sets them apart from the competition? It is a total body, zero momentum high-intensity, resistance workout that takes about 15 minutes, one or two times per week. This workout method couples the latest in engineering technology of equipment design and the most recent, up-to-date research involving exercise physiology. All movements are performed under a controlled zero-momentum tension. It is a technique that is safer and more effective.

This method of exercise is the only one that addresses all 6 main health categories: 1) Strength, endurance, stamina 2) Cardiovascular efficiency 3) Enhanced flexibility 4) Bone density 5) Fat loss 6) Resistance to injury and illness.

 “Our exercise facility is designed with all private rooms, along with a qualified & educated professional instructor,” explained Teater. “Our Grand Opening Special until May 1st is get 40% off any program purchased or test drive us first with a free consultation plus two free personal training sessions.”

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce wishes the Exercise Institute success in our community. Visit www.exerciseinstitute.com for more information about the Exercise Institute’s services, call them at 208-263-7271 or email them at sandpointinfo@exerciseinstitute.com. Like them on Facebook.

In Photo: Spirit Marley, Exercise Institute Instructor, cuts the ribbon with the Chamber Ambassadors.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Chamber honors Eric Paull as Volunteer of the Month


The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce honors Eric Paull as March’s Volunteer of the Month for his service to our community. If you look at Eric’s community involvement, you would assume it is his full time job. However, Eric has been involved in the banking industry in Sandpoint since 1981 and is the current Vice President and Commercial Banking Relationship Manager at Washington Trust Bank.

Jim Zuberbuhler explained, “the Volunteer of the Month is awarded to a person who has had a positive impact on our community, making it a better place to live and I’m very pleased to present Eric Paull as March’s Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Month.”

Eric is a Chamber member, Sandpoint Rotary club member and Past President, Bonner County Economic Development Corporation past Chairman of the Board and current member of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency, board member for the Kootenai-Ponderay Sewer District and Mountain Host at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

An Idahoan through and through, Eric graduated from Lewiston High School and Lewis Clark State College for Business Administration. He enjoys the outdoors and takes part in many activities throughout the year. Also, he takes an active part in raising his two boys, coaches them in their many sports and is a dedicated husband to his wife Lisa of 17 years.

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Eric Paull in being honored as the Volunteer of the Month and thanking him for all of his contributions to our community. His hard work has done a lot for so many causes in our community. Thank you Eric!

Photo: Jim Zuberbuhler honors Eric Paull as March’s Volunteer of the Month.

Chamber Honors Walmart as Business of the Month


The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Ponderay Walmart as the March’s Business of the Month. Founded in 1962 and incorporated in 1969, Walmart has grown at an incredible speed. In 1996, they opened the Ponderay Walmart in their 157,000 square feet home.

Walmart’s local influence is large. They employ 350 employees. Most notably they help many non-profits in our community on so many different levels.

Walmart did more than 80, $50-$100, local grants that were approved at a store level in 2011. Also, Walmart gave away $12,000 in community grants in 2011. Through state grants, Bonner County Food Bank was able to procure $30,000 from Walmart in 2011.

“We encourage local non-profits to apply for these higher dollar grants because they are available each year and the home office grant team tries to distribute this funding over each state and region,” said Randy Olivier, Ponderay Walmart Store Manager.

In addition to grants, Walmart also has a Volunteerism Always Pays program which they allow their associates to participate in annually. Last year, they gave $1,000 to Girl Scouts for a highway cleanup and City Beach cleanup some Walmart associates participated, Circles Initiative received $1,000 where Walmart associates cooked one meal a week during the month of July, and Walmart associates also volunteered their time in Relay for Life and was given $3,000 for their participation.

“Whether you are in Ponderay or Sandpoint, Priest River or Bonners Ferry, Dover or Kootenai, Hope or Clark Fork, or any one of the other cities in Idaho, Montana, Washington or British Columbia that we serve, we personally thank each of you for making our store successful,” said Olivier. He then added, “it is with great honor that we accept the business of the month for March 2012. We will continue to do everything that we can to serve the needs of our customers and save people money so that they can live better.”

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Walmart for their success and thanking them for their commitment to our community. For more information, visit them in Ponderay or call them at 208-265-8332.

In Photo: Walmart Assistant Manager and employees accept the award from Chamber Ambassadors.

Greater Sandpoint Chamber welcomes Sweet Lou’s to Ponderay


The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Sweet Lou’s restaurant to Ponderay with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Sweet Lou’s is located at 477272 US 95, sharing the parking lot with Holiday Inn Express, in Ponderay and they are a family restaurant and sports bar. They serve lunch and dinner and have a full bar.

This is the second Sweet Lou's restaurant in the area, the first being in the Holiday Shores Marina in Hope, which is re-opening for the summer season soon. They are a family restaurant, named after their 2.5 year old son, Lou.

“We hope to provide you a comfortable atmosphere in which you come in hungry and leave happy,” said Chad. “Our goal is to provide great service, delectable entrees with fresh ingredients. With something for everyone on the menu, we encourage you to come in and give us a try. We offer vegetarian meals and bison ribs, steaks and burgers for those craving meat.”

They have familiar entrees that are taken to the next level with their fresh ingredients. Everything is made in-house, including their three BBQ sauces; house, bourbon and chocolate. They like to offer entrees that people know and love and put a unique spin on them, for example their grilled PB&J sandwich topped with bacon. They also have 20 HD TVs located throughout the restaurant for your viewing pleasure. Want to hear the game you are watching? Just ask for a wireless speaker and they will bring it to your table so you can tune in to any of their seven satellites. Enjoy one of their 16 draft beers, which we will rotate constantly in order to provide a variety of brews, most of which are made in the Northwest.

Every Tuesday they offer all-you-can-eat spaghetti, served with their homemade meat sauce and garlic bread for $9.99. Add a homemade meatball for just $1 per ball. Enjoy Happy Hour every day from 4-6 with $3 pints, wells and house wines and all appetizers are $5.99. Weekend dinner guests enjoy smoked prime rib, if there are any leftovers (which is rare) they whip up a grilled prime rib sandwich on Monday.

Both Meggie and Chad are graduates from the University of Arizona. Chad's family is from Bonners Ferry and Meggie is from Coeur d'Alene, ID and a Lake City High School graduate. Both know and appreciate the North Idaho area and all that it has to offer. Chad has been in the restaurant industry for seventeen years. He has gained knowledge and experience from working in every position, from the kitchen to the host stand. Hands-on work and managing several large steak restaurants in the Seattle area has provided Chad with the background he needs to run a large restaurant.

Sweet Lou’s in Ponderay opened its doors Super Bowl weekend and have been going strong ever since. Be sure to visit Sweet Lou’s on Facebook for ongoing specials. They are open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, visit www.sweetlousidaho.com or call 208-263-1381.

In Photo: Owners Chad and Meggie Foust cut the ribbon with their employees and Chamber Ambassadors.