Posted on 05/10/2012
Teacher Appreciation at McKay Elementary School
One of our favorite weeks of the year is Teacher Appreciation. The work teachers do is so important and they deserve some espresso to keep them going strong. This year we donated an espresso bar to a school that told us why their staff deserves a coffee cart. We got a lot of great entries from Vancouver and Portland that were very deserving of a treat. This was a tough decision but in the end we choose a Beaverton school, McKay Elementary, because we felt the principal exemplified the dedication and care the staff has for students. It was an honor to serve them espresso and we’ll do this again next year.
Here is what Megan Clifford had to say about the McKay staff:
“I am principal at McKay Elementary school in Beaverton. I LOVE that you raffle off espresso’s for educators! The reason MCKAY deserves to be treated to free espresso is because of our staff’s dedication! Teaching is a labor of love at our school. McKay is a title I school which means we have a high number of students receiving free or reduced lunch. Currently this is 60% of our kids. About a third of our kids rely on us for a hot breakfast in the morning, too. In addition about 1/3 of our kids are trying to learn english. Our teachers are teaching to a very diverse population which requires so much planning and differentiating their teaching, and they love their work. There is even a group who come in every Sunday to get more work done!
Our school is very old…. we don’t have the bells and whistles that schools in wealtheir neighborhoods have…. our families just can’t afford it. But you walk into our school and you can “feel” the love and dedication in our community. I hear that from people who come in all the time. It is all because of our teachers, secretaries, custodians, and instructional assistants. They take each child’s academic growth very personally. The go above and beyond—when there has been a house fire, a death in a family, or families can’t afford gifts during the holidays- they step up to help out in any way they can. This isn’t easy is such a small school, as it requires so much from everyone.”
Megan Clifford
Principal
McKay Elementary School
Posted on 05/03/2012
We’re talking about Vancouver WA not B.C. where businesses can, and do, thrive. At the Vancouver Business Journal’s Business Growth Awards that was perfectly apparent. From trampoline parks (G6 Airpark) to a fast growing marketing firm (Gravitate Design Studio) and a Canine Utopia (Canine Utopia) there was a myriad of companies on hand with a plethora of stories about struggle leading to success. It was also very encouraging to see a business that has averaged 25% growth over the last four years (Ryonet) and many companies hiring new staff in 2011! During the current recession the news seems to be more about the bad than the good. That’s why Pacific Perks is very honored to be in the company of so many great companies who are proving that there is a lot of good going on in business due to perseverance and ingenuity.
It was also fun to mingle with entrepreneurs who have a passion for success. During the last couple years it hasn’t been easy to run a company of any size but it has always been worth it.
Check our the full list of finalists in the VBJ.
Posted on 04/27/2012
It pays to appreciate the people important to your business! Throughout the year there are dozens of “official” dates on the calendar that give upper management a reason to say “Thank You” to the people who make their businesses, schools and medical offices run smoothly and succeed. Without the teachers who go the extra mile, secretaries who work late and nurses who make the patients feel good it would be very hard, if not impossible, to have a successful operation. A “thank you” doesn’t have to be extravagant to be effective. A lot of employees just need to be acknowledged for their efforts, commitment and contributions.
Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune. ~ Sam Walton
Posted on 01/25/2012
Are you lucky enough to have a great client base who you can relate to by name or event talk to when you see them outside of work? Having this type of relationship with people comes from the mentality that without your clients, you won’t stay in business. Whatever you can do to please the people who ask for your goods or services is what you need to do to build a lasting business.
There are a lot of tips out there for how to treat a client but the one that holds up during a recession, or in an economic boom, is “treat people the way you want to be treated”. Maybe it’s cliche but it will serve you well! Whenever you run into a situation that needs special handling, just ask what you would need to be happy with the resolution and then you’ll come up with the “right” way to resolve the issue. If you wouldn’t like the way an issue is handled, then either will your client.
Posted on 01/12/2012
How much caffeine is in your drink of choice?
One shot of espresso = 77 mg
Cup of brewed coffee = 60-90 mg
Tea = 30-35 mg
12 oz Coke = 40-45 mg
Posted on 11/21/2011
People are always talking about how important coffee is to their morning. Here’s a couple quotes that prove just that:
“In Seattle you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.” ~Jeff Bezos
“Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven.” ~Jessi Lane Adams
“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” ~Flash Rosenberg
Posted on 11/15/2011
Pacific Perks is entering the blogosphere! However, contrary to your first thoughts, we will not be confined to talk only about coffee. Rather we want to share things that you may use on a regular basis (I know, I know, you can use coffee daily as well). Things like event coordination tips, employee appreciation ideas, general business life and of course coffee recipes and information. This will be fun.
