Tacoma Local Stories

Meet Jeff Graham of Fairway Independent Mortgage. He is a proud member of our local Tacoma + 253 community and we were thrilled to catch up with him about all things reverse mortgages. In this interview, we break down what a reverse mortgage is, how they work, and if it might be right for you!

We sat down with Jeff to learn more about Reverse Mortgages, here's what we learned:

“I believe that God wired me to help people. I figured out at a young age that money touches all facets of our lives to a degree, and if I can help people make smart decisions about their money, then it’s very rewarding for me, very fulfilling for me, and I enjoy it. That’s what really gets me up in the morning and keeps me going when things get tough.”

Jeff begins our conversation with this. Jeff Graham has been in financial services for the better part of his adult career. He’s had his hand...

Nadine Kohler is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Seabury School. Seabury is the only independent school in the South Puget Sound area with programs designed for intellectually advanced children in pre-k - 8th grade. Nadine sat down with us to chat about what it means to have a gifted child, how they approach education at Seabury School, and how to determine if it's time to seek a new approach to learning with your kiddo. We are huge fans of the mission at Seabury School and we are thrilled that they have planted their roots and flourished in the South Sound.

Learn more about Seabury School

We all want our children to have the best possible opportunities to learn and succeed in life. 

Finding a school that fits each child's unique needs plays a crucial part in that long-term success and happiness. 

Traditional schools do their very best to accommodate the educational needs of each child, but oftentimes end up offering a “one size fits...

In this episode of the Tacoma + 253 Business Spotlight, we had the pleasure of chatting in the studio with Jenn Luna of Paper Luxe!

Jenn Luna owns Paper Luxe, Curious Bear Toys, The Crest Home, and Little Luxe Baby Shop.

She is a proud member of our local Tacoma + 253 community and we were thrilled to catch up with her about all things business and life. She told us all about her journey since opening her business in 2012, her ability to pivot and grow during the pandemic, and her unique path to finding her passion.

Click here to visit her website and learn more.

Follow Paper Luxe on Instagram

Mike Skiff: All right. Well, hey, welcome Jen to the program. Glad to have you here.

Jenn Luna: Thanks so much for having me.

Mike Skiff: Yes. And we'll take a quick minute before we dive in and introduce you. It's Jennifer Luna, and you were the owner of multiple establishments. So just why don't you tell us first who you are and what you do?

Jenn Luna: Sure. So my name is Jen. I go by...

In this episode, we had the pleasure to sit down in the studio with Dr. McKenzie Hollyoak with Grit City Chiropractic. This was a really fun and engaging conversation and you are sure to gain a few important health nuggets by listening in. Oh, and we geek out a bit about her super funny and witty Reels on her Instagram page as well (which you MUST check out for yourself.)

Click here to visit her website to learn more about her practice.

Go here to connect with her on IG and check out her brilliant Reels (as well as some great health tips and advice)

More about Dr. M:

Dr. McKenzie is the founding doctor of Grit City Chiropractic. Having been raised in and around the  Tacoma community - a Bellarmine graduate, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, and member of St. Leo’s Parish - she feels excited and blessed to give her energy and the gift of chiropractic to a community that has shaped her. Dr. McKenzie's passion for chiropractic began at a young age when she suffered multiple...

Located in Tacoma’s vibrant Brewery District, Madera Furniture Company has been a longtime fixture of the Tacoma community. For almost 15 years, this locally owned and operated furniture and cabinetry company has been in the business of providing high-quality, custom woodworking to commercial and residential clients in Tacoma and the surrounding region.                                                    

When Carlos Taylor-Swanson founded Madera Furniture Company in 2006, his mission was two-fold. First and foremost, Carlos wanted to fulfill his dream of going into business for himself. A lifelong maker and craftsman, Carlos arguably began his woodworking career at just 12 years old when he constructed a clubhouse in his parents’ backyard, followed by 30 years of experience doing rough and finish carpentry and luxury yacht interiors. It was...

After a year plus of quarantine and a cold winter of being cooped up inside, many families are feeling the need to get outside and do fun activities together, safely! Here are 10 ideas for things to do over Spring Break, and they all follow the state’s current guidelines to keep your family healthy.

• Take a Drive on the Wild Side 

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is just 45 minutes south of Tacoma and offers unique experiences to allow your family to get up close to animals like American bison, mountain goats, caribou, bighorn sheep, Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer and trumpeter swans. The 50-minute Wild Drive allows families to stay in their own car while driving through the park’s 435-acre Free Roaming Area past serene meadows, shady wetlands and green forests. Or, if you’re feeling even more adventurous, sign up for a Keeper Adventure Tour and go off-road in an open-air Jeep with a keeper to search for any hidden animals. Both experiences include admission to...

We had the privilege of sitting down for a great chat with local acupuncturist Jeremy Frieling. 

Jeremy operates out of Serenity Spa in Tacoma, WA  -- www.serenityspatacoma.com

Jeremy talks about some of the benefits of acupuncture, when to seek this particular therapy, and how it fits into overall wellness and relief (hint: it should NOT be a last resort!)

Jeremy is an expert in his field and has won "Best of South Sound" as an acupuncturist in Tacoma for the past 2 years!

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