Tacoma Rising

Tacoma Rising Tacoma Rising is a community to stimulate and promote Tacoma’s commercial real estate and economic growth.

05/10/2026

Tacoma’s

S4 E4 of the Tacoma Rising podcast is live with Kevin Lee — owner of Third Space Cafe in downtown Tacoma.

Kevin talks about his journey as an entrepreneur. “You have to love what you do.” Kevin is building something special on Pacific Ave.

Every other week, we sit down with the people actually building Tacoma. Operators. Founders. Makers. The ones doing the work instead of talking about it.

🎙️ Watch the full episode — link in bio. Production by

→ Run a Tacoma restaurant? We’re looking for one more to tell their story like Kevin’s. DM us.

→ Want your brand alongside the people building this city? Season sponsorships are open. DM us.

05/02/2026

One real challenge: reimagine Pacific Avenue — the gateway between downtown and UW Tacoma.

Not a class project. Not a hypothetical.

Real maps. Real leasing plans. Real deals in play.

Students stood in front of the developers, engineers, architects, financiers, and marketers who shape this city every day — and pitched them a vision for what Pacific Ave could become.

This is what city building looks like when you stop watching from the sidelines.

Tacoma Rising isn’t an event. It’s a system.

Promote. Connect. Support.

To every student who shipped a pitch in one day — you are why we do this.

To every mentor who gave a Friday to build the future — thank you.

🏛️ Schools in the room:
· · · · · ·

🙏 Sponsors who made it real:
UW Tacoma · · · .hr · · .washington · University of Puget Sound · · .westernproperties

Tacoma is the proof. Production by

founderssquare

03/27/2026

If you missed out on Tacoma Rising’s Business March Madness, we have you covered! Please check out our wrap-up video of the event.

Also, here are the final outcomes if you missed our previous post!

The Final Four Business Madness category winners were:
- Culture Makers:
- Tastemakers:
- Change Makers:
- Builders:

We also hosted a pop-a-shot competition with about 15 teams participating, and the winners took home $150! Will McInnis was part of the winning team for a second year in a row!

Additionally, we announced the 2026 Tacoma Rising Business Champion. Our first year’s winner is Wooden City. Congratulations to Abe Fox and the Wooden City team. Hope to see this massive trophy at their NEW restaurant in the next month or so!

Thank you to our sponsors , , , and .

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the event. Special thanks to the folks who helped us make it happen: Becca Lamberg, Emily Maier, Quinton Davis, Mike Murphy , Keith Johnson, Dawn Hong, and many more! Video by

03/08/2026

Entrepreneurship has a way of humbling you.

On my latest Tacoma Rising Podcast, I asked Buddy Brown, founder of Buddy's Chicken & Waffles, what success looks like today versus when he started.
His answer stuck with me.
“When I first had the idea, I saw 100 locations. I didn’t realize there were so many steps between opening number one and opening number one hundred.”
Every founder sees the vision early — the scale, the growth, the big picture.
What you don’t see at the start are the hundreds of steps in between.
Hiring. Systems. Automation. Franchising. Learning along the way.
Success might still be the same vision, but the journey teaches you what it actually takes to get there.

Take a listen to the clip below.

Just filmed our latest podcast with with Jenny and Steve! It’s always a blast getting a chance to hangout with them!Sp...
03/06/2026

Just filmed our latest podcast with with Jenny and Steve! It’s always a blast getting a chance to hangout with them!
Spoiler alert! Their food is still amazing and I highly recommend their turkey sandwhich and any soup on the menu! Stay tuned for the full podcast! Photo by

03/04/2026

🎙️ New Episode | Tacoma Rising Podcast

We sat down with Buddy Brown, owner of one of Tacoma’s most talked-about comfort food spots.

Buddy shares the story behind building a restaurant rooted in great food, strong culture, and real community connection. From the inspiration behind the concept to the realities of running a restaurant, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to turn a great idea into a sustainable business.

We talk about:
• Standing out in Tacoma’s competitive food scene
• Building customer loyalty and community trust
• Creating a strong culture in the kitchen and front of house
• The challenges of launching a restaurant
• What success looks like today vs. when he first started

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, restaurants, Tacoma’s business community, and the people helping shape our city, this episode is for you.

Tacoma Rising highlights the people, businesses, and projects shaping Tacoma’s future through conversations that promote, connect, and support our local business community. production by

🎧 Listen now
🔗 Link in bio

02/18/2026

🎙️ S3 E8: Banking on Tacoma

We’re closing Season 3 of Tacoma Titans with Justin Martin, CEO of .

We talk:
• Local capital
• Scaling from entrepreneur to CEO
• What makes a credit union different
• And what Justin looks for in founders

TAPCO isn’t just in the conversation — they’re backing it.

As the Headline Sponsor of The Tacoma Rising Pitch, they’re supporting bold local ideas — and Justin will be a judge tomorrow night.

Tacoma rises when capital backs community.

🎧 New episode live — link in bio
🎟️ The Pitch is tomorrow — link in bio

02/06/2026

📢 New Episode Drop: Leading with Strategy & Heart 💙🎙️

What does it take to lead lasting change in Tacoma?

In this episode of the Tacoma Rising podcast, we sit down with Dona Ponepinto, President & CEO of for a powerful conversation about:

🧭 Leading with purpose
🏘️ Supporting ALICE families (those working but struggling)
🧠 Leadership lessons from the boardroom to the block
🌱 Why she believes in Tacoma’s next generation
💡 What she looks for in bold new founders as a Tacoma Rising Pitch judge

Whether you’re a founder, nonprofit leader, or changemaker, this episode is a masterclass in leading with impact.

🎧 Available at www.tacomarising.com/podcast or in our bio above.

TacomaLeaders CommunityImpact TacomaBusiness SocialChange SouthSoundVoices PurposeDrivenLeadership SupportLocal TacomaGrowth

01/17/2026

Greater Seattle Partners hosts their SelectUSA Seattle Spinoff each year which brings global attention to our region from businesses seeking expansion. Their close rate is 1 out of 10! Crushing it!
Now entering its 4th year, the GSP team identifies and recruits companies globally, poised for expansion. With a focus on 7 key sectors across 10 countries, 30 delegates are invited annually for an immersive familiarization tour.
This 3-day experience showcases the region, rolling out the red carpet to help them experience the best of the area. Listen to the full podast to learn more at www.tacomarising.com/podcast

01/16/2026

NEW Tacoma Rising PODCAST!  S3 E6: Local Power, Global Vision featuring .

Featuring proud Tacoma natives shaping the future of the Greater Seattle region. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Rebecca Lovell, Interim CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, and Victoria DePalma, Ph.D., Director of Research, to talk regional vision, investment, and how Tacoma is claiming its seat at the table.

From inclusive economic development to global site selection, you’ll hear:
▪️ Why Tacoma attracts “uncommon thinkers”
▪️ What site selectors are really looking for
▪️ How grassroots movements are shifting regional perception
▪️ And what success looks like for Pierce County by 2030

Whether you’re in commercial real estate, , or just rooting for Tacoma’s rise, this is a must-listen.

🎥 Full episode here: www.tacomarising.com/podcast production by and

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