‘Ohana Harbor is the label on quality Kona coffee beans that can be purchased online. But the name is just as much a state of mind.

John Shoemaker of American Informatics, Inc., in Gig Harbor, was appointed to the 2009 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Deputy Director of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.

First impressions are important to Sue Braaten, owner and operator of the Best Western Wesley Inn of Gig Harbor.

Dr. Karl Peterson’s practice offers a blend of chiropractic and naturopathic healing. He believes in the latter so much that he’s chaired the annual Northwest Naturopathic Physicians Conference, which was held in Seattle in April, for the past six years.

A lot of Washingtonians are staunch environmentalists and “going green” is all the rage. People are tired of putting up with toxins inside their homes, but finding eco-friendly building supplies can turn into a frustrating hunting expedition.

Harbor Health & Skincare wants to offer basic health care at an affordable price. The business’ sole practitioner, Karen Smith, ARNP, also offers cosmetic skin care in her Gig Harbor office, like Botox, fillers, chemical peels and acne treatment.

Gig Harbor residents no longer have to travel out of town to receive specialized vision correction.

Harry Dearth sits on a cushioned stool in his Gig Harbor waterfront bookstore, surrounded by his passion. Stacks of books line the shelves from floor to ceiling: biographies, travel books, children’s books and cook books.

When Valla Wagner and Melissa Tennille opened their toy store, Teaching Toys, Too, in Uptown Gig Harbor, they already had quite a following.

Barbara Graham wants to give her clients something more than just great graphic designs.

Peninsula Insurance in Gig Harbor has added muscle to its insuring power by merging with the Fournier Group, another long-standing area agency.

The general contractors at Latitude 123 in the Finholm district of Gig Harbor want building, remodeling or decorating a home to be as easy as 1-2-3.

In January the two Gig Harbor branches of ACE Hardware added Tom’s Secret Formula products to their shelves.

When Lane Scelzi visualized “Sip at the wine bar & restaurant,” he wanted to offer something for everyone. And from the way business has been since it opened March 26 in Uptown Gig Harbor, it looks like he’s hit his mark.

Morford’s Hallmark at Harbor Place on Point Fosdick Drive recently celebrated its 31st anniversary with a remodel. At the end of February, the store closed for three days and got a fresh coat of paint, new carpet, rearranged displays and added new features.

Tenants began to move into new office buildings off Wollochet Drive at the beginning of this month. Mallards Pointe Professional Center is located on Wagner Way behind Mallards Landing. The two-building professional center has been under construction for a little more than a year.

Gloria Metcalf’s business is all about making people feel comfortable in bed. Metcalf makes fitted sheets from her home in Lakebay out of the “best fabric there is for sheets.”

Forza Coffee in Gig Harbor recently became the first in the company’s chain of stores to offer a wine bar along with its regular coffee venue.

An online employment service has just hit the Internet. In January, a group of Gig Harbor professionals launched Pursut.com with one goal in mind: to match qualified candidates with employers.

Elsa Kush had no idea that a day spent pulling weeds would lead to a career, much less her own business. But that’s exactly how it started for the woman who now has her own gardening and pruning business, Kush Pruning.

Modern medicine has experienced a change in its collective consciousness. Instead of dealing with diseases as they occur, physicians are dealing with the prevention and management of diseases before they get out of hand.

When Sara Paulik was asked as a child what she wanted to do when she grew up, she said, “Play with dogs all day.”

Visitors who enter the Artwork Northwest building in the Hunt Wollochet Business Park might be surprised by the amount of artwork on display.

Fred Donovan’s auto repair shop is a one-man operation. But he has plenty of friends. And they’re all available at the push of a button. Donovan is part of the International Automotive Technician’s Network, a computer network of mechanics from more than 132 countries and more than 13,000 mechanics who can respond to a question at a moment’s notice.

Today, some people are experiencing more stress than ever before. And at one time, those dealing with the loss of a loved one had to go through it alone without help from a professional.

Rick Johnson doesn’t have an ordinary three-car garage. In fact, there are no cars in it at all. The floor is painted green with white stripes to resemble a miniature tennis court, complete with a net.

Patrons who visit Il Lucano Ristorante on Judson Street will see some familiar faces. The restaurant’s owners, Michele and Azusa Simone, worked at Terraccianos, the restaurant that formerly occupied the location, for several years. Peppino D’Angelo was a waiter and Rich Johnson works as the restaurant’s waiter, bartender and Web designer.

Matt Cummins used to be a professional snowboarder. But what does a snowboarder do when it’s time to retire? Open up a snowboard shop, naturally.

RE/MAX Town and Country has hired Alvin Mullins, a former chef from Memphis, Tenn. He brings years of experience in real estate marketing.