About Us
Owner Paul L. Stewart was born and
raised in New Orleans, LA, and graduated with a B.A. in political science
from Southern University. Stewart served his country in the U.S. Army
for 10 years, specializing in military intelligence, human resources,
and legal assistance, and was stationed at several bases in Europe, Asia,
and the U.S. While serving in Europe, Stewart especially appreciated the
opportunity to experience the cultural diversity there and participated
fully in the region’s traditions – from running volksmarches
in Germany, castle hopping in the Rhine Valley (Mainz),
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6EovwW1p5g) stomping grapes at an Italian
winery and enjoying the
Montecchia di Crosara Cherry Festival, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3o8wbhl4jk
to cruising on the French Riviera and driving his Peugeot on the Autobahn.
With Fort Lewis, WA as his last duty station, Stewart decided to settle in western Washington so he could continue to enjoy the region’s recreational and cultural offerings and natural geographical beauty. In 1991, Stewart founded a nonprofit computer training program for inner-city youth in urban Seattle, called “Project Compute.” The program continues to this day, offering free technology classes at Rainier Valley Community Center. It has received numerous awards (including the President’s Service Award from the Clinton Administration in 1995) and national media attention.
In addition to founding Project Compute, Stewart has served western Washington communities in various other volunteer capacities: as a member of a community college’s technology advisory board, member of the Government Affairs Committee of the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, manager of a teen girls’ softball team, volunteer at a shelter for abused women, and marketing director for an organization that teaches nonviolent communication.
After more than a decade of supporting Puget Sound area businesses in sales, data analysis, human resources, marketing, promotions, and Internet development, Stewart set out on his own as a business consultant and youth technology trainer.
A frequent recreational visitor to the Lewis County area, Stewart relocated to Packwood in 2003, initially to take a writing sabbatical. Stewart enjoys camping, photography, Internet, hiking, swimming, skiing, biking, river rafting, jogging, and occasional fine dining. Upon moving to east Lewis County, he quickly became involved in the community through volunteer service on civic committees and events, and is working with local businesses and organizations to create and expand their Internet presence and marketing possibilities.
As a new resident of Packwood, WA, Stewart wanted to assist the community. His experience with teaching and coaching led him to the Packwood Elementary School, which was slated for closure due to low enrollment. Stewart formed an organization dubbed Packwood On The March II, which followed in the footsteps of the original Packwood On The March civic action group from the 1950s. With an associate, Simone Shipp, he introduced media attention and initiated community meetings to inform the community regarding a possible charter school for Packwood. See article, dtd Apr 11, 2004, The Seattle Times - The Centralia Chronicle, by Julie Graham. The charter school idea began in anticipation of the Charter School Bill that was before the Washington State Legislature, which passed that spring. Soon parents of the community became involved and created the Packwood Charter School Coalition. (The charter school efforts ended in November 2004 when Washington state voters failed to approve the legislature's bill enacted in March 2004.)
Packwood On The March II, secondly, noticed a need for more support and networking for business owners. After passing the charter school cause over to the community, Stewart began organizing the businesses of Packwood and Randle to form the Packwood-Randle Chamber of Commerce. In February 2005, he founded a regional Chamber, the East Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, which encompasses more than 10 different towns in a region covering more than two-thirds of Lewis County. He serves as the organization's Executive Director.
He is also a member of the Lewis County
Meth Task Force, Meth Watch program, and past member of Regionally Involved
Management (RIM). In August 2006 he graduated from the Northwest Economic
Development Course (accredited by International Economic Development Council),
for which he was awarded a scholarship to attend.
As Director of the East Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, Stewart has
partnered with Lewis County's ESD 113, Educational Service District Youth
Programs Department to train twoMossyrock High School students in administrative
skills, project management, customer service, web development and Internet
protocol.
Stewart participated in the Centralia High School Business week program as a Business Advisor to 15 students for one week (2006) as part of the state's Washington Business Week Program. He also has developed a youth after-school program, “Real World Technology,” previously taught at South Lake High School and Aki Kurose Middle School in Seattle, and hopes to bring this program to other schools as well.
Stewart is a trained facilitator for the Study Circles and LeadershipPlenty phases of the Horizons Program. He volunteered his time in both roles, leading groups of community members to study and discuss poverty and to learn new community leadership skills. Stewart is certified to provide LeadershipPlenty training free of charge to other communities and organizations. (Contact him for details.) The Horizons program is funded by the Northwest Area Foundation and delivered in Washington by Washington State University. For more information on this program's local activities, please see the Horizons website.
| Paul Stewart Consulting partners with Intentional Publishing & Design/Shelly Arenas on website design, marketing, community development, grant proposals, and other ventures. Their joint projects over the past several years have included the organizational set-up and ongoing management of the East Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, local coordination of the early stages (Study Circles and LeadershipPlenty) of the local Horizons program, creation of the Rural Connections project, website development and marketing services for several Lewis County clients (see Client Portfolio), business and nonprofit development assistance for start-up companies and organizations, and travel research services. |
