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closeFormer legislator is still taking care of business
Neil Pierson/of The Herald
To earn the title of Small Business Champion of the Year, a person has to have a tireless work ethic and a passion for others.
Dave Morell would know.
As a longtime South Hill resident and former state representative for the 25th Legislative District in 2003 and 2004, Morell no longer shades his eyes from the harsh glare of the political spotlight. Instead, he has invested his time and pocketbook into his own businesses and helped many others start or maintain their nest eggs.
“I must have gotten bored one night and didn’t have enough to do,” Morell mused.
Last month, state leaders for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recognized Morell’s dedication when they named him the Small Business Champion of the Year, one of 50 entrepreneurs nationwide to earn the distinction.
“Dave’s advice and counsel during the last legislative session was invaluable,” state NFIB Director Patrick Connor said in a press release. “He helped all small business owners in the state on a number of issues.”
Morell has been a mainstay for specialized construction in East Pierce County for the past three decades by operating National Grouting System, Inc. His wife, Gloria, helped him brainstorm ideas for a series of businesses under the Rock Creek name, including Rock Creek Gardens Venue in South Hill. The gardens, built on a portion of the Morells’ 21-acre residential property, have hosted numerous weddings and, more recently, a series of wine and jazz events.
“We just kind of put two and two together,” Morell said of the venue. “That’s something we wanted to do for the community.”
In his passion for other small business owners, Morell got involved with the Pierce County Economic Development Board nearly a decade ago. He saw the group as a way to help streamline permit processes and develop bond opportunities for companies that needed financing.
Through his work with NFIB and the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce, Morell channels his old political passions to “limit government reaching into small businesses and trying to control how they run.” Increased costs from the state’s office of labor and industry are hamstringing companies with 50 or fewer employees, he said, and even a 7-8 percent increase in such bills can mean the difference between success and failure.
Morell also helped purchase and revitalize Argus Manor, a 62-unit apartment complex for low-income seniors in Puyallup. The residence is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which keeps rent payments low for seniors on fixed incomes.
“We always run in the black and we’re always upgrading the facility,” Morell explained. “It’s a model project.”
Having a wide variety of interests and a heart for others has worked to Morell’s benefit as well.
“Mainly what I’ve been working on is just trying to diversify what I do into more businesses that I have a passion for,” he explained. “I have employees that really like being creative and working in the outdoor, green environment is one I enjoy quite a bit.”