Strength in leadership, power in perspective

Terry Ward
Publisher

This issue of the Wenatchee Business Journal celebrates women in business — leaders who are reshaping not only boardrooms and storefronts, but the very fabric of our communities. Their stories remind us that business is not just about strategy or profit margins. It’s about resilience, creativity, and the ability to lead with both strength and empathy.

At Bushel & Bee Taproom, Kayla Applebay turned an idea born on a wine-tasting weekend into a Leavenworth staple. With no prior experience running a bar, she relied on instinct, hyper focus, and community support to transform uncertainty into a thriving business. Her journey shows us that vision, backed by courage, can build spaces that bring people together.

In Peshastin, Rose Bishop of Alpine Fitness has created more than a gym. She’s built a community where form, function, and fun replace intimidation and competition. What began as a small lease and a handful of members has grown into a trusted anchor for health and connection, proving that persistence and adaptability are the true measures of strength.

For Dorry Foster, leadership means collaboration. As CEO of the Wenatchee Valley YMCA and president of the Chamber of Commerce Board, she’s spent years breaking down barriers and lifting others up. Foster embodies a philosophy that inclusive growth isn’t just aspirational — it’s essential. Her voice is part of a larger chorus of women now guiding this valley into its next chapter.

And at Cascade Medical, Diane Blake’s story underscores the quiet power of saying yes. From a temporary role to the CEO’s office, her path was not driven by ambition, but by service. Blake leads with integrity and a servant-leadership style, ensuring that rural healthcare remains rooted in community values even as it adapts to industry change.

Across North Central Washington, women like Applebay, Bishop, Foster, and Blake are redefining what leadership looks like. They balance innovation with compassion, growth with inclusion, and ambition with service. They remind us that the power of business lies not only in what we build, but in who we lift along the way.

As we honor Women in Business this month, may their stories serve as both inspiration and invitation — to listen, to learn, and to lead with courage. The future of our economy depends on more voices at the table. And when women lead, our whole community rises.

Terry Ward is the CEO of Ward Media and publisher of the NCW News, Cashmere Valley Record, Lake Chelan Mirror, The Leavenworth Echo, Quad City Herald, Kitsap Business Magazine, and the Wenatchee Business Journal. He can be reached at terry@ward.media.