The Greater Federal Way Chamber will honor two business leaders for their business impact and community inspiration at its annual gala on Nov. 15.
Jeff Stock, Caffe D’Arte, will be recognized with the Business Impact Award for providing unique opportunities for business growth through economic initiatives.
Peggy LaPorte, FUSION (Friends United to Shelter the Indigent Oppressed and Needy), will receive the Community Inspiration Award for demonstrated leadership that serves as a model of inspiration for professional, personal and volunteer efforts.
“The Chamber knows that economic success is due to leadership within our business community,” said board member Erin Colwell, gala chair. “Our enhanced program of work at the Chamber includes recognizing individuals who inspire us with their commitment and success.”
Business Impact Award: Jeff Stock
Stock is a retired U.S. soccer defender who spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League and two in the Western Soccer Alliance. He also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League with the Tacoma Stars.
Son of Major League Baseball pitcher Wes Stock, he attended Stadium High School, graduating in 1978. While in high school, he played baseball. However, he also played with future Sounders team mate Mark Peterson on the Norpoint Royals youth soccer club. UCLA offered Stock an athletic scholarship, but he elected to sign a professional soccer contract instead.
Stock signed with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League in 1978. He played 35 games win the Sounders in both the 1981 and 1982 seasons. In 1983, he lost most of the season after blowing out his right knee in the Sounders’ fifth game. He retired from soccer in 1986.
In 1987, Stock returned to outdoor soccer with the F.C. Seattle Storm of the Western Soccer Alliance as a player and in 1988 he was selected to the Western Soccer Alliance All Star team. He also served as an assistant coach in both 1987 and 1988. In 1989 he retired from playing professionally to devote himself to coaching.
While never called up to the senior national team, Stock saw time with the U.S. U-19 team. He then went on to play for the U.S. Pan American Games team as well as for the U.S. soccer team, which qualified him for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Unfortunately for Stock and his team mates, President Jimmy Carter chose to boycott the games in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
After retiring from soccer, Stock entered the real estate market, going on to buy the Pacific Northwest’s largest water and amusement park, Wild Waves and Enchanted Village in Federal Way. Following the sale of the amusement and water park, Stock diversified his interest with the purchase of a Seattle Coffee Company, Caffe D’Arte, which recently relocated its corporate headquarters to Federal Way.
Caffé D’arte, an award-winning coffee roasting company, supplies a full spectrum of coffee related services around the world. Caffé D’arte provides not only distinctive coffees roasted in the style of the various regions of Italy, but also the warmth and uniqueness of traditional Italian culture.
Stock has been married to Leanne for 35 years and they have two sons and three grandchildren.
Community Inspiration Award: Peggy LaPorte
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio, LaPorte attended the University of Cincinnati before accepting a position as a Pan American stewardess. After flight training, she was based in Seattle, where she soon met her future husband, Dennis.
The couple settled in Federal Way and raised four children. During that time, LaPorte pursued studies and began her own interior design business. Several years later, sje began another business managing a one-suite bed and breakfast to help with private college tuition costs for their children.
During that time period she became aware of a growing need for transitional housing to serve the homeless in Federal Way. She founded FUSION in 1993 with a group of like-minded friends who gathered around her kitchen table. Their mission was to create a fundraising event that would provide the means to support a housing program for homeless women and their children.
The first fundraiser held in August 1994 produced enough revenue to contract case management services for one full year, however, a home was needed to place a family. On behalf of FUSION, LaPorte applied for and received a Community Development Block Grant from the city of Federal Way to purchase a one-bedroom, fully-furnished home.
Now, 21 years later, FUSION, an all-volunteer non-profit with over 180 volunteers, owns, manages, and maintains 16 fully-furnished homes and contracts professional case management services through Catholic Community Services. Approximately 85 percent of the families served have moved on to permanent housing becoming stable and self-sufficient.
Realizing, however, that the need for housing homeless families has grown exponentially in the last decade, LaPorte researched the idea of creating an additional revenue stream to support the FUSION mission and to provide more housing. FUSION Décor Boutique, an upscale resale store for decorative home furnishings, opened in April to fulfill that need.
Located at the Gateway Center in Federal Way, the boutique is managed by a cast of volunteers who work at the store, pick-up furniture and merchandise.
Inspired by the volunteers and their dedication to the mission, LaPorte continues to give her time knowing that through their combined efforts, the FUSION mission will continue to empower homeless families in their community for many years to come.
More information
The Chamber’s annual signature event celebrates its network of business leadership with an awards evening that includes fellowship, silent auctions, music, games and more. Tickets for the annual gala are available online at federalwaychamber.com. For information on the event and sponsorship, call 253-838-2605.
