David Humphrey is production manager at Biokleen in Vancouver. (Natalie Behring/The Columbian)
Once studying for a career in business administration, David Humphrey found his niche instead in plant production management at BioKleen of Vancouver, a plant-based cleaning products industry. “We’re really a small company, so with production, everyone must get the work done every day. It’s like mowing a lawn where you can see the progress as you go along. It’s really satisfying. I can’t say enough about all the people who make production happen every day here in the plant.”
Educational/professional background: My family moved here from San Diego when I was 7, and I graduated from Prairie High School. I studied business administration at Central Washington University and WSU Vancouver for three years, but dropped out in 2010 because I realized I was miserable studying subjects that I had no interest in and was wasting too much money on loans.
How — and when — you got started in your business: In 2009, I began working at Biokleen as a temporary employee. The former plant manager was a family friend and told me that he could get me some work until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. After a short period working here, I started to like what Biokleen is all about, and I’ve been here ever since.
Personal/business philosophy: Quit complaining and get the job done.
Most rewarding part of job: Being involved with people who are able and willing to put in the time and effort to complete all orders in time. We are a growing company, so there is a lot of responsibility put on each and every employee, and to be as productive as we are is very rewarding. Production is demanding, and it takes a certain type of person to be able to adapt to everything that gets thrown our way. Biokleen is a pet-friendly business, so being able to bring Gus, my black lab, is also very rewarding. He’s been with me every day since I got him.
Most challenging part of job: Coordinating everything that goes into our production. We have a phenomenal selection of plant-based cleaning products that are sold throughout the world, which creates quite the puzzle when deciding what to run and how to do it. But this work is more up my alley. I’m naturally aware of a lot of things at once, have a good memory. I feel like it fits my personality and my skill set.
Something surprising about your work: How widespread and well-known our products are. I hear from our long distance truck drivers who come from Texas, Indiana, all over –that their wives use our products.
Best feature of your Clark County community: The many brew festivals. And there aren’t many other places to live where the city, beach, gorge, or backwoods are easily accessible on a Friday after work.
What would make your community a better place: Being able to bring dogs EVERYWHERE!
Your favorite travel destination: I’m not one to enjoy the traveling itself, but I do love camping up around the area’s reservoirs (Merwin, Yale, Swift).
Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: Billy Blues is a pretty good hangout on a Friday night. I don’t want to get in trouble, so I have to say that Prairie Tavern is also a great spot for some great food and drinks with friends.
Hobbies: Golfing is definitely my top hobby, but after that it’s the same as the majority of people in the Northwest — take the animals outside, preferably close to water.
Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: Enjoyable might not be the most appropriate term, but “The Revenant” was absolutely amazing.
Something you’d like to do this year/within five years: I would have to say that other than dropping my golf score, I would really like a vacation in Hawaii.
One word to describe yourself: Relaxed.
Person you’d most like to meet: I would most like to meet myself 15 years ago; there are definitely a few good pointers that I would be able to give myself.
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