Opinion - Top opinion

POSTED: Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008

Woman uses business and martial arts for community

When Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell settled in Bellingham after her divorce, she vowed to weave herself firmly into her new community.

In her five years here she has done just that. She's a successful businesswoman, a strong supporter of women's groups, and an advocate for turning people's throwaways into other people's treasures.

"I decided when I moved here I would make something of myself," she said. "It's so important to give back to the community when you can."

Ebalaroza-Tunnell, 42, grew up in Hawaii, where she learned Shaolin kung fu, a graceful form of self-defense from her father, a martial arts instructor. The mother of two grown sons, she served in the U.S. Navy for six years, including a stint on Whidbey Island that introduced her to the Northwest.

"I was always drawn to Bellingham," she said. "I knew I was going to live here."

On two occasions she found herself in situations where her martial arts skills proved valuable. One time, she rebuffed a purse snatcher, who ended up with two broken ribs and a punctured lung. Another time, a drunken man who backed her up against a car ended up with a broken nose.

She later learned Wing Chun, a more assertive form of kung fu, and began teaching classes in the region. After her divorce, she moved to Bellingham in November 2003. She worked for Comcast, dabbled in real estate sales, and started Atura Recreation, a sporting event and team-building business, with Jeremy Tunnell, whom she married two years ago.

Interest in her self-defense classes soared last spring when a woman said she had been abducted and raped while running near Squalicum Beach. In response, Ebalaroza-Tunnell began offering classes for women and girls through Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County.

More than 150 women and girls took her class in just four weeks, but attendance dropped once police reported that the women had concocted her story.

"Just because she lied, I'm not going to stop teaching," Ebalaroza-Tunnell said. "I don't care if I teach four women or 400 women. My whole goal is to be able to provide that to women."

Last year, she and her husband and their business partner, James Titus of Issaquah, started the Bellingham outlet of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? - a national junk-removal firm.

The company urges its franchises to have 60 percent of the material they collect recycled or re-used, and the Bellingham franchise easily tops that mark. They drop off recyclables, take reusable construction and computer items to nonprofit outlets, and donate large items of furniture to WE Care, a Christian charity.

This fall, Ebalaroza-Tunnell was one of six finalists for Whatcom Women in Business' Professional Woman of the Year award, which honors leadership and community service.

In her latest community effort, Ebalaroza-Tunnell came up with the idea of offering computers, clothes and other usable items collected by GOT-JUNK? to all of the United Way of Whatcom County-supported agencies.

After hearing her presentation, Karen Ekdahl, the executive director of Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center, visited the GOT-JUNK? warehouse to see what they had. Ekdahl left with a table for a needy family, shelving for another family, and a gold-plated set of unused silverware that the center plans to offer at its February auction.

She praised Ebalaroza-Tunnell's idea to share the wealth with community groups.

"Even to have that offer was tremendous," Ekdahl said. "Their junk becomes somebody else's great stuff."

10 days of caring On the last 10 days of 2008, The Bellingham Herald salutes Whatcom County people who make efforts to make our community a great place to live. Dec. 22: Cathy Beaty, youth services Dec. 23: Jori Burnett, local government Dec. 24: John Harmon, housing Dec. 25: Phil Hageman, construction Dec. 26: Jason Karb, law enforcement Dec. 27: Bill VanderPol, health Today: Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell, recycling Dec. 29: law Dec. 30: literacy Dec. 31: arts