Chamber Connections
In August, chamber leaders from across the state gathered in Ellensburg for the annual conference of the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives. Dru Garson, AWB’ s chamber liaison, led the event, which brought together approximately 85 people from more than 30 chambers. In addition to providing management services for WCCE( which provides chamber executives with professional development services and resources), AWB continued to expand the Grassroots Alliance, giving employers a powerful ground game in Olympia.
“ No one else has the influence, intergrity and history to do what we do. No one else convenes the way we do.”
Cathi Hight, former VP of operations for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and national instructor for the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, speaking to chamber leaders at the WCCE conference
AWB crowned a new National Civics Bee state champion in June. Ilyannie Gonzalez, a seventh grader from Port Orchard, won the secondannual Washington state finals during a competition held at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia.
Washington Lt. Gov. Denny Heck served as emcee and a three-judge panel included Paul Francis, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Renee Radcliff Sinclair, president and CEO of TVW.
“ Our country was built upon the belief that everybody has a voice in society— on popular sovereignty. It’ s so important that we continue to uphold that and educate the youth.”
Ilyannie Gonzalez, Washington’ s 2024 National Civics Bee champion