washington business
From You to Us
Thanks, Don
I want to thank you for all the years you’ve led AWB as the premier business organization
in Washington. You’ve done a fabulous job raising the profile and position of AWB. I
sincerely hope all of your next ventures, as you enter retirement, will fulfill other goals
and aspirations you may have. We’ll look forward to supporting Kris in his leadership role.
David Ligh, State Government Affairs
Exxon Mobil Corporation, Sacramento
Thank you for the Excellent Article
Congratulations to Kris Johnson
I want to extend a personal note of thanks to you and your staff at
the Association of Washington Business for the excellent article
on the Stay at Work program featured in the summer 2013 issue of
Washington Business Magazine.
I realize the effort it takes to produce a piece like that and want
to send my compliments on the tone and accuracy of the article.
Hats off to your communications staff for a job well done.
I appreciate how the article highlighted the impact this reform
is having on businesses and their injured workers. The words
expressed by workers about their fear of losing their job after an
injury, and their appreciation to their employers for stepping up to
provide them with a transitional job during recovery, is insightful.
Those are truly inspiring success stories.
Through Stay at Work, we’re able to see how the workplace
connection supports injured workers’ recovery and helps curb
costly time-loss and disability claims.
I appreciate AWB’s willingness to partner with L&I and other
stakeholders on the Stay at Work reform program and other
initiatives to ensure the state’s Workers’ Comp Program is working
in support of all. The article was a nice addition to the list of
contributions made daily by AWB.
Again, my compliments and thanks for the helping spread the
word about Stay at Work to your members.
What fabulous news that AWB selected Kris Johnson as
its new president. What a great decision by the selection
committee.
Kris has the smarts, the instincts, the relationships and the
heart. He will be a strong, enthusiastic and strategic president.
Congratulation, Kris, from Southwest Washington!
Joel Sacks, Director
Department of Labor & Industries, Olympia
Kris Johnson Will Serve Us Well
Kris has a great perspective on the entire state’s business climate,
having spent significant time outside of the Puget Sound region as
well as in it. This should serve our membership well.
Tim Schauer
MacKay Sposito, Vancouver
6
association of washington business
Kelly Parker, President
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver
Responses to a Sept. 27 column, “Dangerous Duels with Americans
Caught in the Middle,” from AWB President Don Brunell.
Thanks for Entitlement Column
Your column on the need for entitlement reform is exactly the
kind of effort we need all chamber and association execs to
do: explain the entitlement programs, cost, demographics and
the reality that while Congress fights, blusters and bluffs over
budgets, deficits and debt, then it should at least do it over
the one issue that is driving spending up, annual deficits and
mounting debt: the massive growth in entitlement spending
that threatens to bankrupt our country.
R. Bruce Josten, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
Right On, Don
You have done a good job of explaining what needs to be
done. Unfortunately, our political system seems to reward and
re-elect those that keep on spending more on entitlements.
John Blackman
Seattle