from the chair
Speaking with One Voice
Jason Thackston , AWB Board Chair
It can be easy sometimes to feel powerless , like we have no voice to effect change in the world around us . Big elections like the one we just experienced can exacerbate this feeling , producing anxiety and uncertainty about the future .
Joining a likeminded group of people is a powerful antidote to this type of feeling , and it ’ s one of the reasons I value the mission and vision of AWB .
As I step into the role of board chair of AWB , an institution that ’ s about to turn 121 years old , I ’ m mindful of the many connections AWB has fostered over the years , and all the ways in which employers have produced change simply because they came together and spoke with one voice .
Whether it ’ s in Olympia or the other Washington , AWB brings together the women and men who power our economy and helps them voice their ideas and concerns to those who lead our state and nation .
Now , as I look ahead to next year ’ s legislative session , I ’ m concerned about the ability of Washington state to attract new businesses and grow the businesses that are already located here . This is a great state in many respects , but it is not a great state for business competitiveness . The fact is , we ’ re a high-cost state for employers with business paying roughly half of all state and local taxes .
Unfortunately , it ’ s looking like the conversation in Olympia next year will focus on ways to raise more taxes on the employer community , rather than ways to make it easier to grow and expand a business .
That ’ s where AWB and our individual members will be called upon to speak up and call on lawmakers to be champions for the economy . We need to remind lawmakers about the value that employers bring to the state , and the danger in taking them for granted .
We also need to speak up around energy , and specifically around energy production and the value of a diverse set of resources to ensure clean , safe , reliable , and affordable energy . As senior vice president and chief strategy and clean energy officer for Avista Corporation , this is a subject that ’ s close to my heart .
I grew up in North Idaho and I ’ ve spent my career in Spokane , so I ’ ve seen the positive impacts that clean , reliable low-cost power has provided to our region . It ’ s been a gamechanger for decades , but we ’ ve got some important decisions to make if we hope to retain this key competitive advantage in the future . If we want to see job growth and businesses flourish — and I believe we do — we ’ re going to need to need more energy and energy infrastructure to power it .
So , while I ’ m concerned about Washington ’ s ability to attract and retain business , I ’ m also optimistic . I ’ ve seen firsthand the tremendous power of connection that AWB provides employers through events like the upcoming Legislative Day and Hill Climb and the annual Spring Meeting and Policy Summit .
And I ’ ve seen how advocacy can influence the discussion in Olympia . We may not always see the outcome we most desire , but when we speak together , we can make a difference . fall 2024 11