washington business
Inside
Gubernatorial Debates are a Highlight of Policy Summit in Spokane
WCCE Conference Brings Chamber Professionals to Ellensburg
The 35th annual AWB Policy Summit , held in September in Spokane , featured four candidate debates , including one of only two gubernatorial debates this election cycle . Republican former Congressman Dave Reichert and Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson debated in front of an energetic live crowd at the downtown Fox Theater with journalists from both sides of the Cascades serving as debate moderators .
Policy Summit attendees also were given a look ahead to the 2025 legislative session , panels on workforce and higher ed , a bipartisan discussion from two Snohomish County councilmembers on building bridges across political divides , and much more .
Eighty-five chamber professionals and other business advocates gathered in August at the annual conference of the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives in Ellensburg .
The Kittitas County Chamber organized a warm welcome , including a surprise visit from the CWU mascot , Wellington the Wildcat .
This was the first conference since AWB took on operations for the WCCE . The agenda was geared toward practical solutions for local chambers .
John McDonagh , CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber , ended his term leading WCCE , turning over the reins to Andrea Reay , president and CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber .
AWB Hosts Second-Annual State Championship for National Civics Bee
Washington crowned a new National Civics Bee state champion in June following regional competitions hosted by chambers across the state .
Ilyannie Gonzalez , a seventh grader from Washington Virtual Academies , took first place and a $ 1,000 cash prize in the competition held at South Puget Sound Community College . Lt . Gov . Denny Heck emceed as 13 middle-school students from around the state participated in the second annual state finals . They competed in a live civics quiz and delivered speeches about a problem in their community , and how they would propose to address it .
“ We have to remind the next generation they ’ ll be the ones leading our country ,” Gonzalez said in her winning speech on civic involvement . “ A lot of people don ’ t get a proper civic education . Ninety percent of Americans can ’ t name the three branches of government .”
Gonzalez competed against students from around the country in the first-ever National Civics Bee Championship in Washington D . C . this fall .
14 association of washington business