washington business editorial staff
Kris Johnson , Publisher Jason Hagey , Executive Editor Brian Mittge , Staff Writer / Photo Editor Brian Temple , Director of Media & Technology Jay Hember , Senior Art Director Jacqueline Allison , Staff Writer
Peyton DeSanta , Media and Technology Coordinator
awb officers
Jason Thackston , Chair Avista , Spokane
Preston Love , Vice Chair State Farm , Gig Harbor
Megan Hughes , Secretary / Treasurer Barnard Giffin , Richland
Dave Rankin , Immediate Past Chair Rankin Equipment Company , Yakima
awb leadership team
Kris Johnson , President Dave Mastin , VP , Government Affairs Jason Hagey , VP , Communications Greg Welch , Director of Finance Sean Heiner , Director of Membership
Carly Michael , Director of Member Relations & Events
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What ’ s Ahead
Border Hoppin ’
Jason Hagey , Executive Editor
A few members of AWB ’ s trade delegation to Canada slipped away from the rest of the group on an afternoon in June to pay a visit to Stanley Park Brewing . But they weren ’ t just looking for refreshment . They came to learn about a special cross-border beer project celebrating the independence of both Canada and the United States — a bit of beer diplomacy dubbed “ Border Hoppin ’” ( get it ? border “ hop ” -in) that brought together the Canadian brewer and Seattle ’ s Elysian Brewing .
The next day , Lt . Gov . Denny Heck was on the front page of the Vancouver Sun newspaper hoisting a pint of Border Hoppin ’ alongside the head brewer at Stanley Park Brewing and James DeHart , the U . S . consul general to Canada and the man who came up with the idea for the collaboration .
As publicity campaigns go , score it a solid success . And coming partway through AWB ’ s trade mission , the media coverage of the cross-border partnership only helped to underscore the reason for the trip . Staff writer Jacqueline Allison went along for the first leg of the trade mission and her report ( plus photos ) begins on page 30 .
Continuing the U . S . -Canada theme , Jacqueline reports on this summer ’ s preliminary agreement to modernize the Columbia River Treaty ( page 36 ), the international pact that spells out how the two countries manage the river and its system of hydroelectric dams .
And in one more nod to our northern neighbor , staff writer Brian Mittge writes about the AWB Institute ’ s fact-finding trip to Canada this summer to visit child care providers in Toronto and Ottawa . As Brian notes ( page 40 ), the trip served as a reminder that it takes more than just money to solve problems .
There ’ s lots more great content ahead , including a look back at the Grassroots Alliance , which is celebrating its 10th anniversary . Contributing writer Debbie Ritenour looks back at the growth of the alliance ( page 24 ), which began with 25 chamber partners recruited by the late Rich Hadley , and its success uniting the state ’ s employer community .
We also hear from outgoing state Sen . Andy Billig ( page 20 ) about his time in the Legislature including six years as Senate majority leader , we explore a new report on the impact of aerospace on the Puget Sound economy ( page 26 ), and we profile electric boatbuilder Zin Boats , winner of AWB ’ s 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year ( page 50 ).
Thanks for reading — and thanks for supporting AWB . washingtonbusinessmag . com fall 2024 5