washington business
PNNL Welcomes New Director
Deborah Gracio has been selected to lead the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory following a nationwide search. Gracio began the role on Oct. 1, succeeding Steven Ashby, who announced plans to step aside as director earlier this year.
Gracio is a 35-year PNNL veteran who oversees the lab’ s diverse national security research portfolio, and has been recognized for pioneering research around computational capabilities.
“ Deb is a visionary leader with deep scientific roots and a steadfast commitment to our mission,” said Lou Von Thaer, president and CEO of Battelle, which operates PNNL.“ Her insight, experience, and dedication to advancing science in service to the nation make her the ideal leader for PNNL’ s future.”
Rachel Smith Now Leads the Washington Roundtable
Rachel Smith is the new president of the Washington Roundtable as of Oct. 1, following nearly five years as president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Smith succeeded longtime Roundtable president Steve Mullin, who led the organization and its education foundation, Partnership for Learning, for more than 30 years.
“ Across all levels of government, and in every corner of Washington state, it is imperative that employers are recognized for what they are— an essential part of healthy communities— and that we work together to avoid actions that undermine our economic competitiveness,” Smith said.
Chukar Cherries Breaks Processing Record
Prosser-based Chukar Cherries processed 700,000 pounds of sweet cherries this year, a record for the 37-year-old family-owned company known for its cherry and chocolate treats. The company credits large investments in new equipment— including a high-tech sizer, two large destemmers, and a third dehydrator— along with a banner cherry crop in 2025.
“ Not only could fruit be sorted much faster and in larger quantities daily, but we were able to narrow down drying times to match the size of the cherry— down to the millimeter,” Chukar Cherries General Manager Tim Oten said.
Passages: Empire Bolt & Screw Founder Larry Stanley
Larry Stanley, founder of Spokane’ s Empire Bolt & Screw, died on Aug. 7 at the age of 97. Stanley founded Empire Bolt & Screw in 1972, and with wife and business partner Beverly, turned the wholesale hardware startup into a thriving enterprise that remails family-owned and operated today. Stanley transferred the business to son Ron in 1995.( AWB honored the company with the Excellence in Family-Owned Business Award in 2021.)
Stanley, a recognized leader in the industrial hardware industry, was inducted into the National Industrial Fastener Hall of Fame in 1991. He was also active in many civic causes, establishing the Oakesdale Community Fund to give back to his hometown. In 2024, he played a key role in raising funds to acquire a historic flour mill for restoration.
Larry Stanley- Empire Bolt and Screw circa-1992 fall 2025 19