washington business
Inside AWB
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small-business owner hiring your
first full-time employee, or the manager of a corporate division of thousands.
For more than 100 years, AWB has been your voice in Washington state.
What’s Going On at AWB
A Record Crowd Attends 30th Annual
AWB Legislative Summit
Gov. Jay Inslee and top leaders from both parties and both
legislative chambers discussed the challenges and opportunities of
this year’s session during the 30th annual AWB Legislative Summit
Jan. 27 at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia.
Better Workplace Awards Honor Leading Companies
A highlight of the 2015 Legislative Summit was presentation of the annual
Better Workplace Awards. Four Washington employers were honored for
their commitments to innovative benefits, job training and workplace safety.
More importantly, AWB members had a chance to ask questions
of their own on issues such as transportation, the minimum wage,
tax incentives and more.
The day included presentation of AWB’s Better Workplace Awards.
The day’s panel discussions and gubernatorial keynote address
ended with a well-attended reception, giving AWB members and
guests a chance to mingle and meet with lawmakers, Supreme
Court justices and other policymakers.
The awards went to:
• Family Home Care of Liberty Lake for job training/advancement
• Savage Services of Anacortes, Blaine and Vancouver
for workplace safety
• Benefit Solutions, Inc., of Mukilteo for innovative benefit/
compensation programs
• Energy Northwest of Richland for innovative benefit/
compensation programs
It’s not too early to plan for another valuable event, AWB’s Policy
Summit, held Sept. 15-17 at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum. Visit
policysummit.com to learn more and register.
“We are impressed with the innovative and effective ways that Washington
employers are building better places to live and work. From ensuring safety
to providing valuable work-life balance, Washington employers are leading
the way,” said AWB President Kris Johnson.
Kickoff of Opportunity Washington and Grassroots Alliance
Two new AWB initiatives to engage with local employers and to advance a
Achieve, Connect and Employ. Learn more and sign up for regular email
proactive statewide agenda were announced during the 2015 Legislative Summit.
updates at opportunitywa.org.
AWB Board Chair Mike Schwenk helped launch Opportunity Washington:
AWB President Kris Johnson announced the Grassroots Alliance, a new
Priorities for Shared Prosperity. He was joined by Alaska Airlines CEO Brad
partnership between AWB and local chambers of commerce around the
Tilden, who said the new endeavor “is a great opportunity for business and leg-
state. Through education and outreach, the Alliance updates local leaders
islative leaders to come together to discuss and tackle our greatest challenges.”
on education and workforce development, transportation infrastructure
Opportunity Washington is a cooperative effort of WashACE involving
investments, and the minimum wage. At the same time, these on-the-ground
AWB, the Washington Roundtable, the Washington Research Council and
chambers help empower local employers to testify in Olympia on important
Enterprise Washington. The program has three broad goals for Washington:
policy matters. Read more in a story in this edition of Washington Business.
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