Washington Business Spring 2017 | Washington Business

washington business editorial staff Kris Johnson, Publisher Jason Hagey, Executive Editor Bobbi Cussins, Communications Manager Brian Mittge, Staff Writer/Photo Editor Brian Temple, Digital Media Coordinator Ryan Chambers, Staff Writer awb officers Wendy Sancewich, Chair of the Board RSM, Seattle Michael Senske, Vice Chair Pearson Packaging Systems, Spokane Tom Pucci, Secretary/Treasurer Expedia, Bellevue Mike Schwenk, Immediate Past Chair UniWest, Pasco awb leadership team Kris Johnson, President Gary Chandler, VP, Government Affairs Jason Hagey, VP, Communications Greg Welch , Director of Finance Sean Heiner , Director of Membership Stephanie Hemphill , Director of Member Relations & Events PO Box 658, Olympia, WA 98507-0658 T 360.943.1600 F 360.943.5811 www.awb.org Letters are welcomed, but must be signed to be consid- ered for publication. Please include contact information for verification. Reproduction of articles appearing in Washington Business magazine is authorized for personal use only, with credit given to Washington Business magazine and/ or the Association of Washington Business. Articles written by outside authors do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of AWB, its officers, staff or members. Products and services advertised in Washington Business magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AWB, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of AWB, its officers, staff or members. Washington Business magazine is the official quarterly publication of the Association of Washington Business. The annual subscription rate is $24.00, and individual copies may be purchased for $3.95. For subscription requests and magazine purchases, please contact the Association of Washington Business, P.O. Box 658, Olympia, WA 98507. washington business is designed by: Daniels-Brown Communications T 360.705.3058 www.danielsbrown.com advertising inquiries may be directed to: Kelli Schueler, AWB What’s Ahead Nothing New Under the Sun Jason Hagey, Executive Editor Millennials who bristle at negative stereotypes about your generation, take heart: Many of the things older folks are saying about you now were said about their generation a few decades ago. In the 1990s, Gen Xers were characterized as apathetic, self-absorbed and adrift, the slackers hanging out in mom and dad’s basement well into adulthood. The movie “Slacker,” about a group of overeducated twenty-somethings roaming aimlessly through Austin, Texas, came out in 1991. A few years later, the movie “Reality Bites” depicted another group of twenty- something friends struggling to find their place in the world. One is a college graduate managing a retail clothing store. Another is an unemployed musical “slacker.” Fast forward a couple decades and many of those early stereotypes are hazy memories. Members of Generation X are more likely to be viewed as hard-working and entrepreneurial. They founded companies like Google, Tesla, Twitter and Dell computers. A 2015 study shows they launched the majority (55 percent) of all new businesses in 2015. It’s the millennials living in their parents’ basements now, “failing to launch.” It shouldn’t be too surprising if many of the negative stereotypes currently attached to the millennial generation turn out to be false, as well. Nevertheless, it’s true that an unprecedented demographic shift is underway in the American workforce as baby b oomers retire in ever-greater numbers, Gen Xers continue to move into leadership positions and the millennial generation becomes the largest share of the workforce. They’re already there, in fact, at roughly 35 percent. By 2020, millennials will make up half of the workforce. What does this mean for employers? This issue’s cover story explores some of the questions by interviewing a total of nine people, three members each from the baby boom, Gen X and millennial generations. Each generation is interviewed by a member of their own generation. It’s interesting to see how their responses are different — and similar. Elsewhere in the issue, and continuing with the workforce theme, staff writer Bobbi Cussins interviews futurist Rebecca Ryan about the demographic changes in the workforce. Ryan was the keynote speaker at the AWB Institute’s first Workforce Summit in March. Cussins also interviewed pollster and political consultant Frank Luntz, the keynote speaker at AWB’s Spring Meeting this year. And staff writer Brian Mittge looks at the makerspace at Edmonds Community College, a place where builders and entrepreneurs from all generations can work to make their ideas a reality. Those are just a few of the highlights. Whether you’re a boomer, Gen Xer, millennial or something else, I hope you enjoy reading. washingtonbusinessmag.com spring 2017 5

Washington Business Spring 2017 | Washington Business | Page 5