Washington Business Spring 2018 | Washington Business | Page 9

washington business Business Community’s Generosity Lights Up Capital The generosity of Washington’s employer community was on full display in the Capitol rotunda this holiday season during the annual lighting of the AWB Holiday Kids’ Tree. Washington National Guard Company Commander and 1st Lt. Shawnta M. DiFalco lit this year’s tree on Dec. 1 with the help of her daughters and Secretary of State Kim Wyman. The 30-foot Noble fir tree was donated by Weyerhaeuser’s Vail Tree Farm. AWB staff and community volunteers decorated it with thousands of blue LED lights and stuffed ornaments related to the tree’s theme, “Friends of the Forest.” The stuffed ornaments were donated to area children’s hospitals. Since 1989, AWB’s signature charity event has raised more than $400,000 from AWB members and the private sector. These donations are given to rural fire districts across the state to help families in need in their communities each holiday season. Employers and individuals interested in donating to the 2018 AWB Holiday Kids’ Tree Project should contact Bonnie Millikan at 360.943.1600. Popular Employment Law Webinar Series Underway AWB is pleased to offer a six-month webinar series that can help Washington businesses more easily understand employment law. These sessions offer the latest news and updates on common topics like wage and hour issues, performance evaluations, accident prevention and more. AWB has partnered with some of the state’s top legal experts to offer six sessions to help Washington’s job creators navigate the legal landscape and succeed. These webinars are scheduled through July 11, and include time for questions. For more information, contact AWB Member Relations and Events Coordinator Kelli Schueler at [email protected] or 360.943.1600. Manufacturing Excellence and Evening of Excellence Award Nominations Now Being Accepted Each year, AWB and the AWB Institute provide opportunities for member companies to showcase excellence and best practices in environmental, innovation and overall excellence through the Manufacturing Excellence and Evening of Excellence awards. Presented at the Manufacturing Summit, the AWB Institute recognizes four innovative manufacturers in Washington with its Manufacturing Excellence awards. The award categories include: Green Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Manufacturing Innovation and Manufacturer of the Year. AWB’s Evening of Excellence awards are presented at a black-tie event at Benaroya Hall. This year’s event takes place Nov. 28 and will recognize award winners in six categories aligned with AWB’s Mission and Vision statements. All AWB members are eligible — AWB member judges determine winners based on the content and the quality of the application materials. Nominations for the awards are open year-round and the application deadline is June 30. The application along with details on award categories are available online at awb.org/awards. For more information on applying for a Manufacturing Excellence or Evening of Excellence award, contact Kelli Schueler at 360.943.1600 or [email protected]. AWB is Washington state’s chamber of commerce and one of just four state chambers in the country to be “accredited with distinction” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. spring 2018 9