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
awb officers
Dave Rankin , Chair Rankin Equipment Company , Yakima
Joe Sprague , Vice Chair Alaska Airlines , Seattle
Roy Heynderickx , Secretary / Treasurer Saint Martin ’ s University , Lacey
Laura Lawton , Immediate Past Chair Lawton Printing Services , Spokane
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
Building the Future
Jason Hagey , Executive Editor
None of the articles in this magazine were produced by a chatbot , but it ’ s possible to envision a not-so-distant future where they could be . Artificial intelligence , which has existed since at least the 1950s , exploded into the public consciousness last year , raising questions about possible applications and the need for regulation .
In this edition ’ s cover story ( page 30 ), staff writer Jacqueline Allison examines AI through a legislative lens by reporting on a pair of AI bills the Legislature adopted this year , as well as a commerce lens , noting Washington ’ s position as a hub for AI innovation . Seattle is home to more than 130 AI startups .
For all the speculation about AI , it ’ s clear that we ’ re just beginning to understand its potential uses . It ’ s precisely because of this uncertainty that it ’ s important to establish appropriate parameters without stifling technological growth .
Staying on a futuristic theme , Americans bought a record 1.2 million EVs last year , meaning the demand for EV technicians is only to grow . Who is going to work on them ? Contributing writer Debbie Ritenour writes about the new electric vehicle repair programs at Peninsula College and Spokane Community College ( page 49 ).
And as the demand for EVs grows , Moses Lake has quickly become an epicenter of electric vehicle battery manufacturing with three companies building plants to make silicon components for batteries . Staff writer Jacqueline Allison shares the details beginning on page 46 .
There ’ s plenty more great content in this issue , including an insightful Q & A with outgoing state Rep . J . T . Wilcox . Wilcox , who is retiring after 14 years in the Legislature — including five years as House Republican leader — sat down for an interview with staff writer Brian Mittge .
Wilcox shared his views about why it ’ s important for employers to take part in civic life , and why it ’ s so hard — but necessary — to achieve bipartisanship in Olympia . “ Being partisan is easy and ineffective ,” Wilcox said . “ Being bipartisan is hard , risky , and the only way to be very effective .” Exactly . Finally , make sure to check out Debbie Ritenour ’ s feature on the Black Ball Ferry Line ( page 26 ), which shares an interesting connection to the founding of AWB 120 years ago .
Thanks for reading . washingtonbusinessmag . com spring 2024 5