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
Communications Team Earns Platinum and Gold for Videos, Magazine, Blog
Export-Import Bank Awards AWB for Consistent, Effective‘ Strong Advocacy’
When it comes to telling the story of Washington’ s innovative employers, an international communications competition has concluded that AWB is doing awardwinning work. The Hermes Creative Awards gave AWB’ s communications team seven top honors in its 2016 competition. AWB’ s communications materials were up against work from some of the largest corporations and professional design firms in the world, including PepsiCo, Burson-Marsteller, Aflac and many others.
AWB Digital Media Coordinator Brian Temple earned platinum awards for videos on the employment gap and for a video infographic on Opportunity Washington’ s new Opportunity Score. He also earned two additional gold awards.
AWB’ s summer 2015 edition of this magazine earned a gold statuette. Communications Manager Bobbi Cussins received a gold for her story“ Charting a Course for Public Charter Schools,” and staff writer Brian Mittge earned a gold for the cover story from the spring 2015 edition,“ Water From Waste.”
“ It’ s been a great year, but the team is not resting,” said AWB Vice President of Communications Jason Hagey.“ This year, we will continue to look for new and better ways to tell the story of Washington’ s private employers as AWB works to unify the state and help create economic opportunity for all Washingtonians.”
Class of Leadership Washington Graduates at Spring Meeting
With new knowledge about the state’ s diverse economy and economic regions, the Leadership Washington Class of 2016 was honored at AWB’ s Spring Meeting.
Class members crossed the state since beginning their year-long program at last year’ s Policy Summit. Their tours included orchards and high-tech research in the Tri-Cities, maritime in Vancouver, energy in Whatcom County, and much more.
Learn more about this program to develop articulate, thoughtful and well-informed industry leaders at awbinstitute. org / leadership, or contact the AWB Institute’ s Jackie Riley at 800.521.9325 for more information on sponsorships or applying to be part of the class of 2017.
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.
AWB was at the front lines during the multi-year campaign to renew the charter of the U. S. Export-Import Bank, and in April the federal agency recognized that work during its annual awards ceremony.
Amy Anderson, government affairs director for federal issues, accepted the Ex-Im Chairman’ s Award from bank Chairman Fred Hochberg April 8 in Washington, D. C. Anderson took part in two AWB fly-ins to the nation’ s capital to support the Ex-Im Bank, as well as AWB’ s extensive online, print and in-person outreach on the importance of renewing the bank’ s charter.
“ AWB understands the importance of Ex-Im for employers of all sizes, and works to educate its member businesses and local economies on the role that Ex-Im can play in expanding exports,” the bank said in announcing the award.
Two other statewide trade associations, the Texas Association of Business and the Texas Association of Manufacturers, also received the Chairman’ s Award. AWB and the Texas associations went“ above and beyond in their support of exports and in helping Ex-Im complete our mission of supporting American jobs,” said Wanda Felton, vice chair and first vice president.
The Ex-Im Bank has authorized about $ 66 billion in loans and credit guarantees in Washington state since 2007— crucial support for a big chunk of the state’ s $ 144 billion in exports.
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