washington business
Achieve
Recognizing a business that has excelled in creating, implementing or supporting a high-caliber education and / or workforce development system aligned with closing the employment gap. winner of the achieve award D. A. Davidson, Seattle Founded: 1935 Number of employees: 245 in Washington, 1,336 total
Embodying the Award( Achieve): From the beginning of D. A. Davidson’ s 81-year history, the firm has focused on the value of its employees, in part by offering a wide range of continuing education and workforce development opportunities. The company has emphasized three programs in particular that work in tandem and strengthen each other: its Student Investment Program, apprentice program, and internship program. Developed with a turnkey approach, these programs help professionals clear significant hurdles to entering, and successfully remaining in, the securities industry. Importantly, they establish avenues for high-quality education not only for early-career professionals but also for those seeking mid-career transitions.
About the company: D. A. Davidson Companies is a multi-faceted financial services company focused on delivering solutions to help investors achieve their strategic financial goals. The company works with a broad range of investors, including individual and institutional investors as well as families, businesses, governments and nonprofit organizations. Among the many services and products offered by D. A. Davidson are wealth management advice, products and services; equity and fixed income capital markets services and advice, including investment banking and corporate finance; professional asset management; trust and estate planning services; and fixed income portfolio and advisory services.
Notable contributions to the community and the state: D. A. Davidson has a long and rich tradition of giving back to the communities it serves. With offices stretching across Washington state, the firm adds significantly to volunteer efforts and philanthropic donations, supporting causes ranging from the Seattle Aquarium and literacy programs to providing books to young people in Wenatchee. Its highest employee honor goes to an outstanding volunteer— to celebrate and encourage associates who give freely of their time and skills.
The company supports The Stock Market Game and financial literacy across Washington, providing leadership in efforts to improve education and graduation rates for at-risk youth, and it encourages its offices and individual employees to support investment education.
Additionally, D. A. Davidson’ s capital markets team contributes significantly to economic development. The firm serves as one of the state’ s top managers of bond underwritings for schools, hospitals,
municipalities and myriad public infrastructure projects statewide. The firm’ s investment banking team has developed initial public offerings and advised on mergers and acquisitions for companies across Washington. The company helps other firms manage their retirement plans and other investments for the future.
What the judges said:“ An exceptionally comprehensive program, sizeable financial investment and multiple partners... Great, seasoned approach to building a pipeline of financial services employees... Supports education with internships and hiring.”
Quote:“ D. A. Davidson has a long history of innovative programs that nurture our associates and provide them with the tools they need. Empowering our employees to succeed is not only the right thing to do. We also know that each person’ s personal success leads to our collective success.”— Jim Kerr, CEO, D. A. Davidson
Website: www. dadavidson. com
other finalists for the achieve award
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland
PNNL and its operating company, Battelle, work to help students and educators succeed. PNNL helped catalyze and continues to provide backbone support for the Mid-Columbia STEM Education Collaboratory, Washington State LASER( Leadership & Assistance for Science Education Reform) and many other innovative educational programs. The goal: to support high-tech education and ensure workers in other industries have critical thinking skills, too.
WGU Washington, Kent
The Washington Legislature established WGU Washington in 2011 to expand higher education to working adults, dislocated workers, place-bound students and any Washingtonian wanting access to an affordable, flexible accredited college degree. WGU Washington offers more than 50 bachelor’ s and master’ s degree programs. Last year, its enrollment hit 9,300, with 5,100 new matriculates. Its students work at more than 3,000 Washington businesses.
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