Washington Business Winter 2019 | Washington Business | Page 16

from the chair
Focus on Progress, not Party
Tim Schauer
As I step into the role of AWB board chair, I’m both honored and motivated by the opportunity to help represent
the voice of employers throughout all of Washington, not just the southwest region where I am based.
I’m honored because so many great board chairs have come before
me and those are big shoes to fill. I’m motivated because there is
important and meaningful work to be done this year. For 114 years,
the men and women who have led the AWB Board of Directors have
focused on ways to help employers thrive. I plan to do the same in
year 115.
And it’s worked. Washington has a strong and diverse private sec-
tor that is providing a rock-solid foundation for our state to succeed.
State government continues to collect more taxes from successful
businesses than anticipated, quarter after quarter, proof that the first
and best way to the grow the state budget is to grow the economy.
Great employers from small and family-run firms to large corporate
employers continue to sustain the jobs and services that support our
communities.
I’m motivated because our state’s overall success isn’t being enjoyed
by everyone and often glosses over an uneven economic recovery in
our small towns and rural counties. I believe we can and should do
more to help our rural communities succeed, and help all Washington
families reach the middle class. There’s a lot of work to do.
And I’m motivated to represent the thousands of AWB member
companies that make our state such a great place to live. This suc-
cess, however, requires constant work to make sure that Washington
employers are able to operate in an environment that encourages
predictable growth.
This work has been constant since AWB was founded in 1904. From boom to bust, through war and peace, AWB
has consistently worked to create positive conditions that allow the private sector to flourish.
This focus is consistent no matter which political party runs the governor’s office, the Legislature or the
White House.
Think of the countless times the presidency, Congress and the Legislature have changed hands over the past 114
years, or since statehood in 1889.
This leads me to my main message as chair: I don’t believe that running a business or having a job should be by
default … partisan. In fact, I foster the belief that the pursuit of economic freedom and independence should be ele-
ments that unite us, not divide us. I think AWB must embrace this paradigm if we want to have a truly collaborative
seat at the table as decisions are made about issues that impact all of us.
Simply put, we need to focus on our mission to be a catalytic leader and unifying voice for economic prosperity
throughout Washington.
More than ever, our state and this country need unifying. The good news is AWB is uniquely positioned to convene
diverse groups and work toward solutions that create a healthy business climate and living wage jobs. And we intend
on doing just that!
Politics and controversy are making a lot of news lately. Let’s not get distracted, and remember to do what we do
best. That means continuing to work together with leaders at all levels of government to create conditions that allow
the private sector, and our state, to thrive.
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