washington business editorial staff
Kris Johnson , Publisher Jason Hagey , Executive Editor Andrew Lenderman , Communications Specialist
Brian Mittge , Communications Specialist / Photo Editor
Brian Temple , Creative Director
Lori Maricle , Marketing and Communications Project Manager
awb officers
Brian Forth , Chairman SiteCrafting , Tacoma
Paula Linnen , Vice Chair Battelle , Richland
Laura Lawton , Secretary / Treasurer Lawton Printing Services , Spokane
Fran Forgette , Immediate Past Chair Rettig , Forgette , Iller , Bowers , Kennewick
awb leadership team
Kris Johnson , President Gary Chandler , 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
Making the Future
Jason Hagey , Executive Editor
The hard work leading up to the launch of Washington in the Making began years ago , long before Covid-19 upended the global economy . It was driven by the realization that Washington ’ s population was growing fast , and the state needed an economic vision to prepare for an influx of new residents over the next two decades .
Not only that , but the economic vision needed to be durable — something that would persist beyond a legislative session or even a governor ’ s administration .
When the pandemic arrived , it became clear that Washington in the Making — an effort focused on the state ’ s economic future — was perfectly timed to help the state recover from the devastation of 2020 .
In this issue ’ s cover story , we explore Washington in the Making — launched this summer by the AWB Institute — and how it will help shape economic recovery through projects to connect students and employers and expand broadband internet in rural communities , and through a new data dashboard that will help local communities measure progress toward economic recovery .
In a related article , we hear from Mike Schwenk , chair of the AWB Institute and former AWB board chair , about his vision for the AWB Institute and the effort to build Washington in the Making .
The pandemic has disrupted so many things , including AWB ’ s customary bus tour in the month of October to celebrate and highlight the state ’ s manufacturing sector . Rather than simply canceling the event , our team got creative and found a way to tell the story of Washington manufacturers in a new way . Staff writers Brian Mittge and Lori Maricle write about the ESPN GameDay-style rolling video production that resulted . Check it out , beginning on page 34 .
It ’ s impossible to predict when and how the state budget and economy will recover from the pandemic , but there are lessons to be learned from previous downturns . Contributing writer Richard Davis explores some of the potential scenarios in an article on page 24 , including a tie-in to Washington in the Making and the role it will play .
Education and workforce development will play an important role in economic recovery . Contributing writer Debbie Ritenour writes about some of the ways Spokane Falls Community College and the local business community are collaborating to connect employers with students . The article , beginning on page 31 , also has a tie in to Washington in the Making .
The issue also features the debut column from new board Chair Brian Forth , who has played an important role in AWB ’ s efforts to help employers rebound and recover from the pandemic , an interview with a Spokane entrepreneur helping businesses build stronger connections with customers through online tools ( perfectly timed to this socially-distanced period ), a look ahead to the 2021 legislative session , and much more .
Thanks for reading . washingtonbusinessmag . com fall / winter 2020 5