washington business
“ Stop, Think, and Speak-up” is a mindset that empowers every associate to lead with safety. finalists:
• AAA Washington, headquartered in Bellevue, has championed safety for more than a century— on the road, in the workplace, and across the state. Whether shaping policy or inspecting gear, AAA leads with safety.
• Ash Grove Cement’ s Seattle location fosters a proactive safety culture through rigorous training, hazard prevention, and employeeled initiatives. SPOT, a robot dog, sniffs out workplace risks.
washington workforce award
The Washington Workforce Award honors a Washington state business that strengthens recruitment, retention, and workplace excellence through education and workforce programs. winner: whidbey telecom, based in Langley, leads in workforce development through education, mentorship, and long-term investment in fiber careers.
“ We’ re not just building networks— we’ re building futures,” said Gabe Renville, resource planning and development manager.
As a founding partner of the nation’ s first high school-level OpTIC Path certification program, Whidbey Telecom has trained 48 students from 15 districts. Many continued into technical training or joined the industry.
Their team has earned national recognition, including the NTCA Smart Rural Community Showcase Award and the FBA Gene Scott Education Award. finalists:
• Since 2007, Shocking Difference has trained aspiring Level 2 electricians through rigorous education and mentorship— building a loyal, skilled workforce that succeeds long after they leave.
• The Moore Wright Group works in Thurston County and Aberdeen to uplift underserved talent through certified workforce programs in logistics, construction, and entrepreneurship— restoring dignity, building legacy, and sparking generational change.
“ We’ re not just building networks— we’ re building futures.”
— Gabe Renville, resource planning and development manager, Whidbey Telecom, winner of the
Washington Workforce Award
32 association of washington business