washington business editorial staff
Kris Johnson, Publisher Jason Hagey, Executive Editor Brian Mittge, Staff Writer / Photo Editor Jay Hember, Senior Art Director Jacqueline Allison, Staff Writer
Peyton DeSanta, Media and Technology Coordinator
awb officers
Preston Love, Chair State Farm, Gig Harbor
Damon Smith, Vice Chair Callisons Inc, Lacey
Megan Hughes, Secretary / Treasurer Barnard Giffin, Richland
Jason Thackston, Immediate Past Chair Avista, Spokane
awb leadership team
Kris Johnson, President Morgan Irwin, VP, Government Affairs Jason Hagey, VP, Communications Greg Welch, Director of Finance Sean Heiner, Director of Membership
Brian Temple, Director of Member Experience and Events
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washingtonbusinessmag. com
What’ s Ahead
A Drag on the Economy
Jason Hagey, Executive Editor
We’ re No. 8. And that’ s nothing to brag about. This edition’ s cover story( page 36) goes into detail about a study that AWB commissioned to quantify the number— and impact to the economy— of Washington state’ s regulatory burden. It found that as of 2023, Washington ranks as the eighth-most regulated state in the country with more than 201,000 total regulations on the books.
While a certain amount of regulation is necessary, the report shows the unintended consequences of over-regulation, including slower business formation, reduced competitiveness, and a disproportionate impact on lowincome households.
Without a change of course, the report presents some stark scenario modeling showing how the effects compound over time, with severe economic and workforce implications over the next three decades.
The good news is that a change of course can lead to significantly different outcomes. For example in Virginia, an effort to reduce regulatory requirements by 25 % produced rapid and substantial results, unleashing an estimated $ 1.4 billion in annual savings.
Regulation and taxes are often grouped together when employers describe their biggest challenges. Beginning on page 42, staff writer Jacqueline Allison documents how the 2025 Legislature’ s rushed effort to impose new taxes on services hit especially hard on small- and medium-sized businesses. A year later, lawmakers voted to roll back many of the new taxes— but not for three more years.
One of the bright spots of every November is AWB’ s Evening of Excellence, the annual gala where we get to recognize some of the state’ s most innovative employers with a series of awards. Contributing writer Edie Jeffers has a round up of the 2025 award winners beginning on page 28.
At last year’ s gala, I had the pleasure of sitting beside Jill Hall, co-founder of Northwest Health Care Linen, the winner of our family business of the year award. Contributing writer Joan Pringle followed up with a visit to the company and interviews with Jill’ s children, Evan Hall and Kelsey Van Miert, the brother-and-sister second generation team who are now running the company. Check it out starting on page 45. You won’ t look at your weekend laundry chores the same way ever again.
With that, I encourage you to dive into this issue. There are several good reads ahead, including an encouraging feature story from Joan Pringle about how a devastating freeze in the winter of 2024 led to a cross-border collaboration between Washington grape growers and British Columbia wineries.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for supporting AWB. winter 2026 5