Washington Business Fall 2016 | Washington Business | Page 11

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New in
AWB Institute
Seattle, Spokane Latest Stops on Industry Showcase Tour
The AWB Institute’s “Industry Showcase” tour series recently visited Spokane and the
Georgetown industrial area of south Seattle. Among the stops: Spokane Falls Community
College, Avista, Shriners Hospital, South Seattle College, Jorgensen Forge, Seattle Espresso
Machine Corp., Nucor Steel, Seattle Cider and Two Beers Brewery.
College representatives went on tours and engaged in discussions with business owners in
their regions. The goal was to strengthen relationships with local businesses and learn from
them the skills they are looking for in workers and their future workforce needs.
The Spokane session focused on information systems and data security, including the
workforce needs and what skills companies are looking for in qualified workers.
In Seattle, industry visits of manufacturing sites to discuss the difficulty employers like
Jorgensen Forge and Seattle Espresso Machine Corporation have in finding skilled workers.
“The connections that the college representatives made with the companies they visited
was the most valuable aspect of both events,” said Amy Anderson of the AWB Institute.

New in
Government Affairs
AWB Planning Third Fly-In to Washington, D.C.
After successful advocacy and relationship-building trips to the nation’s capital
in 2014 and 2015, AWB is planning its third D.C. fly-in for Dec. 5-7.
The fly-in will include meetings with members of Congress and the new
presidential administration, federal agency visits, a Washington state grand
reception, keynote speakers, a candlelight tour of the Capitol and more.
To learn more and reserve a place on the 2016 fly-in, contact AWB Member
Relations Coordinator Kelli Schueler at 800.521.9325.

AWB is Washington state’s chamber
of commerce and one of just four
state chambers in the country to be
“accredited with distinction” by the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce.

fall 2016

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