washington business
Achieve
Recognizing a business that has excelled in creating , implementing or supporting a high-caliber education and / or workforce development system aligned with closing the employment gap . winner of the achieve award D . A . Davidson , Seattle Founded : 1935 Number of employees : 245 in Washington , 1,336 total
Embodying the Award ( Achieve ): From the beginning of D . A . Davidson ’ s 81-year history , the firm has focused on the value of its employees , in part by offering a wide range of continuing education and workforce development opportunities . The company has emphasized three programs in particular that work in tandem and strengthen each other : its Student Investment Program , apprentice program , and internship program . Developed with a turnkey approach , these programs help professionals clear significant hurdles to entering , and successfully remaining in , the securities industry . Importantly , they establish avenues for high-quality education not only for early-career professionals but also for those seeking mid-career transitions .
About the company : D . A . Davidson Companies is a multi-faceted financial services company focused on delivering solutions to help investors achieve their strategic financial goals . The company works with a broad range of investors , including individual and institutional investors as well as families , businesses , governments and nonprofit organizations . Among the many services and products offered by D . A . Davidson are wealth management advice , products and services ; equity and fixed income capital markets services and advice , including investment banking and corporate finance ; professional asset management ; trust and estate planning services ; and fixed income portfolio and advisory services .
Notable contributions to the community and the state : D . A . Davidson has a long and rich tradition of giving back to the communities it serves . With offices stretching across Washington state , the firm adds significantly to volunteer efforts and philanthropic donations , supporting causes ranging from the Seattle Aquarium and literacy programs to providing books to young people in Wenatchee . Its highest employee honor goes to an outstanding volunteer — to celebrate and encourage associates who give freely of their time and skills .
The company supports The Stock Market Game and financial literacy across Washington , providing leadership in efforts to improve education and graduation rates for at-risk youth , and it encourages its offices and individual employees to support investment education .
Additionally , D . A . Davidson ’ s capital markets team contributes significantly to economic development . The firm serves as one of the state ’ s top managers of bond underwritings for schools , hospitals ,
municipalities and myriad public infrastructure projects statewide . The firm ’ s investment banking team has developed initial public offerings and advised on mergers and acquisitions for companies across Washington . The company helps other firms manage their retirement plans and other investments for the future .
What the judges said : “ An exceptionally comprehensive program , sizeable financial investment and multiple partners ... Great , seasoned approach to building a pipeline of financial services employees ... Supports education with internships and hiring .”
Quote : “ D . A . Davidson has a long history of innovative programs that nurture our associates and provide them with the tools they need . Empowering our employees to succeed is not only the right thing to do . We also know that each person ’ s personal success leads to our collective success .” — Jim Kerr , CEO , D . A . Davidson
Website : www . dadavidson . com
other finalists for the achieve award
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Richland
PNNL and its operating company , Battelle , work to help students and educators succeed . PNNL helped catalyze and continues to provide backbone support for the Mid-Columbia STEM Education Collaboratory , Washington State LASER ( Leadership & Assistance for Science Education Reform ) and many other innovative educational programs . The goal : to support high-tech education and ensure workers in other industries have critical thinking skills , too .
WGU Washington , Kent
The Washington Legislature established WGU Washington in 2011 to expand higher education to working adults , dislocated workers , place-bound students and any Washingtonian wanting access to an affordable , flexible accredited college degree . WGU Washington offers more than 50 bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degree programs . Last year , its enrollment hit 9,300 , with 5,100 new matriculates . Its students work at more than 3,000 Washington businesses .
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