AWB presents the following awards each year to member companies for outstanding workplace programs, community service and environmental efforts.
Better Workplace Awards
AWB’s Better Workplace Awards recognize member businesses that go the extra mile in providing a family-friendly work environment, promoting safety and enabling employees to achieve their best. Awards are given to companies that demonstrate innovation in the areas of workplace safety, job training and advancement, and benefit and compensation programs.
Community Service Awards
AWB’s Community Service Awards recognize member businesses that serve their communities, provide excellent working environments and contribute to a cleaner environment. These awards recognize outstanding volunteerism and contributions that make Washington’s communities better places to live and work.
The Community Service Awards are presented each spring during a special dinner held in conjunction with the Association of Washington Business Annual May Meeting in Spokane.
Environmental Excellence Awards
AWB’s Environmental Excellence Awards recognize member companies for their initiative, innovation and outstanding achievements in environmental compliance, protection and conservation.
Award categories include:
- Sustainable Communities & Green Building
- Green Enterprise & Technology
- Resource Conservation and/or Pollution Prevention
- Leading Environmental Practices
- Environmental Innovator
The Environmental Excellence Awards are presented each year in conjunction with the Association of Washington Business Spring Meeting in Spokane.
Manufacturing Excellence Awards
Recognizing contributions to growing our economy and improving quality of life
The Manufacturing Excellence Awards recognize manufacturing firms for their contributions to growing our economy and improving quality of life. Awards will be given to a small, medium and large manufacturers in the following categories:
- Green Manufacturing
- Operational Excellence
- Innovation
- Manufacturer of the Year
Each year, the Association of Washington Business recognizes individuals who contribute to the association, to the their communities, and to the state of Washington through the following awards:
Bruce A. Briggs Community Service Award
The Bruce A. Briggs Award for Community Service is presented each year to an AWB member who continues to give back to his or her community. The award was named for the late Bruce A. Briggs, founder and owner of Briggs Nursery in Olympia. Bruce was a long-time member of the Association of Washington Business and a community leader in the South Sound area. His prized Rhododendrons permeate local parks and public areas throughout western Washington. The YMCA on Yelm Highway in Olympia is located on land donated by the Briggs family.
S. Fred Bruhn Award
This award is named in honor of former SAFECO Vice President S. Fred Bruhn, who passed away in 1989. Bruhn was a dedicated AWB Board and Executive Committee member who provided many years of dedicated service and leadership to AWB. The award is presented to the AWB Board member (past or present) who has dedicated himself or herself to AWB and has provided the same service to AWB as Fred Bruhn.
Judy Coovert Award
Established in 2009, AWB’s Coovert Award is presented annually and honors excellence in volunteerism to the association. The award is named for longtime AWB member Judy Coovert, co-owner of Printcom, Inc. in Burien. The first recipient of the award was Bill Meacham, executive vice president of the Baldwin Resource Group and founder and principal of The Meacham Group in Bellevue.
Ron Gjerde Award
The Gjerde Award is presented annually by the Association of Washington Business and is named in honor of the late Weyerhaeuser lobbyist Ron Gjerde, a long-time member of AWB’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The recipient is selected by the lobbyist community as the top lobbyist who exemplifies Gjerde’s dedication to serving AWB.
C. David Gordon Award
The C. David Gordon Award was established to honor Washingtonians who distinguished themselves in service to the citizens of the state of Washington. Gordon served as AWB president from 1955-64 and again from 1966-1979. He is AWB’s Honorary President for Life. The Gordon Award recognizes his 22-years of dedicated service as AWB president and for his contributions to our state.
The first C. David Gordon Award was presented to Gordon and his close advisor C. Lee Coulter. Both men were World War II veterans and worked together for more than 20 years.
Jim Matson Award
The Jim Matson Award was established in honor of the late Sen. Jim Matson (R-Selah) to recognize legislators, who over the years have consistently supported the private sector and issues important to Washington’s employers and the state’s competitiveness in the Washington State Legislature. The Matson Award is the highest award a legislator can receive from the Association of Washington Business. Matson, who owned and operated Matson Fruit Company in Selah, also served on AWB’s Executive Committee during the 1970s and 80s.
AWB also fosters student interest in free enterprise and careers in business through its annual youth scholarship program.
Donald C. Brunell Scholarship for Future Leaders Award
The Donald C. Brunell Scholarship for Future Leaders was established to inspire and aid Washington’s future business leaders. It is targeted to undergraduate, graduate or career/vocational students currently pursuing, or who intend to pursue, a course of education that will lead to a degree or certification in business and who is attending or planning to attend any public or private university, community or technical college or private career school. It is awarded to who best exemplify the leadership traits, abilities and potential necessary to maintain Washington’s competitive business advantage in the future. The scholarship is awarded annually. A bonus award is presented if the award winner attended a Washington Business Week summer program.
Any child or grandchild of an active member or employee of the Association of Washington Business who is currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or certificate program at any post-secondary institution in or outside the state of Washington (or who will be attending within the next 12 months) is eligible to apply. AWB members created the award to teach the youth of Washington state the role of business in society and to encourage their interest in business as a potential career path.
