OLYMPIA – Leaders from the Association of Washington Business took time out from the 19th Annual Policy Summit to honor those who have worked to advance the cause of business in Washington state this past year. The awards were presented Thursday during a luncheon held at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine.
“Our award winners are all well deserving of their honors,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “Their hard work and dedication is testament to their commitment to the employer community.”
In all, four awards were presented, including the Jim Matson Award, for current or former legislators who consistently support issues important to Washington’s employer community; the S. Fred Bruhn Award, for individuals who serve with distinction on AWB’s Board of Directors; the Ron Gjerde Award to honor the year's top business lobbyist; and the Heavy Lifter Award, in recognition of AWB members who go above and beyond the call of duty in helping AWB promote business friendly legislation in Olympia.
Former state Sen. Dino Rossi, R-Sammamish, accepted AWB’s 2008 Jim Matson Award. Rossi received the award for his leadership on the 2003 state budget when he was chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and worked to implement the Priorities and Price of Government (POG) program to prioritize state spending with no major tax increases even though there was a $2.7 billion revenue shortfall.
Creigh H. Agnew, retired Weyerhaeuser vice president, received of this year’s S. Fred Bruhn Award in recognition of her service on AWB’s board of directors, executive committee and as chair of the association’s Governmental Affairs Council.
Attorney and lobbyist Nancee Wildermuth received the Gjerde Award for outstanding dedication to serving the business community. During her long career in Olympia, she has represented the auto industry, communications firms and has been actively involved in issues related to health care.
The Heavy Lifter Award honors individuals who go beyond the call of duty to help AWB’s government affairs staff in promoting business friendly legislation in Olympia. Winners of this year’ Heavy Lifter Award included:
• Douglas E. Smith (Littler Mendelson PC) - Seattle
• Patrick M. Madden (K&L Gates) - Seattle
• Judy Coovert (Printcom, Inc.) - Burien
• Susan Fagan (Schweitzer Engineering Labs, Inc.) - Pullman
• Joe Zedalis (National Association of Independent Financial Advisors) - Bellevue
• Samuel Anderson (Master Builders Association) - Bellevue
• Bill Dewey (Taylor Shellfish Co., Inc.) - Shelton
• George A. Kresovich (Hillis, Clark, Martin & Peterson) - Seattle
• Donald E. Marcy (Cairncross & Hempelmann) - Seattle
• Tim Boyd (The TSB Group) - Olympia
• Collins Sprague (Avista) - Olympia
About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, serving as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its 6,500 members include major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.
