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Winter 2011

It’s been said it’s in the worst of times that things get fixed.

Writer Jason Hagey paints a realistic but grim picture of the landscape
in Olympia this winter with his cover story on the 2011 legislative session.
Deficits abound and new taxes are likely off the table due to Initiative 1053. Lawmakers have thus far failed to make massive changes in spending habits, other public revenue sources are tapped out, and now major cuts loom due to inaction.

It is, in poker terms, “time to call the clock.”

Simply put, when a player is taking too long to act on his hand, another player may “call the clock” and force him to act. AWB and other business groups,
legislators and citizens, have continually asked lawmakers to reset spending
levels and change course to avoid the very situation we face this winter.

True to form, this issue of Washington Business includes viewpoints from
an array of key policymakers — including Gov. Gregoire — and AWB leaders
talking about what course of action is necessary to kick start the recovery.

Even so, there are bright spots in the private sector.

Two notable Washington companies (and longtime AWB members)
actually decided to expand during the Great Recession. Dan Brunell
pulled the tough duty of writing about Dick’s Drive-Ins. If you’re a native
Seattleite, or a fan of a great burger (or both) then you probably know
about this iconic restaurant chain. But you may not know the story behind
their recent expansion campaign. (You’ll get hungry just reading about
it.) In another piece, Jason Hagey also talks with veteran businessman
Ed Schweitzer about SEL’s bold new expansion plan. Schweitzer is betting
big money — $25 million — on the recovery. Find out what’s driving this
Pullman company’s global growth.

Finally, we noticed Tacoma’s TrueBlue was in the news a lot lately. We
thought it was time to find out how a staffing company, in the midst of the
Great Recession, managed to position itself so well. Writer Paul Schlienz
finds out what makes this leader in blue-collar staffing a gold-chip company.

It’s a new year. Opportunity abounds. With help from members like you,
AWB hopes to find solutions to our economic challenges so things do get fixed.

Time to call the clock .


View the Winter 2011