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About AWB Overview Mission and Vision AWB Board of Directors Directions to AWB AWB Staff Staff Biographies Committees & Councils Awards Membership Overview Helping Members Return on Investment Future Earnings WISHA Offer Products & Services Overview Merchant Credit Card Service Online Training Health Benefits Workers' Comp Refunds Seminars Freight / Shipping Programs Certificate Programs Salary & Benefits Survey AWB Online Store Government Affairs Government Affairs Home 2012 Legislative Objectives Friday Phone Briefings Policy Principles 2011 Legislative Review Media Center Links and Resources Partners and Affiliates Associations and Chambers Emergency Preparedness and Health Resources Government Resources for Business Manufacturing and Workforce Links Distinguished Speaker Series AWB Events Calendar Spring Meeting Regional Board Meetings 2012 Policy Summit Login  Last Name:  Office: - Select Office - State Senate State House U.S. Senate U.S. House Statewide Offices  District: Find Your District   - Select District - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49   Home  /  Washington Business Magazine - January/February 2004 Unemployment Insurance Rates Rise Despite Reforms Many benefits of 2003's UI reforms will not be fully felt for four years Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Paul Schlienz When Boeing Commercial Airplane Company President Alan Mulally told legislators that Washington’s unemployment costs were the highest of anyplace it operates in the world, it was headline news in Seattle. Read more... Rising Labor Costs in Washington Jeopardize Employers’ Ability to Capitalize on Improved Economic Conditions Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Richard S. Davis An improved national economy promises to ease the budget pressure on state and local government. Even our state, which continues to lag the nation, appears likely to benefit. In October, Washington’s unemployment rate dropped to 7 percent, down from 7.6 percent, and tax collections are up. Read more... Raymond Woodlot Owners Named “2003 Tree Farmers of the Year” Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Daniel Brunell For only the second time in the history of the American Tree Farm System, Washington woodlot owners were honored as Tree Farmers of the Year. Read more... Q&A with Peter Hutchinson: POG Will Succeed if Elected Officials Have the Will to Make It Work Written On: January/February 2004 Peter Hutchinson is principle in The Public Strategies Group (PSG), St. Paul, MN. He is former Finance Director for the State of Minnesota. Hutchinson is also is former deputy mayor and superintendent of schools in Minneapolis. Read more... PRO-CON: Charter Schools Take Our Eye Off the Prize Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D - Seattle) A public education system that includes charter schools, by its very nature, produces a two-class system wherein both are separate and unequal. Read more... PRO-CON: It's Time to Give Charters a Chance Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: Sen. Stephen Johnson (R - Kent) While this may seem like a substantial change to Washington's education system, there's a reason that 3,000 charter schools across the country have over one million students - charter schools work. Read more... Perking up the Northwest’s Winter Grays A Look at Washington’s Coffee Industry Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Scott Carlson Washington state has more coffee bean roasters per capita than any other state in the union. Association of Washington Business members Starbucks and the Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roastery operate roasteries in Washington – Starbucks in Kent and Batdorf and Bronson in Olympia. Read more... Olympia & Thurston County: The Hub of State Business and Government Since the Oregon Territorial Days Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Brad Underland & Charles Henry Thomas Today, Interstate 5 splits Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey - the heart of Thurston County which caps the southern tip of Puget Sound. Ranked eighth among Washington counties in population with 207,000, it has grown quickly, climbing from just 77,000 in 1970. Read more... Member Profile: Pendleton Woolen Mills: A Family-Run Success Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Scott Carlson This year, Pendleton celebrates the 140th year of its family legacy in the Pacific Northwest. Not only is it one of Washington’s longest running family businesses, Pendleton is one of the longest running woolen businesses in the country. Read more... Member Helper: AWB Helps Monsanto Win Race Against the Harvest Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Daniel Brunell Often we save members more money than they’ll ever pay in dues and we eliminate a lot of heartache and frustration in the process. Helping members is what we’re all about. Read more... Lobbyists Pick Clif Finch as Gjerde Winner Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Scott Carlson Eighteen years ago, Clif Finch made a vow to AWB President Don Brunell that he would never become a lobbyist. At the time he was a budding young attorney fresh out of University of Puget Sound Law School and a legal intern for the Association of Washington Business. Read more... Kiona Blazed the Way to Open Washington’s Red Mountain Vineyards and Wineries Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: Story and photos by Daniel Brunell Above Benton City, Kiona’s colorful vineyards shine under the fall’s bright mid-morning sun. In this serene setting rivaling that of California’s Napa Valley, winemaker Scott Williams and his crew are hard at work on this year’ crop. Read more... Insider Perspective: Gary Chandler Brings Wisdom and Experience to AWB Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Paul Schlienz Gary Chandler brings a wealth of experience to his job. Before becoming vice president of government affairs at AWB, he was a county commissioner, legislator, lobbyist, farmer, small businessman and cop - a modern day jack of all trades. Read more... Business Links: 2004 Election Countdown Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Alexis Nepomuceno During the 2004 election cycle, there are several sites that the public can access and monitor political movements online. Among the best places to start are state and local political party sites. Read more... Boeing 7E7 Announcement is Emotional Lift for State’s Sluggish Economy Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Charles Henry Thomas Boeing’s announcement that its new high-tech, fuel efficient 7E7 will be built in Everett is the emotional lift our state’s economy needed since 9-11, AWB President Don Brunell said. Read more... AWB Working on Ways to Reduce Workers' Comp Rates Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Paul Schlienz This is the second year in a row that L&I increased its rates. In 2003, it raised rates an average of 29 percent. Washington firms that participate in the state fund have seen their rates rise an average nearly 40 percent since 2002. Read more... AWB Legends: Mark Reed Authored Washington’s Workers’ Comp Program, Supported the Eight-Hour Day and Advocated for Private Power Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Don T. Brunell Mark Reed was a remarkable man who set the cornerstone for some of our state’s basic and enduring labor laws just as he poured the foundation a successful forest products company. Read more... AWB Celebrates 100 YEARS - Part I: 1904-1970 Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Scott Carlson Before its induction into the Union on Nov. 11, 1889, Washington’s first businessmen were fur trappers making their living off beaver, otter and other animal pelts. These early explorers took advantage of the wide-open desert hills of what is now eastern Washington and the lush, green forests west of the Cascade Mountains. Read more... About this Issue: Keeping Jobs Depends Upon Making State More Competitive Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Don C. Brunell, Publisher Now that Washington has landed the 7E7 assembly, keeping it on track is our next big task—and it is equally daunting. Read more... 2004 Legislative Preview Written On: January/February 2004 Written By: By Paul Schlienz Although AWB’s 2004 legislative agenda encompasses many issues, the common thread is creating a more prosperous and business-friendly Washington. State legislators will gather in Olympia in early January for a 60-day session. Read more... Displaying results  1 to 20 of 20

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