Image (from left): Des Moines City Manager Katherine Caffrey, Cathy Vue of the Port of Seattle, Senator Tina Orwall (D-33), Representative Mia Gregerson (D-33), Crystal Leatherman
On Friday, July 10, Crystal Leatherman, Washington Retail Association’s (WR) Director of Policy & Government Affairs, represented the Washington Retail Association at the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce’s Southside Leadership Conference at Highline College, joining a panel focused on the year ahead for the region’s economy.
The conference drew business leaders, entrepreneurs, public officials, nonprofit professionals, and emerging leaders from across South King County for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration. With economic conditions, workforce challenges, and public policy all in flux, the day centered on a simple idea: leaders at every level are being asked to think differently, adapt quickly, and lead with purpose.
The session, “South King County Economic Outlook: What Leaders Should Expect in the Year Ahead,” gathered perspectives from across the public and private sectors. Crystal shared the stage with Cathy Vue of the Port of Seattle, Senator Tina Orwall (D-33), and Representative Mia Gregerson (D-33), on a panel moderated by Des Moines City Manager Katherine Caffrey.
Together, the panelists examined the economic forces shaping South King County, from workforce and cost pressures to the policy decisions that will influence how businesses plan and grow in the year ahead. The result was a candid, forward-looking conversation, and a reminder of how much progress happens when the business community, elected officials, and regional partners are in the room together.
WR thanks the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce for convening such a valuable conference, and its fellow participants for a rich exchange of ideas. Conversations like these are how the region builds the partnerships it needs to meet today’s challenges and seize tomorrow’s opportunities.
