Mark Johnson, WR Senior VP for Policy and Government Affairs, delivered a presentation at the Bellevue Chamber Executive Business Roundtable on “The State of Retail – and the 2024 Legislative Session”.
The event, held at the Bellevue Club, drew a significant turnout of top Bellevue business executives and owners.
Johnson provided insights into industry trends accelerated by the pandemic, alongside the latest statistics on sales, employment, and tax revenue generation.
The second part of his presentation focused on the 2024 Legislative Session, covering anticipated top issues, surprises, outcomes, and projections for 2025. Notably, artificial intelligence emerged as a major topic for discussion, raising questions about regulation and usage. Additionally, Johnson highlighted a surprising legislative push targeting the gift card business, which WR and its coalition successfully countered. However, similar challenges are anticipated in future sessions.
WR values these opportunities to engage with decision-makers in local communities, and the Bellevue Chamber, led by President/CEO Joe Fain and VP of Government Affairs Jodie Alberts, continues to excel in providing this essential service to its membership.
For more information about the Bellevue Chamber, visit their website
