Left to right: WR VP of Retail Services, Rose Gundersen, Director for the Washington Department of Commerce, Joe Nguyễn, and WR State & Local Government Affairs Director, Crystal Leatherman
Washington’s chamber executives gathered in Ellensburg last week for the annual WCCE conference, featuring a full agenda of timely topics and collaborative discussions.
The event opened with a reception sponsored by WR, recognizing the critical role chambers play in advancing grassroots advocacy and driving local economic development across the state.
Conference highlights:
- Joe Nguyen, Washington State Department of Commerce – Recently appointed by Governor Ferguson, Nguyen emphasized the need for holistic approaches to economic growth, pointing to both workforce development and adequate housing as key to attracting business investment.
- WR’s Rose Gundersen, Panelist on State Trade Association Partnerships – Gundersen stressed the importance of chambers uniting in response to the growing number of union-driven initiatives. A follow-up session with chamber leaders generated productive ideas for coordinated action.
- David Blandford, Executive Director, State of Washington Tourism (SWT) – Blandford’s keynote underscored SWT’s data-driven strategies to expand tourism, supported by tourism tax revenue and limited state funding. He noted that Washington ranks last among all 50 states in tourism promotion investment—a challenge with direct consequences for local economies. Because retail sales are closely tied to visitor spending, WR is committed to deepening its collaboration with SWT to help strengthen Washington’s tourism economy.
WR’s government affairs team valued the opportunity to build new relationships and renew existing partnerships with chamber executives statewide. These connections remain essential to advancing grassroots advocacy and ensuring a strong economic future for Washington’s employers and communities.
