Pictured from left to right: Crystal Leatherman, Local and State Government Affairs manager, Mark Johnson, Sr. VP of Policy and Government Affairs, Kathie Davies, Executive Legislative Assistant, Renée Sunde, President & CEO, Rose Gundersen, VP of Operations and Retail Services, Bruce Beckett, The Becket Group, Brittany Shannon, Business Development Manager, and John Engber, Retail Industry Coalition of Seattle Director.
With the 2024 legislative session behind us, the WR Policy and Government Affairs team (PGA) spent a productive day this past week in Olympia discussing legislative outcomes, lobbying effectiveness, and strategies for the interim.
The PGA team represents over 130 years of combined experience working at the local, state, and national levels on policy and government relations. As primary stewards of Washington’s retail experience, the core mission of WR and the PGA team is to safeguard the interests of members. Representing approximately 3,500 storefronts throughout Washington State retailers of all sizes and retail sectors, from small businesses to regional retailers and multi-state and global retailers, have joined together to form a more powerful voice on behalf of the retail industry.
The PGA team strives to advocate for the broader interests of retailers and is committed to bi-partisan engagement with legislators and retail stakeholders alike. The strategic planning efforts completed by the WR Board of Directors during the 2023 interim and baseline advocacy report recommendations produced by Strategies 360 provided a framework for the facilitated discussion.
With campaign season upon us and the election primary set for August 12, 2024, the summer/fall interim will provide ample opportunity to engage in rulemaking, stakeholdering, and in-district grassroots strategies including retail store tours planned around the state.
