ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023
We worked tirelessly to deliver on our community stewardship mission, recognizing that a thriving community is key to prosperity. A robust local economy is crucial, but success only comes when all puzzle pieces fit together.
Our Shared Legislative Partnership convened once again to identify and champion regional investments with the State legislature, resulting in new State resources acquired to address chronic homelessness, craft brewing and distilling business startup, and infrastructure improvements for our region.
Local advocacy remained a core focus of our public policy division, and we continued to inform local policymakers on the impacts of new policies and regulations on local businesses. We successfully advocated for affordable housing, combating opioid and fentanyl use, addressing the increase in retail and property crimes, improving public safety, and enacting the Thurston County Habitat Conservation Program. We also expanded our influence by partnering with organizations such as Challenge Seattle, Go Rail, and the Olympia Downtown Association.
We launched the Future of Work Summit, which brought together businesses, education, and potential interns to address the skills gap and provide essential learning experiences. We also continued our efforts to support internship development through our Military Transition program WorkEx, the AWB Institute’s Washington Workforce Portal, and WorkSource internship programs.
Last year Thurston Thrives, our community’s collective impact initiative on the determinants of health, committed to convening meaningful conversations and training opportunities to establish a shared understanding about our individual and collective roles in order to end racism and advance health equity.
As we move forward, the Thurston County Chamber will continue to be a strong voice for our members and the business community. We remain committed to advocating for policies that create a thriving business environment, promoting economic development, and providing opportunities for our members to connect, grow, and succeed.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership with the Thurston County Chamber. Together, we will continue to build a more resilient, equitable, and vibrant community for all.
In Partnership, Michelle Wickett Board Chair
David Schaffert President & CEO
THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER • ANNUAL REPORT 22/23
It is our pleasure to present to you the 2022/2023 Annual Report, highlighting the accomplishments and milestones of the past fiscal year. Despite the challenges we faced as a community, the Thurston County Chamber continued to lead the way in advocating for a vibrant and resilient business environment.
Personnel Operating Business Promotions TOTAL EXPENSES NET INCOME $1,200,000 $226,300 $888,500 $2,314,800 $53,200 EXPENSES: THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER Membership Contracted Services Business Promotions Products & Services TOTAL REVENUE $445,000 $1,366,000 $305,000 $252,000 $2,368,000 REVENUE: THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER FOUNDATION Incubator Services Programs Events TOTAL REVENUE $136,000 $299,500 $289,000 $724,500 REVENUE: Operations Programs Events TOTAL EXPENSES NET INCOME $176,000 $284,250 $158,970 $619,220 $105,280 EXPENSES: LOCATION OF MEMBERS Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm/Tenino/Rural Thurston County Lewis 573 176 105 43 15 Mason Grays Harbor King Pierce Snohomish Remaining 14 17 207 108 46 94
1,398 Members
2022-2023 Financials
TOTAL:
Board of Trustees
Trenton Fluetsch, Chair Elect Sunset Air, President
Michelle Wickett, Chair Axia Home Loans, Senior Loan Originator
Dave Wasson, 1st Vice Chair Dancing Goats Coffee, President/CEO
Kim Adney, Treasurer AccountSource, Inc., Owner
Kevin Stormans, 2nd Vice Chair Stormans Inc., President
Joseph Lanham, Past Chair Wells Fargo, District Manager
Michael Cade Thurston Economic Development Council, Executive Director
Ron Bruchet Bruchet Holdings, Owner
Will Callicoat MultiCare Capital Medical Center, President
Tessa Bradley Artisans Group Architecture & Planning, Principal
Alexis Alverson TwinStar Credit Union, Business Relationship Manager
De’Leon Brooks Cash Oasis/Media Drive, Owner
2022-2023
Dr. Debra Clemens North Thurston Public Schools, Superintendent
Darin Goss Providence Swedish, Chief Executive
Kelsey Hulse Strategies 360, Vice President of Government Relations
Perry Hanchey Diamond Technology Innovations, President
Todd Monohon Olympic Rental & Landlord Services, Owner & Designated Broker
Michael White Farmers Insurance, Agent/Owner
Bob Iyall Medicine Creek Enterprises Corporation, CEO
David Schaffert Thurston County Chamber, President/CEO
Renee Radcliff Sinclair TVW, CEO Trenton Fluetsch, Vice Chair Sunset Air, Vice President of Operations
Miguel Pineda Olympia Salsa
Ebony Washington Yonic V-Spa, Owner
2022-2023 CHAMBER Staff
CHAMBER AMBASSADORS
Shamika
Molly
Ted
Avalon
Great
Elizabeth
Phoenix
Cecilia
Jet
AAA Washington
Kevin
PrintNW
T&S
Shirley
T&S Cleaning
Olympia Lamplighters
Corey
Christina Chesnut Director of Workforce Development
Joanne Stimac Finance Officer
Josefina Magaña Director, Thurston Thrives
Alisha Blain-Warner Director, Leadership Thurston County
Allie Bair Project Manager, Sector Strategies
Elizabeth Bretschneider Membership & Engagement
Marquita Himes Program Specialist
Ashley Chandler Membership & Engagement
Lori Bodnar
Wolf Lodge
Cooper Homestreet Bank
Cordis
Rising Wellness Center
Felix
Realty NW
Gruse
Harris
Jones
Cleaning
Jones
Kragness
Lopardi Pardiman Productions
David Schaffert President/CEO
Andrew Garate Senior Director of Military Transitions and Strategic Initiatives
Krystal Barkus-Franco Vice President of Operations
Mary Ann “Mia” Ong Business Solutions Navigator
Jessica Houchin Operations & Events Coordinator
Marianne Judd Member Investment Project Coordinator
Malinda Johnston Program Coordinator, Military Transitions Contractor
Natasha Ashenhurst Marketing & Communications, Contractor
Doug Mah Director of Public Policy Division, Contractor
McKim Odom 1st Security Bank
Denise Parker Harborstone Credit Union
Tim Shaw ThurstonTalk.com
Evette Temple Bank of the Pacific
Scott Tompkins Coldwell Banker
Nichole Wachtman Evergreen Financial Services
Amanda Walker Movement Mortgage
Micah Pong Project Manager
Advocacy
WHAT WE DO The Public Policy Division of the Thurston Chamber is your leading advocate for business and the private sector across the region.
Supporting our community is at the heart of the Chamber mission. The Chamber advocates for members by addressing community issues and ensuring a positive environment for a successful, highly functioning community.
THE SHARED LEGISLATIVE PARTNERSHIP is convened every year to identify and champion regional investments with the State legislature.
These investments maintain and enhance the region’s economic vitality and generate opportunities that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. New State resources acquired by this work during the 2022 and 2023 legislative session include:
• Direct State Investment to address Chronic Homelessness
• Craft brewing and distilling: Business startup
• Interstate 5 / Nisqually River improvements
• Port of Olympia Budd Inlet Remediation and Restoration
• North Thurston Public Schools: Young Child & Family Center
• Craft Brewing and Distilling: Local Grain Conveyance & Storage System
LOCAL ADVOCACY is the core of the public policy division’s work. We inform local policy makers on the impacts new policies and regulations will have on local businesses.
PARTNERSHIPS By forging strong partnerships with entities that share our values and mission, we’re expanding our voice and influencing change on a larger scale.
We provide support for meaningful and significant public and private sector projects that will improve the economic health of our community. In 2022 and 2023 the Thurston Chamber has led the way on:
• Affordable housing creation
• Combating opioid / fentanyl
• Addressing retail crime
• Improving public safety
• Enacting the Thurston County Habitat Conservation Program
• Approving the new district boundaries for five-member port / county commissions
• Approving the expansion of port/ county commissions to five members
• Opposing the Thurston County regional airport site
We’ve successfully joined forces with new organizations, creating a stronger and more united front in advocating for the needs of our community.
• Challenge Seattle
• Go Rail
• Olympia Downtown Association
• South Sound Military Communities Partnership
• Washington Association of Business
• Washington Retail Association
PUBLIC POLICY is made by those that show up. Government decisions and priorities, rules and regulations, and what gets developed and when, are determined by those that participate. The work of the public policy division ensures that the private sector is involved in the affairs of government. Advocating for Chamber members helps create a better environment for business. This helps to build a more resilient, equitable, and vibrant community for all.
NUMBERS BY THE 2022
10,256
5,698
48 RIBBON CUTTINGS
TOTAL NUMBER OF EVENTS
117
TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTENDEES
9,359
MEMBER RETENTION
91%
TOTAL SERVICES PROVIDED
CHAMBER
NEW MEMBERS 116
BY THE NUMBERS
SERVICES
TOTAL
BUSINESSES SERVED
Critical Workforce Initiatives
The Thurston Chamber is the voice of business in our region.
Through a contract with the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, the Workforce Solutions Team serves any business within the five-county region of Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor, and Pacific counties to help businesses.
Bridging the Skills Gap
Assisting Transitioning Military
Funded by private industry through the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, the Chamber operates an internship program in partnership with Joint Base Lewis McChord. The WorkEx program allows eligible active duty transitioning service members to participate in a 4-12 week hands-on-work-based learning opportunity with a host employer to bridge the gap in skills and experience needed to land a full-time career opportunity.
Aviation Pathways is a DoD/Army-approved Career Skills Program that prepares transitioning service members and veterans with at least 18 months prior experience in aircraft mechanics and an FAA-approved 8610-2 to test for their FAA Mechanic Certification. This program is in partnership with PacMtn Workforce Development. Aviation Pathways is a DoD SkillBridge and Army Career Skills Approved program that provides transitioning, retiring, and veteran aircraft mechanics with refresher skills and training over nine weeks to successfully prepare for the FAA Oral and Practical exams.
Internship Accelerators
In 2022, we launched the Future of Work Summit, convening business, education and youth to bridge the skills gap in the region by developing an internship pipeline. Organizers are planning the 2nd annual Future of Work Summit in October 2023.
Washington Workforce Portal
We also partnered with Washington Workforce Portal as a cost-effective opportunity to evaluate a potential future employee, a pipeline for candidates, access to students with unique skills and a way to gain short-term talent. For students, it provides hands-on work experience and a chance to explore career options.
Youth & Young Adult Training Initiatives
Launched in 2022, the Olympia Career Hub, in partnership with the City of Olympia, is a free resource for individuals who want to expand their professional skills and knowledge. Construction cohort training and career mapping for youth provide essential skills and opportunities lacking in the region.
Digital Literacy
As we advance into an ever-increasing technological world, the need for digital literacy has become apparent in our community. Digital Literacy measures an individual’s knowledge of computer hardware, computer software and the application of those technologies. In early 2023, the Chamber began offering regional training called Digital Literacy and has classes scheduled at various locations throughout the year. Thanks to Nisqually Indian Tribe for supporting this initiative.
Workforce Impact
201 30 119 45 18 92% 141 12
Students Attending Career Map Meetups Year to Date
Olympia Business Employees Received Narcan Training
Leadership/Professional Development Training Attendees
Forklift, OSHA-10, Flagger Certifications Acquired
Interviewed for Employment Opportunities
Participating Business Satisfaction Rate
Olympia Business Employees Served
Construction Bootcamp Cohorts
321 95% 75K 97% 96% 98% 387+ 278+
Total Internships YTD
Average Placement Rate of Interns into Full-Time Jobs or Education
Average Annual Starting Salary
Repeat Business Hosts
Interviewed Interns for Employment Opportunities
Participating Business Satisfaction Rate
Total Clients Served
Active Business Hosts
2022 – Early 2023
Olympia Career Hub and WorkEx
Thurston Thrives!
Last year Thurston Thrives, our community’s collective impact initiative on the determinants of health, committed to convening meaningful conversations and training opportunities to establish a shared understanding about our individual and collective roles in order to end racism and advance health equity. As a result of that commitment, Thurston Thrives has been focusing on closing health equity gaps so everyone in our community can live a longer and a healthier life. Using the following four benchmarks: Infant mortality, premature births, youth mental health, and overall health of adults, Thurston Thrives has been able to convene community partners, providers, clinicians, community members, nonprofits, and elected officials among many other interested parties to mobilize efforts to close health equity gaps that exist in our Thurston County community.
COMMUNITY BIRTHING CENTER
KAISERUNITE US PLATFORM CLINICAL CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, CPAA COLLECTIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE EFFORTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
Chamber Initiatives
WHAT WE DO
The Thurston County Chamber is growing a prosperous economy and vibrant community by connecting people, ideas and resources. Our engagement in regional planning, education, workforce development, community infrastructure, and environmental stewardship are integral components of the Chamber’s mission.
THURSTON CHAMBER INITIATIVES
PUBLIC POLICY
CHAMBER FOUNDATION INITIATIVES
Caught in the Lens
Photography by Shanna Paxton Photography
Contact Us 809 Legion Way SE PO Box 1427 Olympia, WA 98501 (360) 357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com Thank You Annual Meeting Sponsors EXECUTIVE SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR CORPORATE SPONSORS Michael White