🌟 Don't miss the 2025 PNW Education & Workforce Summit! 🌟
This dynamic event will bring together experts, industry leaders, business owners, and community changemakers to explore the future of the school-to-work pipeline in our region. 🚀💼
Be part of the conversation, share your insights, and help shape the future of education and workforce development! 🗣️✨
Agenda:
7:00AM: Coffee and Networking
7:30AM: Program begins
Chamber Welcome by Samantha Le, President/CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce
Welcome Remarks by Mayor Dana Ralph of the City of Kent
Panel Moderated by Joe Van, President of the Highline Public School Board and Board Director for the Success Foundation
Panelists:
Aaron Terrazas, Independent Economist and LinkedIn TopVoice in Economics
Amen Amanuel, Sophomore Student at Raisbeck Aviation High School
Billy Hetherington, Political Director of the MLK County Labor Union
Deepak Devasthali, Hospital President of St. Joseph Medical Center for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Dr. Duran, Superintendent of the Highline School District
Dr. Pedroza, Superintendent of the Tukwila School District
Emily Wittman, Government Affairs Director of the Association of WA Business
Geoff Foy, Business Development Manager for UW - Professional & Continuing Education
Jason Bautista, Assistant General Manager of Westfield Southcenter
Jayden Young, Sophomore Student at Big Picture High School
Jesse Johnson, Director of Outreach and Community Engagement for the Washington State Treasurer's Office; Former State Legislator
Josh Gerstman, Vice President of Institutional Advancement of Highline College and Executive Director of the Highline College Foundation
Madison Ramirez, Employment Consultant with Northwest Center
Marisol Tapia Hopper, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Funding for the Workforce Development Council
Terry Davis, Director 2, Government/External Affairs at Comcast Cable
TraeAnna Holiday, Communications Director of the Washington State Office of Equity for the Office of Governor Bob Ferguson
Tessa McClellan, Director of Industry Strategy for the Workforce Development Council
Closing Remarks
9:30AM: After Event Networking & Career Showcase
BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, for more information please download our Seattle Southside Chamber Event Sponsorship Form.
Our Land Acknowledgment:
As we gather, we respectfully acknowledge that our event is taking place on occupied Coast Salish land and that Seattle Southside Chamber is on the homelands of the Duwamish people. We pay respect to Coast Salish Elders past and present and extend that respect to their descendants and to all Indigenous people.
Why do we recognize the land?
To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. It is important to understand the long-standing history that has brought you to reside on the land and to seek to understand your place within that history. Land acknowledgments do not exist in a past tense or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build the mindfulness of our present participation. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol.
http://www.lspirg.org/knowtheland