Washington Roundtable

Congratulations to Seattle Children's on receiving the Starlight Children's Foundation's Excellence in Innovation Award for their Therapeutic Gaming Program. This recognition highlights the important work being done to enhance patient care and improve outcomes through innovative approaches. Well-deserved!

Real-world experiences help prepare the next generation of innovators and leaders. Programs like Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s ensure that students gain the hands-on skills necessary to succeed in high-demand fields and are vital for building the future of Washington’s workforce. The impact on both students and our state’s economy is undeniable.

Fred Hutch’s LabLaunch program is helping address the growing demand for lab technicians by offering students practical lab experience paired with academic training. Through the Accelerated Lab Technician Training Certificate, students prepare for in-demand roles, with a guaranteed job interview upon completion. This is a great example of employers and the education system – in this case, Fred Hutch and Shoreline Community College – working together through the Career Connect Washington (CCW) initiative to create high-value student learning opportunities and build talent pools. It’s a win-win and a great example of CCW driving impact. (Fred Hutch Science Education, Washington Alliance for Better Schools)

Member News: It’s been a great year thus far for Amazon Future Engineer, a computer science education program that aims to bridge the gap between student interest in STEM and access, especially for students in underserved communities. So far in 2024, 310k students have been on computer science career tours, helping them experience STEM first-hand. The program also offers select students up to $40,000 over four years for computer science or engineering degrees. Learn more about the program here https://lnkd.in/gxh4bugJ

Great to see this update from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Community Attributes regarding the aerospace industry. The resiliency of Washington businesses and their community commitments played a major role in our state’s post-pandemic recovery, and Boeing is a prime example of that.

We’re excited to share the work our members are doing across the state. From conducting groundbreaking research to creating opportunities for our state’s future workforce, Roundtable members are leading the way in building a brighter tomorrow for Washington. Read a roundup of just a few recent examples https://lnkd.in/g7A3JBQ5 (McKinstry, Boeing, Amazon, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Retail Lockbox, Inc., Lease Crutcher Lewis)

Excited to hear from these leaders next week at the 2024 Supplier Diversity Conference. Registration open at the link.

Career Connect Washington (CCW) has launched a new funding opportunity to develop or expand industry-aligned #CareerConnectedLearning programs. Businesses are encouraged to apply for this opportunity to strengthen your future talent pool and prepare the next generation of Washington’s workforce. Applications are due October 16. For more information and to apply, visit the Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) system and search for RFP #2024-11.?

Congratulations to Craig Dawson, Retail Lockbox, Inc., and the UW Foster School of Business on the creation of a new endowment to support Black students through the Foster School’s Consulting Business & Development Center. Excited to see where this works goes!

More great news from our members: Congrats to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on opening the Grid Storage Launchpad, a new 93,000-square-foot research facility that will accelerate the development of energy storage for the nation’s electrical grid and transportation sector.