In mid-February, the Chamber's advocacy team took a group of members to Olympia to advocate for the business community at the Chamber's annual Legislative Advocacy Day. The group included Chamber staff, board members, small business owners, and community members, and met with a variety of Representatives, including Representative Richards (District 26), Representative Valdez (District 26), Representative Keaton (District 25), among others.
 
The team met with these Representatives individually to give Chamber members the opportunity to share their perspectives on proposed legislation and to strengthen relationships with their elected officials. These conversations allowed the group to highlight the real-world impact of proposed policies and ensure that the business community's voices were effectively represented.
 
While down in Olympia, several legislative priorities were advocated for, including: 

• Supporting transportation investments
• Supporting legislation that protects jobs
• Uplifting our Veteran community
• Developing the Future Workforce
• Doing no harm to Washington Businesses

 
Meeting directly with lawmakers reinforced the importance of civic engagement and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Advocacy Day serves as a reminder that meaningful change begins with open dialogue, strong relationships, and a commitment to representing our community’s interests.
 
The advocacy team is grateful for the opportunity to engage in these important conversations and will continue to advocate for policies that support economic growth and opportunity in the Puget Sound.

The Chamber is thrilled to welcome two new team members: Pachia Paul, Senior Growth Officer, and Anna Terrano, Community Engagement Coordinator.