Name: Chris Rivard
Company Name: Moss Adams LLP
Title: Partner
Years at Company: 30

What inspired you to pursue a career in this field? 
I was decent at math and had friends going into the accounting program. But really had no idea what I was getting into.

What are three things you use at work every day? 
1) Communication skills would be #1.  All day, every day – with clients, members of my team, peers, prospects, and the general public. And both written and oral skills. These are extremely important. 2) Technology. It’s coming at us more quickly every day and understanding its impact and how to navigate and utilize it to your advantage relative to your business is critical. 3) The ability and patience to see all sides of an issue. Don’t rush to judgment or assume you know all of the relevant facts. Do your homework and keep as broad a perspective as possible.

What was your first job? 
Washing fuel transport trucks for my dad when I was nine.

How do you spend your free time? 
Any physical activity – golf, running, cycling, climbing, kayaking, tennis.

What are three words that best describe you? 
Enjoy the journey.

What did you want to become as kid? 
An artist.

Would you prefer to travel back in time or into the future? 
Into the future. Always forward.

How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities? 
Four years.

Where is your hometown? 
Yakima

Do you have any special talents? 
Purveyor of useless information.

One piece of advice you’d give a young person that wants to get into your field? 
Allow yourself to fail, pick yourself up and try again.

What was the first concert you attended? 
Huey Lewis and the News

What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber? 
Collaboration and unity of vision for the Tri-Cities. So much potential.

Thanks to everyone who was able to make the 2019 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, March 27!

Name: Derrick Joel Stricker
Company Name: StrickerCRE/ NAI Tri-Cities
Title: Commercial Real Estate Broker
Years at Company: 6

What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
My parents were in the CRE business growing up and were great mentors for me. I was in Chicago working in Corporate Finance in my 20s, and all my assignments and projects kept involving Commercial Properties. I knew my entrepreneurial spirit and side hustle could be combined into one industry.

What are three things you use at work every day?
Gonzaga Degrees, Excel and a Bluetooth speaker.

What was your first job?
Paperboy as a 12-year-old. First internship was at Global Credit Union as a Real Estate Analyst during college in Spokane.

How do you spend your free time?
Ha, “free time”… I would say skiing the Pacific Northwest, riding our CanAm/UTV and summer Montana trips.

What are three words that best describe you?
Enthusiastic, driven and big-picture-mentality.

What did you want to become as kid?
A corporate attorney or sports agent.

Would you prefer to travel back in time or into the future?
Back in time - great perspective.

How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities?
18 years as a kid and 8 years #Adulting.

Where is your hometown?
Kennewick.

Do you have any special talents?
The ability to take a short answer and make it long winded… Ad-lib/impromptu hand gestures.

One piece of advice you’d give a young person that wants to get into your field?
Try and start in a more corporate job where you interact with commercial real estate. While working that job, dig deeper into studying the Market’s trends/stats/players/projects and try and bring CRE value to current conversations. It’s best to learn and train while getting paid before you decide to take the leap off the cliff to commercial real estate and the “100% Commission Platform.”

What was the first concert you attended?
BB King at the Toyota Center in the 90s with my Grandpa Joe.

What excites you the most about the direction of the Tri-City Regional Chamber?
The ability to look into the future 15 years and start action as of yesterday. They have a great staff/team and their commitment to our community and Chamber is contagious. I truly believe that what TC needs in the future, the TC Regional Chamber is providing on a grand scale platform.

Congratulations to Boost Builds on the start of their new Park Place Apartments project! It will be a wonderful new addition to Richland.

Congrats to Rampage Sports Entertainment on their ribbon cutting at the Toyota Center! Go Tri-Cities Fire!

NewEdge is a Founding member and critical to the myTRI 2030 Regional Vision project. The Tri-Cities is fortunate to have a company of this caliber that works with world-wide brands such as The North Face, Wrangler, John Deere and more. ​

Congrats to Bleyhl Co-op on their new space! Check it out at 6705 Chapel Hill Blvd. in Pasco!

Congrats to Century 21 (C21) on their logo launch party and ribbon cutting! Visit them at 89 Gage Blvd. in Richland.

Join the Regional Chamber for a special post-luncheon breakout session following the Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on March 27.

​Exasperated by  email? Peeved about passwords? Tired of tedious tasks? You're not alone. 

Join Your Nerdy Best Friend, aka Beth Ziesenis, for a research-based look of common productivity problems, followed by the technology to solve them.

Discover how to use free and bargain technology tools you never knew existed to work more efficiently with your teams, get organized and finally get stuff done.

TAKEAWAYS 

• Discover low-cost, high-value apps and tech tools that you can start using right away
• Learn great tech tips and app ideas from your colleagues
• Get new ideas to increase efficiency, improve relationships and get things done!

    
This special breakout is limited to 100 participants and WILL sell out. Register at the button below to save your spot!

The 2019 Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference was the largest yet! Please take a look through this gallery to relive the inspiring day.