Chamber Blog - Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce

Gallery - June Membership Luncheon "Public Safety - Straight Talk with the Chiefs"

6/28/2023

Thank you to everyone who attended the June Monthly Membership Luncheon featuring the police chiefs of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and West Richland.

The four chiefs participated in a moderated discussion regarding homelessness, gang activity, violent crime, officer recruitment, and more. At the end of the program, attendees were given the opportunity to ask their questions to the chiefs. Thanks to Basin Pacific Insurance and Benefits for sponsoring this impactful luncheon.

Gallery - 2nd Annual Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day

6/27/2023

The 2nd Annual Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day was a huge success! Congratulations to the recent graduates and their new employers. You can read more about the event here.

Thank you to Rich Breshears and Breshears Professional Photography for capturing the day with these wonderful photos!

Reflecting On the 2nd Annual Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day

6/27/2023

Student candidates sign Certificate of Intention letters in front of their employers, their families, and the community at large.

Brook Myrland head shot

By Brooke Myrland, TCRCC Workforce & Education Manager

On Thursday, June 22, the Tri-City Regional Chamber, along with our partners, Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors (AGC), the Educational School District (ESD 123), and Tri-Tech Skills Center, hosted the second annual Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day at Tri-Tech Skills Center, recognizing ten students alongside their new hiring companies. Participating companies included Tire Factory (Pasco/Richland), Toyota of Tri-Cities, Columbia River Electric, Framatome, Mel’s Inter-City Collision, and Hopsteiner. Recognized graduates included students from Pasco to Prosser, with most attending Tri-Tech Skills Center and primarily from Tri-Tech’s Autobody Tech, Auto Systems Tech, Pre-Electrical, and Construction programs.

In the months leading up to Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day, Tri-Tech’s Worksite Learning Coordinator and program instructors worked to identify strong student candidates to interview for open employment positions. In contrast, the Chamber and NW AGC worked to identify local employer candidates from the trade/tech fields willing to interview and hire these students. As a result, six local companies extended offers of employment to ten students.

Tri-Tech Director Paul Randall addresses the crowd of graduates, their families, and community stakeholders.

Tri-Tech Director Paul Randall addresses the crowd of graduates, their families, and community stakeholders.

On the day of the event, the recognized students gathered with their new employers, family members, educators, business members, community members, and local and state elected officials to celebrate. During the program, educators shared their need to connect with employers to provide opportunities to their students, and employers expressed their desire to make stronger connections with the schools. Companies proudly called their new hires to the podium to welcome them to their organization, providing them with kind words and company apparel and swag. The new hires then sat at the front of the room in front of spectators, while Senator Matt Boehnke shared words of encouragement, congratulating the graduates on their success and thanking them for their contributions. To wrap up the program, the recent graduates and new employees signed their Certificate of Intention with their company representatives behind them while their loved ones and community members cheered them on!

This event was a resounding success, with many participants and those in attendance expressing gratitude for inviting them to participate in the experience. Career Signing Day had a positive impact on the community. Local businesses and organizations could meet talented young people and educators they may not have otherwise connected with and Companies and Educators were provided a platform to share some of their most pressing workforce and education needs in front of local elected officials. Events like these highlight the importance of investing in the future workforce and supporting young people as they embark on their career journeys.

Sen. Matt Boehnke congratulates the graduates on their success.

Sen. Matt Boehnke congratulates the graduates on their success.

Career Signing Day events have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. These events set the stage to recognize high school students and celebrate their post-secondary education plans of entering the workforce. These events help students feel acknowledged and supported and serve as a valuable networking opportunity that connects industry leaders with education leaders, offering a platform to share their current challenges and needs, encouraging new and continued collaboration.

The success of the 2nd Annual Tri-Cities Career Signing Day demonstrates the power of community engagement and the positive impact that can result in collaborating and investing in our future workforce. It is my hope that our local employers, educators, and communities will continue to embrace this tradition of celebrating students pursuing their career path, the educators who train and build them, and the companies that hire them.

If you are interested to learn more about how to participate in Signing Day or make key connections with industry/education individuals, please contact me at [email protected].

Gallery - Pet Supplies Plus Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

6/27/2023

Congratulations to Pet Supplies Plus on their ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 23! Visit the store at 2913 W. Kennewick Ave. in Kennewick.

June 2023 Ask the Experts Handouts

6/26/2023

Regional Chamber Board, Staff, and Ex-Officio Representatives Convene at Board Retreat

6/19/2023

On Thursday, June 15th, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) Board Members, staff, and ex-officio representatives gathered at The Lodge at Columbia Point for a full-day board retreat. The purpose of the session was to discuss TCRCC's priorities, review progress, and enhance general knowledge about TCRCC's initiatives and activities.

David Brown, retired President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, was the guest speaker. David shared his insight and experience in regional visioning.

Throughout the day, TCRCC Board Members and ex-officio representatives engaged in an interactive "turn and learn" session. They had discussions with individual TCRCC staff members to gain a better understanding of their respective departments and to learn more about the Chamber's programs, events, and initiatives.

Later this summer, the TCRCC will conclude its strategic planning activities with a second full-day Strategic Session – facilitated by David Brown. The purpose of the Strategic Session is to create a vision for the future of our organization and to develop a strategic plan for realizing that vision.

Gallery - Business After Hours at Community First Bank | HFG Trust

6/9/2023

Thank you to everyone who came out to Business After Hours at Community First Bank | HFG Trust! We hope that you left with some valuable new business connections.

Gallery - Mariposa Boutique Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

6/6/2023

Congratulations to Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties and Leadership Tri-Cities on the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Mariposa Boutique thrift store. Visit the store at 3311 W. Clearwater in Kennewick.

Gallery - Legislative Session Wrap-Up Membership Luncheon

6/2/2023

Thank you to everyone who attended our Legislative Wrap-Up Membership Luncheon on May 31. Our guest speakers, 8th District Representative April Connors, 9th District Senator Mark Schoesler, 15th District Representative Bruce Chandler, and 16th District Senator Perry Dozier, shared updates on new laws and changes from the last legislative session and how they will impact the future of our region.