The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Austin Regimbal to the position of Vice President. Regimbal, who has been with the Chamber since 2017, previously served as the Marketing & Communications Director.

In his new role, Regimbal will oversee strategic initiatives and community outreach efforts, in addition to marketing and communications responsibilities. His leadership and innovative approach have been instrumental in advancing the Chamber's mission to promote regional prosperity and strengthen member businesses.

"Austin has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and vision in his work," said Lori Mattson, TCRCC President & CEO. "His promotion to Vice President is a testament to his hard work and the positive impact he has made on our organization and the Tri-Cities community."

Regimbal, a native of Richland, brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the local business community. He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) Academy program for chamber professionals. Regimbal also served on the W.A.C.E. Emerging Leaders Council and was presented with a 2024 Young Professionals Award from the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

"I am honored to take on this new role and continue working with our talented team to support the growth and success of our members," said Regimbal. "I look forward to furthering our efforts to make the Tri-Cities a thriving business hub."

​The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) has appointed Karen Irey as the organization’s Office Administrator. In this role, Irey will serve as the primary point of contact for visitors to the TCRCC office, while also providing support for various functions within the membership, programs, and events departments.

With a background as a Funeral Director at Einan’s Funeral Home, Irey brings a wealth of experience in event coordination, schedule management, and efficient supply handling under tight deadlines. Her previous roles as an Office Assistant for the Snohomish County Corrections Guild in Everett, WA, and Front Office Coordinator for the Northwest Center for Optimal Health in Marysville, WA, showcase her versatile skill set.

TCRCC President & CEO Lori Mattson, IOM, expressed enthusiasm about Irey, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Karen to our team as the new Office Administrator. She brings a unique blend of compassion, organizational skills, and attention to detail that aligns seamlessly with our commitment to fostering a supportive and efficient Chamber environment.”

Irey can be reached at 509.736.0510 or [email protected].
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The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce is the catalyst, convener and champion for community and business prosperity.  For further details about the Regional Chamber, visit www.tricityregionalchamber.com or call 509.736.0510.  

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) proudly announces the appointment of Matt Murphy as the organization’s Government and Regional Affairs Director. In this pivotal role, Murphy will spearhead the Regional Chamber’s advocacy initiatives, represent the organization on the Tri-Cities Legislative Council, and undertake a variety of other responsibilities.

Before joining the Regional Chamber, Murphy demonstrated exceptional leadership during his nine-year tenure as the President and CEO of the South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce in Port Orchard, WA. His commitment to grassroots advocacy was recognized in 2021 when the Association of Washington Business honored him as the Grassroots Alliance Advocate of the Year. With an extensive background, Murphy has served on influential boards related to his new position, including the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors, the Olympic Workforce Development Council Board of Directors, and various citizen advisory boards. A Gonzaga University graduate, Murphy also has a military background, having served in the Washington Army National Guard.

Lori Mattson, IOM, President and CEO of TCRCC, expressed enthusiasm about Murphy's addition to the Regional Chamber team, stating, “Matt’s previous experience within the chamber of commerce industry and his advocacy for business owners position him perfectly to lead our government affairs efforts.”

“I believe collaboration and cooperation are our greatest assets for making change,” said Murphy. “Business, elected officials, and citizens all want the same thing: to make the Tri-Cities a great place to live, work, and play.”
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Murphy can be reached at 509.491.3234 or [email protected].

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) has hired Darlene Sarte as the organization’s Member Services and Event Coordinator.

In this position, Sarte will focus on membership sales, member benefit fulfillment, and supporting the management and execution of Regional Chamber events.

Sarte was previously employed at HAPO Community Credit Union as a Marketing Support Specialist, a title she held for over four years. In that role, Sarte coordinated public and private events, maintained partnerships with nonprofit organizations, and more. She currently serves on the City of Pasco’s Historic Preservation Commission.

“We’re grateful to have Darlene on our team,” said TCRCC President and CEO Lori Mattson, IOM. “Her experience in facilitating events and cultivating relationships make her an excellent fit for the Member Services and Events Coordinator position.”
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Sarte can be reached at 509.736.0510 or [email protected].

Brooke Myrland, Workforce & Education Manager at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC), was selected as one of 18 chamber professionals to participate in a six-month fellowship program on economic mobility facilitated by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

The Fellowship for Economic Mobility is an immersive program that provides chamber of commerce professionals education and tools to work within workforce ecosystems and help to remove barriers to access living wage jobs. Fellows will be better positioned to support workers and employers in adapting to the new realities of work.
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“Economic mobility is essential to unlocking broader economic prosperity,” said Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE’s president & CEO. “Chambers of commerce are catalytic leaders ideally suited to both address pressing talent challenges for low-income workers and ensure thriving and equitable local economies.”

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) has hired Maria Alleman as the organization’s in-house Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Counselor.

In this position, Alleman will provide businesses with no cost, confidential, one-on-one technical assistance in all aspects of selling to federal, state, and local governments. She is the lead contact for PTAC clients in seven counties: Benton, Franklin, Columbia, Grant, Klickitat, Walla Walla, and Yakima.

Alleman was previously employed at Visit Tri-Cities as the Convention Sales Manager, a title she held for nearly ten years. As a native Spanish speaker, her passion is in bridging language barriers and helping business owners succeed.

“We’re delighted to have Maria as our PTAC Counselor,” said TCRCC President and CEO Lori Mattson, IOM. “Maria’s experience in building and cultivating relationships with both English and Spanish-speaking business leaders makes her a great fit for counseling and expanding PTAC’s reach in previously underserved communities.”

Alleman can be reached at 509.491.3231 or [email protected].

Washington PTAC assists businesses through the government-contracting workplace. Washington PTAC’s mission is to increase the number of government contracts awarded to Washington firms so those firms can grow. You can learn more about Washington PTAC at www.washingtonptac.org. 

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) has hired Miles Thomas, AICP, as the organization’s Government and Regional Affairs Director. In this position, Thomas will lead the Regional Chamber’s advocacy efforts, the myTRI 2030 Regional Vision Project, and much more.

Thomas brings more than a decade of experience in community and economic development to his new position. Within the Tri-Cities, Thomas has extensive policy advocacy and project planning experience through Economic Development roles in City and Port governance. His work has contributed to collaboratively funding workforce development and reskilling programs at Washington State University Tri-Cities, designation and promotion of federal Opportunity Zones, and expanding access to local business development and assistance programs.

“We’re thrilled to add Miles to the Regional Chamber team,” said TCRCC President and CEO Lori Mattson, IOM. “Miles’ experience in bringing private and public partnerships to fruition, building strong community and business relationships, and working to augment public policy that supports and inspires entrepreneurship make him the ideal Government and Regional Affairs Director for the Tri-City Regional Chamber.”

Thomas currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tri-Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council and Sagebrush Montessori School in addition to committee roles for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and Washington State Small Business Development Center Advisory Board. He is an alumnus of the University of Illinois and holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning.
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Thomas can be reached at 509.940.4004 or [email protected].