We were honored to host U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA - 4 CD) for our annual Congressional Update Membership Luncheon on August 23. Congressman Newhouse addressed key legislation in Washington D.C., answered questions from the audience, and even played a lighthearted game of "heads or tails" with the crowd. Thank you to Battelle for sponsoring the luncheon.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Hanford Update Membership Luncheon on May 4.

Thank you to everyone who attended the inaugural Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day event on Thursday, June 16 at Three Rivers Convention Center.

Thank you to everyone who attended Business After Hours at Community First Bank | HFG Trust on Thursday, June 11!

Thank you to the 500+ attendees who celebrated with the Regional Chamber at the 2022 Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 25 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. It was the Chamber's first in-person Annual Meeting since 2019 - and we were thrilled so many people gathered with us to celebrate success. 

Thanks to Breshears Professional Photography for snapping these wonderful photos!

Thank you to the 500+ attendees who celebrated with the Regional Chamber at the 2022 Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 25 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. It was the Chamber's first in-person Annual Meeting since 2019 - and we were thrilled so many people gathered with us to celebrate success. 

The Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon is a celebration of the accomplishments of the Regional Chamber and our members. The following Chamber members were honored with awards at the event.

Chamber S.T.A.R. Award
Chris Rivard
Christopher E Rivard P.S.

The Chamber S.T.A.R. Award is presented to a volunteer who goes above and beyond for the Chamber. S.T.A.R. is an acronym for Service, Time, Attitude, Reliability.

Chris Rivard served as the Chair of the Regional Chamber's Board of Directors in 2020. During his final year on the board in 2021, Chris served both as Past Chair and Treasurer. 

Community Impact Awards
Columbia Basin College & Washington State University Tri-Cities

The Community Impact Awards are presented to the non-profit organizations that provided the Chamber with the most financial support over the previous year.

This year's Community Impact Awards went to Columbia Basin College (CBC) and Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities.

Both CBC and WSU Tri-Cities have been instrumental contributors for the Washington Workforce Portal - an online portal that connects employers with students and educators for meaningful internships. Both organizations also continue to sponsor the Tri-Cities Diversity Summit and both have been active members of the Regional Chamber for many years. Additionally, both CBC and WSU Tri-Cities and their teams are involved in the Education Council for the myTRI 2030 Regional Vision Project.

Corporate Impact Awards
​Battelle & Washington River Protection Solutions

The Corporate Impact Awards are presented to the for-profit organizations that provided the Chamber with the most financial support over the previous year.

​This year’s Corporate Impact awards went to Battelle that operates Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS).
 
Both Battelle and WRPS are stakeholder-level members – that’s the highest level possible. Battelle is a founding investor in the myTRI 2030 regional vision project and the premier sponsor of the Tri-Cities Diversity Summit. Additionally, Battelle is a partner in the Washington Workforce Portal. WRPS is the sponsor of the Small Business Incentive Program and the premier sponsor of the Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference. They also sponsor the Meet the Buyer – which supports the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Both organizations also are represented on the chamber’s Board of Directors and have been for many years.

Business on a Roll Award - 1-10 Employees
Express Employment Professionals

The Business on a Roll Awards recognize Regional Chamber members that achieved significant success over the previous year. Criteria includes revenue, sales, employee growth, awards, and community involvement.

The Business on a Roll Award for a business with 1-10 employees went to Express Employment Professionals. Express was selected because of their impressive growth in revenue and paid associate placements - meaning they were able to put a significant amount of people to work in 2021. Express Employment owner, Jason Jones, is also heavily involved in the local business community – including volunteer work as a Chamber Ambassador and serving on the Chamber’s Local Government Affairs Committee.

Business on a Roll Award - 11-50 Employees
Sculpt Wellness

The Business on a Roll Award for a business with 11-50 employees went to Sculpt Wellness. Since opening in 2016, Sculpt has seen significant growth in all award criteria. They have more than tripled their customer volume, services, and staff. Due to their significant growth, they’ve just opened a second location in Pasco. 

Business on a Roll Award - Over 50 Employees
North Wind Solutions

The Business on a Roll Award for a business with over 50 employees went to North Wind Solutions. North Wind has been in business in the Tri-Cities for 20 years. They received a major contract with Hanford Mission Integration Solutions – which was a catalyst for their major growth in revenue. The awards and recognition committee was impressed with the seamless transition of over 300 employees in a short amount of time.

Most Valuable COVID-19 Response Award
Benton-Franklin Health District

During the past two years, the Tri-Cities community has overcome incredible obstacles by demonstrating innovation, determination, and resiliency. This year, the Regional Chamber chose to honor a local organization with the "Most Valuable COVID-19 Response Award" - to celebrate an organization that stood out in our region during a trying time. This year's award went to the Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD).

BFHD typically flies under the radar while adding a great deal of value to our community. But in March 2020, that changed - suddenly the Health District was looked to for leadership in an unprecedented time.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors, and Educational Service District (ESD) 123 are partnering to pilot the Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day for the graduating classes of 2022.

Several local companies, primarily in trade and sales sectors, are participating in the inaugural event, through identifying and subsequently hiring strong employment candidates from area high schools and other non-traditional school settings. Through joint partnerships, we will come together during a celebration ceremony on Thursday, June 16, 2022 to recognize graduating students who have successfully interviewed and accepted job offers from these employers. These students can serve as a shining example of young adults who are not college-bound and yet will be strong participants in our local communities and economy.

Participating businesses include:

• Tire Factory
• Bruce, Inc.
• Meyers Auto Tech
• McCurley Integrity Dealerships
• O'Brien Construction Co. Inc.
• RDO Equipment

If your business is interested in participating in Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day, or would like to know more about the event, please contact Brooke Myrland, Workforce & Education Manager, at brooke.myrland@tricityregionalchamber.com or 509.491.3242.

Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day wouldn't be possible without the support of the Tri-City Regional Chamber's Stakeholder Members: Bechtel National, Inc., Benton PUD, Central Plateau Cleanup Company, Gravis Law, Jacobs, Kadlec, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Tire Factory, and Washington River Protection Solutions.

Thank you to everyone who attended Business After Hours on February 10, 2022. Thanks to Columbia Industries for hosting us!

Thank you to everyone who braved the snow on Wednesday, January 5 to attend the Elected Leaders Reception at the REACH Museum. A special thanks to Breshears Professional Photography for snapping these great photos!