SEL Chief Business and Finance Officer appointed to Washington Employee Ownership Commission3/13/2024 Joey Nestegard, chief business and finance officer of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), has been appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to serve on the Washington Employee Ownership Commission. The commission will develop and oversee the Washington Employee Ownership Program within the Department of Commerce. It was established as part of a bipartisan bill (SB 5096) that was passed unanimously by the state house and senate last May. The law provides support and resources for companies looking to become employee owned. SEL has been 100 percent employee owned since 2009 and is active in several associations advocating for the business model, including The ESOP Association and the Employee-Owned S Corporation of America (ESCA). Nestegard is the chair-elect of the ESCA Board of Directors. “There is no better way to build a successful business than by giving employees a real stake in the company,” said Nestegard. “It’s a model focused on long-term decision making in the best interest of customers, employees, business partners and the communities where we do business. Employee ownership creates the kind of stability that helps a business weather storms and leads to sustained growth. I look forward to joining the effort to assist other businesses across the state in learning more about the ESOP model.” To learn more, visit https://governor.wa.gov/boards-commissions/board-commission-profiles/Washington%20Employee%20Ownership%20Commission
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Trios Health is pleased to announce that Wendy Morby, a Registered Nurse, has been named as a recipient for The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses by Trios Health. Wendy has been an RN at Trios Health since 1999. She has worked in many different departments such as Surgical Services, has been a House Supervisor and currently works in Radiology. “Wendy is an advocate for patients and staff,” said Lori Katterhagen, Trios Chief Nursing Officer. “She is an exemplary nurse with over 25 years of experience and demonstrates compassion to all.” Wendy was nominated by an employee who had a family member as a patient. She went out of her way to care for the employee and their family throughout their stay and helped them navigate through very difficult circumstances. Wendy demonstrates being an extraordinary nurse by providing a family atmosphere and goes out of her way to make all staff and patients, including their families, feel safe. The staff member who nominated her wrote, “When you are an employee and on the other side of things, everything becomes ‘foggy’. My family and I were lost. My family made the ICU waiting room our home. Wendy would come to the waiting room and bring our family water or snack or just offer a needed teddy bear hug. She listened to everything we said and would also get clarification for us.” Larry Zackula, Market Director for Diagnostic Imaging, and Wendy’s supervisor said, “Wendy is incredibly deserving of this award. It is an honor and a privilege to have her working at Trios Health because she takes care of everyone like they are her own family.” The DAISY Award® is an international program started in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, whose family experienced first-hand the difference his nurses made in his care through clinical excellence and compassionate care. The family created The DAISY Award® to express gratitude to nurses and to enable other patients, families, and staff to thank and honor their special nurses. To nominate a nurse or to learn more about The DAISY Award®, visit TriosHealth.org/Daisy. The Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS) recently recognized Mark Holyoak, CEO of Lourdes Health, as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS). “Earning this credential attests to Mark's professional competency in patient safety science and application,” said Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS, President, CBPPS. “This achievement demonstrates his expertise in this critical discipline and positions him among those committed to and leading patient safety work.” Holyoak earned this credential in part by passing a rigorous, evidence-based examination that tests candidates on their competency in patient safety science and application. With the conferring of certification Holyoak is privileged to use the CPPS credential. “As the CEO of Lourdes Health, I firmly believe that becoming a Certified Professional in Patient Safety, is not just a personal achievement, but a commitment to the highest standards of care for our patients,” said Holyoak. For more information about the CPPS credential, contact the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety at 617.391.9927 or write to cpps@ihi.org. The Richland Public Library announces a new mobile application available for free download on Apple and Android phones. The user-friendly app can be found by searching “Richland Public Library” at the Apple Store or Google Play.
With this app, you can search the library catalog, place holds, manage multiple card holders, and even get your digital library card. Don’t miss out on our programs with easy access to our event calendar, the ability to add events to your calendar, and opt-in library updates. Enjoy central access to our digital resources, check out free attraction passes, and join our reading challenges. You can even renew your library card, reserve a meeting room, and connect with your library in many other ways. Take the Richland Public Library everywhere you go, today! After suffering financial losses since 2020, The Tri-City Water Follies Association is in need of securing financial support from sponsors to continue the 59-year event.
The three-day event scheduled for July 26-28th is the largest tourism and sporting event in Eastern Washington consistently contributing 2.7 million dollars to the Tri-Cities economy, as reported by Visit Tri-Cities. Tri-City Water Follies President Nathan Craghill explains, “Our Water Follies event would not happen without key support from our local businesses and volunteers. Having a title sponsor and community support ensures that we are able to continue to provide the Tri Cities with its largest annual event”. Title Sponsorship for the Hydroplane races is critical for the continuation of the event. For the second year in a row, STCU is generously sponsoring the Over the River Air Show. Other sponsorships include marketing and advertising opportunities customized to individual needs and include V.I.P. ticket packages, media coverage, community outreach, and exposure to an average of 50,000 attendees. For more information about sponsorship or marketing opportunities please call Nathan Craghill at 509-539-8902. The volunteer Board of Directors meets year-round to plan and execute the Tri-Cities premier summer celebration. Sponsorship opportunities are one of the most critical components to the success of the event. Approximately 1,200 volunteers work every year to create the event for 50,000+ spectators. The Tri Cities has been recognized throughout the circuit as a top venue for the sport. Richland received 2 state awards last month during the Washington Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) winter conference in the Innovation and Emerging Leadership categories. The 2024 Innovation in Economics Development award recognizes the City’s use of the Targeted Urban Area Exemption, a Manufacturing Recruitment Tool that is a game-changer in creating long-term jobs and increasing economic vitality in our region. Economic Development Manager Mandy Wallner was also awarded the 2024 Emerging Professional in Economic Development for her significant contribution to her community and as a promising future leader in the industry. “Mandy exemplifies partnership and the spirit of a strong economic development leader. Her work and efforts impact not just the community in which she serves, but the entirety of the economic development network that builds a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive economy,” said Michael Cade, Executive Director of the Thurston Economic Development Council and WEDA Awards Committee member, “Mandy continuously offers her expertise and skills to further the success of all, teaches and recognizes others, and leverages her creativity to find new solutions that increase economic diversity.” More information can be found at https://wedaonline.org/news Elijah Family Homes is gearing up to host their second annual Better Together Non-Profit Coed Softball Tournament. With 13 teams already signed up and eager to participate, this year's event promises to be exciting. Returning teams include SnipesH3, Serve Tri-Cities, The Boys and Girls Club, Numerica Credit Union, and Big Bro Joe, along with newcomers Restoration Market, Mustang Forces, Walk to End Alzheimer's, Clean Sweep, Tri-Cities Residential Services, Mid-Columbia Children's Museum, and Grace Kitchen.
The tournament is open to the public and free of charge, so we encourage everyone in the community to mark their calendars and come out to support this wonderful cause. Located in Richland, WA, at the Horn Rapids Athletic Complex, the action kicks off on April 13th at 10:00 a.m. to enjoy the games, vendors, food trucks, and activities. Staying late for the All-Star Game at 7 p.m. offers the opportunity to enter and win the 50/50 raffle and fantastic raffle items. For more information, please get in touch with Angela Dryden at (509) 943-6610 Ext. 110. Bechtel’s $7 million dollar commitment to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will provide critical resources and programming to 500,000 U.S. construction workers over the next five years.
Bechtel and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) today announced a new, multiyear partnership dedicated to saving lives in the construction community lost to suicide. The initiative was unveiled this morning in Washington, D.C., at an event focused on raising awareness, educating stakeholders on this crisis, and beginning to build a coalition to prevent construction worker suicides. The new partnership will reach 500,000 U.S. construction workers over five years through industry-specific programs and resources developed by Bechtel and AFSP. The $7 million, five-year commitment to AFSP to fund the effort is the largest-ever pledge received by AFSP and the largest single donation ever made by the Bechtel Group Foundation. “This is the start of a long-term, sustained effort to lift up the whole construction community. We want to see mental health become as much of a priority as physical safety in our industry,” said Brendan Bechtel, chairman and CEO of Bechtel. “It’s our belief that addressing suicide in construction is as vital as wearing a hard hat on site. This is the next frontier in taking care of each other.” The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any profession in the U.S. In fact, the number of suicides in the industry is nearly five times higher than the number of lives lost in jobsite safety incidents, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, respectively. The initiative will leverage Bechtel’s industry knowledge and reach in combination with AFSP’s expertise in research, education, and effective prevention strategies, as well as its national network of local chapters. Bechtel welcomes participation from others in the industry, as this partnership forms a construction working group and a first-ever senior advisory council to help guide the effort. “We know we cannot meet this challenge alone. Real change will take all of us. We want to build an industry-wide effort, and we are actively encouraging others in construction to join us,” added Brendan Bechtel. “The partnership with Bechtel is the first of its kind for AFSP, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with an industry leader that is focused on improving the mental health of the construction industry as a whole,” said Robert Gebbia, CEO of AFSP. “We’re excited to be building a team within AFSP dedicated to this important initiative aimed at reaching thousands of people in need and preventing suicide.” “All of us who work in construction have seen gains in physical safety that were once unimaginable, become the standard for success,” said Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, who also spoke at today’s event. “It’s time to bring the same mindset, resources, and innovation to the issue of mental health and suicide prevention.” Learn more about this new initiative and how you can get involved at: Confronting Suicide in the Construction Industry | Bechtel. ICYMI: Bechtel and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Announce Groundbreaking Partnership to Confront Construction Suicide Bechtel and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) announced a new, multiyear partnership dedicated to saving lives in the construction community lost to suicide. The new partnership will reach 500,000 U.S. construction workers over five years through industry-specific programs and resources developed by Bechtel and AFSP. Bechtel’s $7 million commitment to AFSP will fund the effort and is the largest-ever pledge received by AFSP. The new initiative was unveiled at an event in Washington, D.C. this week, where Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades, joined Bechtel chairman & CEO, Brendan Bechtel, AFSP CEO, Bob Gebbia, and AFSP Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, to raise awareness of the alarming rate of suicides in the construction industry. Together, the panelists called on others in the industry to join this effort. To watch the full panel conversation online, click here. Bechtel and AFSP announced a first-of-its kind, industry-specific effort to confront suicide rates in the construction industry. What separates this effort from others is the sustained, multiyear commitment and the invitation for the entire construction industry to join:
The construction industry has made tremendous progress on physical safety. This new initiative will apply lessons learned to the next frontier in safety, prioritizing mental health and well-being:
Confronting this crisis will require a culture shift for the construction industry. As colleagues endure tremendous demands and challenging work, there needs to be an understanding that it’s okay to ask for help; the industry must de-stigmatize prioritizing mental health:
With recently passed legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS Acts, we're mindful of the tremendous demands placed on the construction workforce. This new initiative comes at the convergence of the United States’ infrastructure boom, with a maturing suicide research field and influx of data on this topic:
Bechtel is taking a stand, asserting that addressing mental health in construction is as vital as wearing a hardhat on site and encouraging the entire construction industry to join in this endeavor:
The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any profession in the U.S. In fact, the number of suicides in the industry is nearly five times higher than the number of lives lost in jobsite safety incidents, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, respectively. Learn more about this crisis and Bechtel and AFSP’s new initiative here. On Friday, March 8, City Council will be interviewing four finalists for the City Manager position during a Special Meeting Executive Session. The finalists are, in alphabetical order, Brian Davis, Erin Erdman, Dan Legard and Jennifer Stapleton.
Council will make a final decision on appointing a City Manager at a future Council Meeting, date to be determined. Richland Fire and Emergency Services is planning for the future and wants your input. If you are a Richland resident or business, please take a few minutes and complete the community engagement survey at bit.ly/rfescommunity.
The survey is due by Friday, March 8. The results will be calculated and shared with staff during a strategic planning meeting on March 11-13. Questions can be directed to Captain Aust, raust@ci.richland.wa.us. |
Have News?Email your press release and a photo to Austin Regimbal, Marketing & Communications Director. Press releases are posted in their entirety. This is a free benefit for members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber. Archives
March 2024
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