KEDA's 'championship forum' draws a record crowd
Business is booming in Kitsap, due in part to the strategic, guiding efforts of the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. As KEDA Board President Ben Anderson explains it, “Our successes are those of collaboration. We have a strong board of directors and a growing number of committed private - public partners who working together ensure a healthy future for Kitsap and the Greater Seattle Region.”
Ben is the CEO of Art Anderson Associates, and in his second year at the helm of KEDA’s board — check out his spot-on guest column in last month’s KPBJ – it was terrific!
Our March 31st annual meeting drew record attendance (over 200) to the Kitsap Conference Center to participate in the election of two new KEDA board members: Lynette Ladenburg, CEO of Martha & Mary, and Kathryn Townsend, Client Relations Manager at West Sound Workforce. Welcome aboard!
The Annual Meeting featured a “home run” keynote address by Congressman Derek Kilmer. Derek, an accomplished economic developer in his own right, focused his remarks on all the good news emanating from the "Real Washington," and in particular Kitsap and our regional economy. As Rep. Kilmer noted, increased investment and job growth is occurring virtually across the board in every major economic sector of our local economy, from defense to maritime to manufacturing to tourism to technology to health care. Our Alliance has been at the forefront of shaping and supporting this expansion; however, we must take nothing for granted. And, we must heed Derek Kilmer’s advice to be fully cognizant of the economic development challenges we all face knowing: “we compete every day, with everyone, everywhere, for everything ... forever!”
Over the past five years KEDA has directly served our clients (local businesses) more than 600 times. Our economic development team has assisted our clients in securing over $225 million in new work. Our work has positively impacted over 30,000 jobs and, we have helped underwrite nearly $2 billion in new capital investment in Kitsap County.
That is why we launched the Campaign for Kitsap at our annual meeting. The Campaign for Kitsap is aimed at doubling the level of client served over the next five years. Our board members are committed to reaching out to business peers and community contacts to ask how we may assist them in developing their respective business opportunities, and to extend an invitation to join them in investing in our Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. For more information about the Campaign for Kitsap and how to join, go to www.campaign4kitsap.com.
Our annual meeting also presented an opportunity for our Alliance to honor local leaders who have devoted an extra measure of their time and expertise to strengthening our economy and community. Those honored as Economic Development Champions included:
— Congressman Derek Kilmer, 6th District, was feted as a Public Sector Economic Development Champion for his dedicated ongoing support of Kitsap businesses demonstrated by the fact that he frequently conducts on-site visits ("Kilmer at your company”) to learn first-hand about the needs and successes of local business leaders.
— Julie Tappero, president of West Sound Workforce, who has been a long-time KEDA board member and advocate for employment at all level was honored as a Private Sector Economic Development Champion. Julie has supported training programs in 21st Century skills and become the go-to expert on emerging trends in employment. She has demonstrated dogged engagement in marrying workforce and economic development, and her team at West Sound Workforce has successfully placed over 6,000 workers in career opportunities since opening her employment and staffing firm over a decade ago.
— Dona and Charles Keating, founders of West Sound Technology Association, the first formal organization to foster a vibrant technology sector in greater Kitsap, were recognized as “Industry Champions.” WSTA has since evolved; today, it is concentrating on advancing the dynamic, innovative “CoderDojo” program, designed to inspire and support STEM students, who will become tomorrow’s innovation/technology workforce.
Finally, Dr. David Mitchell, president of Olympic College, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his longtime collaboration with business leaders in creating relevant academic programs that prepare young people and those who are changing direction in midlife. His unflagging leadership brought WSU and WWU to Kitsap as part of their 2+2 programs.
Here’s to our economic development champions – here’s to them all!
On Kitsap!
By: John Powers
Source: Kitsap Sun