Editor's note: Scott Shafer, founder/publisher of South King Media, serves on the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
The Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce's 2024 PNW Education and Workforce Summit – held on Thursday morning, April 25, 2023 – will bring together experts, industry leaders, business owners, students, and community members to bring together the 2024 PNW Education and Workforce Summit from School to Work. We gained insight into the situation of commuting to school. Our regional pipeline.
The breakfast event was held at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent and featured speakers and panel discussions.
Here is the list of speakers and panel experts:
- Robert Livingston, Chairman of HomeStreet Bank and Success Foundation
- Welcome remarks from Kent City Mayor Dana Ralph
- Keynote speech by Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal
- Panel discussion on the school-to-work pipeline. Arlen Harris, Legislative Director for the Washington State Commission on Community and Vocational Schools, moderated the meeting, which included the following:
- Highline Public Schools, Juan Lozano – PSSC Principal
- Dr. Consy Pedroza, Superintendent, Tukwila Public Schools
- Gabriel Bachmeyer, Dean of Workforce Partnerships and Extended Learning, High Line University
- Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Panel discussion on “Sowing Seeds for Success: Developing the Next Generation of Talent through Mentorship.” The event was moderated by Samantha Lee, Executive Director of the Success Foundation, and included the following:
- VMFH, Deepak Devasthari, COO
- BECU, Rafael Saucedo, Charity Program Manager
- Day Laney Miller, Foster High School student
- Raisbeck high school student Tram-Anh Troung
- Panel discussion on workforce empowerment moderated by Annie McGrath, CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber:
- Port of Seattle Leslie Horton, Aviation Workforce Development Program Manager
- Makenzie Hertogs, Talent Acquisition Outreach Program Manager, Alaska Airlines
- Comcast, Terry Davis, Senior Director of Government Affairs
- Career Connect Washington, Angie Mason-Smith, Program Director – Washington STEM
- Closing remarks from Highline College Foundation Vice President Josh Gerstman.
video
Below is an edited video of the event shot by Scott Schaefer (1 hour and 45 minutes running time).
Learn more about the Seattle Southside Chamber.
