We interrupt this scheduled programming to bring you...




...a break (in the glass ceiling)!






 

This Monday, March 8 marks International Women's Day, which is the perfect time to host to the Chamber's largest virtual event yet: the Women Who Mean Business Symposium featuring for the first time, the Annual Iris Awards.


Women Who Mean Business Symposium
Not only will the Chamber's day-long symposium feature speakers who will address how women can support each other up the leadership ladder and presentations.  Our guests can expect a  keynote and presentations that promote women advocating for peers advancing in an multi-generational workplace.
 

The Symposium event will also include a panel of four bold and powerful voices in our community, including:

• Moderator, Jennifer Coyne, Co-Founder of The Peak Fleet
• Panelist, Dr. Karin Edwards, President of Clark College
• Panelist, Shawn Donaghy, CEO of C-Tran
• Panelist, John Bork, Founder/CEO of WellHaven Pet Health
• Panelist, Heather Nelson, SPHR, SHRM-SCP PGE

The Women Who Mean Business Symposium is sponsored by Salsbury & Co., WellHaven Pet Health, HAPO Community Credit Union, Columbia Credit Union, KeyBank, The Columbian, iQ Credit Union, and ilani.

RSVP to attend the Symposium, which gives you access to the Iris Awards, here.


2021 Iris Awards
It is an honor for the Greater Vancouver Chamber to host the 34th Annual Iris Awards for the first time. Together with community partners and historical representation, we look forward to over two-hundred guests on our new virtual platform, immediately following the Women Who Mean Business Symposium. RSVP Here for the Iris Awards, only.

Get ready to celebrate the following nominees, as five will be chosen as the 2021 Iris Award Recipients:

• Bonnie Brasure, Bleu Door Bakery 
• Colleen Boccia, Columbia Credit Union 
• Cyndi Holloway, Waste Connections 
• Dee Sanders, Share 
• Erin Lambley, Landerholm 
• Esther Liu, LSW Architects 
• Jennifer Rhoads, Community Foundation of SW Washington 
• Kara Fox-LaRose, ilani 
• Lisa Dow, Columbia Bank 
• Lynda Wilson, WA State Senate 
• Mavis Nickels, Retired 
• Tracey Malone, Halbert Construction Services 

The 2021 Iris Awards are sponsored by Clark College, KeyBank, Legacy Health, Columbia Bank, and Vancouver Clinic.



Register to attend at: VancouverUSA.com/WomenInLeadership

 

ALERT: 2021 Legislative Session Update
During the pandemic and looking at a long road to recovery it would be best to be certain new legislation doesn’t do more harm to our businesses than they are already dealing with.. Let your State Senators know where you stand on this proposed bill:
 

• SB 5096 – Would introduce a capital gains tax to Washington for the first time, imposing a tax on gains realized on the sale of any capital asset.
  • According to the Association of Washington Business, “ The state Senate is moving toward a possible vote on a capital-gains tax bill tomorrow, despite the lack of need for additional tax revenue. The Seattle Times noted the legislation is “oddly” being rushed to a floor vote ahead of what’s expected to be another positive revenue forecast. If that’s the case, it would further reinforce that new taxes aren’t needed to balance the budget. Backers of the tax say it will help make Washington’s tax structure fairer, but it’s worth noting that lawmakers aren’t discussing commensurate tax cuts. This would simply be an additional tax on Washingtonians.
• E2SSB 5022 – Having already passed the Senate, this bill to reduce the use of polystyrene in food service ware and plastic packaging, the bill is now in the House and scheduled for a hearing on March 11.
  • While taking a “pragmatic step toward improving plastics recycling and reducing waste,” according to research by the AWB, there is a provision in the bill that “Unfortunately...puts local jobs at risk and will likely drive up costs for small, mom and pop restaurants at a time when every penny counts.”
• POLL: Little support for new taxes - A poll conducted in early February for Opportunity Washington, found:
  • only 19% of voters support raising taxes right now to pay for additional public services. That’s a decline from 2018 when a similar poll found 22% would support higher taxes to fund additional services.
  • Nearly three out of four voters identified economic recovery as a serious issue (73%), followed by jobs and the economy (68%), and COVID-19 (64%).
  • Two-thirds of voters (64%) said now is a better time to reduce taxes to ensure businesses can survive the pandemic. Only 20% said now is the time to raise taxes to fund public services.
  • The poll of 800 registered voters was conducted by DHM Research from Feb. 3-7. It has a 3.5% margin of error.

And with that, back to business: We hope to see you all, virtually, on Monday for the Chamber's Women Who Mean Business Symposium!


John McDonagh
President/CEO
Greater Vancouver Chamber
VancouverUSA.com/WomenInLeadership