Opinion

Noncompetes are going away. Is your business ready?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Washington state has banned noncompetition agreements effective about a year from now, and businesses need to start preparing now.

On the road to inspire the next generation of builders

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400

This October, AWB will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the bus tour, visiting manufacturing and training facilities across the state over six days. In May, we kicked off these celebrations early, helping support three student-focused events in Spokane, Everett and Tri-Cities that engaged 300 K-12 students.

Why community conversation still matters

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400

In an era when public conversation often feels fractured, hurried or reduced to sound bites, genuine community dialogue has never been more essential.

As an AI tech-hub, Washington must lead with conscience

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

From Seattle to Spokane, the state of Washington has been a leader in cutting-edge technology. Today, technological advances focus on artificial intelligence.

The electric grid tradeoffs Washington can’t ignore

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The debate over salmon recovery and hydropower in the Northwest has shifted into a broader fight over grid reliability and cost, with critics arguing that reducing hydropower without reliable replacements risks worsening already strained electricity supply and sharply increasing prices for customers.

Washington employers are looking for the next exit

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

AWB’s spring employer survey of more than 400 employers found that 24% of respondents are now considering moving their business out of Washington, up from 17% last quarter and nearly triple what we found in our winter 2025 survey just 16 months ago.

Return to the terminal or exit the airport?

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:18 -0400

Here’s the reality: No one can make that choice for you. In every challenge, both signs are visible.

Want equal pay, protection from harassment? Put more women in leadership

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

More women in leadership is our best hope to close the wage gap and hold corporations and government accountable when our rights are violated.

Two words employers deserve to hear more often: thank you

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

It’s worth saying thank you to our business community. We should tell them more often.

Future data centers offer promise but also pressures

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

With abundant land, affordable clean power and an experienced talent pool, the Tri-Cities can become the nation’s premier digital infrastructure hub. But the real opportunity lies in getting the balance right and pairing rapid growth with environmental responsibility, sound energy planning and meaningful returns for local communities.

Will businesses really leave? That’s the wrong question

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

A new survey from the Association of Washington Business finds 44% of Washington employers are considering moving their personal residence out of state, with more also exploring relocating their businesses. As lawmakers debate new taxes in Olympia, the findings underscore rising anxiety about Washington’s economic competitiveness.

WA faces construction job shortage, not skilled labor gap

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

Over and over, we hear there is a “skilled labor shortage” in construction, and that we simply don’t have enough skilled workers to meet demand. But we see a very different reality every day as the people who train and represent this workforce.

Longtime Journal columnist signs off after 10-year run

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

For more than 10 years, I have drafted and submitted a monthly column for the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. Every month. That’s equaled more than 120 columns. This will be my final installment.

This is a wellness issue employers can’t ignore

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

Menopause is a natural stage of life that affects millions of working women, yet it often remains overlooked in workplace wellness efforts. As organizations expand their focus on mental health, flexibility- and whole-person well-being, menopause deserves to be part of that conversation, not as a private issue, but as a workplace support need that can directly impact performance, engagement and retention.

Increase your capacity to do more with less

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:56:12 -0400

Here are seven areas to tap into to increase your capacity to do more without burning out.

More financial pain on horizon for state’s forgotten constituency

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Most elected officials have no idea what it’s like to risk everything you have or to struggle to meet payroll for your employees and their families as waves of new taxes, fees and regulations threaten to drown you and your business.

Washington’s competitive edge is eroding

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Washington has long been a high-cost state for employers, but new data show the state is increasingly losing its competitive edge in key areas.

How to build your own personal board of directors

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Just like an organization has a board of directors to guide it, you too can create your own personal board of directors to guide and encourage you.

Thinking about moving out of state to avoid Washington taxes?

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Do Washington state taxes get you thinking of moving away?

Resolve is important in a year of rising costs, uncertainties

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Across the Tri-Cities, there is shared recognition that the path forward is less predictable than in years past, but also a determination to adapt and endure.

U.S. manufacturing push faces shortage of skilled workers, electricity

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

In the race to reshore manufacturing and stay ahead of foreign competition, America needs an abundance of added skilled workers and electricity sources.

Washington needs a pro-growth economic agenda

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

As lawmakers go about their work this session, let’s hope they understand that they can’t make Washington more affordable by making it more expensive.

Identifying compensation challenges during ownership transition

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

As businesses grow and mature, compensation strategies often become complex, especially when new owners join or founders plan to step back.

State of regional economy is a mixed bag at start of year

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

This column’s summary of the region’s key economic factors is a mixed bag. My hunch is that a read of the 2026 greater Tri-Cities economy is likely to retain this ambivalence.

Consider these 16 daily success habits for 2026

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:35:49 -0500

As you begin 2026, what new routines do you want to incorporate?

Gratitude and giving help to shape exceptional leadership