Opinion

Give feedback that moves people forward

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:49:00 -0400

Feedback can be uncomfortable whether we’re giving it or receiving it. But here’s the reality: Without feedback, growth stalls.

WA Business Week inspires generations of innovators

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Washington Business Week celebrates 50 years of inspiring high school students to think like entrepreneurs while giving business leaders opportunities to mentor, connect and learn from the next generation.

Washington must move quickly to regulate AI

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400

We’re entering a new world of cyberattacks, and Washington isn’t ready.

Celebrating Washington’s hidden makers

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Statewide bus tour highlights the small- and medium-sized manufacturers housed inside nondescript buildings where most of the people who drive by every day have no idea what’s going on inside.

A retirement test drive can help you prepare

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Test driving potential long-term commitments before retirement gives you time to determine what you truly enjoy, adjust your plans and explore other passions.

Choosing a retirement advisor? Know what to ask

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Everyone’s situation is unique, but comparing advisors and firms can help you understand what options and tools are available to you.

Diversify small business risk through retirement planning

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Hedging against weaknesses and threats — both known and unknown — helps solidify your long-term financial foundation. Saving for retirement independent of the value of your business is one way you can begin diversifying and safeguarding yourself from business risk.

Spokane fire recovery can serve as model

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:45:29 -0400

The immediate response has been swift. The rebuilding process should move with the same urgency.

Courageous decision-making means pulling the trigger

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:19:14 -0400

Courageous decision-making doesn’t mean eliminating fear. It means refusing to let fear make the decision for you.

Will Washington’s income tax be gone before we pay it?

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Since Washington adopted its new income tax in March, the law has continued to generate intense debate. Yet with a constitutional challenge pending and a repeal measure headed to voters, many are asking a simple question: Will anyone ever pay it?

The liquidity blind spot business owners often overlook

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Liquidity planning for business owners should begin well before any business sale transaction is considered. Unfortunately, for many business owners, the first time they think about building accessible liquidity is when an offer is being made to purchase their business, or a life event occurs that forces a change of ownership.

Consider these strategies to pursue more stable investing in AI

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 -0400

AI has dominated economic headlines for several years now, but investing in the transformative potential of AI can still seem a murky area to investors who want to catch the wave of opportunities evoked by those headlines.

Washington needs a plan to grow the economy

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Employers are becoming more pessimistic about the state economy and increasingly looking outside Washington to expand. At this pivotal moment, Washington needs a long-term economic development plan that gives employers the confidence to invest, grow and build their future here.

Don’t let your incapacity incapacitate your business

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Small business owners should think beyond their individual needs and consider whether they should make specific arrangements to ensure that their incapacity doesn’t incapacitate their business.

What great team leaders do differently

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Leadership isn’t just about directing people. It’s about building a team that accomplishes more together than any individual could accomplish alone.

A call to accelerate Hanford cleanup now

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400

For the first time in years, we have a realistic opportunity to move much faster, without sacrificing safety or effectiveness. The only unacceptable option now is inaction.

As America turns 250, contest renews focus on civics awareness

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400

In a milestone year for American democracy, the National Civics Bee is encouraging students nationwide to understand how government – and citizenship – really works. It’s a good lesson for all us.

You can’t control the economy, but you can control this

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The economy will keep doing what economies do. It will surprise you and worry you, and that’s not going to change. What can change is how prepared you are when it does.

Who needs an attorney when you’ve got AI?

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Be careful what you ask AI, because what you ask and what AI answers may come back to bite you later.

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.