A Journey to Create Something Greater

Transcription

1 20 17 A Journey to Create Something Greater annual report GSI Annual Report 1

2 content our leaders... 3 our purpose...4 our foundation...5 escape entertainment...6 startup... 7 next it...8 expand...9 our leaders flexhibit retain...11 bumblebar recruit...13 communities in schools investors/staff board What an awesome year. From the launch of our Greater Minds initiative to Fairchild s announced expansion, our region is making strides. Thanks to our members and great business partners, our community continues to shine and our businesses thrive. We re proud to have you at the table, and we thank you for making it happen. While we have a lot to be proud of this past year, it s important to continue to refine our efforts and stay steady. We understand that businesses compete with everyone, everywhere, every day. And with a world that s changing and shifting, it s important to adapt and know where you re going to need to pivot. One of the great ways our community makes this happen is through strong partnerships and collaboration. That s a strong skill set for this community. We re not just taking the next step, we re envisioning the entire staircase and then building it with you. Whether it s creating a life sciences hub, driving programs that help fill the talent gap, or ensuring that we have a strong and stable Air Force Base, we re all in it together creating something greater. As we look to the coming year, we look forward to the opportunities it brings to support your business and build our economy. The future is ours to create. Todd Mielke, CEO Alisha Benson, COO Create Something Greater The Spokane region s next generation business development organization GreaterSpokane.org 801 W Riverside Ave Suite 100 Spokane WA GSI Annual Report 3

3 our purpose our foundation Mission We lead transformative business and community initiatives to build a robust regional economy ACHIEVE Education grows economies. Talent is the key to a successful business and thriving economy. Building the talent pipeline is about more than putting youth through our early learning, K-12 and higher education institutions. It's about creating partnerships between business and education and creating a pool of skilled individuals who drive innovation and productivity to meet the needs of employers. Vision A vibrant Spokane region where businesses and communities thrive Values Collaboration We are inclusive and welcome a diversity of perspectives that reflect the aspirations of our community. Innovation We are resourceful and creative and strive for intentional progress in all that we do. ADVOCATE A supportive business environment is critical for businesses to succeed and thrive. It takes year-round work, true grit and real community collaboration to advance a vision for our region and create policies that support business growth. We re here to convene, we re here to listen, and we re here to back your business. BUILD Businesses rely on adequate transportation options, financing, available land, and sites to thrive. Infrastructure is necessary to meet the needs of an expanding economy, fuel the growth of commerce, and grow jobs. We work year-round to support the funding of critical infrastructure and provide business assistance to companies with transportation and infrastructure needs. Respect We foster mutually respectful relationships between members, our partners, and the community GSI Annual Report 5

4 what we did LAUNCHED LUNCH & LEARN WORKSHOP SERIES CONNECTING STARTUPS & SMALL BUSINESSES TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS SPOKANE STEM 40+ NETWORK CONNECTED partners TO STUDENTS, TEACHERS PARENTS, BUSINESSES & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Story 1 kristin & jerry Provided intensive, individualized coaching to SIX local startups Visit GreaterSpokane.org/annual-report to view the entire Report. Startup Spokane worked 200 with more than entrepreneurs helping to further develop viable businesses STEM SPARKS INNOVATIVE THINKING WHILE CONNECTING IN-DEMAND CAREERS TO LEARNING startup Turning a passion into a career strikes a chord deep inside each of us. It speaks to our abilities to solve problems and puzzles while fueling that creative and independent spark. Escape Entertainment s owner, Jerry Jensen, is able to live that out every day at his business and he gets to watch his customers solve problems of their own within their 60-minute timeframe. Jerry and his business partner, Kristin Jensen, opened the first escape room location in Spokane in July Inspiration struck when he visited an escape room in Vancouver, Canada, and fell in love with the idea of bringing it to his hometown. Escape rooms are real-life puzzle games, filled with random objects that interact with each other. Groups must make all parts of the puzzle work together in order to escape the room. Jerry and Kristin handle the creative side of the business and, together, come up with all of the unique scenarios and puzzles for their rooms. Kristin also manages the day-to-day operations of the business. While Escape Entertainment now has 11 rooms across three locations in Spokane, the first several months weren t easy. It was 2.5 months before we averaged one group per day, Jerry said. Those rough times have passed, however, with more than 1,000 groups having experienced an escape room in our region. At their newest location in Spokane Valley, Jerry says 198 groups have come through their doors since May of this year. Whether in an antique store or sitting at home, Kristin says inspiration for creating new rooms is found all around. The everyday objects surrounding us sometimes make for the most difficult puzzles. Only around percent of their groups successfully escape from their room, which is the ideal success rate to keep the venue challenging for everyone. Both Jerry and Kristin grew up in Spokane, and are excited to bring a new entertainment venue to our region. They credit our region for embracing both the fun and teambuilding aspects of the business, which encourages them to innovate and find new puzzles for each location. We want to keep moving forward to make our experiences better each time you visit, Jerry said. Member: Escape Entertainment why it matters All businesses have a beginning. Whether they start in a garage, college dorm room, or in a co-working space, each has a story to tell. Spokane s business community thrives on partnerships, connections, and new ideas. These creative minds bring new life to our economy and communities and add to the local flavor of our region. Startup Spokane, GSI s entrepreneurship program, supports startups throughout their early days, helping them launch and grow new businesses. This past year, Startup Spokane worked with more than 200 entrepreneurs, and created more than 70 jobs in our community. Supported by a bevy of events and consistent outreach, the program continues to make an impact on entrepreneurial growth throughout our region. By helping your business get its feet off the ground, Spokane continues to grow and develop. Your new business may be the next disruptor, redefining your industry for decades to come, changing lives along the way. While there are many organizations in our community supporting the success of entrepreneurs, Startup Spokane has a unique position as the first stop to entrepreneurship assistance and resources. The program brings together expertise of professionals and blends it with the energy of entrepreneurs, reaching 2,200 entrepreneurs, service providers, and mentors through dozens of events. Being a part of that knowledge network develops, expands, and supports startup activity in all industries. It s an exciting time to be in Spokane, creating greater opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups that redefine our world GSI Annual Report 7

5 what we did SPOKANE AG EXPO & PACIFIC NW FARM FORUM ANNUAL SHOW CREATED $10M IN ECONOMIC IMPACT 66 ASSISTED 2,700 COMPANIES with government contracting opportunities WERE AWARDED MORE THAN $49.7M Story 1 our human team Located in Spokane Valley, Next IT is developing conversational artificial intelligence (AI), making digital interactions simpler. Their AI makes using technology more natural and meaningful for customers and employees of the Global 5000, a database representing 76 percent of worldwide GDP. The company s first foray into AI was with Sgt. Star, deployed by the U.S. Army in 2006 and averaged 1,550 questions per day a few years ago. Altogether, that makes for less work for in-person recruiters, and helps the Army s recruiting operation run more smoothly. Other notable deployments of Next IT s technology include: Amtrak, Alaska Air, Dell, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Merrill Lynch, and others. We aspire to have people say, Wow, that really helped me, Next IT President Tracy Malingo said. People want personalized, high-touch experiences, where someone or something is willing to act on their behalf and really take care of them. The catch is they want it on their terms. Next IT is attracting employees both here in Spokane and from other locations around the U.S. Experienced professionals seeking to continue working in tech, but also wanting a lifestyle that can t be achieved in larger cities like San Jose, Seattle, or Portland. Adding to the value of hiring locally, four Spokane-area universities have strong computer sciences and liberal arts programs. We recruit both focuses heavily, to create human-emulated AI experiences, as it requires a balance of science and art, Tracy said. While today s market for AI applications is growing, the technology isn t new. In fact, AI has been around for more than 40 years. Next IT is diligently working to educate companies on what it takes to deliver a conversational AI system. They are also working on helping business users and strategic partners to design, develop and deploy their own system using Next IT technology. It s a landmark moment for Next IT and the industry as a whole, Tracy said. We re changing the conversational AI game. Member: Next IT business afterschool program connected 255 local middle & high school students with 110 business professionals Visit GreaterSpokane.org/annual-report to view the entire Report. why it matters Employers need a supportive business climate to succeed and grow. As businesses expand, our economy is fueled and more employment opportunities arise. This leads to a better quality of life for everyone. Whether it s working on changing regulatory issues that hamper business and job growth, addressing key education and talent issues, or providing professional development and education opportunities, the success of your business is dependent on an environment that keeps you moving forward. It s essential for our region s businesses to continue their growth. One of the most important keys to business success is having skilled and qualified talent. With a talent shortage looming in the future, GSI set its sights on filling the gap by focusing on education attainment. Greater Minds, GSI s education attainment initiative, launched this year as an avenue to help employers and adult workers return to school to finish their degree or earn a high quality certificate. JANUARY Launched GREATER MINDS education attainment initiative SUPPORTED 34 for working adults local companies with INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROJECTS expand Doing business beyond the U.S. is another key component for many businesses to continue their growth. GSI s international trade program worked with 34 companies in their pursuit of international trade opportunities, opening doors for innovation and new product lines. This will help open new revenue streams for businesses throughout our region. Whether you learned new ways to do business overseas, participated in our Greater Minds initiative, or received new contracts through the government, your business has an advocate for success GSI Annual Report 9

6 what we did Advocacy efforts landed additional KC-135 tankers for Fairchild DEFEATED 20% BUSINESS & OCCUPATION TAX SURCHARGE Based in Spokane, Flexhibit designs and manufactures exhibits for science centers, museums and schools across the world. And it all started with orangutans. Coleen Quisenberry, owner of Quisenberry Marketing, worked on a project for the San Diego Zoo, where orangutans could interact with kiosks. It proved to be successful enough for her to see other opportunities for exhibits. Flexhibit was born soon after, and currently operates alongside Quisenberry Marketing. Most of the exhibits created by Flexhibit focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), as well as physical sciences, and are in museums across the world from Malaysia to Milwaukee. From circuit benches to air rockets, Bernoulli tables to shake tables, Coleen s company has created a wide range of interactive platforms that can fit almost any location. The modular system used by Flexhibit allows centers to reset their floor throughout the year and keep things fresh for return visitors. Rather than buying expensive traveling exhibits to Story 1 coleen bolster attendance, centers can buy a series of Flexhibit products and rotate them on a regular basis. Coleen, who has three sons of her own, said she saw a difference in how they learned, when using a hands-on display vs. traditional exhibits. She also wanted to create a durable and versatile product that was appealing to all age groups. Her goal was to find a way to entertain and educate children, regardless of their age. It s fun to watch the different age groups to see how they play and learn together, she said. Manufacturing museum exhibits is just one part of the company s operation. Flexhibit is making a splash with its new STEM carts, the first of which recently deployed to Mead School District. These carts are scaled down, mobile versions of Flexhibit s products, specifically meant for educators. Coleen expects it will open new doors for the company, especially in the Spokane area. Member: Flexhibit The National Governors association recognized business afterschool as a Best Practice Visit GreaterSpokane.org/annual-report to view the entire Report. why it matters For our region to be successful, Spokane needs to be a place where employers want to stay and thrive. It all starts by creating a healthier business climate that creates opportunities and removes obstacles. Sometimes this involves advocating for business-friendly legislation, or helping resolve workforce and talent issues. Proposals like a 20 percent Business & Occupation Tax surcharge, as well as a capital gains tax, would hurt the ability of businesses to remain in our region. A number of jobs were created by the Affordable Care Act, as was affordable access to health care for many of our region s employees. Advocacy efforts prevented disruption or harm to the health care delivery system. GSI works to retain businesses across the region that may be facing difficult challenges or who may be looking to relocate to other areas across the U.S. Fairchild Air Force Base is one of ADVOCATED TO PROTECT JOBS CREATED BY AFFORDABLE CARE ACT Promoted Fairchild as the refueling center for excellence retain those organizations, who over the years has been faced with the possibility of downsizing or closure. Fairchild is our region s largest single-site employer. Advocacy efforts this year will make the tanker base the largest in the U.S. by GSI s Teaching the Teachers program connects teachers with current trends and skills employers need. The program allows educators to develop new curriculum materials and engage in a more impactful way with students throughout our region, ultimately retaining our students to be hired by local businesses. Our workshops highlighted more than 15 different career paths in our largest industry sectors GSI Annual Report 11

7 what we did ASSISTED COMPANIES WITH RECRUITMENT, EXPANSION & RETENTION EFFORTS RESULTING IN 506 health DIRECT JOBS! annual economic $243M impact of to the SpokanE region care legislative efforts produced glenn & liz One glance at Liz Ward s test kitchen at BumbleBar, and it s obvious that she has a passion for making healthy, sustainable foods. Surrounded by spices, seasonings, family photos and an endless supply of all natural goodness, Liz created the original BumbleBar recipe and continues to innovate new flavors and products for the company as its Founder and Co-CEO. More than two decades ago, BumbleBar s inaugural product was the first organic energy bar to hit the market. Along with her husband and Co-CEO Glenn Ward, Liz works to further the company s mission of sustainable, healthy food products. With a growing team of 30 employees, SQF certification, and a new warehouse to expand their mission as a respected co-packager, BumbleBar is a 100% privately-owned company without outside capital. It s a big step from their humble beginnings in a 300-square-foot kitchen. Whole food is all about wellness, and one of our values is to be a light, especially in the times we live in right now, Glenn said. Our business is a light unto the entire community, and the larger we get the more we re going to shine a light on health and wellbeing and hopefully make an impact. Working as a co-packager with numerous top brands throughout the nation has positively impacted BumbleBar over the last several years. The success of their partnerships recently enabled BumbleBar to pursue rapid expansion at their new warehouse. Now in its third decade of business, BumbleBar is in the midst of its largest change yet: rebranding as PurposePack. This new branding will allow BumbleBar to offer a catalogue of private label opportunities for products like Protein Puck, Coffee Bar and Picky Bar to continue thriving with support from PurposePack s manufacturing capabilities and industry experience. Advocated for multiple Transportation Projects our community received $75M for continued work on the NORTH SPOKANE CORRIDOR Visit GreaterSpokane.org/annual-report to view the entire Report. why it matters The Spokane region is pretty great. There are many businesses and people wanting to move here they just don t know it yet! That s where marketing and attraction efforts come into play, letting specific companies know why doing business in Spokane is a good thing. Businesses like Capital Insurance Group, Smart Recruiters, PayTrace, NW Outdoors, Chronic Tacos, Boot Barn, and Clark s Fork all learned how good Spokane is, and opened their doors this past year. They re adding to local flavor and making our region more diverse. When businesses consider Spokane, they look at many factors including shipping time and commute time. The completion of the North Spokane Corridor and other mass transit projects will positively impact our region, opening doors of opportunity for businesses to locate here. 2,100 Connected with businesses in the aerospace & advanced manufacturing industries $10 M for medical education for the Elson S.Floyd College of Medicine at WSU Health Sciences Spokane $5M for the University of Washington School of Medicine/ Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership recruit This year, 120 medical students began studying in Spokane at our two new medical schools. They are a key element in transforming our community into a health care and life sciences hub, which has the ability to transform our local economy. Not only will these students help address a physician shortage throughout our region, but they re a key element in GSI s VISION 2030 initiative, creating an annual economic impact of more than $1.7 billion and more than 9,000 jobs for our region by Continuing to recruit businesses to Spokane takes time, but by working together, our community has a bright future. VISION 2030 s goal is well underway, and the opportunities it will create for research & development, commercialization, the recruitment of new companies and more, have never been more exciting! Member: BumbleBar GSI Annual Report 13

8 Story 1 Spokane County has a higher percentage of homeless students in its population than King County. For 3,500 students in the county living with homelessness, Communities in Schools (CIS) is a source of empowerment and encouragement. The program currently helps 600 students facing homelessness throughout our county and has site coordinators in Spokane Public Schools, Medical Lake School District, and Cheney School District. It does so without any federal, state, county, or city grants. Their goal is to change the picture of education for students by keeping kids in school, eliminating barriers for success, and never giving up on anyone. CIS services go beyond the classroom, and encourage success in life skills, family engagement, physical health, and more. The mission of the organization is simple, for Executive Director Chuck Teegarden. If we re not taking care of our children, we re not taking care of our future, said Chuck. CIS has the largest mentoring program in Spokane County, with 370 mentors last year. This school year, they re aiming to have 500 mentors, and the results speak for themselves. chuck By offering hope through their mentor program, and encouraging success, at least 80 percent of students with mentors improve their math and reading scores. Mentors are located in school districts throughout Spokane County. Beyond classroom encouragement, CIS partners with Second Harvest Food Bank and HRC Ministries to provide students with a regular food source throughout the year. Last year, 92,000 food items were distributed from pantries located in each CIS school. Summers prove to be difficult for education organizations, as many students don t get enough to eat, depending on their living situation. Chuck points out that while some non-profit organizations similar to CIS plan to exist for the long-term, he envisions a world where CIS isn t needed. He hopes that one day, Spokane will be in a position where the region won t need its services. We re not here because we see ourselves as a long-term proposition, he said. Member: Communities in Schools Top Level Investors Regional Visionaries Avista City of Spokane City of Spokane Valley Cowles Company MultiCare Health System Providence Health Care Spokane County Washington State Department of Commerce Washington Trust Bank Community Leaders Itron Kalispel Tribe of Indians Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories Umpqua Bank Chairman s Circle Bank of America Banner Bank BECU Bouten Construction Central Pre-Mix Concrete Co CenturyLink City of Liberty Lake Garco Construction Gonzaga University Inland Power KXLY Broadcast Group Lydig Construction Moss Adams Northwest Farm Credit Services Numerica Credit Union Pearson Packaging Systems Premera Blue Cross Red Lion Hotels Corporation Spokane International Airport STCU University of Washington School of Medicine URM Stores U.S. Bank Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane Wells Fargo Bank Whitworth University President s Club Aero-Flite ALTEK Asuris Northwest Health City of Cheney DAA Northwest Davenport Hotels DoubleTree by Hilton Spokane City Center Eide Bailly Graham Construction and Management Inland Empire Paper Co Inland Northwest Health Services Iron Bridge Office Campus Jubilant HollisterStier Kaiser Aluminum Kiemle & Hagood Company NAI Black Rosauers Supermarkets Spokane Transit Authority Sysco Spokane Telect Wagstaff Walmart Market Office Witherspoon Kelley Greater Spokane Incorporated Staff Our staff make it happen and all share a passion for creating good things in our community that impact the success of your business and our economy. Todd Mielke, Chief Executive Officer Alisha Benson, Chief Operations Officer Jan King, Executive Assistant Jennifer Isaacson, V.P. of Finance & Administration Toni Atwood, Administrative Services Manager Ashley Jaquez, Accounting Coordinator Maria Vandervert, V.P. of Marketing & Communications Tammy Pruitt, Creative Marketing Manager James Eik, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Erik Poulsen, Government & Regulatory Affairs Director Robin Toth, V.P. of Business Development Stan Key, Manufacturing Industry Manager Other 1% Public Funding & Grants 31% Revenue Sources Events 19% Membership 49% Drew Repp, International Trade & Economic Development Manager Jessica Kirk, Eastern Washington PTAC Manager Megan Hulsey, Entrepreneur Program Manager April Needham, Interim Entrepreneur Program Manager Aleesha Brock, Economic Development Intern Stacia Rasmussen, Vision 2030 Business Development Manager Ryan Rodin, Business Development Project Manager Meg Lindsay, Director Education & Workforce, Executive Director, Spokane STEM Jodi Strote, Education Attainment Navigator Krystal Jaeger, Education & Workforce Program Manager Professional Products & Services 30% Members by industry Personal Products & Services 12% Other 6% Financial Services, Insurance, Real Estate 14% Health Care 7% Infrastructure 11% Government & Education 7% Manufacturing 6% Non-profit, Associations & Churches 7% Cassidy Baumgartner, Education & Workforce Coordinator Jamie Dedmon, V.P. of Investor Relations Heather Hamlin, Investor Relations Director Jared Tawney, Membership Account Manager Melisa Paul, Membership Account Manager Geneva Johns-Kloor, Investor Relations Coordinator Lisa Bridston, Events & Program Director Carsen Quinnett, Events & Program Manager Myrna O Leary, Agribusiness Council Manager, Director of Ag Expo Nancy Vanni, Receptionist Members By Location Other 4% Liberty Lake 2% West Plains 6% Valley 18% Southside 7% Northside 16% Regional 4% Downtown 43% GSI Annual Report 15

9 Create Something Greater BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chair Jack Heath Washington Trust Bank Chair-Elect Tom Johnson STCU Immediate Past Chair Larry Soehren Kiemle & Hagood Company General Counsel Bill Symmes Witherspoon Kelley Treasurer Carla Altepeter Numerica Credit Union Jay Allert Aslin-Finch Company Barry Baker Baker Construction & Development Inc Tom Barbieri Goodale & Barbieri Company David Black NAI Black Bill Bouten Bouten Construction Clark Brekke Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest Nadine Burgess Spokane Gymnastics Brady Cass Asuris Northwest Health Dr. Ana Mari Cauce University of Washington Mayor David Condon* City of Spokane Elaine Couture Providence Health Care W. Stacey Cowles The Spokesman Review Dr. Mary Cullinan Eastern Washington University Dr. Daryll DeWald WSU Health Sciences Spokane Marty Dickinson Umpqua Bank Scott Dietzen CliftonLarsonAllen Steve Duvoisin Inland Imaging Kyle England Kaiser Aluminum Commissioner Al French* Spokane County Brad Gile Caterpillar Inc Rustin Hall ALSC Architects Phil Haugen Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority Steve Hauschild BECU Michelle Hege DH Chris Henjum Hydrafab Northwest Inc Mayor Rod Higgins* City of Spokane Valley Chad Jensen Inland Power Dr. Christine Johnson Community Colleges of Spokane Doug Kelley* Avista Otto Klein Larry Krauter Spokane Indians Baseball Spokane Longball Inc International Airport Tyler Lafferty Seven2 Russell Lee Inland Northwest Bank Regina Malveaux YWCA of Spokane Dr. Thayne McCulloh Gonzaga University Andrew McDirmid Eide Bailly LLP Patricia McRae KHQ TV Sharelynn Moore Itron Inc Marcelo Morales A4Ventures Scott Morris Avista Dr. David O Brien MultiCare Health System Shelly O Quinn Inland Northwest Community Foundation Kevin Person Wagstaff Inc Mayor Steve Peterson* City of Liberty Lake Jeff Philipps Rosauers Supermarkets Inc Paul Read Journal of Business Dr. Shelley Redinger Spokane Public Schools Greg Repetti (2017)* Valley Hospital * Ex Officio Col. Ryan Samuelson* Fairchild Air Force Base John Shogren Central Pre-Mix Concrete Co Dale Silha McKinstry Company Harry Sladich Red Lion Hotels Corporation Ben Small Central Valley School District Kelly Stanford Columbia Medical Associates Dr. Beck Taylor Whitworth University Don Ting Pyrotek Inc As of 9/12/2017 Mayor Tom Trulove* City of Cheney Kevin Twohig* Spokane Public Facilities District (PFD) Linda Underwood U.S. Bank Christine Varela* DH Dr. Francisco R. Velázquez Individual Kurt Walsdorf Bank of America Clancy Welsh Garco Construction Inc Erica Young (2018)* Anderson Peretti & Co CPAs PS