2010 Globe Awards Dinner & Auction

Reserve your spot for this evening event celebrating international business achievements, including the presentation of the Chamber’s 22nd annual George Francis Train International Business Award.

About the G.F. Train International Business Award:
The award commemorates George Francis Train, a legendary Boston Yankee who had a special place in his heart for Tacoma. Train was the most prominent promoter in the groundbreaking for the transcontinental railroad in Omaha and claimed credit for the selection of Tacoma as the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad and coining the appellation “City of Destiny.”

The award was developed in recognition of the tremendous importance that international business means for our region and for its significant economic and cultural contribution to our community.

Also at the event will be presentations of the following World Trade Center Tacoma Awards:

The Globe Award recognizes a Washington State based business that has demonstrated success and industry leadership through its extension to global business, its product/service innovation, its contribution to the state’s economic growth and its participation in community development.

The Marco Polo Award recognizes a small to medium size business that has demonstrated first time success and accomplishment in international trade.

To view a larger version of the flyer, click here.

And it begins for the 25th time in Chamber history...

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber will begin its 25th annual trip to Washington, DC tonight. Ironically, the trip will have 25 delegates participate in it. The delegates represent the public and private sectors of the Tacoma and the Pierce County region.

Over the course of two and half days, they will participate in over 18 meetings or events from the nation's capital to the Pentagon and Virginia.

The group plans to talk with congressional members about transportation, energy, port, trade and education issues. The group will also meet with Pentagon and military officials to discuss schools on base, the base transportation cooridor and working with returning soldiers, air personnel and their families on social issues.

Delegation Prepares for Washington, D.C.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's first conference trip to Washington, D.C.

Sponsors for this year's conference include the Port of Tacoma, Totem Ocean, MultiCare, Waste Connections, Comcast and The Boeing Company.

Originally conceived by US Rep. Norm Dicks and Chamber President/CEO David Graybill, the annual pilgrimage to the nation's capital began as a way for the business community to prevent our local bases from being closed. Decades later, the Chamber has organized this event to include local civic leaders as well.

All told, this year's delegation will consist of 25 leaders representing the Port of Tacoma, City of Tacoma, City of Lakewood, Pierce County as well as businesses like Simpson, Totem Ocean, BCRA Design and Cornerstone Financial.

The delegation will meet with military officials and congressional representatives to discuss community issues like SR 167 funding, infrastructure development, the Alaska trade relationship, schools on base and IMPACT aid, just to name a few.

For some delegates, this is their first time on the trip. But regardless of experience, all the delegates are looking forward to trip. Keep checking to get updates of the trip as it happens.

Changing Compensation Costs - March 2010

Total compensation costs for private industry workers increased 0.8 percent in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. metropolitan area for the year ended in March 2010, according to a press release issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics today.

Statistical highlights include:

• Wages and salaries, the largest portion of total compensation, advanced 1.3 percent in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton metropolitan area.


• Nationally, total compensation costs increased 1.6 percent and wages and salaries, 1.5 percent for the year ending in March 2010.

For more information click here for BLS's press release report on "Employment Cost Index for Regions."

"Resiliency in Times of Disaster" Summit

Last year, (and in previous years), the Chamber had worked with Pierce County on a disaster preparedness series for businesses. The Chamber's Frederickson, Parkland, Spanaway division feels the "Resiliency in Times of Disaster" Summit would be particularly beneficial for those businesses in unincorporated Pierce County areas.

The event is meant to help participants engage their public-private partners to build their disaster plan and ensure resilient communities - to "Be Ready. Be Connected. Be Resilient."

This FREE event is hosted by the Center of Excellence (COE) Homeland Security located at Pierce College in partnership with the Washington State Emergency Management, Seattle-King County Public Health and Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) Center for Regional Disaster Resilience.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Clover Park Technical College
Sharon McGavick Conference Center
4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Building 23

Online registration available until May 18, Link Here

For more details, including the focus and objectives of the Summit, click here.

To view the flyer, click here.

International Business Award Nominations

The Chamber’s George Francis Train Award to recognize a business leader in international trade will be presented at the World Trade Center Tacoma Annual Awards Dinner, Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at the World Trade Center’s Globe Dinner.

Three major awards will be presented at the World Trade Center Dinner:

The George Francis Train International Business Commemorative is presented annually by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber to recognize a local business or individual who has made a significant contribution to international business.

This award was developed in recognition of the tremendous growth in international business locally and for its significant economic and cultural contribution to our community. The award honors an individual or organization making a significant contribution to the international business community of Tacoma-Pierce County. Nominations should address these objectives. Nominations for the George Francis Train Commemorative may be made to the Chamber.

The World Trade Center Tacoma presents two awards. Nominations for those awards should be made directly to the World Trade Center Tacoma.

Maritime Day Luncheon 2010