Dear Members,
As I write this month’s Message from the Interim CEO, I am proud of our remarkable work and strides toward broadening our reach. These are dynamic times at Greater Grays Harbor, filled with collaboration, engagement, and laying the foundation of change, all creating our organization’s future path.
Celebrating Leadership
Last month we celebrated our exceptional leaders at the “Leaders’ Celebration”—an evening that was as much about reflection as it was about the future. We toasted the achievements of remarkable people and organizations. Remembering how important our members are and the challenge of taking an idea from an “Opening Soon” to “Now Open,” our members are the risk takers, innovators, and solution finders. It was an honor to be part of the celebration.
Fostering Community Connections
The Business Forum Lunches continue to focus on our commitment to inform and create dialogue. The latest two events featured our esteemed Mayors and City Administrators; the events gave insight into the differing Cities’ works and goals, how much is being accomplished, and what they have in common. These dialogues are more than mere conversations; they are an insight into how we can work together and ensure we grow not in isolation but together to build vibrant communities.
Investing in the Future Workforce
“Planting the seeds for tomorrow”—this phrase drives our collaboration with Grays Harbor College, Aerospace Machinists Joint Training Committee (AJAC), and Pacific Mountian Workforce Development Council to partner and lay down the framework to build a robust Workforce Development initiative involving the current and future workforce and the business community. By looking at different learning approaches and equipping the workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge today, ensure a skilled and passionate workforce for opportunities in Grays Harbor for tomorrow.
Enhancing Business Relationships
Partnership is a core pillar of our work, and it was with great enthusiasm that we embarked on a new venture with the Thurston Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to the Pacific Mountian Workforce Development Council and their generous funding, we can now fund additional resources to strengthen our business connections. This pivotal role underscores the importance of strengthening our connection with our small business community.
Looking Ahead
Amid these undertakings, our commitment to strengthening Grays Harbor remains steadfast. We are busy—not just with our schedules but with work that matters. The work that you, our members, do every day contributes to a narrative of Grays Harbor’s growth and success.
I want to express my gratitude for our staff’s relentless dedication, creativity, and willingness to seek opportunities. You, our membership of Greater Grays Harbor, are at the very heart of all that we do. Together, we are more than just an organization; we are a collective group that can make changes to work towards a positive future.
I’m excited about the future we’re building, and more than that, I’m honored to be building it with all of you.
Onward and upward.
Thank you,
Jon Martin, Interim CEO, Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.