Eastside business professionals, look out: next week the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce is hosting a virtual, regional event to talk on the financial issues and the future of local industries.
The Regional Business Summit, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, is a half-day event featuring panels from several local business experts, virtual networking, and a Keynote speech from Greater Seattle Partners CEO Brian McGowan.
McGowan’s keynote will focus on the challenges of rebuilding the economy. According to a press release from Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, states the focus of the talk, titled “Now more than ever: Equity, Recovery & Regionalism” will discuss the need for cohesive, coordinated strategy in the business sector’s long-term financial recovery.
“As our regional economy emerges from the pandemic, there will be new challenges and opportunities to address. It will take years to gain back what we lost. Some industry clusters will rise, others will fall. The tourism, travel and hospitality industries will need to be reimagined. The nature of work and business will change with the larger presence of telework and possibility of on-shoring and near shoring. Workforce development will need to adapt to serve displaced and younger workers,” the press release states.
Previous attendees of the event told Issaquah Chamber that they were glad this event was taking place after the drastic changes in the economy this year. White Horse Promotional Products owner Tori Gaines stated that they looked forward to discovery and personal growth during the event.
“As a concerned business owner and a multi-chamber member on the Eastside, I am very pleased that The Regional Business Summit is moving forward,” Gaines stated. “This event will be an opportunity to join in a nexus of brains, originality, verve, and creative business voices that have all been touched by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Similarly Carson Noel founder Wright Noel expressed looking forward to the event and stated the summit would benefit local businesses trying to work with social distancing safety measures in place, and conducting business via Zoom.
The Issaquah Chamber stated in a release it encourages local business professionals to attend to hear from experts on the current economic uncertainty, create relationships in the regional community, learn how to use video production for your workplace, and prepare for the future.
The event is hosted in cooperation with city of Issaquah, SnoValley, Sammamish, Newcastle and Mercer Island chambers.
More information is available here or at IssaquahChamber.com.
