April 12-April 27 | Virtual Summit Experience
Week 1: Workforce Forward | Week 2: Building Your Business | Week 3: Leadership & Personal Development
Join us for the 2022 Virtual Walla Walla Business Summit. We are committed to offering valuable benefits for our members and business community in the area of educational resources and professional development. This year, we are offering weekly tracks with multiple sessions. Attendees can customize their own Summit Experience by choosing the courses that work best for each individual. Registration is free and open to the community!
Week 1: Workforce Forward
April 12, 10:00 a.m. - Students, an answer to your labor challenges?
Presented by Mitzy Rodriguez (Whitman College), Kim Hamann (Walla Walla Community College) and Darel Harwell (Walla Walla University)
April 13, 10:00 a.m. - Action, Connection, Purpose...Transformation
Presented by Blue Zones by Katy DePonty and Meghan DeBolt
How well-being programs prevent burnout and fuel business success
Join our local Blue Zones Project Team to learn about how worksite well-being programming for organizations small, large, and everywhere in between, are critical for business success. The team will review the process they guide organizations through to make healthy choices easier in the workplace. Kol Medina, CEO of Blue Mountain Community Foundation, will share how partnering with Blue Zones Project has helped create a culture of well-being for his team. By getting involved with Blue Zones Project and completing this organization checklist you can: fuel the movement to move naturally, lead the way to a right outlook, make it easier to eat wisely, and help people in your organization connect. Get started today, register for this session and sign up on the Blue Zones Project website.
April 14, 1:00 p.m. - Best Place for Working Parents
Presented by Sara Redington and Sadie Funk
Join us to learn about a growing national community of business leaders proving that family-friendly IS business-friendly, through a first-of-its-kind, 3-minute online self-assessment highlighting the top 10 research-backed policies proven to benefit working families AND businesses’ bottom line. With Walla Walla as a new Best Place for Working Parents region in 2022, we will share how you can earn your company’s (free!) designation, and begin implementing low- or no-cost family-friendly policies that will help your business attract and retain the top talent of today.
April 15, 10:00 a.m. - WorkSource Walla Walla Business Solutions
Presented by Alice Freyer, Michael Ensor, and Mariah Matthew
Week 2: Building Your Business
April 19, 1:00 p.m. - Business Spotlight with Walla Walla Bread Company
Featuring Owners: Michele and Coral Pompei of Walla Walla Bread Company
April 20, 10:00 a.m. - Employee Retention
Presented by Paul Bowen, Washington Small Business Development Center
April 21, 2:00 p.m. - The Five "P"s of Social Media
Presented by Cole Massey
Week 3: Leadership & Personal Development
April 22, 1:00 p.m. - Ninja Principles
Presented Doug Simcock & Michael Flanning of Windermere Real Estate
April 26, 10:00 a.m. - The Art of Transformational Coaching & Wellness
Presented by Marika Tomkins of Kaleidoscope Studios
April 27, 1:00 p.m. - Your Leadership Path
Panel discussion with Mary Campbell, Kol Medina and Norma Hernandez
2022 Annual Community Awards
Hometown Hero Awards
Educator of the Year-Presented by Gesa Credit Union
The purpose of the Educator of the Year Award is to recognize excellence in the teaching profession and to inform our community of the exceptional quality of instruction delivered in the Walla Walla Valley.
2021 Winner: Conor Fish, Garrison Middle School
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year-Presented by Community Bank
Nominations for the Nick Henzel Community Service Award are being sought from the Walla Walla Sheriff's Office, Walla Walla Police Department, College Place Police Department, Washington State Patrol – Walla Walla Detachment, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife – Walla Walla County, and the Veterans Administration Police – Walla Walla. One Nominee from each Agency is requested. One Nominee will be selected for the award.
The Nick Henzel Community Service Award recognizes the significant contributions, character and dedication of an individual. Law Enforcement Officers serve their communities in many different ways; they monitor criminal activity, take part in community patrols, respond to emergency calls, and much more including being role models of community responsibility. This award is to be presented to an Officer who has distinguished himself/herself through outstanding performance above and beyond the call of duty through service to their community.
Winner will be revealed soon!
2021 Winners, Officer Nat Small & Sergeant Eric Knudson
Firefighter of the Year-Presented by WWV Chamber of Commerce
Nominations are being sought from the City of Walla Walla Fire Department, College Place Fire Department, Walla Walla-Columbia County Fire District 2, Walla Walla County Fire District 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8, and the Milton-Freewater Fire Department.
The Firefighter of the Year award recognizes the significant contributions, achievements, character and long-term dedication of an individual. Firefighters serve their communities in many different ways; responding to emergencies, organizing safety events, and being role models of community responsibility. The candidate must demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to firefighting
2020 Winner, Lieutenant Paramedic Chris Worden
Higher Education Awards for Community Service
The Chamber will soon reveal the recipients of the Higher Education Awards. Walla Walla University, Whitman College and Walla Walla Community College will present and celebrate outstanding individuals within their communities.
Whitman College 2021 Recipient
Walla Walla University 2021 Recipient
Walla Walla Community College 2021 Recipient
2020 Business Classic Golf Tournament Winners!
Thank you to our players, sponsors, volunteers and business partners for your support and participation in our 2020 Business Classic Golf Tournament Presented by Columbia REA.
Business After Hours
Women in Business
Women in Business is a new initiative from the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce established for women in business who wish to build a strong network of women intent on inspiring one another to achieve individual potental; support each other in business endeavors; and create a legacy through mentorship.
This quarterly lunch meeting series provides dynamic speakers along with a networking platform that inspires, educates, and empowers women to grow and succeed in business and leadership. We believe that we are stronger together, and that we can create significant change for ourselves, our workplace, and our community when we connect with other women‐in‐business, at all levels of our careers. Join us!
Ribbon Cuttings
Thank you for your interest in having the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce participate in your Ribbon Cutting. We want you to have a wonderful and successful experience so here are a few guidelines and suggestions we hope will help you plan for the event.
Who can schedule a ribbon cutting?
Any Chamber member in good standing may schedule a ribbon cutting. This ceremonial event is often used when a business has:
- Recently opened
- Moved to a new location
- Has been remodeled or has expanded its current location
- Is celebrating a milestone anniversary
- Is under new ownership/management
Holiday and weekend ribbon cuttings have low attendance from the business community and chamber staff may not be available. We have found that the best time to schedule your ribbon cutting is Monday-Friday. Since Chamber ribbon cuttings are business to business events, we do not recommend you schedule your event on a weekend. Business members are best available at the end of the work day (4:00pm – 5:30pm). Additionally, the Chamber will not schedule the same day as other ribbon cuttings. The Chamber cannot guarantee the number of guests in attendance.