Foster helps careers bloom through educational seeds planted in the rural communities of Washington

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell speaks at the 2023 Impact Awards

For more than a quarter century, the Consulting and Business Development Center (CBDC) at UW Foster School of Business has helped advance student careers, while growing jobs where they’re needed the most. On November 16, 2023, the CBDC celebrated its annual UW Impact Awards that highlighted the outcome of its work to support companies in underserved communities across Washington.

Speakers at the ceremony included Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, CBDC Director Michael Verchot and Alumni of the Year Award recipient Tyler Price (BA 2008), the CEO of Price Cold Storage & Packing Co in Yakima, WA.

This year’s theme focused on its work in central Washington, the unofficial capital of the state’s fruit industry. The CBDC has been improving the business skills of employees who work in agriculture, transportation, food & beverage and other industries throughout the region. Through both Business Basics and Advanced Business Certificate programs, more than 125 employees advance their careers each year and increase the competitiveness of businesses from Yakima to Wenatchee to the Tri-Cities. To date, more than 1,000 employees have completed the program of which 70% have received increased salaries and/or promotions. This work is instrumental in not only maintaining Washington as the global leader in the apple and fruit industry, but also helps residents open opportunities to increase their earnings and better support their families.

Awards were presented to recognize alumni, corporations and other partners who help better humanity through business. Proceeds from the awards banquet supported our work in Central Washington. If you would like to support this work, make a DONATION HERE.