Prosperity Partnership Celebration & Roll-out Luncheon
November 7, 2005
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Westin Hotel, Seattle

Celebrating a year of unprecedented regional leadership in developing a regional economic strategy, over 800 government, business, labor and non-profit leaders from across the central Puget Sound region packed the Westin Hotel on November 7, 2005 to celebrate the Prosperity Partnership’s first year accomplishments and build momentum for 2006.

Prosperity Partnership co-chairs Rita Ryder, John Ladenburg, Brad Smith, Mark Emmert and Tomio Moriguchi were joined on the podium by Pierce County Councilmember Shawn Bunney, Bob Watt and the keynote speaker, Governor Christine Gregoire. The speakers challenged members to continue to push for changes and investments needed to keep our region competitive. And radio talk show host Dave Ross brought the house down with a spirited song poking fun at our region’s tendency to talk a lot.

But this is only the beginning. Leaders from around the region have taken the reins and agreed to produce more results in 2006. Our action plan outlines exactly what we are going to do, who’s going to lead each effort, and when it will be completed.

“There is not going to be a silver bullet or quick fix. We are in this for the long haul,” said Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. “Only by taking specific actions – year in and year out – will we make our region as competitive as we need to be.”

Microsoft VP Brad Smith said, “We are a strong believer as a company in the work of the Prosperity Partnership. In just a year, we’ve come together, and really started to focus, around some very important and concrete priorities.”

“I want to thank the Prosperity Partnership for recognizing vital priorities and putting them at the top of the agenda,” said Gov. Gregoire.

“We need dreamers and doers willing to bring good ideas to the people and make the case,” said co-chair Bob Drewel. “It doesn’t matter if they are blue ideas or red ideas – we just need the best ideas.”

If you missed the lunch, be sure to catch a re-broadcast on TVW or hear the highlights.


Luncheon Materials