REGIONAL REFLECTIONS

May 2025 – In May, community leaders, service providers, educators, and changemakers gathered in Wenatchee and Okanogan for two regional Workforce Collaboration Summits. These gatherings were a reminder of what’s possible when we lead with connection, curiosity, and shared purpose.

Chelan-Douglas Summit

Hosted at Wenatchee Valley College on May 9, the Chelan-Douglas Workforce Collaboration Summit welcomed attendees with coffee and donuts, and opening remarks from Alan Walker (Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council) and Dr. Faimous Harrison (WVC President). Keynote speaker Stu Freed challenged us to care for our teams by first tending to the foundational needs that support them. Attendees called the opening and closing sessions “relatable and useful” and praised both Stu Freed and Hana Butler for setting a thoughtful and energizing tone.

The day unfolded through three rounds of breakout sessions, each offering a lens into collaborative solutions across healthcare, transit, education, housing, justice, and workforce development. Presenters represented a strong network of local and state partners, including Molina, Planned Parenthood, Dept Of Corrections, NCW Tech Alliance, Catholic Charities, DVR, and many others.

A standout moment came during the lunch hour, when several customers and program participants took the mic. Their stories, shared by Roger Skjelstad, Sarai Roldan, Dugan Crowell, Karyna Bukovtsova, and Liz Drath were heartfelt and powerful. Feedback highlighted how these moments grounded the day in lived experience: “powerful,” “real,” and “a reflection of systems working in collaboration.”

The day closed with Hana Butler’s reflection on collaboration as our superpower. It was a fitting end to a full, energizing day.

Okanogan Summit

On May 13, the Summit series continued at the Okanogan Fairgrounds in a more informal setting. Susan Adams (SkillSource Managing Director) opened the day and Todd Wurl (Employment Security Dept) provided closing remarks. The summit included sessions from partners from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, OIC of Washington, WorkSource Okanogan County, Okanogan Behavioral Healthcare, the Economic Alliance, Molina Healthcare, and several community-based organizations. 

Presentations highlighted community needs and innovations in behavioral health, youth empowerment, reentry services, public assistance, and economic development. A mid-day taco lunch brought everyone together for casual conversation and a moment to connect outside the agenda.

One of the defining features of the Okanogan event shared by attendees was the tone, which was trusted, open, and grounded. The setting allowed space for collaboration that felt both strategic and personal. The overwhelming takeaway was a sense of shared investment, authenticity, and momentum.

A group of seven smiling professionals pose from a bench on a college campus at a workforce collaboration summit.
Several WorkSource partners and a success story panelist at this year's Chelan-Douglas Workforce Collaboration Summit.
A group of eight smiling professional adults against a black curtain backdrop at a workforce collaboration summit.
Some of the organizers from the Okanogan Workforce Collaboration Summit, from WorkSource Okanogan, Skillsource, and OIC.
A man in a suit gives a presentation in front of a large room of attendees at a workforce collaboration summit.
Dr. Stu Freed opened the CD Workforce Collaboration Summit with an inspiring presentation to help teams lead during times of uncertainty.
Four people sit in chairs on a stage while one person speaks into the microphone.
Agencies shared presentations on the services and support they offer communities at the OK Workforce Collaboration Summit.