New face

Welcome, Energy Emergency Management's Deb Witmer!

What attracted you to Commerce? The work of the Energy Division in the resilience space links into my passion for building resilient and equitable communities. This division also serves as part of the larger emergency management team (Emergency Support Function 12), and I am proud to be part of the emergency management sector. Read more.

"Human trafficking is a process, not an event. It is the use of force, fraud or coercion to get a person to provide legal or illegal labor or commercial sex."

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

OCVA focuses on combatting this crime, strengthening communities

By JD NIELSEN Sexual Assault Services Section program manager You might be aware that human trafficking is the largest-growing criminal industry in the world. But did you know that these human rights violations take place across Washington state — even in our own communities — impacting children, youth and adults? January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Wednesday is a day that many communities across the state and country highlight this incredibly complex and horrific problem, what is being done to support individuals, and how to prevent it. Read more.

HR Weekly

Purchasing will provide training
Jan. 17 on equity in public contracting

Course is free for team members

By TAMARA ROBERTS | Purchasing supply manager
and SABRENA NEFF | Training manager

When it comes to equity in public contracting, Gov. Jay Inslee has created the guidelines we need to follow in Executive Order 22-01. To help us implement the order, Tamara Roberts, our purchasing supply manager, will provide training. It will cover how to ensure we are using diverse vendors when submitting purchase requests, so we are in compliance with the governor's executive order and in alignment with Commerce values.

During the course, Tamara will take attendees through the process of researching diverse vendors on the Department of Enterprise Services contracts search site and how to create the documentation needed for these requests. There will also be a question-and-answer session at the end.

This free online training is open to all Commerce team members and will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, via Teams. You can register for it here: “COM Purchasing Training Using Statewide Contracts with Diverse Vendors."

If you have any questions, please contact Tamara.

Commerce is hiring

Check out these positions.

Commerce community calendar

• Coffee with Kendrick, 8 to 8:15 a.m. weekdays, Zoom
• Real Talk on Working Families​ Tax Credit​​​, 10 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, Zoom
• Cultivating Connections (break time), noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, Zoom
• Oly Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, headquarters' floor 3 conference room
• Smartsheet User Group, 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, Teams
• Let’s Meditate (break time), 10:45 to 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, Zoom
• H&W off-hours MLK Day of Service in Spokane, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 14, Waikiki Springs, more information
• H&W off-hours MLK Day of Service in Olympia, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, Squaxin Park, more information
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 16, Commerce offices closed
• “COM Purchasing Training Using Statewide Contracts with Diverse Vendors,” 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, via Teams, learn more
• Fun Books Lunchtime Club (break time), noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, Zoom
• Virtual Pilates, 7:50 to 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, Zoom
• Toastmasters, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, Zoom
• Volunteer Friends (break time), noon to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, Zoom
• Let’s Meditate (break time), 3 to 3:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, Zoom
• Myth Mitigators, 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, Zoom
• Toastmasters, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, Zoom
• Virtual Stretching and Cardio, 7:50 to 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, Zoom
• Presidents’ Day, Monday, Feb. 20, Commerce offices closed

Please send your calendar postings to IntraCOMeditor@commerce.wa.gov. Any item included must be open to all Commerce team members.

About Commerce

Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department’s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and effective public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com.

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