WORKING WITH WHAT’S IN US
November 4 – 6, 2025 – The 2025 Washington Workforce Association Fall Conference in Tacoma brought together professionals from across the state to learn, share, and reimagine what’s next for our state’s workforce system.
Under the theme Innovate. Elevate. Accelerate., this year’s gathering drew nearly 350 workforce professionals from across Washington. The conference opened with Steve Pemberton, Managing Director at Seramount and author of The Lighthouse Effect, whose message about being both lighthouses and anchors landed squarely with the crowd. “If the lighthouse shows us where to go,” he said, “the anchor reminds us how to stay.” His reflections on resilience, belonging, and purpose resonated deeply with workforce professionals who serve as steady guides for others every day.
Christian Paige, Tacoma’s award-winning poet, educator, and co-founder of ShadeMakers, returned to the stage with his trademark energy and truth-telling. Through his keynote and breakout session It’s In Us, Not On Us, he invited attendees to go beyond inspiration and move directly into action — examining culture, values, and leadership through shared conversation and practice.
SkillSource staff were among the presenters this year. Kelli Martinelli, Communications & Outreach Manager, and Lisa Romine, CEO and incoming WWA Board Chair, co-presented More Than a Message, showing how communications — when treated as infrastructure — can build trust, shape policy, and amplify impact. Mayra Eaton-Garcia, Business Solutions Manager, joined Susy Moran from South Central Workforce for Say What They Hear, helping attendees learn how to translate workforce services like OJT and IWT into business language that connects.
Recognition this year went to:
-Workforce Professional of the Year: Luci Bench, Olympic Workforce Development Council
-Workforce Employer of the Year: Lumber Traders, Inc.
-Workforce Partner of the Year: Washington State Office of Equity
-WWA Chair Award: Timberland Regional Library District
“Sessions this year were engaging and interactive, and definitely sparked ideas worth carrying home,” one SkillSource staff member reflected.
Closing remarks came from Lisa Romine, who now steps into her role as WWA Board Chair for the coming year. Her message — one of gratitude and collaboration — brought the conference full circle: reminding everyone that the work is not about weathering the storm alone, but about staying anchored together.
