Common Thread: A Conversation with Tad Hildebrand and Michelle Price
March 2026
The Value of Human Connection March 2026 – Who was your 6th grade teacher? That wasn't a question that was asked directly, but it was one of the common threads that emerged in our recent conversation with SkillSource board members, Tad Hildebrand and Michelle Price. Both Michelle and Tad could trace their professional spark back to the influence of their 6th grade teacher. For Michelle, it c...
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Shaping Education from the Inside
February 2026
Student Voices in Action February 19, 2026 – Students at the SkillSource Learning Center in Wenatchee spent part of a recent afternoon hearing from someone who’s around their own age and is already helping shape education policy across Washington.Seventeen-year-old Riley Acheson, is a Student Board Member with the Washington State Board of Education. She came in to share her story, and an op...
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Showing Up in Olympia: WWA Hill Climb
January 2026
Because the Investments Work January 2026 – Each year, the Washington Workforce Association’s Hill Climb creates a rare window for direct, face-to-face conversations with legislators. For SkillSource, that window matters. It’s a chance to connect directly and talk plainly about what’s working in our communities, and why it’s worth continuing.This year, SkillSource came to Olympia with ...
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Inside Mill Operations in Okanogan County
January 2026
Boards that Build January 2026 – Our Okanogan staff and community partners from the Okanogan Economic Alliance got an inside peek at Oroville Reman & Reload.Human Resources leader and SkillSource board member, Anthony Popelier, took the team on a tour, starting with “the board room” where they were seated around a long, beautiful table constructed from the very boards they process at ...
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Common Thread: A Conversation with Zach Williams and Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy
January 2026
One Bite at a Time January 2026 – Workforce development can sound like a big, abstract concept. In reality, it’s much closer to home.Behind every first job, career change, apprenticeship, or training opportunity is a network of people and organizations working together to help individuals build skills, find opportunity, and create stability for themselves and their families. Schools, employ...
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Representative Ybarra Spends a Morning with SkillSource
December 2025
A Shared MissionDecember 2025 – Representative Alex Ybarra spent a morning with us in Wenatchee, pulling up a chair with participants and staff to see how training, savings tools, and apprenticeships are building stability and success in our communities.Ybarra represents Washington’s 13th Legislative District, which stretches across rural Eastern Washington and includes Kittitas County, most o...
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Van Tour Brings Agencies Together
December 2025
Learning TogetherDecember 2, 2025 - “Each agency stands as a beacon of hope for our community. But when we unite—collaborating, supporting one another, and lifting up the individuals we serve—that beacon grows brighter.” - Roger Skjelstad, Alano Club of WenatcheeRoger is a former SkillSource participant who is now a recovery coach and transport lead with the Alano Club of Wenatchee, a com...
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Investing in People Strengthens Our Communities
November 2025
DONATIONS HELP US DO MORENovember 20, 2025 - When someone earns new skills, completes a credential, or takes a step toward a stable career, the impact ripples out — families grow stronger, businesses stay competitive, and communities thrive.“Every time someone learns new skills or completes a credential, it strengthens an entire network,” said Lisa Romine, CEO of SkillSource. “Donations he...
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Anchored in Purpose, Lit Up by Connection
November 2025
WORKING WITH WHAT'S IN USNovember 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 ...
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Inside a Poverty Simulation Workshop
November 2025
An Exercise in UnderstandingOctober 24, 2025 - Workforce partners across North Central Washington participated in a Poverty Simulation hosted at Big Bend Community College — an interactive exercise offering a glimpse into the daily challenges and tough decisions faced by families living in poverty.What Happens in a Poverty Simulation?Each “week” in the simulation lasted just 15 minutes, com...
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