Speakers

Join us for our club's Annual Economic Update with member John Adams.  John is a Certified Investment Management Analyst and leads The Arbor Group, a team at UBS Financial Services that specializes in providing multi-strategy asset management to foundations, endowments, and individuals. His group provides socially and environmentally screened, global investment portfolios for clients.  John will inform us where the economy is today and what we can expect in the year ahead. 

How Alaska Airlines Has Navigated the Pandemic and Is Poised to Emerge Stronger

Alaska Airlines is optimistic about the future of Seattle and all of the good things ahead in the New Year – new Boeing airplanes, new nonstop flights to places like Belize, and starting service to our 100^th destination from Seattle. Rather than slowing down during the pandemic, Alaska has doubled down on its commitments to sustainability, including a path to net carbon zero by 2040. Hear how the airline is guided by their values like “Do the Right Thing” and “Be Kind-hearted” as they navigate the pandemic, and why they are optimistic about the recovery ahead.   

Payneful Perspectives on Leadership

Business leader, media maven and columnist Patti Payne shares her educated take on leadership- what works, what’s needed, and how to maximize our own innate abilities to steer through and guide. Patti is a well-known, much-awarded local media broadcast and print personality whose work in the community is widespread and whose enthusiasm and energy has helped raise the bar at thousands of entertainment events, auctions, and other regional fundraisers for more than 30 years. She is a columnist for the Puget Sound Business Journal and is a sought-after keynote speaker and emcee. Payne serves as principal of her own public affairs/community relations business, The Payne Group Communicating/Connecting.

Patti's professional and civic activities have been recognized by numerous awards, including 'Seattle Woman of the Year;' 'Women in Communications Torchbearer;' 'Woman of Influence/Puget Sound Business Journal;' dual honoree, with David Horsey, of 'Washington News Council Gridiron East Roast;' 'The Voice of the Community' honors from the prestigious Celebrity Waiter's Fundraiser; the inaugural honoree of The 5th Avenue Theatre's 'Excellence Award,' for community service; and 2019 Seafair’s Community Spirit award.  She is on a variety of boards including Bellevue LifeSpring Advisory, Treehouse Advisory, and Cancer Lifeline Advisory, and is a longtime member of the Community Development Roundtable.

The New Washington State Office of Equity: Bridging Opportunity Gaps and Reducing Disparities in Our Communities

Dr. Karen A. Johnson, goes by Dr. J, and is the inaugural director for the newly created Washington State Office of Equity, established by the legislature and signed into law in April 2020.  The office will work with agencies to increase access to equitable opportunities in order to bridge opportunity gaps and reduce disparities. “Karen brings extensive experience working to transform local and state government systems to more equitably serve Washingtonians,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “She has oriented her entire career around helping disadvantaged communities and instituting lasting systemic and institutional change for generations to come. I have every confidence that she will be an excellent, effective director. I am looking forward to working with her collaboratively to ensure that our state is one that supports all Washingtonians. The Office of Equity is an exciting opportunity to reframe how state government works.”   Join us to learn how Dr. J and her office will work with communities to develop the state’s five-year equity plan.

Dr. J holds holds both a PhD and Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University, and earned her bachelor of science from Utica College of Syracuse University. She has also earned a Certified Diversity Executive certification.