Meet and Greets

May 25, 2022

Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30-7:00pm

5:30 – 6:00 pm: Networking
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Jon Smith, YCDA Executive Director.
 
We will be hosting the Meet and Greet in-person at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Yakima (802 East Yakima Avenue, Yakima, WA 98901). 

About Our Speaker – Jon Smith, Yakima County Development Association, Executive Director

Jonathan is a Certified Economic Developer with sixteen years of rural economic development experience. His key accomplishments include successful recruitment of national and international companies and assisting local businesses with expansions and exporting projects. In total, Smith has helped over twenty-five companies locate or expand new operations. These companies have invested over $1.6 billion in facilities and equipment and have created approximately 1,700 jobs.

Jon also has experience with infrastructure development and has helped secure over $40 million of grant and loan funding for job-creating projects. This includes funding for rail, water, sewer, roads, and electrical infrastructure.

 
Some of Jon’s most rewarding work has been coordinating workforce development programs between businesses and educational institutions. These training programs result in hundreds of local residents receiving the training and skills they need to be successful in local family-wage jobs. Additionally, Jon has worked with small businesses and rural communities to help develop main streets and spur business growth in distressed areas.
Register to attend

Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30-7:00pm

5:30 – 6:00 pm: Networking
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Jon Smith, YCDA Executive Director.
 
We will be hosting the Meet and Greet in-person at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Yakima (802 East Yakima Avenue, Yakima, WA 98901). 

About Our Speaker – Jon Smith, Yakima County Development Association, Executive Director

Jonathan is a Certified Economic Developer with sixteen years of rural economic development experience. His key accomplishments include successful recruitment of national and international companies and assisting local businesses with expansions and exporting projects. In total, Smith has helped over twenty-five companies locate or expand new operations. These companies have invested over $1.6 billion in facilities and equipment and have created approximately 1,700 jobs.

Jon also has experience with infrastructure development and has helped secure over $40 million of grant and loan funding for job-creating projects. This includes funding for rail, water, sewer, roads, and electrical infrastructure.

 
Some of Jon’s most rewarding work has been coordinating workforce development programs between businesses and educational institutions. These training programs result in hundreds of local residents receiving the training and skills they need to be successful in local family-wage jobs. Additionally, Jon has worked with small businesses and rural communities to help develop main streets and spur business growth in distressed areas.
Register to attend

PAST SPEAKERS

March 2022

Jim Curtice, Yakima County Coroner

February 2022

Bob Romero, YMCA

January 2022

Luis Cardenas, Hispanavision Television

June 2021

Leon Loza, Loza Farms

June 2021

Leon Loza, Loza Farms

May 2021

Lilian Bravo, Yakima Health District

April 2021

Ester Huey, Community Advocate

March 2021

Nick Jones & Federico Kahnlein & Craig Phillips, Pacific Power