ELC 2022 tackles livability topics, local development challenges

The 2022 Eastside Leadership Conference was a rousing success last week, with an entire day of programming oriented around the housing and infrastructure challenges facing our region. Microsoft’s Jared Spataro honed in on the shifting workplace and its regional repercussions, our Eastside mayors tackled a slew of livability topics, and some of the top experts in development and public policy gave their piece. 

The highlight of the day, however, was the CEO panel with former Gov. Christine Gregoire, the Chamber’s Joe Fain, and Microsoft big-wig, Brad Smith. 

“Because we have built, and are building, and need to keep building one of the greatest metropolitan areas in the country, we do need to take stock of where we’ve been hurt and haven’t yet rebounded from the pandemic,” said Smith. “We have to start, I think always, with the premise that when we bring all of us together, we can do things that none of us can do by ourselves.” 

We hope you can join us next year! Check out some of our favorite photos from the conference below, and read the 425 Business write-up here.