GSBA’s first Corporate Advisory Board Created

by Louise Chernin, GSBA President & CEO

GSBA is proud to announce the creation of our first-ever, Corporate Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB was formed to bring our corporate members together to discuss and align on several topics that impact our corporate partners and members.

As a chamber, GSBA’s core membership continues to be our small business members. Our 26-member Board of Directors includes 16 small business owners, two public employees, four independent agents of larger companies and four employees of large corporations. Clearly, the leadership of GSBA continues to strongly represent the interests and concerns of small businesses. However as larger companies engage with GSBA, how do we leverage those relationships to increase value for all members?  GSBA’s work with corporate partners offers us the opportunity to talk about workplace culture for LGBT employees. Our relationship provides LGBT employees opportunities to volunteer and attend events within their community. GSBA encourages corporations to work with each other and our small businesses. One major focus is for our corporate members to learn about and support the GSBA Scholarship Fund.  Is there potential for named scholarships, internship or mentorship opportunities? 

We are delighted that the Chair of our new Corporate Advisory Board is former Board member, Mitch Evans, Regional Manager, Starbucks.  Mitch is proud to welcome the following founding members of the GSBA’s first-ever Corporate Advisory Board:

Joe Adams, CEO, 1st Security Bank

Desi Bailey, Chief of Staff, Group Health 
Karen Bryant, CEO, Seattle Storm 

Louise Chernin, CEO, GSBA

Martha Davis, Owner, City Lights Sign Company, GSBA Board Chair

Gladys Gillis, CEO, Starline Transportation

Ada Healy, Vice President, Vulcan Real Estate

Jonathan Hensley, President, Capital Benefit Services

Paul Hollie, Director of Safeco Foundation

Steve Kutz, Managing Director and Regional Executive, JPMorgan Private Banking

Gordon “Gordy” Prouty, Publisher, Puget Sound Business Journal

Mike Sebring, Senior Vice President & Regional Manager, Union Bank

Kevin Spratt, President, Precision Garage Door

Jeff Wolf, Member Attorney, Williams Kastner

Linking small businesses and our nonprofit members to our corporate members demonstrates GSBA’s commitment to create community through business connections. We are in the process of assembling a Small Business Advisory Board as well as a Tourism Advisory Board - stay tuned!