Phil Fortunato — Introduced himself as senator from the 31st Legislative District, including South Auburn, Sumner, Buckley, and Bonney Lake.
Phil Fortunato — Phil Fortunato raised the idea of creating a separate cargo-only airport, referencing earlier discussion about a new airport and asking whether such a facility could free up gate, tarmac, or ramp space at the current airport. The later mention notes that another senator was building on Fortunato’s question, confirming that his comments were part of the same ongoing discussion about airport capacity and cargo operations.
Phil Fortunato — Senator Phil Fortunato discussed how wage, overtime, and labor regulations affect farms, especially small and family operations. He described farms in his district, including examples of volunteer or low-paid pickers and crops left unharvested when labor costs rose. He argued that current rules are not sustainable for small farmers, co-ops, and nonprofits, and said added regulations make it harder for young people to get first jobs and for agriculture to find labor. The discussion remained focused on the broader challenge of balancing labor standards with farm profitability and harvest needs.
Phil Fortunato — Senator Phil Fortunato asked Allie to explain the stormwater issue, including the problem they are having at Pier 30.
Tina Orwall — Tina Orwall introduced herself as the senator from the 33rd Legislative District and welcomed the committee to the district, and the committee responded by thanking her for joining and for welcoming them.
Tina Orwall — Asked about Moses Lake, agricultural cargo, and how Paine fits into the cargo discussion.
Tina Orwall — Likely the senator being addressed or speaking; the transcript says 'Senator Orwell,' which appears to be a transcription error.
Tina Orwall — Referenced as sharing the Kent-Auburn valley and having a shared interest in manufacturing and trade.
Tom Green — Tom Green is introduced as the manager of air cargo operations and then begins his presentation to the committee, identifying himself as the senior manager for air cargo operations and development at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), owned and operated by the Port of Seattle.
John Wolfe — Introduced as CEO of the Northwest Seaport Alliance and part of the briefing panel.
John Wolfe — John Wolfe, CEO of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, presents an overview of the Alliance and its role in Washington’s maritime economy. He explains the pre-2015 competition between the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle, then describes how the Alliance is structured and governed through the ports’ commissioners. Wolfe emphasizes the goal of attracting more cargo to generate jobs and broader economic impact, highlights the importance of frontline labor partners like the ILWU, and notes major trading relationships and growth markets, including China, Japan, and Korea.
Eric Fitch — Introduced as executive director of the Washington Public Ports Association and part of the briefing panel.
Eric Fitch — Introduced himself as executive director of the Washington Public Ports Association and said he would speak again in the roundtable.
Jim McCune — Senator Fortunato is repeatedly addressed during a continuing question-and-answer exchange. He is first called on for one more question, then referenced as asking follow-up questions about truck drivers and foreign drivers, and later acknowledged as representing the Walla Walla and Tri-Cities area.
Eric — Introduced as the next speaker for the roundtable.
Eric — Mentioned as expected to be present, but absent at the moment of introduction.
Eric — Suggested as someone who might know more about the issue.
John Braun — Identified as being present at the March 2023 discussion.
John — Was invited to share his challenges and contributed to early priorities for improving competitiveness.
John — Referenced as having described the Inland Hub model.
John — Referenced as having discussed discretionary cargo earlier.
John — Referenced as having mentioned the Inland Logistics Hub and as knowing more about the topic.
John — Referenced as having mentioned workforce issues in Central Washington.
Tom — Referenced as having provided statistics about changes in trade volumes.
Tom — Referenced as having mentioned fish exports through planes.
Mari Leavitt — Is identified as the senator being called on to ask the first question.
Judy Warnick — Likely the senator being addressed or speaking; the transcript says 'Senator Dozer,' which appears to be a transcription error.
Sharlett Mena — The speaker references Representative Sharlett Mena in connection with a bill about trade and international trade, while noting uncertainty about whether it was actually her bill.
HB2000 — Described as directing the governor to undertake a strategic plan for international engagement, including trade.
Radis Simeonova — Introduced herself as leading the business development team at the Washington State Department of Commerce and emphasized partnership.
Carl — Radis Simeonova hands the presentation over to her colleague Carl.
Carl Belakran — Introduced himself as a member of the Small Business Export Assistance Team at the Department of Commerce and described the team's export assistance work.
Brianna Elsie — Named as a participant in the regional trade economy roundtable; likely the next speaker.
Ali Vickich — Named as a participant in the roundtable; pronunciation was uncertain.
Brian Elsie — Brian Elsie, Director of Governmental Affairs at Washington Farm Bureau, described the organization’s representation of farmers across the state and framed his testimony around the pressures facing Washington agriculture. He discussed the mixed effects of tariffs and trade disruptions, noting that specialty crops have been somewhat insulated while retaliatory tariffs, export logistics, and market access remain major concerns. He emphasized that Washington agriculture is under strain, citing farm losses, high labor and input costs, and the difficulty specialty crop farmers have in accessing federal aid. Elsie also shared an example of a local organic cucumber farmer being undercut by imports, argued that long-distance shipping creates unnecessary costs and emissions, and stressed agriculture’s importance as an economic driver. In the later portion of his remarks, he turned to the human impact of farm stress, saying mental health support alone is insufficient without addressing financial pressures, and pointed to seasonality bills, fuel-cost exemptions, and the WSDA competitiveness study as possible solutions.
Tom Dent — Tom Dent is referenced as having organized a group focused on mental health, specifically in relation to farmers.
Ali Vekich — Ali Vekich, a longshoreman at the Port of Seattle and ILWU member, testified that tariffs are hurting ILWU membership and reducing available jobs in Washington. He explained the scope of longshore work on the West Coast, describing how workers load and unload many kinds of cargo ships, including break bulk, car ships, grain ships, and fuel ships. He also noted that longshore jurisdiction covers public ports across the West Coast and includes a wide range of roles such as crane operators, foremen, dock train loaders, supervisors, truck drivers, forklift operators, and workers who perform difficult lashing work on ships, emphasizing that longshore workers handle the full operation under employer supervision.
Allie — Referenced as someone the speaker got to know in 2018 while discussing the future of the property.
Allie — The discussion centers on Allie’s role and testimony regarding port operations and stormwater issues. She is referenced as describing challenges in the trade economy and longshore work, then as an example of someone who works at the ports. The conversation turns directly to Allie, who explains that stormwater is her area and notes that Pier 30 is an old terminal with legacy contamination issues. The later reference returns to her point about citizen suits creating attorneys’ fees and other costs.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) — Explained as an international union whose members on the West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii load and unload cargo ships.
Brie — Referenced as having described challenges in the trade economy.
Ali — Named as a labor partner.
Bree — Bree is referenced in discussion of trade and port activity: one speaker notes that Bree made the point better than they could, and then uses Bree and her members as examples of people whose goods are sent through the ports.
Nate — Referenced as being present in the room.
John Lovick — Introduced himself as senator from the 44th District in Snohomish County.
Perry Dozier — Introduced himself as senator from the 16th District, covering Walla Walla County and parts of Benton and Franklin counties.
Perry Dozier — Referenced as attending a supply chain caucus meeting in the Tri-Cities.
Perry Dozier — Referenced as having shared additional ideas about what can still be done.
Claudia Kauffman — Opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and identified herself as chair and senator from the 47th Legislative District.
Claudia Kauffman — The speaker addresses Chair Kaufman. This likely refers to Senator Claudia Kauffman, though the transcript says 'Kaufman'.