Bruce Kendall

Bruce Kendall was one of the most intriguing guest speakers we've had all quarter. He gave us an insight of what he did previously to what he does now. Taking a look at his website for the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, i gained a few pieces of information that i could apply later on to my career. I learned the importance of a business plan and how to effectively present an elevator speech. Strategic planning was also another topic we discussed during his visit, and how to effectively plan out all the intricate details of a business. During his presentation he gave us facts on the job market for small business here in tacoma. Between 2009 - 2013 there were 4948 jobs here in tacoma which equated out to $314 million in wages and $90 million in private capital investment. As we can see, there is a plethora of jobs here locally and companies looking for candidates to fill certain positions.

Currently Mr. Kendall is the President & CEO of The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County. Looking at his site, the name of his company matches his mission statement to increase the quality and number of jobs as well as capital investment within the county. His recent Successes include planning for Carlisle Construction Materials, Amazon, Niagara, and State Farm Insurance. He pressed on the importance of getting started early with a business plan and also strategically manipulating the plan as your business grows.