By Mayor Tammy de Weerd
Fall is finally in the air, and we’ve just completed another successful Meridian Business Day. This was the fifth time this event has been held and we saw several hundred people from local businesses gather at Meridian City Hall on September 9th for this free day of guest speakers, workshops, exhibits, and networking, topped off by an outdoor luncheon in the plaza. I’d like to thank the businesses and individuals who volunteered their time, talents, and products to make this event the must attend it continues to be.
While this is a great annual event, there are many other opportunities for members of our business community to learn from one another.
Each month the VIBES business book club holds a morning meeting in downtown Meridian at The Grotto. We read an incredible variety of books. Recently we found unexpected lessons and inspiration in Dr. Seuss’s book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” and in November we’ll discuss “If Disney Ran Your Hospital: 9 1/2 Things You Would Do Differently,” which promises to offer cultural insights from a hospital executive who became a Disney cast member. We also have the Ultra Clean Smoke Out which is a great monthly networking and learning event for our business community. Each month there is a featured speaker and the event includes a lunch and networking opportunities.
There are many other ways our local business leaders are helping one another and getting involved in our community. We have outstanding support for the Mayor’s & CEO’s Kids Book Club. We recently started our new season with forty-five eager 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who will meet monthly at the Silverstone Corporate Plaza to discuss some really terrific children’s books recommended by the Meridian Library. This year we’re fortunate to have “leader-readers” from local business sponsors including Saint Alphonsus Meridian Health Plaza, Bank of the Cascades, CableONE, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, Citi, CH2M Hill, and United Heritage. Together, we’ll show kids that readers are leaders.
Every day, Meridian residents and businesses are finding new and innovative ways to engage with our community. Hopefully you are too!