Jessica “Jessie” Laughery joined Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce as president and CEO on May 11, replacing Lance Beck, who took a new job at Greater Spokane Incorporated.

Laughery, 34, attended Gonzaga University before going on to hold multiple roles working for then Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, most notably as director of constituent and community relations.

She then worked for the nonprofit The Hutton Settlement as director of community engagement and stewardship. Most recently, she served as director of strategic programs and initiatives at Joya Child & Family Development. 

What attracted you to this role with the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce? 

The Valley Chamber’s reputation of being a convener is something that has really stood out to me.

Being at The Hutton Settlement, we were members of the Valley Chamber, so I would often go to events, and the events just felt different. It was not just necessarily talking about an issue; it was actually doing something about the issue.

I’ve had the opportunity to see how progress happens when we realize that not one organization has the responsibility or the power to make all of the difference. It's when businesses, when schools, when community partners, when elected officials, when everybody comes together and decides that they are invested in a cause.

I think that understanding the power that collaboration can bring is something that really led me to this role and makes me feel like we'll continue to win regardless of the environmental factors that are pushing on the business community. 

What are some of your greater hopes or goals for the Valley Chamber under your leadership?

Business success individually for our membership, helping others understand the roles that chambers play at an individual business level, connecting, growing, and navigating challenges.

We work in a sphere where we do things for our general membership events, but for those members who never show up for a single event, I want to make sure that we know how to meet them where they are. Maybe that's a business who is struggling with growth because they don't have the parking spaces. So, how do we go to them, help have a conversation with the city of Spokane Valley, and bring the right people to the table to help navigate those things.

When I feel like we can embrace that concierge mindset, I think then we all win.

Ensuring that business voices are represented at the local, state, and federal level is important, and then community leadership and just being willing to serve as that trusted facilitator in conversations where people maybe are stalled with progress because of disagreements or distrust.

What are some of the challenges currently facing the Spokane Valley business community?

Businesses are navigating a really complex environment right now. Many of the decisions that are affecting them are not being made necessarily locally — some are — but some are being made at the state level and federally. 

While we don't control every one of those policy decisions, what we do control is how we respond as a community. I think what will define us moving forward successfully is how we work together, advocate effectively, and develop local solutions that will determine how we move forward. 

That's where I think the chamber has a really critical part to play, making sure that we are coming up with creative local solutions to address some of the statewide challenges, frankly.

There have been a lot of headlines lately about Washington business owners considering a move out of the state. Given the Valley’s proximity to Idaho, what are some of your strategies to navigate that potential challenge?

This idea of business migration is really challenging, and I think it's very fear-based, and it's especially hard to hear as a community when we feel like we're losing all of this hope because we've hit the bottom.

Last week, I had a really great conversation with the CEO of the Post Falls Chamber, and I asked her that exact same question. 

I want it to be very clear my role in this idea of regional competitiveness. There's a place for competition, but there's a greater place for collaboration. If we have an aerospace manufacturer looking at coming to the region, whether they end up in Medical Lake, Spokane Valley, or Post Falls, we all win.

I can certainly articulate the benefits of moving across the border. They also can articulate the benefits of living in Washington.

It's going to take some really honest conversations around how we maintain and ensure that businesses can continue to invest and thrive here. 

What would your pitch be to a business owner who is considering expanding or launching a business in Spokane Valley? 

The Valley has such unique benefits because of the nature of everybody wanting you to succeed.

In the Spokane Valley, whether you are a large retailer or you're a small business, each person that I have had the opportunity to engage with at a business level is so invested in the success of everybody, that I feel like there's a winning situation for everybody. 

The Spokane Valley also holds tight to values that are important in a business-friendly community that I don't know that everybody in our region has totally embraced, so being able to have a pocket where those values are still held closely is really important.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.