washington business

Recognizing a business that has had a significant cause-oriented impact in its sector and / or community and contributed to the advancement of the economy . winner of the advance award

International Air and Hospitality Academy , Vancouver Founded : 1979 Number of employees : 42

Embodying the Award ( Advance ): The schools of the International Air and Hospitality Academy provide high-quality training at low cost to help students from all socio-economic groups find satisfying , well-paid careers . Founder Arch Miller ’ s original vision in 1979 to provide excellent airline and travel training has grown to include coaching , mentoring and technical training for the hospitality , culinary , railroad and renewable energy industries .

About the company : Since 1979 , International Air and Hospitality Academy ( IAHA ) and its four subsidiary schools have provided training that prepares graduates for careers in the airline / travel industry , hotel management , culinary arts , railroad operations and wind energy industry .

Its career training programs feature state-of-the-industry education built on industry best practice and certification requirements . They not only prepare students with the applicable technical skills they will need for employment , but also the soft skills and professionalism needed to excel .

Notable contributions to the community and the state : IAHA helps advance the economy of Washington and the prospects of its students by providing high-quality career training that has created opportunity for thousands of students to access family-wage jobs . A few specific examples :

• Over the past 12 months , IAHA has awarded more than $ 83,500 in scholarships , helping to make career training even more accessible to a wider range of students .

• The Arch Miller Scholarship was created providing 100 percent tuition to a special needs student to attend Northwest Culinary Institute .

• Recognizing that many students who come to the Academy have limited job search experience , IAHA created a process to help students find employment while they are attending school to help cover their living expenses and build their resume experience . Often , this assistance took the form of resume writing , interviewing , and other types of soft skills to help make them employable .

• IAHA holds monthly fundraisers to purchase food for the student food bank which supports struggling students with food

insecurity issues . Over the past 12 months , more than $ 1,000 has been raised .

What the judges said : “ Helps diverse student populations receive education … Rewards hard work and opens up global opportunities for those who work hard … Their cause is training and facilities for struggling populations , especially teen mothers … The Academy has a demonstrated history of creating opportunities … The organization is accredited and is consistently recognized as one of the finest career and technical training centers in the nation .”

Quote : “‘ But what about the students ?’ is the question that guides our organizational decision making . What is best for the students is typically our course of action .” — Arch Miller , founder , International Air and Hospitality Academy

Website : www . aha . edu

other finalists for the advance award

Level 11 , Seattle

Like the rockers in the film “ This is Spinal Tap ,” who demonstrate an amplifier that can be turned up to 11 , this high-tech company brings a “ one louder ” approach to helping connect the world through the Internet of Things . The Level 11 team has doubled in size over the past year , growing from mainly software engineers to include user experience and virtual reality experts , game creators and even architects .

Wafla , Lacey

Wafla , formerly known as the Washington Farm Labor Association , is a nonprofit agricultural association that works with employers to provide a stable , reliable and productive workforce . Wafla pioneered the use of the federal H-2A legal work program in Washington . By providing administrative expertise on employment of seasonal workers , Wafla helps farmers focus more energy on their crops .

36 association of washington business