"It has become a time of creativity and innovation." - Paulette Beadling ’06, M.S. HRM ’12
Unprecedented times call for creativity, flexibility and innovation, and working as an events coordinator during a pandemic requires all of the above. This is a lesson that alumna Paulette Beadling has learned while working for the Association of Washington Business (AWB).
AWB advises and supports the state of Washington’s business community through government advocacy and information/resource dissemination. When COVID-19 hit Washington in March, Ms. Beadling and her colleagues collaborated with the communications and government affairs teams to provide event content virtually to members and nonmember businesses.
These efforts included the launch of the COVID-19 Employer Resources Series, which focused on a different topic related to the pandemic and featured speakers from state agencies and government departments, as well as experts in finance, law, economics, public relations, medicine and other industries. The webinars provided the statewide business community with the most up-to-date information, government mandates and policy updates that will help during the pandemic and the eventual recovery period. The series ran from March through July, and the webinars are available on demand on AWB’s Vimeo website.
As the pandemic continues, AWB offers content important to the Washington business community, including several virtual conferences and events. The virtual August Federal Affairs Summit saw the most participation yet from the congressional delegation. Panelists included experts such as economists, manufacturers making PPE, a rebound and recovery taskforce, vaccine research, financial services and policy.
“Working in events is a strange place to be right now. We can’t gather in person, network, share stories and information, or build community in the same way we once did. It has become a time of creativity and innovation, which is a good thing. However, we look forward to being able to gather in person once again,” Ms. Beadling said.
Ms. Beadling earned her bachelor’s degree in communications, media and technology, and a Master of Science in human resources management from La Roche. Prior to relocating to Washington, she worked as La Roche’s Assistant Director of Student Development from 2009 to 2012.
“This is a difficult and unprecedented time,” she said. “It’s unlike anything we ever experienced before. I am staying as positive as I can, and I look forward to seeing my loved ones in person again soon. I feel lucky to be employed and healthy.”