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  The History of Washington Business Week Since 1976 Washington Business Week has been preparing high school students to successfully enter the workforce by giving them the skills, confidence and values to succeed in life, regardless of career choice. In the 1970’s, Jim Brooks, the president of Central Washington University, began facilitating meetings that brought together the state’s business leaders and education leaders. Everyone agreed that students were graduating from high school without the critical skills that employers were looking for in employees. After many meetings, a solution was born: CWU would host Business Week in the summer of 1976. It all started with just that single summer session and 225 kids. Now Washington Business Week, the primary program of the Foundation for Private Enterprise Education, includes four summer sessions, an advanced program for returning students who want a more in-depth experience, an In School Program which allows us to deliver programs directly in high schools across the state, a Healthcare Pathways Program and we are in the process of developing Accounting and Construction Pathway Programs. The Distinguishing Feature The distinguishing feature of Business Week is the Discovery Learning/Experiential approach that allows students to take control of the experience. Because the learning is hands-on and student-directed, participants are inspired by the knowledge that they are wholly responsible for their own success. Students are away from home, friends and family and must take personal responsibility. By working in small teams with people they don’t know, they have the opportunity to ‘step out of their box’ in a safe environment. After the week parents often call and ask “what did you do to my son/daughter”. In just one week, participants gain tremendous self confidence and conversation at the dinner table is transformed. While some other programs compliment the work of Business Week, but we are the only program that gives kids an intensive, in-depth and real-world experience. The Need Schools in Washington State face an uphill battle. Not only are schools having to serve more kids, they are given fewer resources to meet the needs of these students. With budgets in schools, particularly rural schools, getting increasingly tight, programs that are not seen as traditional classroom subjects are considered unnecessary and are the first to get cut. Business Education is often among this group of seemingly unnecessary subjects. However, not arming our state’s high school students with the critical skills to be successful in life after high school only perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Students who graduate without adequate workplace skills are:
Where are we Heading Several industries in our state have critical worker shortages that could have a devastating impact on our state’s economy. The Business Week Board of Directors has taken on the initiative of making the Business Week Programming more relevant to industry needs in Washington State. We have developed a Healthcare Week and are in the process of implementing an Accounting Pathway Pilot Program and a Construction Trades Pilot Program. All programming will be consistent with the Business Week Experiential Program Model and keeping the integrity of the program intact is a priority for the Board of Directors as well as the staff. Mission/Vision The mission of the Foundation for Private Enterprise Education is to educate and inspire high school students to recognize their potential as employees, employers and citizens in a free enterprise society. The Vision of the Foundation is to partner with the business community and high school educators to make learning about the free enterprise economic system accessible to all Washington State high school students. Board of Directors Washington Business Week is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that ensures the fulfillment of the Business Week mission. The majority of our Board members have experienced the “magic” of Business Week either by participating in the program as high school students and/or volunteering for the program as adults. They are passionate about the program and are committed to delivering a high-quality program that improves the lives of our state’s youth. » Click here to see a listing of the Board of Directors and their affiliations. » View the 2008 Board Schedule Leadership Council The Washington Business Week Leadership Council is an advisory group of top corporate executives, university presidents, and selected public officials that function as a resource and sounding board to assure the Washington Business Week core principles and programming effectively represents the business community. Associating Business Week with recognizable business/community leaders increases our visibility, awareness and support at the executive level. » Click here to see a listing of the Leadership Council and their affiliations |
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