Bruce Kendall

A few weeks ago another inspiring entrepreneur by the name of Bruce Kendall came to speak to my class. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County, which helps businesses expand as well as focusing on attracting outside businesses to Pierce County. They will not work with just any company though, he told us that they focus on companies that will bring outside money into pierce county rather then circulating the money that is already here. This is why the board only works with producer companies and not service companies. They try to pipeline a large number of companies because they know the chance that they will come here is low. 204 companies were visited in 2011 alone. Kendall's track record from 2007-2011 created 7,815 jobs, $408 million in wages, $360 million in private capital investment, and $11 million in industrial revenue bonds. Currently their major focus in five core clusters of businesses within the pierce county that they hope will bring attention to our area. These clusters are attempting to solve some of today's current world problems. These include clean water technology, logistics and trade, cyber security, medical services, and aerospace.