YPE Tri-Cities

Traci Jao joined Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) in December of 2007 as a Project Manager. TRIDEC is the lead economic development organization for Benton and Franklin Counties in Washington State. As Project Manager, Ms. Jao is responsible for providing support to the Director of Business Recruitment and the Director of Business Retention and Expansion. In January 2009, TRIDEC launched the Mid-Columbia Energy Imitative (MCEI). MCEI is focused on economic development that capitalizes on local infrastructure, resources, and expertise in the energy sector, while retaining and recruiting businesses and jobs that promote solutions to current and future energy challenges. With this new initiative, Ms. Jao’s responsibilities have expanded to supporting MCEI with a primary focus on Communications and Business Recruitment. In addition to her roles and responsibilities to TRIDEC and MCEI, she also serves as Chair for the Young Professional Community Roundtable (since June 2008) and Co-Chair of Young Professionals of Tri-Cities (since April 2009). Ms. Jao’s primary role in these leadership positions is to recruit and retain young professionals to the Tri-Cities region.

Lauren Swanson is currently a Civil and Environmental Engineering student attending Washington State University (WSU), whose passion for engineering principles and applications has driven her to explore and cultivate professional education throughout the Tri-cities. Ms. Swanson recently began an internship with Infinia in April, 2011, and has since been entrusted with various projects intensely involved in market research, economic analysis, business development, and project management. In addition to her involvement with YPE, Ms. Swanson is also a founding member and the Vice President of the WSU, Tri-Cities Engineering Club; purposed with promoting, preparing, and propelling students into the disciplines of engineering. Lauren Swanson will utilize her roles in the student community to further expand YPE’s goals and vision among young, aspiring professionals.