Ellensburg, Washington

8 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 “We really do have an amazing quality of life. It’s a beautiful place to live, and we’ve grown up steadily with a good solid infrastructure in place. We’re trying to expand, not just arts and culture, but our recreation opportunities for locals and for the tourism proponent too. We are trying to hit all of the areas, just to grow and advance as a county as we work together to retain and attract talent.” While housing has been an ongoing issue in the region, Ellensburg city council has used what she describes as “every tool in the toolbox we’re allowed to use”, in the effort to increase housing stock while slowing down “pressure pricing”. The city is also committed to the provision of affordable and diverse housing options. Currently, the community has 500 single-family lots and several multi- family projects in various stages of development. With ongoing infrastructure upgrades and repairs throughout the city, flood and water mitigation strategies are a priority. Behrends Cerniwey explains, “Ellensburg is right in the middle of the Kittitas valley, so we have an abundance of water around us from snowmelt. We are always looking It’s no secret that Central Washington University is focused, first and foremost, on the success of our students. Our dedicated instructors go out of their way to provide aspiring young professionals with the hands-on experience they need to hit the ground running in their careers. We also take pride in getting to know our students so we can connect them with opportunities that will help them be successful in the real world. One of the ways we do this is through High- Impact Practices (HIPs), which give students from all backgrounds the skills and knowledge they need to thrive. With the help of Professor Sayantani Mukerjee, two recent CWU Digital Marketing graduates took part in a professional development campaign through Google. Sabrina Dominguez Wilkins (2018) and Kahlia Mafua (2022) participated in the annual Nonprofit Marketing Immersion program and developed advertising campaigns for existing nonprofit organizations. Right away, both graduates parlayed their experiences into exciting career opportunities:  Dominguez Wilkins as a Marketing Manager for Merit Homes Inc., and Mafua as a Digital Marketing Coordinator with Columbia Hospitality. These Wildcats are off to an amazing start in their careers, and it all started with Professor Mukherjee. As CWU looks toward the future, we are embracing the value of HIPs so more students like these can reach their potential. .................................... For more information, please visit our website www.cwu.edu ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON