Events

Lynnwood Chamber Luncheon

Date and Time

Wednesday Aug 19, 2026
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PDT

Location

Fogo de Chao
Alderwood Mall

Two Important Presentations for Washington State Businesses

- Washington Saves, a new state-facilitated retirement savings program launching in July 2027; everything you need to know!

Learn about the retirement requirement for businesses that meet certain criteria, including employing workers.
Mandatory participation: Businesses operating in Washington for at least two years that do not already offer a qualified retirement plan must facilitate the program.
State law will mandate certain employers to facilitate access to Washington Saves for their employees if they don’t offer a qualified retirement plan.
Understand how the program works, key compliance requirements, and alternative retirement plan options
Explore ways to stay connected as the program develops, including opportunities to be a part of a pilot in early 2027.

Cal Barker, CRPC^{tm -}Washington Saves Outreach & Marketing, works in outreach and marketing for Washington Saves, a state-sponsored retirement savings program anticipating launch in July 2027. Cal spent their career helping individuals and small businesses achieve financial security, including nine years in banking—six as a licensed Financial Advisor specializing in retirement and small business solutions. Most recently, they directed shelter operations for a housing-first nonprofit in Thurston County.
In their professional and volunteer work, Cal is dedicated to expanding retirement access, financial literacy, and community. According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, over 1.2 million Washingtonians lack workplace retirement options. To help address this, Washington Saves provides portable, payroll-funded Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), which certain employers will need to facilitate access to if they don’t already offer a qualified retirement plan.

- The Leadership Lie: Why Your People Aren't the Problem — Your System Is

Every leader has experienced it: an employee who lacks accountability, a team that struggles with communication, or a workplace culture that seems stuck despite hiring good people. Too often, leaders respond by trying to change the people instead of examining the systems shaping their behavior.
Drawing from my experience rebuilding my own life after addiction and incarceration, leading statewide workforce initiatives, and helping employers improve hiring and retention, I'll share why lasting change happens when leaders stop asking, "What's wrong with my people?" and start asking, "What is my system rewarding?"
Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can use immediately to strengthen culture, improve accountability, and build workplaces where people and performance thrive.

Ty Reed, Leadership & Workplace Culture Speaker, executive coach, and workforce strategist
who helps organizations build environments where people and performance thrive.
After overcoming addiction, homelessness, and incarceration, Ty rebuilt his life, earned an MBA,
became a PHR-certified HR professional, and now serves as Reentry Manager for the Washington
State Employment Security Department. He also founded the nonprofit Recovery Career Services,
which helps individuals overcome barriers to employment while partnering with employers to
strengthen hiring, retention, and workplace culture.
Ty has spoken for organizations across the country, including Amazon, Comcast, HR associations,
workforce development organizations, chambers of commerce, and government agencies. His
presentations combine compelling storytelling, practical leadership strategies, and humor to
challenge conventional thinking about people, performance, and organizational culture.
Audiences consistently describe Ty's presentations as engaging, thought-provoking, actionable,
and memorable.

Fees/Admission

$39 Chamber Member
$49 Future Chamber Member
$59 Late Registration

Website

Lynnwood Chamber of Commerce

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