Nominations still open for Healthiest Companies of Southwest Washington

Vancouver, WA ‒ Ron Sims, chair of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, will be the key note speaker at the 2016 Healthiest Companies of Southwest Washington Awards reception in October.

In partnership with Clark County Public Health and the Clark County Worksite Wellness Network, the Vancouver Business Journal will host the awards event at 7:30-9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Warehouse ’23, 100 Columbia St., Suite 102. Doors open at 7 a.m. Admission is $25. Breakfast is provided.

In his remarks, Sims will discuss how to reduce healthcare costs by investing in employee well-being, including measuring outcomes and the latest trends in worksite wellness. King County executive from 1997 to 2009, Sims now serves on the Washington Health Alliance board of directors and Washington State University board of regents. He served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2009 to 2011.

The awards recognize employers that promote workforce health. Nominations can be submitted online for small, medium-size and larger employers. Please submit nomination to www.vbjusa.com/healthiest-companies. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6.

Award recipients, finalists and sponsors will showcase their practices during the Oct. 18 reception. Finalists and winners will receive coverage in a special edition of the Vancouver Business Journal on Friday, Oct. 28, and the publication’s website at www.vbjusa.com.

Cyndie Meyer, Public Health’s chronic disease prevention program manager, said the event is a great way to learn from other area employers.

“From walking meetings to healthy food policies, local businesses are finding a variety of ways to make wellness a priority for their employees,” said Meyer. “We encourage these organizations to submit nominations for the Healthiest Companies of Southwest Washington recognition.”

The event also will highlight a new Clark County Worksite Wellness Network that can help businesses share information or get started on their own worksite wellness programs.

“Many employers already know that healthy workers translate to less absenteeism, lower health benefit costs and improved worker satisfaction, recruitment and retention,” Meyer said.

“However, not all employers know how to translate this knowledge into worksite wellness efforts. This network is a great way to share best practices, help with wellness policies and start cultural changes,” she said.

For more information on the Clark County Worksite Wellness Network, contact Theresa Cross at theresa.cross@clark.wa.gov.

CONTACT
Theresa Cross
Public Health
(360) 397-8000 ext. 7378
theresa.cross@clark.wa.gov