Meet Carson Bowlin

How have WPC and YP influenced your personal life or career?
“I’ve been involved with Washington Policy Center for 7 years and have found the organization to be a place that allows people to engage around ideas and solutions in a way that is collaborative and productive. This framework has helped me build bridges and relationships with people of different backgrounds and ideologies across the state centered on the idea of helping improve people’s lives through sound public policy. The organization compels one to move forward towards action and to think about ways to craft a better future for our state.”

Why does this cause matter to you? Why now in particular?
“More than ever, the presence of balanced free-market solutions is needed. It is the most sustainable approach to protecting the ongoing strength of our society moving forward and it is the most efficient way to improve peoples’ lives and narrow the gap of opportunity within our communities. WPC is a strong advocate for free-market solutions within Washington State at a time when some may be swayed by a misunderstanding of socialism and the wasteful consequences of government expansion. To ensure our system’s sustainability, there must be a balance between reasonable government involvement and the innovation, ingenuity and competition of a market-based economy.”

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Meet Heidi and Ron Stanley: Building a Legacy, Now

WPC: What value does WPC bring to our state?

Heidi: WPC’s researchers are qualified, detailed, and credible. Their work is all about bringing the facts to the surface and making Washington better. WPC has a broad mission with eight Centers of Excellence.  The quality of their work draws other organizations and policymakers to use WPC research as an important component in their problem-solving work.

WPC: How has WPC’s work impacted how you and your husband are able to run your business?

Heidi: Our company, Empire Bolt, is a specialized distribution company servicing primarily original equipment manufacturing (OEM) companies, many of which manufacture and distribute their products internationally.  WPC works closely with business owners like us and policymakers to provide accurate analysis of the issues (i.e. small business climate or transportation) that could impact our ability to serve our customers.  As good policy is created coupled with innovative solutions, WPC research is not only helping our company but our customers too.

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Meet Loni Hinton: Attorney and YP Advisory Board Member

WPC: How did you get involved with YP after college?

Loni: Transitioning from WPC’s SU Chapter to the greater young professionals group was a natural progression.  WPC does an excellent job connecting with people, regardless of whether they are in college or graduate school or starting their career.  The dynamic speakers and relevant topics always kept me coming back.  I always enjoyed having my policy views challenged by WPC’s research. 

WPC: How have WPC and YP served you in your life, career, or philanthropic goals?

Loni: Knowledge is a gift that keeps on giving.  WPC’s research on issues surrounding education, health care, small business, and transportation has molded the practical solutions that have kept Washington a fantastic place to live and do business.  For example, at a recent YP happy hour Bill Bryant spoke about NAFTA, tariff disputes, and what President Trump’s trade policies could mean for Washington State.

Because of the event, I was able to have productive conversations with people in the construction industry that are challenged by the risks arising from the trade negotiations and was able to provide both my legal recommendations and an insider’s perspective on the trade negotiations based on Bill’s 30-plus years of trade experience.  Now, I’m in the process of writing a journal article about how construction professionals can proactively hedge against the risks posed by ongoing trade negotiations.  This is a prime example of how WPC’s events have a ripple effect and go beyond policy to positively impact how business is done in Washington.  

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Meet Carsten Belanich: Seattle Native and Free-Market Enthusiast

Carsten Belanich is a WPC Young Professionals Advisory Board member. WPC spoke in depth with Carsten about what led to his involvement with the organization and why it is important to him.

WPC: How and why did you become interested in the free-market school of thought?

Carsten: I grew up in Seattle. In high school, things were fairly one-sided. You go along with what your friends which, I think, is normal.

For college, I went to Claremont McKenna in California and had a couple of influential professors. One of my favorite professors had worked in the Reagan administration. His arguments made sense to me – he opened the chink in the armor. From there I started to do some of my own reading – Hayek, Berlin, Burke, and so on. My opening to the free-market school of thought was intellectual – and I hope I’m still evolving!

WPC: How did you hear about WPC?

Carsten: By coincidence. I just googled “Washington State Think-tanks” and WPC came up. Then I applied for an internship!

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Leaving a Lasting Legacy: Joe and Susan Rumble, Wenatchee, WA

WPC: How did you and Joe get involved with Washington Policy Center?

Susan: We were supporters of the Freedom Foundation. They mentioned you and we followed up and saw that you were free market-oriented and you were doing great work. Then, when you opened the Eastern Washington office, we were like, Whoa! here it is, this is in our back yard, this is for us! That is how it started.

WPC: How did the opening of our Eastern Washington office get you more involved with WPC?

Susan: We started attending those early morning breakfasts in Wenatchee. Painfully early, perhaps, but very informative. We were able to learn about not only what was going on around our state, but what was happening in Eastern Washington—touching on issues that directly affected us.

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Meet Sam Winter: a Jennifer Dunn-Thomson Scholarship Recipient

WPC: How and why did you become interested in the free-market school of thought?

Sam: I grew up interested in math, numbers, and economics. It always seemed logical to me. Free-markets explained to me how the world worked and how good things happen when countries trade with each other. At UW, I had a great professor who told it like a story and it just clicked.  

WPC: How did you hear about WPC?

Sam: I got to know WPC through the Jennifer Dunn-Thomson Scholarship. Braden from WPC reached out to me when I was the chair of Young Republicans at UW. We had a unique set up where we partnered with the Young Democrats and tried to host panels and debates. I decided to apply for the scholarship, and that was seven years ago.

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