Puget Sound Economic Summit

Protocols for a Pandemic:
Meeting with Confidence

Planning meetings and events during a global pandemic is no easy feat. Join us as Secretary of Health Dr. Weisman tells us what health and safety protocols planners need to keep in mind during the planning process. Pradeep Fernandes will tell us about Boeing’s new Confident Travel Initiative, and how business leaders can travel safely to and from meetings. We’ll also hear tips from a meetings and events planner navigating these unprecedented times.

Speakers

Kim Bedier

Director of Tacoma Venues & Events, City of Tacoma

As Director of Venues & Events for the City of Tacoma, Kim Bedier is responsible for the iconic Tacoma Dome, one of the largest wood domed structures in the world, and the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Cheney Stadium, historic Pantages and Rialto Theaters, and Theater on the Square. In 2019, Tacoma Venues & Events was awarded the Venue Excellence Award by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). Bedier is also responsible for the Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality, and was acting Director of Community & Economic Development for the City in 2018.

Bedier joined the City of Tacoma from Comcast Arena (now Angel of the Winds Arena) at Everett, Washington which she opened in 2003. Comcast Arena was awarded the inaugural IAVM Venue Excellence Award for Arenas in 2010. She previously held venue leadership positions at Air Canada Centre in Toronto and the Olympic Medals Plaza at the Salt Lake Olympic Games.

Pradeep Fernandes

Managing Director - Strategy for Confident Travel Initiative, The Boeing Company

Prior to this role, Pradeep was the Managing Director of International Strategy & Business Development. In this role, he was responsible for advancing Boeing Commercial division’s efforts to be a global leader, align international objectives across business units. Prior to this, Pradeep was the Managing Director of Boeing HorizonX where he explored business opportunities beyond the core businesses of Boeing Company including exploring businesses that could potentially disrupt the core businesses themselves. Prior to HorizonX, he was Managing director for Product Strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. In this role, he was responsible for setting the product strategy for the business unit and recommending the launch of 737MAX, 777X and 787-10. Prior to this role, he was part of the BCA Supply Chain Strategy group, leading the effort to develop an overall supply chain strategy and key supplier strategies. Earlier, he was the Product Manager for the Boeing 737 and led marketing and strategy efforts to launch the Boeing Sky Interior. Pradeep also spent three years in the Corporate Audit organization, where he was part of the Enterprise Auditor Program. Prior to Audit, he worked in the Configuration Engineering and Analysis and Fleet Support Engineering groups contributing to airplane performance analysis and early configuration development for new airplanes.

Dr. John Weisman

Secretary of Health, Washington State Department of Health

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH, was appointed secretary of health by Governor Jay Inslee and joined the Department of Health in April 2013. He’s an accomplished transformational leader with more than 22 years of local public health experience and focuses on whole systems approaches to improving health.

John has been passionate about public health since reading a 1983 Time magazine article about disease detectives tracking Legionnaires ’ disease, toxic shock syndrome, and HIV. It was the impetus for him to enter the profession.

Moderated By

Ryan Yamamoto

News Anchor, KOMO News

Ryan Yamamoto is a two time Emmy award reporter who joined the KOMO News team in June of 2016.

Yamamoto previously worked in Sacramento where he spent nearly 16 years as a Weekend News Anchor, Reporter and Sports Anchor. During his time in California’s Capital he covered a diverse range of topics from the Ted Kaczynski “Unabomber” trial, California wildfires, the election of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, three World Series, the Super Bowl in New Orleans and NBA Championships.

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