Mark your calendars to join us on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, from 12 PM – 1:30 PM PST, for this exploratory lunch conversation and networking event at the Perkins Coie office downtown Seattle.
Brad Boswell from Boswell Consulting will provide a brief update on cleantech-related policy issues to be addressed by the 2025 state legislative session.
Lars Erickson from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce will highlight key elements of state payroll expense tax proposals that would directly impact many member companies within our trade organization.
Lastly, our final speaker will provide updates on new and expanded free clean energy tax credit technical assistance provided by the State of Washington.
Introductory Speaker:

Susan Betcher, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
Susan Betcher strengthens public and private companies’ patent portfolios. She creates intellectual property (IP) rights and leverages those rights via licensing agreements, competitive market advantages, and cross-jurisdictional partnerships. She helps clients define their IP strategies and commercialize proprietary innovations.
Susan is a trained engineer with experience across technology sectors, particularly in clean technologies. She draws on her background in infrastructure project management and business operations to help clients visualize the significance of their patents. The legal budgets she prepares are predictable, flexible, and protective of product features, business lines, and jurisdictional rights.
Featured Speakers:

Brad Boswell, Principal, Boswell Consulting
Brad Boswell has been a contract lobbyist in the state of Washington since 1996. His client interests have inspired some of the most innovative, and at times, controversial legislative outcomes in environmental, energy and transportation policy. As a government relations professional, Brad’s established relationships span both sides of the political aisle, with a practiced ability to pull the levers of political action when needed to achieve his client’s policy goals.
In a legislative environment where the politics of the day can be influenced by a social media post or headline, Brad has provided steady, consistently productive advocacy. Most recently, during a legislative session focused on mental health, opioids and special education, Brad was able to secure billions of dollars for Vigor shipyards, benefiting the company and the diverse working professionals in industrial maritime manufacturing. At the same time, he secured tax policies supporting the National Hockey League’s (NHL) establishment in Seattle and successfully upheld the policies of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and related transportation investment projects across the Puget Sound.
Brad has strong and productive relationships with regulatory agencies including the Department of Transportation, Department of Ecology and the Utilities and Transportation Commission. Brad’s efforts on behalf of the solar industry have resulted in tax and regulatory certainty that will uphold individual solar company business models for the next decade.
Brad graduated from Western Washington University in 1995 with a degree in environmental policy, business and political science.

Lars Erickson, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Lars Erickson joined the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications.
Lars comes to the Chamber with 25 years of experience in public and government relations, communications, and politics – most recently serving as Senior Director of External Relations for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). In this role, Lars oversaw external and internal communications, government relations, community outreach efforts, strategic planning for special projects, and liaising with the Governor’s Office and partner agencies.
During his time at WSDOT, the agency received national recognition for its emergency/crisis communications efforts, social media engagement, and comprehensive user-focused website redesign. Lars’ experience also includes serving as Public Relations Officer at Pierce Transit, as Press Secretary for Gov. Christine Gregoire, and on multiple campaigns including Kerry/Edwards in 2004. Lars is a proud member of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission, appointed by the Governor, and also serves as a volunteer advance and press lead for the Biden Administration.

Nicole Ndurumo, Program Coordinator, CleanTech Alliance
Nicole Ndurumo holds a Certified Associate in Project Management certification and an associate’s degree in business administration. While in school, Nicole developed her project management skills where she gained experience in high-volume, complex project coordination. Previously, Nicole has held roles supporting executive leadership and optimizing operational workflows. She also has a passion for environmental sustainability, enjoying the blend of strategic and creative aspects that come with these fields.
Outside of work she enjoys exploring her artistic outlets, traveling to new cities, trying new cuisines and spending time outdoors.
Moderator:

Lindsay McCormick, Policy and Programs Manager, CleanTech Alliance
Lindsay joined the CleanTech Alliance full-time in February 2020 after 7 months of working for them part-time writing a white paper on the Clean Energy Fund. She was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from Western Washington University in three years with a degree in Biology with an Ecology, Evolutionary, and Organismal emphasis.
Lindsay organizes the Government Affairs Committee and is involved in researching, writing, and editing white papers, letters, reports, and other written communications. She has a passion for public policy and is in charge of coordinating the CleanTech Alliance’s legislative outreach and policy advocacy.
Outside of work, Lindsay enjoys watching football and hockey, playing golf, board games, and jigsaw puzzles.