Join the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure as we learn about local Industrial Symbiosis initiatives underway in the Pacific Northwest, from the leaders who’ve helped drive them forward. Industrial symbiosis is a ground-breaking approach to industrial development where one facility’s wastes – energy, water, materials – become valuable resource inputs for other facilities. It offers rich economic, environmental and community benefits by making greater use of resources already in the community. While a diverse set of at least 10 communities, spanning much of Washington and Oregon, are actively pursuing industrial symbiosis, you’ll learn about three of the leading initiatives – in Wenatchee, Pasco, and Boardman. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the industrial symbiosis concept, active projects in the PNW, and deeper connections to the growing industrial symbiosis network.
Featured Speakers:
Jessica Shaw, Deputy Public Works Director – Utilities, City of Wenatchee
Jessica has worked for the City of Wenatchee since 2002 in the water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. In 2024, she attended the Wastewater Symbiosis Study Tour in Denmark with the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure and is now working on implementing industrial symbiosis for the City’s utilities. She holds a B.S. in chemistry and mathematics from Pacific Lutheran University.
Anna Browne, Workforce Development Specialist, Port of Morrow
Anna Browne is the Workforce Development Manager for the Port of Morrow. In this role she has the opportunity combine several of her favorite work passions, working with students, community building and connecting business and industry to education. She believes in the importance of strong partnerships and focuses on sharing the positive impacts the businesses in the port have on the county and the region.
Anna comes from a background in education, where she worked as a classroom teacher in the Boardman community for 13 years and as an outreach program coordinator for the Oregon State University Extension Service for 6 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Latin American studies and a Master’s degree in Education.
In addition to her work role, she is a busy mom of three kids who play every sport and need new shoes every other week. She’s an active volunteer in her community serving on the Chamber of Commerce Board of directors in multiple positions for the last 20 years, a 4-H club leader and has coached just about every sport. In her spare time, she loves to read, paddleboard, travel and listen to live music.
Stephen McFadden, Director of Economic Development & Marketing, Port of Pasco
Stephen McFadden joined the Port of Pasco in November of 2020 as the Director of Economic Development and Marketing. He was promoted in 2025 to Deputy Executive Director, Economic Development Division. Prior to that he served as the Adams County Economic Development Director for seven years.
In 2018 he completed the International Economic Development Council’s rigorous certification process, becoming a Certified Economic Development Professional (CEcD). He was recertified by IEDC in 2021 & 2024. For 28 years, he was a photojournalist and community newspaper publisher. Most recently as the owner of the Ritzville Adams County Journal. While a working journalist, McFadden served for a decade as a member of the board for the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, including two terms as board president.
He joined the Washington Economic Development Association Board in August of 2022. In 2025 he was named the board’s vice-chair. McFadden also serves as a member of the board of the Colima-Pasco Friendship Association and co-chairs its economic development committee.