The IARW Pacific Chapter met in person for the first time since the Covid Pandemic in Tempe, Arizona in January 2023.

Bradner Cold Storage’s Reba Hiebert, Chapter Secretary, helped organize the event which brought together 20 participants from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California, to share area reports and learn together from valuable speaker presentations. This year, the group discussed HR recruitment and retention post-Covid world and current automation options in our industry. In the past, the Chapter met twice yearly to discuss trends in their area, share best practices, and network with peers; the group is looking forward to restarting their annual meetings and growing and changing with the industry in the post-Covid world.

In addition to the opportunity to learn and grow in our industry, there was also an evening reception, a fun axe throwing tournament and a delicious dinner out. Many attendees went on to participate at the WFLO Institute West (as students and instructors) that began the following day.