Everett-area employers wondering how to use artificial intelligence without cutting staff can tune into a free virtual session on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) will host "People-Centered AI: Boosting Productivity Without Replacing Jobs" from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. via Zoom, with a simultaneous Facebook stream, as first reported by My Everett News. The session is part of EASC's monthly Coffee Chats series, produced in partnership with 425 Business.
Mark Johnson, a government contracting advisor with the Washington APEX Accelerator at EASC, will moderate. Johnson called AI "a high-impact tool requiring a thoughtful strategy around building a strong data foundation and prioritizing skills development."
He added that AI can make a workforce more productive only if organizations invest in developing AI fluency and subject-matter expertise to validate the work at every stage of adoption. Johnson has also written for the Washington APEX Accelerator that AI should not be treated as an autopilot for organizations with limited resources.
The hour-long panel will cover responsible AI implementation, upskilling strategies and change management. EASC said panelists had not yet been named as of Sept. 25 but would be announced through the organization's channels before the session.
EASC said the session is aimed at employers, HR and operations leaders, technology professionals, workforce and education partners, and small businesses. Johnson, who advises small businesses on government contracting through the APEX Accelerator program, has moderated panels and led workshops at prior EASC-affiliated events, including the 2025 North Puget Sound Contracting Conference.
The Coffee Chats series has run monthly since at least July, with recent sessions covering maritime and defense activity at the Port of Everett on July 7, circular-economy strategies on Aug. 11 and workforce challenges on Sept. 15. The Sept. 15 panel featured Joy Emory, CEO of Workforce Snohomish, and Wes Allen, executive director of Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center, among others.
Registration is free but required. Attendees who sign up receive the Zoom link and post-event resource materials by email. EASC's registration page is available at bit.ly/PeopleCenteredAI, according to the My Everett News announcement.
