Austin Regimbal

Marketing & Communications Director

Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce

Age: 36

Current city of residence: Kennewick

Briefly describe your company:

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business. We promote regional prosperity and strengthen our member businesses through advocacy, leadership, networking and innovative business programs.

How long have you worked there?

Seven years.

Education: Please list any degrees and professional certifications.

• AA, Columbia Basin College, 2006.
• BA, Eastern Washington University, 2008.
• Western Association of Chamber Executives Academy Graduate, 2023.
• Monday.com Core Builder Certification, 2023.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organization Management, 2025 (expected graduation date).

Briefly describe your job and how you got into it:

As the marketing and communications director, my role is to ensure that members, community stakeholders and the public are well-informed about the vital initiatives, projects and programs undertaken by the regional chamber. I manage the regional chamber’s email communications, social media profiles, printed media, event A/V and more.

Prior to my time at the chamber, I was a journalist working for a television news station in Spokane. My background in news prepared me for this position through my established skills in multimedia communications, my ability to identify a good story and my ability to lead a team to complete complex projects.

Tell us about your first job.

My first real job was as a cashier/concession vendor at the Regal Cinemas in the Columbia Center mall. I worked there during my senior year at Richland High School. This job taught me the value of customer service and teamwork. I will always look back fondly at the camaraderie I shared with my fellow theater workers.

What advice would you give to your younger self about achieving success?

I would advise myself to take more risks and stop fearing failure. Focus on the greatest possible outcome instead of the worst-case scenario.

What was your dream job as a child?

I wanted to be a film director. I went to college and found that filmmaking wasn’t for me, but I left with great techniques in project management.

What or who most influenced your career path or leadership style? This could be a book, class, person, etc.

Melissa Luck, my executive director (now the news director) at KXLY 4 News in Spokane. Melissa taught me to trust in my own abilities, which is something I try to impart to others when leading.

What would be your top three priorities to make our community a better place?

My first priority would be to strive to build greater understanding of opposing viewpoints. Our society needs to lose the “you’re with us or you’re against us” mentality and hold civil discussions to better understand each other.

Second, we need to focus on affordable child care in the Tri-Cities. As a father of two young children, I know that it can be a struggle to find a safe environment to send kids while their parents work to provide for their families. We need to increase the number of affordable child care options in the area so our workforce can continue to support our economy.

Finally, affordable housing is becoming a larger issue in the Tri-Cities. Housing costs are skyrocketing and people with low incomes are running out of options. Community leaders need to come together to find solutions before more people are forced to live on the street.

Tell us about your community involvement/community service:

My family and I have been very active in fundraising for and participating in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. My wife, Jenni, started supporting the Alzheimer’s Association after her grandfather died of Alzheimer’s in 2017. Since then, Jenni and I have worked to support the major fundraising efforts of our 6-year-old daughter, Ellie, to teach her that it’s important to support causes that she believes in.

If you had unlimited time, what volunteer work would you be interested in doing?

I believe early childhood education is so important, particularly literacy. I would love to volunteer with the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and Mid-Columbia Libraries to support their missions of learning to read and having access to books.

How do you achieve work-life balance?

While I’m almost always available to my regional chamber teammates via phone, I do recognize that it’s important to step away from the stresses of work for the sake of both my family and my mental health. I try my best to leave work at work when I go home for the day. When that’s not possible and I have to work outside of normal hours, I will counterbalance the extra time I spent with additional time off later. I’m lucky to have a very understanding boss.

List any awards/honors you have received:

I was elected to the Western Association of Chamber Executives’ Emerging Leaders Council in 2021. My term on the council ended in 2023.

Do you have family? Pets?

I live with my wife, Jenni, my 6-year-old daughter, Ellie, and my 1-year-old son, Remy. We have two elderly house cats, Riggins and Peyton. We’re on the lookout for a dog.

What brought you to the Tri-Cities? Did you grow up here?

I was born and raised in Richland (third generation to be born at Kadlec). I began studying at Eastern Washington University in Cheney in 2006, and after I worked in Spokane for just shy of 10 years. When my wife and I decided we wanted to start a family, I immediately began looking for a job in the Tri-Cities so we could move back home. We moved back in 2017, and we’re thrilled to able to raise our kids in a safe community with the support of our families.

What’s your dream vacation?

The Greek Islands.

Planner or procrastinator?

ALWAYS plan. And always have a backup plan if the first plan doesn’t work.

Introvert or extrovert?

I’m an introvert, but I’m trying to be more outgoing.

First car?

I drove a mid-’80s red Ford Mustang in high school. I miss it.

Favorite thing to do in Tri-Cities?

Take my kids to one of our great parks (usually Hansen, but I love Howard Amon).

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

One of my favorite pastimes is mowing my lawn.

Favorite Tri-City restaurant?

There are many, but Bangkok Thai stands out.

Favorite day of the week?

Friday.

Text, email, phone call?

Text, please.

Would you rather travel back in time or to the future?

Back in time.