MOSES LAKE - The Basin business community will have a chance to meet incoming Association of Washington Business president Kris Johnson during a networking event in Moses Lake later this month.

The AWB Leadership Reception will be held from 4:40 to 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at St. Brigid's Brewery. AWB is holding the event as a way to say "thank you" to outgoing president Don Brunell, who will also be at the Leadership Reception, and "welcome" to Johnson.

AWB announced Johnson would be the association's next president last month. Brunell is retiring after 28 years with AWB, according to an AWB statement. Johnson will assume his new role on Jan. 1.

Johnson first joined AWB in 2010 as the group's vice president of operations. He was tasked with overseeing AWB's financial, membership and events divisions as well as the nonprofit AWB Institute, which focuses on workforce development and issues key to private sector employers.

Johnson previously served as president of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota, according to AWB. He also spent time with the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kennewick and the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce.

As president of AWB, Johnson will be representing more than 8,000 organization members, which in turn represents about 700,000 employees statewide.

To RSVP for the Leadership Reception, contact Bonnie Millikan at bonniem@awb.com or 800-521-9325 by Nov. 18.