Builders, developers, property managers, elected officials and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic are just a few of the people coming to Engage 2025, a two-day conference hosted by the Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHAWA) in Bellevue.

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Coming up on Oct. 22 and 23 at the Meydenbauer Center, the event features over 25 breakout sessions with more than 65 speakers and presenters—among them BIAW’s Executive Vice President Greg Lane, Legislative Director Andrea Smiley and VP-Communications Janelle Guthrie.

Riffing on reform
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Rock star turned political activist, Novoselic opens the conference at 12:30 pm on Oct. 22 with a keynote, “Riffing on Reform,” sharing his ideas about democracy, working together and shaping the future.
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Why can’t my kids afford to buy a house?
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In an afternoon breakout session immediately after Novoselic’s keynote, Lane will explore the key challenges facing young homebuyers, including rising home prices, limited inventory and regulatory hurdles, and share solutions.
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Build in My Zip Code: Cities Smashing Middle Housing Barriers
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On the morning of Oct. 23, Smiley will share middle housing success stories, featuring cities whose innovative approaches to housing policy are fostering progress and affordability.
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Mastering Development & Investment: From Blueprint to Bottom Line
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Immediately following that session, Smiley teams up with Charlie Bauman, Director of Development and Affiliated Principal at GT Capital, to walk through real-world examples of single- and multi-family projects, sharing how to “navigate challenges, reduce risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities.”
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Learning Lab: Mastering Media Engagement – Confident Communication for Advocates
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Later that afternoon, Guthrie joins Ben Anderstone of Progressive Strategies NW for a session on effective media relations for advocates, including handling print and broadcast interviews with confidence.

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ENGAGE25 promises to equip attendees “with the knowledge and connections to navigate the complexities of the rental market, advocate for positive change, and foster equitable relationships between rental housing providers and residents.”
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Registration is open to RHAWA members and the public.
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Learn more: ENGAGE25

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