The Association of Washington Business (AWB) has established an award for excellence in the workplace in honor of Tacoma’s Frank J. Russell Company, a pioneer in the area of employee benefits.

Founded in 1936 by Frank J. Russell, it was one of the first companies to offer its employees tuition assistance, career planning and paid sabbaticals for employees with the company 10 years or more.

Naturally, the Frank J. Russell Company was the first recipient of the award. It was presented during AWB’s Better Workplace Awards luncheon, held on Dec. 13 at the SeaTac Marriott. The firm has been a perennial winner in AWB’s Better Workplace Awards competition.

The award was created by the AWB Better Workplace Award judges this year. They felt it is time to establish an overall award for private sector employers who are consistently on the cutting edge of compensation and benefit programs, AWB president Don Brunell said. Brunell is the ex-officio, non-voting member of the Better Workplace Awards Committee.

The AWB panel of judges include: former Governor Mike Lowry, Dept. of Labor and Industries Director Gary Moore, University of Washington’s Dr. Rick Brandon; and, former Times Columnist Susan Canfield.

Lowry said Frank Russell has established the type of programs that all employers should consider emulating. “To me it is an easy choice (naming the award for the Frank J. Russell Company). Lowry has been a judge for the last four years.

Brandon, who has been a judge since program was inaugurated in 1995, said, “the name of Frank Russell Company automatically came to mind when started talking about an award which recognizes a commitment over time.” Brandon is senior research fellow at the UW Evans School of Public Affairs specializing in family and children issues.

“Frank Russell cared deeply for his employees and this spirit still runs strong in his company,” said Brunell. “Our panel of judges thought it is only fitting that they be the first to receive their namesake award.”

Founded in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business organization.