· New Public Law passed in 2011
expands membership of Washington Economic Development Commission and calls for a "strategic approach to fostering an innovation economy."
· Business, labor, ports, education, trade, economic development organizations, legislators and cabinet agencies to serve.
· Commission Vision: "Make Washington the most attractive, fertile and creative environment for innovation in the world."
Gov. Chris Gregoire announced appointments to a newly strengthened Washington Economic Development Commission (WEDC) shaped by bi-partisan legislation passed in 2011. "Washington has historically been home to some of the greatest innovators who went on to develop successful companies like Starbucks, Microsoft and Boeing," Gregoire said. "That innovative spirit – along with a strong business environment and an efficient regulatory process—is critical to our state's economic success. This enhanced commission will ensure that our state continues to support our innovation industries, while encouraging new ideas, growth and opportunities."
The new law expands private sector and agency membership of the WEDC and calls for a strategic approach to fostering an innovation economy. WEDC membership is now comprised of 15 private sector members drawn from business, labor, education, association, trade, ports and local economic development organizations; the agency directors of Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, Employment Security and Workforce Development Board; and, legislative leaders from the House and Senate.
This new mix of appointees will diversify and strengthen private sector guidance on what the state can do to foster its ecosystem for innovation. The legislation notes that success will come from public and private sector leaders who are committed to developing and advocating a shared vision and collaborating across organizational and geographic boundaries. After serving a two year term leading the WEDC strategy and policy development process, Bruce Kendall of Tacoma and president and chief executive officer of Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board will transition chairmanship responsibilities to Roger Woodworth of Spokane, who is the vice-president and chief strategy officer at Avista.
Private Sector Members Appointed
Connie Bacon, Port of Tacoma Commissioner
John (Jack) Breese, Director, Washington Advisory Group
Michelle Burris, Executive VP, OncoGenex
Randy Gardiner, President, Red Dot Corporation,
Mark Harris, Sr. Vice President Supply Chain, Continental Mills, Inc.
Bruce Kendall, President & CEO, Tacoma Pierce County Economic Development Board
Rick LeFaivre, Partner, OVP Venture Partners
Christina Lomasney, Physicist, President and CEO, Modumetal
Mike Schwenk, Director, Technology Deployment & Outreach, Pacific NW National Laboratory
Stan Sorscher, Legislative Director, SPEEA
William Stafford, President, WA Trade Development Alliance
Beth Thew, Secretary-Treasurer, Spokane Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Dr. Steven VanAusdle, President, Walla Walla Community College
Roger Woodworth, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Avista
Statutory Members of the Commission
Legislative Members
Senator James Kastama, Chair, WA Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation
Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, Chair,
WA House Committee on Community and Housing Development
Senator Michael Baumgartner, Ranking Member,
WA Senate Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation
Representative Norma Smith, Ranking Member,
WA House Committee on Community and Housing Development
Agency Members
Paula Hammond, Secretary of WA Department of Transportation
Dan Newhouse, Director, WA Department of Agriculture
Eleni Papadakis, Executive Director, WA Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board
Paul Trause, Commissioner, WA Employment Security Department
Rogers Weed, Director, WA Dept. of Commerce
"The Governor has consistently demonstrated a commitment to public-private collaboration for innovation and its tremendous importance for job creation and the overall economy," noted Egils Milbergs, executive director of the WEDC, "These are outstanding appointments and collectively they will play a pivotal role in the critical effort to come out of the recession with more private sector job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship, exports and investment in the industries of the future." The Commission also expressed gratitude to its retiring members, who were instrumental in championing the first phase of the state's economic development strategy: "The Washington Innovation Economy: New Economic Strategy for Prosperity," issued in February 2009. This report framed the vision of making Washington State the most attractive, fertile and creative environment for innovation in the world by 2020.
WEDC Retiring Members:
Anthony Bonanzino, PhD., Co-founder and present of Century Archives
John Gardner, Dean of Academic Affairs, Bainbridge Graduate Institute
Roger Knutzen, Founder, Knutzen Farms
Al Link, Secretary-Treasurer, WA State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
H. Stewart Parker, CEO, Infectious Disease Research Institute
Ted Sprague, President, Cowlitz Economic Development Council
About the Commission
The Washington Economic Development Commission (WEDC) is an independent, non-partisan commission established to assist the governor and legislature by providing leadership, direction, and guidance on a long-term and systematic approach to economic development that will result in enduring global competitiveness, prosperity and economic opportunity for all the state's citizens. For more information on the state's economic development strategy, policy reports, meeting schedules and status of recommendations visit www.wedc.wa.gov.
