By OST Admin
The Transition Team of Washington State Treasurer-elect Mike Pellicciotti meets today to assist him as he prepares to be sworn in and assume the role of the state’s Chief Financial Officer on January 13th. The transition team comprised of local and state government, finance, small business, labor, and community leaders will assist Pellicciotti as he initiates financial policy that supports working families and retirees in Washington today and in the years ahead.
“I look forward to working with the current staff of the Treasurer’s Office that has a well-earned reputation for good government and attention to our state’s financial health,” said Pellicciotti. “In particular, I want to thank Treasurer Davidson for his office leadership and his gracious and helpful assistance during this transition.”
The transition team has its first meeting today. The members of the transition team include:
Senator Joe Nguyen
Senator Joe Nguyen represents the 34th District, which contains White Center, West Seattle, Burien, and Vashon & Maury Islands in the State Senate, where he serves as Assistant Floor Leader.
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay
Councilmember Girmay Zahilay represents residents of District 2 of the King County Council, where he serves as chair of the Council’s Law and Justice Committee.
Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington is a recent college graduate who has helped lead education policy reforms in Washington. He was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to Central Washington University’s Board of Trustees and is currently obtaining his MPA.
Maria Beltran
Maria Beltran serves as the OneAmerica Board President and works as a Congressional Staffer. She began her career as a community organizer in Yakima, WA, where she was born and raised. In 2018, Maria was the Campaign Manager for State Rep. Entenman.
Kent City Councilmember Satwinder Kaur
Councilmember Satwinder Kaur began her term on the Kent City Council in 2018. Kaur received an MBA in technology management from the University of Washington.
Shaunie Wheeler-James
Shaunie Wheeler-James is the Teamsters Joint Council 28 Political Action Director and previously represented IBEW. She represents the Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders on the Washington State Labor Council.
Representative Debra Lekanoff
Rep. Debra Lekanoff represents the 40th legislative district, which includes parts of Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties. Rep. Lekanoff is the first Native American woman to serve in the Washington House of Representatives.
Yona Makowski
Yona Makowski represents the state retirement system beneficiaries on the State Investment Board. Before that appointment, she was Senior Fiscal Coordinator with the Washington House of Representatives.
Commerce Director Lisa Brown
Director Lisa Brown served as chancellor of Washington State University-Spokane prior to serving as Director of the Washington Department of Commerce. Brown represented the Spokane in the legislature for 20 years, serving as Senate Majority Leader.
Lorrell Noahr
Lorrell Noahr currently represents the Washington Education Association. She previously served as Director of Financial Policy & Research for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Retired Public Employee Council President
Kandy Kraig
Kandy Kraig serves as the Retired Public Employee Council President. She was a state employee and was WFSE/AFSCME’s 2011 “Shop Steward of the Year” Award.
Federal Way Chamber CEO Rebecca Martin
Rebecca Martin, is a certified CCE Chamber professional with experience in economic development, tourism, small business and education. Prior to her work in the Chamber of Commerce industry, Martin served as Director of Marketing & Government Affairs for the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority.
Senator David Frockt
Senator David Frockt represents the 46th Legislative District in the Senate, where he chairs the Senate Capital Budget Committee and is Vice Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
Former Assistant Treasurer Wolfgang Opitz
Wolfgang Opitz currently serves as the Deputy Director at Pierce County Budget and Finance. He was Assistant State Treasurer to Treasurer Jim McIntire and was the Office of Financial Management Deputy Director before that.
Snohomish County Treasurer Brian Sullivan
Treasurer Brian Sullivan is the Snohomish County Treasurer. He previously served in the Washington House of Representatives and as Mukilteo City Council member and Mayor.
John Cummerford
John Comerford is President and CEO of RetireCorp. Comerford is an experienced professional in the employee benefit industry who holds numerous industry designations.
Representative Timm Ormsby
Rep. Timm Ormsby represents the 3rd legislative district, which includes Spokane. He is Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and a member of the State Investment Board.
Former Representative Jessyn Farrell
Rep. Jessyn Farrell previously served in the House of Representatives, representing the 46th legislative district of North King County. She is a leading advocate for economic security for all Washingtonians and chaired the Working Families Caucus in the legislature.
Fife Councilmember Bryan Yambe
Councilmember Bryan Yambe is in his third term on the Fife City Council. He has previously served as Deputy Mayor of Fife and is a leading advocate on state municipal government issues.
Scott Merriman
Scott Merriman the liaison for legal and legislative affairs for the Washington Office of Financial Management. He previously served in the Treasurer’s Office for Treasurer Jim McIntire.
Jessie Martin
Jessie Martin is the Executive Director of Carbon WA, which works to find climate policy solutions for the future. She teaches issues of climate finance in the Economics Department of Central Washington University.
Misha Werschkul
Misha Werschkul is the Executive Director of the Washington Budget and Policy Center. She is a leading voice in Olympia on budget issues faced by the legislature.
Patrick Connor
Patrick Connor is the Washington State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, representing the interests of small businesses in Washington. He previously served two terms on the Hoquiam City Council.
Michael Bacon
Michael Bacon is a fire department Battalion Chief in Spokane. He is on the leadership team of the Washington State Council of Firefighters.
