The Honorable Mark Asmundson began his term as Mayor of Bellingham on January 1, 1996. A Bellingham native, Mark has been active in the community for most of his life. A graduate of Bellingham High, WWU and UOP McGeorge School of Law, Mark practiced law for fifteen years, served on the Bellingham City Council for nine years, co-owned and operated a private ambulance company, and was a principal in an environmental consulting firm.
Mary Corso became the Director of Washington State Patrol Fire Protection Bureau on March 25, 1998 and the first woman in the country to serve as a State Fire Marshal. Ms. Corso's 65 person staff coordinates statewide delivery of fire services through nine fire service regions. Ms. Corso previously served as the Bureau Chief in the Minnetonka, Minnesota Department of Public Safety/Office of Pipeline Safety and State Fire Marshal Division. Ms.Corso has 20 years of experience in firefighting, code enforcement, fire investigation, hazardous materials response, fire service training, fire protection regulation and plan review, data analysis, public education, and working with legislative initiatives. Ms. Corso serves on several national boards including the national Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board of Directors.
Dave Hanson is an elected Fire Commissioner for Whatcom County Fire District #2 and currently serves as President of the Wahtcom County Association of fire commissioners. Mr. Hanson has been active in the Fire Service for about 15 years and is currently a member of the County Hazardous Materials Response Team. Mr. Hanson also works as a Safety Professional in the petrochemical industry, where his responsibilities include performing safety and health audits and accident/incident investigations and ensuring compliance with state and federal safety guidelines. Mr. Hanson is president of the NW Chapter of the Pacific Energy Association and a member of the American society of Safety Engineers.
Carol Jolly is an Executive Policy Advisor to Governor Locke on environmental and natural resources issues. Ms. Jolly has served full time in the Executive Policy Office since June 1996; for two years before that she served half-time in the Governor’s office and half time at the Department of Ecology. Ms. Jolly worked at Ecology since moving to Washington State in 1984, serving as a special assistant to the director and manager of water programs. Ms. Jolly previously worked on environmental issues in Washington, D.C. for 10 years. Ms. Jolly received a Bachelor of Science degree with Distinction from Cornell University and a Master of Arts in Teaching (Biology) degree from Harvard.
Rick Mattoonis the Director of Policy for the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. The Commission's job is to regulate privately owned utility and transportation businesses in the state, so that services are fairly priced, available, reliable and safe. The regulated businesses are electric, telecommunications, natural gas and water. Mr. Mattoon's specific responsibilities are for policy, research and legislative programs at the Commission.
Bill Hinkle currently serves as the Kittitas County Commissioner. He is also serving on the Governor's Steering Committee for EMS and the Truama Care Services, Washington State Jury Commission; he is the Vice Chair for the Greater Columbia Behavioral Health. Bill also has served for the past 17 years in the professional fire service.
Joe Stohr is presently the Program Manager for the Department of Ecology Spills Program. Mr. Stohr is responsible for management of the state's oil spill prevention, preparedness and response program. Mr. Stohr has 19 years experience in the management of environmental and safety issues associated with nuclear and hazardous materials in the environment. The experience includes evaluations of health risks and social impacts to Washington State citizens. Mr. Stohr's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and a Master of Science degree in Radiological Sciences (Environmental Option) from the University of Washington.
Glen L. Woodbury is Director of the State Emergency Management Division with the Military Department. Having previously been the manager responsible for the State Emergency Operations Center. Mr. Woodbury is responsible for policy direction and oversight of the state's efforts to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and technological emergencies and disasters. The Division provides technical and financial assistance to local jurisdictions for preparation and response to emergencies and disasters coordinates the provision of state and federal disaster assistance to help local governments, businesses, and private citizens recover from the effects of disasters. Mr. Woodbury served as an active duty Army officer for seven years and is a volunteer firefighter for Thurston County Fire Protection District #6, East Olympia.