Gov. Gregoire names Robin Arnold-Williams as new executive policy director

For Immediate Release: December 22, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams as the new director of the Governor�s Executive Policy Office.

�This is an extraordinary time in our state�s history. We are fortunate to have Robin with her exceptional health and human services credentials, as well as her broad management experience, to lead the policy office,� Gregoire said.

Gregoire has asked Arnold-Williams to lead the governor�s ambitious plans, now taking shape, to reform state government to better serve Washingtonians and give them the best value for their tax dollars. Arnold-Williams will work directly with Larisa Benson, the director of the state�s Office of Government Management Accountability and Performance. The governor says government reform must accompany spending reductions in the next session to make sure Washingtonians see real value in the years ahead for the sacrifices they are making today.

As policy director, Arnold-Williams will serve as a member of senior staff and supervise the policy advisors to the governor. The executive policy office is responsible for developing the governor�s policy agenda, which involves working closely with state agencies, legislators, local government and stakeholders. Her transition to the position will begin in early January.

�I�m honored to continue to serve Governor Gregoire and the citizens of Washington in an exciting new role,� Arnold-Williams said. �I know the governor is committed to making government work better for the people of Washington and I look forward to helping her accomplish that.�

Arnold-Williams has led Washington�s largest state agency � with nearly 20,000 employees and $9 billion budget � for almost four years.

Arnold-Williams will replace Laurie Dolan, who has served as policy director since Gregoire took office in January 2005. Dolan announced her retirement last week.

�I want to thank Laurie for her extraordinary leadership and service to Washington state,� Gregoire added. �Laurie helped lead one of the top executive policy offices in the nation. I wish her and her family all the best as she enjoys her retirement.�

Before joining Gregoire�s Cabinet, Arnold-Williams spent eight years as executive director of the Utah State Department of Human Services, where she worked for 24 years. She served three years as chairwoman of the National Council of State Human Services Administrators and in that capacity, provided congressional testimony on human service policy issues.

Arnold-Williams holds master�s and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of Utah, in addition to a graduate certificate in gerontology.