Gov. Gregoire appoints J. Cory Curtis as communications director

For Immediate Release: December 8, 2009

OLYMPIA - Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of J. Cory Curtis as her new communications director.

Curtis, 35, most recently served as a vice president with Porter Novelli, a New York-based international public relations company. Curtis worked in the firm�s Seattle office and led public affairs and social marketing practices for national government accounts, including the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. Health and Human Services.

From 2004 to 2007, Curtis was the director of marketing and development for the Lifelong AIDS Alliance in Seattle, which provides services for people living with HIV/AIDS in King County.

�I�m pleased Cory has decided to bring his energy and expertise to my team,� said Gov. Gregoire. �Cory�s new approaches to communications, including innovative social marketing, will help us connect with our citizens and provide 21st Century service.�

�I want to thank Glenn Kuper for filling in as acting communications director during our search,� Gregoire said. �He has done a great job and I appreciate his hard work and dedication.� Kuper is communications director for the Office of Financial Management.

�I�m humbled and honored to accept this role,� Curtis said. �I look forward to serving the governor and working with her dedicated team and state agencies as Washington faces difficult and important issues.�

Curtis holds a bachelors degree in international affairs from Lewis and Clark College in Portland. He resides in Seattle with his partner, David Adams.

He replaces Pearse Edwards, who left in September to work for North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Curtis� appointment is effective Dec. 16.