Gov. Gregoire announces Joyce Turner as director of General Administration

For Immediate Release: March 19, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of Joyce Turner as the director of the state�s Department of General Administration. Turner is currently the governor�s deputy chief of staff.

�Joyce knows how this state runs inside and out,� Gregoire said. �Her extensive experience in state government is difficult to match � and will lend greatly to our efforts to improve customer service while reducing costs. She is a proven leader and trusted advisor who has worked with me on many important issues � and I look forward to working with Joyce in this new role.�

�I appreciate the Governor�s confidence in me as I take on this important position,� Turner said. �I look forward to working with the GA staff and tackling the many challenging issues they face.�

As the governor�s deputy chief of staff, Turner supervises the small agency cabinet, giving her unique insight into the operation of state agencies. She is also responsible for directing office operations within the Governor�s Office.

Turner�s career in state government began in the House of Representatives before working for the Gardner Administration, where she served as director of government operations in the Governor�s Office. She continued to work for Gov. Mike Lowry before starting her own government relations consulting business. She returned to state government to work in Gov. Gary Locke�s office, which led to a position at the Office of Financial Management � where her duties included serving as transition director and acting director for the Department of Early Learning.

Turner has been involved in the community as a volunteer, community leader and founding member of TVW.

Turner replaces Linda Bremer, who announced today she would be leaving the agency.

�It has been a pleasure working with Linda,� Gregoire said. �She brought a fresh set of eyes to an agency that truly needed it � and has made outstanding contributions to help streamline agency functions and make government more efficient. I wish her only the best.�

Turner�s appointment is effective April 5. She will earn an annual salary of $120,587.