Gov. Gregoire appoints Paul Trause to lead Employment Security Department

For Immediate Release: September 13, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced that she has appointed Deputy Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause to lead the agency following Commissioner Karen Lee�s departure.

�Paul�s resume is nothing short of impressive,� Gregoire said. �His experience both at the state and federal level is what we need during our time of economic recovery. I�ve explained to Paul the need to focus on retraining our workforce for the 21st century economy � and I know that his background will help him develop new and innovative programs to ensure that we not only continue to help people find a job, but that we also have the skilled workforce needed to remain globally competitive.�

Trause brings nearly 15 years of leading state agencies to the position, first joining the Employment Security Department in 2000 as deputy commissioner. He left the agency in 2002 to lead the Department of Labor and Industries before returning to ESD in 2005. Trause also served as acting secretary and deputy secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services from 1988-1993.

Trause�s federal experience is equally as lengthy � serving as inspector general at the Department of Treasury, principal deputy under-secretary at the Department of Interior and deputy administrator at the General Services Administration. He also held leadership roles at the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of Personnel Management.

�The Employment Security Department plays a crucial role in helping workers and businesses through the economic challenges we face,� said Trause. �I am excited to be part of the Governor�s team as we work to stabilize and rebuild our economy.�

Trause attended Cornell University, where he earned a bachelor�s degree in industrial and labor relations before graduating from Cornell University Law School. Trause�s appointment is effective Oct. 1. He will earn an annual salary of $141,549.00

Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee announced last month that she would be leaving the agency at the end of September to serve as chief executive officer of Pioneer Human Services in Seattle.