Gregoire honors 20 state government leaders for excellence

For Immediate Release: June 7, 2011

Gov. Chris Gregoire announced 20 state managers as recipients of the 2011 Governor�s Award for Leadership in Management. The program recognizes managers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership. Accomplishments made by the award winners include increases in public safety, streamlined public services, and millions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.

�As we continue to experience a difficult economy, these leaders have made great strides in producing results with less,� Gregoire said. �Their commitment and exceptional service to Washington�s taxpayers is what public service is all about. I�m inspired by their dedication.�

The recipients will attend an awards luncheon at the Executive Mansion June 7.

Forty managers were nominated by 18 agencies for the award. A selection committee composed of agency directors and members of Gregoire�s staff selected the winners based on demonstrated performance.

The Leadership in Management program was created in 1985 to recognize state government managers who demonstrate excellent performance. In 2006, Governor Gregoire reinvigorated the program with criteria that focus on performance, accountability and proven business results.

2011 recipients of the Governor�s Award for Leadership in Management

Kit Bail, Department of Corrections
In 2010, Kit Bail successfully delivered the offender database project in 18 months after a multi-year effort by the former contractor. She also established a governance process for agency projects that better aligns resources with strategic planning.

Clare Billings, Department of Commerce
As manager of the Contracts Administration Unit, Clare Billings led a two-year consolidation that resulted in a more streamlined business process. Customer wait times for payments were reduced by 50 percent, as were accounting errors.

Cindy Cavanagh, Department of Licensing
As DOL comptroller, Cindy Cavanagh found unique solutions to save the agency more than $182,500. By partnering with internal and external stakeholders, the improved customer services exceeded customer expectations.

Diane Christie, Department of Licensing
Working with a team of agency staff, Diane was instrumental in the development and implementation of an agency-wide ergonomics awareness program. This program has resulted in a significant decrease in ergonomic-related injuries, which was previously the largest single type of workplace injury at DOL.

Rebecca (Beckie) Foster, Washington�s Lottery
In 2010, Beckie Foster and her team were heavily involved in implementing Powerball in Washington. They did this in three months � a record for new game implementation in this state. Her team also improved the IRS fee processes to minimize possible penalties.

Neil Gorrell, Employment Security Division
As a result of Neil Gorrell�s skilled management, more than 304,000 claimants received $2.4 billion in federally paid benefits from the Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended-benefits programs in 2010. He carefully administered the programs, and monitored policy and procedure changes to make sure Washington State was eligible for the funding.

Bill Hebner, Department of Fish and Wildlife
With the belief that bears and humans can co-exist, Captain Bill Hebner initiated a public education and information campaign. He worked with his staff and local media to successfully explain the problem of feeding wildlife and the value of reconditioning offending animals rather than destroying them.

Leah Hole-Curry, JD, Health Care Authority
Leah Hole-Curry, JD, brought the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program to maturity in 2010, reviewing six additional health technologies with potential safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness issues. The results are safer and more effective uses of state medical insurance resources and an estimated $10 million of direct savings for the state.

Karen Jensen, Department of Health
In 2010, the DOH Health Systems Quality Assurance Division reached a significant milestone for patient safety in Washington by transitioning more than 14,000 registered counselors in to newly-defined counselor positions. Karen Jensen clearly articulated a short- and long-term vision and direction for the division to successfully implement this initiative.

Steve King, Utilities & Transportation Commission
Under Steve King�s direction, the commission�s safety inspection programs have moved away from simply making regularly-scheduled inspections of all facilities, to increasing inspections of those deemed to be of higher risk. This approach ensures those companies, rail crossings, or facilities that pose a risk to public safety receive more resources and attention to reduce risk.

Leslie A. Krier, Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Leslie Krier developed and continues to improve a system of market oversight that provides consumers in this state and across the country with added assurance that insurers are operating fairly and honestly. The new program allows agency staff to focus on current problems to prevent abuses and consumer hardships.

Lyle Morse, Department of Corrections
Lyle Morse�s work has saved the state millions of dollars and helped agencies deliver their services more efficiently. His efforts enabled Senior Services of King County to provide 50,000 more meals at the same cost, and a mattress recycling program he developed has diverted 37,000 mattresses from state landfills.

Melia Olsen, Department of Personnel
On July 1, 2010, the state launched a new single point of entry for citizens to find job opportunities with state government. Melia Olsen led this cross-agency effort to replace the state�s existing E-Recruiting system with an externally hosted system. This change resulted in better access for job seekers, addressed accessibility issues, and reduced operational costs.

Terre Penn, Department of Social and Health Services
In 2008, the DSHS Community Services Division realized its current service delivery system would not sustain anticipated caseload increases during the recession. This realization brought the largest business process redesign in the division�s history and Terre Penn successfully managed the first phase of the project until its completion in 2010.

Joe Perez, Employment Security Department
In 2010, Joe was appointed to serve as interim area director of the Benton-Franklin workforce development area. There he developed a strategic plan to better serve the long-term unemployed in his area. He successfully implemented the Key Train program which assesses customers� skill gaps and offers online tutorials to train them in areas where they need help.

Janet Peterson, Department of Labor & Industries
In 2010, Janet Peterson was a leader in L&I�s drive to update a number of key health care payment policies, ultimately saving millions for the workers� compensation fund. Her efforts to reduce health care related costs without harming quality of care are projected to save the state more than $12 million in 2011.

Laura Porter, Department of Social and Health Services
As the DSHS Family Policy Council�s executive staff director, Laura Porter has delivered positive outcomes through technical assistance and training for communities to develop community networks, and seek opportunities to maximize funding. Her work has had a positive effect on children, families and communities, as well as significant cost savings to the state.

Doug Rohr, Department of Labor & Industries
Doug Rohr successfully led 41 efficiency initiatives in processing and postage costs, generating a total savings of $766,000. He streamlined processes to reduce cycle times, improve value and make more efficient use of staff hours. Doug also has been instrumental in reducing operational costs by standardizing envelopes across state government.

Geoff Tallent, Department of Ecology
Under Geoff Tallent�s leadership, the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program�s Northwest Regional Office helped local government from the Canadian border to Pierce County implement new shoreline management plans for Central Puget Sound. His team worked with citizen groups, tribes and other interest groups to foster fair and open discussion of the issues.

Jan Yoshiwara, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
Jan Yoshiwara�s leadership has earned Washington�s Community and Technical College�s Student Achievement Initiative national recognition for creating funding incentives to increase degree completions. As a result, students are spending less money on their education, colleges are increasing student success despite deep budget cuts, and state funding is being effectively used to serve more students.

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