Gov. Christine Gregoire announces appointments to boards and commissions

For Immediate Release: November 18, 2005

Governor appoints citizens from Tacoma, Spokane, Renton, Lakewood, Chehalis, Seattle, Olympia, Bellevue, Sammamish, Silverdale, Langley and Yakima

OLYMPIA � Nov. 18, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:

Advisory Board of Plumbers
Linda Wilson of Tacoma has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending July 1, 2009. Wilson has worked in the plumbing industry for 34 years and is the president of Wilson Plumbing and Heating. She is a member of the National Association of Women in Construction, Tacoma Chapter 187.

The board advises the Department of Labor & Industries on standards for journeymen plumbers; hears appeals related to revoking certification.

Board of Hearing and Speech
Todd Betts of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending June 6, 2008. Betts is a hearing instrument specialist with Spokane Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic and with Columbia Hearing. He is a member of the National Board Certification of Hearing Instrument Sciences and a member of Washington Hearing Society. Betts has personally used hearing instruments for the past 31 years.

Richard Gidner of Renton has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending June 6, 2008. Gidner retired from the Boeing Company after 30 years in the aerospace industry. During his years with Boeing he worked in the engineering, program management and marketing division. He also served 12 years with the U.S. Air Force as a developmental engineer and program manager.

The board examines and licenses hearing instrument dispensers; recommends standards for equipment and procedures, along with rules and regulations for administering regulatory act; and adopts rules relating to standards of care relating to hearing instrument fitter/dispensers or audiologists, and relating to speech-language pathologists.

Board of Directors Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute
Renee LaRocca of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending June 30, 2008. LaRocca is the director of Tele-Health INHS, which is a video conferencing network that uses technology to connect people that may be hundreds of miles apart for patient consultations, medical education and staff training. She is involved with the Ronald McDonald House and the Women & Children�s Free Restaurant as well as several other community organizations.

The board is responsible for developing and approving the Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute's (SIRTI) general operating procedures and annual operating budget; approving and allocating funding for research projects; and coordinating research and development and training programs with other institutes of higher education.

Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
Ron Chow of Lakewood has been appointed to a term effective October 24, 2005, ending June 30, 2006. Chow is the president of Seattle Pacific Trading LLC and Retail Restaurant Development LLC; and managed his family-owned business for 18 years. He is a member of several community organizations including the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Center of Tacoma, Woodinville Sister Cities Association and University Place Sister Cities Association. In addition, he volunteers for the annual planning for both sister cities association for exchange student both in the United States and China, hosting students and organizing the trade delegation for both countries.

The Board examines and defines issues pertaining to the rights and needs of Asian Americans and advising the governor and state agencies on policies, plans and needs.

Correctional Industries Board of Directors
Donald McLeod, Jr. of Chehalis has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending September 25, 2008. McLeod has worked in the construction industry for several years and is a member of the Laborers Local 252. Additionally, for the past eight years he has been an instructor at the Laborers Training School.

Mary Albert of Spokane has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending September 25, 2008. Albert is the director of the master of international management program at Whitworth College. She is involved with several organizations including Executive Women International, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council.

The board advises the Department of Corrections on programs designed to offer work experience and training of inmates, along with the investing of funds from enterprises and work programs.

Governor�s Affirmative Action Policy Committee
Martin Casey of Olympia has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending May 31, 2008. Casey is the legislative and business relations manager with the Department of General Administration. He worked with the Human Rights Commission as a special assistant and legislative and policy coordinator and served as a board member on the Thurston Council on Cultural Diversity and Human Rights.

The committee serves as a policy and review body for the state's affirmative action program; and reviews and approves state agency affirmative action plans.

Legal Foundation of Washington
Erika Lim of Seattle has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending December 31, 2007. Lim is the Director of Career Services at Seattle University School of Law. She has worked for several state agencies including Department of Information Services as a Senior Policy Advisor and the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development as Director of Governmental Affairs.

Nancy Pacharzina of Seattle has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending December 31, 2007. Pacharzina is an attorney with Tousley Brain Stephens and is a trustee with the King County Bar Foundation Trustee. She also volunteers as a Little League Baseball umpire and a member of the Northwest Baseball Umpires Association.

The foundation acts as trustee for funds received from interest on lawyers' trust accounts, as directed by the Supreme Court. These funds are used for law-related charitable and educational purposes.

Pipeline Safety Committee
Jean Buckner of Bellevue has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending July 31, 2008. Buckner is the director of care facilitation internet and intranet development with Premera Blue Cross. She was named Citizen Steward of Lewis Creek by the City of Bellevue for voluntary efforts to improve salmon spawning potential while recognizing development initiatives.

George Hills of Lakewood has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending July 31, 2009. Hills is the chief engineer for McCord Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of U.S. Oil and Refining Co and staff project engineer for U.S. Oil. As chief engineer, Hills is responsible for development and oversight of the integrity management program, operator qualification program and pipeline regulatory compliance.

Richard Kuprewicz of Sammamish has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending July 31, 2008. Kuprewicz is an energy systems consultant with ACCUFACTS and a member of several organizations including the federal office of Pipeline, Technical Hazardous Liquid Safety Standards Committee and the Pipeline Land Use Advisory Commission.

Ronald William Rickard, Jr. of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending July 31, 2009. Rickard is an environmental analyst with the City of Spokane, prior to his current position he worked as a lab technical and chemist with the City of Spokane�s advanced wastewater treatment plant.

Carl Weimer of Ferndale has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending July 31, 2009. Weimer is the executive director of the national Pipeline Safety Trust, which provides education and advocacy nationwide to increase pipeline safety to protect the public and the environment. He also serves on several boards including, ReUse Works, which is a non-profit recycling/job creation project and the North Bellingham Community Association.

The committee advises the Utilities and Transportation Commission and other appropriate federal, state and local government agencies and officials on matters relating to hazardous liquid and gas pipeline safety, routing, construction, operation, and maintenance. The committee reviews and comments on proposed rules and on the operation of the state pipeline safety program.

Public Disclosure Commission
Jane Noland of Seattle has been reappointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending December 31, 2010. Noland was an attorney with the Perkins Coie Law Firm, the King County Council and President of the Washington Women Lawyers before retiring. She is currently a self-employed artist.

The commission administers and enforces Washington's public disclosure law.

State Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities & Their Families
Victoria Crescenzi of Silverdale has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending January 6, 2008. Crescenzi is a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician with the Naval Hospital in Bremerton. She is a member of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Rene Denman of Langley has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending January 6, 2008. Denman is a parent-to-parent coordinator with Skagit Valley Community College. She also volunteers her time in various activities for the Sight & Hearing Foundation.

Cynthia Juarez of Yakima has been appointed to a term effective November 3, 2005, ending January 6, 2008. Juarez is a childcare center licensor for the Department of Social & Health Services. She has also worked as a child development/disabilities mental health specialist with Enterprise for Progress in the Community, Head Start and Migrant Head Start in Yakima.

The council advises and assists the Department of Social and Health Services and participating state agencies to coordinate, develop and implement policies dealing with early-intervention services.