Governor Gregoire Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

For Immediate Release: October 13, 2006

Citizens appointed from Bellevue, Lynden, Lynnwood, Mead, Mercer Island, Peshastin, Port Ludlow, Poulsbo, Rainier, Sedro Woolley, Seattle, Snohomish, Spokane, Vancouver, Winthrop and Yakima

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:

Board of Nursing Home Administrators
Kylle Fish of Yakima has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending May 28, 2011. Ms. Fish is the administrator for Heritage Grove, a specialized-care nursing center. She has worked in the community health field for over 15 years as a counselor and in residential care for developmentally disabled individuals.

The board administers the licensing and registration process for nursing home administrators

Executive Ethics Board
Kyle Usrey of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective October 1, 2006, ending September 30, 2010. Mr. Usrey is the dean of the School of Global Commerce and Management at Whitworth College. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, the Economic Development Council of Spokane and Jubilee Housing Corporation.

The board enforces state ethics legislation with respect to statewide elected officials and all other officers and employees of the executive branch, boards and commissions and institutions of higher education.

Governor�s Council on Substance Abuse
Kate Greenquist of Bellevue has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending August 3, 2009. Ms. Greenquist is a law enforcement coordination manager with the Western Washington district of the U.S. Attorney General. She is a member of the Drug Treatment and Prevention sub-committee for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program and the Governor�s Meth Coordinating Committee.

Dr. John Roll of Mead has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending August 3, 2009. Dr. Roll is the Director for the Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training at Washington State University. He is a member of the Eastern State Hospital Advisory Board and the Spokane methamphetamine action team.

Joel Thaut of Snohomish has been reappointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending August 3, 2009. Mr. Thaut is the superintendent of the Granite Falls School District. He is a member of the Association of School Administrators, Washington State School Directors, Granite Falls Community Coalition and the Granite Falls Lions Club.

The council advises the Governor on issues and programs relating to substance abuse, assists with the implementation of strategies that support community efforts to reduce substance abuse and promotes public awareness and education.

Governor�s Interagency Council on Health Disparities
Emma Medicine White Crow of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective September 14, 2006, ending September 13, 2011. Ms. Medicine White Crow is a self-employed consultant with Medicine White Crow Wolfmask Consulting, a consulting firm that works with organizations to educate them about issues including diversity, multiculturalism, community health and outreach strategies. She is a volunteer mentor to Native American high school students and is a member of the Washington State Alliance for Healthy Communities of Color.

Gwendolyn Shepard of Port Ludlow has been appointed to a term effective September 14, 2006, ending September 13, 2011. Ms. Shepard is retired after a long career in pubic health. She volunteers as the NAACP state health committee chairperson for Alaska, Oregon and Washington.

Vickie Ybarra of Yakima has been appointed to a term effective September 14, 2006, ending September 13, 2011. Ms. Ybarra is the Director of Planning and Development for the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. She is the President of the Yakima School District Board of Directors and a former appointee to the state Board of Health.

The council creates a statewide policy to include health impact reviews that measure and address social determinants of health that lead to disparities, as well as contributing factors that can have broad impacts on improving status, health literacy, physical activity, and nutrition.

Higher Education Coordinating Board
Jonathan Sprouffske of Rainier has been appointed to a term effective September 29, 2006, ending June 30, 2007. Mr. Sprouffske graduated with honors from St. Martin�s College with his Bachelors of Arts degree in Business Administration. He was on the Dean�s list from 2000 � 2004, was the President of Saint Martin�s student government and a member of the Board of Trustees. He is a third-year law school student at Seattle University and volunteers as a firefighter and EMT in Thurston County.

The board studies, plans and coordinates higher education among various institutions and agencies within the state.

Legislative Ethics Board
Wayne Ehlers of Seattle has been reappointed to a term effective October 1, 2006, ending September 30, 2011. Mr. Ehlers is a former Washington State Representative. While in the House of Representatives, he served as speaker, minority leader and chairperson of the state government committee. He was on the Western Washington University Board of Trustees.

The board enforces state ethics legislation with respect to members of the Legislature and legislative employees.

State Board of Health
Dr. Patricia Ortiz of Peshastin has been appointed to a term effective September 14, 2006, ending June 30, 2009. Dr. Ortiz is a partner at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, is the Medical Director for Chelan � Douglas Family Planning and is a civil surgeon for Immigration and Naturalization Services.

The board is the primary entity for state health policy development and produces a biennial report outlining state health priorities.

State Independent Living Council
Linda McClain of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective October 1, 2006, ending September 30, 2009. Ms. McClain is the Executive Director for the Coalition of Responsible Disabled. She is a member of People First Young Adult Development Advisory Council, the Spokane Transit Authority Operations and Customer Service Advisory committee and is an Eastern Washington University ADA grievance panel member.

The council, jointly with DSHS and the Department of Services for the Blind, develops, signs and submits the state plan for independent living. The council coordinates activities that address the needs of the disability population.

State School for the Blind Board of Trustees
Chuck Nelson of Lynden has been reappointed to a term effective September 30, 2006, ending July 1, 2011. Mr. Nelson is the chair of the Board of Trustees for the State School for the Blind. He is a retired postal inspector and an active member of the Lions Club.

The board serves the educational needs of visually impaired and blind students by developing a comprehensive curriculum to maximize and develop students' skills to live, work and be capable, independent citizens.

State School for the Deaf Board of Trustees
Allie Joiner of Lynnwood has been appointed to a term effective August 30, 2006, ending July 1, 2010. Ms. Joiner is a community advocate for Abused Deaf Women�s Advocacy Services and the TTY Hotline. She was a member of the Governor�s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment.

The board serves the educational needs of hearing impaired students by developing a comprehensive curriculum to maximize and develop students' skills to live, work and be capable, independent citizens.

Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee
William Schrier of Sedro Woolley has been reappointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending July 1, 2010. Mr. Schrier is from the United States Army and is the Chair of the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee. He was the Chairman of the National Security Commission for the American Legion.

Michele Colpaert of Poulsbo has been reappointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending July 1, 2010. Ms. Colpaert was honorably discharged from the United State Air Force and works as a national service officer with Disabled American Veterans. She is a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

The committee advises the Governor and the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs on state programs related to veterans, their dependents and survivors.

Veterinary Board of Governors
Holly Bard of Vancouver has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending December 24, 2009. Ms. Bard was the Vice President for College Relations at Lewis and Clark College, the Director of Marketing for INTELSAT and the Director of Corporate Planning for Bell South. She is a board member of the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington and is a certified hospice volunteer.

The board examines candidates for licensing and registration, investigates and holds hearings on violations of the regulatory law and recommends and adopts rules and regulations for administering the regulatory law.

Washington State Arts Commission
Kent Carlson of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending July 28, 2009. Mr. Carlson is a partner with Preston, Gates and Ellis, LLP. He serves on the Pilchuck Glass School Board of Trustees within the Cornish College of the Arts.

Rosa Castillo-Romero of Mercer Island has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending July 28, 2009. Ms. Castillo-Romero is the Director of the Isis on First art gallery and is a member of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, a translator and docent at the Seattle Art Museum and the annual auction art procurement coordinator at Casa Latina.

Katherine Jones of Winthrop has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending July 28, 2007. Ms. Jones is the Executive Director for the Methow Arts Alliance and a volunteer art teacher. She is the Vice President of the Washington Arts Alliance and is a member of the Okanogan County Economic Alliance.

Shauna Woods of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective September 25, 2006, ending July 28, 2009. Ms. Woods is the Vice President for programs with the World Affairs Council. She is on the Arts Fund Allocation Committee and the advisory board for the University of Washington�s College of Arts and Sciences. She is a member of the Theater Communications Group and the Seattle Repertory Theater.

The commission promotes the growth and development of the arts within the state, advises state agencies and officials on matters pertaining to the arts and administers appropriations for acquiring art for public buildings.

###