Governor Gregoire Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

For Immediate Release: February 23, 2007

Citizens appointed from Bellingham, Kennewick, Mercer Island, Olympia, Richland, Seattle, Spokane, Spokane Valley, Tacoma and Vancouver

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

Benton County Boundary Review Board
Shirley Sonnichsen of Richland has been reappointed to a term effective February 19, 2007, ending January 31, 2011. Ms. Sonnichsen is retired from Pacific NW Laboratories. She is a member of the League of Women Voters of Benton � Franklin Counties and the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society.

The Board has jurisdiction over municipal annexations, incorporations, disincorporations and the creation or annexation of certain special districts. They also have jurisdiction over extensions of sewer and water services outside the city or district.

Community Economic Revitalization Board
Allen Brecke of Kennewick has been appointed to a term effective February 16, 2007, ending September 2, 2010. Mr. Brecke is a member of the Washington State Trail Lawyers Association and is the President of the Allen Brecke Law Offices. He is the Chair for the City of Richland Board of Ethics and President of the Columbia Center Rotary.

Lisa Wellman of Mercer Island has been reappointed to a term effective February 16, 2007, ending September 2, 2010. Ms. Wellman is the President of Digital Marketing Corporation and the former Vice-President of Apple Computer. She is the Vice-Chair for the Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help and serves on the board of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs.

The Board works to strengthen the economy in areas of the state that have experienced high unemployment rates or below-average economic growth, encourage economic diversification within the state and provide incentives for the expansion of employment opportunities.

Correctional Industries Board of Directors
Sumeer Singla of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective February 16, 2007, ending September 25, 2007. Ms. Singla is a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association

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

Eastern State Hospital Advisory Board
Holly Michaels of Spokane Valley has been appointed to a term effective February 16, 2007, ending December 5, 2010. Ms. Michaels has worked as computer programmer and analyst and a small business owner. She is an assistant and participant with ON-Stage and volunteers for the Spokane Valley Community Center.

The Board monitors the operation and activities of the hospital, reviews and advises on the hospital budget, makes recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on ways to improve service quality and consults with the Department of Social and Health Services regarding the selection of superintendent.

Humanities Washington
Scott White of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective January 1, 2007, ending October 31, 2009. Mr. White is the Special Projects Manager with the Department of Executive Service for King County. He is the former Chief of Staff for the Metropolitan King County Council and has served as a legislative and policy analyst. He serves on the Municipal League of Seattle and King County, the World Affairs Council and United Way of Seattle-King County.

The Commission is a non-profit organization supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and local contributors. The Commission support programs that foster public understanding and appreciation of history, literature, ethics and other humanities fields.

Lake Washington Technical College Board of Trustees
Celeste Strahl of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective February 16, 2007, ending September 30, 2007. Ms. Strahl is a registered nurse and an instructor at Seattle University. She is a court appointed special advocate for the King County Juvenile Court.

The Board is the governing board for the technical college.

Professional Educator Standards Board
Myra Johnson of Tacoma has been appointed to a term effective February 15, 2007, ending June 30, 2010. Ms. Johnson is an elementary school counselor in the Clover Park School District. She is a member of the Washington Education Association, the Washington Education Association Political Action Committee and the Washington School Counselor Association.

Stephanie Salzman of Bellingham has been appointed to a term effective February 15, 2007, ending June 30, 2010. Ms. Salzman is the Dean of the Woodring College of Education within Western Washington University. She is on the board of the Whatcom Coalition for Health Communities and the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force.

The Board is responsible for state policies and requirements for the preparation, certification, assignment and continuing education of certified education professionals.

Securities Advisory Committee
Greer Gibson Bacon of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective February 19, 2007, ending December 31, 2010. Ms. Bacon is the President and the owner of Asset Planning and Management, Inc. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Spokane Estate Planning Council and the Women Helping Women Foundation, Pioneer Circle.

The Committee advises the Director of the Department of Financial Institutions on matters relating to securities; and examines and licenses securities broker, dealers, salespeople and investment advisors.

State Employee Combined Fund Drive
Tom Haines of Olympia has been reappointed to a term effective February 19, 2007, ending January 1, 2010. Mr. Haines is an administrator at the Department of Social and Health Services, Pierce-North community service office. He was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1971. He volunteers with King County United Way, is a youth baseball coach and serves as the Chair for the Combined Fund Drive.

The Combined Fund Drive allows state employees to donate money that will be distributed to a variety of charitable organizations.

Washington Commission on National and Community Service
Tamera Kihs of Vancouver has been appointed to a term effective February 16, 2007, ending February 15, 2010. Ms. Kihs is the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Vancouver Fire Department. She is a member of the Washington Emergency Management Association and the International Association of Emergency Managers. She volunteers for the American Red Cross and the Clark County Evergreen Community Festival.

The Commission implements the federal National and Community Trust Act of 1993, which created Americorps. It initiates activities that expand and promote the concept of service beyond the scope of federal resources and provides leadership and vision for local volunteer organizations, civic and community groups and government to make service a part of the lives of all of the citizens of the state.

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