Kathryn Barnard, R.N. Ph.D. of Seattle, is a professor of nursing and psychology and an affiliate of the Center for Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington.

Senator Lisa Brown of Spokane is a graduate of the University of Colorado and holds a doctorate in economics, currently serving as an associate professor of economics at Eastern Washington University. She has one son, Lucas.

Don Brunell of Olympia has been president of the Association of Washington Business since 1988.   He is the father of six children.

Craig Cole of Bellingham is president and chief executive officer of Brown and Cole Stores, Washington’s oldest retail grocery firm founded in 1909. His company focuses on and supports family-friendly practices.

Yolanda Cortinas-Trout of Walla Walla is the owner and director of Yolanda’s ABC-123 Day-care, a licensed family in home child care facility.  She is the mother of two grown sons and the 9th of 18 children.

Kim Cook of Seattle is the regional director of District 925/Service Employees International Union, which represents professional, technical and office support staff, including librarians, accountants, social service providers and other professions.

Senator Alex Deccio of Yakima represents the 14^th District. Prior to serving in the House of Representatives and as a Yakima County Commissioner, he was an insurance executive in Yakima. 

Robbin Dunn of Olympia is the Head Start/ECEAP director for the Educational Service District 113. She also has worked on developing program regulations, standards and procedures for the state’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.

Marty Jacobs of Seattle is the executive director of the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children. WAEYC works to support, advocate, train and interact with other organizations on children's issues.

Peter A. Jackson, Ph.D.   is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Northwest, The Community Foundation in Spokane.  The Foundation supports projects in human services, education, civic development, and the arts and the humanities in the 10 easternmost counties of Washington.

Mary Ellen O'Keeffe of Seattle is the interim associate dean for health and human services at Edmonds Community College. She has extensive experience in family support programs, as well as work in adult education and infant and toddler development.

Sheri Flies (representing James Sinegal) is the Corporate Counsel at Costco Wholesale and is the Costco coordinator of the Community Child Care Alliance Project.  Sheri is the mother of two children.

Representative Lynn Kessler of Hoquiam represents the 24^th District.  She is the Democratic Leader in the House of Representatives. She and her husband have three sons and one daughter and one grandson.

Scott D. Oki of Bellevue is the Chief Volunteer for The Oki Foundation. He retired from the Microsoft Company seven years ago, in which he founded the International Division and was Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Services.  Scott is the father of three children.

Dee Ann Perea of Issaquah is a parent education instructor at Bellevue Community College, in which she leads classes in child rearing for parents of children up to age six. She is the mother of two.

James D. Sinegal (represented by Sheri Flies) of Issaquah is the president, chief executive officer and director of Costco Wholesale. He has three grown children.

Representative Gigi Talcott of University Place represents the 28^th District.  She is a former first-grade teacher and instructor at Clover Park Technical College. She and her husband have two sons.

Yvonne Ullas is an elementary school teacher in Naches and has worked in parent education programs there and in the Yakima School District.  She also was selected as the 1998 Washington State Teacher of the Year.

Dee West of Bellingham is the associate director of Early Childhood Opportunities Northwest.  She is the mother of one child.

Reverend Lawrence White of Tacoma is a sales manager at US West Communications, working with sales consultants in residential settings.  He has two children and 52 nieces and nephews.

Gayle Womack of Kennewick is the Director of the Benton-Franklin Developmental Center, which provides special education, therapy and family services to children between the ages of birth and three who are developmentally delayed.

Dr. Kyle Yasuda of Seattle is a pediatrician at Virginia Mason Medical Center, a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, and President of the Washington Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Diana Yu of Olympia is a Pediatrician and the local public health officer with the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department. She has extensive experience in public health, serving on numerous medical and health associations and committees.