Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 10, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Maureen Greeley, Washington Lottery, 360-664-4730

Gov. Gary Locke Appoints New Lottery Director

Gov. Gary Locke today appointed Kenneth Nakamura as the new director of the Washington Lottery.

Nakamura, 55, a former McDonald’s Corp. executive, most recently served as president of Metro, Inc., a business management consulting business based in Honolulu and Bellevue, Wash. He consulted on business development, multi-unit operations and business performance.

“Ken will bring considerable administrative and operations experience to the Lottery,” Locke said. “Ken’s extensive retail and customer-service background will greatly benefit Lottery.”

Previously, Nakamura was managing director of the Hawaii region of McDonald’s, where he was responsible for 85 licensee and company-owned restaurants in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan, with $160 million in annual revenues.

“I’m honored Governor Locke has appointed me to this position,” Nakamura said. “There are many parallels between the Lottery and my previous experience. It’s all about focusing on the customer. I look forward to working with Lottery’s exceptional staff to build on their past successes.”

While at McDonald’s in Hawaii, Nakamura oversaw operations, marketing, public relations, real estate, construction/development, human resources, local government relations and legal services. McDonald’s retail points are not dissimilar from those of Lottery, where thousands of retail outlets sell Lottery games.

Nakamura once served as director of operations for the Seattle region of McDonald’s, where he co-directed a staff of 70 to lead 330 franchised and company-owned restaurants in four Northwest states.

He also served as the business manager of the Seattle Sounders, the professional soccer franchise, from 1993-1995. In addition, he was general manager of Leyton House Hawaii, Inc., a retail and real estate firm, and was a vice president and principal broker of Investment Properties Pacific, Inc., in Honolulu.

Nakamura has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington. He is commander of the Nisei Veterans’ Committee in Seattle.

Nakamura, who will make $106,000 annually, replaces Anthony Molica, who returned to the California Lottery in September.

The Washington Lottery was established in 1982. Lottery proceeds to the Student Achievement Fund, Education Construction Fund, State General Fund, and stadium commitments have surpassed $2 billion. The Lottery offers consumers seven types of games: Mega Millions, Lotto Plus, Lucky for Life, Quinto, The Daily Game, Daily Keno and Scratch. Lottery information is available at www.walottery.com.

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