The Executive Committee manages the organization and makes decisions between the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee takes the mission and goals of the Board and works to make it a reality in partnership with the Executive Director.
 |
JOE M. TORTORELLI,
CHAIRMAN
President, Economic Development Northwest
Joe Tortorelli has built a reputation in the Pacific Northwest with
community leaders and economic development professionals as an experienced,
results oriented practitioner of the economic development process. After working
for Avista Corp., an electric and natural gas utility in eastern Washington and
northern Idaho for 18 years in economic development, he formed a consulting firm
specializing in business development, Economic Development Northwest. The past
four years he has concentrated on assisting small communities and counties in
finding business opportunities and turning them into economic stimulus for their
areas. From diversified manufacturing to motel development he has extensive
experience in assisting companies selecting sites and working through issues to
create new jobs in communities.
|
 |
ELLIE CHAMBERS-GRADY, CHAIR-ELECT
Economic Development Director, City of Lakewood
|
 |
BRUCE KENDALL, PAST CHAIRMAN
President, EDB of Tacoma-Pierce County
Bruce is the President & CEO of the Economic Development Board for
coma-Pierce County (EDB), a private, non-profit corporation focused on the
retention and recruitment of primary industries in Tacoma and Pierce County,
Washington. Prior to taking the reins at the EDB, he was senior vice president
at the Economic Development Council of Seattle & King County. Bruce’s other
positions have included proprietor of a transportation consulting firm, assistant
the managing partner of a major law firm, and legislative assistant to US Senator
Slade Gorton. Bruce has a BA from Whitman College and an MBA from the University
of Washington.
|
 |
JULI WILKERSON, DIRECTOR AT-LARGE
Director, Washington State Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development
Governor Gary Locke appointed Juli Wilkerson director of the
Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
in January 2004.
Ms. Wilkerson is responsible for leading the state’s agency responsible for
enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in
Washington. The agency is comprised of 350 employees, a $1.2 billion
biennial budget and six divisions: community services, local government,
housing services, international trade, economic development, and energy
policy. More than 93 percent of CTED’s funding goes directly to communities.
|
|
|
DAVID
KLEITSCH, DIRECTOR AT-LARGE
Economic Development Director, City of Lynnwood
|
 |
MICHAEL TRACY, TREASURER
President, Grays Harbor Economic Development Council
Michael is the President of the Grays Harbor Economic Development Council. An organization consisting of 34 elected officials and Business leaders whose mission is to facilitate in the creation of business investment and jobs in Grays Harbor County.
Michael has an extensive and varied career in manufacturing and economic development. His experience runs the gamut from low-tech business owner, where his company manufactured tape cartridges for the radio industry; to management of high-tech manufacturing at Digital Equipment Corporation, where he oversaw the manufacturing of read-write heads for computers; to managing the design, development, and placement of Nuclear Hardened Facilities for the US Government.
His 15 years of economic development experience is from Massachusetts, New Mexico and Washington, specifically, Yakima and Grays Harbor Counties.
He has been Chair of the Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA), an organization of Statewide ED professionals, and the President of the Grays Harbor Chapter of the American Red Cross.
|
 |
DIAHANNA
HOWARD, SECRETARY
Diahann Howard
is the Director of Economic Development and Governmental Affairs
for the
Port
of
Benton
. In addition to her
port responsibilities, she serves as the Executive Director for
the Tri Cities Research District, a Washington State Innovation
Partnership Zone. Prior to the Port, she was the City of
Richland
’s Economic Development Manager where she was responsible for
marketing and development of the cities various land holdings
ranging from mixed use, industrial, retail, and residential
community projects.
She serves on the Washington Economic
Development Association board as its secretary, Leadership Tri
Cities Board as a program coordinator, Tri Cities Legislative
Council, Washington Public Port Association as a committee
member and the Applied Process Engineering Laboratory (APEL)
advisory board, as well as various others.
She is also a member of the Richland Rotary Club.
Diahann has a B.A in International Affairs from
Eastern
Washington
University
|
|
|
