Contact the OEDC

The Seattle office of the Washington State Department of Commerce makes it easy to do business in Washington, creating jobs and economic prosperity statewide.

The Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness (OEDC) team offers real-world business experience and their results-oriented approach is focused on your business needs. We provide businesses and investors with adaptive and customized programs and services that meet their specific needs so they can enter new markets, find new partners, make informed investments in the state, expand strategically, streamline legislation, identify new funding sources and hire and train more workers.

Administration

Reception Desk: (206) 256-6100

Grace Yoo, Assistant Director – (206) 256-6146
Keith Swenson, Deputy Assistant Director – (206) 256-6102
Carolyn Busch, Policy Analyst – (206) 256-6140
Open, Budget Manager – (360) 957-8980
Kathleen Carney-Taylor, Budget Analyst – (360) 725-4023
Mary Ferguson, Operations Manager: Seattle – (206) 256-6130
OPEN, Administrative Assistant – (206) 256-6134
Russ Campbell, Administrative Assistant – (206) 256-6109
Front Desk Reception – (206) 256-6100

Industry Sector Development

Julie Anderson – Director of Economic Development,  Ag Tech – (206) 256-6137
Alison Beason, Director of Economic Development, Life Science – (206) 256-6110
Stephanie Bowman, Director of Economic Development, Maritime – (206) 256-6104
Vincent Canada, Industry Sector Development Management Analyst – (206) 256-6124
Shannon Halberstadt, Creative Economy Sector Lead – (564) 669-0378
Kairie Pierce, Workforce Innovation Director – (206) 613-7673
Robin Toth, Director of Economic Development, Aerospace, Aviation & Space – (206) 256-6103
OPEN, Director of Economic Development, Clean Technology – (206) 256-6129
Joseph Williams, Director of Economic Development, ICT – (206) 256-6107

Business Development

Radi Simeonova, Managing Director – (206) 256-6114
Harry Birak, Business Development Manager – (206) 256-6121
Monica Bramble, Program Manager – Industrial Siting – (509) 606-3520
Shannon McCarty, Aerospace Business Development Manager – (206) 256-6116
Ariane Ogier, Business Development Manager – (206) 256-6148
Nicole Witenstein, Program Manager – (206) 256-6105

Circular Economy

Kirk Esmond, Circular Economy Development Director – (206) 256-6142
Leslie Perkins, Circular Economy Development Manager – (206) 454-2250

Washington State Small Business Training & Education Center

Robb Zerr, Senior Managing Director – (206) 256-6111
Lynn Longan, Manager, Small Business Training & Education Center – (360) 490-1950
Linda Alongi, Education & Training Program Manager – (360) 725-4031
Terri Drexler, Small Business Program Manager – (564) 201-0242
Susan Herr, Small Business Program Manager, Eastern Washington – (509) 220-6048
Mark Rentfrow, Small Business Program Manager, (360) 725-3081
Open, EDA Tourism Project Manager

Business, Investment & Visitor Attraction

Robb Zerr, Senior Managing Director – (206) 256-6111
Jacquie Goodwill, Marketing Communications Manager – (206) 256-6138
Kara Haggard, Design & Production Manager – (206) 256-6150
Alexander Harper, Brand & Creative Manager – (360) 535-4175

Small Business Finance & Community Support

Linda Womack, Managing Director – (206) 256-6151
Jessica Cheng, Small Business Contract & Program Manager – (564) 669-4544
Lynn Fetch, Small Business Finance Manager – (360) 725-2810
Lorena Lowell, Small Business Finance Manager – (360) 725-2809
Rachel Paris, Program & Contract Manager – (360) 725-3121
Shiloh Penland, Small Business Finance & Program Manager – (360) 890-2288

Small Business Export Assistance

Isabelle DeWulf, Managing Director – (206) 256-6143
Joanna Boatwright, Aerospace International Trade Specialist – (206) 256-3136
Callum Cleary, STEP Voucher Program Manager – (206) 256-6145
Karl Dahlgren, Life Science/Global Health Trade Specialist – (206) 256-6132
Tammy Deets, Clean Technology, Advanced Manufacturing & Maritime Manager – (206) 256-6154
Nicole Gunkle, Special Projects Manager – (206) 256-6131
Julie Monahan, Information & Communication Technology – (206) 256-6147

Grants, Contracts & Procurement

Brenda Pearson, Managing Director – (360) 628-9756
Diana Divens, ADO Program Manager – (564) 999-3279
Serena Grimes, Procurement, Grants and Contract Manager – (564) 669-8429 
Deonne McSwain, Contracts, Grants and Procurement Manager – (564) 669-1245
Elijah Moon, Supervisor- Grants, Contracts, and Procurement – (360) 701-8273