Gov. Gregoire appoints CTED director, creates Global Competitive Council and names Fitzsimmons permanent chief of staff

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2005

OLYMPIA - June 1, 2005 - Gov. Christine Gregoire completed her cabinet appointments today when she reappointed Juli Wilkerson as director of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED).

Gregoire also announced today that she is establishing a Global Competitiveness Council to identify ways to enhance Washington�s competitiveness in the world marketplace. Alan Mulally, chief executive of Boeing�s commercial-airplane division, has agreed to serve as chair of the Council.

�We must make sure we are competitive as our companies do business around the world,� Gregoire said. �I am asking the Global Competitiveness Council to identify issues and propose initiatives, to ensure Washington�s preeminent position within the global marketplace.� Mulally chaired the state�s Competitiveness Council, a forerunner to the new group that has a broader, global perspective.

Gregoire also today made permanent Tom Fitzsimmons� appointment as chief of staff, a position he assumed on a temporary basis when the governor took office in January.

The governor�s announcements were made at a news conference in Seattle, where she talked about her upcoming trade mission to Europe and other steps she is taking to spur economic development in Washington.

Wilkerson has been director of CTED for 14 months. Gregoire did an extensive search for a new director, and said Wilkerson emerged as the leading candidate.

�I�m delighted that Juli will continue her leadership in our state�s economic development,� Gregoire said. �She has the support of our state�s business community, as well as local government leaders. �

The governor said she has instructed Wilkerson to pursue three priorities:
� Identify and pursue economic development opportunities in each region of our state.
� Develop and launch a major effort to promote Washington products and services at home and through international trade.
� Develop and maintain our competitive edge in targeted industries such as aerospace, forest products, agriculture, life sciences, alternative energy, tourism and maritime.

�While Juli and her department play a key role in economic development in our state, all state agencies have a role, and specific assignments from me, for enhancing economic development and creating jobs in our state,� Gregoire said. �To get 250,000 jobs over the next four years and to stay competitive depends on all of our efforts to maintain and enhance infrastructure, streamline regulatory processes, improve workforce development programs and market our assets.�

Gregoire called special attention to CTED�s new Choose Washington web site, www.choosewashington.com . The innovative site helps businesses and site selectors who are considering moving or expanding to Washington state quickly find the information they need.

Gregoire said she will take her message about Washington�s competitive business environment to France, Germany and the United Kingdom when she goes there June 13-17 on her first trade mission. She will particularly focus on promoting three industries - aerospace, biotech and biomedical, and tourism.

�My trip is designed to spur economic growth in the state by creating new opportunities for Washington's businesses,� she said. �The world economic climate now offers exceptional opportunities for trade and business development with Europe - making Washington state products and services very attractive.�

�Today�s announcements about economic development are further steps toward realizing my goal of thousands of new jobs for Washington residents and for more tools for businesses and communities to use in enhancing their economic competitiveness in vitality, both here and around the world,� Gregoire said.

On the appointment of Fitzsimmons, Gregoire said, �Tom is well-respected in Olympia and beyond and has tremendous leadership abilities, and I appreciate his agreeing to stay on permanently.�

Fitzsimmons was chief of staff to Gov. Gary Locke from October 2003 to January 2005. He was director of the Washington State Department of Ecology from January 1997 to September 2003. Before that, he spent nearly two decades in local government, first as a program development manager for the King County executive and, later, as the head of Thurston County government.

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