WASHINGTON HOSPITALITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Territory Manager
- Territory Manager Northwest, WA & Snohomish
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications Manager
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Job Titles:
- Local Government Affairs Senior Manager
Austin Miller joined the association in March of 2021.
He brings a decade of experience working in government and political roles in the Seattle area. Prior to joining the association, Austin worked in several positions for the City of Seattle, including two mayor's offices and the Department of Education and Early Learning.
He has also worked on a number of political campaigns, ranging from managing the 2014 preschool for all campaign in Seattle to serving on Senator Cantwell's 2012 re-election campaign. He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Washington.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- National Restaurant Association Board Representative
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Member of the Chairman of the Board
Job Titles:
- Territory Manager
- Territory Manager Seattle, East King County
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the CEO
Job Titles:
- Government Affairs Grassroots Coordinator
- State Government Affairs Grassroots Coordinator
Dale was first bit by the political bug while serving as a legislative page in the Washington State House of Representatives. He went on to serve as a House intern while in college. Dale has extensive experience working with political campaigns as a field organizer, field director, and campaign manager. Dale has also worked with advocacy groups to pass legislation.
As a first generation college student, Dale is a proven go getter and is driven for results. Dale graduated from the University of Washington-Tacoma in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in politics philosophy, & economics, with a minor in international human rights.
Dale received a master's degree in legal studies from the University of Washington School of Law in 2020. He currently lives in Tacoma with his wife and cats.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Education Foundation Chair
Job Titles:
- Territory Manager Southwest Washington
Job Titles:
- Membership Manager
- Membership Administrator
Job Titles:
- Accounts Manager
- Executive
Job Titles:
- Director of Local Government Affairs
- Federal / Puget Sound Director of Government Affairs
- First Director of Local Government Affairs
John Lane is the association's first director of Local Government Affairs.
He has a law degree from Seattle University and has extensive public policy experience, including serving as a Washington state assistant attorney general and as the Office of Financial Management's legislative and legal counsel.
John has also served as a senior policy adviser to Gov. Jay Inslee on public safety and government operations and as an executive policy adviser to Gov. Christine Gregoire.
Job Titles:
- Director of State Government Affairs
- Senior Government Affairs Director
Julia Gorton, director of State Government Affairs, has been with the association for more than a decade, and oversees the Association's state advocacy, political programs and public relations activities. In 2021 Julia led her team to secure $2.7 Billion in relief for businesses impacted by the pandemic in Washington.
Julia has earned a reputation in finding solutions to complicated policy issues, spearheading the effort to create the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave program in 2017 - the first of its kind in the country. She was appointed to and serves on the state's Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee, the Paid Family Leave Advisory Committee and is vice chair of Enterprise Washington, an organization that seeks positive political outcomes for the business community in Washington.
Julia graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in political science and social studies, and currently lives in Olympia, WA with her husband, daughter and dog.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources / Office Manager
Job Titles:
- Workforce Development Manager
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
Job Titles:
- Accounts Receivable
- Administrator
Job Titles:
- Communications Tech & Data Analyst
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Communications
Job Titles:
- Social Media & Graphic Design Manager
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Davenport Hotels ( Spokane Chapter Chair )
Job Titles:
- Finance Chair
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Territory Manager
- Territory Manager Spokane, Chelan, Okanogan, Douglas Counties
Job Titles:
- Territory Manager
- Territory Manager Downtown Seattle & South King County
Job Titles:
- State GA Senior Manager
- State Government Affairs Manager
Riley Smith joined the association in October 2022. He brings years of experience in both local and state politics, working several campaigns in Eastern Washington and serving as a Legislative Assistant with the Spokane City Council. Riley also serves on the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors having been elected in the Fall of 2021.
Since he joined the team, Riley has led the association's policy efforts in alcohol issues and workforce development issues. Riley holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Washington.
He currently lives in Spokane with his wife and their two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Territory Manager
- Territory Manager Thurston, Kitsap & Peninsula
Job Titles:
- Immediate past Chair
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- State Government Affairs Senior Manager
Samantha Louderback has been with the association and on the team since 2015. Samantha leads the association's efforts on policy that relates to food safety, food packaging & sustainability, workplace safety, miscellaneous environmental issues and an assortment business issues.
She also is the lead and expert on all things regarding the Department of Health, including transient accommodations, and represents the association on several state-wide stakeholder groups and committees.
Samantha has a bachelor of science in environmental studies and a bachelor of science in public policy from Central Washington University. She currently lives in Tacoma with her husband, daughter, and their dog, Dax.
Job Titles:
- Internal Technology Senior Manager
Job Titles:
- Local Government Affairs Manager
Skylar Schmitt joined the association in June 2022. Since 2016, Skylar has worked on a variety of political campaigns in both field and finance consulting roles.
In 2020 she was the director of outreach for Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland's successful campaign in Washington's 10 th Congressional District.
Most recently Skylar worked as a fundraising consultant for political campaigns and non-profits across the country.
She holds a B.A. in political science from Western Washington University.
Job Titles:
- Accounts Payable Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice - Chair and Chair of Government Affairs
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Hedreen Co