Andy has 34 years of experience in the hotel industry with a combination of consulting, management and university-level teaching. He served for many years on WLA’s Board as an allied director and now as a lodging director. Andy has served on and made a contribution to every WLA committee from convention planning to finance.

Todd has more than 25 years of lodging industry experience and has been on numerous boards and hospitality organizations throughout his career. He has advocated for the appropriate investment of lodging tax revenues and has testified before city and state lawmakers on behalf of the economic benefits derived from investing in the hospitality industry. 

Cindy has more than 20 years of hotel experience working at both the corporate and property levels. She has served on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and as a chamber board member. 

Zahoor is Vice President of Hotel Operations with R.C. Hedreen Company, owners of Seattle's Grand Hyatt, Hilton, Renaissance and Hyatt at Olive 8. He has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has served as a volunteer for Junior Achievement and Habitat for Humanity. 

Sandra is the Vice President and General Manager at the Governor Hotel in Olympia, Washington.  Sandra’s roles as representative for both ownership and management with a mid-scale property in a secondary market give her a broad perspective on industry issues.  With her strong political background, Sandra chairs the PAC Committee.

Meghan has, in her 20 years of experience in the lodging industry, assisted in numerous hotel openings and management transitions across the U.S. as a project manager with The Hotel Group.  She has taught hospitality classes at Washington State University.  As Chairman of the Membership committee, her efforts are focused on membership growth and marketing initiatives.

With a practice focusing on Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, as well as Employment and Litigation, Diana brings a valuable legal perspective to the Board.  In addition to defending employers against claims of harassment, discrimination, wage and hour violations, Diana represents employers in administrative investigations and proceedings, including before the Washington Human Rights Commission, Washington Department of Labor and Industries and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Frank has more than 30 years of hotel industry experience in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Hawaii and Utah.  His current Board involvement includes Tourism Alliance of King County, Puget Sound Regional Council/Prosperity Partnership and the SeaTac Tax Advisory Committee. He was named WLA General Manager of the Year in 2009. 

WLA's CEO since 1999, Jan previously served as executive director of the 1,000-member Washington State Chiropractic Association; the Northwest regional manager for Landmark Education, a worldwide training and development company; marketing director of Crossroads Mall in Bellevue; and as owner and publisher of City Kids magazine. She earned a bachelor of arts in communications from Columbia College in Chicago.

Before joining WLA’s staff in 2000, Julie served as administrative assistant with a 1,000-member, statewide professional and trade association. For the past 25 years, Julie has been known for her thorough and service-oriented work.  

As Membership Director of the WLA, Alison is the go-to person for member service, sales, recruitment, retention and support.  For over five years, she has worked with our members delivering benefits to support and strengthen the lodging and hospitality industry.  Prior to joining WLA, Alison worked in marketing, advertising and promotions and holds a degree in Communications from Fordham University in New York.  In addition to her work with WLA, she is an active community volunteer supporting a variety of local and international organizations. 

Suzanne has served with the WLA since 2009, brings a strong project management and administrative background, and holds a bachelor's degree from University of Idaho.  She was born and raised in the Northwest and has a deep appreciation for all the natural wonder of Washington State. 

TK, with a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Washington, interned for U.S. Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson and paged for U.S. Sen. Warren G. Magnuson before serving as a contract lobbyist in Olympia since 1985. WLA’s lobbyist since 2002, TK is a board member on the Washington Research Council, United for Washington's CSC (Washington's Business PAC), the National Association of Convenience Stores' Legislative Committee and the Business Advisory Committee for the Washington Liquor Control Board.

Read more about WLA’s legislative and regulatory agenda.

Bob represented Alcoa Inc. in its public relations, communications and government relations departments for more than 25 years before starting his own government relations firm, Issues Inc. A Texas native and journalism graduate of Texas Christian University, he also worked in the newspaper and telecommunications industries during the 1960s and 1970s. Bob has served as WLA’s grassroots action coordinator since 2002.

Read more about WLA’s legislative and regulatory agenda.

General counsel to WLA since 1993, Dennis McLaughlin also serves in that capacity for several hotels in Spokane, the Spokane County Hotel & Motel Association, the Empire Innkeepers Association and the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. He received his bachelor's degree from Washington State University and his law degree from the University of Idaho.

A locally owned CPA and consulting firm headquartered in Bellevue, Clark Nuber has helped to shape the growth of entrepreneurial businesses and nonprofit associations in the Northwest for more than four decades. Its professionals have advised WLA since 2000 in the many accounting, tax and other financial and legal issues affecting nonprofit associations. 

SagaCity Media, Inc.

Providing publishing services for WLA’s Washington State Visitors’ Guide

SagaCity Media Inc. is a multimedia company with magazines constituting its core business. The SagaCity family of publications includes Portland Monthly, Seattle Metropolitan, Portland Spaces, Portland Bride & Groom and Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom. In addition to its proprietary titles, SagaCity maintains a thriving custom media and web business.  It became WLA’s editorial, design, sales and production services partner with the 10^th anniversary edition of the Washington State Visitors’ Guide.

http://SagaCityMedia.com

Read more about the Washington State Visitors’ Guide.  

Approach Management Services

Administrator of WLA’s Workers’ Compensation Group Retro Program

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) began the Retrospective Rating Program (retro program) as a financial incentive program to assist Washington employers with reducing the cost of industrial insurance premiums. Enrollment in a retro group requires active participation on behalf of the employer in order to control costs. By keeping claim costs to a minimum, companies have the potential for a premium refund.

Refunds are awarded to companies that increase safety awareness, reduce workplace accidents and get more involved in minimizing the costs of claims that do occur. It also gives an employer the opportunity to pool the risk involved with workers' compensation in a group of like-minded, safety-conscious companies in similar industries.

WLA’s Group Retro Program, with nearly 150 hotels and restaurants participating, is administered by Approach Management Services. Approach administers seven retro groups in Washington State. Since Approach's inception in 1992, its clients have received more than $100 million in returned premiums because of Approach’s effective risk-control and claim-management techniques.

www.ApproachMS.com

Read more about WLA’s Group Retro Program.

detailz Event Management Group

WLA’s Convention Event Planning Partner

Specializing in all types of event and promotion planning, detailz has served as WLA’s meeting planners since 2008.  With more than 30 years of combined experience in hospitality and events and with a passion for the lodging and tourism industries, detailz’s hallmark is “consider it done.” Detailz is committed to customer satisfaction and sound budget management. 

www.donedetailz.com, 509-844-2150

Read more about WLA’s upcoming Convention, Trade Show & Casino Night.

4th Avenue Media

WLA’s Communications & Media Partner
As a one-stop shop marketing company, 4^th Avenue Media brands companies, designs websites, logos and collateral, produces creative web videos, takes pretty pictures and makes sure the world knows who you are through social media, advertising and marketing. 

As WLA’s partner, 4^th Avenue Media redesigned its website, created its logo and motto and produced the videos on this site.  In 2010, 4^th Avenue Media will create the annual convention logo, tagline and videos.  4^th Avenue Media works with WLA in creating new communication concepts and videos to further WLA’s mission.

www.4thAvenueMedia.com, 877-551-4442