Employment Security Advisory Committee (ESAC)

ESAC was formed in August 2013 in collaboration with Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s office. The goal of the committee is to help ESD implement our new strategy and goals and to help us stay aligned with Governor Inslee’s Results Washington.

The committee focuses on Washington's employment system as a whole, including:

Workforce and career development
Unemployment insurance (UI)
UI-related programs that lead to a thriving economy, quality jobs, and expanded career opportunities for all Washingtonians.

Upcoming meetings

All of the 2020 Employment Security Advisory Committee meetings will be on Mondays and will start at 1 p.m.

The next meeting will be on June 15 by Webex (agenda)

Call-in details:

Webex
Meeting number (access code): 146 362 8573
Meeting password: S9mysf4CEN5

Join meeting

Join by phone:
Tap to call in from a mobile device (attendees only)
+14043971516 US Toll
8773093457 US Toll Free

The remaining 2020 meetings are on:

August 17
October 26

We will determine whether to hold these meetings in person at ESD’s Maple Park building in Olympia or by videoconference closer to the date of these meetings.

Past meetings

ESAC Contacts at Employment Security Department:

Nick Demerice
Public Affairs Director
ndemerice@esd.wa.gov

Bianca Stoner
Legislative Assistant
bstoner@esd.wa.gov

ESAC Committee Members

Gary Chandler
Representing Business
Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Association of Washington Businesses

Mike Gempler
Representing Business
Executive Director, Washington Growers League

Mark Johnson
Representing Business
Vice President, Government Affairs, Washington Retail Association

Joe Kendo
Representing Labor
Governmental Affairs Director, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Chelsea Mason
Representing Labor
Legislative and Political Director – Aerospace Machinists 751

Kevin Perkey
Representing At-Large
Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Southwest Washington

Mark Riker
Representing Labor
Executive Secretary, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO

John Tirpak
Representing At-Large
Executive Director/Attorney, Unemployment Law Project

Rob Van Alyne
Representing At-Large
Director, Eastern Washington Partnership Workforce Development, Rural Resources Community Action

This council was formed in accordance with statute (RCW 50.12.200) which requires three business, three labor, and three at-large members for a board comprised of nine. Meetings are open to all interested parties who wish to attend and are a matter of public record.