OLYMPIA - Responding to Governor-sponsored legislation to assess financial literacy in Washington State, the Washington Financial Literacy Work Group was created. The work group’s 27 members conducted their first meeting from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, April 25 at Highline Community College.
This group is tasked with addressing the issues presented in SENATE BILL 6272 Chapter 3, Laws of 2008, supported and signed by Governor Chris Gregoire Feb. 11, 2008:
- To identify current state funded efforts to support financial literacy,
- Assess whether there are opportunities to create a centralized location of information regarding these existing state efforts, and
- Identify whether there are opportunities for expanding partnerships with other community entities also providing financial literacy services
Members of this work group will determine the status of financial literacy in Washington State and define what action is necessary to increase financial literacy at all age levels. The group will provide regular interim reports on their findings and submit a final report to the governor and legislature by Dec. 1, 2008.
“Financial literacy is a critical tool in assisting Washington residents attain financial freedom,” DFI Director Scott Jarvis said. “This group will do the heavy lifting necessary to identify steps the State needs to take to ensure financial education is readily available for all Washington residents every stage of their life — from cradle to grave."
“This workgroup is being asked to find better methods of communication and information dissemination,” Jarvis continued. “They will propose more effective ways of partnering with organizations -- state, private, and non-profit, and suggest how the state can best increase financial literacy throughout the state.”
Washington Financial Literacy Work Group members include:
- Stacy Augustine, Washington Credit Union League, Senior Vice President & General Counsel
- Greer Gibson Bacon, Asset Planning & Management, Inc.
- Cathy Brorson, Kitsap Credit Union, Outreach Coordinator, CU Youth Development Council of WA, Chairman
- Ty Cordova, WA State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, State Farm Insurance, Assistant Public Affairs Manager
- Alicia C. (Haus) Diefenbach, Consumer University (call-in/consult only)
- Donna Dziak, Solid Ground, Program Manager, Housing Counseling and Prevention Programs
- Mary Gould, WA Attorney General’s Office, Outreach and Education Coordinator, Consumer Protection Division, Financial Literacy Coordinator
- Erica Benson-Hallock, United Ways of Washington, United Way of Spokane
- Michelle Hardesty, Department of Retirement Systems, Plan administrator for the Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System
- Charles A. Helms, Consumer Counseling Northwest, President/CEO
- Melanie Hess, Junior Achievement, Senior V.P. of Operations
- Linda Jekel, WA Department of Financial Institutions, Director, Division of Credit Unions
- Scott Kinney, Jump WA president, WaMu Program Manager, Teen, Adult and Employee Financial Education, Community and External Affairs Division
- Paul Knox, WA Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Asset Building Managing Director
- Leslie Lum, Bellevue Community College professor, Financial Literacy curriculum developer (call-in/consult only)
- Jeremy Lushene, WA Department of Financial Institutions, Web Master, Communications Consultant (assistance/support)
- Paula Mahoney, Washington Mutual, Community Affairs Manager, Community & External Affairs Division
- Allen Morrow, WA State Senior Citizens' Lobby, VP, Senior lobbyist
- Kristin Mowat, Washington Bankers Association, Communications and Marketing Manager
- John Nofsinger, PhD, Washington State University, College of Business and Economics (call-in/consult only)
- Caleb Perkins, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Social Studies
- Lyn Peters, WA Department of Financial Institutions, Director of Communications (Workgroup Coordinator)
- Cheryl Reed, AARP, ASD Community Outreach
- Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, 37th Legislative District
- Kimberly Scott/Amy O'Donnell, Washington Society of CPAs, Director of Member Services (KS), Financial Literacy Program Manager (AO’D)
- Dave Sieminski, Medina Foundation, Sieminski & Associates Consulting
- Danielle (Dani) Small/John Tye, Tacoma Goodwill Industries, Financial Literacy Program Coordinator (DS), Education & Training Manager (JT)
- Dee Taylor, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Director, Homeownership Division
- Linda Taylor, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Housing Director
- Pam Whalley, WWU College of Business and Economics, Economics Department Faculty Member, Washington Council of Economic Education, Associate Center Director
- Lance Wrzesinski, W.F. West High School, K-12 teacher, Washington State Business Educators Association (WSBEA) board member