Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee

The Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee (UIAC) serves workers and businesses. Members seek input to improve the unemployment benefits program.

About the advisory committee

UIAC helps our Commissioner with the unemployment benefits program. They help develop policies and discuss problems with the program's administration. They also help us remain impartial and free from political influence.

Stakeholders have an opportunity to share their concerns. Members comment on unemployment benefit policy, operations, performance management and more.

To learn more, you can:

Meetings

View all upcoming and past Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee meetings, meeting minutes, agendas and recordings.

Next meeting

  • Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, 1-3:00pm
  • Join on Zoom (Zoom password: "UIAC")
  • Agenda to be provided in advance

We will record this meeting and it will be live-streamed by TVW. The recording will capture your image and voice during the video conference. By participating in this video conference, you are consenting to being recorded.

Committee members

UIAC has 9 members appointed by the Commissioner. Employees, employers and the general public each have 3 appointed representatives.

The Commissioner also delegates an Employment Security representative. They serve as Chair of the Committee.

Employment Security representative:

JR Richards, Unemployment Insurance Customer Service Director

Employee representatives

  • Sybill Hyppolite, Washington State Labor Council
  • Cindy Richardson, UNITE HERE Local 8
  • Josh Swanson, Operating Engineers 302
  • Brenda Wiest, Teamsters 117

Employer representatives

  • Julia Gorton, Washington Hospitality Association
  • Josie Cummings, Avista Corp

General Public representatives

  • Anne Paxton, Unemployment Law Project
  • William Westmoreland, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council

Employment Security committee contacts

  • JR Richards, Director, Unemployment Insurance Customer Support Division
  • Colin Helsley, Committee Support
  • Camille Galeno, Administrative Assistance