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Elizabeth Gordon assumes leadership of Governor’s Committee

6/6/2019

19-038

Contacts: Ann Hartman, Employment Security Department Communications Office, 360-902-9476

 
OLYMPIA - For her first year on the job, Elizabeth Gordon says she will focus on helping employ workers who are injured, ill or receiving Social Security benefits because of a disability.

Gordon is the new executive director of the Governor’s Committee on Disability & Employment Issues (GCDE).

She said her first-year priorities include helping to roll out RETAIN, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network grant. Washington was one of eight states to receive the grant, designed specifically to help state employees at risk of filing long-term disability claims and people not eligible for workers’ compensation who are at risk of leaving the workforce.

Gordon said she’s also excited to bring the Ticket to Work program to more WorkSource employment centers statewide. This program connects Social Security disability beneficiaries with career counseling and employment services. Currently, only WorkSource offices in Snohomish and King counties participate.

Gordon previously served with Workforce Snohomish, working primarily to help connect at-risk populations to jobs: people with disabilities, homeless veterans and others who are homeless. She has 25 years’ experience advocating for people with disabilities.

“It’s a passion of mine,” she said. “My mother had some disabilities at the end of her life and she struggled with mental health issues.”

“Elizabeth brings a level of compassion that is paramount to the success of the GCDE program,” said Billie Wright, Chief Human Resources Officer at the Employment Security Department, the agency that administers the Governor’s Committee. “Her level of expertise also will be a wonderful resource for us to use to attract talent in the disability community to come and work for ESD.”

“I’m looking forward to getting a sense of the committee’s priorities and supporting their goals,” Gordon said. “I’m also excited to build new initiatives.”

Gordon succeeds Toby Olson, who led the Governor’s Committee for 31 years.