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Contacts:  Janelle Guthrie, ESD Communications Director, 360-902-9289
                   Michelle Marshel, NASWA Communications Director, 202-434-8024

OLYMPIA – The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) presented John Wissler, deputy director of Application Development at the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) with the prestigious Merrill Baumgardner award at its 80th Annual National Conference in Oklahoma City last week.

The Merrill Baumgardner award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in the field of information technology in a state workforce agency.

Along with several other information technology solutions initiated on behalf of his agency, Wissler conducted a full business process analysis and found many methodologies were outdated and unsupported. Working with his team, Wissler implemented Microsoft Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) Release Management. Since launch, Washington has been able to revolutionize the way custom code is stored, in cloud vs. on-premises.

“Information technology solutions implemented by Wissler and his team have completely revolutionized the way Washington’s Employment Security Department conducts several business functions,” said Scott Sanders, executive director of NASWA. “Due to the efforts of Wissler and his team, the citizens of Washington are much more efficiently, securely and effectively served, all while saving valuable taxpayer dollars.”

“Washington’s Employment Security Department is constantly working to improve our information technology systems and capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers and the exponential change occurring in the IT world,” said Dale Peinecke, ESD’s commissioner and president of NASWA. “John and his team are leaders in this effort and I’m proud of the recognition they are receiving from this respected national organization.”

NASWA also recognized several other individuals and entities who have provided vital community workforce and economic development opportunities as a part of their Salute to Leadership awards ceremony at the conference. Find more information about award recipients and categories at Salute to Leadership Awards.

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NASWA is a national organization of state administrators of the publicly-funded state workforce system, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), employment services, training programs, unemployment insurance, employment statistics and labor market and workforce information. NASWA delivers policy expertise on workforce development, including unemployment insurance and other transitional support, as the voice of state workforce agencies.

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