GCDE Governor's Employer Awards program

The Governor's Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE) Governor's Employer Awards program honors employers and individuals who have helped create better opportunities for people with disabilities

About the awards

Recognizes and promotes the achievements of employers, organizations and individuals who have improved employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Each year, nominations begin in May and run through the summer.

Read the brochure for more information.

Employer of the Year

Includes private, nonprofit, public and youth employers.

Direct Support Professional Award

A lifetime achievement award presented to an individual within the field of supported employment. This individual is a job coach or job developer who supports people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in supported employment. This professional is a strong advocate, supporter and communicator. They are honored for creating success for people with disabilities every day.

Governor's Trophy

A lifetime achievement award presented to an individual with a disability. This individual has made the world better for those with disabilities through their advocacy, services, programs and more. This award is given in memory of Carolyn Blair Brown. She was a member of the GCDE who did not fear or deny her disability, which was adult-onset blindness. She embraced the adversity she faced, and it fueled her to work on behalf of the entire community of individuals who experience disabilities. A driving force of her advocacy was to establish “one voice” and to empower people who experience a range of disabilities.

Toby Olson Lifetime Impact Award

Honors an individual who embodies the qualities and characteristics of the late Toby Olson, former GCDE executive secretary. It recognizes an individual who has made a lifetime commitment to addressing the inequities people with disabilities face in their community and at the state and national levels. This individual can demonstrate specific, direct actions that dramatically change the lives of those in the disability community. Since this award has such stringent criteria, the nomination process is different. See below for more information.

Announcing the 2024 winners!

• Mr. Fix Auto Service, Grandview - Youth Employer of the Year
• Central Washington Disability Resources, Ellensburg - Small Nonprofit Employer of the Year
• Washington Vocational Services, Everett - Small Nonprofit Employer of the Year
• The Hearthstone at Green Lake, Seattle – Medium Nonprofit Employer of the Year
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland - Large Nonprofit Employer of the Year
• ProStar Insurance, Bothell - Small Private Employer of the Year
• POSDATA Group, Inc., Gig Harbor – Small Private Employer of the Year
• Allegro Pediatrics, Bellevue - Medium Private Employer of the Year
• Red Robin (Division 3 Marketing Team 2), Federal Way - Large Private Employer of the Year
• Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, Richland – Large Private Employer of the Year

Direct Support Professional of the Year Award

The committee also acknowledged Renae Voth with the Direct Support Professional of the Year Award. Voth is an employment consultant in the Skagit County office of Washington Vocational Services (WVS).

In only three years on the job, Voth is known for her success in connecting people to jobs. Her success rate is high even though most of the people she helps live in rural areas where employers are not plentiful, and transportation is often a barrier. As a result of her success, WVS often calls on Voth to help with caseloads in Whatcom, Snohomish and Island county offices.

The 2024 nominees

Small nonprofit employer category:

  • Central Washington Disability Resources, Ellensburg
  • Seattle Children's Playgarden, Seattle
  • Che Family Foundation/I-Ching Acupuncture, Mukilteo/Edmonds
  • Washington Vocational Services, Everett
  • Carco Theatre, Renton

Small private employer category:

  • POSDATA Group, Inc., Gig Harbor
  • Nowakowski Legal, Redmond
  • Stuffington's Ceramics & More, Everett
  • Slate Salon and Spa, Edmonds
  • Apples to Zebras Insurance, LLC, Lynnwood
  • Love Potion Magickal Marketplace, Vancouver
  • Bellingham Grocery Outlet, Bellingham
  • ProStar Insurance, Bothell
  • 3rd Street Book Exchange, Marysville
  • SK tes (South Korea Total Environmental Solutions), Tukwila
  • Rehab Without Walls, Lynnwood
  • Safeway, Mount Vernon

Medium-sized nonprofit employer category:

  • Korean Women's Association, Lakewood
  • The Hearthstone at Green Lake, Seattle

Medium-sized private employer category:

  • Allegro Pediatrics, Bellevue
  • Lowes Store #0061, Arlington
  • PCC Community Market, Bothell
  • Trader Joe's, Lynnwood

Large nonprofit employer category:

  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland

Large private employer category:

  • Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, Richland
  • Red Robin (division 3, marketing team 2), Federal Way

Youth employer category:

  • Skagit Gleaners, Mount Vernon
  • Jewlz Beauty Lounge, Grandview
  • Center for Independence, Lakewood
  • Mr. Fix Auto Service, Grandview

Direct support professional category:

  • Renae Voth, Burlington

Awards subcommittee members

  1. Yvonne Bussler-White, subcommittee chair
  2. Amy Cloud
  3. Clarence Eskridge
  4. Cullyn Foxlee
  5. Damiana Harper, GCDE chair
  6. Janet Bruckshen
  7. Daniel Ledgett
  8. Matt Nash, subcommittee vice-chair
  9. Mike Hatch
  10. Pat Bauccio
  11. Tammy Stevens
  12. Lucas Doelman
  13. Emily Heike, GCDE staff
  14. Elizabeth Gordon, GCDE staff
  15. Elaine Stefanowicz, GCDE staff

2023 awards

Last year's event luncheon was at the Wenatchee Convention Center on Oct. 6 and was a great success! Read about the 2023 recipients.

Hover over the photo and use the arrow on the right to scroll through the photos. You can see the photos on Flickr.

Thank you to our 2023 sponsors: Microsoft, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Washington State Employees Credit Union, Employment Security Department, Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Office of Financial Management, Department of Services for the Blind, SkillSource Regional Workforce Board, and Department of Enterprise Services.

Past award recipients

Awards recipients 2023
  • Chuck E. Cheese Burlington - Youth Employer of the Year Award
  • Center for Independence - Small Nonprofit Employer of the Year Award
  • New Leaf, Inc. – Medium Nonprofit Employer of the Year Award
  • Juanita KinderCare - Small Private Employer of the Year Award
  • Thompson Seattle - Medium Private Employer of the Year Award
  • Thrive Communities - Large Private Employer of the Year Award
  • Washington State Department of Financial Institutions – Medium Public (state) Employer of the Year Award
  • City of Kent – Large Public (city) Employer of the Year Award
  • Washington State Health Care Authority – Large Public (state) Employer of the Year Award
  • Washington River Protection Solutions – Large Public (federal) Employer of the Year Award

The committee also acknowledged:

  • Marci Carpenter with the Governor’s Trophy in Memory of Carolyn Blair Brown. This award, named after a former GCDE member, is the highest honor given to someone with a disability who has significantly empowered people with disabilities in Washington. Carpenter was recognized for:

    • Supporting parents of blind children who receive needed education.

    • Helping the City of Seattle be more ADA compliant.

    • Fighting for disability equality in the Legislature.

    • Decades of working with state and national federations to fight for the rights of people with disabilities in all areas of life.

  • Anja Post with the Direct Support Professional of the Year Award. Post, in her 32-plus year career, has built many relationships with employers in her community, giving her the ability to quickly place the right person in the right position. Post also creates relationships with her clients. She gets to know the whole person, enabling her to understand not only their interests, but their strengths and weaknesses as employees and as people.

Awards recipients 2022
  • Governor’s Trophy - Ivanova Smith
  • Direct Support Professional - Mary Sabetto
  • Small Private Employer - Restoration Management Company
  • Medium Private Employer - JCPenney Marysville
  • Large Private Employer - ABM Business & Industry
  • Small Nonprofit Employer - Spectrum Studios
  • Large Nonprofit Employer - Seattle Children’s Hospital
  • Youth Employer - Walgreen’s Sedro-Woolley
Awards recipients 2021
  • Direct Support Professional - Cathy Eylar
  • Toby Olson Legacy Award - David Lord
  • Small Private Employer - Bean Box
  • Medium Private Employer - Tomlinson Linens
  • Large Private Employer - Amazon
  • Small Nonprofit Employer - DBSC
  • Youth Employer - King County Wastewater Treatment Division
Awards recipients 2020
  • Direct Support Professional - Debra Tan
  • Small Non-Profit Employer of the Year - Community Seeds / Calico Cat Café
  • Large Private Employer of the Year - MOD Pizza, Washington
  • Medium Private Employer of the Year - Safeway Store #1448, Sequim
  • Small Private Employer of the Year - Papa Murphy’s Lake Forest Park
  • Public Employer of the Year - King County Road Services Division
  • Toby Olson Legacy Award - Mike Hatch
  • Governor's Trophy - Dave Reynolds
Awards recipients 2019
  • Governor's Trophy - Duane French
  • Direct Support Professional - Collen Thornburg
  • Small Nonprofit Employer of the Year - Bella's Voice
  • Large Private Employer of the Year - Huntwood Industries
  • Medium Private Employers of the Year - Quality Inn/Welcome Home Oak Harbor, Welcome Home Oak Harbor Senior Memory Care
  • Small Private Employer of the Year - Jerrol's
  • Youth Employer of the Year - Swedish Edmonds Hospital
  • Public Employers of the Year - Seattle Army Corps/Employment Security/Kittitas Co, Washington State Employment Security Department, Kittitas County
  • Toby Olson Legacy Award - Toby Olson
Awards recipients 2018
  • Governor's Trophy - Don Kay
  • Direct Support Professional - Paula Bouwer
  • Medium Non-Profit Employer of the Year - Cascade Public Media
  • Large Private Employer of the Year - Fred Meyer #122
  • Medium Private Employer of the Year - Kulshan Brewing Co.
  • Small Private Employer of the Year - Gigglechops Dog Wash
  • Youth Employer of the Year - Educational Service District 123
  • Public Employer of the Year - City of Bellevue
Awards recipients 2017
  • Governor's Trophy – Mark Adreon
  • Direct Support Professional – Bonnie Sinclair
  • Medium Nonprofit Employer of the Year – Bridgeways
  • Large Private Employer of the Year – Seattle Mariners
  • Medium Private Employer of the Year – Port Angeles Safeway
  • Small Private Employer of the Year – Northwest Trophy
  • Youth Employer of the Year – Seattle Children's
  • Public Employer of the Year – City of Seattle
Awards recipients 2016
  • Large Nonprofit Employer of the Year – Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Medium Nonprofit Employer of the Year – Excelsior Youth Center
  • Small Private Employer of the Year – InsideWorks
  • Youth Employer Award of the Year – Little Anchor Daycare
  • Large Private Employer of the Year – Microsoft
  • Local Government Employer of the Year – Snohomish County
  • Medium Private Employer of the Year – Sodexo - Walla Walla University Team
  • Small Nonprofit Employer of the Year – Washington Access Fund
  • State Public Employer of the Year – Washington State Department of Licensing
  • Governor's Trophy – Emily Cooper
  • Direct Support Professional – Sue Ann Lemkin