Productivity Board Awards | WA Secretary of State
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
Productivity Board Awards | WA Secretary of State
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Productivity Board Awards
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Productivity Board Awards
The 2024 relaunch of the
Productivity Board yielded successes for state employees, their agencies, and the people of Washington. In the past year, more than 140 suggestions have been received, over $11 million was saved, almost $727,000 of income was generated, and in excess of $120,000 has been awarded.
We are excited to celebrate the Productivity Board’s first cash award recipient, Hollyann Dahlberg. Hollyann works for the Employment Security Department (ESD) and was awarded $10,000. She suggested that ESD utilize pre-translated letters instead of a translation service, which sped up customer service and is anticipated to save over $225,000 a year.
Pictured far left is ESD Commissioner Cami Feek, and far right is
Dustin Ritchie, ESD Leave & Care Logistics Manager.
The Liquor and Cannabis Board’s Kyle Arvila, Tinaya Smith, Richard O’Grady, Gerard Scheeler, with the Office of Administrative Hearings
’
Beatrice Lupardus, composed
the "Pathfinders"
team. Their Teamwork Incentive Program suggestion consolidated data in a searchable document management system. This solution improves digital record keeping, makes information more accessible between agencies, and eliminates
costs. The suggestion saved more than $44,000 in its first year, with more long-term savings expected.
Each of the five team members received a cash award of $1,771.70.
Pictured far left is Liquor and Cannabis Board
Director Will Lukela, and far right is RaShelle Davis, OAH Chief Administrative Law Judge.
A Teamwork Incentive Program project at Washington’s Lottery Commission improved earnings on their municipal investment account. Their efforts resulted in an increase in interest earnings of 311%, which resulted in an additional $726,900 of interest income for the initial eight months of implementation. The four team members will each receive cash awards of $2,725.88, and the changes they made will have ongoing impacts.
Pictured are (l to r) Joshua Johnston (Lottery director), Sue Fitzgerald (team member), Shar Hawley (agency coordinator for
Productivity Board
), Todd Steben (team member), Lenee Otto (team member), Cassi Villegas (Lottery deputy director), and Steve Hobbs. Not pictured is team member Jennifer Brashear.
On May 29, 2025, the Productivity Board voted to recognize three state employees with cash awards for their ideas to reduce costs or generate revenue for the state.
“These ideas from our state employees will improve how agencies provide services to the public,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “In these uncertain financial times for the state government, it is important to listen to those who having unique insight into their agency’s work.”
Bryce Dickison, from the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, suggested that the size of registration certificates be standardized. This allows agencies to print certificates themselves, eliminating BRPELS’ paying printing vendors and incurring mailing costs.
Crystal Hall, from the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), suggested the Department of Enterprise Services could donate used office furniture to K-12 schools that would otherwise be put into the landfill.
Tim Kelly, from the Washington State Department of Children Youth & Families, suggested a change to eliminate double client bookings.
Pictured top are Crystal and Bryce in the Capitol rotunda.
Pictured middle are Bryce and
Secretary Steve Hobbs.
Pictured bottom are Crystal and WSAC
Deputy Executive Director
Isaac Kwakye
with
Secretary Hobbs.
Congratulations to Teamwork Incentive Program winners from the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) in Vancouver!
Team members Ed Lukowski, Zach Ausmus, Jeff Dyson, and David Zilavy installed safety hardware – panic buttons, alert speakers, and alert beacons – quickly, cost-efficiently, and with few student and staff disruptions.
By keeping the project in-house, their ingenuity and commitment saved Washington taxpayers over $46,500. The team will split $6,985.58 from the savings.
At a time when school safety continues to be a major concern, these improved safety measures will help students and staff be more productive with the peace of mind that their well-being is a priority.
WSSB team members
Zach Ausmus and
Ed Lukowski are pictured with Secretary Steve Hobbs.
A 14-person team from the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Enterprise Services (DES) and Office of the State Treasurer (OST) won the largest Team Incentive Program award to date.
The team worked for a year on a project to replace the high annual cost of a commercial insurance policy for the State Route 520 bridge system with a lower-cost self-insurance policy.
This will save $10 million dollars a year, reducing operating costs of the tolling system. As a result, those costs are not passed on to those 520 drivers who pay the tolls. Seven team members who accepted awards each received $10,000.
Pictured from left: Jason Siems, DES; Secretary Steve Hobbs
; Sam Wilson, DOT; Doug Vaughn, DOT; Mike Fay, DOT;
Jason Richter, OST; Kate Manley, DOT; Austin Goble, OST; Leslie Yonkers, OST
On January 30th, 2026,
employees from the
Office of the State Treasurer (OST) were added to a Teamwork Incentive Program award in recognition of a money-saving project for the State Route 520 bridge system.
The team
–
comprised of employees from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Department of Enterprise Services, and OST – suggested to replace a high-cost commercial insurance policy for the SR520 - Evergreen Point Floating Bridge with a lower-cost self-insurance policy. Implemented on July 1, 2024, the change will save tax- and toll-payers an estimated $9.8 million annually. Each team member that accepts an award will receive $10,000.
Pictured with certificates, left to right, are OST employees Dawn Leopardo, Leslie Yonkers, Jason Richter, and Austin Goble.
For adopted suggestions that
result in intangible improvements
–
such as morale or safety
–
or when savings/revenue cannot otherwise be identified, a
gencies may choose to give Recognition Awards of up to $200. The employees below have received such recognition.
Nathan Wilson, a psychology associate with the Department of Corrections, received a recognition award of $200 for developing diagnostic support tools in JavaScript and Phrase Express to expedite the mental health assessment process.
Pictured are Nathan Wilson, left, with Department of Corrections Health Services Division Assistant Secretary Dave Flynn.
David Halpern
-- a retired park ranger with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission -- received a $200 recognition award for his discovery that the retirement process could involve fewer requirements and less paperwork by providing a single packet of instructions to follow. David also suggested an improvement to the Productivity Board's website.
Jerald Dougherty
at Central Washington University was rewarded $200 for his suggestion to reformat campus key cards making them easier to produce.
The Department of Corrections'
Wyatt Hull
suggested the agency donate used corrections officer coats to charities and agencies that cannot afford coats, reducing DOC destruction and dumping costs. His suggestion earned him $200.
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Skip to main content
Productivity Board Awards
OSOS Home
Statewide Programs
Washington State Productivity Board
Productivity Board Awards
The 2024 relaunch of the
Productivity Board yielded successes for state employees, their agencies, and the people of Washington. In the past year, more than 140 suggestions have been received, over $11 million was saved, almost $727,000 of income was generated, and in excess of $120,000 has been awarded.
We are excited to celebrate the Productivity Board’s first cash award recipient, Hollyann Dahlberg. Hollyann works for the Employment Security Department (ESD) and was awarded $10,000. She suggested that ESD utilize pre-translated letters instead of a translation service, which sped up customer service and is anticipated to save over $225,000 a year.
Pictured far left is ESD Commissioner Cami Feek, and far right is
Dustin Ritchie, ESD Leave & Care Logistics Manager.
The Liquor and Cannabis Board’s Kyle Arvila, Tinaya Smith, Richard O’Grady, Gerard Scheeler, with the Office of Administrative Hearings
’
Beatrice Lupardus, composed
the "Pathfinders"
team. Their Teamwork Incentive Program suggestion consolidated data in a searchable document management system. This solution improves digital record keeping, makes information more accessible between agencies, and eliminates
costs. The suggestion saved more than $44,000 in its first year, with more long-term savings expected.
Each of the five team members received a cash award of $1,771.70.
Pictured far left is Liquor and Cannabis Board
Director Will Lukela, and far right is RaShelle Davis, OAH Chief Administrative Law Judge.
A Teamwork Incentive Program project at Washington’s Lottery Commission improved earnings on their municipal investment account. Their efforts resulted in an increase in interest earnings of 311%, which resulted in an additional $726,900 of interest income for the initial eight months of implementation. The four team members will each receive cash awards of $2,725.88, and the changes they made will have ongoing impacts.
Pictured are (l to r) Joshua Johnston (Lottery director), Sue Fitzgerald (team member), Shar Hawley (agency coordinator for
Productivity Board
), Todd Steben (team member), Lenee Otto (team member), Cassi Villegas (Lottery deputy director), and Steve Hobbs. Not pictured is team member Jennifer Brashear.
On May 29, 2025, the Productivity Board voted to recognize three state employees with cash awards for their ideas to reduce costs or generate revenue for the state.
“These ideas from our state employees will improve how agencies provide services to the public,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “In these uncertain financial times for the state government, it is important to listen to those who having unique insight into their agency’s work.”
Bryce Dickison, from the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, suggested that the size of registration certificates be standardized. This allows agencies to print certificates themselves, eliminating BRPELS’ paying printing vendors and incurring mailing costs.
Crystal Hall, from the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), suggested the Department of Enterprise Services could donate used office furniture to K-12 schools that would otherwise be put into the landfill.
Tim Kelly, from the Washington State Department of Children Youth & Families, suggested a change to eliminate double client bookings.
Pictured top are Crystal and Bryce in the Capitol rotunda.
Pictured middle are Bryce and
Secretary Steve Hobbs.
Pictured bottom are Crystal and WSAC
Deputy Executive Director
Isaac Kwakye
with
Secretary Hobbs.
Congratulations to Teamwork Incentive Program winners from the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) in Vancouver!
Team members Ed Lukowski, Zach Ausmus, Jeff Dyson, and David Zilavy installed safety hardware – panic buttons, alert speakers, and alert beacons – quickly, cost-efficiently, and with few student and staff disruptions.
By keeping the project in-house, their ingenuity and commitment saved Washington taxpayers over $46,500. The team will split $6,985.58 from the savings.
At a time when school safety continues to be a major concern, these improved safety measures will help students and staff be more productive with the peace of mind that their well-being is a priority.
WSSB team members
Zach Ausmus and
Ed Lukowski are pictured with Secretary Steve Hobbs.
A 14-person team from the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Enterprise Services (DES) and Office of the State Treasurer (OST) won the largest Team Incentive Program award to date.
The team worked for a year on a project to replace the high annual cost of a commercial insurance policy for the State Route 520 bridge system with a lower-cost self-insurance policy.
This will save $10 million dollars a year, reducing operating costs of the tolling system. As a result, those costs are not passed on to those 520 drivers who pay the tolls. Seven team members who accepted awards each received $10,000.
Pictured from left: Jason Siems, DES; Secretary Steve Hobbs
; Sam Wilson, DOT; Doug Vaughn, DOT; Mike Fay, DOT;
Jason Richter, OST; Kate Manley, DOT; Austin Goble, OST; Leslie Yonkers, OST
On January 30th, 2026,
employees from the
Office of the State Treasurer (OST) were added to a Teamwork Incentive Program award in recognition of a money-saving project for the State Route 520 bridge system.
The team
–
comprised of employees from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Department of Enterprise Services, and OST – suggested to replace a high-cost commercial insurance policy for the SR520 - Evergreen Point Floating Bridge with a lower-cost self-insurance policy. Implemented on July 1, 2024, the change will save tax- and toll-payers an estimated $9.8 million annually. Each team member that accepts an award will receive $10,000.
Pictured with certificates, left to right, are OST employees Dawn Leopardo, Leslie Yonkers, Jason Richter, and Austin Goble.
For adopted suggestions that
result in intangible improvements
–
such as morale or safety
–
or when savings/revenue cannot otherwise be identified, a
gencies may choose to give Recognition Awards of up to $200. The employees below have received such recognition.
Nathan Wilson, a psychology associate with the Department of Corrections, received a recognition award of $200 for developing diagnostic support tools in JavaScript and Phrase Express to expedite the mental health assessment process.
Pictured are Nathan Wilson, left, with Department of Corrections Health Services Division Assistant Secretary Dave Flynn.
David Halpern
-- a retired park ranger with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission -- received a $200 recognition award for his discovery that the retirement process could involve fewer requirements and less paperwork by providing a single packet of instructions to follow. David also suggested an improvement to the Productivity Board's website.
Jerald Dougherty
at Central Washington University was rewarded $200 for his suggestion to reformat campus key cards making them easier to produce.
The Department of Corrections'
Wyatt Hull
suggested the agency donate used corrections officer coats to charities and agencies that cannot afford coats, reducing DOC destruction and dumping costs. His suggestion earned him $200.
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Return a Business to Active Status
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Maintain Business Compliance
Registered Agents
Annual Reports
Period of Duration
Online Filing Instructions
Close a Corporation Online
Close an LLC, PLLC, LP, LLP, LLLP Online
File an Annual Report (Multiple Entity Tpyes) Online
File an Annual Report (Nonprofit 24.03A Only) Online
Register a Foreign (Non-WA) Limited Liability Company (LLC) Online
Register a Foreign (Non-WA) Limited Liability Limited Partnership (LLLP) Online
Register a Foreign (Non-WA) Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Online
Register a Foreign (Non-WA) Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) Online
Register a Foreign (Non-WA) Professional Limited Liability Partnership (PLLP) Online
Register a Foreign (Non-WA) Professional Service Corporation Online
Register a Foreign (Non-WA) Profit Corporation Online
Reinstate a LLC, PLLC, Profit or Professional Service Corporation Online
Reinstate a Nonprofit Miscellaneous & Mutual Corporation Online
Reinstate a Nonprofit or Nonprofit Professional Service Corporation Online
Requalify an LLC, PLLC, Profit or Professional Service Corporation Online
Start a Domestic (WA) LP or LLLP Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Limited Liability Corporation Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Nonprofit Corporation Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Nonprofit Professional Service Corporation Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Professional Limited Liability Corporation (PLLC) Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Professional Limited Liability Partnership (PLLP) Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Profit Corporation Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Profit Professional Service Corporation Online
Start a Domestic (WA) Social Purpose Corporation Online
Submit an Amended Annual Report (All Entity Types) Online
Submit an Initial Report (All Entity Types except NPs) Online
Ownership
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