Director
Deputy Director
Assistant Director, Housing Division
Assistant Director, Local Government Division
Assistant Director, Financial Services
Executive Director – Public Works Board
Assistant Director, Community Services Division
Assistant Director, Administrative Services
Assistant Director, Energy Policy Division
Assistant Director, International Trade and Economic Development Division
Executive Bios
Director
Rogers Weed was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire as Director of the Department of Commerce in March 2009. In appointing him to this agency cabinet position, Gov. Gregoire said Rogers is a proven leader and innovator. As director, Rogers will fulfill the governor’s clear mission to retain the jobs and companies that we have in our state today and attract new ones. His focus will be on forging effective partnerships with the business community, with other agencies in the public sector and with the legislature.
Rogers attended Duke University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Computer Science. After college he worked for the management consulting firm, Bain and Company in Boston, focusing on strategy and planning for companies in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing and high tech industries. Rogers received his MBA in Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He came to Seattle in 1990 to work at Microsoft and managed teams in the Windows, Mobile Devices, On-line Content and Consumer Software Divisions over his 15 years with the company. He was promoted to Vice President in 2001. Rogers has been a board member and volunteer for regional organizations focused on climate change and social services. He lives in Seattle with his wife and three sons.
Deputy Director
Jan Marie Ferrell is the deputy director for the Washington State Department of Commerce. In her role as Chief Operating Officer, she is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the department and for developing and integrating key management and transformation efforts. Jan Marie is passionate about improving business processes, using performance data to make decisions, and making Commerce the employer-of-choice in state government. Jan Marie has been an executive manager in state and local government for more than thirteen years. Her degree is from the University of Washington in English.
Assistant Director, Housing Division
Will has a 26-year background with Commerce managing a broad portfolio of federal and state funded programs serving community needs. Prior to being appointed Commerce Assistant Director for Housing in December 2006, he served as the Managing Director of Community Programs where he managed Commerce's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. He also oversaw the state’s Emergency Food Assistance, Community Services Block Grant, and other programs.
Assistant Director, Local Government Division
Prior to her appointment with the Department of Commerce in January 2008, Karen served as the Assistant Public Works Director for the City of Tacoma. In her 30 years of service at the City of Tacoma, Ms. Larkin managed environmental cleanups and redevelopment, environmental services utility operations and rate structures, transportation planning and capital projects, building and land use permitting, construction management and a major computer system upgrade. She is a registered Professional Civil Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Seattle University.
Assistant Director, Financial Services
Executive Director – Public Works Board
John has worked for the state of Washington for nearly 26 years, with most of the time spent managing programs in the Department of Commerce. In May 2007, John returned from the Higher Education Coordinating Board to assume the role of Commerce’s chief financial officer. In January 2009, John was re-appointed as the Executive Director of the Public Works Board.
John is a founding member of the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council – a non-profit organization dedicated to helping local governments find and receive funding for critical public works projects. John developed the Accelerated Loan Commitment Model for the Public Works Board which added nearly $300 million to the Board’s financing capacity over the past ten years.
Assistant Director, Community Services Division
Dan McConnon joined Commerce on September 2, 2008 as Assistant Director for the Community Services Division. He has spent over 20 years in higher education dedicated to supporting access to education in order to provide individuals with skills necessary to obtain living wage jobs. Dan came to Commerce from Walla Walla Community College where he was the Vice President for Workforce Education. Dan has held several executive positions in community colleges in Texas, Mississippi, and Iowa.
Dan completed his course work for a doctorate in educational leadership at Gonzaga University, has an MBA from Nova University, and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Eastern Oregon State College.
Assistant Director, Administrative Services
Joe has been with Commerce as an Assistant Director since August 2007. He manages information technology, human resources, purchasing, facilities, emergency and risk management. Prior to his appointment with Commerce, Joe served as legal counsel to the Chief of the Washington State Patrol and the Director of the Department of Retirement Systems. He was the human resources manager for two state agencies and the risk manager for the Department of Social and Human Services. He began is state career as an Assistant Attorney General. Joe holds a Juris Doctor, a Masters in Public Administration and a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice.
Assistant Director, Energy Policy Division
Tony Usibelli has been assistant director and head of the Energy Policy Division since 2001. Previously he worked for the Washington State University Energy program, managed the energy efficiency-section at the Washington State Energy Office, and was staff scientist focusing on energy efficiency and environmental issues at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. Tony was an adjunct faculty member at the Evergreen State College where he taught courses in energy, natural resources, and global climate change.
Usibelli holds an M.S. in Energy and Resources from the University of California, Berkeley and bachelors degrees in Geography and Classical Archaeology.
Assistant Director, International Trade and Economic Development Division
Larry leads the development, implementation and management of international trade, tourism, and economic development strategies for the state. Recognized as a national leader in international trade, he serves as the vice president of State International Development Organizations (SIDO), the national association of state trade directors. Williams’ accomplishments include organizing Gov. Gregoire’s Global Competitiveness Council. He also led the formation of the first Washington State Tourism Commission and was appointed co-chair by Gov. Gregoire.
Prior to joining Washington State Department of Commerce, Williams led the global operations of the International Trade Division at the North Carolina Department of Commerce.