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Suzan (Suzi) LeVine
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Commissioner for the Washington State Employment Security Department, Wife, Mom, dog-walker and former U.S. Ambassador
Greater Seattle Area 500+ connections Contact info
Employment Security Department
Brown University
About
I am a public sector leader who has also worked in the private and non-profit sectors and who has:
• Current expertise in workforce development, apprenticeship, and the future of work
• Digital agility and a consistent history of integrating new technology solutions
• A long history of marketing and communications success
• Strong experience in building global corporate partnerships
• A track record of effective strategic planning
Articles & activity
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Asparagus Soup
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Suzan (Suzi) LeVine
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I love asparagus soup. But I will never look at that green bowl of yum the same way again. One of the many responsibilities that the agency I lead, the Washington Employment Security Department, has is, in the agricultural sector, “to oversee efforts to recruit U.S. workers and to help the federal government determine whether a labor shortage exists” (you can find this definition here: https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/foreign-worker-FAQ). When meeting with staff and our workforce partners during my listening tour, I’ve been asking what folks’ first jobs were. While I was surprised at the number of pizza makers and corn-detasslers we have, what really gave me pause were all those who started out as farmworkers. I can still visualize my staff member who, before even verbalizing her first job, cradled her back as if she could still feel the work. It was only after a deep breath to release that remembered pain that she shared that her first job was as an asparagus picker. In fact, several team members and team leaders started out picking asparagus. Given their descriptions of the backbreaking nature of harvesting asparagus, it caused me to reflect on the physical investment by workers and the monetary investment by farmers into my bowl of soup. Even though I already pay attention to and appreciate the ingredients of my food because I keep kosher, I will no longer take my soup for granted. Instead, any time I enjoy a future bowl of soup/plate of grilled peaches/slice of apple or cherry pie/pint of beer/bag of popcorn /etc…, I will say an extra thank you to the farmworkers, the farmers, and our team members who work with both! This is the team of our staff and partners that works in our WorkSource office in Sunnyside (near Yakima) and who work compassionately and closely with farm laborers and farmers to meet their respective needs.
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Naval Base Kitsap Spouse Community! Are you a spouse of a current or former service member? Do you know someone who is? Join the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Director and Employment Security Department Commissioner For a Military Spouse Listening Session WorkSource Kitsap 1300 Sylvan Way, Bremerton, WA 98310 September 18, 2019, from 1-3pm (Virtual Option for Remote Attendees) Governor Inslee signed a new executive order in May 2019 reaffirming Washington State’s commitment to supporting the entire military family. Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, WDVA Director, and Suzi LeVine, ESD Commissioner, want to hear from military spouses on both your challenges and ideas for supporting your careers and families. To register, please visit the event page: https://lnkd.in/g3U7cTZ (Attendees who register to attend virtually will be sent an event link) #veterans #militaryspouse #militaryspouses #washington #careers
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thank you so much for sharing this with your network! And for those piqued by this idea - it's a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of every Washingtonian - especially with the dignity of work!
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So honored to have participated!
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Experience
Employment Security Department
Commissioner
Company NameEmployment Security Department
Dates EmployedJul 2018 – Present
Employment Duration1 yr 3 mos
LocationOlympia, WA
The Employment Security Department (ESD) helps every Washingtonian be lifelong career ready and works to ensure that our economy has the talent it needs to thrive now and far into the future. I am humbled and honored to have been appointed by Governor Inslee to helm this agency and the exceptional team across the state to deliver on this critical and noble effort!
We are at an incredible moment in time right now with an unprecedented pace of innovation and I believe that Washington State and E... See more
Publicis Groupe
Member Of The Supervisory Board
Company NamePublicis Groupe
Dates EmployedMay 2019 – Present
Employment Duration5 mos
LocationParis, France
Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe
Self-Employed
Apprenticeship Advocate and Catalyst
Company NameSelf-Employed
Dates EmployedJan 2017 – Present
Employment Duration2 yrs 9 mos
Since returning from Switzerland, I have, along with my husband, been speaking across the globe with groups large and small and with government, business, academic, and philanthropic leaders about what we can learn from the Swiss system of apprenticeship. The qualit... See more
Suzi and Eric LeVine in Nevada at the Governor's Conference on Workforce Innovation
Suzi and Eric LeVine in Nevada at the Governor's Conference on Workforce Innovation
CareerWise Colorado
Board Member
Company NameCareerWise Colorado
Dates EmployedMar 2017 – Present
Employment Duration2 yrs 7 mos
LocationGreater Denver Area
CareerWise is shaping Colorado's workforce through innovative, business-led youth apprenticeships.
Markle Foundation
Volunteer: Task force member - Rework America Task Force
Company NameMarkle Foundation
Dates EmployedSep 2017 – Present
Employment Duration2 yrs 1 mo
LocationUnited States
"The Rework America Task Force seeks to transform our labor market from one solely focused on traditional credentials like degrees and work history, to one rooted in the skills needed for the jobs of the 21st century."
Democratic National Committee
Volunteer: Deputy National Finance Chair
Company NameDemocratic National Committee
Dates EmployedOct 2017 – Present
Employment Duration2 yrs
LocationWashington D.C. Metro Area
Helping obtain the resources to build the grassroots and technology needed for the DNC.
Seattle Region Partnership
Co Chair
Company NameSeattle Region Partnership
Dates EmployedApr 2017 – Present
Employment Duration2 yrs 6 mos
LocationGreater Seattle Area
A new tri-sector initiative that brings together business, government, and philanthropy to address jobs and opportunity for our region’s residents.
The Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems at ETH
International Advisory Board Member
Company NameThe Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems at ETH
Dates EmployedJun 2017 – Present
Employment Duration2 yrs 4 mos
LocationZürich Area, Switzerland
The Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems (CEMETS) is dedicated to the improvement of vocational education and training worldwide through support of economic policy development for educational reform leaders, and through the ... See more
Career Connect Washington Task Force
Member
Company NameCareer Connect Washington Task Force
Dates EmployedJun 2017 – Feb 2018
Employment Duration9 mos
LocationWashington State
This successful public-private partnership accelerated career-connected learning in Washington during the span of the task force, delivering to Governor Inslee the recommendations linked below. As a part of this task force, my husband, Eric, and I co-organized a study trip to Sw... See more
The recommendations and overview of the Career Connect Washington Task Force
The recommendations and overview of the Career Connect Washington Task Force
U.S. Department of State
US Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein
Company NameU.S. Department of State
Dates EmployedMay 2014 – Jan 2017
Employment Duration2 yrs 9 mos
LocationBern Area, Switzerland
Led 100-person Embassy to advance United States economic, security and human rights interests
Overall: Created and executed a strategic planning framework focused on building foreign direct investment and jobs in the United State... See more
I-LABS at the University of Washington
Company NameI-LABS at the University of Washington
Total Duration13 yrs 7 mos
TitleVolunteer: Advisory Board Chair and Co-Founder
Dates EmployedMar 2006 – Jan 2014
Employment Duration7 yrs 11 mos
Co-led strategic planning for I-LABS at UW (the world’s leading early learning research facility) to facilitate world-changing research that will improve human potential by discovering the fundamentals of human learning. Within that, I helped co-found the advisory board an... See more
TitleVolunteer: Past Board Chair
Dates EmployedJul 2000 – Jan 2014
Employment Duration13 yrs 7 mos
Responsible over the years for personnel, development and fundraising events
Obama for America
Volunteer
Company NameObama for America
Dates EmployedJan 2007 – Jan 2013
Employment Duration6 yrs 1 mo
LocationGreater Seattle Area
Previously: volunteered to help the President get re-elected
Microsoft Corporation
Director of Strategic Partnerships for Student Developers; Director of Communications for Education
Company NameMicrosoft Corporation
Dates EmployedMay 2009 – May 2012
Employment Duration3 yrs 1 mo
Director of Strategic Partnerships for Student Developers
Managed the partnerships and sponsorship for student developer programs
• Generated $2 million in partnerships with Coca Cola, Nokia,... See more
The Kavana Cooperative
Volunteer: Co-Founder and Board Chair
Company NameThe Kavana Cooperative
Dates EmployedJan 2006 – Jun 2009
Employment Duration3 yrs 6 mos
Co-founder and past board chair for the Kavana Cooperative. I conceived of, raised money for, planned and rolled out an entirely new model for Jewish community. Within that, I led all of the office management and legal duties and coordinated much of the programming. We have r... See more
Expedia
Vice President of Marketing and Sales
Company NameExpedia
Dates EmployedMar 2003 – Apr 2005
Employment Duration2 yrs 2 mos
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Led 25-person luxury travel sales and marketing teams
• Oversaw sales and marketing to and with hundreds of luxury travel agencies across the U.S.... See more
Microsoft
Product Manager
Company NameMicrosoft
Dates EmployedJul 1993 – Nov 1999
Employment Duration6 yrs 5 mos
Product Manager for Operating Systems and Desktop Applications
• Led Windows 95, MS-DOS 6.2X and WFW 3.11 forecasting, manufacturing and distribution
• Coordinated, developed, built and performed at Windows 9... See more
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Education
Brown University
Brown University
Degree NameScB and AB Field Of StudyEngineering (mechanical/aerospace) AND English
Dates attended or expected graduation 1989 – 1993 |