Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that Maud Daudon will lead the creation of a 10-year vision and strategic plan for building a statewide career-connected learning and apprenticeship system in Washington. The plan will include key initiatives to launch next year and will build upon the recommendations of Inslee’s Career Connect Washington Task Force, which is scheduled to submit its report to Inslee next week.
Daudon, who is wrapping up nearly six years as president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce this month, will work with business leaders, national experts, labor leaders, educators, parents and students throughout the state to determine the resources and policies needed to create a system that will allow every Washington student an opportunity to enroll in an apprenticeship, mentorship or other career-connected program.
The planning effort is a next step to Inslee’s Career Connect Washington Initiative launched last May. Daudon will be under contract with the governor’s office, and her efforts will be funded by several philanthropic partners. She will work closely with the governor to coordinate the plan with state agencies and legislators.
“Maud is one of our state’s most forward-looking and respected business leaders, and her ability to engage a wide range of interests will help this state develop a highly successful model for career-connected learning,” Inslee said. “She has been deeply involved in our work to improve education opportunities for our students and understands my vision. I am so pleased that Maud agreed to put her energy into helping us launch this transformative effort.”
As Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Daudon manages the largest business organization in the Seattle region with over 2,300 members. She is also chairwoman of the Washington State Student Achievement Council and was part of Inslee’s 45-member delegation to study the career-connected learning and apprenticeship system in Switzerland.
Before joining the chamber, Daudon was president and CEO of Seattle Northwest Securities, a regional investment bank. She served as Seattle’s deputy mayor from 1998 to 2001. Prior to that, she served for eight years as the Port of Seattle’s chief financial officer.
Daudon has a Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. The Puget Sound Business Journal recognized her as a Woman of Influence in 2012.
Daudon will begin her new duties on Feb. 20.
Inslee’s Career Connect Washington Task Force will officially present its recommendations during a presentation 11:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 20 in Room 106 of Natural Sciences Building 35 at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia (campus map). The meeting will include a media availability.
