Executive Board
Executive Chair | Janet McIntosh
Department of Natural Resources
Janet McIntosh has dedicated the past seven years to public service at Washington’s Department of Natural Resources. She began her journey on the Geoduck Dive Team, later stepping into the role of Legislative Coordinator for the 2023 and 2024 sessions. In 2022, she transitioned into her current position as a Safety Officer, where she focuses on inspections and field observations to support workplace safety.
Janet became involved with ICSEW in July of 2021, joining during the height of the pandemic. After a year as a general member, her passion for the committee’s mission led her to take on the role of Executive Secretary in 2022. The following year, she embraced a new challenge as Conference and Meeting Production Co-Chair. Her growing familiarity with the board and leadership inspired her to apply for Executive Chair, a position she was honored to accept in 2024 after the previous chair completed her term. Janet is now in her second year as Chair and remains enthusiastic about advancing the committee’s goals.
Outside of work, Janet finds joy beneath the surface—scuba diving is her favorite way to unwind and explore the underwater world.
Vice Chair | Samantha Smithingell
Governor's Office Liaison | Vacant
Co-Treasurer | Danica Mitchell
Co-Treasurer | Samantha Salazar
Co-Executive Secretary | Hallie Sutter
Employment Security Department
Hallie Sutter began her career with the state of Washington in January of 2024 and currently serves as an Administrative Assistant for the Employment Security Department. In her role, she provides support to seven WorkSource offices throughout the Southwest Coastal Region.
Hallie joined ICSEW as a general member when she began her state service and stepped into the role of Co-Executive Secretary in February 2025. She also contributes to the Engagement Subcommittee.
Residing in Tumwater, WA, Hallie lives with her husband and their two cats. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from The Evergreen State College. Outside of work, Hallie enjoys cooking and baking, gardening, taking long urban walks, and serving on her local transit agency’s Citizens Advisory Committee.
Co-Executive Secretary | Chelsea Wright
Subcommittees
Communications
Co-Chairs TJ Canfield & Birgit Miller
About TJ Canfield:
PHR, Utilities and Trans. Commission
theresa.canfield@utc.wa.gov
I currently work for the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) as a Human Resource (HR) Business Partner. Previously, I served on HR teams for the Departments of Commerce and Licensing. With 20+ years of human resource experience, I have a true passion for making the lives of individuals better in everything I try to do.
I have been a part of ICSEW for two plus years. I began my time with ICSEW as a member of the annual conference’s subcommittee focusing on media relations, ensuring that there was an active presence on social platforms pertaining to the conference. Since then, I have joined the Communications subcommittee and am currently the chair.
I live in Eastern Washington, (Richland), with my husband and our three fur babies: two yorkies and one shorkie! My newfound love is everything sourdough! Maybe we could bake together someday?
About Brigit Miller:
Department of Revenue
BirgitM@dor.wa.gov
Birgit Miller joined the Department of Revenue (DOR) in 2007 as an Excise Tax Examiner, helping businesses file their tax returns. Today, she serves as DOR’s Tax Policy Specialist in the Legislative and Policy Division, specializing on legislation relating to excise tax incentives, renewable/green energy, and clean transportation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Birgit started attending ICSEW’s general membership meetings pandemic as an opportunity to interact with others. After being named DOR’s alternate representative, she joined the Communications Subcommittee. In June 2025, Birgit was appointed the Co-Chair of the Communications Subcommittee and continues to represent Communications while attending the Conference and Meeting Production Subcommittee meetings.
Outside of work, Birgit enjoys reading, quilting, knitting, crocheting, walking, and hiking. As passionate supporter of the arts, she frequently attends concerts and theatrical performances and volunteers her time at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts and Harlequin Productions in downtown Olympia.
Conference Production
Co-Chairs Leia Althauser & Alice Thorell
About Leia Althauser:
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Leia Althauser is the Community Involvement and Education Manager for the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). Her team focuses on helping Washingtonians connect and engage responsibly with fish and wildlife where they live, work and play.
2024 is Leia’s fourth year at DFW and in state service. She’s been in ICSEW for almost two years and in July of 2024 she began her role as engagement committee co-chair.
Leia’s personal life and professional career have been shaped by the strong, passionate women who raised her as well as the empathetic and visionary mentors she’s had throughout university and in the various roles she’s held. She hopes to continue to uplift, inspire, and empower women, nonbinary, and allies through her work in ICSEW.
About Alice Thorell:
Department of Licensing
Alice Thorell serves as a Management Analyst for the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). In this role, she leverages her expertise in data analysis and visualization to generate insights that support leadership in making strategic resource decisions. She thrives on teamwork, tackling process challenges, and enhancing service quality. Currently, Alice supervises one analyst and aspires to expand her leadership by managing a larger team in the future.
Alice Thorell became an ICSEW member in 2023. She started her journey with her involvement in the Special Projects subcommittee, where she now leads a small team focused on addressing Power Automate needs. Currently, Alice serves as the Conference Production co-chair, showcasing her dedication and leadership skills.
Alice embodies courage, curiosity, and empathy as her key leadership qualities. She believes these traits are essential for fostering employee engagement and building strong, meaningful relationships. Her passion lies in guiding others to discover and develop their strengths.
Prior to beginning her state service career, Alice managed information technology services in the legal industry. She led a regional Service Desk at one of Seattle’s largest law firms, successfully steering teams through several large-scale technology projects.
Alice holds a master’s degree in public administration from Seattle University and is a Certified Diversity Professional, accredited by the Institute for Diversity Certification. She resides in Des Moines, WA, with her partner and two dogs. In her spare time, Alice enjoys nature walks, birdwatching, and gardening.
Engagement
Co-Chairs Connie Becker & Jeanne Colvin
About Connie Becker:
Office of Administrative Hearings
Connie Becker has been a Legal Administrative Manager at the Office of Administrative Hearings since August 2019 and an ICSEW member since 2021. Prior to state service, she worked as an HR director at Taholah School District and as a Legal Administrator and Paralegal in private legal practices in Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, FL. Connie earned a Bachelor of Arts in German from Western Washington University, a Paralegal Certificate from Highline Community College, and an MBA and Master’s Certificate in HR Management from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
About Jeanne Colvin:
Jeanne Colvin works at the Office of the Governor as the Director of Constituent Services, where she strives to connect constituents to the resources they need to improve individual, family, and community wellness. She began working at the Office of the Governor in 2016 and, after working at the Washington State Department of Health in 2023/2024 to connect local public health efforts and communities to statewide efforts, returned to the Office of Governor to continue supporting her fellow Washingtonians. Her passion lies in cultivating post-traumatic growth by empowering people to leverage difficult circumstances as events through which to thrive and flourish and ultimately, to improve intergenerational outcomes. Jeanne holds a B.S. in Sociology from Central Washington University. Her M.A. in Sociology is from Arizona State University (Tempe), where she also completed post-graduate coursework in public administration and medical sociology.
Legislative and Policy
Co-Chairs Chalee Batungbacal and Michelle Stillings
About Chalee Batungbacal:
Department of Fish and Wildlife
About Michelle Stillings:
michelle.stillings@dshs.wa.gov
As a Business Analyst, Michelle has served as a bridge between business needs and technology solutions, speaking both ‘Business’ and ‘Techie’ to connect vulnerable adults and the developmentally disabled to state services. In private industry, she has worked as a legislative, policy, budget and compliance/regulatory research analyst, as well as senior consultant, technical writer/editor and communications strategist.
She learned to ‘work the problem’ growing up in an engineering and communications family in King County, and has put communications and social history degrees from the University of Washington to work writing women’s history articles for the ICSEW blog. Michelle values accessibility, creativity and collaboration, and strives to support the vulnerable.
Meeting Production
Co-Chairs Sandra Allen and Brooke Nutt
About Brooke Nutt:
Department of Licensing
Brooke Nutt is a Regulatory Process Specialist with the Department of Licensing in the Regulatory Compliance, UCC, and Firearms unit within the Business and Professions division. She has been an active member with ICSEW since 2019 and is the current co-chair for the Conference and Meeting Production subcommittee. Prior to her work with the Washington State Department of Licensing, Brooke worked with the California Department of Motor Vehicles for 10 years.
She is married and has 2 dogs whom she loves dearly. She owns a wholesale bakery and supplies baked goods to local coffee shops within her community. She has had an active role with a local non-profit for the last 3 years and most recently was the Board President for a local organization assisting the underserved community within Shelton, Washington.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, and of course, baking! She is passionate about helping others and is continually finding ways to improve herself and the world around her.
About Sandra Allen:
*** Coming Soon ***
Special Projects
Co-Chair Kassandra Drake
About Kassandra Drake:
Washington State Investment Board
Kassandra Drake serves as a Human Resource (HR) Consultant with the Washington State Investment Board, bringing over a decade of expertise in HR consultation. Her extensive experience encompasses recruitment and retention, HR policy, employee development, and beyond. Taking a consultative approach, Kassandra prioritizes human relations in her work, fostering meaningful connections and strategic solutions.
As a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she believes that a workplace where individuals feel valued, respected, empowered, and supported is essential for a healthy and high-functioning organization. Kassandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, complemented by a minor in Women’s Studies from Washington State University.