Gov. names Feek as Employment Security Department head

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday named Cami Feek as commissioner of the state’s Employment Security Department, which last year temporarily suspended unemployment benefits payments after discovering that criminals had used stolen Social Security numbers and other personal information to file fraudulent claims. She was hired to the agency as the first program director of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program, overseeing the successful launch of the nation’s first state paid leave program, Inslee’s office said. Inslee said he first worked with Feek related to the paid leave program and was impressed with her knowledge, compassion and ability to work with a variety of divergent stakeholders. The Employment Security Department ”is a continuous learning organization, and I am committed to applying all we’ve learned in this crisis to increasing equitable access to our many services and improving the experience for our customers.” Feek also founded the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group at the Department, winning the agency the Outstanding Agency Award from the Rainbow & Inclusion Network.