Washington State Governor's Inaugural Ball by Thurston County Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Welcome to the Governor’s INAUGURAL Ball

As President and CEO of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Governor Robert Ferguson, our state elected officials, members of the Supreme Court, the 65th Legislature, other honored guests, and attendees to the Governor’s Inaugural Ball.

The Thurston Chamber is deeply honored to host such a historical and significant event for our great state of Washington. The tradition of the Governor’s Ball began in 1854, predating Washington’s statehood, and has continued for 170 years as citizens of Thurston County and communities across the state come together to celebrate the inauguration of our elected officials.

To the leaders here tonight, may your work continue to reflect the values and priorities of those you serve.

The Thurston Chamber wishes you an enjoyable and memorable evening.

David Schaffert President/CEO, Thurston County Chamber of Commerce

Governor’s Inaugur A l Ball History

A Tradition of Celebration and Unity

The Washington State Governor’s Inaugural Ball has been a cherished tradition since statehood, marking the start of each gubernatorial term and celebrating the democratic process. For more than a century, this event has brought together leaders, citizens, and community members in the historic setting of the Washington State Capitol. It is an evening of reflection, celebration and optimism, honoring our shared commitment to Washington’s future.

Tonight, we continue this proud legacy with an evening of music, dining, and camaraderie, celebrating not only our governor but also the collective spirit that drives progress in our communities.

Governor Bob Ferguson Biogr A phy

Bob Ferguson is a fourthgeneration Washingtonian, the son of a public school teacher and a Boeing employee. Bob’s family instilled in him the values of hard work and public service. He has lived and worked on both sides of the Cascade Mountains, beginning his legal career in Spokane. As Attorney General, Bob earned a reputation for taking on powerful interests that don’t play by the rules and achieving significant victories for Washingtonians.

Bob forced corporations that helped fuel the opioid epidemic to pay over a billion dollars to address the fentanyl crisis, secured record penalties to combat dark money in politics, protected Hanford workers, and stopped illegal price-fixing that harmed families. He prioritized public safety by standing up for survivors, combating human trafficking, and keeping sexually violent predators out of our communities.

Bob’s family homesteaded on the beautiful Skagit River in the 19th century. A passionate outdoorsman, Bob has hiked hundreds of miles of Washington trails and climbed many of the state’s highest peaks, fostering a deep commitment to environmental preservation.

Bob and his wife Colleen, an educator, are proud parents of 16-year-old twins.

Letter from Governor Bob Ferguson and First

Lady Colleen Ferguson

Thank you for joining us tonight. As we embark on this new chapter, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our great state. Washington is a beacon of innovation, diversity, and resilience. Together, we will confront the challenges before us and seize the opportunities ahead.

Our priorities are clear: standing up for essential freedoms, protecting our environment, and expanding access to affordable health care. We will improve public safety, address the housing shortage, and make it more affordable to raise a family. These values define who we are as a state and guide the work we do every day.

Colleen and I are committed to moving Washington forward.

We look forward to working with you to create a brighter future for our state. Thank you for your support and partnership.

With gratitude, Bob and Colleen Ferguson

s tatewide e lected Officials

Denny Heck Lieutenant Governor

Nick Brown Attorney General

Steve Hobbs Secretary of State

Bob Ferguson Governor Mike Pellicciotti Treasurer

Patrice McCarthy State Auditor

Chris Reykdal Superintendent of Public Instruction

Dave Upthegrove Commissioner of Public Lands

Patty Kuderer Insurance Commissioner

Debra Stephens Chief Justice, Supreme Court

Sheryl Gordon McCloud Justice, Supreme Court

s tate Supreme Court

Charles Johnson Associate Chief Justice, Supreme Court

Mary Yu Justice, Supreme Court

Barbara Madsen Justice, Supreme Court

Steven González Justice, Supreme Court

Raquel Montoya-Lewis Justice, Supreme Court

G. Helen Whitener Justice, Supreme Court

Salvador Mungia Justice, Supreme Court

Washington s tate Senate

Denny Heck

President of the Senate

Jessica Bateman

Matt Boehnke

John Braun

Mike Chapman

Leonard Christian

Annette Cleveland

Steve Conway

Adrian Cortes

Manka Dhingra

Perry Dozier

Phil Fortunato

Noel Frame

Chris Gildon

Keith Goehner

Drew Hansen

Paul Harris

Bob Hasegawa

Jeff Holy

Claudia Kauffman

Curtis King

Marko Liias

Liz Lovelett

John Lovick

Drew MacEwen

Jim McCune

Ron Muzzall

Joe Nguyen

T’wina Nobles

Jamie Pedersen

Bill Ramos

Marcus Riccelli

June Robinson

Rebecca Saldaña

Jesse Salomon

Mark Schoesler

Sharon Shewmake

Shelly Short

Derek Stanford

Nikki Torres

Yasmin Trudeau

Javier Valdez

Keith Wagoner

Judy Warnick

Lisa Wellman

Claire Wilson

Jeff Wilson

Laurie Jinkins Speaker of the House of Representatives

Peter Abbarno

Hunter Abell

Emily Alvarado

Andrew Barkis

Stephanie Barnard

April Berg

Adam Bernbaum

Steve Bergquist

Liz Berry

Dan Bronoske

Brian Burnett

House of representatives

Michelle Caldier

Lisa Callan

Rob Chase

April Connors

Chris Corry

Julio Cortes

Travis Couture

Lauren Davis

Tom Dent

Beth Doglio

Brandy Donaghy

Davina Duerr

Jeremie Dufault

Mary Dye

Andrew Engell

Debra Entenman

Carolyn Eslick

Darya Farivar

Jake Fey

Joe Fitzgibbon

Mary Fosse

Roger Goodman

Jenny Graham

Mia Gregerson

Dan Griffey

David Hackney

Natasha Hill

Victoria Hunt

Cyndy Jacobsen

Michael Keaton

Mark Klicker

Shelley Kloba

Mari Leavitt

Debra Lekanoff

John Ley

Sam Low

Nicole Macri

Deb Manjarrez

Matt Marshall

Stephanie McClintock

Joel McEntire

Sharlett Mena

Gloria Mendoza

Melanie Morgan

Greg Nance

Ed Orcutt

Timm Ormsby

Lillian Ortiz-Self

Edwin Obras

Lisa Parshley

Dave Paul

Joshua Penner

Strom Peterson

Gerry Pollet

Alex Ramel

Julia Reed

Kristine Reeves

Adison Richards

Skyler Rude

Alicia Rule

Cindy Ryu

Sharon Tomiko Santos

Joe Schmick

Suzanne Schmidt

Shaun Scott

Tana Senn

Clyde Shavers

Tarra Simmons

Vandana Slatter

Larry Springer

Chris Stearns

Mike Steele

Drew Stokesbary

David Stuebe

Monica Jurado Stonier

Chipalo Street

Jamila Taylor My-Linh Thai

Steve Tharinger

Joe Timmons

Mike Volz

Amy Walen

Jim Walsh

Kevin Waters

Sharon Wylie

Alex Ybarra

Honored Guests

Governor Bob Ferguson

Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck

Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen

Senate Minority Leader John Braun

House Speaker Laurie Jinkins

House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti

State Auditor Patrice McCarthy

Attorney General Nick Brown

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove

Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer

Chief Justice

Debra Stephens

Associate Chief Justice Charles Johnson

Justice Barbara Madsen

Justice Steven González

Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud

Justice Mary Yu

Justice Salvador Mungia

Progr A m of E vents

8:15-8:30pm Pre Program Squaxin Island Canoe Family

8:30-9:30pm Main Program

Master of Ceremonies Dr. Timothy Stokes

Welcome Kris Peters Squaxin Island Tribe Chairman

Presentation of Colors Washington State Patrol Honor Guard

National Anthem Amberly Baldwin

Posting of Colors Washington State Patrol Honor Guard

Invocation Father Paul Magnano

Remarks Bob Abbott Vice President and Northwest Regional Manager, Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers (LiUNA)

Presentation of Master of Ceremonies and Honored Guests Former Senator Karen Fraser

Remarks David Zapolsky Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy and General Counsel, Amazon

Presentation of Flowers Governor Bob Ferguson

Remarks Governor Bob Ferguson

Toast Masters of Ceremonies

Thank You to Our Catering Partners

e ntertainment

s TATE REC e PTION r OOM s TAGE

Ethan Tucker

with Special Guest 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.

Ethan Tucker’s trademark sound of acoustic roots and layered electric guitars, combined with soulful, bluesy vocals has earned him a loyal fan base around the globe. His career gained momentum in 2011 after an impromptu backstage jam impressed Michael Franti, leading to the release of his debut album, Misunderstood. In 2016, Ethan reached new heights when he auditioned for NBC’s The Voice, earning two chair turns from Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, later representing “Team Blake” in the battle rounds. Ethan is currently in the studio working on a new album to be released in 2025.

Dukes

of Swing

9:30 to 11:00 p.m.

The Dukes of Swing have been performing all over the PNW and US since 1953, formed as a dance band comprised of members of the Aberdeen Elks #593 National Band. Performing big band swing, latin, waltzes, modern hits and everything in between, this legendary Band will have you dancing or tapping your toes off!

FLAG CI r CLE s TAGE

DJ K12 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.

Nate Bulley is a dedicated grade school teacher with North Thurston Public Schools, where he has been teaching Kindergarten for 11 years at Meadows Elementary School. In addition to his career in education, Nate has over 20 years of experience as a DJ, providing entertainment for numerous community events. Passionate about making a positive difference in people’s lives, Nate brings enthusiasm and commitment to every endeavor. He is also a proud father of three beautiful daughters who are his greatest inspiration.

Switchback 360 Trio

with Special Guests 9:30 to 11:00 p.m.

Switchback 360 is a popular Classic Rock and Country Band from the Olympia area and features a dynamic 3-piece version- AKA “Switchback 360 Trio” (Velvet Cordes, Dan Lang and Kristen Dean) playing for this event. They are joined also by two very talented friends, Amy Daves (fiddle/ guitar/ vocals) and John Newcomb (drums), as they play upbeat and popular songs from the 70s and 80s, all with their signature vocal harmonies.