Description

Kristine Reeves, Director of Economic Development for the Military and Defense Sector, WA Department of Commerce will offer the July luncheon keynote, The Defense Economy Bridging the Military-Civilian Divide. Defense contracts inject billions of dollars into our state each year, creating direct and indirect job growth in throughout Washington. Join us as we explore the economic impact of this industry segment.

A Washington native, Kristine focuses on the public investments that fuel the private elements of economic development as it relates to military infrastructure, defense suppliers and contractors, community advocacy and public non-profit organizations.

Before joining the Department of Commerce, she served as the Kitsap & Olympic Peninsula Director, the South Sound Regional Director and the Statewide Veterans Constituency Coordinator for U.S. Senator Patty Murray. As a member of the senator?s staff, Kristine was instrumental in facilitating increased relationship development with the military installations, military families and veterans in the state on behalf of the Senator, and worked intimately on military transition and workforce development issues that resulted in successful implementation of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 and has led Washington to become a national leader on military transition & quality of life efforts.

Kristine received her bachelor?s degree in political science from Washington State University-Pullman and her master?s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. Kristine has graduated from the US Army War College?s Leadership Seminar, has served as past-chair of the Association of Defense Communities State Advisors Council, and currently serves as an advisory member for the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition and as an executive board member to the Washington Military Alliance.