Secretary
Ross invested almost 20 years of his life in the technology arena at a small local firm (Microsoft) back in its early days. He worked on Access, Office, and a bunch of incomprehensible Internet technology in the 80s and 90s. He has patents. Volunteer work on PTA issues led to him representing his community in the Legislature for 7 terms, leading the finance and budget committees in the State House, re-writing the structure of public school funding, expanding Medicaid, and helping create the Early Start Act. Ross moved to the administrative side in 2015 running the Department of Early Learning. He now leads the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and is responsible for most issues affecting at-risk children in Washington State.