WSNA announces results of 2025 – 27 elections

The Board has many respon­si­bil­i­ties, including ensuring the prior­i­ties adopted by the WSNA General Assembly are incor­po­rated in the strategic plan for each biennium. The Board also approves the budget for WSNA and appoints and reviews the execu­tive director. Board members act as ambas­sadors for WSNA, repre­senting the associ­a­tion to the member­ship and other organi­za­tions as appropriate.

The chairs of the Labor Executive Council, Legisla­tive and Health Policy Council, and Profes­sional Nursing and Health Care Council are elected separately and serve as full members of the Board by virtue of their offices. Two of the director-at-large positions must be filled by non-manage­rial, non-super­vi­sory, direct patient care providers repre­sented by WSNA for collec­tive bargaining.

President

Justin Gill

Vice-president

Heather M. Stephen-Selby

Secretary-Treasurer

Annika Hoogestraat

Chair, Labor Executive Council

Edna P. Cortez

Chair, Legislative & Health Policy Council

Emily Kay

Chair, Professional Nursing & Health Care Council 

Rachel Wang

Directors at large

• Anita Dennis
• David Jacob Garcia
• Nicole Klein

Directors at large (staff nurses)

• Kelsey Gellner
• Kelli Johnson

The Labor Executive Council is WSNA's statewide union governing body. The council develops and reviews policies and procedures relating to collective bargaining contract administration, contract enforcement, organizing and other WSNA labor relations activities. Members of the council must be represented for collective bargaining by WSNA.

Chair

Edna P. Cortez

Vice-chair

Susie Cervantes

Secretary-Treasurer

Jon Olson

Members at large

• Rachel Aalto
• Bree Casas
• Samantha Forte
• Tim Jennings
• Amber Pouley
• Tristan Twohig
• Kara Yates

The PNHCC forecasts trends, promotes continuing education programs, addresses issues on nursing practice and collaborates with other nursing and specialty organizations. The council also develops resources on issues relating to nursing practice, education, human rights and access to health care.

Chair

Rachel Wang

Education

Antwinett Lee

Ethics & Human Rights

Keondra Rustan

Practice

Martha Goodall

Research

Gordon West

Members at large

Julia Barcott

The Legislative and Health Policy Council sets the annual health policy and legislative agenda for WSNA and plays an active role in reviewing and advancing WSNA’s legislative priorities. The council also reviews proposed legislation and makes decisions on WSNA’s stance and actions based on recommendations from staff, contract lobbyists and members. Council members represent the membership by serving in a politically non-partisan capacity.

Chair

Emily Kay

Members at large

• Ingrid Anderson
• Sara Gering
• Kathleen Thompson

During WSNA elections, the committee requests nominations for office and reviews all completed Consent to Serve forms. Committee members prepare the slate of qualified candidates and recommend chairpersons and members for special committees.

• Chuck Cumiskey
• Cheri Osler
• Christina Nyirati

Additional names to be reported soon

During WSNA elections, the Labor Nominating / Search Committee requests nominations and prepares the slate of candidates for election to the Labor Executive Council, delegates to the biennial AFT Convention, and the committee itself. This committee is restricted to members represented by WSNA for collective bargaining.

Names to be reported soon

Because WSNA is an affiliate of AFT, a national union, WSNA sends delegates to AFT’s national convention every biennium. These delegates bring the Washington state voice to the national table. As of June 2025, the 2026 AFT Convention is scheduled to take place in person July 16-19, 2026, in Washington D.C. Delegates are restricted to members represented by WSNA for collective bargaining.

• Julia Barcott
• Bree Casas
• Susie Cervantes
• Edna P. Cortez
• David Jacob Garcia
• Martha Goodall
• Lindsay Green
• Annika Hoogestraat
• Jon Olson
• Tristan Twohig
• Kara Yates

The ANA Membership Assembly is the governing and official voting body of the American Nurses Association (ANA). Because WSNA members are also members of ANA, WSNA sends delegates to the annual assembly to ensure that priority nursing issues are addressed on a national level. As of June 2025 the time, date and location of the event has not yet been announced.

• Julia Barcott
• Alison Bradywood
• Sally Budack
• Edna P. Cortez
• David Jacob Garcia
• Martha Goodall
• Judith Huntington
• Jon Olson
• Heather M. Stephen-Selby
• Emily Troyer
• Tristan Twohig

All bylaws changes on the ballot passed. Learn more about the bylaw amendments.