Seattle: Governance#
How the convention center is governed — the PFD structure, board composition, state backstop, and key contracts.
Primary sources: RCW 36.100, PFD board meeting minutes (2018–2025), bond official statements, CFO letters.
PFD Structure#
The Washington State Convention Center Public Facilities District is a special-purpose municipal corporation created under RCW 36.100. It is not a city department and does not report through the Seattle city budget.
- Board: 9 members (appointing authorities TBD from board minutes)
- Taxing authority: 7% lodging tax on hotel rooms in Seattle
- State backstop: Washington State guarantees bond debt service shortfalls — expires 2029
Leadership Sequence#
CEO / President#
| Name | Title | Period | Prior Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Blosser | President & CEO | As of Jan 2019 – 2024 | — |
| Jennifer LeMaster | CEO | Sept 2024 – present | Georgia World Congress Center Authority (Atlanta) |
CFO#
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Chip Firth | — |
| Sam Hecker | — |
| Erwin B. Vidallon | Current (signs FY2024 audit) |
External Finance#
| Name | Firm | Role | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Hendricks | Hendricks & Bennett | Director of Finance / Treasurer | 2018 bonds; still presenting at Oct 2025 retreat |
Key Staff#
| Name | Role | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Michael McQuade | Director of Sales → Senior Advisor | 1988–2026 (38 years) |
| Aaron Davis | Assistant Director of Sales | Current |
| Linda Willanger | VP Admin / AGM | — (not CEO) |
Board Members#
Source: seattlecc.com/governance, retrieved April 2026.
| Name | Role | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Frank K. Finneran | Chairman (since 1988) | President & CEO, Frank K. Finneran & Co. |
| Craig Schafer | Vice Chair (appointed Oct 2013) | Owner, Hotel Andra and Inn at the Market |
| Deryl Brown-Archie | Member (since 2000; Vice Chair 2003–2024) | Tribal attorney, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe |
| Robert J. Flowers | Member (since 2010; nonprofit board since 1996) | Former SVP, Washington Mutual |
| Katie Garrow | Member (appointed 2022) | Executive Secretary-Treasurer, MLK Labor |
| Tom Norwalk | Member (appointed 2023) | Former President & CEO, Visit Seattle |
| Stuart “Stu” T. Rolfe | Member | Owner & President, Wright Hotels; former Chairman & CEO, Space Needle Corporation |
| Joy Shigaki | Member | President & CEO, Friends of Waterfront Park |
8 of 9 seats filled. Frank K. Finneran has served as Chairman since 1988 (38 years). Tom Norwalk (former Visit Seattle CEO) joined in 2023 — notable given the PFD’s $10.6M marketing contract with Visit Seattle.
Key Contracts#
Aramark Food Service#
- Aramark operates food and beverage at the convention center
- F&B revenue: $38.3M (FY2024) — 65% of total operating revenue
- F&B costs: $22.1M (FY2024)
- Renegotiation or replacement will be a defining decision for the PFD
Visit Seattle Marketing#
- PFD contracts with Visit Seattle for convention marketing and kiosk staffing
- FY2024: $10.6M | FY2025 committed: $11.5M
- Board-discretionary — annual decision, not binding multi-year (needs verification from contract or resolution)
- Source: CFO letter + 2024 Audit Note 16
State Backstop#
Washington State guarantees that PFD bond debt service will be covered if lodging tax revenues fall short. This guarantee was a condition of bond issuance and is reflected in the bond ratings.
The guarantee expires in 2029. One year before the balloon payment window begins (2030–2034, $156M/year).
Details of the backstop mechanism, legislative history, and renewal requirements to be extracted from bond official statements and RCW.
Board Meeting Minutes#
PFD board meeting minutes are public records.
Available locally (downloaded from Wayback Machine):
- January 2018 – October 2019
- 2020–2022
Available on seattlecc.com:
- 2023–2025
Key meetings identified:
| Date | Subject |
|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2019 | Matt Griffin reports $60M cost overrun |
| Jul 30, 2019 | C&MRes LLC residential option authorized |
| Sep 24, 2019 | 920 Olive Way option approved (Nicole Grant sole dissenter) |
| Dec 2024 – Jan 2026 | Litigation sessions re: 920 Olive Way |
| Feb 2026 | Resolution #2026-3 terminating C&MRes option |
Full index of board meetings to be compiled from the downloaded minutes.
Sources#
- RCW 36.100 — Public Facilities Districts
- PFD Board Meeting Minutes, 2018–2025
- WSCC PFD 2024 Audited Financial Statements
- 2018 Bond Official Statement (EMMA)
- 2021 Refunding Bond Official Statement (EMMA)