Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Sue Taoka to the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council. Taoka is an executive vice president at Craft3, a nonprofit lender that provides business, septic repair and energy-efficiency loans in Washington and Oregon.

The Puget Sound Partnership is a non-regulatory state agency charged with mobilizing community, regional, state and federal efforts to restore and protect Puget Sound. The Leadership Council serves as the state agency’s seven-member governing body.

“Sue Taoka understands that a healthy Puget Sound is critical to the vitality of our region—to our ecosystem, our economy, and the legacy we are building for the next generations,” said Governor Inslee. “Sue’s work in connecting our citizens with the resources they need to be good stewards of our natural resources provides a great lens through which to guide the Partnership’s efforts to mobilize Puget Sound recovery.”

Taoka has worked with Craft3, a community development financial institution focused on improving the environment, economy and equity of our communities, since 2008. Her work includes supporting staff and public health departments to provide access to credit for homeowners with failing septic systems. Older and poorly maintained onsite sewage systems can leak sewage into Puget Sound, that in turn impact shellfish beds, swimming beaches, and other public health issues related to water quality.

Previously, Taoka spent 14 years as executive director of the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, the major property management and community development organization in the Chinatown International District. Taoka also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Norm Rice for housing, economic and community development, neighborhoods, parks, and libraries. Before that, Taoka led the International District Improvement Association.

Taoka’s community involvement includes being a founding member of the National Coalition of Asian Pacific American Community. She is also a board member of several organizations, including the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Seattle Investment Fund, Yesler Community Collaborative, and the Friends of Little Saigon.

Taoka’s term runs through June 25, 2018.