Derek Sandison, Director

Derek Sandison was appointed director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture by Gov. Jay Inslee effective June 15, 2015. As WSDA director, Derek oversees an agency responsible for animal health, plant inspections, food safety, fruit and grain inspection and certification, weights and measures, pesticide registration and marketing the state's agricultural products regionally and globally. Derek is familiar to many in the agriculture industry from his previous role as director of the state Department of Ecology's Office of Columbia River, where he oversaw numerous water supply development projects important to farmers and ranchers. He was also a principal architect of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan and has played a key role in the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Project.

Jason Ferrante, Deputy Director 

Jason’s career with WSDA started in 2004 as a grain sampler at the Tacoma Grain Inspection Office. Jason quickly advanced through the agency and was promoted to supervisor in 2010 and to grain inspection program manager in 2013. In 2016, Jason was hired as the Assistant Director of the Commodity Inspection Division and in 2018, was hired as Assistant Director for Administrative Services where he oversaw a number of central agency services, including human resources, information technology, facilities, contracts, specialty crop block grant, emergency and rapid response, administrative regulations, safety and risk, and performance management. Jason has also served numerous other roles at the agency including acting Human Resources Director, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Associate Deputy Director and interim Deputy Director.  Jason most recently was appointed to the role of Deputy Director where he continues to oversee agency operations.

Amber Itle, State Veterinarian

Dr. Amber Itle manages the Animal Health, Avian Health and Animal Disease Traceability Programs that work to protect animal health and welfare, contain and eradicate animal disease, and safeguard public health by limiting exposure to zoonotic diseases. Dr. Itle grew up on her family's fourth generation dairy operation and joined the veterinary profession with her father and sister. After a decade as a livestock veterinarian in the private sector, she joined WSDA in 2013 as a field veterinarian and was appointed assistant state veterinarian in 2017. Dr. Itle holds a Bachelor of Science from Pennsylvania Sate University, a Doctoral of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in animal welfare from the University of British Columbia. 

Megan Finkenbinder, Executive Assistant to the Director

Megan joined WSDA in 2014. She's responsible for managing and coordinating the director's schedule and activities. Before joining WSDA, Megan spent seven years with the State Conservation Commission, finishing up her career there as a special projects and program manager. Megan's connection with agriculture began as a child when visiting her great grandfather's farm in the Spokane area. Now she enjoys riding her horses and tending her family's small hobby farm. 

Sidney Black, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director

Sidney began her career at WSDA in 2020 as an Office Assistant and has held many progressively responsible administrative roles within Administrative Services and the Director’s Office before becoming the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director in 2025. She is responsible for managing the Deputy Director’s schedule and activities as well as providing project management and organizational change management support to the leadership team. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English/Language Arts Education from Central Washington University, a Certificate of Project Management from the University of Washington and is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner.

Ignacio Marquez, Regional Assistant to the Director - Eastern/Central WA

Ignacio Marquez became the regional assistant to the director in October, 2016. In his position from Yakima, Ignacio’s responsibilities include establishing working relationships with WSDA agency staff, tribes, government agencies, agriculture employers, associations, agriculture labor organizations, community-based agencies, elected officials, and natural resource stakeholders in the Eastern/Central region. Ignacio is also the agency’s point of contact for farm labor issues such as workforce availability, wages, health, and housing. He is also the representative for WSDA on the Washington State Task Force Against the Trafficking of Persons. Ignacio began his career with WSDA in 2013 as a policy assistant to the director.

Evan Sheffels, Senior Policy Advisor to the Director

Evan Sheffels joined WSDA as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Director in 2018. In this role he is responsible for analyzing complex policy issues, developing innovative solutions, and advising on decisions that align with the agency's mission and goals. With many years of experience in the field of public policy and government relations, Evan brings a wealth of knowledge in legislative processes, stakeholder engagement and the agricultural industry. Prior to joining WSDA, Evan was the Associate Director of Government Affairs with the Washington Farm Bureau.

Katie Rains, Director of Food Systems Initiatives

After 10 years of nonprofit leadership in health, education, and food systems, Katie joined WSDA's Food Assistance team in 2018. in 2019, Katie joined the Director's Office to manage the new Focus on Food initiative. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie coordinated within the agency's food programs, and other state agencies doing food assistance work, and developed new capacities for emergency food response. In her current role, she works to ensure WSDA's new or expanded food programs collaborate toward resilience and equity in all aspects of our food system. 

Katherine (Kat) Kersten, Communications Director

Katherine (Kat) Kersten joined WSDA as the Communications Director in 2022. She leads a team responsible for developing communication plans and strategies that help advance the department's messaging and outreach efforts. Kat has supported and led communication initiatives for various state departments since 2010 and prior to state service was enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from Central Washington University. 

Nicole Johnson, Director of Equity and Environmental Justice

Nicole's career with WSDA started in 2015 as an Administrative Assistant supporting the Policy and Communications Offices. While at WSDA, she held multiple positions within the Policy Office. She was appointed Director of Equity and Environmental Justice in August of 2024. In this capacity, she will focus on ensuring the alignment of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the agency and agency-provided enterprise services to conceptualize, recommend, and implement policies, systems, processes, and environmental changes within the agency to advance equity and environmental justice. Nicole earned a bachelor's degree in workforce education and development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a master's degree in public administration with a concentration in public policy from The Evergreen State College.

Jessica Allenton, Assistant Director, Commodity Inspection Division

Jessica Allenton became the assistant director of the Commodity Inspection Division in September 2018. It is the largest WSDA division consisting of six programs and 24 field offices. Four of the programs provide third-party, fee-for-service inspections for a variety of agricultural products, including fruits and vegetables, grain and seed. The division also supports marketing agricultural products by matching state sellers with overseas and regional buyers. Jessica has been with the agency since 2012 and has held a variety of positions. In 2013, she participated in the Leadership Development Program where she gained valuable policy and legislative experience. Before becoming assistant director, Jessica was the Commodity Division’s business administration and projects manager. She has a bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy and economics from the University of Washington.

Jodi Jones, Division Operations Director, Animal Services Division

Jodi Jones has served WSDA in many capacities since 2000. In November 2007, she joined the Animal Services Division as the division coordinator and was appointed to division operations director in June of 2019. In this capacity, she is responsible for day-to-day operations of the division including administration, personnel, budget, legislation, rulemaking, working with stakeholders and overseeing the Livestock Identification and Compliance programs. Jodi is familiar with the livestock industry from her personal life growing up raising livestock, being involved in 4-H, showing horses, and now raising her two daughters on their hobby farm. 
 

Lorna Mance, Human Resources Director

Lorna Mance became WSDA's Director of Human Resources in 2020. She is responsible for leading, directing, developing, and overseeing the delivery of the agency's comprehensive human resources program. Lorna is an experienced Human Resources professional who has worked in state government since 1989. Prior to her current role as the Human Resources Director, she served in the role of Labor Relations and Investigations Manager for WSDA and in various human resources roles for the Employment Security Department, Department of Social Health and Services and the Department of Corrections. Lorna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a primary focus on Administration (BA), from the Evergreen State College. She is originally from New York and Ohio, and is a proud Veteran of the United States Army, where she served with a military intelligence unit as a communications specialist.

Kelly McLain, Assistant Director, Agricultural Environmental Services Division

Kelly was appointed assistant director of the Agricultural Environmental Services Division in March 2024, and has worked at WSDA since 2009. This division consists of 7 programs and more than 100 staff focused on pesticide and fertilizer regulation, training, pesticide applicator licensing, nutrient management, natural resources and agricultural sciences, and cannabis. Prior to this role, Kelly spent 6 years as a policy advisor and legislative liaison in the Director's Office, and served as a senior scientist at WSDA from 2009-2018. Her career in public service also includes 5 years at the Department of Ecology and 2 years in local government. Kelly has a bachelors degree in environmental science and a masters degree in environmental science and policy from The Evergreen State College.

Susie Olsen, Chief Information Officer

As CIO, Susie manages and implements all information and technology systems for WSDA. She started with the agency in 2016 and served as Service Desk manager and IT operations manager before being promoted to CIO in 2021. Before joining WSDA, she managed the Department of Labor and Industries IT service desk for four years. She also has 16 years of private sector experience with the Frank Russell Company and Alaska Airlines. Susie earned a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. 

Natasha Roberts, Chief Financial Officer

Natasha started her state career in October of 2006 with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. She joined WSDA in February of 2007 as the agency cashier and has served in various other positions in our finance department. Natasha graduated from Saint Martin's University in 2004 with a Bachelors in Business Administration in Finance and Economics. 

Greg Haubrich, Assistant Director, Plant Protection Division

Greg Haubrich is a graduate of Washington State University with degrees in Horticulture and Agricultural Economics. He has been with the Washington State Department of Agriculture for nearly 40 years. In that time he has worked in the Fruit and Vegetable, Seed, Plant Services, and Apiary programs and in the Pest Program where he served as the agency's Noxious Weed Coordinator for many years and more recently as the Pest Program Manager since 2019. The Pest Program includes the agency's entomology, plant pathology, molecular diagnostics, GIS, Spartina, Knotweed, and general statewide noxious weed program.