Christine Gregoire

Christine Gregoire is the CEO for Challenge Seattle, an organization comprised of 17 major international companies and non-profits located in the Seattle region. Challenge Seattle is providing leadership to ensure greater Seattle is one of the most innovative and globally competitive regions in the world.

Previously, Gregoire served for two terms as governor of the State of Washington with a $32B biennial budget and over 60,000 employees. In her first term as governor, she created the Department of Early Learning and led on reforms to the K-12 system and investment in higher education. Gregoire led the state in a historical investment in infrastructure including the building of the largest floating bridge in the world and the largest transportation tunnel to open up Seattle's waterfront.

She addressed the water wars in the state and established the Puget Sound initiative to restore one of the nation's major estuaries. She led an historic number of trade missions, reformed the foster care system to protect children and was among the first to lead in health care reform.

During her second term, Gregoire led the state in major reforms, management and budgeting to position the state as one of the most financially secure to come out of the Great Recession.

Prior to becoming governor, Gregoire served for three terms as attorney general for the state. Prior to becoming attorney general, Gregoire served four years as the director of the State Department of Ecology.

In addition to being CEO of Challenge Seattle, Gregoire is a member and former chair of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a member of the National Bipartisan Governor’s Council. She served as chair of the National Export-Import Bank Advisory Board 2013­–2016.

Gregoire holds a JD from Gonzaga University and a BA and teaching certificate from the University of Washington. She is a graduate of the Harvard Executive Management Program.

Gregoire has been married to her husband, Mike, for more than 40 years. They have two children, Courtney and Michelle, and three grandchildren.