About the WDC

The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) is a nonprofit workforce “think tank” and grant-making organization whose mission is to support a strong economy and ensure the ability of each person to achieve self-sufficiency.

Established in 2000 by the King County Executive and the Mayor of Seattle, the WDC is led by a board of directors with a private-sector majority. We oversee a wide range of employment-related programs and initiatives, serving thousands of King County youth, adults and businesses each year.

(Address and Contact Info)

Marlena Sessions

Marléna Sessions, CEO

Marléna Sessions is the Chief Executive Officer of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County.

Marléna’s guiding focus for the WDC is impact: having the greatest impact on the success of the economy, jobseekers, employers and youth of Seattle-King County. She also believes in sharing expertise with other areas to make an impact on workforce development nationally.

Marléna is on the board of trustees of the national Workforce Development Council of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and serves as its second Vice President and Youth Committee National Chair. She is also a member of the High-Skills Consortium of Jobs for the Future.

Locally, Marléna is the secretary and an executive committee member of enterpriseSeattle, the area’s economic development agency, as well as a member of the Seattle Community Colleges Chancellor’s Advisory Council and the visiting committee of UW Educational Outreach (the continuing education branch of the University of Washington).

Marléna holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and a bachelor of arts in political science from Whitworth University. She lives in Issaquah, Wash., with her husband and two children.