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 BIO

Born in Tacoma, Washington on May 23, 1950, Lieutenant Governor Owen graduated from Frankfurt American High School in 1968.  Upon returning to the U.S. after graduation, he moved back to his birth state of Washington and then later settled in Shelton.  During the next 22 years, Owen was a small business owner and became a prominent member of his community. 

Brad Owen was elected as Washington State’s 15th lieutenant governor in 1996 and re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008.  Lieutenant Governor Owen serves the state as president of the Senate, and is the acting governor in the absence of the governor.  Prior to his election as lieutenant governor, Owen served as Shelton finance commissioner from 1976-1979, as a member of the Washington State House of Representatives from 1976-1982, and in the Washington State Senate from 1983-1996.

Lieutenant Governor Owen has dedicated his term of service to providing leadership in the field of public health and safety, with an emphasis on substance abuse and prevention.  He is the co-chair of Washington State Mentors, as well as the chair of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.  He serves on the advisory board for the Drug Free America Foundation. He has conducted many foreign trade and goodwill missions and promotes stronger ties among Washington State’s economic and international communities.  

As a result of his work on projects in Washington in association with Spain, Lt. Governor Owen was awarded the decoration Order of Isabella the Catholic, a medal of knighthood, from the King of Spain in 2007 (received in formal ceremony in 2008). Additionally, as founder and president of a non-profit organization called Strategies for Youth (SFY), he develops and delivers positive messages about substance abuse and bullying awareness to youth, as well as to the community at large.  He received Washington State Mentor's highest award, Champion of Mentoring, in 2007. In 2002, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (Humanities) from Walla Walla College for his years of public service and work with kids and communities.

Lieutenant Governor Owen is an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman, and enjoys playing a variety of musical instruments including the guitar, drums and sax.  Mr. Owen and his wife, Linda, live in Shelton.  They have six children: Shanie, Dana, Sherri, Mark, Adam and Royce and 17 grandchildren.

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FUTURE SPEAKERS

OCT 11th

John Parrott - President, Totem Ocean Trailer Express

NOV 8th

John Wolfe - CEO, Port of Tacoma

DEC 13th

Emergency Food Network Holiday Luncheon/Auction