Congresswoman Suzan DelBene represents Washington state’s 1st Congressional District, and was first sworn into Congress in November 2012. The 1st District of Washington is home to Nintendo of America, the headquarters of Microsoft, one of Google’s largest engineering offices, and many fast growing tech startups. In addition to high tech, the district is economically very diverse with many berry and dairy farms, biotechnology firms, advanced manufacturing and aerospace companies.

An entrepreneur and business leader with over 20 years of experience in the private sector, DelBene understands the critical role that innovative companies play in creating opportunities for citizens and the foundation for economic growth for communities. DelBene worked in the biotechnology industry before earning an MBA from the University of Washington and embarking on a successful career as a technology leader and innovator. In more than two decades as an executive and entrepreneur, she helped start drugstore.com as its vice president of marketing and store development, and served as CEO and president of Nimble Technology, a business software company based on technology developed at the University of Washington. DelBene spent 12 years at Microsoft, most recently as corporate vice president of the company’s mobile communications business. In that position, she ran worldwide sales, marketing, and product management for the company’s mobile efforts.

In 2010, DelBene was appointed by Governor Gregoire to be the Director of the Washington State Department of Revenue. During her tenure, she Suzan proposed reforms to cut red tape for small businesses. She also enacted an innovative tax amnesty program that generated $345 million to help close the state’s budget gap, while easing the burden on small businesses.

DelBene is currently a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Agriculture Committee.