Holmstrom announced her plan late last week, ending a six-year run at the helm of the agency. Revenue said that made her the longest-serving director in 35 years.
The announcement comes a few weeks after Tony Tortorice left the Department of Information Services for retirement in California.
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s staff is expected to work with the Department of Personnel on recruitment of candidates for Revenue, and a search is already under way for DIS. In the meantime, Gregoire is appointing 32-year department veteran Tremaine Smith, who is deputy director, as interim director at Revenue.
Mike Ricchio, deputy director at DIS, is now serving as interim director. Tortorice was hired in July 2009 after Gary Robinson retired in 2008.
Holmstrom said in an agency news release that Revenue had won more national tax administration awards than any other state revenue agency.
She cited more than a half-dozen accomplishments – including reducing paperwork through wider use of electronic filing and tax payments; work with a national consortium to streamline sales tax administration for businesses; and tighter control of reseller permits that let businesses avoid some taxes when buying materials for their own use; and adaptations to the digital commerce age.
Holmstrom served as executive director for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee and was president for the last year for the Washington, D.C.-based Federation of Tax Administrators.
Gregoire said in a statement that “Cindi took a strong agency and made it even better. … She focused on transparency, efficiency and customer service, and as a result Revenue continues to be recognized as a national leader in how to administer tax systems effectively.”
