Mayor Wilson Announces New Leadership at Office of City Finance and Office of Economic Development

Mayor Katie B. Wilson today announced new departmental leadership at the Office of City Finance and the Office of Economic Development. 

Seattle, WA - “Delivering on housing, transportation, and affordability requires a well-managed, financially responsible city government with the capacity to make the big investments we need. It also means doing everything possible to ensure a thriving economic environment for neighborhood businesses, big businesses the creative arts, and people just trying to get their start,” said Mayor Wilson. “Today I’m appointing two leaders with the experience and dedication to achieve these goals: Dwight Dively at the Office of City Finance, and Alicia Teel as Acting Director of the Office of Economic Development. I’m grateful to Jamie Carnell for 31 years of dedicated service for Seattle residents and Markham McIntyre for his leadership supporting small business recovery after the pandemic, and I know they’ll continue to play an important role in our civic life.” 

City Finance  

Financial stability and good government are prerequisites for our city to successfully deliver services to the public, and the Office of City Finance plays a key role delivering on that stability and capacity for investment.  

Dwight Dively comes into this role with extraordinary experience, including more than a decade serving as Finance Director at the City, followed by more than decade as Director of the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget at King County, where he has also served as Chief Operating Officer since 2020. Over his long career, Dwight has developed a reputation as one of the best fiscal policy and minds in local government. He led the successful effort to get a AAA bond rating for the City, which has saved City taxpayers millions of dollars over the last 25 years; oversaw the City's investment portfolio during the Great Recession to ensure that the City lost no money from risky investments; and negotiated agreements that led to the construction of Benaroya Hall, Pacific Place, and the agreement for the first Convention Center expansion.  

"It is a great pleasure for me to accept Mayor Wilson's offer to serve as Finance Director. I am excited to return to city government to help her carry out her vision and use the City's financial strengths to improve programs and services for everyone."  

—Dwight Dively  

“It has been a privilege to lead the financial operations of a AAA-rated major U.S. city, ensuring transparency and clarity for decision-makers and the public.  

Over the past 31 years with the City of Seattle, I have been honored to serve alongside an exceptional team at the Office of City Finance and to collaborate with City department leaders, Council members, stakeholders, the Administration, and Executive Team. Together, we have upheld the City’s strong fiscal foundation and advanced its commitment to accountability and public trust."  

"As I step away from this role, I do so with deep gratitude for the partnerships and shared accomplishments that have defined my tenure. I remain committed to supporting the incoming leadership team and helping the City of Seattle sustain its financial strength and achieve Mayor Wilson’s vision for the future.”  

—Jamie Carnell 

Office of Economic Development  

Seattle can only be a great place to live, work, and raise a family if it’s also a great place to start and operate a business. The affordability crisis has hit local businesses hard, and the Office of Economic Development has a critical role to play in contributing to thriving communities, neighborhood stability, and a strong local economy.   

“I am honored to have served as the director of the Office of Economic Development for the past four years. I am proud of the team of smart, talented, and dedicated people we have assembled and the meaningful work we have done to shape the future of Seattle’s economy.  

We pioneered community wealth building programs to close the racial wealth gap, led the Downtown Activation Plan, opened AI and climate tech incubators, solved neighborhood business challenges, and so much more.  

OED is poised to develop the policies, programs, and partnerships that will make our economy more competitive, diverse, and resilient. I look forward to seeing what this office does next.” 

—Markham McIntyre  

Alicia Teel most recently served as Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Development, where she helps lead the City’s efforts to support small businesses, advance equitable economic growth, and strengthen neighborhood and downtown economies. She brings experience in public-sector leadership and cross-sector collaboration focused on inclusive opportunity for Seattle residents and employers.    

“I’m honored to serve in this interim capacity to lead the Office of Economic Development. Our talented team is dedicated to leading projects and making investments that open up access to economic opportunities across our city, reduce the racial wealth gap, and encourage innovation and growth. We are deeply committed to a collaborative approach to this work, and share Mayor Wilson’s sense of urgency to deliver meaningful, sustained progress.”    

—Alicia Teel