Crystal Leatherman

State & Local Government Affairs Director

Crystal is a member of Washington Retail’s Policy and Government Affairs Team in the capacity of Local and State Government Affairs Manager, a newly established position.

Crystal brings an extensive background in government relations to WR, with expertise in grassroots mobilization, fostering relationships between entrepreneurs and legislators, event coordination, and data-driven storytelling. Her professional journey includes tenure with the Washington State Auto Dealers Association (WSADA), where she served as a Grassroots Coordinator and consultant. At WSADA, Crystal honed her skills in grassroots advocacy, event planning, and directing special initiatives. A notable achievement during her time there was the orchestration of the annual lobby day in Olympia, where she aimed to maximize legislative interactions for business stakeholders.

In addition to her role with the Auto Dealers Association, Crystal contributed to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families as a Data Governance Coordinator. She also gained legislative experience during her internship, serving two members of the House of Representatives.

Academically, Crystal earned a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in political science and communications. She furthered her education with a Master of Public Administration, emphasizing public policy, and secured an endorsement in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from The Evergreen State College.

Crystal has been fortunate to travel the US with her husband while he was on active duty for the Army and has called Washington home since 2016. Outside the office, Crystal cherishes quality time with her family and enjoys movies and board games, especially strategic classics like backgammon and chess.