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Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) on Tuesday announced that Paul Pitre is stepping down as EASC Board chair. Current EASC Board Vice Chair Robert Knoll, from Puget Sound Energy, will serve out the current term as Board chair. Mark Duffy of Mountain Pacific Bank will fill out the term as EASC Board vice chair.
Pitre was a founding dean of the Everett branch of Washington State University — including 10 years as chancellor. He will be returning to faculty and teaching at WSU’s main campus in Pullman, Washington.
According to an EASC news release, Pitre was instrumental in growing WSU Everett’s footprint including launching 11 new academic programs and developing the County’s first LEED Gold academic building while overseeing construction of the college’s new campus in 2017.
He also engaged the university with local businesses, governments, agencies and organizations to enhance economic development in the region. Several of the new academic programs were designed specifically to meet an emerging need in Snohomish County and expanded access to high-quality degrees made WSU Everett one of the region’s premier four-year universities, the news release said.
Pitre has served as chair of the EASC Board of Trustees since 2025. Under his leadership, EASC has continued a legacy of advocating as the County’s business voice and connecting people and business to resources for growth, expansion, international trade, government contracting assistance and future workforce initiatives.
“Dr. Pitre has been instrumental to many of the improvements and advancements in our community as well as for EASC,” said Ray Stephanson, EASC president and CEO. “With major shifts in energy, next generation technology and advanced manufacturing all occurring, his leadership, always focused on innovation, has pointed EASC and Snohomish County firmly into the future as we prepare to address the challenges and opportunities our region’s economy and workforce will soon face.”
Robert Knoll will begin his tenure as EASC Board Chair effective immediately. He works in government affairs at Puget Sound Energy, where he partners with local governments, community stakeholders and policymakers on energy policy and infrastructure issues across Washington state. He brings more than a decade of experience in government relations, public policy and community engagement.
Before joining Puget Sound Energy, Knoll held a variety of legislative and political roles, including positions with the Snohomish County Council, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene and the Washington State House of Representatives. His background includes government affairs, advocacy, public outreach and strategic communications.
Knoll attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is active in civic leadership and has served as board president of the Snohomish County Hospice and Homecare Foundation and chair of the advocacy committee for the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Village Theatre.
Mark Duffy, who replaces Knoll as vice chair, brings more than four decades of experience in the banking industry. In addition to his leadership in community banking, Duffy serves on the board of directors of the Providence General Foundation and Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center.
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