About the Panel

Executive Dave Somers | Snohomish County

Dave Somers has served as Snohomish County Executive since 2016, following his tenure on the County Council. A longtime public servant, Dave is dedicated to fiscal responsibility, regional collaboration, and delivering efficient, equitable services to residents. He oversees twelve departments, including Paine Field Airport, Public Works, and Human Services, impacting everything from permitting to emergency response. A strong advocate for sustainable development and agriculture, Dave works to protect the county’s natural resources and support its most vulnerable populations. He represents Snohomish County on the boards of the National Association of Counties, County Executives of America, Sound Transit, and the Puget Sound Regional Council. Dave holds a master’s in forest ecology and a BS in fisheries science from the University of Washington.

Liat Carlyle | Senior Analyst with Earth Finance

Liat Carlyle brings experience in state and federal climate policy and transportation decarbonization with a focus in renewable fuels. She works on strategically scaling renewable fuels for high impact decarbonization. Liat's work has focused on policy analysis and impact, funding opportunities at the state and federal level, and regulatory and legislative advocacy around technology-neutral public policies for meaningful climate action. She manages relationships with a wide range of policy stakeholders including elected officials, environmental organizations, environmental justice and equity champions, fuel producers, commercial aviation groups, and industry. Prior to her work in climate, she researched COVID-19 impact on worldview and individual practices and received her B.S. in Public Health from California Polytechnic State University.

Brett Smith | CEO of Propeller Airports

Brett is the Founder and CEO of Propeller Airports, which developed and operates the award-winning passenger terminal at Paine Field near Seattle—America’s first privately run commercial terminal. Under his leadership, the airport surpassed one million passengers in its first year. Brett also leads Propeller Aero Services, supporting business aviation and cargo operations. Previously, he co-founded Vortex Control Technologies, which created drag-reduction technology for military and commercial aircraft, and ei3 Corporation, a software firm advancing sustainable manufacturing. He began his career as an aviation analyst and helped create the NYSE Airline Index. A licensed pilot with over 1,900 flight hours, Brett serves on several nonprofit and business boards. He holds a B.A. from Emory University and lives in Seattle.

Dow Constantine | CEO of Sound Transit

Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine is a dedicated regional leader with nearly thirty years of service to the Puget Sound region. His appointment as CEO comes after nearly two decades of continuous service on the Sound Transit Board, including multiple terms as Chair and Vice Chair. Through four terms as King County Executive, he led one of the largest regional governments in the United States. This included leadership of King County Metro, one of the largest bus agencies in the U.S. and the long-time operator of Sound Transit’s Link light rail. Constantine is also a former member of the King County Council and the Washington State Legislature, both as Representative and Senator.

Unable to attend in person? The Snohomish County Update will be livestreamed via Zoom beginning at 11:30 a.m. and will be available for later viewing on Snohomish County TV. More information coming soon!