Joshua Johnston

Director

Proudly born and raised in the great state of Washington, Joshua (Josh) Johnston has wanted to live out a life of service for as long as he can remember. It’s something he’s held on to closely throughout his career, especially now that he serves as Director of Washington’s Lottery.

Here at the Department of Imagination, Josh strives to create a place where Lottery players and team members alike can be creative and dream big – whether that’s winning a large cash prize or working in an environment they’re proud to be a part of. Since joining the Lottery in 2018, Josh has loved being part of an organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of Washingtonians through the proceeds from its ticket sales, from children attending pre-school, to those pursuing higher education or career training. He also is passionate about sharing the socially responsible impact of Washington’s Lottery and the care the organization has for its players, the community, the environment and its people.

Outside of work, you’ll either find Josh mountain biking, spending quality time with his family, serving on the Board for the Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County, or cheering on the University of Washington Huskies. In fact, he says that if he could create any kind of Scratch ticket, it would be one for his beloved alma mater (or one in the shape of a slice of pizza). Prior to joining the Lottery, Josh served in multiple leadership roles at the state’s Department of Licensing. In 2020, he was also President of the Governor’s Distinguished Managers Association and is the founder and former board president of The Washington Bus, a statewide organization that increases political access and participation for young people and develops the next generation of young leaders.   

Cassi Villegas

Deputy Director

When Cassi Villegas was offered the opportunity to join Washington’s Lottery, it was an easy “yes” for her. As someone who has always been purpose-driven and worked for agencies whose values align with her own, Cassi loves being part of an organization that not only provides a positive environment where team members can be their authentic selves, think creatively and grow professionally, but also one that makes a big impact on residents across Washington. Living here and serving Washingtonians makes every day feel like she won the lottery! 

As Deputy Director, Cassi pushes the organization to think differently and consider how the Lottery can expand its work and impact, while still following the rules set out by the state. What does she have next on her growing list of to-dos? First and foremost, Cassi wants to continue to support the Lottery’s healthy work culture and empower the team to make data-informed decisions by making information more transparent and accessible to everyone. In her spare time, she is finishing up her dream Scratch game design, a scratch-and-sniff dill pickle ticket in the shape of a jar of pickles.

A two-time graduate of Evergreen State College here in Olympia where the Lottery is headquartered, Cassi has worked to serve our beautiful state for more than a decade. Before joining the Lottery in 2024, she held various leadership roles at the Department of Social and Health Services, as well as worked for the State Independent Living Council. She also holds several certifications in instructional design, cultural intelligence and unconscious bias, and is a certified diversity professional. On her off days, you will likely find her reading, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, watching documentaries, or trying out new hobbies.

Crystal Fischer

Director of Information Services

With roots in Washington, Crystal Fischer was inspired by the state’s natural beauty and strong sense of community early in life. Between the beautiful seasons, plants and wildlife, fun activities and her loved ones, she’s always known it’s the perfect place to live.

Crystal's journey with Washington’s Lottery began in 2004, when she joined the team as an Application Developer and was later promoted to Applications Supervisor/Project Manager. Now as Director of Information Services, Crystal brings a forward-thinking approach to the interactive and digital needs of the organization. She values the chance to engage in continual learning and growth within her role, where being both creative and analytical are part of her everyday work. Crystal also loves being able to bring new and fun advancements to lottery players in order to inspire ticket sales and increase the Lottery’s contributions to education programs across the state.

Away from her desk, Crystal fills her time with global travels, culinary adventures, and cherished moments with her pets. Inspired by her own culinary experiences from around the world, Crystal would create a food themed Scratch ticket where the top prize would be a trip to Europe to experience the continent’s best restaurants.

Rita Hawkins

Executive Assistant

Born and raised in Washington, Rita Hawkins has a strong sense of pride and dedication to the state, which she channels this energy into her work as Executive Assistant for Washington’s Lottery. In her position, she focuses on organization and efficiency, managing complex schedules, coordinating meetings, and ensuring seamless operations for the Executive Team and the agency.

Outside of the office, you will find Rita enjoying adventures to new places, immersing herself in different cultures, spending time on the water or attending concerts. Her favorite part about working for the Department of Imagination is the opportunity to inspire dreams and see winners win.

Rita’s dream Scratch ticket would feature Hammerhead sharks, her favorite animal.

Sharmin (Shar) Hawley

Director of Organizational Performance and Planning

Shar has lived a life of public service, starting with military service, where she discovered a hidden gem in Washington state. Between the Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains, great weather, a plethora of concert venues, and more, it was easy for her to fall in love. After her military service, Shar worked for the Health Care Authority, Washington Military Department, Department of Revenue and the City of Olympia.

A proud team member of Washington’s Lottery since 2016, Shar now serves as the Director of Organizational Performance and Planning. In leading this Division, she works to provide centralized services that support the Lottery’s strategic goals, create capacity, improve business operations, and deliver measurable results, all while contributing to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of Lottery team members and players. When asked what’s her favorite part about working for the Lottery, she can’t help but choose several answers: working for an agency that betters our communities and supports education programs all while providing fun experiences playing lottery games, collaborating across the agency to think of or implement new ideas, and the fact that it’s okay to fail, as long as you get back up.

When she’s not working, you’ll either find Shar with her two fur babies Chewie and Solo, attending concerts, or traveling. An obvious Star Wars fan, it should come as no surprise that if given the chance to create a Scratch ticket, one would feature Chewbacca with a scratch area that feels like fur.

Derek Poppe

Director of Security and Licensing

Derek Poppe can’t imagine living anywhere other than Washington; for him, it’s always been home. Not only was he born and raised here, but while he served in the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, he happened to be stationed in-state. After being discharged, he stayed in the Evergreen State to attend WSU (Go Cougs!)

One of Derek’s favorite parts about working for Washington’s Lottery is seeing winners come in to claim their prizes, something that never gets old even after 14 years of working here. As Director of Security and Licensing, Derek wants players to know that our products and processes are built with the highest levels of security and integrity, from our nightly jackpot drawings to the retailers we license to sell lottery tickets. He strives to maintain the positive reputation Washington’s Lottery has for its practices; something that was built by the tremendous work put in by previous team members over the last four decades. Derek is constantly listening to and learning more about our players and retailers so that he can continue to introduce improvements based on their needs.

In his free time, you can find Derek spending time with his family, playing golf, camping, backpacking, playing video games, or rooting on the Mariners and Seahawks. He’s also spent time outside of work envisioning his dream Scratch ticket: a Star Wars-themed ticket printed on holographic paper, so the lightsabers really pop.

Alex Satterlund

Internal Auditor

With three generations of family experience in public service for Washington state, Alex Satterlund’s commitment to Washington’s Lottery is as personal as it is professional. For him, working at the Department of Imagination offers an experience unlike any other state agency due to its unique mission and work that positively impacts players and residents across the state. Although he’s lived elsewhere, Alex has always been drawn to Washington’s diverse blend of cultures, cuisine, and environments, which is why he can’t imagine calling another place home.

Since joining Washington’s Lottery in 2017, Alex has been integral in his role as Internal Auditor, applying his deep expertise of internal controls to identify both current and future risks. He also continuously seeks to optimize and improve established procedures to ensure the Lottery remains efficient and effective.

Apart from spreadsheets and audits, Alex is passionate about miniature painting, gaming and loves to cook for his family. When asked what a Scratch ticket of his own would look like, he envisions a Rick and Morty-themed ticket, particularly a “Pickle Rick” ticket that says, “I’m a Scratch ticket, Morty!”

Ron Smerer

Director of Sales and Marketing

Ron Smerer came to Washington in 1978 from Michigan, and when he was offered a role at Washington’s Lottery, he knew he couldn’t turn it down. After meeting the great people here and seeing the work the Lottery does, he quickly began to love the area and decided to grow his family here.

When he started at the Lottery, Ron made it his mission to beat the agency’s sales goal each year. When he was named Director of Sales and Marketing, he wanted to build a cohesive team that would help Washington’s Lottery achieve $1 billion in sales in a single Fiscal Year (FY), and in FY23, his goal became a reality! Now, his new goal is to continue to work alongside his team (who are his favorite part about working for the Lottery) to try to surpass that number yet again, especially because with higher Lottery sales comes higher contributions for our beneficiaries. The joy Ron gets from working at the Lottery goes beyond achieving his professional goals – he also loves to talk with our winners, learn about their experiences and share their stories.

A proud husband, dad, grandfather and wine enthusiast, Ron says his dream Scratch ticket would have a picture of him and his wife, along with a Blue Sapphire, which is the stone from their 51st wedding anniversary. He’d even add in some baseball bats and hockey sticks as extra details about their love story, since he says his wife put up with him while he played these sports throughout the years.

Todd Steben

Director of Finance

For more than 12 years, Todd Steben has been a transformative presence in public service at both the state and county levels, introducing innovative strategies and practices across several agencies. His diverse professional background, which spans multiple industries, influences his current leadership approach as Director of Finance at Washington’s Lottery. Tasked with supporting the accounting and finance team, managing budgets, safeguarding future annuity payments, and collaborating on multi-state games, Todd applies his expertise to ensure the financial sustainability and performance of the organization.

Through his work at the Department of Imagination, Todd loves that he is able to make a significant and positive impact on his team and local community. With a spirit that embodies continuous learning and improvement, Todd leads the agency’s financial operations by strengthening the people he works with, along with their creativity and energy, to create an environment committed to high performance and fun. He strives to foster a culture that mirrors his favorite parts about Washington: its diversity, strength and unique culture.

When he’s not working, Todd can be found outside enjoying Washington's scenic landscapes. If he could create any kind of Scratch ticket, he would like it to capture the essence of Washington and feature iconic imagery and landmarks that players can reveal by scratching their ticket.

Kristi Weeks

Director of Legal Services

A life-long Washington resident, Kristi Weeks learned to appreciate the beauty of the Evergreen State at an early age. It helped motivate her to stay here during the early phases of her education and career.

As Director of Legal Services for Washington’s Lottery, Kristi strives to provide the best possible service to the public and legal advice to the agency. Working for the Department of Imagination, she not only gets to exercise her own creativity, but also emphasizes how important it is to make sure that anything fun her colleagues dream up is legal, fair, and responsible.

When she started law school, Kristi was a single mom of a two-and-a-half-year-old. Inspired by his mom, Kristi’s son is now a lawyer himself and also works in state service. After graduating law school, Kristi clerked for a King County Superior Court judge, then practiced high-end felony defense before joining the state’s Department of Health in a series of legal and policy roles. Since 2018, she has proudly been a part of Team Lottery.

Outside of her work at the Lottery, Kristi is passionate about traveling, cooking, and baking. In fact, she attended the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California. Given the chance, she’d combine her love of food with her love for the Lottery by creating a pink Scratch ticket that has cupcakes and lots of sprinkles with a sugar frosting scent.

Leah White-Noreen

Human Resources and Support Services Director

Since stepping into her role as Human Resources and Support Services Director in 2023, Leah White-Noreen has worked to help Washington’s Lottery continue cultivating a workplace where growth and empowerment are encouraged. In her role, she is committed to building an environment where open communication and inclusivity are the standard and employees feel valued and supported. Leah strives to leverage innovative methods to streamline processes and enhance team member and player experiences. Not only does she love working for the Department of Imagination because she can be creative, think outside of the box, and bring innovative ideas to life, but also she loves the inspiration that comes from seeing other team members explore their creative side.

Prior to joining the Lottery, Leah built over a decade of Human Resources experience within the state government where she helped to support positive workplace cultures that helped contribute to both individual and organizational success.  

A lifelong Washington resident, Leah’s deep appreciation for the state’s beautiful coastlines, mountains, and the green forests and parks have only grown, along with her sense of community and belonging. Her personal life is rooted in nature: her leisure time is filled with family activities from trail running with her husband, to camping, and paddle boarding on the Hood Canal.

Leah’s vision for a Scratch ticket - Washington Wonders - speaks to her love for the state. The game would feature iconic landmarks and offer players a chance to win a curated travel experience within the state.