Maud Daudon

Maud Smith Daudon is the Executive Leader of Career Connect Washington, which successfully passed legislation and state funding in spring of 2019 to implement the 10-year strategic plan for building a statewide career-connected learning and apprenticeship system in Washington State. Selected by Governor Inslee to lead this effort, Daudon is under contract with the Governor's Office and her work is funded by five philanthropic partners.

Prior to this, Daudon completed a six-year tenure as the president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in February 2018. The first woman appointed to lead the Chamber, Daudon is widely respected by business, community, and political leaders for her pragmatic, thoughtful, and solution-oriented approach. During her tenure at the Chamber, she championed the Chamber's commitment to the triple bottom line - advancing a strong economy, being good stewards of our natural and cultural assets, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the region's economic prosperity.

Daudon has also served as president and CEO of Seattle-Northwest Securities Corporation, deputy mayor of Seattle, and chief financial officer of the Port of Seattle. Daudon is active in several Seattle-based civic and community organizations including sitting on the boards of United Way of King County, The Nature Conservancy, and Virginia Mason Health System, and is a trustee and past chair of the Bullitt Foundation. She previously chaired the Washington Student Achievement Council.

Early life and family Daudon was born in Lake Forest, Illinois, just outside Chicago. She began participating in political and community programs at an early age, working alongside her parents who were heavily involved in organizations and campaigns including the United Way of Chicago and Planned Parenthood of Chicago.

Daudon graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, with a bachelor of arts. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she began working on a campaign to preserve downtown Corvallis, Oregon against the threat of an outside shopping center decreasing the city’s economic viability. This experience inspired her to pursue a degree in business and public management at the Yale School of Organization and Management.

She married Marc Daudon, a consultant to international, environmental groups and co-founder of Cascadia Consulting Group. They have two grown children and live in the Madrona neighborhood in Seattle.

Career In 1983, Daudon began working in the public finance division of Lehman Brothers. After three years in the New York City offices, Daudon joined Lehman Brothers in Seattle, where she worked regularly with the Port of Seattle.

In 1998, Schell appointed Daudon as his deputy mayor and chief of staff; a position she held until Schell lost reelection in 2001. As deputy mayor, Daudon focused on overall city strategy and helped manage various initiatives including the 1999 World Trade Organization Protests. a 10-year vision and strategic plan for building a statewide career-connected learning and apprenticeship system in Washington.

Past Organizational Leadership: Intiman Theatre World Affairs Council Bond Dealers of America Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Governor’s Higher Ed Task Force Seattle Biomedical Research Institute Washington Aerospace Partnership City of Seattle’s Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Seattle’s Economic Development Commission