What is…

The PFD

The public agency that owns and runs the Seattle Convention Center.

Updated November 6, 2026.

What is it?

A public facilities district, a kind of local government created under Washington law. The Seattle Convention Center describes the district as "a municipal corporation with independent taxing authority that is a taxing district under the state constitution." Its legal name is the Washington State Convention Center Public Facilities District. It does business as the Seattle Convention Center, and people also call it the PFD, the WSCC or SCC. The buildings it runs are described on What is the Seattle Convention Center?.

Where did it come from?

King County Ordinance 16883, passed on July 19, 2010, created the district. The ordinance says it was created "to acquire, own and operate a convention and trade center transferred from a public nonprofit corporation," as chapter 36.100 of the Revised Code of Washington authorizes. That corporation had been established in 1982 to build and operate the Washington State Convention Center. The ordinance names the State Legislature's 2010 bill, Substitute Senate Bill 6889, as the authority for the district.

Who governs it?

A nine-member Board of Directors. Under the district's bylaws, the Governor appoints three members, the King County Executive nominates three, subject to confirmation by the King County Council, and the Mayor of Seattle nominates three, subject to confirmation by the Seattle City Council. One of the Governor's appointments and one of the County's must represent the lodging industry, and one of the City's must represent organized labor. Directors serve four-year terms. The board meets in public, and the center posts its agendas and minutes at seattlecc.com/governance.

Who runs it day to day?

The district's President, who is also its chief executive officer. The bylaws give the President responsibility for management, operations and marketing within budgets the board approves, and say the President reports to the board through the Chair. The bylaws also provide that the Chair appoints the President, subject to ratification by the board. As of November 6, 2026, the center's meeting notice lists Jennifer LeMaster as President/CEO.

Who sits on the board?

See What is the board?, which lists the members as the center's own roster names them.

Sources: SCC, "Governance" page (seattlecc.com/governance), read November 6, 2026 (the description of the district, the formation date, the nine-member board); King County Ordinance 16883, July 19, 2010 (the creation of the district, its purpose and the appointment structure), linked from that page; WSCC PFD Bylaws (Resolution 2024-08), Articles I and II and Sections 3.4, 3.4.1 and 4.5; SCC, notice of public meeting dated October 27, 2026 (the legal name, the "doing business as" name and the President/CEO). Every date and figure above can be checked against them.

Ivan Schneider is the founding editor of the Convention City Dispatch.

Get new dispatches by email.

Related

The Seattle Convention CenterThe convention center downtown. Its buildings, who runs it, and how it is paid for. The SummitThe Seattle Convention Center's addition on Pine Street, open since January 2023. Arch at 705 PikeThe Seattle Convention Center's original building, and the street address it uses. Arch at 800 PikeThe Seattle Convention Center's business meeting and event venue, across Pike Street from the Arch at 705 Pike. C-STARThe convention center's storefront safety hub at 810 Pike. What it is, what it is for, who runs it, and when you can go. 9th AvenueTwo things go by the name. The street between Pike and Pine, and the 9th Avenue Market, the shops and restaurants of the convention center's Summit. The master planThe Seattle Convention Center's campus master plan, as shown on the slides at the October 27, 2026 board meeting. The boardThe nine directors who govern the Seattle Convention Center. Visit SeattleThe destination marketing organization for Seattle and King County. What it is, how it is paid for, and its contract with the convention center.