OLYMPIA -- Myla D. Hite, a 16-year veteran of government labor relations, human resources, and risk management, has been named to the No. 2 job in the Division of Legal Services in the Health and Recovery Services Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services.

"Myla's diverse experience and high-powered performance in so many different roles leaves her well qualified and uniquely suited to the broad role she will assume in the Division of Legal Services," Division Director Gail Douglas said.

Hite, who will begin her new job as Assistant Director of the division on December 16, is rejoining DSHS after moving to the Department of Ecology in mid-2007 as Labor Relations and Operations Manager. She held a similar job at DSHS before taking the Ecology position.

Before beginning her state service, she worked as Employment Risk Manager and then Human Resources Director for the Seattle Police Department, and from 1991 to 1999; she worked as Equal Employment Opportunity Officer and Civil Service Coordinator for the City of Tacoma.

She began her human resources career as a military records clerk in 1978. In the 1980s, she worked in military service for the Military Department of Indiana and ultimately was promoted to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves in the mid-1990s.

Over the years, she also has served as an instructor and adjunct faculty at Pierce College and City University in Tacoma. She holds a degree in Business Administration and Human Services from Martin University (1984), a Master's in Executive Development for Public Service from Ball State University (1990) and a certificate in Labor Arbitration Advocacy from the American Labor Arbitration Association (2003).

CATHIE OTT NAMED ACTING DIVISION DIRECTOR: Cathie Ott, Chief of the Office of Medicaid Systems and Data (OMSD), was appointed Acting Director of the Division of Systems and Monitoring in mid-December, succeeding Bob Covington.

Covington resigned to accept an appointment as Director of the Division of Accountability and Finance in the Department of Transportation.

Ott, whose appointment will last until a permanent DSM Director is named, was responsible for operation of the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) in her previous job. In that role, Ott supervised 35 professional staff and an $8.7 million information technology services contract.

In her new role as acting director, she will supervise about 200 staff – auditors, computer experts, and information service technicians as well as the ProviderOne project, a new computer system that will succeed the 25-year-old MMIS within the next year.

During Ott's service as Acting Director, MMIS Services Unit Manager Christine Chumley will serve as Acting Chief of OMSD.

NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Debbie Morrill as been appointed as Administrative Assistant to Gail Douglas, Director of the Division of Legal Services in the Health and Recovery Services Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services.

Morrill's appointment was effective November 26.

New to state government, Morrill worked for 17 years with Group Health Cooperative in a variety of positions. She, her husband and three children currently live in Orting but are planning to move to the Olympia area.

In her spare time, she is involved with her children's soccer and baseball, school activities, church and movies.

NOTE: Electronic photos of Myla Hite and Cathie Ott are available on request by e-mailing  stevejh2@dshs.wa.gov.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND: Jim Stevenson, Communications Director, HRSA, DSHS, 360-902-7604 (Pager: 360-971-4067)