About

THE EXPORT FINANCE ASSISTANCE CENTER OF WASHINGTON

Established by the Washington State Legislature in 1983

The Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW) was established by the Washington State Legislature in 1983 to support Washington businesses in expanding into global markets. EFACW provides free export finance counseling and guidance to small and medium-sized businesses across the state.

We help companies understand how to structure international sales, manage payment risk, and navigate export financing tools such as letters of credit, credit insurance, foreign exchange considerations, and government export programs offered by agencies like the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In addition to one-on-one counseling, EFACW works with federal, state, and regional partners to provide export training programs, webinars, and educational resources that help Washington businesses build the skills needed to successfully compete in international markets.

OUR ROLE IN WASHINGTON’S EXPORT ECOSYSTEM

EFACW serves as a neutral advisor and connector within Washington State’s export ecosystem.

We work alongside organizations such as:

Washington State Department of Commerce
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)
U.S. Commercial Service
Washington State Department of Agriculture
Washington Small Business Development Center
Regional economic development organizations
Financial institutions supporting exporters

Through these partnerships, EFACW helps businesses identify the right programs, financing tools, and resources to support their international expansion.

Our TEAM

Zara Castillo

Director

Zara Castillo serves as Director of the Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW), where she provides guidance to Washington businesses on export financing, payment risk mitigation, and international trade finance strategies. She works closely with exporters, financial institutions, and government partners to help companies navigate the complexities of financing international sales and managing cross-border payment risks.

Zara collaborates regularly with federal and state agencies—including the Washington State Department of Commerce, U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Commercial Service, and Washington State Department of Agriculture—to connect exporters with financing tools and resources that support global growth.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and has completed international trade finance training through Thunderbird School of Global Management. Zara also holds the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) credential through NASBITE International and serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Finance Advisory Council (TFAC).

In addition, Zara serves on the Advisory Board for the Washington Women’s Business Center (WWBC) and is a member of the Washington District Export Council (WADEC), contributing to initiatives that support small businesses and expand export opportunities across Washington State.

Board of Directors

EFACW is guided by a volunteer board composed of leaders from Washington’s export, finance, and trade communities who help shape the organization’s strategic direction.

Tim Rasmussen

Board Chair

Tim Rasmussen served as the Director of International Banking at Washington Trust assisting clients with Trade Products (Commercial Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections), Standby Letters of Credit, and Foreign Exchange Products. Tim’s experience covers International Sales, Trade Operations, Foreign Exchange and Retail Banking.

Tim has more than 30 years of experience in banking, working for Umpqua Bank, Sterling Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Washington Mutual, Sakura Bank, First Interstate Bank, Dresdner Bank and HSBC.

Tim is a past Chairman of the Northwest Committee on Letters of Credit, and was a national representative for the IFSA Letter of Credit Committee, and served on the BAFT-IFSA National Trade Finance Committee.

Tim is a graduate of the University of Washington-Seattle with a BA in Economics.

Christie Skoorsmith

Treasurer

Christie Skoorsmith brings more than 25 years of experience in international relations, development, and global business. She has worked extensively with companies engaged in international markets and is passionate about helping businesses expand through exporting.

Christie previously served as U.S. Sales Manager for Bodypoint, a Washington-based manufacturer whose products are sold globally, and as International Business Development Manager for SPIO, a company that develops medical devices distributed internationally. Through this work, she supported export growth, international partnerships, and market development.

She holds both a BA and MA in International Studies and has lived and worked in Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Spain, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. Christie has also served as an instructor at the University of Washington, sharing her experience in international business and global engagement.

Isabelle DeWulf

Isabelle serves as the Senior Managing Director of the International Trade team at Washington State Department of Commerce. Before joining Commerce’s Export Assistance team, Isabelle managed and developed the French-American Chamber of Commerce – Dallas/Fort Worth, whose mission is to promote trade and investment between France and North Texas with a focus on aerospace. Isabelle assisted U.S. companies enter or expand into the French market and acted as a liaison for the French-American business community, government agencies, trade and community-based organizations. Responsibilities included planning and organizing aerospace-related events such as ITAR seminars and an annual Aerospace Industry Forum, bringing together leaders in the aerospace industry providing procurement opportunities to small supply chain companies within the global aviation industry.

Kimberly Pearson

Kimberly Pearson is a strategic partnerships leader at Boeing, where she focuses on global business development for Digital Aviation Solutions within Boeing Global Services. In her current role, she drives growth through partnerships, alliances, and joint ventures across commercial, military, business, general, and unmanned aviation markets. She supports the expansion of advanced software and data solutions that enhance aviation safety and operational efficiency worldwide.

Kimberly brings more than three decades of experience at Boeing, with a background spanning international business development, aviation finance policy, and global strategy. Her previous roles include leading strategic regulatory policy for Boeing Capital Corporation and managing international partnerships across Europe and Canada, working closely with export credit agencies, industry organizations, and government stakeholders.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of Washington and has completed advanced studies in project management and international business. Kimberly is actively engaged in the global aviation community and has contributed to industry organizations focused on aviation finance, trade, and policy.

Veronica Hand

Veronica Hand is the Equity and Inclusion Program Manager City of Lacey. She brings more than 30 years of experience in government affairs, international trade, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). During her 20 years as a Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Consulate in Monterrey, Mexico, she led initiatives supporting Canadian exporters and collaborated with industry associations and government partners to develop trade strategies and programs.

After moving to the United States, Veronica served in several Washington State agencies, including the Department of Labor & Industries and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, where she led civil rights, ADA, and language access initiatives. She also developed language access tools later adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a national standard.

Veronica currently works with the City of Lacey, where she helps implement the city’s DEIB Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Commission on Equity.

Joseph Timmons

Joe Timmons is Vice President and Trade Operations Manager in the Trade Finance – International Banking Group at Columbia Bank. He has more than 24 years of experience supporting businesses in the Pacific Northwest with international trade finance, including import and export letters of credit, standby letters of credit, documentary collections, and foreign exchange hedging.

Joe specializes in developing and implementing customized international trade service programs tailored to meet the specific needs of clients engaged in global business. As a former exporter, he brings firsthand experience with the challenges companies face when navigating international markets.