Two ex-workers allege retaliation by SIRTI chief

Two former employees of SIRTI are alleging they lost their jobs there due to retaliation by SIRTI Executive Director Patrick Tam and have initiated requests for damages from the state of Washington.

The employees, David Wingate and Kenny Spain, both worked at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute helping companies find financing and technology assistance.

Both left their jobs at the state-funded agency earlier this year.

Wingate filed a lawsuit Monday in Spokane County Superior Court claiming he was fired in retaliation by Tam for having asked for a medical leave. Spain this week filed a claim with the state alleging Tam retaliated against him for remarks he made about Tam’s management decisions, which caused him quit his job in May.

Tam, who became SIRTI’s executive director in 2002, has been on administrative leave for the past five weeks. The organization’s board said when it announced the leave that it would investigate claims made by current employees of “inappropriate behavior” by Tam.

SIRTI Board Chair Nancy Isserlis said that investigation was not prompted by allegations from either Spain or Wingate.

She would not comment on the suit or the claim.

“Even if I had reviewed (the suit or the claim), I wouldn’t comment until after Tuesday’s meeting,” Isserlis said.

That’s when the SIRTI board will meet to discuss the investigation into Tam’s behavior conducted by Bellevue attorney Mark Busto, she said.

Efforts to reach Tam this week were unsuccessful. He continues earning a $140,000 annual salary during the investigation.

Since he took the director’s job in July 2002, board members at SIRTI have said the 56-year-old Tam has had a successful relationship with the SIRTI board. Board members also have consistently praised Tam for establishing strong ties with other economic development groups and improving the agency’s profile in Olympia.

SIRTI, based in downtown Spokane, has an annual state budget of more than $1.3 million. The organization uses a 17-person staff to provide technology support and business-development assistance to regional companies.

Both Wingate and Spain claim in their filings that the state owes them economic damages to be determined at trial.

Wingate, who’s 57, was SIRTI’s director of financial services from late 2002 until this summer.

In June, Wingate said he provided a letter from his doctor advising SIRTI he needed time off due to workplace stress. The lawsuit alleges that Tam’s treatment of Wingate was the key source of his health problems.

Within two weeks of the request, Tam presented a letter of dismissal to Wingate, the lawsuit says. Tam, in that letter, gave no reason for Wingate’s firing.

Of Tam’s management style, Wingate said in an interview that “he manages and tries to motivate by fear.” Wingate further claims that he’s never had prior job-related stress problems like those he encountered at SIRTI.

Spain, who’s 49, worked at SIRTI as a senior investment loan officer from mid-2003 until this past spring.

He said in an interview that he questioned the selection process followed in choosing a design firm for a new SIRTI technology center, which has not yet been built. One of Spain’s jobs was to help complete a proposal for a federal grant to help build the center.

The claim says Tam retaliated by taking Spain off the technology center project and a second project to develop a technology fund to help local companies. Spain alleges also that Tam did nothing when Spain told him a co-worker had sexually harassed him.

“He laughed about it,” Spain said in an interview.

Spokane attorney Kevin Roberts, who is representing both Wingate and Spain, said Tam’s actions created a hostile work environment, which effectively forced Spain to quit his job.

Both Wingate and Spain have taken staff positions with the state Office of Community, Trade and Economic Development. Both worked at that agency prior to joining the SIRTI staff.

The state has 60 days to respond to Spain’s claim. He said he’ll file a lawsuit if the state denies the claim.

Wingate also filed a claim with the state in August — the necessary precursor to filing a lawsuit, according to state law — but said the state never responded.