Tammy Dunn is Executive Director of the Snohomish County Sports Commission, where she works with esports organizations to host tournaments and conferences across the county. Through strategic partnerships and a growing event portfolio, she’s putting the Pacific Northwest on the scholastic esports map.
Tell us about the Snohomish County Sports Commission’s role in esports.
We work with esports communities to help them host tournaments and conferences in Snohomish County. That means event services — venue selection, hotel coordination, and visitor information — to make sure organizers have what they need and attendees have a great experience. Our goal is to be a reliable partner for the esports community and to make Snohomish County an attractive destination for events of all sizes.
What events have you hosted, and how have they grown?
We’ve hosted the Washington State Scholastic Esports Association state championship two years running, in partnership with WSSEA and LANFest. In 2025, the Spring State Championship brought 23 high schools and over 480 attendees to the Lynnwood Event Center. In 2026, the Main Event grew to 36 high schools at Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, with a first-ever Middle School Invitational drawing 10 additional schools. Across both events, nearly 500 students competed, with hundreds of family members and supporters in attendance. The year-over-year growth has been exciting to watch.
How do you define success for an esports event?
Successful esports events bring both local and non-local gamers together — whether through competition or educational opportunities.
What partnerships have been most important to your growth?
Our relationship with LANFest opened the door to WSSEA, and that partnership has been the foundation of our state championship work. We’ve also built a strong relationship with Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center, which offers animation and game development programs to high school students. That connection reinforces our commitment to esports as part of a broader STEM and CTE ecosystem in the county.
What has ESTA membership meant for Snohomish County Sports Commission?
ESTA connects us to the organizations, schools, and businesses shaping the esports industry. That access lets us learn continuously and show up as better advocates for STEM education, CTE programs, and esports in our community. Being part of this network matters — especially for a sports commission working to make esports a permanent part of the local events landscape.
