UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  September 24, 2008
 
TRUEBLUE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Washington
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

001-14543	 	91-1287341	
(Commission File Number)	 	(IRS Employer Identification No.)	
 	 	 	
1015 A Street, Tacoma, Washington	 	98402	
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	 	(Zip Code)	
 
(253) 383-9101
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 
Item 7.01.                                           Regulation FD Disclosure.
 
On September 24, 2008, TrueBlue, Inc. (the “Company”) issued the press release attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1.
 
In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information contained above in this report shall not be deemed “Filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall the report be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.  This report will not be deemed a determination or an admission as to the materiality of any information in the report that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD.
 
Item 9.01.                                           Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	 	Exhibits	
 	 	 	
99.1.	 	Press Release of Company dated September 24, 2008	
 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 	 	TRUEBLUE, INC.	 	
 	 	 	(Registrant)	
 	 	 	 	
Date: September 24, 2008	 	By:	/s/ James E. Defebaugh	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	James E. Defebaugh	
 	 	 	Executive Vice President,	
 	 	 	General Counsel and Secretary	

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Exhibit 99.1
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
TRUEBLUE APPOINTS SAMBATARO CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
 
Tacoma, WA – Sept. 24, 2008 - TrueBlue Inc. (NYSE: TBI) has appointed Joe Sambataro, 58, to serve as chairman of the board effective Sept. 23, 2008. Sambataro, a member of the board since 2000, was the company’s CEO from 2001 until 2006. He joined the company in 1997 and served as CFO until 2001 prior to being named CEO.
 
Robert Sullivan, 78, has served as chairman of the board since 2000 and as a director since 1994 and will continue to serve as a director.
 
During Sullivan’s tenure as chairman, the company has experienced significant growth and several positive changes. Under his leadership, the company has become a leading provider of blue-collar staffing, operating the brands Labor Ready, Spartan Staffing, PMI, CLP Resources, PlaneTechs, and TLC Drivers.  Revenue for the company in 2007 was $1.4 billion.
 
TrueBlue CEO Steve Cooper expressed his appreciation for Sullivan’s valuable service to the organization.
 
“I am extremely grateful for the many years of service Bob has given to both our board and our shareholders,” said Cooper. “His commitment and contribution as chairman of the board has been a crucial factor in the company’s success.”
 
“We have strong leadership in executive management and the board of directors in place that has effectively brought the company to its current level of accomplishment,” Sullivan said.  “I will always feel that I am a part of TrueBlue. It is a dynamic and important part of my business life, and I am pleased to stay on as a member of the board.”
 
“Executive management and the board of directors have worked together to create a strong company that is well-positioned for this transition,” said Sambataro. “TrueBlue has a strong management team throughout the company and possesses the capital to ensure its continued success as the leading provider of blue-collar staffing.”
 
In addition to appointing Sambataro chairman, the board appointed current board member Keith Grinstein, 48, to the newly-established role of lead independent director. As lead independent director, Grinstein will preside during executive sessions and any other meetings of independent directors, represent the independent directors in meetings with shareholders, and act as a liaison between the independent directors and chairman of the board.
 
“Grinstein’s appointment as our lead independent director reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards of corporate governance while growing and protecting shareholder value,” said Sambataro.  Grinstein has served as an independent board member of TrueBlue since 2004.  He is also chairman of the company’s Audit Committee and a member of the Governance Committee.
 
About TrueBlue
 
TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) is the leading provider of blue-collar staffing with revenue of approximately $1.4 billion. Each year, TrueBlue connects approximately 600,000 people to work through the following brands: Labor Ready, PMI, Spartan Staffing, CLP Resources, PlaneTechs, and TLC Drivers. Headquartered in Tacoma, Wash., TrueBlue serves more than 300,000 small to mid-sized businesses in the construction, warehousing, hospitality, landscaping, transportation, light manufacturing, retail, wholesale, facilities, sanitation, and aviation industries. For more information, visit TrueBlue’s website at www.TrueBlueInc.com
 
Contacts
 
Stacey Burke, VP of Corporate Communications
253-680-8291