About WCIT
About WCIT
WCIT is the Northwest’s premier organization advocating for trade and investment policies that increase the competitiveness of Northwest workers, farmers, and businesses. Our diverse membership includes small and medium-sized companies, Fortune 500 businesses, and agriculture producers that together represent industries ranging from manufacturing, food, and retail to technology and science.
40% of Washington state jobs exist because of international trade.
WCIT Advisory Board
Susan Champlain
Director, The Boeing Company, Board Chair
Michael Punke
Vice President, Amazon
Johan Hellman
Regional Assistant Vice President, State Government Affairs, BNSF Railway Co.
Bryn Heimbeck
Chief Executive Officer, Trade Tech Inc.
Sarah O’Neil
Director, International Trade, Microsoft Corporation
Commissioner Sam Cho
Port of Seattle
Dorothy Dwoskin
D2 Strategies, Immediate Past Chair
Amy Nguyen
President, Dragonberry Produce, Inc
David Tang
Partner, KL Gates
Mark Powers
President, Northwest Horticultural Council
John Hannah
President, Pacific Valley Foods
Ann Nagele
Partner, Perkins Coie
Glen Bachman
Commissioner, Port of Everett
Jen Berg
Director, Starbucks
Commissioner Kristin Ang
Port of Tacoma
Melissa Nelson
General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, SanMar
Stephen Shafer
SSA Marine
Dontai Smalls
Vice President, Global Public Affairs, UPS
Matt Harris
Director, WA State Potato Commission
Kimberly Branam
Port of Portland
WCIT Members
Air Tiger Express
Amazon
American Seafoods
Anderson Hay & Grain
Association of Washington Business
At Sea Processors
Banner Bank
BNSF Railways
The Boeing Company
Borton Fruit
Brooks Running
Brown & Haley
Columbia Bank
Columbia River Economic Development Council
Community Attributes
Consulate General of Canada
Consulate General of Japan
Costco
Darigold
Desimone Consulting Group
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Dragonberry Produce
Dry Fly Distilling
Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Eli Lilly & Company
Freezer Longline Coalition
Frontier North America
Global Washington
Google
Greater Spokane Incorporated
Highline College
Hilleberg the Tentmaker
Jon Monroe Consulting
JP Morgan Chase
K&L Gates
Keep Washington Competitive
L’Ecole No 41 Winery
Lund Faucett
Manhasset
Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
Microsoft Corporation
Minority Business Development Agency
Monument Advocacy
National Association of Manufacturers
National Center for APEC
Nike
Nordstrom
Northwest Horticultural Council
Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center
Northwest Seaport Alliance
Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance
Pacific Northwest Waterways Association
Pacific Valley Foods
Perkins Coie LLP
PhRMA
Port Blakely
Port of Everett
Port of Grays Harbor
Port of Longview
Port of Olympia
Port of Portland
Port of Seattle
Port of Vancouver
REI
SanMar
Seven Seas Exports
Shoreline Community College
Snohomish County Economic Development
SSA Marine
Starbucks Coffee Company
Swire Projects
Torres Trade Law
Trade Tech
UK Government Office, Seattle
United States Chamber of Commerce
United Parcel Service
UW Global Business Center
Visit Seattle
Wagstaff, Inc.
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Washington Grain Commission
Washington Mint Growers Association
Washington Public Ports Association
Washington Retail Association
Washington Roundtable
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
Washington State Department of Commerce
Washington State Farm Bureau
Washington State Potato Commission
Washington Trust Bank
Waterstone Brands Inc.
Wells Fargo
Western Washington University
World Trade Center Seattle
Affiliate Member: British-American Business Council
*The membership list includes current and past members
The WCIT Team
Lori Otto Punke
President
Lori has served as President since 2016, leading the organization to drive trade and investment policies that increase the competitiveness of Washington state workers and businesses. Lori is also the founder of Avalon Public Affairs. She previously held a variety of public affairs positions at Starbucks and Microsoft and also served as a senior policy advisor to US Senate leadership. She is a fellow of the US-Japan Leadership program and a former member of the NASDAQ Public Policy Advisory Committee. Lori earned her B.A. from George Washington University and studied in London and Madrid. She is an avid runner, cyclist, and anything outside.
Angela Green, CMP
Event Manager
Angela Green, CMP is WCIT’s Event Manager and oversees all of our event and meeting planning from registration to logistics. Before WCIT, she has executed special events, conferences, heads of state dinners, black tie galas, roadshows, and award ceremonies. Angela has experience in international affairs specializing in Asia Pacific regions as well as in all major US markets planning for associations, government, non-profit and Fortune 500 companies. She has a B.S. from Michigan State University.
Dan Whiting
Communications and Membership
Dan has worked in public policy and communications for 25 years in topics ranging from agriculture to natural resources to healthcare to technology. Following 11 years on staff in the U.S. Senate in policy and communications roles, he worked at the USDA, the National Alliance of Forest Owners, the National Fragile X Foundation, and the Linux Foundation. Dan is a graduate of the University of Idaho, Regent University, and the Quantic School of Business and Technology. His dream jobs are artisan woodworker and comedy writer, but, in the meantime, he is passionate about leveraging communications to achieve advocacy goals.
Colleen Boetel
Administrative Assistant
Colleen Boetel joined WCIT in 2018 as an Administrative Assistant. Her 20+ years in Accounting, Office Management, and Client Service make her an excellent fit for the team. With a degree in and an extensive background related to Office Management, she has experience in many areas of accounting, including billing, accounts payable and receivable and payroll for several types of businesses. Attention to detail and customer service are just a couple of her strong attributes.