About WCIT
WCIT members at the 2026 Trade Summit

About WCIT

The Northwest's premier voice for trade and investment policies that strengthen workers, farmers, and businesses.

Advocating for open trade across the Northwest

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 spans small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and agriculture producers — representing manufacturing, food, retail, technology, and science.

Headquartered in Seattle, WCIT brings together a coalition of voices united around a single conviction: open, rules-based trade is essential to the Northwest's prosperity.

40%

of Washington state jobs exist because of international trade.


40% of Washington state jobs tied to international trade

WCIT Advisory Board

Our advisory board brings together leaders from across industry, agriculture, ports, and professional services.

Susan Champlain
Director, The Boeing Company
Susan Champlain
Michael Punke
Vice President, Amazon
Michael Punke
Johan Hellman
Regional Asst. Vice President, State Government Affairs, BNSF Railway Co.
Bryn Heimbeck
Chief Executive Officer, Trade Tech Inc.
Bryn Heimbeck
Sarah O'Hare O'Neil
VP & Deputy General Counsel, International Trade Law & Policy, Microsoft
Sarah O'Hare O'Neil
Commissioner Sam Cho
Port of Seattle
Commissioner Sam Cho
Dorothy Dwoskin
D2 Strategies
Dorothy Dwoskin
Amy Nguyen
President, Dragonberry Produce, Inc.
Amy Nguyen
David Tang
Partner, K&L Gates
David Tang
Mark Powers
President, Northwest Horticultural Council
John Hannah
President, Pacific Valley Foods
John Hannah
Ann Nagele
Partner, Perkins Coie
Ann Nagele
Commissioner Glen Bachman
Port of Everett
Commissioner Glen Bachman
Commissioner Kristin Ang
Port of Tacoma
Commissioner Kristin Ang
Melissa Nelson
General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, SanMar
Melissa Nelson
Stephen Shafer
SSA Marine
Kimberly Branam
Port of Portland
Kimberly Branam
Jason Park
Global Affairs, Coupang, Inc.
Jason Park
Alex Strogen
Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Vancouver
Alex Strogen
Panel at the 2026 WCIT Trade Summit

WCIT Members

WCIT's membership spans small and medium-sized companies, Fortune 500 businesses, agriculture producers, ports, and educational institutions.

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 Coupang, Inc. 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 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 Dept. of Agriculture (WSDA) Washington State Dept. 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 British-American Business Council (Affiliate)

*The membership list includes current and past members.

The WCIT Team

Lori Otto Punke
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. She is also the founder of Avalon Public Affairs and previously held public affairs positions at Starbucks and Microsoft, and served as a senior policy advisor to US Senate leadership.

Angela Green, CMP
Angela Green, CMP
Event Manager

Angela oversees all WCIT event and meeting planning from registration to logistics. With extensive experience in international affairs specializing in Asia Pacific regions, she has executed special events, conferences, heads of state dinners, black tie galas, roadshows, and award ceremonies for associations, government, non-profit, and Fortune 500 companies.

Dan Whiting
Dan Whiting
Communications and Membership

Dan has worked in public policy and communications for 25+ years across topics ranging from agriculture to healthcare to technology. Following 11 years on staff in the U.S. Senate, he worked at the USDA, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Fragile X Foundation, and the Linux Foundation. He is passionate about leveraging communications to achieve advocacy goals.

Colleen Boetel
Colleen Boetel
Administrative / Accounting Assistant

Colleen joined WCIT in 2018 bringing 20+ years of experience in Accounting, Office Management, and Client Service. Her background spans billing, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll across several types of businesses. Attention to detail and customer service are among her defining strengths.