About WCIT
The Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) is the states premier organization advocating for trade and investment policies that increase the competitiveness of Washington state 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.
Washington State Jobs Tied to 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.
Matthew Reisman
Director, Microsoft Corporation
Commissioner Sam Cho
Port of Seattle
Dorothy Dwoskin
D2 Strategies, Immediate Past Chair
Pallavi Wahi
Partner, KL Gates
Mark Powers
President, Northwest Horticultural Council
Ann Nagele
Partner, Perkins Coie
Commissioner David Simpson
Port of Everett
Jen Berg
Director, Starbucks
Commissioner John McCarthy
NW Seaport Alliance
Melissa Nelson
Vice President, General Counsel, SanMar
Joe Ritzman
Vice President, SSA Marine
Kristal Fiser
Director, State Government Affairs, UPS
Matt Harris
Director, WA State Potato Commission
Heather Ray
Vice President, Wells Fargo
Dan Means
Purchasing Manager, K2 Sports
WCIT Members
- Air Tiger Express
- Amazon
- American Seafoods
- Anderson Hay & Grain
- Association of Washington Business
- At Sea Processors
- Banner Bank
- Basta Boatlifts
- BNSF Railways
- The Boeing Company
- Borton Fruit
- Brooks Running
- Brown & Haley
- Columbia Machine
- Columbia River Economic Development Council
- Community Attributes
- Consulate General of Canada
- Consulate General of Japan
- Costco
- Darigold
- Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Dry Fly Distilling
- Economic Alliance Snohomish County
- Eli Lilly & Company
- Freezer Longline Coalition
- Frontier North America
- Global Washington
- Greater Spokane Incorporated
- Highline College
- Hilleberg the Tentmaker
- James Farrell & Co.
- Johns Monroe Mitsunaga Koloušková, PLLC
- JP Morgan Chase
- K&L Gates
- K2 Sports
- Keep Washington Competitive
- L’Ecole No 41 Winery
- Lund Faucett
- MacMillan-Piper
- Manhasset
- Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
- Marsh USA Inc
- Microsoft Corporation
- Minority Business Development Agency
- Monument Policy Group
- 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 Nord Import & Export LLC
- 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 Skagit
- Port of Vancouver
- REI
- SanMar
- Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt
- Seven Seas Exports
- Shoreline Community College
- SSA Marine
- Starbucks Coffee Company
- Trade Tech
- UK Government Office, Seattle
- U.S. Customs & Trade Law, PLLC
- United States Chamber of Commerce
- United Parcel Service
- UW Global Business Center
- Visit Seattle
- Washington Association of Wheat Growers
- Washington Farm Bureau
- Washington Mint Growers Association
- Washington Public Ports Association
- Washington Roundtable
- Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
- Washington State Department of Commerce
- Washington State Potato Commission
- Washington Trust Bank
- Waterstone Brands Inc.
- We Work for Health Washington
- Wells Fargo
- World Trade Center Seattle
- Affiliate Member: British-American Business Council
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 LOP Strategies. She previously held a variety of public affairs positions at Starbucks and Microsoft and also served as a senior policy advisor to U.S. Senate leadership. She is the current Chair of Seattle GenNext 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.
Danielle Holstein
Marketing & Communications
Danielle Holstein is the Policy and Communication Manager of WCIT. She is responsible for policy research and the organization’s communication strategies, including marketing, media relations, and community outreach. Danielle comes to WCIT with previous experience at the City of Seattle, NOAA, and WSDOT. She has a master’s degree from the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, where she majored in philosophy.
Angela Green
Events 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.
Jim Desler
Communications
Jim has provided communications and writing support for WCIT since 2019. Experienced in both corporate and government public relations, Jim served in several media and policy communications roles in his 17 years at Microsoft. Prior to joining the technology sector, Jim worked in the Federal Government with roles at the Commerce and State Departments as well as serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Communications and leading Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration. Jim is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and resides in Sammamish, Washington with his wife, teenage son and golden retriever.
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.