The Washington Technology Industry Association, a not-for-profit trade group, on Tuesday named Kelly Fukai as its new chief operating officer.
Fukai was previously the group's vice president of government and community affairs. She is the group's first COO and will now oversee its day-to-day operations.
"Kelly is an expert in government relations and has built critical partnerships with WTIA stakeholders across the state. Most importantly, Kelly embodies our mission and values," Michael Schutzler, WTIA CEO, said in a release.
Fukai has worked at the WTIA since September 2022, according to her LinkedIn page. Before that, she was the manager of public and external affairs at the Spokane International Airport for three years. Earlier in her career, she spent more than four years at Pullman-based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in regional and government affairs.
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The WTIA, founded in 1984, offers an apprenticeship program called Apprenti and does advocacy work for the tech industry. WTIA also has a for-profit arm called Portalus that offers medical, 401(k), insurance and consulting services to smaller tech companies.
"Our organization is at the forefront of highlighting the importance of the technology sector to our economy, and I plan to elevate this important work," Fukai said in a release.
The trade group counts Microsoft, Amazon and Google among its more than 1,000 member organizations. In January of last year, the WTIA laid off 11 employees, mostly in the Apprenti business unit.
Earlier this month, the WTIA named Microsoft manager Kristen Forecki as its new board chair. Forecki had already been on the board for five years and replaced serial entrepreneur Dave Cotter, who became chair emeritus for the trade group.
