Kelly Fukai has been appointed as the chief operating officer of the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), where she will oversee day-to-day operations. Fukai, who previously served as vice president of government and community affairs at WTIA, brings extensive experience across various industries and a deep business acumen to her new role. During her tenure at WTIA, Fukai has played a key role in initiatives such as the SeaCiti program, which aims to strengthen the technology workforce in the Puget Sound region through promoting equitable civic engagement and expanding startup programs statewide. Prior to joining WTIA, Fukai held roles at the Spokane International Airport and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. She holds a CPA with a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University.
In her new position, Fukai plans to focus on equitable growth of the statewide workforce, expanding the startup ecosystem, and advocating for inclusive and innovative policies. The information and communication technology sector in Washington state directly employed 360,900 people in 2022, with nearly 1.5 million jobs when including indirect positions. Fukai expressed her pride in being part of the WTIA team and pledged to continue highlighting the importance of the technology sector to the economy.
