There’s only one place to start with this message: I love Washington’s tech industry.  This is why it’s bittersweet to announce that after three years leading the WTIA, I am stepping down as CEO. Handing off the reins in good times is one of the toughest decisions a leader can make, but it’s from this fortunate place that I am preparing to exit the WTIA. Working with a fantastic team and a dynamic board, we have accomplished a lot during the past three years.  I’m particularly proud of the following:

• Strategic alignment of all WTIA initiatives to four areas of critical importance for our members and for our statewide technology industry as a whole: workforce development; early-stage entrepreneurship support; public policy advocacy for better STEM public education, and continued improved service to member companies.
• Creation of the Information Technology Coalition led by member companies in mobile, gaming, big data, travel, software, cloud and automotive tech.  This ITC is a platform for the technology leaders and enterprises in Washington to raise visibility and enhance advocacy efforts on behalf of our IT sector.
• Development of relevant programming that is focused on current tech topics, and that fosters strong peer-to-peer networking and executive leadership connections. These include our 3^rd Opinion Network of executive roundtables and our Executives in Tech meetings.
• Establishment of a national leadership role for the WTIA in TECNA (Technology Councils of North America), the association for tech trade associations, which gives us a great vantage point into how other innovative regions are working to create a strong economic future.
• Creation of an innovative operating framework for the WTIA board that far surpasses the traditional non-profit board model by enabling the association to leverage the expertise of 40 seasoned tech leaders.

The WTIA has retained the firm of Herd Freed Hartz to assist with the search for our next CEO, and I will stay on with the WTIA until the right leader is found and a successful transition is made.

As for my next steps, I plan to return to this tech industry that I love after taking some extended time off for the first time in my career. My heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to the WTIA’s success during my tenure, particularly the WTIA board and staff, who are all absolutely incredible.

By: Susan Sigl, CEO, WTIA