Sea.citi, a nonprofit that launched in 2018 with the aim of connecting Seattle-area tech sector employees with civic life, has merged with the Washington Technology Industry Association trade group.
“After four successful years of tapping into the expertise and energy of tech and innovation workers, we think WTIA has the leadership and resources to take sea.citi to the next level,” said sea.citi Board President Eileen Sullivan in a statement.
Sea.citi will retain its brand and mission. It will be governed by a WTIA steering committee that is currently made up of sea.citi board members, a group that includes Madrona Venture Group co-founder Tom Alberg, Zillow exec Anna Boone, WhyLabs co-founder Maria Karaivanova, Flying Fish managing partner Heather Redman, and Google exec Susie Vowinkel.
Sea.citi focuses on issues such as housing affordability, climate change, transportation infrastructure and digital equity. Its member companies — a list that includes Amazon, Expedia Group, Facebook, and others — represent more than 150,000 local workers.
“We are proud to carry forward sea.citi initiatives that build civic engagement and productive working relationships among technology companies, government agencies and community-based organizations,” said WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler.
Nicholas Merriam, who co-founded sea.citi with Sullivan, stepped down in March to take a role at Housing Connector. Sullivan previously spent six years at Amazon working with the company’s public policy arm.
Founded four decades ago, WTIA describes itself as a “consortium” that includes its nonprofit trade association with more than 1,000 local member companies, the nonprofit Apprenti program and the for-profit insurance agency HR Benefits. It also offers companies business, personal, and health insurance plans, in addition to 401(k).
