Joe Nguyen Leads Seattle Chamber Revitalization

Joe Nguyen left his role as director of the Washington State Department of Commerce at year’s end to become president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, saying he will concentrate on strengthening the Puget Sound regional economy. In a GeekWire interview he warned that Seattle’s growth is heavily tech-dependent and reliant on JumpStart payroll-tax revenue from roughly ten large firms, praised the 108,000-square-foot AI House, and urged diversification and regional collaboration.