Microsoft Joins WDCEP Board of Directors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2013
Contact:
Julie Weber
Director, Marketing 202.661.8679
jweber@wdcep.com
Microsoft Joins WDCEP Board of Directors
October 20, 2013, Washington, DC – The Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) is pleased to announce that Microsoft is joining their Board of Directors. Chris Niehaus, Director, U.S.Office of Civic Innovation will be representing Microsoft on the Board.
“The edition of Microsoft to the Board exemplifies the WDCEP’s commitment to increasing private sector participation and the tech sector in facilitating economic development throughout the city,” says Keith Sellars, President & CEO, WDCEP. “Chris brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will be instrumental in the future growth and direction of the WDCEP and its business attraction and retention programs for the District of Columbia, especially in the technology sector,” said Sellars.
The WDCEP is the first point of contact for development and business opportunities in the District of Columbia. WDCEP facilitates economic development through business attraction and business retention programs and activities through the following services and initiatives. The Board of Directors is comprised of representatives of the public and private sector that have investments and businesses in the District of Columbia and a stake in the long-term economic health of the city.
Chris Niehaus has been with Microsoft for 12 years, serving both in Redmond on product development and in D.C. with the public sector. Chris and his team focus on developing and delivering new and unique solutions in the Government, Education and Healthcare communities. Chris has served in this position since December 2009.
Before his most recent appointment, Chris was the Director of Technical Sales for Unified Communications, Collaboration and Cloud technologies in Microsoft’s Federal Government business. Joining Microsoft in 2001, Chris led Strategic Business Development and Product Planning for Microsoft’s Exchange Product Suite. During his tenure, Exchange Server grew into the market leading messaging and collaboration platform.
Chris received his MBA from the University of Texas, and served as an Engineer Captain in the United States Army. Chris, his wife Katie, and their three sons are nine-year residents of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington, D.C.
Background:
A 501(c)(3) organization, the Washington, DC Economic Partnership promotes business opportunities throughout the District and contributes to business retention and attraction activities. WDCEP is the first point of access for real estate and corporate executives seeking market and demographic information, information about the city and incentives, and real estate investment. WDCEP publishes several reports on the market including the DC Development Report (2013/14 version soon to be released) and the DC Neighborhood Profiles. For more information visit www.wdcep.com