Seattle-based tax software company Avalara has named Ross Tennenbaum as its new president. Tennenbaum joined the company in 2019 and became its CFO a year later. He will continue to serve as CFO while taking on more responsibilities overseeing the company’s main business lines and other departments. Tennenbaum previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse and helped Avalara go public in 2018. The company, which was founded in 2004, helps online retailers and others adhere to complex tax regulations and was sold to a private equity firm Vista Equity Partners in 2022 for $8.4 billion. Avalara has over 41,000 customers across 75 countries.
Stefan Weitz, a longtime tech leader who spent over 18 years at Microsoft, is leading a new company called HumanX, based in New York City. HumanX is a community and forum for AI and recently announced a $6 million funding round and its inaugural gathering in March 2025. The company plans to host events, provide advisory services, and launch a nonprofit dedicated to responsible AI regulation. Weitz believes that the challenge for today’s leaders is not more AI inspiration or fear but evaluating and deploying it in ways that are impactful, responsible, and sustainable, ensuring a real return on investment. After leaving Microsoft in 2016, Weitz held executive positions at e-commerce company Radial and launched Jetson, a startup focused on probiotics, which shut down in January.
Seattle startup Common Room has hired marketing veteran Drew Spencer Leahy to lead product marketing. Leahy has a background in marketing at various companies, including Incredible Marketing, PatientNectar, KlientBoost, and HockeyStack. Common Room, founded in 2020, aims to help companies build a better conduit with people in their communities and was recognized as the Startup of the Year at the GeekWire Awards in 2022.
The Russell Family Foundation, a Seattle-area nonprofit, has added two new board members: Evlyn Andrade, executive director of EarthCorps, and Rashad Morris, principal and founder of Impact Donor Strategies. The foundation focuses on environmental, social, and economic issues in the Puget Sound region.
In summary, these recent developments in the tech and business world highlight the ongoing growth and innovation within various industries. From leadership changes at established companies like Avalara to the launch of new ventures like HumanX and Common Room, there is a continuous evolution and adaptation to meet the demands of today’s market. The addition of new board members at The Russell Family Foundation also underscores the importance of community engagement and philanthropic efforts in addressing social and environmental challenges. Overall, these updates reflect the dynamic nature of the business landscape and the diverse talents and expertise driving progress in these sectors.
