Arizona Technology Council President and CEO Steve Zylstra in Washington D.C. with Council Members to Advocate for the Technology Sector

PHOENIX, Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Steven G. Zylstra, chairman of Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council is joining TechAmerica to advocate for the technology sector priorities on Capitol Hill during the organization's annual Fly-in to Washington, D.C.  TechAmerica, the public policy and advocacy department of CompTIA and TECNA, work to provide a voice to technology companies on Capitol Hill. This is the seventh year that the Arizona Technology Council has participated in a Fly-In led by Zylstra.

Zylstra is accompanied by Council members Russ Yelton, chief executive officer of Pinnacle Transplant Technologies; Bill Hewitt, vice president of strategic partnerships, R&D, Tri-Merit; Sheila Kloefkorn, CEO and president of Arizona Technology Council Platinum Sponsor KEO Marketing; Doug Guilbeau, president and CEO of Levementum; and Greg Garcia who is on the board of management of Invoy Technologies.

Today Zylstra and members of his delegation met with Arizona Congressional representatives Sen. Jeff Flake, his Counsel Gary Barnett and Sen. John McCain's Telecomm Assistant Stephanie Hall. Additional meetings were held with Rep. Raul Grijalva's Chief-of-staff Amy Emerick, Rep. Paul Gosar's Senior Legislative Assistant, Michael V. Mansour II, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and her Legislative Aide Molly Brown, Rep. David Schweikert's Senior Legislative Assistant, Ryan White, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and her Legislative Director Michael Brownlee, and Rep. Ruben Gallego and his Senior Legislative Director Xenia Ruiz.

The purpose of the meetings is to focus their attention on policies that: develop skills for the 21st century workforce; advance tax and regulatory policies that spur innovation; lead in secure internet-based platform technologies; support new and emerging technology platforms through policies; address availability and delivery of broadband communications; expand markets and advocate for sensible rules of global trade; and advance common sense reforms in government procurement and acquisition.

"Technology sector innovation is a key force behind a strong 21st century economy and, Congress should focus on the central role that high-growth startups must play to assure continued U.S. economic strength," said Zylstra.  "These issues include ensuring tax and regulatory policies that spur innovation; and immigration reform that includes making it easier to recruit in addition to retaining the 'best and the brightest' of high-tech workers in an effort to close the skills gap as well as remain globally competitive."

"As the tech sector grapples with the implementation of 2015 Congressional priorities, TechAmerica will continue to facilitate open discourse between legislators and technology companies of all sizes," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA. "Through a balanced, multi-policy approach that incorporates the needs of hiring businesses, Congress can boost economic growth nationwide."

About the Arizona Technology Council

The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona's premier trade association for science and technology companies. Recognized as having a diverse professional business community, Council members work towards furthering the advancement of technology in Arizona through leadership, education, legislation and social action. The Arizona Technology Council offers numerous events, educational forums and business conferences that bring together leaders, managers, employees and visionaries to make an impact on the technology industry.  These interactions contribute to the Council's culture of growing member businesses and transforming technology in Arizona. To become a member or to learn more about the Arizona Technology Council, please visit http://www.aztechcouncil.org.

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