IT Industry Leaders Wrap Up CompTIA-TechVoice Washington Visit

Urge support for innovation-intensive technology policies; tax reform, IT security, workforce development among top priorities

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of the 2013 TechVoice Fly-In organized by CompTIA, more than 65 leaders of the information technology (IT) industry gathered in the nation's capital to discuss technology policy priorities.

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The 60+ IT executives met with more than 60 Congressional representatives from districts across the country, representing 20 states, including Massachusetts, North Carolina, California and Illinois, and heard from leaders in the White House and key Executive Branch agencies.

"This week, small business owners, cybersecurity executives and other IT industry professionals came to the steps of Capitol Hill to deliver the critical message that supporting small and medium-sized companies in the innovation-driven IT sector can help spur overall growth and competitiveness," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. "By fostering public-private partnerships, modernizing the tax code and prioritizing the development of a high-skilled workforce, policymakers can help to ensure an even stronger economy and even more secure IT infrastructure for generations to come."

On Wednesday, February 13, business executives gathered for a breakfast policy panel with Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6), chairman of the House Small Business Committee; Rep. Richard Hanna (NY-22); Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-06), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; Brian Forde, senior advisor to the chief technology officer, Mobile and Data Innovation, Technology Division, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President; Rob Clarke, senior patent attorney at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy at the United States Patent and Trademark Office; and Sean Greene, associate administrator for investment and special advisor for innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration. Throughout Wednesday, industry executives and their respective Congressional representatives met to find opportunities to strengthen IT security, encourage workforce development, modernize the tax code and protect access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Also on February 13, CompTIA presented its inaugural TechVoice Champion Awards to Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Dan Shapero, CEO of ClikCloud, for their proactive commitment to industry growth.

Three panels on Thursday reviewed policies to secure a strong cyber workforce, public-private partnerships within the FirstNet Nationwide Network and policies to support high-skilled employment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Thursday's TechVoice panels included speakers from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Navy, the Senate, the Department of Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NICE), The MIND Lab and The MAXWell Lab, APCO International and the State of Maryland as well as speakers from the offices of Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE).

The fly-in allows U.S. business leaders in the technology sector to meet face-to-face with Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill and other key policymakers in Washington. The meetings serve as an exchange of information, with business leaders sharing their concerns and policy priorities and policymakers discussing their leading challenges and possible policy directions.

"As IT entrepreneurs and STEM educators continue to help grow this country's economic strength and security, CompTIA will continue to advocate and amplify their voices and concerns on the Hill," remarked Thibodeaux.

TechVoice is a partnership of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and participating regional technology associations. TechVoice represents thousands of technology companies across the country employing millions of workers.

For more information on the TechVoice D.C. Fly-In, visit www.techvoice.org.

About CompTIA 
CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. Visit http://www.comptia.org/home.aspx or follow CompTIA at http://www.facebook.com/CompTIA and twitter.com/comptia.

SOURCE CompTIA