TechAmerica Summit aims to bring attention to high tech industry during first ever California High Technology Week…

Now in its 23rd year, the TechAmerica Tech Summit is an annual event hosted in Sacramento to provide TechAmerica member companies with an opportunity to interface with key decision makers in California and discuss the relationship between the high-tech industry and the state. TechAmerica, formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA), and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), kicked off this year’s Tech Summit last evening with a dinner honoring AeA’s 2008 Legislators of the Year. The two-day summit will continue today with a full series of events including a luncheon panel on California stimulus dollars with California senior officials, and over 40 legislative lobby visits with Legislators from across California.

“This year’s summit will be focused on how the tech sector can help drive economic recovery in California, and where the stimulus money would be put to best use,” said Joseph Gregorich, TechAmerica’s Director of California Regional Policy. “Additionally, TechAmerica member companies will be lobbying state legislators on two key bills being sponsored by TechAmerica which will help create high-paying jobs in the state.”

This year’s Tech Summit is taking place during California’s first ever California High Technology Week, which was created through the passage of ACR 52 by the State Assembly. ACR 52 not only names the 2nd week of May as the Annual California High Technology Week but it also proclaims that California is the High Technology Center of the United States and the Legislature will take the appropriate steps to ensure it remains.

High-tech industry leaders and several California government officials will be present at the summit. Confirmed members of the luncheon panel include:

   * Teri Takai, CA Chief Information Officer;

   * Dale Bonner, Secretary of Business Transportation and Housing Agency

   * Victoria Bradshaw, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor

   * Cynthia Bryant, Director, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research

   * A.G. Kawamura, Secretary of Department of Food & Agriculture

   * Will Semmes, Chief Deputy Director, Department of General Services;

   * Glen Thomas, Secretary of Education; and

   * Cindy Tuck, Undersecretary, Environmental Protection Agency.

The 2008 AeA Legislators of the Year award was given to:

California Legislator of the Year

Senator Roy Ashburn (R – Bakersfield)

Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani (D – Tracy)

Regional Technology Leaders

Northern California – Assemblymember Ted Gains (R – Roseville)

Los Angeles – Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D – Torrance)

Orange County – Senator Lou Correa (D – Santa Ana)

San Diego – Assemblymember Joel Anderson (R – La Mesa)

Special Recognition

Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D – Santa Ana)

TechAmerica represents approximately 1,500 member companies of all sizes from the public and commercial sectors of the economy. Learn more at www.techamerica.org