WASHINGTON and IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CompTIA and the Orange County Tech Alliance today announced the formation of new strategic partnership focused on increasing grassroots advocacy for small and medium-sized technology (SMB) firms. Under the agreement, the OC Tech Alliance will affiliate with TechVoice, a partnership of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), and participating regional technology associations.
"Given the vibrancy of SMB technology firms in Southern California, we are very pleased that the OC Tech Alliance has joined TechVoice," said Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO of CompTIA. "This partnership will enhance our goal to educate and mobilize the grassroots technology community and impact policy issues important to growth, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Golden State."
"Many of our members value advocacy, and want to have a stronger voice in decisions made by policy makers in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, especially on issues that directly impact their bottom line," said Peter Craig, Chairman of OC Tech Alliance. "This partnership will strengthen our industry's voice and provide additional benefits such as strategic networking events and shared best practices with other Techvoice Chapters. It's really a win-win for all of our respective members."
In July, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce and Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director David Kappos briefed southern California innovators on the many ways the USPTO is advancing U.S. innovation. Director Kappos met with technology executives, entrepreneurs and academia at Powerwave Technologies in Santa Ana, California, hosted by Southern California's TechVoice chapter in conjunction with CompTIA and the Technology Leadership Political Action Committee (TLPAC).
TechVoice is currently launching chapters in several states around the nation to develop local grassroots networks to support the SMB policy agenda.
SOURCE CompTIA