AeANET : AeA Florida Council -- About Us

AeA, the nation�s leading high-tech trade association, is the recognized voice of the high-tech industry in federal, state and local public policy initiatives, and represents a global organization with an unparalleled local presence.

The Florida Council of the AeA is proud to be the voice of the high-technology industry in the fourth largest Cyberstate in the US. As reported in AeA�s Cyberstates, Florida is the fourth largest employer of technology workers nationwide. There are six Cybercities within Florida: Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Brevard County, Tampa and Orlando. The AeA Florida Council is based in Orlando Florida.

Dedicated to Advancing the Business of Technology, AeA is the nation's largest high-tech trade association. Founded in 1943, AeA has 2,500 member companies that span the high-technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services to biomedical engineering. With 17 regional U.S. councils and offices in Brussels and Beijing, AeA offers members a global reach combined with a grassroots capability to affect policy and a wide portfolio of valuable business services and products for the high-tech industry. Since 1943, AeA has been the accepted voice of the U.S. technology community.

Join the network of elite industry leaders where education, networking and technology converge. For more information, please contact Maryann Fiala today at 407.882.2425.

AeA Florida Council
12565 Research Parkway, Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32826
(Directions)

Amjad Shamim Chairman CEO, AAJ Technologies	Amjad Shamim has over twenty years of experience in the field of Information Technology. As the CEO of AAJ Technologies and Matrix Document Sciences, a recent acquisition, Amjad believes in providing true business focused consultative solutions to clients in the areas of IT Outsourcing, IT Project Management, Onshore/Offshore Application Development, Business Process Automation and Enterprise Content / Document Management. Amjad has held key technology and management positions in the software development and information systems / e-commerce industries, as well as in the government sector. He also has experience in the Merger and Acquisition process and conducted technical evaluations for prospective acquisitions. He has worked on both the client and consulting side of the table which provides a true understanding of the integration of business and technology. He has worked with clients in the healthcare, travel & tourism, insurance, finance, government and technology sectors providing business solutions through technology. He won numerous technology and management excellence awards, and was the winner of the 2006 AeA Abacus Award for High-Tech Executive of the Year - Small Company bestowed by the AeA Florida Council Executive Committee. He received his Bachelor�s degree in Computer Science from Florida Atlantic University and has also attended advanced management training programs at Northwestern University�s Kellogg School of Management. He is the current Chairman for the Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC) for the Florida Regional Minority Business Council (FRMBC) where he represents members of the FRMBC and is responsible for setting and executing strategy for minority businesses. His company, AAJ Technologies was named the Business of the Year in 2006.

Todd Rader Co-Chairman CEO, Avancent Consulting	Todd formed Avancent Consulting to solve the information technology leadership vacuum that exists within many organizations. Todd�s primary role is to ensure that Avancent Consulting�s talent�its people�continue to define the highest standard of service and client success: focusing on good communications, project management, and the business-driven application of technology. Todd keeps abreast of current business issues and technologies through his weekly CIO responsibilities for some of Avancent�s earliest clients. Having started his career in corporate banking, Todd enjoyed a wide exposure to industries, management styles, accounting, negotiations, and finance. Observing a need to improve information technology�s implementation within the company, Todd moved within the organization to a technical, hands-on capacity including distributed systems, networking, and mainframe connections. Successful efforts in information technology led to management responsibility for IT and in-turn to top IT management. Todd�s solid, business-driven approach to information technology combined with years of leadership, strategic planning, and project management bring effective results for his projects. Todd is a board member of Society for Information Management Orlando Chapter, serves on the State Executive Committee for the AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Principia College.

Maryann Fiala Executive Director AeA Florida Council P: 407.882.2425 F: 407.737.2512	Maryann Fiala has lived in Orlando for over twenty years. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration from Youngstown State University, she relocated to Central Florida in 1982. Maryann spent the first nine years in Florida in sales and sales management in the telecommunications industry with Sprint and Siemens. From there she became the Southeast Regional Director for a high tech staffing firm, where she worked for over 6 years taking the company from a start-up to over $7 million in revenue. Maryann served as the Executive Director for the Greater Orange City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Oviedo Chamber of Commerce prior to coming to the AeA � Florida Council. Maryann has served on a variety of Economic Development and community boards including Enterprise Florida, Enterprise Volusia, Habitat for Humanity and the Orange City Economic Development Commission. She has served on the Land Planning Agency for the City of Oviedo and is past president of the Citizens in Action group. Currently she serves as a Board member of Envision Seminole, the TEC Council and the IT Advisory Board. She is married to Al Fiala. They live in Oviedo with her parents and their three dogs, Gabby, a Tibetan Terrier, Jake, a Bichon Frise and Tanzi, a poodle.

Jennifer Gabriel Program Manager P: 407.882.2447 F: 407.737.2512	Jennifer Gabriel is the Program Manager for the AeA Florida Council. Within this role Jennifer is responsible for marketing, communications, event planning and support of membership development and retention. Jennifer graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English/ Literature and brings to AeA years of experience in sales, event planning/ management, and client relations. Jennifer lives in Orlando, FL with her husband Brant.

Richard S. Kip Lobbyist P: 954.695.5200 F: 561.395.5212	Richard S. �Dick� Kip is a business and community leader skilled in direct and grassroots lobbying, stakeholder and issues management, business and strategic relationship building and fundraising. Since 2001, he has represented AeA as a registered lobbyist in Florida. He began his professional career in 1964 with Southern Bell (now BellSouth) in Orlando, Florida and held positions of increasing responsibility in that company�s customer service, marketing, public relations, and public affairs departments. He retired from BellSouth in 1996 after serving 12 years as regional manager of corporate and external affairs in Broward County, Florida, where he was responsible for direct and grassroots lobbying and issues management at the federal, state and local level. In 1997 he was recruited by Florida Atlantic University�s College of Engineering and was responsible for major gift fundraising and College development as part of FAU�s $100 million capital campaign. He also represented the college in several initiatives focused on the development of high technology in Florida. Dick has been very active in a leadership capacity in major civic, business, and community service organizations in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties, and served as a county government-appointed official and chairman of the Broward County Cultural Affairs Council. He served as chairman and a member of the board of directors of several major business organizations in South Florida, including the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. He and his Wife, Deborah, live in Boca Raton, Florida.

For more information on the many benefits, programs and services of the AeA Florida Council, contact Jennifer Gabriel at 407.882.2425.