Executive
Engagement at AeA – Networking, Lobbying,
Education, & Access to Investors
Whether
you are from a large-, medium-, or small-company; now is a great time to be
an AeA member executive.
In June we'll be hosting our first National Executive Retreat; the Annual
Technology for Government Dinner featuring Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer,
as the keynote speaker; and we'll be hosting the summer AeA
Board of Directors
meeting. As part of the Board meeting, we'll also be conducting our
annual U.S. Congressional fly-in where leaders from our industry will
deliver high-tech's public policy priorities to Members of the U.S.
Congress.
For the fly-in, we have over forty meetings scheduled with Senators and
Congressmen and we expect to finalize about 80 by the time of the event.
The fly-in is open to all AeA executives, not just Board Members, and I
encourage you to attend so you can tell your company's story about how:
you can't recruit the talent you need
to fill jobs because of the U.S. caps on
H-1B visas and the supply/demand
imbalance with domestic talent;
a permanent R&D tax credit will
benefit your business's ability to plan
for the future; and
your company's Health IT or green
technology products could offer solutions
to our nation's medical and environmental
issues.
AeA is the only national high-tech trade association with a grassroots
network to bring constituents from all of the major technology hubs in the
U.S. to Washington, DC, to advocate for our issues. This is an
opportunity for you to meet with the decision-makers that create law.
To get involved, please contact
John Palafoutas, Senior
Vice President, Domestic Policy, at 202.682.4451.
In addition to the fly-in, I would like to make you aware of two
exceptional programs that you should consider: the AeA Classic
Financial Conference and the AeA/Stanford Executive Institute.
In May, I attended the AeA Micro Cap Financial
Conference in Monterey, CA, where 81 of the association's public
technology companies presented to 140 investors over the course of two
days. This was my first opportunity to attend one of AeA's financial
conferences since becoming the association's new CEO in October.
Prior to the Micro Cap Conference, my staff and I had conversations with
several investors, about what AeA could do to enhance the conference.
All financial conferences are effectively a two-sided market -- the
investors go because the "hot" companies are there and the companies go
because the investors are there. Considering our country's uncertain
economic conditions, AeA wanted to ensure that the latest technology
trends were represented at the conference so we could provide both the
"bang" and the "buck." For the first time based on the investors
feedback, we featured a special track for alternative energy and green
technology companies. We saw significant enthusiasm by the investors
for these companies and we intend to offer a similar segment at the
38th Annual AeA Classic Financial Conference, which
will be held in San Diego from November 2-5.
Registration is now open to present at the AeA Classic. If you are a
public high-tech company with market cap or revenues between $100M - $4B,
this conference is a must attend.
Finally, I want to encourage you to attend or nominate one of your senior
leaders to the 33rd Annual AeA/Stanford Executive Institute and join more
than 3,500 technology executives who have completed the program. The
institute, held in conjunction with Stanford University's School of
Engineering, provides you and/or your team with the business acumen and
analytical tools to drive corporate strategy, innovation, and
profitability. Additionally, attendees will hear directly from
industry leading keynote speakers about practical lessons they've learned
through leadership and running a company. The executive keynotes for
this year will be:
Scott McNealy, Chairman of the
Board of Directors and former CEO of Sun
Microsystems
William Sullivan, President
and CEO of Agilent Technologies
John Hennessy, President of
Stanford University
This list touches on just a few of the many networking, lobbying,
education, and investment opportunities that AeA provides to our members.
For additional information on the benefits of your membership, please
contact your local council office or
csc@aeanet.org.
Throughout this newsletter you will find additional information about the
Executive Retreat, the Technology for Government Dinner, the AeA Classic
Financial Conference, and the AeA/Stanford Executive Institute.
Christopher Hansen
President and CEO
AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology
AeA President & CEO, Chris Hansen
Discusses the AeA Micro Cap with Wall Street Reporter
Steve Andrews from UK Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory
Reform (BERR) and
Chris Smith from UK RoHS Enforcement
Authority (NWML).
Andrews and Smith provided a thorough
policy and enforcement update of activities
related to the:
European Restriction of Hazardous
Substances Directive (RoHS);
Waste of Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (WEEE) Directive; and
Energy Using Products (EuP) Directive.
With growing concerns over Registration,
Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals
(REACH), Ken Rivlin and Felise Cooper from
our long-term partner Allen & Overy, LLP
provided a comprehensive overview of the
directive and related requirements for
importers, producers and downstream users.
Building on AeA’s leadership on China RoHS,
Michaela Muranova from AeA provided a broad
overview of ongoing enforcement activities
of China RoHS Labeling and Information
disclosure requirements, as well as an
outline of our expectations in the area of
catalogue development, certification
process and related expected time frames.
With material restriction regulations
expanding to other countries, Michaela also
talked about various regulations currently
in effect such as Korea RoHS/WEEE and
emerging ones in countries like Australia
and Thailand.
Additionally, Holly Evans, President of
Strategic Counsel LLC and AeA’s consultant,
spoke to the attendees about energy
efficiency and green procurement
initiatives in the United States and
abroad. Holly Evans, our local AeA staff,
member company experts, and lobbyists also
covered domestic state e-waste and
chemicals policy legislation, which
continues to expand rapidly throughout the
states.
This year for the first time, AeA expanded
its program to enable our member companies
to share their views and activities in the
area of Design for Environment and Green
Initiatives to reflect increased public
attention and focus on climate change and
green technologies. For more information
about the program please visit:
www.aeanet.org/environment2008 or
contact
Michaela Muranova Chen, Director for
International Environment and Trade Policy,
at 202.682.4445.
Rob Mulligan (bio)
Senior Vice President International
Attendees at
the Silicon Valley
event at Sun Microsystems
Speakers
from the Chicago event at Motorola
Chris
Smith, UK RoHS Enforcement Authority,
speaks at the Massachusetts event at
Philips
For more information on the International Issues affecting your company, visit:
AeA
and Intel Give Capitol Hill Briefing
on the State of the High-Tech
Industry
AeA, the
nation’s largest technology trade
association representing all segments of
the high-tech industry, and Intel
Corporation, the world’s largest
semiconductor manufacturer, briefed over 50
Congressional staff, industry executives,
and reporters on the findings of AeA’s
recently released Cyberstates 2008
report on May 9. The report details
national and state trends in high-tech
employment, wages, and other key economic
factors for all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Co-sponsoring the briefing were Intel,
Agilent Technologies, and Research in
Motion, maker of the Blackberry.
"We are
pleased to report to Congressional staff
that the technology industry added jobs
nationally and across nearly every state,”
said Christopher Hansen, President and CEO,
AeA. “But we also found that national
tech growth slowed in 2007, making the
overall story good but not great.
Tech jobs make critical contributions to
the U.S. economy in terms of innovation.
They pay extremely well – the average tech
industry wage is 87 percent higher than the
average private sector wage. While
these are the types of jobs every state
wants to attract, the labor market remains
tight, with unemployment rates below two
percent across many tech occupations."
“The
Cyberstates report shows definitively
that while the U.S. high-tech industry
continues to add jobs, this growth would be
much stronger if policymakers took action
to address American competitiveness
issues,” said Doug Comer, Director Legal
and Regulatory Affairs, Intel Corporation.
“Congress needs to fund initiatives to
enhance math and science education at the
K-12 level and increase the R&D budgets of
the major federal research agencies.
These initiatives were authorized in the
2007 America Competes Act, but were never
fully funded. Policymakers also need to
increase the cap on H-1B visas, which allow
U.S. companies to hire highly skilled
foreign nationals graduating from U.S.
universities. They need to renew and
make permanent the R&D tax credit to
encourage U.S. companies to spawn
innovation on American shores.
Lastly, they need to promote free trade
agreements that open foreign markets to
U.S. technology exports.”
Christopher
Hansen, President & CEO, AeA presents the
Cyberstates report
Matthew
Kazmierczak, Vice President, Research
and Industry Analysis, AeA
Doug
Comer, Director Legal and Regulatory
Affairs, Intel Corporation
John
Palafoutas (bio) Senior Vice President for Domestic
Policy & Congressional Affairs
Participate in
AeA's Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404
Survey
Help AeA in
Lobbying the SEC and PCAOB on SOX 404
Relief by Taking the
Online Survey Today!
If you
have additional questions on this survey or
would like to become involved in AeA's work
on SOX 404 or other fiscal policy issues,
please contact
Marie
Lee, AeA's Director and Counsel,
Finance and Tax Policy, at 202.682.4448.
Attend AeA's State Government
Affairs Meeting in DC
Join policy
professionals and executives from around
the U.S. at
AeA's Biannual State Government Affairs
(SGA) meeting
at the association's David Packard
Conference Center in Washington, DC, on
June 17. The meeting will be hosted by Jim
Wall, Microsoft and AeA SGA Chair, and
Monica Mueller, Motorola and AeA SGA
Vice-Chair. This members-only meeting will
provide an analysis and review on the
latest policy developments in state
legislatures and setting AeA's priorities
for:
E-commerce
Environment
Tax/Fiscal
Education/Workforce Development
Procurement
Emerging
Technologies
And other
State Specific Issues
Additionally, the meeting will include a
discussion with Chris Hansen, President &
CEO of AeA, regarding the
recent expansion of AeA's State Government
Affairs program.
Members will be able to provide feedback
and direction for where you would like the
program to be going forward. And on the
evening before the event -- on June 16 --
there will be a networking reception at
5:30 PM at Clyde's in Gallery Place.
Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer
of
Microsoft Corporation,
will deliver the keynote speech at the
annual AeA Technology
for Government Dinner – the
premier Washington, DC, networking
event bringing hundreds of industry,
congressional, and government leaders
together at one venue - on Tuesday,
June 3. In his keynote address before
an audience of more than 700 attendees
including high-ranking government
officials and C-level executives from
the nation’s leading high-tech
companies, Mr. Ballmer will share his
thoughts about how technology and
software are transforming communities,
societies, and individual lives. He
will also talk about the fifth
computing revolution, the trends that
are shaping it, and the impact it will
have on our lives, our government, and
our businesses.
“This is a great opportunity for our
federal and commercial colleagues to
hear directly from Steve Ballmer,”
said Greg Poersch, Acting COO, AeA.
“Right now everyone is paying a great
deal of attention to Microsoft. We
want to understand where they are
going and why. The federal government
has been working closely with
Microsoft for many years; this time
together helps create many strategic
alliances for innovation that foster
better services for the public.”
“Microsoft Public Sector is honored to
participate with our CEO, Steve
Ballmer, in AeA’s 2008 Annual
Technology for Government Dinner,”
said Teresa Carlson, General Manager,
US Civilian Gov & International Global
Organizations at Microsoft. “Steve’s
keynote address allows Microsoft and
AeA to jointly address how information
technology continues to innovate,
rapidly enabling businesses and
government leaders to solve the
mission critical real time situations
they face as they serve citizens of
the United States and our overseas
partners.”
This year, the dinner will be held on
Tuesday, June 3, in the Independence
Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt in
Washington, DC. For more information
about the annual AeA Technology for
Government Dinner, please visit
www.aeanet.org/t4g2008.
Watch Jonathan
Schwartz's 2007
AeA Technology for Government Dinner
Keynote
Over 40 Prominent Technology
Companies are Sending Their Top
Leaders to this Year’s
AeA/Stanford Executive Institute,
August 10-21
Is your
company one of them?
Join executives from 40+ prominent
technology companies at Stanford
University this summer to learn
tactical business strategy from
world renowned business and
engineering faculty. Technology
executives learn advanced business
principals on corporate strategy,
stewardship and innovation during
this 11-day program for senior
leaders, August 10-21.
Experience first-hand how more
than 3,500 senior executives have
advanced their business and
leadership perspectives. David
Wadhwani of Adobe Systems has
noted that the AeA/Stanford
Executive Institute is “the Red
Bull of leadership training.”
Now is the time to obtain
relevant and timely information
and to address critical technology
industry challenges in today’s
fast-paced, international
competitive environment.
Don’t miss out on this
opportunity. Seats are
limited and the program
sells out every year.
FedEx Kinko's Discounts and
Offerings for AeA Members from
PartnerShip
PartnerShip, the firm that manages
the AeA Shipping & Freight Savings
Program, offers
discounts for AeA members to help
lower expenses and raise
productivity.
FedEx Kinko’s is part of
the FREE money-saving AeA Shipping
&
Freight Savings Program! You
can save on all of your printing,
copying and finishing services
with FedEx Kinko’s—the leading
provider of document solutions and
business services! Save 20%
on all color and B&W printing and
copies. Save 10% on signs,
graphics and finishing services.
Additional 5% discount on select
FedEx Express services for members
enrolled in AeA’s Shipping and
Freight Savings Program who
process their shipments online.
Simply by arranging your FedEx
shipments online at FedEx.com or
through any FedEx approved
electronic device, AeA members now
receive an additional 5% discount
on their shipments from FedEx.
If you are not currently enrolled
in the AeA Discount Shipping
Program and would like to take
advantage of these new discounts,
enroll online today at
www.aeanet.org/Shipping.
If you have any questions
regarding the discount, or if you
would like any information about
the program, please call
PartnerShip at 800.599.2902.
After
37 years, The AeA Classic continues to
provide it's member companies with an
unbiased, time and cost effective
forum to promote investor interest.
Company visibility to investors is
more important than ever during these
uncertain economic times.
Access more than 500 investors
and executives from 150+ companies
in one location
Leverage the small group break
out sessions to exchange information
and identify new investors
Network with fellow executives
and the financial community in a
casual setting
New for 2008: The AeA Classic will
feature alternative energy and green tech
companies. Additionally, companies
traded on foreign exchanges, that meet
all other AeA requirements, will be
invited to present at the conference.
Presenting company invitations will
arrive in early-June. To register or
for more information, visit
Access
High-Tech Industry Specific Salary
Data - FREE
AeA's Salary Survey offers pay
information from a database of
over 18,000 incumbents
representing 190 job titles found
in the high-tech industry today.
In
today's economy, every decision is
critical to your bottom line.
AeA's Salary Survey provides you
with the information you need to
retain valuable employees and
ensure you are compensating them
at the current market value. The
Survey offers online,
subscription-based access to job
data on over 190 high-tech
positions. Unlike other products
on the market, you are able to
access fresh data anytime, day or
night.
Current Data - Updated
daily, year-round access the
most up-to-date data available
Custom Reports - Refine
searches based on region,
industry or company type at no
extra cost
Free Access - AeA Members
receive a complimentary
subscription, just for
participating
Your
company's active participation in
the AeA Salary Survey is critical
to maintaining dynamic reports for
you and your industry peers.
All
data submissions are kept strictly
confidential.
About AeA
) indicate exclusive features available to AeA Members.
Whether
you are from a large-, medium-, or small-company; now is a great time to be
an AeA member executive. 
On
May 8, 9 and 13, AeA held its annual “
discounts for AeA members to help
lower expenses and raise
productivity.
