“While the technology industry is maturing and
consolidating, there are strategic themes at
work propelling additional growth, and we need
an association like AeA to provide a strong
voice for its members and the industry as a
whole.”
Peter J. Boni,
President & CEO, Safeguard Scientifics
Announcing
the 2009 AeA Chairman and Recapping the
October Board Meeting
I
am honored to be named AeA’s Chairperson of the Board for 2009,
and envision impressive milestones and achievements for AeA and
its members going forward.
I’ve been associated with AeA for many of my 25 years of experience as the
CEO of technology companies in all stages of growth. Currently I am the
President and Chief Executive Officer of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.
(NYSE: SFE), which is located in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
On October 16, I oversaw the Association’s Board Meeting in San Jose, CA,
where we discussed AeA’s growth strategy and the proposed merger with the
Information Technology Association of America (ITAA). Chris Hansen, AeA’s
President & CEO, welcomed his counterpart at ITAA, Phil Bond, to the Board
meeting to discuss the benefits of a merger.
The combined value that this combination could provide our members is
impressive indeed. You will be receiving more information about this
initiative next month.
Lastly, I wanted to thank Deirdre Hanford, Senior Vice President of Global
Technical Services for Synopsys and the 2008 Chairperson of the Board, for
her hard work this past year and I’d like to also welcome our newest Board
Members:
Christopher Cook
Vice President and General Manager
Discrete Semiconductors Business Line
Infineon
Karen P. Tandy
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and
Communications
Motorola, Inc.
Rick Jones
Senior Vice President, Solutions
Crane Aerospace & Electronics
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE: SFE), a
holding company, builds value in
growth-stage technology and life sciences
businesses by providing capital, as well as
a range of strategic, operational and
management resources. Our expertise and
leadership help accelerate growth, build
long-term value and enable business
transformation for each of our partner
companies. Through more than 50 years of
service, Safeguard has helped build great
companies that become market leaders.
If you wish to learn more about Safeguard
Scientifics, please visit their website at
www.safeguard.com.
Attend the 2nd Annual High-Tech
Global Trade Compliance Best
Practices Conference in Austin, TX -
November 6
AeA member National Instruments and the AeA
Texas Council will host the
2nd annual conference showcasing best practices in customs and export
compliance on Thursday, November 6. This program is designed
for international trade compliance professionals in the areas of
Customs, Export, Tax, Legal, Logistics, Operations, Sales Administration,
and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Topics on this year’s agenda include:
Preparing
for the CBP “10 + 2” Rule;
When ITAR
Things Happen to EAR People;
Deemed
Exports;
End-Use
Screening;
Compliance Risks Assessment;
Successful Training Program
Implementations;
Establishing a Global Trade Compliance
Program;
Acquisition Due Diligence; and
Strategic
Trade Opportunities and Challenges in
Exporting to India.
Speakers sharing best practices and
practical advice will represent:
Plantronics
Freescale Semiconductor
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy
National Instruments
Texas Instruments
Cymer
Dell
MK
Technology
The program agenda, speaker bios, location
and registration is available on the following website:
www.aeanet.org/TradeComplianceTX.
For more information on AeA’s Customs and
Export Controls Committees contact Ken Montgomery at
ken_montgomery@aeanet.org
or to learn more about all of AeA’s International activities contact Rob
Mulligan at
rob_mulligan@aeanet.org.
Rob Mulligan (bio)
Senior Vice
President International
For more information on the International
Issues affecting your company, visit:
AeA's testimony focused on three
recommendations for any stimulus package considered by Congress.
These recommendations included:
Spurring
economic development through advancing
the U.S. high-speed broadband network
infrastructure;
Funding the
America Competes Act and investing in
government-funded research in the
physical sciences; and
Crafting a
new economic recovery package to quickly
increase liquidity and stabilize the U.S.
economy by temporarily reducing the
effective corporate tax rate for foreign
earnings repatriated back to the United
States.
For more information contact
Eric Ebenstein,
Manager/Counsel, Domestic Policy, at 202.682.4439.
John Palafoutas (bio) Senior Vice President for Domestic
Policy & Congressional Affairs
Christopher W. Hansen, President &
CEO, AeA
Chairman George Miller (D-CA)
Join Numerous AeA Members and Business
Leaders and Participate in The Vote Hour
to Encourage Your Employees to Vote on
November 4
As November 4 is nearing, AeA and our
members will be paying close attention to the elections and not just the
Presidential race between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain; or
those for seats in the U.S. Congress. There are many important
races across the country that AeA's State Government
Affairs (SGA) program are watching as we anticipate the 2009
legislative session to be a highly active one with many legislatures in
session.
As the largest high-tech trade association
in the country, AeA has held several forums to have the incumbents and
challengers share their technology policies with our industry. On
October 10, AeA held one of these forums for the Washington State
Gubernatorial Candidates in Bellevue.
Over 80 technology executives from AeA
member companies came to hear Governor Chris Gregoire (D-WA) and her
republican challenger Dino Rossi present their vision for Washington's
technology industry and answer questions. As you may recall,
Gregoire won the 2004 contest against Rossi by roughly 130 votes.
Save on Presenting at
the World's Largest ICT
Trade Fair - CeBIT
AeA would like to
invite your company to
participate in the
CeBIT
2009 Conference
being held March 3 - 8, in
Hanover, Germany.
Take advantage of
special exhibit rates
for AeA members to
market your products to
hundreds of potential
customers around the
world.
Sponsors can
participate in
roundtable discussions
on key issues before
hundreds of senior
business executives and
government officials.
Our partnership with
BITKOM and Deutsche
Messe for CeBIT (Centre
for Bureau and
Information Technology)
2009 is a first for AeA.
CeBIT has been in
existence since 1986 and
this is the first year
that California is the
official CeBIT partner
state.
About CeBIT 2009
Conference:
CeBIT is the world's
largest trade fair
showcasing digital IT
and telecommunications
solutions for home and
work environments.
The key target groups
are users from industry,
the wholesale / retail
sector, skilled trades,
banks, the services
sector, government
agencies, science and
all users passionate
about technology.
Half a million people
attended the conference
in 2008 and even more
are expected in 2009.
Member Benefits for
CeBIT 2009 Conference:
With active involvement
in CeBIT, your company's
global exposure is
elevated.
Seventy-seven countries
participated from around
the world in 2008, even
more are expected in
2009. A few
additional benefits are:
Discount rates for
AeA members
Sponsorships
available
Speaking
opportunities
available
Discount exhibit
space rates
Numerous
networking
opportunities
Further marketing
materials will be sent
shortly.
For questions, please
contact Emily Silverman,
AeA's National Programs
Manager, at
emily_silverman@aeanet.org
or 202.682.4450.
Simplify Managing Your Benefits
Administration Online with
Employer eServices Offered through
the AeAHealth Program
Employer eServices,
offered through the AeAHealth
program and provided by
UnitedHealthcare, can simplify
your benefits administration. It
is quick, simple, and
straightforward. This one-stop
site simplifies your job by
letting you manage nearly every
aspect of your benefits plan in
real time.
Employees and their physicians
benefit from this system as well!
Employees can access their
benefits almost immediately and
their physicians have access to
the latest eligibility information
to provide an improved health care
experience.
Employer eServices also offers
great practical reporting options. With the right information at the
right time, it’s easier to tailor
benefits plans to your needs and
important decisions about your
health care can be made with more
confidence.
Also, by using Employer eServices,
you will benefit from:
Real-time transactions
Integrated system
Electronic billing and payment
It’s all free to AeAHealth
participants! Simply log in to
Employer eServices on
www.employereservices.com to
get started. For further
information, visit
www.aeanet.org/AeAHealth or
contact your local broker.
As the 2008 season for
holiday travel approaches, so do
savings rewards! Whether you're
traveling for work or leisure, use
your company's Avis AWD and Hertz CDP
numbers and save up to 35% and earn
credits towards your company's AeA
membership dues!
Cash-in using AeA's
special savings coupons for free car
class upgrades, extra bonus miles and
free weekend days. Take
advantage of fee-waived entry into
Hertz Club Gold® or Avis
Preferred Renter®
renter programs and enjoy hassle-free
travel with your car and keys waiting
for you as soon as you arrive.
Call or e-mail an AeA
specialist for your discount code and
free coupons:
Save on Shipping & Freight
Join the FREE AeA Partnership Program
Today
AeA & Partnership are
working together to bring you
truckloads of savings on your
daily, weekly, and monthly shipping
with the Shipping & Freight Savings
Program.
Take advantage of these
great member benefit savings today! The AeA Shipping & Freight Savings
program is FREE
to enroll and use, simply by being a
member of AeA.
Sample FedEx®
discounts
Service
Your Discount
FedEx List Rate
Your FedEx Rate
Your Savings
Per Shipment
FedEx Ground® 15-lb. Package
15%
$6.41
$5.45
$0.96
FedEx Ground®
COLLECT 35-lb. Package
20%
$9.54
$7.63
$1.91
FedEx Priority
Overnight® Envelope
29%
$15.35
$10.90
$4.45
FedEx Priority
Overnight® 10-lb. Package
24%
$27.75
$21.09
$6.66
FedEx
delivery services in Zone 2. Rates do
not include pickup fees and other
surcharges.
Sample LTL discounts
Origin
Destination
Weight
Discount
Gross Rate
Your Rate
Savings Per
Shipment
Indianapolis, IN
Chicago, IL
500 lbs.
62%
$1,154.30
$438.63
$715.67
Indianapolis, IN
Chicago, IL
1,500 lbs.
62%
$2,909.25
$1,105.52
$1,803.74
FedEx delivery
services in Zone 2. Rates do not
include pickup fees and other
surcharges.
AeA Member Referral Program -- Receive
Discounts to your Membership
Provide an
introduction or
refer a business partner to AeA
and receive discounts off of your
company's membership dues and other
rewards when they join the
Association.
As the 2008 elections are coming, AeA
is asking our members to help us
strengthen our voice by expanding
membership in your preferred industry
association.
Refer prospective members to AeA
along with your personal endorsement
and receive
either a $100 gift card or $100 off
of your annual membership dues
for each referral that joins.
Provide a direct introduction, via
phone, email, or in person, to a
prospective company whose U.S.
revenue is up to $75M annually and
receive a $100
gift card and $250 off your annual
membership dues for each
introduction that results in a new
member for AeA.
Receive a $250
gift card and $1000 off of your
annual membership dues for
any direct referral that leads to a
new member joining, whose U.S.
revenues are larger than $75M
annually.
The
more voices we have, the more clout we
have, and the more we are able to do
to ensure that the U.S. technology
industry remains strong and
innovative.
Please submit
your recommendations by December 31,
2008 for eligibility of the
rewards. Thank you for your membership
and for your support in the program.
2008 AeA Classic Financial
Conference (November 2-5 - San Diego, CA)
The 38th Annual AeA Classic
provides public member technology companies with access to 300+
investors in one location.
Mastering Leadership Skills
(November 4 - Santa Clara, CA)
This
unique program is structured to be
the ideal program both for the new
manager or supervisor looking to
develop the soft skills
necessary to be an effective
leader and the more experienced
manager looking to further refine
his or her soft skills, which are
so often easier said than done.
Board of Directors Education
Series - Good Governance Matters
(November 5 - Portland, OR)
AeA
resumes its successful series that
enables networking among high-level
peers and expert panelists. We are
excited to enter our sophomore season
with a slate of events that continues
to address the changes and challenges
Boards face today...because AeA
remains committed to the belief that
Good Governance Matters!
Global Trade Compliance Best
Practices Conference
(November 6 - Austin, TX) AeA Texas delivers
the latest information on doing
business in international
markets. A panel of experts will
bring you up to speed on the
latest developments: U.S. laws
and regulations on
imports/exports of technology
and high-tech products current
discussions in DC pertaining to
trade issues and war
stories/company best practices.
AeA Oregon CFO Forum
(December 4 - Portland, OR) These invitation-only
events are an excellent way to
network with peers and hear a
variety of perspectives on
topics relevant to the finance
profession. CFO Forum events are
designed for CFOs and Finance
Vice Presidents of AeA member
companies.
Technology and IP Networking
Event (December 10 -
Portland, OR) Panel members lead a
discussion or experts in the
field present relevant topics
for TIP professionals in the
technology industry. These
events are open to member and
non-member companies.
AeA Salary Survey Tutorial
Webinar (December 11 -
Online Webinar)
AeA's Salary Survey offers
online, subscription-based
access allowing you to receive
fresh data, day or night and
anytime of the year. AeA Member
companies - Participate in the
Survey and receive your annual
subscription for FREE.
Tech Industry
Adds 78,300 Jobs from January to July
2008
Tech Industry Adding Jobs, but Pace Is
Slowing Amidst Economic Downturn
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics
The U.S.
high-tech industry added 78,300 net
jobs between January and July of 2008,
a 1.3 percent increase, for an
industry total of 5.92 million jobs.
This is less than the 111,400 tech
jobs added during the same period of
2007. The January to July 2008 tech
job growth also lagged that of the
U.S. private sector, which rose by 2.0
percent over that period.
Though the year has shown growth, the
pace of gains has slowed substantially
from June to July, and preliminary
data for August indicate a
continuation of this the trend. The
economic downturn and current
disruption in the financial markets
pose ominous signs that future job
growth will be --- at best ---
uncertain.
On October 13,
millions of Americans tuned in to several
major networks to watch AeA, Lt. Governor
Pat Quinn of Illinois, and forty high-tech
executives open the NASDAQ stock market,
hoping for positive news following the
extreme volatility and market decline over
the past two weeks. The market surged
throughout the day as investors welcomed a
global effort to unfreeze the credit market
and stabilize our economy.
In May 2008, AeA and The NASDAQ Stock
Market unveiled the Illinois Technology
Index (ILTI) – the first statewide public
technology index in the United States,
developed to promote Illinois’ leading
technology companies and the outstanding
technology resources within the state. The
public-private partnership was supported by
the IL Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, Grant Thornton LLP, Baker &
McKenzie, and the Illinois Biotechnology
Industry Organization (iBIO), and tracks
all public companies headquartered in
Illinois from major sectors including high
tech manufacturing, information technology,
biotech, alternative fuels, and life
sciences.
For more information about the NASDAQ OMX
AeA Illinois Tech Index, or to see pictures
from the event, please visit
www.aeanet.org/illinoistechindex.
Over 130 technology leaders joined the AeA
Washington Council for a day of networking at the
11th Annual Oktoberfest on
October 1 in Woodinville.
Minnesota Speaker of the House Margaret
Anderson Kelliher meets with AeA/MHTA members at Medtronic's
headquarters in Minneapolis to discuss the high-tech priorities of the
Gopher State.
Over 100 Minnesota technology
executives network in Minneapolis at this members only program
last month that was
hosted by Hammel Green and Abrahamson
Inc. At the event the 2008 Tekne Award Finalists were
additionally announced.
The AeA Texas Council hosted an
Executive Wine Pairing Dinner on October 9 at The Atriums at Park
West. Pictured are Charlie Humphreyson (CEO, Prova Group), Greg Smith
(President & CEO, Accudata Technologies), Anthony Davis (CEO, 2GO
Software Solutions), and Philip Budd (President & CEO, Employ
Solutions).
Devin Whitney Legislative Advocate,
California State Government
Affairs
AeA Sacramento Office
P: 916.443.9059 x105
F: 916.443.6734
Devin
Whitney is a Legislative Advocate for
AeA's State Government
Affairs program, serving the
California region. Based out of
AeA's Sacramento Office, Devin
represents the interests of high-tech
companies in the Golden State by
lobbying the State Senate, Assembly,
and Executive office.
Whitney
is a graduate of UC Davis with a
Bachelors Degree in Political Science,
and most recently worked at the
California Chamber of Commerce in
their legislative advocacy division.
While at the Chamber, he worked
closely with the lobbying team, and
focused on research, legislative
tracking, and the development of
strategy and issue briefs in the areas
of environment, transportation,
workers’ comp, energy, natural
resource, agriculture, and privacy
policy.
Devin also played an instrumental role
at the Chamber in organizing
coalitions and developing a grassroots
network.
AeA
(formerly the American Electronics
Association), founded in 1943, is a
nationwide non-profit trade
association that represents all
segments of the technology industry
and is dedicated solely to helping our
members’ top line and bottom line.
We do this in partnership with our
small, medium, and large member
companies by lobbying governments at
the state, federal, and international
levels; providing access to capital
and business opportunities; and
offering select business services and
networking programs.
AeA is the largest association of
high-tech companies in the United
States. To learn more about
receiving the full ROI from your
company's membership, please visit
www.aeanet.org/GetInvolved.
You
can find the office closest to you by
clicking
here or entering your zipcode
below.
For questions or information about
this newsletter,
please contact the
AeA Monthly News Staff via email
or at 202.682.4458.
About AeA
) indicate exclusive features available to AeA Members.
I
am honored to be named AeA’s Chairperson of the Board for 2009,
and envision impressive milestones and achievements for AeA and
its members going forward.
