AeA Florida Council Holds First-Ever Technology Summit in Tallahassee; Commends Sen. Ring for Dedication to State’s
High-Tech Industry

Orlando, FL (March 3, 2008) – As part of AeA Florida’s annual “Tech Days in Tallahassee”, Christopher Hansen, AeA’s President and CEO, will kick-off the first-ever AeA Florida Technology Summit on Wednesday at the State Capitol in Tallahassee. This day-long event will bring together leaders from the high-tech industry, academia, and state governments to define the state of Florida's technology industry today, and plan for progress.

“The Florida Technology Summit comes at the perfect time, just days after Senator Ring filed an economic stimulus bill promising high-tech investments and high-paying jobs in Florida,” said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA’s Florida Council. “AeA commends Senator Ring on his dedication to the high-tech industry in Florida, and his economic stimulus bill echoes AeA’s message that Florida's economy must encourage and nurture a strong high-tech industry to survive and thrive. I look forward to thanking him personally when he speaks at AeA’s Technology Summit on Wednesday.”

Senator Ring’s legislation, Senate Bill 2310, would allow the State Board of Administrators to identify and invest funds from the Florida State Retirement System in Economically Targeted Investments (ETIs) in Florida. These investments would be in industries with a potential for high growth and the creation of high-wage jobs.

For Wednesday’s Technology Summit, AeA has lined up an impressive list of speakers including Government officials and local high-tech company executives. Confirmed speakers are:

• Lew Attardo, State Program Manager, Business Technology Commercialization Florida SBDC Network;
• Randy Berridge, President, Florida High Corridor;
• Barney T. Bishop III, President, Associated Industries of Florida (AIF);
• Jim Boyle, Managing Partner, Inflexion Partners;
• Steve Brown, President, DeVry Orlando;
• Kent Buchanan, Chief Technology Officer and VP Engineering, Government Communications Systems, Harris Corporation;
• David S. Byer, Senior Manager, Education Leadership and Policy, Apple Inc.;
• Robert Dombkowski, Chairman, Angel Investment Forum of Florida (AIFFL);
• Randy Gunter, President, 21CLS™;
• J. Phillip Halstead, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Florida Lambda Rail, LLC;
• Christopher Hansen, President and CEO, AeA
• Larry Harvey, Senior Director, Operations, Center for Applied Space Technology;
• John Igoe, Partner, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge;
• Angus S. King, Former Governor of Maine;
• Jeff Kottkamp, Lt. Governor, Florida;
• Robin Kovaleski, CEO, Florida Venture Forum;
• R.E. LeMon, Vice Chancellor, State University System of Florida; and
• Hugo Perez, Managing Director, DATACORP; and
• Senator Jeremy Ring, District 32 (D), Florida Senate.

To learn more about the AeA Technology Summit, and to see the full agenda, please visit www.aeanet.org/FLTechSummit.

For more information about AeA’s Florida Council, please visit www.aeanet.org/florida.



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About AeA
AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, 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. For more information, please visit www.aeanet.org.

This page was last updated on 03/03/08.