Jeff Clark to Lead AeA’s Public Policy Efforts in Southern Region

Washington, DC (March 5, 2008) – One day after appointing Roxanne Gould to lead AeA’s state government affairs efforts, Christopher Hansen, AeA’s President and CEO, named six regional policy directors to support member companies in State Capitols across the country. Jeff Clark, who is based in AeA’s Austin, Texas office, was chosen to lead public policy efforts on issues in the southern region (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah).

“To assure consistency and effectiveness in providing our members with a greater presence across the country, I have assigned staff to focus on specific policy areas that our members have established as top priorities for the high-tech industry,” said Christopher Hansen. “This new structure will streamline the communication process and enable quick and efficient action on state policy matters.”

Jeff Clark will continue to serve as AeA Texas Council’s Director of Public and Legislative Affairs, in addition to managing AeA's expanded state legislative initiatives. He has two decades of experience managing issues before governments at the state and federal level.

Prior to joining the AeA staff, Clark served as the Executive Director of the Texas office of the National Federation of Independent Business where he was an advocate for Texas’ small business community, representing them in the Texas State Capitol and in Washington, DC. His earlier work included experience at Public Strategies, Inc. a national strategic communications firm based in Austin, Texas. As a Principal at that firm, he was responsible for helping clients develop legislative, communications, and marketing strategies focused on managing public opinion and legislative sentiment.

Clark's public affairs experience also includes work as governmental affairs manager for the Texas Association of Business and service in the Texas legislature where he worked as a legislative aide and committee director of the House Select Committee on NAFTA and GATT.

His political experience includes work on numerous national, statewide, and local political campaigns including work as a member of the presidential advance staff. Because of his role as an advocate for free enterprise, he was appointed by the Bush administration to serve as a member of the United States Small Business Administration's National Advisory Council.

Clark earned a degree in political science from Abilene Christian University and has pursued graduate work in business administration at Saint Edward's University. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Each of the six regional policy directors will be responsible for tracking overall state legislative activity in their respective regions. The other regional policy directors are:

• California - Joe Gregorich (Sacramento, CA)
• Midwest - Ed Longanecker (Oakbrook Terrace, IL)
• Northeast – Justin Wright (Albany, NY)
• Northwest - Jim Craven (Lake Oswego, OR)
• Southeast – Ben Aderson (Washington, DC)

For more information about AeA’s State Government Affairs program, and to see a detailed map for each region, please visit www.aeanet.org/SGAmap.




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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 03/05/08.