AeA
Encyclopedia
The AeA was a nationwide non-profit
trade association that represented all segments of the technology industry. It lobbied governments at the state, federal, and international levels; provided access to capital and business opportunities; and offered select business services and networking programs.
In 2008 the AeA merged with the Information Technology Association of America
(ITAA) to form TechAmerica
.
and 25 of Hewlett-Packard
's suppliers to help lobby for government contracts. It was originally named the West Coast Electronic Manufacturers Association (WCEMA). In 1969, WCEMA changed its name to the Western Electronic Manufacturers Association (WEMA) to reflect the growing membership outside California
. In 1977, the association once again changed its name to the American Electronics Association, in an effort to more accurately represent its 750 members nationwide. A final name change occurred in 2001, as the American Electronics Association was shortened to AeA with the tagline "Advancing the Business of Technology."
AeA has 18 offices across the United States
and has 2 international offices in Brussels
and Beijing
. AeA now has nearly 2,500 corporate members (and the 1.8 million employees they represent nationwide). The membership is drawn from a wide range of high tech sectors, including the aerospace/defense, business related services, computers, medical equipment, semiconductors/electronic components, software, and telecommunications industries. http://www.aeanet.org/AboutAeA/aajl_historymain0807.asp
Since 1959, AeA has awarded an annual Medal of Achievement
to a recipient selected for contributions and advances within the high-tech industry, their community, and humankind.
AeA also produces an annual Cyberstates report which quantifies the high-tech industry on a state-by-state basis in the United States.
On September 11, 2008, The Boards of Directors of AeA and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) announced that they are in discussions to merge the trade associations’ memberships and programs.
On December 9, 2008, the Boards of Directors of AeA and ITAA announced that they have each approved the merger of the two trade associations' memberships and programs. The combined associations became TechAmerica (The Technology Association of America) on January 1, 2009. The merger, gave rise to a stronger voice for the technology industry by bringing together the largest number of tech companies throughout the United States.http://www.aeanet.org/PressRoom/prac_120908_AeAITAAMerger.asp
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Safeguard, Peter J. Boni is responsible for developing and executing Safeguard’s corporate strategy.
In addition to acting as CEO for several publicly traded and privately held companies, he has served as a chairman, a Fortune 500 corporate executive, a NYSE Fortune 1000 president, a management consultant, board member, investor and advisor to institutional investors in both early- and later-stage hardware, software and technology-enabled services firms. After his CEO experience, Peter served as an Operating Partner at Advent International, a leading global private equity firm managing $10 billion.
Select companies represented on the Board include Agilent, Citrix, Intel, Microsoft
, Motorola
, Symantec
, and Xerox
. All Board Members can be found at http://www.aeanet.org/BoardofDirectors
Christopher Hansen
Financial Operations
Samuel J. Block
Vice President/Controller
Government Affairs
Robert J. Mulligan
Senior Vice President International
Legal
Benjamin Aderson
Association Counsel and Secretary
Operations
Matthew Kazmierczak
Senior Vice President, Operations
Services
Elaine Sanders
Senior Vice President for Financial Conferences, Executive Education, and Affinity Programs
Eric Meyer
Senior Vice President for Insurance Programs
International Offices
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
trade association that represented all segments of the technology industry. It lobbied governments at the state, federal, and international levels; provided access to capital and business opportunities; and offered select business services and networking programs.
In 2008 the AeA merged with the Information Technology Association of America
Information Technology Association of America
The Information Technology Association of America is a leading industry trade group for information technology companies. The Association's membership contains most all of the world's major ICT firms and accounts for over 90% of ICT goods and services sold in North America.Former Under Secretary...
(ITAA) to form TechAmerica
TechAmerica
TechAmerica is a US-based technology trade association. It was formed from the merger of AeA , the Cyber Security Industry Alliance , the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association , and the Information Technology Association of America in 2009...
.
History
AeA was founded in 1943 by David PackardDavid Packard
David Packard was a co-founder of Hewlett-Packard , serving as president , CEO , and Chairman of the Board . He served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1969–1971 during the Nixon administration...
and 25 of Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
's suppliers to help lobby for government contracts. It was originally named the West Coast Electronic Manufacturers Association (WCEMA). In 1969, WCEMA changed its name to the Western Electronic Manufacturers Association (WEMA) to reflect the growing membership outside California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1977, the association once again changed its name to the American Electronics Association, in an effort to more accurately represent its 750 members nationwide. A final name change occurred in 2001, as the American Electronics Association was shortened to AeA with the tagline "Advancing the Business of Technology."
AeA has 18 offices across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and has 2 international offices in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. AeA now has nearly 2,500 corporate members (and the 1.8 million employees they represent nationwide). The membership is drawn from a wide range of high tech sectors, including the aerospace/defense, business related services, computers, medical equipment, semiconductors/electronic components, software, and telecommunications industries. http://www.aeanet.org/AboutAeA/aajl_historymain0807.asp
Since 1959, AeA has awarded an annual Medal of Achievement
David Packard Medal of Achievement
David Packard Medal of Achievement, formerly AeA Medal of Achievement is presented annually by TechAmerica , since 1959. An award dinner is held to honor the current years recipient and to hear his/her vision of the fututre of the tech-industry...
to a recipient selected for contributions and advances within the high-tech industry, their community, and humankind.
AeA also produces an annual Cyberstates report which quantifies the high-tech industry on a state-by-state basis in the United States.
On September 11, 2008, The Boards of Directors of AeA and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) announced that they are in discussions to merge the trade associations’ memberships and programs.
On December 9, 2008, the Boards of Directors of AeA and ITAA announced that they have each approved the merger of the two trade associations' memberships and programs. The combined associations became TechAmerica (The Technology Association of America) on January 1, 2009. The merger, gave rise to a stronger voice for the technology industry by bringing together the largest number of tech companies throughout the United States.http://www.aeanet.org/PressRoom/prac_120908_AeAITAAMerger.asp
Chair & Board of Directors
Peter J. Boni is the Chairperson of the AeA Board of Directors and the President and CEO of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.As President and Chief Executive Officer of Safeguard, Peter J. Boni is responsible for developing and executing Safeguard’s corporate strategy.
In addition to acting as CEO for several publicly traded and privately held companies, he has served as a chairman, a Fortune 500 corporate executive, a NYSE Fortune 1000 president, a management consultant, board member, investor and advisor to institutional investors in both early- and later-stage hardware, software and technology-enabled services firms. After his CEO experience, Peter served as an Operating Partner at Advent International, a leading global private equity firm managing $10 billion.
Select companies represented on the Board include Agilent, Citrix, Intel, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
, Symantec
Symantec
Symantec Corporation is the largest maker of security software for computers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock market index.-History:...
, and Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
. All Board Members can be found at http://www.aeanet.org/BoardofDirectors
Senior Staff at the Time of the Merger
President & Chief Executive OfficerChristopher Hansen
Financial Operations
Samuel J. Block
Vice President/Controller
Government Affairs
Robert J. Mulligan
Senior Vice President International
Legal
Benjamin Aderson
Association Counsel and Secretary
Operations
Matthew Kazmierczak
Senior Vice President, Operations
Services
Elaine Sanders
Senior Vice President for Financial Conferences, Executive Education, and Affinity Programs
Eric Meyer
Senior Vice President for Insurance Programs
Competitiveness
- H-1B Visa and Green Card Reform - increase the numbers available to the high-tech industry
- STEM Education - promote Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education from K-12 and in university programs
- Workforce Compensation and Incentives - strengthen the ability of U.S. employers to recruit and retain a skilled workforce
E-commerce
- Data Breach - ensure that government policies to protect data and privacy do not harm the industry’s push for federal preemption of state data breach laws
- Privacy - ensure that any privacy legislation protects consumers while continuing to encourage e-commerce; push for federal preemption of state privacy laws
- Child Online Safety - ensure that any legislation regulates online behavior consistent with technological capabilities
Health Care Reform
- Health IT - reduce health care costs through deployment of Information Technology
International
- Export Controls - reform U.S. encryption and deemed export regulations
- Customs - maintain coverage for products under Information Technology Agreement
- China - stop Congressional legislation against China that could hurt member interests while engaging China on its restrictive policies related to indigenous innovation, IPR, standards, and government procurement
- Free Trade Agreements - get Congressional approval of agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama
- Environment - seek favorable outcomes in China RoHS catalogue and certification regulations; seek EU policies supporting development of energy efficiency technologies
Tax & Finance
- R&D Tax Credit - renew and seek a permanent extension of a strengthened credit
- Tax Reform - ensure that any tax reform legislation is positive for the high-tech industry and protects the industry’s ability to operate globally
- Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 - reduce the onerous and disproportionate business tax levied on small- and medium-sized companies by SOX 404 compliance
Previous Years'
AeA Public Policy
Priorities
2007 AeA Priorities ||
>2006 AeA Priorities
AeA's Regional Offices
AeA's main offices are located in Washington, DC and in Silicon Valley, CA. AeA has a total network of 18 offices across the country and two overseas. These offices are located in:- Arizona
- Florida
- Los Angeles
- Midwest (Illinois)
- Minnesota
- Mountain States (Colorado)
- New England (Massachusetts)
- New Jersey - Pennsylvania (New Jersey)
- New York
- Orange County
- Oregon
- Potomac (Washington, DC)
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- Silicon Valley/Northern CA
- Southeast (Georgia)
- Texas (Austin and Dallas)
- Washington
International Offices
- AeA Europe (Brussels, Belgium)
- United States Information Technology Office (Beijing, China)