TechAmerica Taps Allman To Run State Government Affairs
TechAmerica recently brought new leadership to the technology industry's only 50-state government affairs network by hiring Kim Allman as senior vice president for state government affairs, the association announced recently.
Allman, who has advocated at the most senior levels of government for 15 years, is best known for pioneering state government affairs for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). For eight years, she built and then managed a powerful organization and influenced some of the most complicated and controversial public policy issues facing American industry.
"Kim's hiring is a golden opportunity for the technology industry to take advantage of the lessons she has learned in countless, hard-fought policy battles across the country," said John Burchett, state policy counsel at Google and vice chair of TechAmerica's State Government Affairs program for 2010. "Tech must become more agile in the states, and our companies fully expect Kim will make that happen by building upon TechAmerica's excellent record."
Allman noted that she is particularly excited about the opportunity to represent the technology industry. "Tech firms are facing fundamental policy challenges in the states, more so now than ever before. Technology is fundamental to America's competitiveness and drives growth and productivity in nearly every other segment of the economy. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to an important cause."
"Kim has forged one of the private sector's strongest state advocacy networks, making her the perfect choice to bring ours to the next level," said TechAmerica President Phil Bond. "She is a proven leader with a demonstrated ability to share her vision and see it through. She also brings our member companies a very thorough familiarity with politics and process across the nation – she knows how to get things done."
Following her successes at RIAA, Allman founded Allman Strategies, LLC, a strategic government relations consulting firm specializing in entertainment clients, financial services and civil justice clients. Her clientele included celebrity actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell's foundation, Rosie's for All Kids, which helps poor children through various grants and initiatives.
Allman has also worked for MCI Worldcom's State Government Relations team in the Eastern United States and served as press secretary to U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y. Prior to coming to Washington, she served as senior policy advisor to the Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus in Lansing, Mich.
Allman began her work at TechAmerica today as she transitions from her consulting business, and will begin full-time on Jan. 1. She will hold offices in the association's Sacramento, Calif., and Washington, D.C., locations.
About TechAmerica
TechAmerica is the leading voice for the U.S. technology industry, which is the driving force behind productivity growth and jobs creation in the United States and the foundation of the global innovation economy. Representing approximately 1,500 member companies of all sizes from the public and commercial sectors of the economy, it is the industry's largest advocacy organization and is dedicated to helping members' top and bottom lines. It is also the technology industry's only grassroots-to-global advocacy network, with offices in state capitals around the United States, Washington, D.C., Europe (Brussels) and Asia (Beijing). TechAmerica was formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA). For more information, visit: www.techamerica.org.
SOURCE: TechAmerica