Group to Bring Tech Voice to Statehouse
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSome of the biggest names and businesses in Indiana’s tech sector are coming together to launch an organization to advocate for the industry with state leaders. The Indiana Technology & Innovation Association says it will push for policies to ensure the state has a strong infrastructure for tech companies to start, enough capital for them to grow and enough talent for them to sustain and scale. First Internet Bank Chief Executive Officer David Becker, who will serve as board chair, says the group will give the industry "laser focus on public policy advocacy."
More than 90 companies are part of the organization, including Salesforce, which has its largest office outside of its San Francisco global headquarters in Indianapolis. Marketing Cloud CEO Bob Stutz says ITIA will let the tech companies be proactive "to ensure Indiana continues to be a thriving environment for our industry to grow."
ITIA also includes startups like Zionsville-based 120WaterAudit, which won Indy’s first Rise of the Rest competition. Co-founder and CEO Megan Glover is on the organization’s board. She says the group is working on its specific agenda and priorities, and hopes to solidify the state as a tech hub of the Midwest.
"Hopefully we can attract talent to come here," Glover told Inside INdiana Business Reporter Mary-Rachel Redman. "We don’t talent going to California. We don’t want talent going to Chicago. We want talent to stay here and come here, so attract and retain. And then, let’s see a lot of new businesses emerge and let’s see a lot of new innovation emerge and grow and become really powerhouse technology companies."
ITIA’s Board members include:
? David Becker, First Internet Bank – Board Chair
? Christopher Day, DemandJump – Board Treasurer
? Pat East, Hanapin Marketing
? Erin Eberly, Katz, Sapper & Miller
? Megan Glover, 120 Water Audit
? Darye Henry, AfterSchool HQ
? Shelley Klingerman, Launch Terre Haute
? Kristin Marcuccilli, Star Financial Bank
? John McDonald, Clear Object
? Brent Oakley, Vibenomics – Board Secretary
? Ade Olonoh, angel investor
? Bill Soards, AT&T
? Amy Waggoner, Salesforce
? John Wechsler, Launch Fishers – Board Vice Chair
Becker will be a guest this weekend on Inside INdiana Business With Gerry Dick.