Washington, D.C. — TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today appointed Andrea Deveau as its vice president of state policy and politics. Formerly TechNet’s executive director for California and the Southwest, Deveau will oversee TechNet’s 50-state advocacy program.
In making this announcement, Linda Moore, president and CEO of TechNet, said: “We are delighted to have Andrea at the helm of our 50-state advocacy program. Throughout her career, Andrea has been an effective champion for policies that promote a culture of innovation and job creation in the United States. More and more the issues that determine this culture are being hashed out in state capitols and city halls across the country. Whether they revolve around equipping our students with 21st century skills, promoting advanced energy, or fostering startup growth, the tech sector must have a strong voice in these debates. That is why TechNet’s work at the state and local levels is so vital, and why we are so pleased to have Andrea lead our efforts in this space.”
Deveau will lead TechNet’s 50-state advocacy program that is impacting legislative and regulatory debates across the country. The state program includes Joanie Deutsch, executive director, Washington and the Northwest; Caroline Joiner, executive director, Texas and the Southeast; and Matthew Mincieli, executive director, Massachusetts and the Northeast. TechNet’s state executive directors engage on a range of innovation policy issues, including the gig and sharing economies, energy, tax, cybersecurity, privacy, computer science education, and the expansion of broadband.
Deveau takes over for John Doherty, who led TechNet’s 50-state advocacy program for more than three years and transformed it into the tech sector’s most effective policy and advocacy group on the state and local levels.
Prior to joining TechNet, Deveau served as the senior director of policy innovation with Direct Energy for more than 13 years, during which she had state, regional, and national management responsibilities for policy and advocacy. She currently serves on the Honorary Council for Million Women Mentors and has previously served as a steering committee member for the California Alliance for Competitive Energy Solutions, president of the Alliance for Retail Energy Markets, and board member of the Arizona Independent System Administrator. In 2012, Deveau was the recipient of the Western Power Trading Forum’s Kent Wheatland Award in recognition of her efforts in advocating for competitive energy market policy.
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to lead TechNet’s critically important work on the state and local levels,” added Deveau. “So much of tech policy is being debated today in the laboratories of state and local governments. The key question is: do we implement policies that foster innovation and promote job creation, or do we double down on legacy frameworks and ideas? TechNet has always stood as a strong advocate for the innovation economy, and I am excited to lead our efforts to deliver on this promise at the state and local levels.”
TechNet’s network of nearly 70 members includes: Apple, Facebook, Oracle, Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Lyft, Airbnb, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Bloom Energy, eBay, and Nasdaq, among others. A full list of TechNet members is available here.