November 14, 2016
Washington — TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today announced the appointment of Joanie Deutsch as its executive director for Washington State and the Northwest. Based in Seattle, Deutsch will oversee TechNet’s expanding state advocacy and political activities in Washington State, Oregon, Illinois, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In making this announcement, Linda Moore, president and CEO of TechNet, said: “We are so pleased that Joanie has joined the TechNet team. She’s a great addition, and she will make an immediate impact on the technology policies that matter most in the Northwest. This region is home to some of the most iconic companies and dynamic startups in the world. As technology policy battles shift to the state and local levels, the innovation economy needs a strong voice to advance the issues that will foster innovation and encourage job creation in the Northwest. With the addition of Joanie, TechNet will have just that.”
Deutsch joins TechNet from the Washington Retail Association (WRA), where she served as director of government affairs and was responsible for developing policy, research, and legislative relationships for the high profile association. Prior to her role with WRA, she worked for Strategies 360 as a communications and public affairs specialist responsible for devising media and legislative strategies for a wide range of public and private clients. She began her career in government affairs with the Washington Secretary of State as a policy analyst and communications manager.
Deutsch is the latest addition to TechNet’s exclusive 50-state advocacy program that is impacting legislative and regulatory debates across the country. Led by John Doherty, the state program includes Andrea Deveau, executive director, California and the Southwest; 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 economy, energy, tax, computer science education, and the expansion of broadband.
John Doherty, vice president of state policy and politics and general counsel, added: “Joanie has deep experience and strong relationships in Washington State and the Northwest. With the addition of her to our 50-state advocacy program, TechNet will help fight and win the most critical tech policy debates unfolding in the region and expand these efforts as more states grapple with issues affecting the innovation economy.”
“I am excited to join TechNet and its critically important 50-state advocacy program,” added Deutsch. “It is more important than ever for the innovation industry to have a role in state and local policymaking, and TechNet is putting in the hard work to make that happen. I look forward to engaging with policymakers from across the region on the issues that matter most to the tech sector.”
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.
About TechNet
TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives that promotes the growth of the innovation economy by advocating a targeted policy agenda at the federal and 50-state level. TechNet’s diverse membership includes dynamic startups to the most iconic companies on the planet and represents more than two million employees in the fields of information technology, e-commerce, advanced energy, biotechnology, venture capital, and finance. TechNet has offices in Washington, D.C., Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Sacramento, Austin, Boston, Seattle, Albany, and Tallahassee.