CompTIA, TECNA name 2014 TechVoice Champion
Brooks Raiford of the North Carolina Technology Association recognized as 2014 TechVoice Champion
CompTIA and TECNA, through their TechVoice partnership, are honoring Brooks Raiford, president and CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association, with the 2014 TechVoice Champion Award.
The TechVoice Champion Award recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership in the technology sector; who have championed policies that advance the country’s information technology (IT) industry; and who understand that small and medium-sized (SMB) technology firms are the backbone of our nation’s economy.
“The tech sector is a key driver in our economy and North Carolina is a magnet for high-tech and biotech job creation,” said Elizabeth Hyman, vice president, public advocacy, CompTIA. “We recognize Brooks Raiford for the pivotal role he’s taken on to advance the North Carolina technology sector, to bring members of Congress together with the leaders from the tech industry and to provide stellar representation for one of the most prominent high tech research and development centers in the United States.”
The 2014 TechVoice Champion Award will be presented to Raiford at the TechVoice Champion Awards Dinner in conjunction with the TechVoice D.C. Fly-In on February 11. The fly-in allows U.S. business leaders in the technology sector to meet face-to-face with Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill and other key policymakers in Washington.
Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) will also receive a 2014 TechVoice Champion Award at the event.
Raiford has served as president and CEO of NCTA since 2008. He is a North Carolina native with a passion and background in government relations, business development and operational management.
In the early 1990s, he served as a policy aide in the North Carolina Governor’s Office, where a key focus area was information technology and its impact on a variety of public policy areas. Subsequently, Raiford served as director of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina, and then president of Leadership North Carolina. Most recently, he was director of business development for Balfour Beatty Construction.
“It is a great honor to receive the 2014 TechVoice Champion Award,” said Raiford. “I am privileged to be able to help connect executives, public policy leaders, visionaries and world- class leaders around the business of technology. NCTA has become a go-to organization for policy-makers on issues affecting the North Carolina tech sector. Not only do we help shape policy to foster growth and opportunity, but we champion legislation that provides a favorable tax and regulatory environment, encourages new ventures, grows knowledge-based jobs and expands the knowledge workforce in North Carolina.”
