OC Technology Influencer Mixer & Summit 2011 Focuses on Small and Mid Sized Business Growth and Innovation

Irvine, Calif. May 24, 2011- Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) and Technology Leadership PAC (TLPAC) hosted the OC Technology Influencer Mixer & Summit 2011, a two-day event in collaboration with partners CompTIA, the world’s largest technology association and Ingram Micro. The event was held to encourage local technology business leaders to exchange ideas, engage with elected representatives regarding issues that affect small and mid-size companies, and promote local small business creation, growth and innovation.

Events commenced Monday, May 16th, with a networking mixer at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine, CA. Nearly 150 guest luminaries from the start-up, entrepreneurial, funding, technology and political worlds mingled with local entrepreneurs and business leaders to discuss small business innovation and advancement in California and nationwide.

“It is a privilege to be a part of what will be an ongoing and evolving effort to highlight and promote local small business growth. The caliber of the organizations and individuals participating with TCVN in this inaugural summit speaks volumes as to what I believe we will achieve," commented TCVN Chairman Ciaran Foley.

Companies in attendance included Wishes4Life, an internet start-up focused on helping users realize their dreams; Lithium cell provider Voltronix; o2O, an electronic coupon play; D4 Media, focusing on the monetization of video; CritiqueIt, YouTern, GiftSnap and established firms including Powerwave Technologies, SYSPRO, Pipeline Software and CMS Peripherals Inc. Special guest Green Automotive Company Corporation (OTC:GACR) provided a sneak peek and opportunity to test drive its company’s All-Electric Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) prior to the launch of retail sales expected later this year.

On May 17, a Policy Summit was held at Ingram Micro which featured a roundtable discussion with approximately 25 executives of small and medium-sized technology firms and capital providers in the Southern California area. The engaging discussion centered on policy and regulatory issues that are confronting the tech industry in California and nationally.

“We are very encouraged by the number of technology executives and professionals who participated in the OC Technology Influencer Summit. We had a robust discussion on legislative and regulatory challenges facing their businesses and creative ideas for Congress and State Legislatures to spur growth, innovation and job creation,” said Kirsten Mangers, Chair,Technology Leadership PAC.

Two small business advocates were recognized during the two-day event for the countless hours they have devoted to support entrepreneurship and small business development in Orange County.  TCVN presented its 2011 TCVN Entrepreneur Advocate of the Year Award to Bart Greenberg, TCVN Chair Emeritus, and Partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP.   TLPAC presented an award to TLPAC Founding Chairman Oli Thordarson, CEO of Alvaka Networks, in recognition of his unwavering dedication to the technology entrepreneur.

“Many industry organizations in the past thirty years have formed to champion the interests of America’s small- and medium-sized businesses. As these organizations matured and the companies that they represent grew, their agendas understandably shifted from one focused on small- and medium-sized businesses to one representing the more established companies that make up their membership rolls. One of our goals is to help support a renewed effort to enable small businesses through more SMB-friendly public policy. This includes working alongside organizations like TLPAC that provide not just lip service but well organized and affective policy representation at the state and national levels. If the SMBs are to thrive, they must have representation of their needs and interests in Washington D.C. and our state capitals. They certainly have been underrepresented in recent years,” said Kevin McDonald, President of TCVN.

About TCVN

Founded in 1984, the Tech Coast Venture Network, one of Southern California’s premier technology business networks, brings entrepreneurs and resources from the technology landscape together through forums, pitch sessions, workshops, and other networking events. The resources TCVN delivers address numerous categories: education, accounting, legal services, banking services, intellectual property protection, funding, marketing, sales, publishing, strategic planning, administration, professional information, government-related guidance, and others.

About TLPAC

TLPAC is a bipartisan organization comprised of small and mid-sized technology companies. Our mission is to support state and federal policy issues vital to innovation, competitiveness and entrepreneurship in the technology sector. Small technology firms are integral to the economy by providing high-wage jobs and critical innovations that bolster worldwide American competitiveness. For more information, visit www.tlpac.com or call + 1 949-600-7742 or +1 202-263-1120.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. As a non-profit trade association advancing the global interests of IT professionals and companies, CompTIA is the recognized authority for IT education and credentials and the primary advocate for IT businesses and workers. Through its foundation, CompTIA also enables disadvantaged populations to gain the skills they need for employment in the IT industry.  CompTIA’s vision of the IT landscape is shaped by more than 25 years of global perspective and more than 2,000 members and 1,000 business partners. For more information, visit www.comptia.org or follow CompTIA on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/comptia.

About Ingram Micro

As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics, technical and financial support, managed and cloud-based services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company is the only global broad-based IT distributor, serving more than 150 countries on six continents with the world's most comprehensive portfolio of IT products and services. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.

Contacts:
Jan Johnson                                                     Timothy Jemal

714-501-0674                                                     949-636-8946

Email: Jan4greentech@gmail.com                      tim@jemalpublicaffairs.com

For images of the event, please visit tcvn.org and tlpac.com.  The photo shown above is courtesy of David McNeil Photography.  The images shown on the TCVN and TLPAC websites of the events are courtest of David McNeil Photography or Nancy Ramos, SilverEyePhotography.