The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) announced this week that Senator Richard Burr will be a featured speaker at its annual National Leaders Symposium later this month in Washington, D.C.

“With the presidential and congressional elections right around the corner, this is an especially exciting time for NCTA and this year’s National Leaders Symposium,” said Herb Crenshaw, Chair of NCTA Government Affairs Committee and Executive Director of External Affairs for AT&T North Carolina. “Members attending the event will be able to discuss important issues with federal officials in an intimate forum.”

The annual event is set for Sept. 23 and Sept. 24. Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet with the N.C. congressional delegation celebrating the NCTA Education Foundation’s Technology Demonstration Project. Corporate leaders will hear from North Carolina’s federal leaders and be able to discuss issues important to technology companies from education and STEM; to patent reform, energy and communications.

The National Leaders Symposium is a primary focus for NCTA’s Government Affairs Committee, a group that assembles members interested in state legislative or federal issues as they pertain to their company or the economic landscape in North Carolina.

NCTA’s 2008 Public Policy Agenda sets out to encourage job creation through the state tax structure and appropriations, support the knowledge economy through various state education strategies, build a defense and security cluster in North Carolina, encourage e-citizenry and maximizing use of state information technology funds and make North Carolina a leader in the green economy.

NCTA also plans to host an Intersection Breakfast – Finders Keepers: How to Recruit & Retain Top Technology Talent on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at MCNC in RTP.

Confirmed speakers include Denise Cox, Vice President of Technical Support of NetApp, and Ken Eudy, President & CEO of Capstrat.

NCTA’s panelists represent member companies that have successfully grown their presence in North Carolina and will share their success and challenges in attracting and retaining employees as well as techniques they are using to recruit and keep top talent.

Space is limited. If you are interested, contact Angela Hodges at 919-856-0393, ext. 225.