Brooks Raiford, CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association, will pick up some hardware when he leads an N.C. delegation to Washington, D.C. for its annual huddle with government representatives.

Raiford is the 2014 TechVoice Champion Award winner as selected by the technology business groups CompTIA and TECNA.

“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 of public advocacy for 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.”

NCTA lobbies on behalf of business issues in North Carolina. Raiford has led NCTA since 2008. He was scheduled to receive the award Tuesday during the TechVoice D.C. Fly-In put on by the two national organizations. 

The groups cited Raiford’s role in multiple organizations and efforts, including: A governor’s appointee to the North Carolina eLearning Commission; the Board of Advisors of North Carolina New Schools; the Board of Directors of TECNA; the North Carolina Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition; and president of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at North Carolina State University, where he is a former student body president and university trustee.

NCTA members also are in Washington to meet with members of Congress as well as government agencies.

“It is a great honor to receive the 2014 TechVoice Champion Award,” said Raiford in a statement. “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. We are proud of the work we’ve done to mentor a generation to lead 21st century technology. We are impacting K-20 education through initiatives to promote and enhance the state’s technology and education opportunities. We also endorse legislation that provides investment in educational technology and promotes training to attract more students into the STEM curricula.”

Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) are key partners in TechVoice. .