Gutierrez To Kickoff CEA Washington Forum

BY Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 3/20/2008 11:27:00 AM

Arlington, Va. — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez will be the opening keynote speaker at The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Washington Forum, held April 2 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, the association said Thursday.

Gutierrez will kickoff the two-day event, which will also feature U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) acting director Meredith A. Baker, and political analysts Donna Brazile and Laura Ingraham.

Registration information for the event is available online at www.CE.org/events.

“Secretary Gutierrez has been instrumental in expanding international markets for U.S. companies to innovate and compete on a global level. His phenomenal dedication to increasing international trade has enabled consumers around the world to purchase the technology products they desire,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA president and CEO.

Gutierrez is the 35th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and was formerly chairman and CEO of Kellogg.

The CEA Washington Forum also will feature the fourth annual Digital Patriots Dinner on April 2, honoring Verizon’s Ivan Seidenberg, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), for contributions to furthering consumer technology innovation.