D.C. Tech Council logs off

After almost ten years, the D.C. Technology Council is calling it quits.

The board of the tech council voted Wednesday to approve a deal with the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, which unites the two groups as a new association focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and technology across all industries in the District.

The new association, which will keep the name Washington, DC Economic Partnership, "will allow WDCEP to leverage the assets of the council to create targeted business programs that bring an even keener focus to the technology sector and build upon its growth in the area," said Steve Moore, president and chief executive officer of the group.

With a $2.5 million annual budget, the economic partnership should be able to raise and support a $500,000 budget for tech-focused programming within three years, said Moore.

Plans are already under way for an initial 90-day series of events to begin in February, as well as plans for a CEO summit and a permanent Technology Advisory Group, or TAG Team.

D.C. Tech Council President Penny Pickett, who will play a key role in the transition, said combining the two groups presents significant opportunities because technology has a hand in all aspects of doing and growing business. Pickett has not announced whether she will continue in a leadership role beyond the transition.

Informal discussions between the two groups began last fall after the D.C. Tech Council evaluated its own business model and decided a strategic partnership would better serve its nearly 200 corporate members.

Individual members from the D.C. Tech Council will join the new association's Technology Advisory Group.

Board appointments have not been determined.

As a first matter of business, the association will conduct a research study to determine the size and character of the District's tech industry. It is also looking into a research study concerning the feasibility of a technology incubator in D.C.