463's client TechNet was the lead in a recent eWeek feature on the convergence between technology and politics....
Until this month, Lezlee Westine answered directly to President Bush's top adviser, Karl Rove, but as of next week, she will answer to CEOs Craig Barrett, of Intel Corp.; John Chambers, of Cisco System Inc.; Stratton Sclavos, of VeriSign Inc.; and 14 other IT luminaries.
The newest face of the IT industry here, Westine is leaving her job as director of public liaison and deputy assistant to Bush to become CEO of TechNet, a political network of CEOs. She will open the first Washington office for the association, which, until now, has operated out of its base in Palo Alto, Calif.
TechNet's growing presence here and its placement of a well-connected administration insider at its helm mirror a larger trend in the industry. Having once shunned politicking—in keeping with a West Coast, independent, free-spirited image—IT is fast becoming one of the country's highest-profile groups seeking to influence Capitol Hill, the White House and federal agencies.
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