ITAA, GEIA in merger talks

Manufacturing & Technology News, Nov 30, 2007

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics and Information Technology Association (GEIA) have entered into merger talks. The two Washington, D.C., based-organizations could join forces in 2008.

A merger would "carry industry's message to Washington with a louder and clearer voice," says ITAA chairman Dave Sanders. "For too long our nation's leaders have had to sort through a complex and sometimes inconsistent series of statements and positions to understand industry's needs--this is the first step toward solving that problem." A combined organization would have 380 member companies.

"GEIA's market forecasting reports, government relations and standards programs are extremely complementary to ITAA's offerings, particularly our leading public policy advocacy," says incoming ITAA chairman Henry Steininger. The merger of these two association leaders would clearly yield a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts."

Thirty-one government contractors are members of both ITAA and GEIA "representing approximately 30 percent of the organizations' combined revenues," says ITAA. GEIA represents government contractors of electronics and information technologies. ITAA has 300 members.